Day 90 - Our last day

We are flying home today.  We are all so excited.  I cannot believe how much fun we have had, how much we have learned about each other, how much we have laughed, experienced and just hung out.  It has been the most life changing, unforgettable, unrepeatable trip of our lifetime that will be treasured by us all forever.

Day 88 - Farewell to the Nelsons and our Van

The day has finally come to wave goodbye to the van and farewell our dear friends.  The "handover" occurs back in the caravan park near the airport.  It's freezing!  We say our goodbyes and help Rob out onto the road.  Lots of apprehensive looks from Rob and more anxious looks from Priscilla.  I think they are both questioning what they are doing!!!!!  The kids in the back are having a ball! 

Felt wierd and liberating to see our van head off down the freeway.  We checked into a lovely hotel and caught up with Scooter, Paul and Kai for dinner. 

The Nelson's head off

Dinner with Scooter, Paul and Kai

Day 87 - Fremantle Gaol

Kate: A day crammed with sightseeing with the Nelsons.  First stop, Fremantle Gaol which was fascinating and great fun for the kids.  A quick stop for lunch at the Fremantle Markets, a whizz past the Nelson's old house in Subiaco and then a rollic for the kids in Kings Park.  The day ended with a curry night at friends of the Nelson's.  Fun all day!  Now we are feeling sad that it all ends tomorrow and we say goodbye to our friends and the Van.



Lucinda and Jasper were caught being "naughty" and punished by the Warden with a Cat o Nine tails!



The Gang

Crowded cell

Jasper was horrified (as were all of us) that this is what was used as a toilet up until the Gaol was closed in the 90's

Lunch stop

Kings Park fun

Rob - king of the kids games

Day 86 - meeting the Nelsons

Kate:  Yippee.  We are all looking forward to the arrival of the Nelson Clan, especially Emily who has missed Sophia so much.  Lunch and a frollic on the beach for the kids, who ended up in the water fully clothed.  The best way to "desand" them was a quick dip in the pool as well.  Ecstatic kids to be allowed a dip with clothes on!!!!  Dinner and catch up at the pub.  Lovely, lovely  lovely!!!

Day 86 - Real bedrooms and solid walls

Kate: We moved into the apartment the Nelsons had organised for us in Cottesloe.  They arrive tomorrow.  By the time we moved everything out and cleaned the van, the day was gone.  I don't think anyone minded leaving the van in the caravan park!

Day 85 - Moving out of van!

Kate: The day has finally come, to pack up and move out of the van.  After zero degrees again overnight, this day can not come soon enough for Steve and myself!!! Although, it is with mixed feelings that we empty cupboards and all those reminders we have collected along the way. We pack into bags what we are taking home on the plane and pack into boxes everything else which is being shipped home. 

For those unable to imagine the caravan and the set up/pack up process, here is a summary of what we have done just about every day for the past three months........








Fold up, pack up our bed

Pack away power lead, water hose, sullage hoses

Push in and fold away our bed, wind up stabilizer bars

Pack away outdoor chairs and table

Pack away outdoor matting

Hitch up car

Attach jockey wheel

Connect leads and chains

Empty toilet cassette (poos were banned!!!)

Day 84 - Kings Park, Perth

Kate:  I think Jasper has had enough of the blog!  Sorry Simon! Spent a sunny day hanging out in Kings Park.  Did you know it is the biggest metro park close to a city in the world! A movie for the kids in the afternoon made the day a perfect "kids day"!

The road into Kings Park

View from Kings Park

The new treetops walk

At one of the awesome kids playgrounds

Day 83 - Fremantle

Kate: A lovely day in Freemantle.  We popped in to Steve's Perth Office which is just up the road from the caravan park.  It took a moment for Steve's team to recognise him I think - out of a suit, unshaven, "caravan" attire on.  Need I say more!  Lunch at Little Creatures Brewery was great.  Steve and the kids then visited his old school buddy, Macca, while I waited for a caravan service guy to fix the water pump which had stopped working. Bought thick flannelete PJs (good TT attire) today so hoping to be warmer tonight!



Maritime Museum

What is left of The Batavia after it was shipwrecked in the 1600's.  Ask Jasper the story.



Fremantle Warf  area




Little Creatures Brewery



Day 82 - The Pinnacles

Kate: A sentimental day. Our last sight before we arrive in Perth and what a fabulous place to end our natural attractions experiences - The Pinnacles. Made most famous by the Qantas advertisement with all those children hiding behind them!! So yes - we needed the obligatory "shot" of everyone peeking out. Quite amazing tourist experience, because, unlike when Steve was here last, you are now able to drive right through the Pinnacles, stop the car at various spots and wander through. They are a young natural attraction compared to others we'd been to - being only 50,000 years old!

Arriving in Perth was a bit of a shock to the system.  We hadn't seen a traffic light for a month or so.  The caravan park was advertised as the closest to the city - but is also the closest to the airport.  Thank goodness for ear plugs.  It was soooooooooooooooooooooo cold last night - zero degrees in our pop out bed.  Yep - Steve and I agreed we are definitely ready for some solid walls to sleep within.

Day 81 - Kalbarri - Jurien Bay

Kate:  Only one more night on the coast before we arrive in Perth.  A few more cliff views as we follow the coast down to Jurien Bay.  A quick stop at Geralton for lunch - great town with lots of character and old buildings.

Coastal cliffs of  Kalbarri

My beloved wildflowers

Francis Xavier Church - Geralton
(note nice clean car - not!)

Day 79-80 Kalbarri

Kate:  Rain, rain, rain!!!!  We are all feeling a bit damp and cabin fever is setting in.  So a day of non-touristy things.  We found a daggy outdoor "Indoor Play Centre" that the kids loved.  Instant coffee and the local Kalbarri Times for KK - great......!!!!!!

Waking to more rain, we punched through to Kalbarri National Park.  I had found out the day before that the wildflowers were late this year and nothing was out - boo hoo for me while the rest of the family quietly rejoiced.  A quick stop at the Wildflower Centre - also closed.  Then onto the National Park where all four gorgeous Kloss family members searched high and low for any thing that looked vaguely like a flower - bless them!!!!!

Some great lookouts with the realization this was the VERY LAST gorge we would be seeing on our amazing adventure.  Even the kids were a bit sad at this thought.  Maddy rellished her final ride in the "Maddy throne" while Steve quietly celebrated (and so did his back!).

The "Spider Web"

The flower Gods are not with Kate this trip!

Lookout in Kalbarri NP

Natures Window - Kalbarri NP

Em's photography is really good

Overlooking Z Bend

Z Bend

We found one!!!!