Capturing Western Australia Coastline

Applejack Saves The Day!

Resting Applejack near Manilya Roadhouse....as you can see he and Kristy were being nursed.

THE sun was out early in the Bay and although I wasn't feeling crash hot from the night, I knew I had to get Kristy and Oliver cracking.
I looked up and saw feet hanging from the top bunk.  The English guy had pleaded for us to let him sleep in Apple so we folded out the bed up top and let his rest his head.  He was snoring his head off, laying flat on his stomach with his feet hanging over the edge.
Yes it was such a lovely sight and sound to wake up to...not!
I was thankful Oliver had willingly chose to step in his hammock every night.
This English guy had been sleeping in his back seat or on a surfboard every night so even Applejack's hard top-bunk was a treat for him.
Then to make the morning even more delightful we discovered someone had squeezed Kristy's toothpaste throughout Apple.
Ol mate thought he may have stepped on it while trying to climb onto bed.
Nice work champ!

I pulled at his feet and told him his beauty sleep was over.  We were hitting the road again!

My next destination of interest was Monkey Mia.
Before I fuelled up I had a brilliant idea that Oliver should put his bag in with the guys and travel south with them.
He still no comprehend!
Wow some men just don't get the hint do they!

Monkey Mia was about 350km south but I wasn't sure if we'd go the distance that day.  Applejack decided for us.
Not far out of Coral Bay he started loosing power.  As soon as I would get up to 90km per hour he would fight against me and I knew he was sick.
We put on his song "Applejack" by Dolly Parton, but his spirits didn't lift.
It was seriously the slowest drive ever.
I think we sat on about 40-50km per hour.
I had no reception so when we finally reached the Manilya Roadhouse I rang my mechanic George, on the payphone.
I couldn't reach him so we found a free campsite down the road and called it a day.

I checked his oil when he had cooled down and thought it may have been the heat that was knocking him around but when we got back on the road that morning, nothing had changed.
He started off good but quickly lost power.
Carnarvon was just over 100km down the road so I gently drove him into town.

The first mechanics we saw, pointed us straight down the road to the man they said knew VW's.
The mechanic was on his lunch break so we went for a drive to check out the area and kill some time.
Oliver got his chocolate milk and away we went sight-seeing.
I hear in the back "oh shit".
"Oliver what did you do?" I said.
"Agh I spill chocolate milk."
We pulled over at a park to discover the milk everywhere.
I started cleaning the van to kill some more time and of course no one likes sour milk on their lap. ha

I was gone only a minute to take a bag of rubbish to the bin but when I got back to Apple I noticed my toolbox missing.
I asked Kristy if she had seen it.  Yeah we both giggled...silly question.
I walked around the back and here is Oliver with his head in Applejack's bum (yes his engine).
"What are you doing?" I said.
"O I think I know what problem is."
"No I really don't think you do, please don't touch anything because I'm taking it to the mechanic in a few minutes."
"Agh sheet" he says.
He had taken the distributor cap off and couldn't get it back on.
Lucky George had showed me how to get it on and off before I left Queensland so I grabbed some rope and said "please move".
Or maybe just "MOVE".  I can't really remember.
I put it back together and told him not to put his head in Apple's rear again.
Killing time wasn't working very well so back to the mechanics we went.

I was lucky to have George who would gladly get on the phone and talk to the mechanic about Apple.
I can't remember the mechanics name but he was a friendly guy and helped me ASAP.
He had a look and tinkered with a few things and after taking it for a drive, thought the problem was fixed.
So off we went, back on the highway.
Apple drove well.
Well for about 20km.
"You're kidding me" I thought to myself.
I turned around immediately and screeched back into the workshop.

Back on the phone George got and I was told what I thought was the worst news of my trip.
"I have to order in a fuel pump and the part might take up to a week to get here" he said.
Kristy and I looked at each other with horror!  Carnarvon was not a holiday destination!

The part for Apple had to be ordered no matter what so I sucked it up, booked a campsite and had a laugh at the position we were in.

I said to Oliver I thought he should look at finding another lift because he wouldn't want to be stuck in Carnarvon for a week doing nothing with us.
He didn't say much but before we went to sleep he suggested we drop him off at the servo so he could hitch a ride.
What a GREAT IDEA I quietly thought to myself.

I slept well that night despite the news of staying in Carnarvon.
I didn't really feel like we would be staying and now I know it was a gut instinct that I'm glad I had.
Next morning we said "Common Oliver lets go!"
He said "why don't I come with you until you know about Applejack".
"No I think it's easier if we drop you off now" I said.
"O OK but if you fix you pick me up yeah?"
Kristy and I didn't respond with words.  Just a smile.

When we got to the mechanic we got the best news ever.
"We have the new fuel pump," he said.

Champion!
He worked on it for a couple of hours and told us the back way out of town.
Applejack had done us a huge favour!  He helped us give Oliver the nudge out of the kombi he needed.  Well the nudge out that we needed.
Maybe Apple was over the man in the back aswell.

We had made friends with the mechanic and he told us we should stick around for some bike and buggy race.
"Big weekend" he said.
We laughed and said "oh maybe not...hate to get stuck!

We jumped in Apple, beeped the horn and spun his mighty little wheels outta town.
It was just Kristy, me and Applejack again.  Free atlast!

"Shit I hope Oliver isn't on the side of the road up ahead!"

Kristy will love me forever for putting this picture in...concentration or pain in her face is priceless!  Love ya Kristy xx

We kept ourselves entertained throughout the night by jumping off rocks.  Well Kristy pushing me off and seeing if I too could hurt myself.

Goodbye Again Strangers

I really need to invest in some of these fire jugglers

OLIVER wanted to hang around Exmouth more then two days but I had a wedding in Perth to be at in a couple of weeks so I felt I should keep moving south and this wasn't Oliver's trip.
I tried to tell him he should stay but he said "no I travel with you".
Agh this wasn't the plan!  The agreement was we were giving him a lift to Exmouth.  I knew now he was hoping to come to Perth with us but I really didn't want that!
Unless I asked him to find another ride I just had to deal with it....so of course I had to put on a smile and enjoy the drive to Coral Bay 200km down the road.
We passed the group of guys we'd met on the way and we were also planning on meeting the friend we stayed with in Port Headland.
I had a feeling it was going to be an enjoyable stay at Coral. That it was!  One street in town and a pub at the end over looking the beach.
Timber huts lined the beach and we could see they were filling up so we found a park and strung the hammock.
This is where the guitar playing, singing, laughter, swimming, sleeping and lazing in the sand, lasted for the next 24 hours.
As the sun went down we agreed we needed a hearty pub meal so we crossed the road and I was told by friends back home to say hello to a friend of theirs.  When they told me to do this when I left I thought I'd have a slim chance of finding him but the waitress pointed to the beer garden and I found him straight away. He offered me fresh fish on the barbecue.  Exactly what they said he would do.
We left the pub with full bellies and finished our partying at the beach.  I knew it was going to be hard leaving the Bay with the possibility of not seeing our new friends again.
We would never get the chance to hear that "best punk rock band ever!"

That's how life rolls and we had had this much fun already...who knows what was to come!

Soo relaxing. 

No idea who this guy was...wanted to join our party but.

Punk Rocker....serenading Kristy

Yes....another amazing sunset

One of the best nights

I had to say hello to their Danny boy....he's in the black...not the crazy lookin guy  on my right

We didn't want to leave.

Sharks Are Harmless

As the sun went down at our camp site we took in this view

ANOTHER morning waking up next to the ocean.  Life was lovely.  Oliver was still asleep somewhere so Kristy and I went on a hunt for him.  We found him wrapped up in his hammock with his dreadlocks sticking out so we left him rise when he was ready.  Yes I know we are so kind.

When we got back to Applejack we found his novel on the cupboard.  It was written in French.  This novel kept us entertained for quite a while.  I decided to read it to Kristy and for some reason sounded like an Asian.  As hard as I tried I just couldn't get rid of the accent.  Those French classes at school clearly paid off.  Kristy on the other hand had it down pat.  

Finally Oliver showed his head and we were ready to soak up another day of sun in the much talked about Cape Range National Park.  

There are eight free camping areas and all on the beach.  Beautiful beaches.  This area on the Ningaloo Marine Park is a really popular spot so we were lucky we travelled through here in the off season because as it was we only had two options left to stay the night.

The park officers have a booth at the entrance and this is where they give you the vacancy list and book you in.  

I was told by nomads before I left that in peak season, travellers can be lined up for days to get in.  

The beauty in these beaches is the snorkelling.  Step straight off the sand and swim amongst a variety of colourful fish, coral and sharks.

I am glad I saw the sharks at the end of my swim because to be honest they freak me out!

I just don't trust these big fish.

The water pushes you gently along gently so you don't have to kick but it was a bit of a struggle for Kristy and her ankle so unfortunately she missed out on really experiencing this area.  She got a great tan though!

Also on the bank, Oliver met with his friends he had been telling us about.  

We encouraged him to hang out with them but he kept coming back to us.  I would have gladly helped him transfer his bags from Apple to their car but it turned out they didn't have enough room for him.

Oh dear unless I opened the door and pushed him out there was little chance of him leaving Apple.

there were a few vans with young Europeans so I still held onto hope that he would ask to join them on their ride.  

I even started asking a few what their plans were and would drop a hint or two to Oliver that he should go wit them as it would be so much fun.  He just didn't get it!

He no comprehend.

Let it go I kept telling myself.

Don't let it ruin your trip, just keep positive.

We moved along to the different beaches throughout the day.

Kristy was resting and Oliver was with his friends so I grabbed a....yes you guessed it, a XXXX Summer and sunk into the sand.

I was really at peace.

I looking out across the water watching a few people snorkel.  I had to look twice when I thought I saw a fin.  

A massive shark fin heading towards one of the snorkellers.

I jumped up and could see its head.  It was definitely a hammer head and it was big.

His mates were also watching from the shore.

Some were covering their eyes.  Others were pointing and others laughing while a few tried to get his attention.

Shark and man were swimming towards each other only metres apart.

All of a sudden he saw what was in front of him and I swear I have never seen anyone swim so fast in my life.

His mates were holding their stomachs laughing.

Apparently the sharks don't bite over there?

After I ran back to tell Kristy about the hammerheads getting around we saw a sign that said there were sharks and mainly hammerheads but they got enough food elsewhere so not to worry too much.

Um thanks for the heads up but not something I want to rely on.

Safe to say there were no noodie swims for us that night.

We spent the night in Applejack playing cards and having a few drinks.  

It was a beautiful area to sleep with the sound of waves and the smell of fresh sea air.

These nights I miss.

Below this water is complete beauty.

Best Punk Rock Bands That We'd Ever Heard!

Welcome to Exmouth!  

FOR those who have just joined me on the Dance Of Happiness blog, thank you and I recommend you go back to the first post I wrote at the end of last year and read from the start.  This will get you up to date on where I began and how I ended up in Exmouth with a backpacker tagging along.
I was getting really nervous about how far Oliver the Frenchmen thought he was going to travel with Kristy, Apple and I.  The deal was he was getting a lift to Exmouth.  That's it.  I felt bad telling him I didn't want to take him further but by not saying anything was only making me more annoyed.
I didn't know what to do.  You might be thinking Alyce what was the big deal?  Why couldn't you let him just travel with you further?  Well you see, this trip was my alone time.  All I wanted out of this trip was to drive the long open roads in my Kombi.
To see more of my country.
To spend time with myself and get to know ME better.
To not worry about pleasing or making decisions around anyone else.
To spend time with my best friend Kristy and also allow her to have a break in life as well.
At this time in my life I was great at making decisions when I was alone.  I had been through a bad break-up and wanted space.
What better way to get this then by driving a 1978 Volkswagen Kombi camper, walking barefoot on Australia's beaches and through its outback.
There wasn't room in my life (which was in Applejack) for Oliver.
You may not understand but that's my honesty.  So it was up to me to say something to Oliver...but I couldn't.
We went to the shops for food and beers and he was still wanting to go thirds.
We jumped back in Apple and I turned the music up to its maximum.  This was how I let out my frustration.  We found a nice beach near town and sat in the water with a XXXX Summer.  Yes my saviour!
Oliver pulled out his fire sticks so I took a deep breath and decided to take this as an opportunity to further my skills in juggling lemons to fire!  Yes I admit it, it was kinda fun...ha
The water was freezing but the sun was scorching.  We played hopscotch in and out for hours and Kristy was getting the attention of a group of guys doing the same.
They made conversation with us back at the van and turned out to be quite a laugh.  There was two guys from Germany and two from the United Kingdom.  One of them saw my guitar and proceeded to tell us how he "played in one of the best f*cken rock bands that you'd ever heard."
These words will never be erased from our heads and I couldn't wait to hear his music come out of my dads guitar.  The guitar which has had Slim Dusty songs strummed off its strings for over 20 years until my wee hands grabbed it and even then it was only soft music.
Between the accent and his confidence we couldn't help but laugh and like the guy.  They were travelling in an old battered car and slept in their backseats and on the surfboards on the roof.
They envied us in the Kombi big time!  Yeah I had a beautiful ride.  I'm very grateful of Apple.
We hung out for awhile and decided to make tracks and find a free camp site for the night.
Oliver said he knew a great spot.  Hmm we ended up in the middle of nowhere.  Didn't worry Kristy and I as we had Applejack to tuck in to but Oliver had to wrap himself up in his belongings on the beach.
It was cold and windy.
Hang on I did offer him the top bunk but he said he was OK on the beach.
Kristy and I giggled for a while as we went to bed at the thought of him strolling to Apple in the morning looking like a crumbed sausage.

Sometimes Oliver just didn't participate.  We do look like the prawn don't we!  

This is the man!  The man in the best punk rock band ever!