Last Party Of The Trip

THE drive between destinations felt like they went quick with all the small towns between.
I arrived in Albany late afternoon but I should have stopped earlier at one of the free campsites along the way.
I had to stay in a caravan park as it was getting to late to find another spot without knowing where anything was before dark.
It turned out to be an expensive night and disappointing considering I parked and wrapped myself in a blanket and stared at the roof of Applejack.
I decided I had to make the most of the night so tried a shower to warm me up, cooked a hot pasta and cracked open a red and sipped it quickly from the bottle.
Here is a tip for travelling when cold.
Drink red wine!
Warms the heart and puts the mind to rest, giving you a good nights sleep.
However.
Be careful not to over indulge in one night or you pay for it in the morning.
Or so I've heard.
The morning starts were n0t as early in the South.
I slept in for as long as possible, then found the Information Centre where I met some really helpful ladies who pointed me onto the Tourist Drive down the coast.
This is exactly what I wanted.
All sights in one area so I didn't have to make too many decisions.
A whale museum, blow holes, lookouts, bush walks and more pristine beaches.
Although I had started this trip in the Whitsundays where I got to wake up everyday to some of the most amazing beaches in Australia, all the beaches throughout were just as amazing in their own unique way, so I never got tired of looking at them.
I spent a day on the tourist drive and by the time I finished, Farmer Shaun was also driving in to town.
It was great to catch up with a friend I'd made along the way and have a conversation with someone that I didn't have to tell my "how I got here story".
I left Applejack in a comfy spot for me to go back to that night and went for a drink with Shaun and his mates in the big smoke of Albany.
After dinner I even got to experience the worst nightclub in...I can't remember if I was told WA or Australia.
Either way it was hilarious.
The music is something I have never heard before and I should have put my drink down a lot earlier then what I did.
We said our goodbyes and when I woke up I remembered why it really would have been a great idea to put my drink down earlier.
I had a whopping headache and a whopping drive ahead of me.
I knew it was probably the last outing for the trip so I laughed at the nights events and focused on the journey  still ahead.

The windmill farm on the coast was beautiful.  Spent a few hours here just strolling along the path.

The whale museum was amazing but so sad.  Felt a little sickening walking through.

West Australia's Bottom

Wish I had of been more prepared for cold weather but it was a very nice feeling standing on the most Southern point.

WITH the many National Parks and sights along the South I found myself in the same situation as the Margaret River.
Missing turn-offs left, right and centre.
I ventured down to Cape Leeuwin and lucky not to be blown away at the lighthouse.
Boy was it chilly!
If I wasn't on such a high from being on a trip of a lifetime I wouldn't have been able to laugh at the situation like I did.
It was interesting to walk around and see how the lighthouse used to operate but after seeing everything once I quickly jumped in Apple to escape the wind.
Further across I found more happiness and beauty at The Valley Of The Giants.
Applejack looked like a matchstick car against these trees.
I parked and made some friends with an American elderly couple travelling.
They were shocked to see me get out of the kombi alone and I think felt the need to take me under their wing.
When we went inside I went my own way to take in the peacefulness of the magnificent trees.
Standing in front of the fallen roots and inside their trunks made me feel like a little pixie.
It was such a different feeling there.
The only way to describe it is lost in the moment.
I could have spent a whole day there and would've loved to have been able to camp there the night.
I caught up with the Americans again and they kindly offered me a warm bed at their friends the night but kindly declined and said I'd be OK.
I stayed at Denmark that night and froze my ass off.
I sat there rugged up wondering if I could have been sitting in front of a warm fire at that moment if I had of taken up their kind offer.
Instead I was curled up with all my clothes on.
I thought about my next stop which was Albany.
Farmer Shaun's farm wasn't far and he said to give him a call if I was in the area.
Instead of doing what I usually do which is hanging out alone I decided to send a text and see if he wanted a drink.
It would be nice to see a familiar face.

I can't remember what this lake was but I only stayed long enough to get a photo and then I sped out of there.  It made the hairs on my back stand up for some reason.  Hadn't felt scared since our crazy man driver incident.

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I had so much fun setting the timer and running to the seat for this picture.

I wished Kristy was here with me at the Valley of The Giants.  I think she would have really enjoyed it.

Dancing Through The Wine

The sun came out and I stared at the water wishing I could go in.  Still a wee cold for me.

THE thought of driving through Margaret River was exciting to think about driving through after hearing so much about it.  
It ended up being such a full on drive though as my eyes constantly darted from left to right taking in all the country and large grand entrances of the wineries.
This is where I should tell you all an embarrassing secret that I'm sure will shock you.
I DIDN'T MAKE IT INSIDE ANY OF THEM!
I know, I know it sounds insane but I couldn't decide when and where to stop!
There were so many, all amazing and I said to myself "I'll look at what's ahead" and before I knew it, I was past all decent wineries.
I even stopped at the Information Centre to get an idea of the best place to go if I could only go into one but they didn't make a decision for me.
The weather was really cold and wet and I found myself at a small, random Honey Bee Winery.
It was a little old house looking arrangement with a theme of yellow and black of course and they sold honey flavoured ice-cream, wine and treats.
Guess what I bought?
A silly bloody ice-cream despite being freezing cold and a bottle of wine for mum which turned out to taste really ordinary.
Nice work Alyce.
You drive all the way around Australia and didn't even get sloshed on a top notch wine in Margaret River!
So I kept on driving and followed the coastal road slowly.
Had a giggle to myself at my form and took in more picturesque scenery.
There were lots of little places that I could have stopped at but as I had only a few weeks left and a loads of distance to cover I couldn't turn off Applejack in all of them.
The fellow travellers were mostly grey nomads and with the air so cold I felt a little saddened that my afternoon beer days were over.
I had to swap my Queensland Country Life stubby cooler for a sophisticated red wine.
This wasn't so hard for me as I am actually a closet classy woman.
I was also feeling confusion about where to stay the night.
There really was so many choices and looking back I think I ended up in the most random places that weren't as popular but I guess it worked for me at the time.
The South is more of a blur to me now then my time up North.
I remember so much detail from the first four weeks in the outback.
When I think about the last leg of my trip I have lost most of my memory.
I have no idea why this is?
Maybe because there was so much to take in or maybe my attention was still on the North.
I felt at home up in the top end.
Still to this day I think about the warm sticky air, heart warming sunsets and the sound of nothing.

Green, green, green.

Still wished I could swim.

After my kite-boarding accident a couple of years ago, you will never catch me attached to one of these again.

This is when I was thinking.  Should I turn around now that the sun is out and just decide on one winery?

First Dance In Perth

We made it to the wedding but I think I was the worst escort ever!  I was so nervous I ran up the gutter when I left the house and made one of the groomsman car sick.  

I was so excited to see my friends in the morning that I woke early and kept an ear out for movement inside.
It had been at least a ear since I had seen them and I was stoked to be in their home town at last!
First thing we had to do that day though was get to the bloody hairdressers.
We dropped Bryony and work and Joey took us to get beautified.
It was the time around Melbourne Cup so the hairdressers had dressed up and were handing out glasses of champagne.
After I accepted a glass I also thought to myself "Wonder how much this has cost me".
Kristy was getting a few foils and I the same along with a trim.
I was really happy with the finished result but after I went to the counter I wanted to cry.
I went outside for fresh air while Kristy was finishing up and I feared for her happiness when she went to pay as well.
I didn't know whether to warn her.
When Kristy met me outside we were both relatively quiet after telling each other our hair looked great through the shock of the price.
I simply said "Gees that champa must've been expensive".
It took us a while to speak about the price out loud.
Over $200 each which is probably normal these days for girls to spend but not while backpacking.
I didn't even get a head massage.
Oh well, all we could do was laugh and admire our new hair.

During our time in Perth I had to clean and shine Applejack as I was driving my friend Luke and his groomsmen to his wedding in Freemantle to marry his beautiful bride Alisha.
I also had to find a VW mechanic to take another look over his fuel pump and make sure he'd get us to the wedding on time.
I was at the mechanics for a couple of hours before he gave me the all clear.
I just got off the highway when Apple stopped in the middle of the road and wouldn't start again.
My phone as going flat and I was lost.
I had enough battery to call RACQ and I prayed they would find me because it died straight away.
I luckily didn't have to wait long before I had help.
He got underneath, tapped the starter motor and I was escorted to another workshop.
Two escorts in a matter of two days.
The mechanic talked a lot but I felt he knew what he was doing with Applejack.
He fitted a brand new fuel pump and mounted it in another spot before sending me on my way.
Apple was running a dream again.
With my kombi fixed and shining in the sun I was able to relax and enjoy my time with my friends before the wedding on the weekend.

Kristy was having trouble deciding if she was going to continue the trip or fly home.
I had another four weeks left on the road before I had to return to work and her cheapest options were to fly from Perth or Adelaide but that would mean more time off for her.
The night before I was leaving the big smoke she decided to fly home.
It was a sad moment and it felt wierd thinking I would be alone again.
Everyday we laughed so much and no moment was dull, so when I took her to the airport I didn't want to let her go.
She was and is my best friend since Primary School but unfortunately we saw so little of each other before this trip.
Time to toughen up little one and spread my wings again down south.
So I did.
I jumped back in Apple, dried my eyes and gave my Perth friends a big hug goodbye.
It was highway for most of the morning and it was getting really bloody cold!
Soo cold, I stopped in a little parking lot and Yallingup and put on everything remotely warm that I could get my hands on.
Standing outside Apple and watching the surfers through the drizzle led me to a lovely meet with two girls that had just got off the Sea Shepherd and a local that was full of interesting conversation.
He kindly offered dinner and a dry spot to to park our vans for the night.
The girls were excited for a warm shower and I was happy to have company on my first night without Kristy.
For those who haven't heard of the Sea Shepherd, I recommend you Google it, as the people involved in the journey of this ship are amazing.
I am honoured to have met these beautiful girls.
After a delicious home cooked meal I tucked myself in Applejack again after a week in a home.
Without Kristy by my side I was back to cuddling my pillows.
Not that she ever let me cuddle her during the trip.  (Except that one night at the Gasgoyne in our tightly squeezed swag)
Another early morning start I filled my tank and left town before our host convinced me to go surfing.
Way too cold for me and I would have drowned in the waves that were crashing through the light rain.
I said thanks, no thanks but stay in touch!
The drive along Southern Western Australia was so different from the north.
I looked out my windscreen to a greener, colder and a more populated landscape to what I had experienced in the north.
This to in my eyes, was gorgeous.

The girls scrubbed up nicely.  Me, Bryony and Sammy.

The gorgeous couple.  Alicia and Luke

Ready for drinks.  Bryony, Sammy, Me and Larine

The party had begun.  Me, Alicia and Bryony

Nice work Kristy...mowing the lawn.  She missed her house duties while away.

On the beautiful Scarborough beach.  

Kristy spending a little time with Applejack before she leaves.

We borrowed a yellow surfboard for this picture shoot.  

The very tasty Little Creatures brewery.  Nice mascot!

This my friend is where the beer is made.

Nothing like a beer by yourself!

Joey was excited and nervous all at once to drive a kombi for the first time.

It was icy cold to Yallingup!

All organic cafe.  Best coffee ever tasted.

Who would have thought Kombi's could be so useful!