February 2018

18 February 2018

Well it's bee a while since we posted anything and there have been a number of reasons, as in family gatherings, two weddings and our adding a new rig to the mix.

After our short trip away with friends we made our way back to our son's home and settled in for a busy time. The day after arriving we made our way over to Pinjarra to pick up our (new to us) second hand camper trailer which we are going to use for those trips where taking the 5er is not a good idea, or it just won't go. Advertised for $11,000 our cheeky offer of $8,500 was accepted and we took possession of a 2016 Leisure Matters Aztec Rear Fold camper trailer (see here for the details).

The camper trailer, with the exception of some peeling paintwork from sitting outside so long, is almost brand new so a good bargain was had. The plan is to store it in the storage unit complex where we have our other goods and chattels and then swap it over with the 5er when we take it out on a trip, thereby giving us a secure place for it and the 5er when we are not using the other.

Then Wedding Season started, commencing with family coming over from Victoria so that was a busy time catching up and getting ready for the weddings, the first of which was at The Vines in the Swan Valley. Our eldest granddaughter Kimberley tied the knot with Jayben in a very nice setting and ceremony on Thursday 8 February. The evening then taken up with the reception which went to midnight. Staying overnight at the venue was a good move and we enjoyed a nice room and breakfast in the morning before we left.

Mr & Mrs

Married, and happy about it.

Wedding

Such a beautiful couple.

K&J Golf

Taking charge already :-)

So one wedding down and one to go, we were back at our son Michael's house on Friday as he and Tatiana prepared to tie the knot the next day!

Wedding Day number 2 arrived with an early start and then a trip down to Point Peron for the ceremony at 7am. Tatiana arrived in a nicely restored, very loud LH Torana and, with her parents unable to come from Columbia she was walked up the path on the arm of my Dad which was nice.

Tati Torana

Tatiana strapping into her golden chariot.

Tatiana & Dad

Dad walking Tatiana up the aisle while Kindrael holds a picture of her parents and family.

The ceremony took place on the lookout that overhangs the rocks and it was a testament to the organisation of the happy couple with the decorations and setting. Michael's three children were also part of the ceremony which also made it special. Hand written vows were very nice but Tatiana's vows including promises to the three children meant that there was not a dry eye to be found and the children being left in no uncertain terms that they were apart of this new union

M&T Vows

Michael and Tatiana exchanging vows.

M&T Cutting the cake

Cake cutting at the reception.

Cleaning up so that the tourists could use the venue we all then headed off to the reception which was a pleasant morning tea. Then it was back to Michael and Tatiana's for the rest of the day.

So with the weddings over, the interstate guests went to the airport and we commenced tasks to do with the camper trailer and the 5er. This weekend see's the 5er in the storage complex and us on our maiden camper trailer trip after an hour's changeover and then 2 hour trip South.

Camped with long term friends Bob and Julie after a camper trailer convoy we took the dirt road, engaged 4wd and navigated our way around the Glen Mervyn Dam (and the ruts, and the tree's) to find a spot right on the water for a relaxing, learning weekend.

Camped up at Glen Mervyn

Camping neighbours.

Campsite View

Front row camp on the dam and a welcoming rainbow.

Double Rainbow

A good sign for the weekend perhaps?

So with plenty of things to test, try out, experience and deliberate over we have been exploring our new piece of kit, making notes and shopping lists, enjoying some photography, watching the boats and skiers zooming along on the dam, taking a walk around part of the dam to scout out potential photograph's, watching the other campers and 4wd'ers come in and set up, cooling off with a swim in the dam and then finishing the day with a nice roast lamb meal and movie night, as the million star sky came out to play.

The small waterfall we found below the dam at the small water release area.

Glen Mervyn Waterfall

A shot of part of the waterfall at the bottom of the dam.
(ISO 100, f9.5, 1/8 sec, 24mm)

The next day we spent some time relaxing and chatting and having a dip to cool off before another meal and another movie night.

19 February 2018

Another peaceful night at Glen Mervyn, and more so because most of the 21 campers that were there, had left. After breakfast we packed up slowly, learning more about our camper as we went before enjoying the 4wd track out to the road again, detouring slightly to look at some other campsites which might serve us nicely next time on the way out.

We are extremely happy with the shakedown trip and outcomes all of which were made easier by having friends Bob and Julie to help us with friendly, encouraging suggestions and idea's. If there was a drawback from the whole weekend it was the incessant march (horse) flies that were attacking us en masse. Doing almost anything outside in the morning and early evening meant doing it while conducting a happy slap dance, as much comical as it was frustrating. But safe to say, the first shakedown trip was a total success.

Heading back to our storage unit we spent about 30 minutes swapping back into the 5er and putting the camper trailer back in it's place. Wanting a quiet night and a chance to clarify our thoughts and to unwind from our wonderful weekend, we made our way down to Pinjarra to sort some stuff out and relax before our 5er goes in for new shock absorbers in Mandurah tomorrow.

20 February 2018

After a peaceful night at the Pinjarra free camp we dropped our 5er off to get the shock absorbers replaced and spent the morning shopping for a few items we want for the camper trailer. Shopping over and 5er back in our possession we made our way to the Rockingham Holiday Village on Dixon Road and booked in for the week. We have never stayed here before because we usually stay with our children, but with two of them not having room, and one having a rent inspection this week we decided to try something different. The added bonus is that this caravan park is just up the road from the storage unit and staying here will give us a chance to get more things for the camper trailer and to do some minor work on it before our next shakedown trip.

28 February 2018

Our week in the caravan park was pretty good and despite the pay for 6 stay 7 nights, only the price was a turn off. Staying just down the road from our storage unit we managed to get a few things tasks such as sorting and packing the stuff we have virtually thrown in there over the years, and working on our camper trailer which is parked on a hardstand just 50m away from our unit itself.

We caught up with our kids and then swapped the 5er and the camper over and took off for a long weekends camping with friends Bob, Julie, Kim and Carolyn.

Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.