Author: Simon

Thurdays, always a good time to start of with some more educational studies…so Alice and Barnaby dragged their parents to Lake Thetis, home to some Stromatolites/Thrombolites….

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite

Stick around for possibly more Stromatolite news in a few days time….

Next we popped to Cervantes beach for a spot of snorkelling….luckily boat stopped before reaching the Cousteau twins…

And here is a pretty representive shot of the crowded beaches around here….these are both Jurien Bay.

Tomorrow (Friday) we head up to Kalbarri….

Oh, and to become even more Australian I’ve started to binge watch Prisoner Cell Block H, currently on episode 10, only 682 to go.

Clearly I had planned being in WA to co-incide with the Lunar Eclipse. Thanks to those who pointed out it was happening!

We were lucky enough to sit on a near deserted beach, and watched the sunset, the Moon rise and then the shadow of the earth cover the moon, leaving a murky red moon. Then we went back indoors.

I’ve attached a couple of photos of before and nearly total coverage (its difficult to get a focussed image, with a handheld camera)

As the “moonlight” faded, the view of the stars was amazing!

(29th/30th) – We have now moved over to the West Coast, arriving in Perth late on 29th.

We picked up a car and began the drive north, stopping at Lancelin for some lunch…and then on to the Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park, to do our Geology homework.

The Pinnacles are limestone features, how they are formed is up for debate…and you can read about it here…

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinnacles_(Western_Australia)

It was amazing as to how many of them there are and the variety of shapes and sizes, indeed one entry in the vistors booked simply stated “They look like big willies”.

We then moved on up the coast to Jurien Bay, where we are staying until Thurday…..pssst its a bit quiet….

Today (24th) we drove up to Brisbane, picked up a Thomas (friends son on his gap year) and visited the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

More Koala photo opportunities than you can shake a stick at…..feed the Kangaroos…..(who seemed far too docile)….spot a Tasmanian Devil….see a (Flamin) Galah….work out exactly what a Platypus is…..

After goodness knows how many years, Simon finally caught up with an old Kingswood school friend in Wangi Wangi of all places!! Justin & his lovely family put us up for the night and showed us true Aussie hospitality (prawns, beer, barbie, homemade beer, a trip on the lake, beer…….and a muzzy head in the morning!!!) Barnaby got to play on a proper electronic device again with Henry and we got to enjoy this glorious view! We had a fabulous time (thank you Justin, Becks & Henry) and it was just a shame that we couldn’t stay longer! Now onto Casa Colville……..!!!

…about me not updating this often enough….

We Have;

Been to Church (where they had a camel, apparently voiced by Snoop Dogg)

Picnic in Sydney Boutanical Gardens

Visited Contemporary Art Museum (‘interesting’). Made a bloke laugh in the toilets (again) when Barnaby and me told him it wasn’t a toilet, but one of the exhibits (hilarious I know).

Burnt a pizza.

Picked up hire car and drove to Bondi, where we had a swim.

Drove back over the bridge, annoyed lots of locals with some comedy lane changing….

Today (Tuesday) we move on to Blue Mountains via ‘Home and Away Land’ or as normal people call it ‘Palm Beach’

Attached photos from our picnic and some sunflowers….which frankly aren’t a patch on those grown in Millmead Road….

Today we walked to Manly beach and got a really bad sunburn (even though it was quite cold and windy). Mum and Alice got very excited as they spotted one of the Home And Away cast called  Justin on Freshwater beach shooting a fitness video.

When we went to Freshwater beach we swam in the sea and it was much colder than we expected! At the moment I am quite jet-lagged and have been very ill over the past two days (including the flight) 
Barnaby
🙂

Just to confirm we have arrived. It’s a flipping long way! Already driven over the bridge and seen the Opera house, so we’ll be moving onto New Zealand tomorrow and be back home for the end of the week!

Oh and the record breaking weather? Raining…..

Just a quick note to ask that our blog is not shared or linked to on other forms of social media.

Facebook have specifically asked that there should be no topless shots of me available to the general public!

Thanks Simon

We leave the UK, for Australia, on 7th January…..