Manjimup via Donnelly River

Leaving Busselton we headed south-east to visit our old neighbours from Perth, Will & Julia in Manjimup (124kms). We travelled there via a short stop at Donnelly River (nostalgic reasons for Damien).
It has been over 6 years since we have seen Will & Julia, and both of the couples have added marriage and two beautiful children since those days. Will & Julia made us feel very welcome in their beautiful home and with sensational views over "Manji" it was hard to only stay one night.
Thanks Will and Julia for a visit with you, and to meet your gorgeous girls.

Timber Park flying fox was a lot of fun

Will and Alexis having fun

Timber Park in Manjuimup is an amazing park for young kids

Julia and baby Erin

Lexi sneaking in some Muffin - busted!

Castle Green - such an amazing family home

Paddock views over Manjimup with Castle Green in the distance 

Nannup main street

Lunch at Nannup cafe strip

A trip down memory lane for Damien who holidayed here with friends as a child

And they appeared from nowhere - kind of creepy really, turned around and they were just...there

Bunbury & Busselton

First stop out of Perth was sunny Bunbury (165kms) to spend a night with one of my workmates in Port Hedland, Chris, and his beautiful wife Kaye. Chris was gracious enough to let our terrors take over his home for a night which can be a shock when you are not used to two energetic pre-schoolers.

Picking tomatoes from Chris's veggie garden

The boys club

Blaire kicking back in the library

Feeding the frogs live crickets - not sure who was having more fun, adults or the kids!

Next day and it was time to say goodbye to Bunbury and travel one of what I am sure will be our shortest legs of the journey (65kms) to Busselton to visit Poppy & Karen. We had lots of fun during our three day stay including visiting the Busselton jetty and underwater observatory, a day at CountryLife Animal farm, and daily visits to feed the chooks and collect eggs. Thanks Poppy and Karen for a really relaxing visit.

Craziness obviously hereditary - a quick coffee and play before tackling the Jetty 

Nice photo bomb by Poppy in the background- classic! This makes me laugh every time I see this photo

Taking the train down the 1.8km long Busselton Jetty

Dad, Cooper, Alison (me) & Blaire

The Busselton Jetty Observatory tour

View from the middle observatory windows, loads of fish, nice clear calm day on the ocean helped

One of the original jetty pylons (over 70years old) with considerable coral and plant life

Busselton Jetty Interpretive centre at the beginning of the jetty at Sunset

Miss Blaire asking for a photo in her borrowed Thomas tank engine thongs

Old fashioned fun with Dad

Collecting eggs from the chooks

Cooper was so careful with the eggs

Here's one Poppy!

Blaire and Cooper feeling brave enough to pet the Chickens

Perth break - family and friends

A rushed week in Perth trying to organise car services, dentist appointments, as well as fitting as much fun stuff as we could with the family and the kids, time permitting. Thanks to my gorgeous workmates for the AQWA voucher, the kids LOVED it.
Thanks to Liz for babysitting so we could have a night out, we LOVED it!
Thanks to family for letting us squeeze you in when we could. In 6 months the rushed visits will be a thing of the past.
Sorry of we didn't get a chance to catch up with you all, promise to make it happen when we are back in Perth for good in July!

Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA)

Blaire and Mia with the "fishies"

Look Mum a SHARK!!!

The cousins!

Lunch with the new recruits to Perth (xx)

Looking this beautiful is a lot of work - Thanks Yasmine!

Damien in heaven... Brighton Beach, Scarborough WA

The sirens as we approached the beach after breakfast were soon explained

Nana Marie with number 8 and number 10 (of her grandkids)

Window shopping in a spare moment - keep walking sunshine

Reliving our single days - Happy Birthday Tash!!!

The boys

Looking trendy Nana MG

Australia Day at Dene's

Me and Damien (xox)

The quick dash to Perth

The original plan was to leave Port Hedland and enjoy a lazy meander down the coast to Pert. However due to the monsoonal activity in the north playing havoc with the southern weather in mid Jan 14, the coastal run was going to be a sweltering 40-43'c from Port Hedland to Geraldton. 
A last minute decision was made to make a quick overnight dash to Perth down the inland road (staying in Meekatharra) to seek some relief from the heat. This meant two very long days for little ones on the road, but a much welcomed break from the stifling Port Hedland weather.

Weather change in 1 hour of driving from photo above (changed from 37'c to 24'c)

Dust storm before the rain

Navigating the wide loads - some up to 8 mtrs wide (you can see us parked in the dirt for those ones)

8mtrs wide - mining equipment

No idea what this was - something yellow for mining obviously

More wide loads...

Meekatharra Royal Hotel: Dinner stop and break for the kids to play 'Roll-Ball' - Cooper giving Damien the "not impressed" look after being told it was time to leave