Day 72, 11/9/2009, Fremantle to Margaret River

Another cold, windy rainy drive through the Karri trees to Margaret River.

At other places, various birds have greeted us on our arrival in the caravan park, e.g. peacocks, sea gulls, cormorants, the Mataranka Garp bird etc. A clue to the weather was given by the pair of ducks busily beaking through the mud near the van.

I had visited here 35 years ago, or so I thought. It turns out that I had driven through Margaret River 35 years ago and had actually stayed at a place called Prevelly Beach. Prevelly Beach is a bit bigger than it was, but it has the same shop, same pub and the same astounding surf and seascape. The coast looked amazing, with late afternoon sun breaking through the dark clouds. It was hard to stand outside in the gale, but wind-surfers were making the most of the conditions.

I had camped, those years ago, on the beach with a little 250 cc motorbike I had rented. The river broke through overnight and I was stranded until low tide. I had decided to move on, to Perth or some other sophisticated place, so I shaved in cold sea water. Then I got on the bike and rode for several hours, burning most of the skin from my face. That’s the last time I’ve shaved in the last 35 years (except for just before my vasectomy, of course.)

Starting in the Perth area we noticed lots of towns ending with ‘up’. While driving, Pam read them to from the map: Joondalup, Dandalup, Coolup, Dwellingup, Yalgorup, Binningup, Burekup, Dardanup, Boyanup, Moodiarrup, Badgeup Gnowangerup, Kojonup, Muradup, Muradup, Jingalup, Dinninup, Boyup, Ballingup, Kirup, Yallingup, Carbunup, Kardarup, Gingilup, Nannup, Manjimup, Quinninup, Nornalup, Porangkup, Unicup Narrikiup, Gurrup, Nanarup, Amelup, Ongerup, Jerramungup, Corackerup, Pingerup, Pallarup, Munglinup, Yerritup, Dalyup and Yerritup, to name a few.

I suggested ‘Ydonushudup’ to which she replied that I should ‘F**up’.

Enjoyed sleeping in cosy caravan in stormy weather.