Margaret River

The Margaret River region is an area that includes not only the town of Margaret River, but Busselton to the north down to Augusta in the south, and 100kms of gorgeousness  in-between. As most would know, the region is famous for it's wine production, and the vineyards and posh wineries are indeed the main feature of the countryside, along with its beautiful coastline and world renown surf beaches. Not a bad combination, and one that we thought would make a fitting base for celebrating my 40th Birthday Festival.

Much as I love my family and our cozy little home on wheels, my birthday wish was to rent a house for the weekend and share it with some of the wonderful friends we have made on this trip. We had some trouble finding one that we didn't have to sell a kidney to afford, and that would take us for only 2 days, but at the 11th hour, we found a place on the beach at Dunsborough that was able to accommodate two families (us and Melbourne friends, the Brewers) and fitted the bill perfectly.

We thought that we had evolved as a result of our caravan odyssey, that we were no longer bound by the shackles of material luxuries. We had found the secret to happiness and it was open roads and time together. Nup. Seems we still get REALLY excited about chef's kitchens and home theatre systems.

We had a wonderful weekend, concluding with a birthday lunch on the Sunday, where we were joined by our lovely friends the Eisners and the Wheatleys, who, though well on there way towards Esperance, made a huge effort to come back for it. I felt so grateful to them all for being there and helping make the day so memorable. The 10 kids were well entertained by the beach, garden, spa and bike path, leaving us to enjoy a lovely long lunch followed by impromptu disco. John gave a lovely speech/roast, and Trish (Brewer) composed this charming ditty...

ALEXANDRA, ALEX, ALI
BIG OF HEART, SLIGHT OF BELLY

FROM BOWRAL'S BEAUTIFUL
CHIC ABODE
TO PETITE RETREAT
AND OPEN ROAD

URBAN FASHION CAST ASIDE
"KATMANDU" NOW WORN WITH PRIDE
SWEAT AND DUST AND HAYMAN REECE
FLYNETS, FINS AND POLAR FLEECE

PERFUME, WAXING...DISTANT THOUGHTS
DIFFERENT DAY...SAME OLD SHORTS
BUNIONS PROUDLY ON DISPLAY
HIGHLIGHTS FADING...HELLO GREY!

BUT WAIT! IN PERTH
A STYLE REBIRTH!
HIKING MUM RETURNS TO EARTH
AFTER MONTHS IN "OUTBACK MODE"
SUCH WONDERS FOUND AT...COUNTRY ROAD!

SKIPPING THROUGH THE MALLS WITH GLEE
FRENCH CONNECTION! WITCHERY!
PURCHASES MADE (SOME AT RANDOM)
PLASTIC FLASHED WITH WILD ABANDON

UNTIL SUDDENLY, IN HER NEW KIT
WHAT'S THIS? A WOMAN! (WELL, JUST A BIT)*
PAST LAUNDRY LINE
AND DUMP POINT REEK
COMES BIRTHDAY ALI, OH SO CHIC

OF COURSE SHE'S MORE THAN CLOTHES AND STYLE
SHE IS STRENGTH..AND CHEEK...AND ODDBALL GUILE
MOTHER, CARER, JOHN'S BEST FRIEND
40 NO LONGER ROUND THE BEND

BUT WHAT A LIFE, BY ANY MEASURE
ADVENTURES, MEMORIES...FAMILY TREASURE!
SO MUCH HAPPINESS IN THIS PICTURE
40 YEARS, NOW ALL THE RICHER

THANKS TO ONE SMALL LIFE DECISION
TO "CARPE DIEM"! LIVE THE VISION!
TO HIT THE ROAD WITH KIDS IN TOW
AND "MAKE IT UP AS WE GO"

NEW FRIENDS MADE, TOO MUCH GROG
MAJESTIC MOMENTS, TRAVEL BLOG
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STYLISH AL,
OUR LOVELY FRIEND, OUR CARAVAN PAL.

Trish, as you can see, is rather clever. Thanks Trish! (...I think.)

* a reference to a comment from 4 year old Ivy Brewer, on seeing me in my new dress - "Ali, you look a bit like a woman!" Just a bit, mind you.

Other memorable moments in the Margaret River have been :

-  Experiencing our first drive-in movie at Busselton
- Getting lost in the Yalligup Maze
- Getting lost in the Ngilgi Caves, Yallingup
- Tom, James and John learning to surf at Bunker Bay.
- Sharing in Indi Eisner's 11th birthday trail ride.
- Wine tasting through picturesque vineyards.
- Climbing two lighthouses.
- Climbing to the top of the giant Tingle trees in Walpole

 

Birthday lunch, Dunsborough



Us.

Mother and son birthday bike ride

 



  

Yallingup. Another gorgeous beach.
Another bare bottom.

Yallingup.



Surfing lessons, Bunker Bay



Tom was a natural -
he now has the talent to match his hairstyle.



 

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse

 



Kite flying, Yallingup

  

Little girl lost.



Long lazy lunch at a Margaret River vineyard.

 

Cape Leeuwin, Augusta

  

Valley of the Giants, treetop walk, Walpole

  


Grace, Tom, Ivy. In a BIG tree.

Georgie. Not being amused by Tom.


 

PS. We have been in Cape le Grand National Park and have just learned of the dreadful fires that have affected Margaret River. Hard to believe we were there only a day earlier. We are thinking of all the people affected.