We're off again in the camper.

We're heading off tomorrow morning for three weeks on the Ningaloo Reef in Coral Bay.  There's a whole tribe of us going this year - it's going to be so much fun.

My latest camping acquisition is an op-shopped 'Veterinary Conference' satchel which I've crammed full of all things wonderful.  Pens, pencils, a watercolour travel palette, brand new journal, lollies, sunscreen, waterproof camera, more lollies and a good old plastic wine glass in case someone offers me a nice cold aperitif.

Don't I just look the part? 

I just hope nobody actually thinks I'm a Vet while I'm out there in the wilderness..........

Horrocks Beach

Horrocks holds such beautiful and fun memories for our family.  It was the furthest place that we felt our old Holden could travel to all those years ago when our girls were little.  Now that we have a more modern car...albeit an almost 20 year old peeling Prado...we generally travel a little bit further afield. But for the recent Australia Day long weekend we thought we'd just revisit familiar territory.

So happy we did.

Waiting patiently for the fishermen to bring in their crayfish catch for the day.

This is the very same old wooden jetty where two sweet and innocent little girls (who shall remain nameless) came up with a plan.  Unbeknown to their parents, they were catching blowfish with their brand spanking new fishing lines, and 'serving' them back into the water with their tennis racquets!  They thought the whole thing was just screamingly funny (obviously they take after their father). 

Nothing at all has changed.  It was like taking a step back in time.  Even the old squeaky wooden door on the general store is the same!  Blows my mind.

Such serenity in an otherwise hectic world.

Thank you Horrocks.

Colours of Ningaloo.

We have just returned from a few weeks camping up at Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef, hence the absence from my blog.  Coral Bay was just as beautiful, peaceful, restorative and fun as always, but even more so this year as we had lots of family join us as well.

We had so many kayaks and paddle boards down at the front beach, the tourists were trying to hire them!

Some journalling and 'me time'.  Take no notice of the bottle of scotch......it was obviously put there by an imposter.

We also managed a day trip to kayak Yardie Creek.  I put my feet in the shot just to prove I was there!

Fishing at dusk.  I caught five small fish but didn't keep any.
The more that I swim, kayak, snorkel and observe the fish and marine life, the less inclined I am to want to go fishing.  (Turning into a softie).     

The colours of the Ningaloo Reef just amaze me more every year.

I try to capture the colours with watercolour paints in my journal, but I never do.  It's impossible....well it is for me. Doesn't stop me trying though!

Yes he really was that gorgeous bright orange.

Clam slightly open.....amazing colours and patterns.  This shot was taken with my trusty underwater Olympus Tough.

Fish have no eyelids, that's why you have to cover their eyes when you take the hook out of their lip.  See I told you I was getting soft!  Why on earth would you want to eat one of these beautiful reef fish?

..............and so the sun sets once again.  Another day enjoyed.  Another holiday over.

Camping fun.....again!

Well, I've spent several days without a shower, been tangled up in a 'willy-willy', ran out of happy hour dip & chips, suffered a blown up stove and lost the elastic in my bathers.........the joys of camping.

But oh my......the open spaces, the awesome beaches, the amazing & fun friendships, the spectacular sunsets and the inexhaustible supply of dumb questions from inside the beer bottle tops made it all worthwhile!

Camping at Lucky Bay

Camping means time outside in the open, enjoying great friendships, surfing, laughing, breathing in the moonlight, expertly built campfires,  toasted marshmallows, and leisurely beach combing............and we had it all to ourselves.

Not a soul in sight.

It's taken me ages to get this post loaded. Mainly because I didn't take my camera away last weekend when we went camping and I had to resort (under sufferance) to using my phone to take a couple of shots.  I had absolutely no clue what I was doing....and couldn't see anything at all on the phone screen.  What's with that?

Free Spirit Tribal Fusion Festival

Well hello Freo!

I'm back in one piece (just) after a  fun filled long weekend in Fremantle with a bunch of girlfriends.............

..........staying at 'The Mustards' - a revamped soap factory.


......to attend the Free Spirit Community Tribal Fusion Festival (what a mouthful).  Saturday was a day of workshops...........

Poi.........
(I've never had so much fun with balls in socks!)

Flags..........

Gypsy Caravan................
This was absolutely mesmerising.  Yes, I look pretty mesmerised there I'd say.

Kaleegy...............

.....and performing our 'Mastom Mastom' at the Hafla.................

followed by a frantic shopping expedition at the Fremantle Markets before driving home - of which there is no evidence, thank goodness!!

Home from Lombok and Bali

We have just returned from a short family holiday in Lombok and Bali.  Lombok is such a serene paradise, full of gentle natured happy people...always smiling and laughing. Can't wait to go back.

Each morning the sand was flattened out - ready for new footprints.

We hired scooters to get to a little town called Gerupuk (sp?) where we then hired an outrigger and 'captain' to get the boys out to a well known and recommended surf location.....to capture the perfect wave.

Leaving Gerupuk on the outrigger, and hoping our non-English speaking 'captain' knew where the famous surf that we'd heard so much about was.  (And secretly praying that the waves weren't going to tip us out).

Waiting for the boys to get that elusive perfect wave.  We couldn't get a very good shot as we were behind the waves.

One buggered husband making his way back during a lull in the surf.

Going for a walk along the village of Gerupuk while waiting for the boys to get back from the surf.  Oh yes, it's all about the surf.......not a shop in sight....and believe me, we looked.

I was trying to buy a tablecloth.........nooooo that's not quite big enough.
These ladies were just delightful.  They even shared the money from their sales with each other.  How many Aussies would do that?

The local travel agent.

And the local surf shop....where you  could hire a board or buy a Bintang.

The view from the little 'cafe' attached to the surf shop, where we had one (or two) nice cold Bintangs.

Some things just amuse girls more....like this.....

and this.....the palm trees were decorated with palm fronds and fresh hibiscus flowers, just beautiful.

Once again, the sun sets on beautiful Lombok.  There is just no holding back time.....hmmmm....now where's my plane ticket to Bali....did I hear someone say shopping????

Goodbye Lombok, hello Bali.

More surfing?  You're kidding!

At least our time on the beach was spent in good company........laughing & happy.....and with just the perfect amount of Bintang!

Home again from Coral Bay

Coral Bay is so restorative.  Each time I visit I seem to be endowed with the ability to see the world anew.  On the solitude of the beaches, especially at dawn and at dusk, I learn once again to listen and to live quietly and with peace.  I always come back home with an increased sense of 'connectedness' (or something!) and a renewed aim to tread more gently upon the earth.
Pretty deep for a Wednesday huh?

Trying to get a peaceful distance shot of the 'fam' having a game of volleyball at dusk.  I didn't notice until afterwards that this is probably also the only chance I'll ever have at long tall thin legs.

I got up before sunrise and traipsed all the way to 'dog hill', climbed to the top with my camera, tripod and all the associated crap to get a photo of the dog graves at dawn.  When I finally got to the top, there was a pommie tourist, wearing a cowboy hat, yakkedy-yakkedy-yak-yak-yak..........do you believe it?  I could have slept in!  
(I pretended I didn't speak English).

Ya reckon?  

You would feel renewed too if you went on holidays with this lot wouldn't you?  Go on, admit it!