We set off on 21st July 2015 to meet our friends who we planned to do most of the trip with. They were travelling in a Toyota Hi Ace camper. Manfred had been preparing the caravan and the car for several weeks. He had invented an ingenious way of hooking up the car and caravan by reversing the car until the rear wheels went up onto ramps to get to the correct height. Because the driveway is on a slope it was really the only way he could do it. Unfortunately, on the day we were setting off, it was very wet because it had rained very heavily the previous night. This meant that each time he reversed the car up the ramps, they slipped on the wet driveway and the car skidded off them. I was getting very nervous after several attempts until finally it all happened as it should! The cat from next door, Miko, paid us one last visit before we left. He had a feed and then went to sleep on our bed! Whoops! We told him he'd have to go home and that we wouldn't be seeing him for a while. I guess he's going to lose weight while we are away for 2 months.

The weather was fine for most of the way. There was just one light shower before we reached Moore River where we had our first stop at a roadside rest area. I had made a big fruit cake to take with us and we all had a piece with our coffee. Our friends were very impressed to be having home-made cake and we made this a habit at morning coffee time until the cake finally was gone. Our friends were also surprised at how many other people were stopped at this rest area. They had often stopped there before and usually were the only people there. This was to become a trend as our trip continued. It was incredible how many other people were travelling with caravans, camper trailers and mobile homes. The state of the loos was testament to how many people were using the rest area. They left a lot to be desired (the loos, not the people!). We drove on from there passing lots of beautiful trees, grass trees and we even saw one emu. There was also some Geraldton Wax in flower. We also saw quite a few maniacal, crazy drivers who appeared to have a death wish by overtaking on solid double white lines. Our next stop was Hangover Bay at Nambung National Park (where the Pinnacles are). It was so lovely there. We had our sandwhiches and a drink and admired the beautiful beach. Norma and I talked about when we had been there before many years previously, when their niece, Rachel, had been in Perth on holiday from the UK. So Dave took a photo of Norma and me at the beach so we could send it to Rachel. I have to say this little area was absolutely pristine. The chemical toilets were spotless and there was even a basin and tap so we could wash our hands. There was no rubbish here, and no bins. There were just signs telling people to take their rubbish with them and they obviously do.

Our journey continued until we reached Dongara where we had another loo stop. I think we might know an awful lot about Australian public toilets by the time we are home again. Just a bit further and we reached Geraldton where we planned to stay overnight. We stayed at the Sunset Beach Caravan Park. We put the Avan up without a hitch (we'd had a practice run a few weeks before when we stayed at Moore River for a few nights). We had brought leftovers from the day before for our dinner, so only needed to heat them up (Green Curry). We walked down to have a look at the beach and the setting sun before getting cosy in the Avan.