We watched a large ship come into dock for loading at the wood chip wharf whilst we enjoyed our cuppa. Later we drove along the coastline and sat and enjoyed the sun whilst having lunch. Soon after lunch the phone call came advising that all was done so $264 later we are finally off out of town. Busselton is less than 50km away so we set off confidently. Arriving down there we stop to check out a van park (looks packed to the rafters) so enjoy our cuppa and Lawrie checks the wheels now we are stopped. Sure enough the left side is much hotter than the right so after a phone call to Ernie in Bunbury Lawrie slackened off the brake setting on that side. We set off again and decide to go look for another van park and find one on the south side of town with a walkway to the beach. Not a busy park and a walk to the beach later in the afternoon shows us the vista of Geographe Bay boasting 30km of pristine white sandy beaches. Busselton has the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere (1.841km in length and 145yrs old) and at the end there is an underwater observatory where for a fee you can view the local inhabitants and corals.
Next morning we are off to Dunsborough and the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse for a view back along the coastline of Geographe Bay. There is a fee to enter the grounds of the lighthouse or to join a guided tour so we find a spot to enjoy our pre-packed thermos and then drive back to Dunsborough which was settled in the early 1800’s to serve the whaling fleet that called in for water and supplies. In the mid 1800’s the first load of wood was exported to India from this area.
Next week is ‘Schoolies’ and we have been told that Dunsborough, Busselton and even Margaret River can be the destination for those young school leavers wanting to celebrate the end of their years in school. Needless to say we do not intend to be here to share it with them so after a look around we head off down towards Margaret River to a quiet little park at Gracetown. No unaccompanied minors allowed here so a couple of nights in this park will suit us fine.
We spend the next day doing a ‘tourist’ drive through the area. Firstly to a supposedly ‘world of alpaca’ but it was only a winery with a shop selling alpaca garments! Not an animal or fleece in sight. Not to worry, as it is then off to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory (expensive products) followed by the Providore Store (yummy jam for me but expensive), then to the Cheese Factory (some for both of us at a more reasonable price) followed up after lunch at Cowaramup (check out the photos) with a visit to the Miller Farm Ice-cream Shop.
Yes lunch was simply a sandwich and cup of coffee from home but wow the tastings at the Chocolate Factory (light and dark buttons) and then again at the Cheese Factory, certainly left you feeling well nourished. Then for sweets came the ice-cream. Made from cream from their farm cows the flavours were delicious and of course we each had a double serve. So creamy, it was well worth the visit. The farm has ensured their shop is surrounded by lush green grass so that the families who call in can happily let the children run around barefoot and the playground has a white sand base. There were quite a few families out there today and the children were certainly having a great time. The smiles on their faces as they walked out the shop with their ice-cream cone was worth sitting there to watch.
On our way home we decided to drive into Gracetown and down to the coast to check out the views. Another small coastal town with clear clean water, white sand and basalt rock along the coastline. From the viewing platform at the carpark we could see some whale spouts out at sea so walked along the path towards the viewing platform out on the south point.
Along the way there is a memorial to a cliff tragedy that happened in September 1996 when at a primary school surf carnival 2000 tonnes of rock and sand fell onto spectators below. 5 adults and 4 children were killed that day and the memorial has the names of those lost cut into stainless steel waves on the top of the cliff.
From the point we could occasionally see spouts as the whale pod made its way south along the coast. It was very windy so standing there on the exposed coastline was a little chilly despite the warm sunshine. Seemed a good time to head back to the van park and settle in for the remainder of the afternoon as tomorrow we head out again towards Augusta. 
Along the way there is a memorial to a cliff tragedy that happened in September 1996 when at a primary school surf carnival 2000 tonnes of rock and sand fell onto spectators below. 5 adults and 4 children were killed that day and the memorial has the names of those lost cut into stainless steel waves on the top of the cliff.
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