Mandurah to Tom Price and return covering 5000Km in 2 weeks with an additional weeks stay with our granddaughters was always going to be a reasonable ask for both man and machine. Pleased to say the cruiser, caravan and novices Mike & BB passed with flying colours, but not without incident. Although only minor, the first item to self destruct was the digital camera, the second item had a little more impact, a broken air conditioner in the caravan. Bugger! and that was the second night into the journey.

Being adventurous our itinerary was to take the coastal route one way and return via the inland route. This allowing us to pick up and stay with friends Murray & Glenys Fraser in Geraldton, then onto Carnarvon, Coral Bay and friends Dave Tuke & Colleen in Onslow (check out Dave's big yella boat) and then to our delight the granddaughters and family in Tom Price. The return however was drastically modified, you guessed it, we returned via the much cooler coastal routes by the sea. Tom Price and inland communities at this time of the year experience days of 45 degrees Celsius heat and with no air conditioning! I don't think so.

Check out granddaughter Rachel's 3rd birthday and BB's 60th birthday present. 

Mike's also shattered with not having had his camera but we've managed with the help of friends to assist with this segment of our travels and provide some pictorial record.

We had planned this trip it seemed for decades. It was important that we do some serious kilometers in our new caravan and landcruiser to ensure Mike & BB had the skills to do 'The Big One' when they retire. Well we headed off from Mandurah Western Australia on Sat 13th Jan 2007 with the first stop being friends Murray & Glenys Fraser of Geraldton. This being a mere 490Km and as it turned out a comfortable run. We had a enjoyable time with Murray and Glenys on the Saturday night, many reminiscing times of old Mt Newman Mining days and friends from Newman.

Another 480Km trip which the caravan and cruiser seem to enjoy, both with Mike & BB amazed at how well both vehicles seem to devour the kilometers. The Wintersun Caravan Park Carnarvon is a delight, with the proprietor bending over backwards to accommodate any request and ensuring our stay was one to remember. From the abundance of ripe mangoes falling over the back fence, literally, and the inviting blue swimming pool we were contemplating staying more than the 1 night as allotted. However our itinerary was to ensure we were in Tom Price for granddaughter Rachel's birthday on Mon the 22nd Jan 2007 and we still needed to visit friends in Onslow and had some 1000Km to go, so this was not an option. Amazing how some things change all of a sudden. Although we didn't require the air conditioner at Carnarvon, we did turn it on with disastrous results. We had used the unit previously in Bussleton WA without fault, but with the emanating noise this was making it really sounded terminal. Although under warranty the supplier stated that any parts required would need to be sent from base in South Australia requiring that we stay at some location for a period long enough to effect repairs. What more could you want, efficient repairs whilst on the road, trouble was this did not suit our itinerary and after checking with John & Michelle, as we intended to stay in the caravan in Tom Price, they would overcome this obstacle and the decision was made to carry on, with no air conditioner. Not quite a show stopper but close.

We had previously holidayed at Coral Bay some previous years ago, a delightful holiday destination with little infrastructure but a tropical paradise in the middle of nowhere. Mike & BB had decided that at least 1 night be spent at this location and we headed the 240Km to the Bayview Caravan Park.

Once again a delightful trip however noticing that due to the lack of rainfall in the lower Gascoyne Junction area of Western Australia during the year, many acres of pastoral land has been stripped of vegetation and nothing but bare topsoil was exposed. This being quite evident by the dust storm that emanated during this stretch of highway. We setup at the Bayview Caravan Park and decided we would paint the town red and have a meal at the local Coral Bay Resort.

Dave's Big Yella Boat - Onslow

Some things just don't change, the meal was as enjoyable as it was the first time and with the setting sun and the scenery of the Bay, what more could you ask for. Things did change though with the wind bringing in a sand storm that ripped through the caravan park the whole night. Locals say that January is a high wind season, and something we guess you need to consider when travelling. We headed out the next morning destined for our friends Dave Tuke and Colleen at Onslow.

This was to be a another reasonable run of 440Km with little to concern us, however the day started out poorly with Mike leaving the caravan hand brake on for approx 500m before realising. This then meant sitting it out whilst the caravan brake drums cooled and Mike having visions of destroying the wheel bearing grease and then finally leading to wheel bearing failure. This however was eliminated by checking wheel hub temperatures every 50Km, a little tedious but necessary. Bugger, BB decided a check list was in order before departing in future to ensure Mike didn't suffer from Alzheimer's again. We arrived without incident at 'the best kept secret in the north west' Onslow. Home of long time friend Dave Tuke, his new lady Colleen and the 'Big Yella Boat'. We struggled through 3 days of lazing around Dave's swimming pool, the opulence of one hell of a boat, the tropical northwest weather and well, just bloody good hosts. Hard to take, but someone has to do it!.

Well we have to move on and the 455Km trip to our final destination of Tom Price with family and granddaughters was again a breeze. After arriving with hugs and kisses, (BB just reckons the sun rises and sets with the granddaughters) we setup the caravan for the girls, threw on power and fired up the satellite and LCD. BB treated Allana and Rachel to refreshment whilst they watched a program on the TV and as the temperature in the caravan was quickly rising, abruptly ask if BB could turn on the (broken) air conditioning. Suffice to say the caravan within an hour of arriving was totally uninhabitable due to the intense heat of 43 degrees Celsius. Any inland community during the summer period of December to February within Western Australia's north region and especially Marble Bar, Newman, Tom Price and Parabadoo, experience extreme heat and necessary precautions are required for personal comfort and safety. An air conditioner is a must have.

Our granddaughter Rachel's 3rd Birthday' was to be a highlight of the trip with an official 60th Birthday for BB to follow a week later, check out the photo's.

The failure of the air conditioner required a revisit of our itinerary for the return trip and we decided that we needed to overcome the heat situation by getting back to the coast as quick as possible. Tom Price to Carnarvon is a 750Km haul and if ever we were going to stretch ourselves this was as good a time as any, lets do it. After teary goodbyes from the family we headed out at 07:30 hours to another forecast 43 degrees Celsius and set the cruise control at 90K/hr, loaded up a CD and sat back for 9 hours. BB and I have never enjoyed a UDL and glass of wine so much in our entire lives as we did when we finally pulled into the Plantation Caravan Park Carnarvon at 16:35hours. The coastal temperature was a balmy 30 degrees Celsius with an expected 22 overnight and a light breeze. We had a restful overnight stay and have to say, sometimes, things just come together!