Day 16 - Friday 13 January - Pallingup to Hopetoun

DAY 16

FRIDAY

13 January 2017 –  Started my next book, one given to me by mum “Starting Over” by Robin Pilcher.

I thoroughly enjoyed “The Light Between Oceans” which finishes its journey in Hopetoun, which I thought was rather appropriate. 

Pallinup River Rest – Bremer Bay -Jerramungup – Ravensthorpe - Hopetoun

After a quiet night at the rest area, we were up and about early and on the road to Bremer Bay. We arrived just after 9 to a cold and very overcast coastal town. The caravan park was quite obviously bursting. We found a place to park a little further up the road and got out to explore.

We wandered down to where the Bremer River meets the Bremer Bay. There were plenty of people out doing the same. Despite being grey it was quite pleasant being on the beach watching the surf roll in. We continued the walk up a trail to a peak further along, taking in the various lookouts along the way. The other side of the bay was being hammered by the rolling surf.

We made our way back to the van after our morning walk and then headed through the town itself. I have never been here before and Paul was only a teen when he was last here and he has seen a substantial change in the number of dwellings and the number of visitors.  Bremer Bay will certainly be on our list of place to revisit.

Back on the long, black ribbon of road again. It stretches on for miles splitting the farmers fields.  We travelled through little places, many with little schools that always spark our interest. From Gairdner and on to Jerramungup, where we stopped for fuel and a quick stretch of legs. We try to stay patient with a group of young “twenty somethings” fuelling up in front of us. Not courteous enough to pull through and use the first pump, so we could fuel up too. Then they all clamber out, wander aimlessly between the shop and the loo all the while oblivious to the fact that they are ticking us off more and more. Then when they get in the car and we think they are going, they sit to have a bit more of a chat. Really! Paul pulled the van up behind them, so close he could have pushed them out of the way. They eventually left.

About an hour up the road is Ravensthorpe, a large and bustling inland town. We stopped here for lunch. Paul did the vehicle check and then he was back in the driver’s seat taking us on a further 45 min to our final destination, Hopetoun. We knew mum would still be about with her bowls group and sure enough, as we passed the bowling green, we saw her loading the car. We stopped and had a chat. They hadn’t won the comp, but still played well.

It was great to catch up for one last hug and word on Yogi, who apparently spent yesterday waiting by the gate. I kind of wish I hadn’t heard news as it made me sad again. We left mum to it and made our way on foot into the town for a quick scout, before driving the van to the caravan park. We did a recon through it first and decided it wasn’t for us. We found a much better free 24hour RV park stop instead right on the beachfront. Winner.

Once set up, we took off down the beach, heading to 2 mile beach. It was a bit blowy and the waves were crashing, but the water was quite warm and we enjoyed the beachcombing along the way. After making our destination, we followed the road back to our van for dinner.

As the sunset we made our way to the lookout to check out the views of the ranges stretching out in front of us. It was a little further than we thought, so we missed the sunset, but the views were still lovely. We continued our wander back into town and past the old pub. The full moon was just making an appearance and looking very impressive, so I stopped to take some quick pics before we returned to the van and called it a night.