We have just enjoyed two weeks with mum and dad in sunny WA. They had a whirlwind visit of Perth and the South West and it was great to see them and to be able to show off the area we have come to know and love. The trip also involved me, mum and dad revisiting places that we had been to 27 years ago; when we last travelled across this huge country (also in a big red truck). It was both a sentimental experience and amazing to see how much has changed since that last visit.
Photos: Big Red (2012) and Big Red Truck aka Ted Ruck (1985)
We met mum and dad at my Aunty's place in the Perth Hills. Whilst in Perth we made the trip out to Rottnest Island. The trip out to the island has seriously increased in cost over the last few decades and there are several new buildings, hotels etc on the island but most of the island remains unchanged, the beaches are still beautiful and most importantly the quokkas were still there and just as cute.
Photos: Rottnest Island 2012
Photos: Rottnest Island 1985
We wanted to spend a bit of time in Margaret River but decided to do a "tiki tour" (as mum calls it) through the inland area and so we took a couple of days to get there. We went via the small towns in the orchard areas of Donnybrook and Bridgetown, visited the numerous antique shops, swam in a natural spring and explored the Karri forests around Pemberton. We even climbed the Gloucester Tree, which is 61m high and which dad and I had climbed when I was only five years old. On the second time up, I am now in awe of my five year old self. Mum didn't make the climb in 1985 because she was pregnant with Jessica. This time all three of us went up the tree.
Photos: Manjimup Timber Museum, Fonty's Pool (a natural spring near Bridgetown), Big Brook Dam in the middle of the forest, Campsite at Big Brook Arboretum, Tram ride through the Karri Forests.
Photos: Gloucester Tree Climb 2012 and Emma at the top of the Gloucester Tree 1985
We spent three lovely days in Margaret River. Mum and dad got the chance to see the farm / camp that has become our temporary home and we explored some of our favourite places around Margaret River. We visited both the Cape Lighthouses (Cape Naturaliste and Cape Lewuine), swam at the beaches, drove through the Kari Forest, sampled local fare at the berry farm and local bakery and tasted local beers. We even had a little "pre"-birthday party for Jarvis so mum and dad could celebrate his upcoming birthday with him.
With dad due to fly out a few days earlier than mum, we all went back up to Perth to see him off and we spent mum's remaining days meeting up with long lost cousins, visiting old family friends, pottering through second hand shops, swimming in the dam and enjoying an afternoon at the Mundaring Weir Hotel.
Like all the visits people have paid us on this trip, it was bitter sweet. Two weeks simply was not enough time and it may be months before we see them again. But we were all so glad they could come. Jarvis still asks for Grandma and Star every day and has told me in no uncertain terms that they will be back soon. We'll see… we do have an adorable grandson on our side, something tells me his grandma won't last too long with out seeing him again.
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