Beetles in heaven

Next stop was lovely Elliston, home of the BEST playground in Australia (so far). The community banded together to apply for grants, then built this incredible playground, visitors’ centre and picnic ground. With so many playground stops, we are becoming quite critical of various arrangements, but this one gets a big thumbs-up! We actually stopped there so Bill and Zara could do school but Sash could take full advantage of the cool set-up. He had a great time and made a little buddy (although got quite distressed that his buddy, Jarrah, couldn’t pronounce his name properly and called him ‘Shasa’ - a bit weird considering he still calls himself 'Sasa').

We also visited the local op-shop to buy a couple of pieces of clothing and to stock Zara up on chapter books. We have to stop at every possible op shop and second-hand bookshop to keep up with her insatiable appetite for books. She sucks them up them almost as quickly as we can buy them – hence she is reading some very strange, old-fashioned, sometimes pretty trashy and often inappropriate novels - from Anne of Green Gables (we can’t even understand half the words in this!) to the Babysitters Club (teenage girls who are interested in shopping and boys!). Harry Potter and Narnia are still her favourites (we’re reading them with her at night, then she re-reads the chapters during the day). Fortunately, the girl is not fussy and would just as happily read the cereal box as a work of great literature. Caught her attempting ‘For the Term of His Natural Life’ in the back of the car recently because she had finished all her books – definitely not appropriate reading for a 6-year old. Must seek out some more children’s books soon. But it is wonderful to see her having the time and space to nurture her love of reading – one of the massive benefits of this year away.

We finally tore ourselves away from Elliston and headed up towards Streaky Bay. We stopped at Murphy’s haystacks (cool big rocks that were mistaken by some dope for haystacks...) and then headed to a couple of beachside campgrounds only to find them full. It was getting dark and we were starting to kick ourselves for farting around in Elliston for so long, but we pushed onto Streaky Bay with the idea of staying at the caravan park. When we got there, however, it was so busy and we couldn't bear the thought of camping smack up against our neighbours so decided to push onto another camping spot at Perlubie Beach, just north of Streaky Bay. Meanwhile we were all starving and getting grumpy so we looked around for some dinner. After much debate, we decided a bit reluctantly on pizza – which ended up being some of the best pizza we’ve ever eaten! Relaxing on the jetty, stuffing our faces with sensational gourmet pizza while Bill pulled in a couple of squid for the next day’s lunch, our equalibrium was quickly restored… 

It was well and truly dark when we rolled back into the car and headed off to find Perlubie Beach – which was particularly challenging owing to road closures and a distinct lack of signage. We finally got there and set up in the dark, sidestepping millions of enormous black leggy beetles (turned out they took over the beach every evening as soon as the sun went down). In the morning (warm, sunny and perfect) we were thrilled to wake to find ourselves camped right on yet another beautiful beach. Sunrises and sunsets were magic and the water was clear and turquoise. Zara and Kate did school just metres from the lapping water. We swam, fished, walked and generally enjoyed ourselves. Also nice to meet Zack and Kirsty from Cairns who accompanied Bill fishing and shared their cuttlefish catch with us.

A couple of blissful days followed and just as we were deciding to stay there forever, the wind and rain hit and nearly lifted the tent off the ground, complete with sleeping children. Friendly fellow campers kindly came and told us that a king tide was expected in the next day or so, and should we stay we would most likely be washed away to South America. So, after some consideration, we decided to pack up in the driving rain (shoving 700 black beetles and at least 3 mice into our trailer as we did so) and hotfoot it to greener (and drier) pastures. Such are the highs and lows of camping!