The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful in sunny Augusta

It was time for a wash, so we packed up and headed for a town called Augusta. We booked into the caravan park and managed to get a spot right on the foreshore next to a lovely little playground. The place was picture-perfect - ducks and pelicans gliding through smooth water, manicured lawns, big trees and lush green bush. We were slightly put out by some rather threatening signs around the caravan park warning parents to take responsibility for their kids by ensuring that they don't vandalise or play in the amenities... We thought that playing and vandalising were slightly different past-times, but perhaps those who don't like children don't see much difference. The signs seemed inconsistent with the friendly European managers so we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the threats were issued by previous owners. Still it was a peaceful place and we loved the bike path which ran all along the foreshore and through the town. Walking in the morning, Kate admired some lovely little wooden jetties until it became apparent that they were private property - someone had even installed great iron gates with locks and threatening signs! Couldn't believe it. The perfection of Augusta is apparently keenly defended by its residents...

We decided to go and see the famous lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin. Sash was beside himself with excitement at the idea of climbing right to the top of the lighthouse. We knew that kids were supposed to be 4 or over to do the climb but we assumed Sash would get away with it considering it was only a few days until his 4th birthday. However we did not coordinate our approach very well and Bill said Sash was 3 at the same time Kate announced that he was 4 - not a great look and clearly not very convincing for lighthouse dude. No amount of pleading could change his mind: rules are rules, insurance, risk blah blah blah. Not even Sash's disappointed little face could budge his rule-obsessed heart... Kate's inner tiger-mother rose fiercely in her heart and much to her discredit she really gave the lighthouse dude a piece of her mind. Bit disconcerting then to find the same guy was our 'friendly' tour guide when Zara and Kate rolled up to climb the lighthouse. We all tried to be nice to each other but I think Zara was the only one who really enjoyed the tour! Hot chocolates served by scowling staff at the overpriced lighthouse cafe went some way to improving our mood...

Next day we decided to take a boat out to try and spot some whales. We knew it was a risk being so early in the season, but the friendly girl at the information centre convinced a skeptical Bill with an assurance of our money back if no whales were spotted. It was a beautiful sunny day out on the water and we were delighted to see dolphins and seals. But naturally no whales were spotted. And worse still they had run out of biscuits! On our return we were informed that there would be no money given back. So this time Bill had to give the info centre girl a piece of his mind...

Too much giving of our minds during our few days in lovely Augusta. Between that and the gated jetties and threatening caravan park signs we almost drove on with a bad taste in our mouths. Fortunately those lovely beady eyed pelicans, the peaceful waterfront and the fabulous Jewel Cave were enough to make us almost forget the bad stuff.