Got the kit!

At last the caravan arrived and we were able to kit it out with all the gear we had been accumulating in Pete & Fiona's garage. We immediately set off down south for a few days to try everything out. The first night was spent in Bunbury (surf and dolphin territory) with friends of Charles and Mandy who were good enough to feed and water us, though we camped in the garden to get used to the set up. We then set off for Busselton where we found a great campsite right on the beach and established camp for a couple of nights. Busselton is famous for it's jetty which stretches 2 kms out to sea (originally for logging trade - now for casual fishing). There's an underwater observatory 8m under at the end but it was too murky to see anything when we walked along. This area is also famous for wineries and looks very prosperous. The flowers growing wild at the side of the road would cost a fortune in florists at home - (Gary did get me a bunch of canna lilies!!)
Jack here: In the morning we went to Cape Naturaliste to look for whales (none). Then we went to the Margaret River chocolate factory( good but expensive!). After lunch we went to see the surf beach at Prevally. This is where the Margaret river meets the sea. We decided to try out our new kayaks and launched just at the beach and went upriver. We pedalled upriver for 1.5 hours and it was easy - even Mum and Kate could do it! We stopped at cliffs where there were caves with stalagmites and stalagtites and a huge honey bee honeycomb. We were out for about 3.5 hours and got back just before it got dark. Then I had a huge fillet steak in a french restaurant in the town! THe next day we cycled into Busselton (7kms) along the beach paths. Kate had to go to the doctors to get her horrible blistered heel seen to, then we set off back to Perth to pick up our final supplies.

Down South (briefly!)

Having spent 2 weeks in Perth getting ourselves equipped (but still waiting for the caravan to be delivered from the east coast), we decided to make a quick escape down south and do a whistlestop tour of the major attractions. (Pete & FionaWe set off yesterday afternoon, once the final bit of gadgetry had been fitted to the car, and took the Albany Highway out of the city. We were very quickly into empty territory with no phone or radio signal. Jack gave us a presentation while we were driving of his research on the best places to go and why. We decided there was too much to do in 1 brief trip so we would do a couple of nights BC (before caravan) and the rest of the circuit with our new gear. So the first night we headed to Manjimub (the home of Pink Lady apples), getting there in time for supper. On the road down, just as it was growing dark, Kate spotted kangaroos - we didn't believe her of course as there were lots of cows and sheep around - but then Jack also saw some - and these ones were hopping over the sheep fences!! Our B&B was great - an original 1870's homestead - with dog to keep Kate amused. An early start this morning and by 9am we were all climbing a 51m fire lookout tree - supported only by a series of huge spikes driven into the trunk in a spiral - the photos don't really show the scale as we were all climbing at the same time - you'll need to see the postcards! We then drove to a point at the top of dramatic ragged cliffs with great views of the Southern Ocean. Gary spotted the first snake of the trip sunning itself on the path - identified by Jack as a Dugit (poisonous), and then Kate spotted a school of dolphins just off the shore - so the wildlife score is clocking up.
We then headed for Mandalay beach, named after a ship which was wrecked there in 1911( no hands lost). Fantastic beach - though not safe for swimming because of rip tides - and we had it entirely to ourselves. The remains of the ship could still be seen in the sand.
Kate here: Then we went to the tree top walk. The tree top walk is a forest of Tingle trees and there is a metal walk way which is raised up between the trees. Tingle trees are very tall and fat and most of them have hollow insides and in some you could live inside. We stopped in Denmark, just in the park the were lots and lots of Kangaroos just by the main road when we tryed to get close the hopped away. Our house we are staying in is axually a farm. We were told that we could feed the lambs in the morning and also the trout. There is a big pond just out side the house and the people who own the house have Highland Cows. This morning we hope to spot some whales at Albany where they have been for the last two weeks.

Jack & Kate calling from Perth

Jack here. Yesterday we when to Fremantle Prison and saw what a old prison was like. It looked grim to be kept in(you had to stay in the cell for 15 hours a day) and it was three times the size of Alcatras! It only shut 15 years ago. We also saw the gallows and it was last used 1964 but the death penelty was still in use until 1984! In the solitary you were in your cell for 23 hours a day andthere was no light, the only time you got light was when you ate. Its also got tunnels that the prisoners made, that supplied water for the town at one stage.

We just bought a new car (a nissan patrol) its got a snorkle, winch and bull bars. We got a mp3 radio and we're going to get a UHF radio.

We just bought some new folding bikes and they're really cool!! They are proper mountain bikes and we can get them all in the back of the car easy.

Went to see an Aussi rules footy match on Sunday. Granny & Grandpa's friends' grandson was playing. Like rugby, but not. Played on an oval pitch with 4 posts at each end. Angus' team won easily!

Kate Here. On Sautarday the 19th of August Jenni, Gary, Megan, Jack and I went to Perth Greyhound racing. You could bet on which ever dao you like.My first dog wasnumber 6 wearing green and his name was Shirt. My second dog was number 7 in Black called Slick Master. My Third was number 6 in greeen called Nickwin. And my Favourite dog which won me $4:70. Her name was Limburg Err was in Pink and won the 750 meter race and won a big golden cup. it was great fun we stayed for 4 races and I am now going to type out the names of all the dogs.

Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4

1 Gold Mystique 1 Our Spence 1 Samrakan 1 Just Allegro
2 Dagger 2 Two fat men 2 Cees Little Sis 2 Jay Aye Mick
3 Stud Poker 3 Art Lesson 3 Gangland 3 Jomato Pedro
4 Golderne Eagle 4 Lewie The Legend 4 Miss Marly 4 Quay Too Manly
5 Harry Rel Tub 5 Half Irish 5 Tahitian Dancer 5 Lindale Roxy
6 Shirt 6 Token Robb 6 Nickawin 6 Love A Gossip
7 Modern Destiny 7 Slick Master 7 Senorita Sue 7 Allero Sun
8 Limurg Err
8 Mysic Quest 8 Preview 8 Ronray Dancer
9 Chief Tanga 9 Tiny Siena
10 Lochinvar Strike

School Has started and Jack and I have got a uniform we have designed our logo. Mum has got books for us and we do 2 and a half hours of school in the morning. We have to scooter around the block 2 times each morning before school. I am doing a Australian Bird Project and Jack is doing an Australian dangerous Creatures Project. We are both doing a geography project on where we will go when we get the caravan.

travel itinerary

Following our 4 weeks in France, on 8th Aug. we fly from Heathrow to Perth W.A., there to sponge off Pete & Fiona Tavendale until we've picked up our 'caravan' and bought a car to pull it.
Drive up west coast of Oz, across top?, down middle? leave from Sydney 8th Nov.
Fly to Nelson, north of South Island NZ. Sponge off the Worsleys until we've drunk them dry and picked up our vehicles from the tender clutches of NZ customs. Travel around South Island until just before Christmas, then to Doug & Ange in Tauranga for festive season (it had better be good!)
Then off to Fiji on 13th Jan for a bit of R & R (10 days worth); then off to Canada for 3 weeks-ish skiing before dropping in on the Connors for a week's recuperation.
Returning to France late Feb. One month there to check on building works and maybe some french schooling.
In April, off to Southern Africa for a couple of months coming back to Brittany via Morocco, Spain and Antibes.
(No caravan in the States, this will be shipped from NZ to SA while we're skiing).
Eventually back to Scotland late July 07.
The pictures area view from the beach looking back to our house which is beside the clump of trees and one of the harbour here in Trevignon.
Our e-mail addresses are jenni@crowngrove.com/jennihendry@btconnect.com/gary@crowngrove.com/
garyhendry@btconnect.com, any of these will get us. Jack and Kate's address to follow.

Farewell to France

Jenni here,
Final night in France and Gary, Colin & the kids have gone off to a Monster Truck show in Nevez (3 miles away), leaving me to finalise packing and catch up on e-mail. I'll be sorry to leave France as we've been really enjoying the house and 4 weeks just hasn't been quite long enough to do all the things I would have wanted. We have, however, packed in a fair bit:-
- tested out all the beds as we've shifted around to accomodate our various visitors,
- tested out the french planning system as we've applied to do some alterations to make the bed-juggling obsolete,
- tested out most of the local hostelries, some on a number of occasions!
- tested our calf muscles on a number of cycle paths - even finding some new ones (and some that ran out in bramble thickets as the scratches on Kate's back will show),
- tested the waters on all the local beaches (the Royal 'we' there, as I personally guard the towels and catch up on reading while the kids and Gary dive about in the surf, 'though I have been in a couple of times!)
- tested the wind on a number of sailing outings
- tested the kids' ability to put up with only each other for company - so far so good!
We have also managed to attend a number of local events in Comrie sur mer, starting with the World Cup Final on the night we arrived, which we watched in the newly opened bar/restaurant in the village. The atmosphere was very relaxed and simply bemused when France were beaten on penalties. Jack and I did have a bit of a post mortem on the game with the locals ( very amusing as my 'knowledge' of the whole event had been written for me on the back of an envelope a couple of nights previously then washed in my jeans' pocket!).
Julie, Donald and the kids were in residence on Bastille Day and we went to see the fireworks display at the harbour. This was a spectacular event as it coincided with the centenary of the local lifeboat and so, during the squib show, the lifeboat was launched lit up with flares. There was a huge crowd and the traffic in our street was queued up for about an hour trying to leave the village. We of course were very smug as it's only a short walk back to the house.
When Mum and Helen were here we went to a Poissonade in a tiny village along the coast. This is like the Comrie Thursday Club, but on a large outdoor scale, serving mussels / tuna steaks / sardines / chips etc. The weather, which had been too hot for comfort for most of the time the Coltarts were with us, decided to break that night and we (Gary) queued for 45 mins. in the drizzle to get the food, which wasn't that great ( but hey, it was cheap!) We,ve been to other poissonades since and have found the standard to be much better - bad luck Mum & Helen!!
The best one was this week, in a huge farm shed just a mile or so from the house, where they were serving up fish soup with croutons & grated cheese, crepes and cakes for 4 euros each - all very friendly and a great way to meet people - if only we could speak the lingo better!
Last night was probably the best local event - a Fest Noz - which was set up at the other end of the village in front of the chateau ( not really a castle, more a turreted house set right on the point with sea on 3 sides). The grass area was lined with open sided tents housing the food stalls and tables and a temporary stage was set upin an articulated lorry. We arrived in time to see the choir singing sea shanties followed by a great display of breton dancing in full costume - cross between Riverdance and Elizabethan quadriles with cossack pantaloons for the men and big frocks, aprons and high lacy caps for the women. Afterwards there was a bal populaire with the local ceilidh band playing as well as unaccompanied singers who amazingly kept the dancing going. The dancing was in the open on the grass and by the end the dust was really flying. It was really easy to join in as most numbers seemed to involve joining hands or pinkies and following round in long snakes. There were obviously those who were leading and doing proper steps and hand actions, but provided you sort of kept the beat, you were able to join in, have a laugh and still not spoil the whole thing for the locals. I particularly liked how your flip-flops caught in the electrical cables running across the dance area! The music was very celtic with pipes and horns so I think a wee booking for the Comrie Ceilidh band and Norrie on his pipes for next year! Throughout the proceedings the various food stalls were serving up fish soup, mussels, tuna steak, crepes - all really good and the whole night's entertainment and food for about a fiver.
We've also managed a couple of live music nights in the local bar (the one when Alastair and Gordon were with us was a bit dodgy, but this week's was much better - as was the sunset!)
The troops are now back from the truck fest and it seems to have been a great success, with the usual scant french nod to health and safety rules - who knows, maybe Jack will tell you about it!?

Kate here. We are now in France. It dose'nt feel like we have been here for almost 4 weeks already. But we have. We had my Nana (Olive) here to stay with her friend Helen aswell. The weather was lovely and hot until my Uncle Alistiar and Gordon came to stay they came to stay for 5 days. But when they were leaving Gordon had a strange idea to cook 2 sausages in the engine to see if they would cook. We hav'nt heard if the car exploded or not yet. Gordon was going to fry an egg in the engine as well but he did'nt. We have been down at the sea lots almost every day. Jacks blow up boats bottom ripped out so we now have a bottom less boat. It is still fun to swim about in thought. But it now has a puncture in it. I also have a blow up boat but it has a punctre aswell. We are trying to clear up the house before we go. I still don't know what is my bedroom. Jack and I opened up a cafe in the kitchen. We had most things you would want in a cafe. Each thing was a didffrent price. We kept the cafe up for about 3 days before we gave up.
(much rejoicing from the parents and guests whose finances were well down although we shall miss the triple gins at 30p)