Planet Ruby Starrs

We were kind of stuck at the bush camping - it's Bank holiday here and everywhere (except our camping.. too far out) is busy- it's hard to find somewhere other than laybys to sleep in and we didn't want to spend the whole weekend in a lay-by.... not even Dr Fred!!!!  So being here a couple of extra days and having time to explore we decided, as it was a good evening we would walk to the beach it's about a 5K return walk through the bush. That isn't that far unless it's 36 degrees as it has been.... but the evenings are cooler and we hoped that on the way back in the dusk we might spot kangaroo!  We took some beer and water and set off through the bush.  It was a very clear and sandy path and it went up and down and seem to go on forever... we could hear the sea and caught glimpses of it in the trees ...but we never seem to get any nearer.  There was no evident wildlife and at one point we did think we'd taken the wrong path.  After what seemed like long time...

 ....as usual we are massively out in middle of nowhere and wifi or in fact any signal is not easy to come by so quick post with pictures... it may not be very tidy but then gain neither are we - although living in a van demands some discipline so, quite wordy  this one and really not alot happening just being chilled and enjoying the heat and sunshine -  continuing our trip in land....while it was cool in the morning we walked around the loop to Hippos Yawn - massive boulder which - yes - resembles a hippo yawning... pretty impressive.  still no sign of any Kangaroos!!! Next we checked out of the camping and made short drive to Mulkas Cave.   This is a large natural cave sited in a 'hump' quite near Wave Rock its famous be cause it has over 450 very old cave paintings .  It was gloriously cool in there ... fred went off to climb the lump of granite rock but it was too hot for me so I thought I would come back to the van and paint - I set it all up but...

We have had a quiet weekend, all the Christmas deccies are down and stored in the loft - and momentarily the house looked bigger!  I'm considering a slamitin Ruby Starrs minimalist look - but I think it will hurt too much!  Everything feels a bit 'static' after the mania of the over indulgence of festive spirits.  In spite of making no new year resolutions I seem to have tasked myself with some daily 'requirements' - 15 minutes a day to relearn my Spanish - at the moment this is very satisfying as I am just going over basic ground and feeling rather pleased with myself as I'm getting most of it right- as soon as I hit grammar I will be less enamored!  I'm also keeping up my dancing routine - at least 30 minutes a day to good tunes if I don't get out for a decent walk... now I am feeling smug as the weather had been kind and we have had several very pleasant wanders around the coast AND I've been dancing as well!!! I got a long yearned for graphic...

potential bivi if no camping... We are back on the coast. its much cooler and great to be back by the sea.  We stopped for clam chowder and clam fritters and had a walk down the beach to the Devils Punchbowl a stunning cliff cave hole thingy which we could get to because it was low tide. We booked into a motel about 2 blocks from the sea, we feel the need for a bit of comfort, plus we got caught out by an American national holiday for Labor Day and camping is scarce - actually everything is scarce so we are forced to move inland tomorrow 😖😖😖but we just couldn't face trailing around - so making the most of what we have for now, bathed and tidied we headed down the road to watch the sun go down over the sea - not a cloud in sight..... ....and strangely for a holiday weekend not many people around either - it was just lovely, bit like Druiridge bay - except planning gone a bit mad but long empty beaches with more sea gulls then people and a setting sun rather then a ri...

We kipped in a quiet spot near a nature reserve the other night... we set outselves up for badger spotting but had no joy only a lone fox looking a bit curious.  The next day a nice walk on a beach where the tide was way out.  there were lots of granite rocks strewn with empty crab shells of every colour..shades of yellow, dusky pinks, vivid purples, blue and some quite translucent.  The sea was at least a mile from the shore line and we wandered back with it slowly following us as the tide came in.