Little trail of Hursula

The Grampians

After tearing ourselves away from Anne's delightful cooking and abducting her son, we piled up Hurse's already-full roof rack with Zac's stuff and set off. Stopping for the essentials (ahem, Rekordelig, thanks Zac) we made the 3'ish hour drive to the Grampians (not Gambiens, Anrielle) National Park. Trying to take in the pretty, gigantic mountains that we were driving into, we attempted to dodge the growing amount of wildlife that was occupying the road as we passed into Halls Gap as dusk descended. So beautiful.



We stopped to get outrageously over-priced groceries and headed to "Grampians Paradise", where our sweet 70's caravan awaited. Drove in excitedly to see Leon chatting to park owner Aiden (I know that killer rats tail is attractive but back off Lizzie, he's married). We were glad the boys were with us because it was slightly scary driving into a pitch black caravan park with only one other person staying there. But we quickly warmed to it with it's quirks and murky water. Mexican food, wine, Rusty Nails and card games ensued. Things got a bit rowdy when Haylie was introduced to Leons monkey hat...

Next morning we awoke, had a lovely family BBQ brekky and got ready in mountain-climbing attire. Got some once again ridiculously overpriced picnic supplies in town and managed to fit in an impromptu busking sesh outside of the shops with Zac on lead guitar, accompanied by the Chromonica, a ukulele and a triangle and some sweet handclaps. Earnings of the session amounted to $3.30. Then made our way* to the Balconies, a massive rocky lookout over the Grampians with an amazing view. Luckily we had a clear day and we could enjoy a picnic out on the rocks. Could have been a slightly out of bounds area but was too good to resist. Inventive sandwich and cup making skills were needed. 'Coon Goon'. Then tried to go to Mackenzie Falls to swim in the waterfall but was all closed up due to weather damage. Damn, so disappointed. Head back to the caravan park to make dinner and meet a WOOFer, Canadian Dan. Said he'd started in Perth and had push-biked (Nige it was a fully sweet dooshie) across the Nullarbor. Tams new nickname of 'talk box' is coined. We bond over truck honking. Good luck man.

In the morning we have to part ways with Leon and Zac, but saddest of all with Aiden....

*Driver Haylie revealed a side of her none of us saw coming: this self-proclaimed animal lover was indeed a mass murderer of local fauna. Final count of the afternoon was one pigeon and four lizards (one lizard managed to escape her ruthless killing spree). Note: no other driver killed anything, just Hales. Tammy spent the day re-enacting the pigeons last moments before she saw the explosion of feathers.

Nathaniels Song

Nathaniels song
                         
I can remember, I can remember, when Tammy, Asha, Lizzy, Haylie and Anriele came to visit,
                              
They came round to our house and sat down on our couch and taught us many things of their 
   
adventures and many other things, we laughed and chatted,    of heaps of different 
things, oh

It's crazy how fast time goes past and how short all our times will last
From the bush around in W.A to the cities where they'll never say

Cough cough, there's a dog and a cat next to me 
On a cup just to the right of me

Hurses Traverse

Started our stay In Mt Gambia with thai cuisine. This restaurant was called Banana Tree and looks like a 4/5 with chandeliers and gave cocktails glasses for a humble lemon lime and bitters. We walk in.. In our driving attire, and Haylie in a bright pink tutu. We got stares and gawks. Then we realised it wasn't the cheapest food in the world and Tam discovered the 'veggies of the day' - $7 massive and delicious. We drank our water and left.
 We headed to Zac Gobs place where we were greeted by Ann and Les - two incredibly hospitable people. Ann showed us her collection of shells, 57 dead sea dragons, and gave us all crocheted booties for our feets. They also gave us beds to sleep in, food, tea and a skill for life - crocheting. Haylie made a disco tie, anrielle made something wrong, Lizzy made a blue line, asha (teachers pet) made a sweet headband and Tammy made a necklace.

 The next day we went to the big blue lake where the urban legend has it that it's never ending and finishes in China. Guess we'll never know..

Then we drove to Port Macdonald beach and froze our bits off and Port has a permanent garage sale where Tam and asha got some rugs, dresses and a salmon shawl. Anrielle got a lovely amber ring and some cufflinks. Then we found ourselves in the local pub and the juke box - enough said.

That night consisted of jenga and spoons. Nathaniel Gob composed a song for us (which we will post) and our trip which was glorious. He played some flamenco where Tam voiced spontaneous spoken word. Ezra made a shell necklace for Hurse which she greatly appreciated. We didn't see Haylie for a few hours due to her Crocheting addiction. Zac also decided to join our humble trip so the next morning we packed up, went to Dan Murphey's and got some strawberry and lime Rekorderlig and began the fun drive the the Grampiens.