Nov 12 -18

13th November Monday
Week 30
This morning we left Cosy Corner after five glorious days of sun, surf and sand to move onto another part of this beautiful WA coastline. Unfortunately, last night the weather turned rainy and a bit gloomy, but we shall drive to another campground and stay at Betty’s Beach [34degrees 56`13” S] [118degrees 12` 30” E] about 50kms from Albany.
There are five camp spots in total and we were fortunate to get the closest one overlooking the ocean. A few shacks are built along the ocean foreshore for when the commercial salmon fishing is popular from 15th Feb to 30th April but apparently anyone can use them to camp in when not in use.

After we set up we went for a drive around the sand tracks to have a look. We could see a house high up amongst the sand dunes and very well protected from the winds, but the track was private property, so we turned back.
We located another section of the beach named Norman’s Beach which also has free camping and only a few campsites here.

Betty’s Beach have toilets, bins, no phone or TV reception, no water or power so you need to be self-sufficient to stay.

14th November Tuesday.
The morning remained brilliant sunshine with a strong cool breeze throughout the whole day. We took a walk down onto the beach before breakfast, and with Billy ahead of us climbing over the massive boulders like a mountain goat, we ventured across the rocks and dropped down to the next section of beach here which was just as pretty.
Quite a few other people arrived throughout the day to try their luck at catching a fish and generally to enjoy the sunshine.
Billy had a serious haircut with the clippers today, he didn’t appear too impressed as his hair flew away in the breeze. He looks a lot neater and ready for the predicted warmer temperatures as we get closer to crossing the Nullarbor in few weeks.

A lazy day for all of us, nothing planned other than to enjoy being on holidays next to gorgeous turquoise water.

15th November Wednesday
A slightly overcast and windy day predicted but the sun is out, so we plan to spend time on the beach while we can and swim Billy.
We don’t have very good mobile range here at Betty’s beach, but we found if we walked back up the dirt road or placed the mobiles against the window in van, we could send and receive texts.
By midday the seas were very rough with increasing winds and we were forced to slightly turn our van around, so we would have less wind on the door and be able to open it.
Our last night here at Betty’s beach.

16th November Thursday
This morning we left this beautiful beach and will continue heading East and see what we find along the way. We had morning tea on the South Coast Hwy and Bremmer Bay just off the side of the road.
These roads had not much in between to stop to look at, so we continued through Jerramungup till we found Fitzgerald Road (old school site) for lunch. It was here we caught up with friends for at lunch, who were camped with us at Betty’s beach. We took a walk around this old school site and the community has set up plaques for past students and principals which was very interesting and very educational, about the history of the families that purchased land for farming, housing, schooling and often at times hardships.

After leaving Fitzgerald region, we continued to Ravensthorpe East RV town rest area on the South Coast Hwy for the night. It was a very basic park with toilets across the road and a short walk up town to the IGA, tavern, fuel, chemist.
Ravensthorpe town is located 190kms West of Esperance and is encircled by the rugged Ravensthorpe Range, amid tall Salmon gums which stretches for 45kms, abundance of plants, wildlife, scenic lookouts and an extensive old-time mining history. Today we drove an average of 270kms, a slightly longer day than usual.
Warm breezes into the night with expected forecast of increased daytime temperatures tomorrow.






17th November Friday
This morning as we packed to leave Ravensthorpe the temperature at 8am was already 28 degrees.
We don’t have many kilometres to travel to Hopetoun today and isn’t it a warm start to the day already!
Found the 48-hour RV rest stop in Hopetoun and beside a walkway down to the beach, we were set up and looking forward to being close to the ocean once again.
36 degrees at 12.30! The AC in the van has been on since we got here, and hoping for a storm later in the afternoon.

18th November Saturday
Glorious sunny day and no storm as it passed us by and went towards Esperance instead.
Up early for a walk on the beach at 5.30am and Billy excited as ever to run and play in the water.
Using the laundry here at Hopetoun to get rid of all the dirty stuff and start fresh prior to the Nullarbor crossing. We plan to be at Esperance tomorrow for all top up of food, fuel etc.