2 July 2013 - Bunbury Glade Caravan Park, Bunbury, Western Australia

Today was one of those days that didn’t keep to the script at all. After breakfast and the laundry was attended to, we set off for Bunbury’s museum, King Cottage, built by brick maker Henry King in 1880, not too far from our camp. Had we read the small print in our guide, we would have seen that it did not open until 2 pm although we would not have found the entry fee was $10. Viewed from the street, we decided we did not feel inclined to return later in the day nor pay the required $20. Perhaps this is our loss rather than the historical society’s; we will never know.

Instead we headed across to the southern head of The Cut, accessed via Leschenault Drive, out past the grain and alumina loading docks, alongside the Preston River before it reaches the Leschenault Estuary. Out by The Cut, there is a well maintained board jetty to suit fishermen, a fish cleaning bench and relatively modern toilet facilities. Apart from a chap in a ute with a couple of man-eating-looking dogs, we were quite alone. We wandered out toward the breakwater from where we were able to look back across Koombana Bay toward the city. We also looked across The Cut to the Leschenault Peninsula and found neither of us were excited about the prospect of walking down along the extensive sand dunes. This had been the plan for the afternoon, but was abandoned then and there.

We decided instead we would engage in some retail therapy; we had seen the East Bunbury Shopping Centre as we drove out, so headed back becoming lost in the process. This turned into a real bonus, because as we were heading the wrong way across the end of the Leschenault Inlet, we saw a couple of dolphins out in the water. We parked and walked briskly back along the boardwalk, soon meeting a small pod of these wonderful mammals swimming toward us. We clapped our hands and stamped our feet to attract their attention, however they were too busy following their own agenda which had nothing to do with entertaining humans. We leaned on the rails and watched as they slowly made their way up the Inlet toward the Channel. They really are wonderful, aren’t they?

Our retail therapy included shopping for groceries and some new warm socks for me. I am so easily satisfied, even with such small purchases.

Back at camp we were met with the rain showers which continued on and off for the rest of the day. Chris washed the land cruiser while I read the paper and juggled the drying laundry as one does when avoiding the use of clothes dryers. We also spent some time pouring over maps and coming to very few decisions. Tomorrow morning we will head south from Bunbury to Busselton, but beyond that nothing is certain.