Sun 13th June '21 - Day 2

Yanchep to Cervantes

 

As might be expected in a National Park, it’s a pitch-black night and it’s also the first trial for kids to climb down the steep 6 stepped ladder during the darkness to grope their way to the toilet. So it’s not surprising that Seb calls out in the night for help down the ladder.

Its fresh in the morning with dew on the ground. After showers in the neat sandstone shower block on the edge of the oval and some breakfast – which is still Weetbix and Sultana Bran. Kate finally gets her first tea on the stove stop from the whistling kettle.

We venture into the park, with more kangaroos in the undergrowth and plenty of flowering wattle bushes and oversized mini volcanoes from ants digging in the ground. There is a rising boardwalk into a walk-through koala enclosure, though we only spot one of the furry creatures wedged in the branches of a tree. Past this through a gate out on to a manicured lawn, with adjoining tearoom and a lake with overgrown hedges on the edges.

There are autumnal leaves falling from trees lining the paths, and signboards of possible local wildlife so in the Information Centre / shop, Sienna asks how poisonous the Western Tiger Snake is. The cheerful lady fetches a book to show and explain.

We also buy our first souvenir coin – which are a common option at tourist sights up and down the west coast. We spot more koalas, or at least we’ve got marginally better at spotting them, though in her excitement, Sienna drops her newly purchased coin into the enclosure. After popping back to the van I return with a mug attached a hook and manage to fish the coin out, much to Sienna’s surprise.

We depart at 11am, Kate driving for the first time, too Lancelin. Stop at the Endeavour Tavern – we realise as we’re pulling up in the car park that we’ve been here before, when Kate and I came this way on our last trip to WA. Lunch is outside on pb benches, although windy, under seagulls. Kids play with giant chalk boards and giant Jenga blocks with other children. Before we get back on the road proper we pop around the corner to a playground, and a sly stop at the local bakery. Kids run amok in the skatepark with their first new fried Sherni.

I drive the one hour to Cervantes, home for our next few nights, though its inauspiciously grey and overcast as we arrive. This site is a Big4/RAC (chain) with 150 sites, pool, laundry, games room. All perched next to the beach. Kate and kids jumping the pool, more because it’s there than because its warm and they need cooling. After showers at 4:30pm we try to drive back a little down the road to watch sunset at the Pinnacles, 20 minutes back down the road.

But entrance closed so we have an early dinner of sandwiches on the edge of the nearby beach, though its dark now so now view and the rushing sound is more from the wind than the waves on the beach.