After leaving Lucky Bay and our friends in the drizzle, we headed back to Shorefront CP, a few spaces up from the last spot. Luckily it stopped raining, so after setting up we went out with every intent of replenishing supplies after eating out our pantry after Lucky Bay (we only left because we ran out of food!), followed by a treat of fish and chips. This is where we discovered WA is hanging onto 1980’s trading hours. Almost nothing was open on Sunday (I wonder if they have Thursday late night shopping? How cute…). We eventually found a small express IGA on the edge of town and bought enough to tide us over till Monday when the big supermarkets were open again. As luck would have it a fish and chip shop was right next door and open.

We headed down to the Tanker Jetty to eat our delicious fish and chips, then strolled along the jetty, pausing to watch some fishermen cleaning some rather large pelagics they’d caught on a charter. This was to the delight of the boys, who are finding fishing fascinating. We got talking to a lovely old gentleman also watching the catch being cut up and found he been a local of Esperance since the 80’s retiring there after 60 years in the ambulance service at Kalgoorlie! He stunned us all when he proudly declared he was 97, still driving and living in his own home.

Next day was a Monday, so we knew the shops would be open (but only between 8am and 6pm). We did three loads of washing and went out for a fuel up and proper grocery shop. Also on the agenda was a new air compressor. My cheap Chinese piece of crap had firstly seized, then snapped a crank shaft. Apparently you get what you pay for! I severed my hip pocket nerve and bought a Bush Ranger Super Max.

Twilight Beach – sadly too cold and windy for swimming today.

We also managed a few touristy things, visiting WA’s “best” beach, Twilight Beach along the Great Ocean Drive, as well as Esperance Museum that included a Skylab exhibit and an Austin 7, a car that my grand father bravely drove across the Nullarbor in 1932.

Esperance Museum – Austin 7

Kris and the kids had Wave Rock on their bucket list, so our next stop was to be Ravensthorpe so we could nip up to Hyden for the day – a lazy 400 km trip.