GERALDTON AND DONGARA - WAITING TO GET THE VAN FIXED - 18 NOVEMBER TO 18 DECEMBER 2015

Finally we make it to Geraldton and get the old tyres replaced including the one that was too big, put on by the dodgy crew in Cue. Now we have to wait for the parts to arrive at the caravan workshop to have it fixed. Needs a new oven, new awning, the wiring redone, the arch fixed and cupboards repaired. Quite a lot of damage.

The girls posing in the caravan park in Geralton. Sisterly love. This trip has really bonded us as a family.

                      Toby trying out his new floaty at Geraldton town beach. He just loves the water.

We then moved down to this cheaper caravan park south of Geraldton in the little town of Dongara whilst we wait for the parts to arrive for the caravan. Sea views.....just!

                                                       Kyra enjoying the pool there.

                                              An evening drink at the Priory hotel in Dongara.

     Steffi made a unique Advent calendar for the girls. A present every day tied up in individual          orange bags with the date on up until the 24th December. Plus it's out of Toby's reach!

Posing for a Christmas family picture to be sent off with the Christmas cards we are busy making.

                                    One of the pretty walks near our caravan park in Dongara.

Finally the parts have arrived and I have taken our caravan in to be repaired in Geraldton. The lovely people from our caravan insurance company have put us up in this luxury apartment by the harbour in Geraldton with sea views, a spa bath and at last a dishwasher!

                              Enjoying breakfast on our balcony. Here for 10 days! Hoorah. We can move again after months of being cramped.

So off I go to buy a Christmas tree for our apartment which the girls just love decorating. I'll worry about getting it into the caravan later!

So much space and the girls have their own room downstairs with ensuite, kitchen and patio.

                                       Chicken and kalamata olive slow cooker dish I made.

                                           The girls on a cycle along the Geraldton seafront.

At the Christmas fair the girls had fun on this elastic jump. Kyra just about being launched into orbit as we looked nervously on!

                Looking from the museum across the harbour to our apartment in Geraldton

       I got up to go to toilet and when I got back I found my side had been taken! Sneaky thing!

                  Treating ourselves to a great Thai meal around the corner from the apartment.

                                     Kyra giving Toby a sisterly cuddle in the apartment.

Heading off for a walk from the apartment to the Sydney memorial up on the hill above town. The ladies stopped at this house to put flowers in their hair.

                                    One of the quaint houses on the way up to the memorial.

The Sydney memorial, there to remember the 645 sailors who perished when the ship the HMS Sydney sunk in a World War 2 battle off the coast of Geraldton.

                                            Our official Christmas photo in the apartment.

                                                Our last night at the lovely apartment so we head down to the local harbour bar for an evening drink. Was a rather posh place.

KARIJINI TO GERALDTON - 10 NOVEMBER TO 17 NOVEMBER 2015

So we finally start the long drive of 1200kms back down to Geraldton to get the caravan repaired after the tyre blow out. Worried every kilometre that another tyre will shred.

We stopped for 2 nights in the mining town of Newman where the temperature stayed in the 40s all day long so we spent a lot of time in the campground's little swimming pool. Kyra finally learnt to swim.(and dive!)

                             The sun directly above us so the trees aren't giving us any shade.

Carrying on from Newman we stopped at Kumarina roadhouse in the middle of nowhere to fill up. The place was full of sad looking birds in cages and goldfish in stagnant green water.

                  The only fuel stop between Newman and Meekatharra a distance of 400kms!

We stopped for one night at the Karalundi Aboriginal community. Great to see grass again after days of red dust. Toby was very sick here with a very high temperature but luckily they had an on site nurse who kept and eye on him so we felt in good hands. Always a worry when you are in the middle of nowhere.

                                        The girls helping prepare dinner in the camp kitchen.

                                       The Aboriginal flag proudly flying at the community.

Not much further down the road we had another tyre shred!!! Just what we had been dreading. Luckily it didn't damage anymore of the caravan and with our tyre changing experience we had it changed in half and hour. A record!

                             Luckily we could pull off the road but hot work though as about 40.c.

                                                           Not much left of the tyre!

             Arriving into the next town of Cue we had to pull of the road to let this wide truck pass.

One of the hottest days we experienced on this trip. Doesn't look it as everyone seems so relaxed as we head off to the air conditioned pub.

                                      Ayla and Kyra posing by the 100 year old town gaol.

Cue  very quaint and full off old ornate buildings. This is the pub beckoning us with it's air conditioning and cold beer.

Cooling off in the tavern. The next day we had to get a new tyre and a dodgy tyre shop in Cue sold us a tyre that was the wrong size but that was all they had. Guy there tried to tell me I should replace all my tyres even my new one as they were all the wrong size. Luckily I ignored him.

                Cooling off at the tiny settlement of Yalgoo. One more day to get to Geraldton.