The Flynet does work!!!

All yea doubters take heed - if the flies get to you too much - just buy a flynet and WHOOSH!!! they disappear. Or so it seems to us since once Lei got the flynet - the flies vanished. Of course - it could also be because the weather has taken a considerable turn to cold and windy and we defy any self respecting fly to come out in this weather.

It seems that we have brought with us some of the most unusual weather that Australia has seen for some time. We had floods in the middle of a drought in Victoria, cold weather in the tropics of Queensland in the summer, and now in Western Australia, we have rain and cold in Kalgoorlie - which normally experiences dry and 30+ degrees in the summer months. Go figure!!!

But we have also had fun. We left Albany behind on Thursday morning and travelled to Esperance. A beautiful little town in the middle of nowhere which has some of the most stunning beaches we have ever encountered. You can view from the shoreline the Recherche Archipelago which is comprised of over 100 islands. They also have a 'Pink Lake' so named because of the algae which grows in it and gives it a pink tint in the summer months (although we have to admit - it didn't look pink on the day we went). We participated in the town's Christmas Pageant - parade and all.

On Friday morning - we were off again in the early morning and on to Kalgoorlie. A western town, first founded with the discovery of gold in the late 1800's. There are working gold mines there today - including what is called the 'Super Pit', a large open cast gold mine on the outskirts of town. This pit is enormous - too big to describe. All I can suggest is that you go onto 'Google Earth' and search out Kalgoorlie - you can see the pit from there.

Karen, Shirley and Lei visited a working Brothel for a tour and spoke to the current Madame about it's history (this is a legal profession in Australia). The building is over 100 years old and has too many stories to describe here. Also this is a family site, so if you want more information about that - you shall have to contact us directly...

This morning we set off back for Secret Harbour and the comforts of home. We ended up driving about 2300 km over the past 4 days, spent 28 out of the last 81 hours in the car - and saw an amazing amount of open space. It is so vast and so empty. We used to think that driving across America was open - but it is nothing compared to this. Australia has more land mass than the US - but with less than 1/10th the population. Once you go 100km inland from the shore - it just opens up and doesn't stop until you hit the other side 4 days later...

Finally, we'd like to thank all of you who have commented on the blog. We love reading them and look forward to seeing the comments stack up. At times, it feels like we are talking to ourselves (which is fine as this will be a wonderful travel record when we are back and the nights are cold and dark in Scotland) and then we receive a comment and know that you are all enjoying our travels with us. It is quite a feeling knowing you are taking so many people with you around in your adventures. So this is just a note of thanks - and to say - keep them coming.