Very early on in this trip, maybe even before we left home, I wrote a blog post describing it as a caravan adventure. It felt like that. It felt like we were taking a risk, doing something exciting and unusual. Someone, I cannot remember who, left a comment on that post challenging that thought. They said that hopefully it would not be an adventure because that meant that things hadn't gone to plan. That we would be taking risks. That the outcomes were uncertain.
Early this morning our family of five boarded a catamaran in Monkey Mia hoping to spend the next few hours sailing about watching the dolphins, sharks, dugongs, turtles and other sea life.
Farmer Bren helped the crew 'heave ho' and then we settled in for the ride.
At first the trip was glorious.
The ocean was turquoise, the borrowed Polaroid sunnies gave us a giggle and let the girls see the water better, there was a pleasant breeze and an optimistic feeling on board.
We sailed for a while and we did see a couple of dolphins, some logger head turtles and some jumping fish, but try as we might none of the bigger sea creatures were anywhere to be seen.
And then the 'severe weather warning' that wasn't meant to reach us until this afternoon turned up.
We watched it in all its dark grey gloomy glory heading towards us from across the bay.
At first we thought we would be able to outrun it back to shore. But then we realised we couldn't 'run' that fast.
So we stowed all our valuables, donned borrowed yellow waterproof jackets and huddled under the tiny bit of shade cloth shelter and waited.
And it didn't disappoint. We saw spectacular lightning, heard thunder that made us scream with fright and got absolutely and completely saturated.
When we finally arrived back at the dock the crew offered us another sailing trip for free to take over the next few days. We declined ours because we are leaving tomorrow, but the truth is I think that all of us feels like we had our sailing on Monkey Mia adventure already.
We may have not seen many of the sea creatures they advertised but we had such an exciting and thrilling time. We explored unknown territory, experienced something potentially risky. Things hadn't quite gone to plan.
But we had a ball. We yelled at the crazy loud thunder, we laughed at each other as we got progressively wetter and started dripping, we huddled in tight to fit more people under the tiny shelter and we chatted with people from all over the world that we otherwise might have not even noticed.
After we got off the boat and had warm showers and changed into warm, snuggly clothes, we had a hearty lunch of pasta with pesto and spent the afternoon listening to the rain on the roof, watching movies, crocheting and writing in our journals.
What an amazing, adventurous and cozy last day in Monkey Mia. One I am certain we will never forget.
Happy travels. x
Getting caught in a storm on dry land is magnificent ... at sea it must be spectacular, just so long as you are safe! And isn't equally the best part the drying off afterwards and, for me in the UK at least, the mug of cocoa by the fire.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a crazy day alright! I would have been freaking out, I'm not a boat girl really. So you are off tomorrow huh? On the road again. Have you decided where you will be for your bday? Thinking of you all, and sending lots of love from all of us xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteWow! An adventure indeed. Glad you are ok and enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThis is what travelling is all about, and how wonderful your girls are getting a taste for adventure.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! What an adventure!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are all safe & you all enjoyed it!!
what a wonderful adventure!! That's the thing about life isn't it, that it's worth taking risks because they can be so rewarding.
ReplyDeletexo
PS glad you are safe and good tho
pps address please ?!
And I will guarantee that you will remember this day because it was so different from all the rest! Glad you all got home safe and sound though.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a little pesto after a rough seafaring kinda day!? x
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you are all okay. Reminds me of the time we tried to outrun a severe weather warning at Esperance, only for us to have to drive for one hour through the worse electrical and rain storm I've experienced in my whole life as we approached Ravensthorpe. The accommodation was something to write home about too...as we couldn't put up our roof top tent that night.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are all safe. The talk on the radio was a bit nervewracking and scary about that storm. You are a brave lot.
ReplyDeleteTo me adventure is what the famous five got up to. The went somewhere, things happened and theyhad a ball. I love adventure. Even sitting at home waiting for the electricity bill can be a small adventure. I think I would prefer yours heaps more. Adventure is learning and how wonderful that your family is gaining this experience and memories together. Hope more exciting adventures come your way. Cherrie
ReplyDeleteWHOA, ahoy me hearties, what an amazing time, how good for the adrenalin, how exciting! Oh Kate your description is magnificent. You conjure up images of how you all felt and reacted. Thank YOU! So thrilled to bits that you're all safe and warm ♥♥♥♥♥
ReplyDeleteExciting and always nice to get through it unscathed!
ReplyDeleteAdventures are a good thing!
ReplyDeleteHi kate
ReplyDeleteI am following along on your adventure and can't wait to be actually doing it for ourselves in a years time.
Am loving your words and pictures - where to next?
xx
Kathreen
What an excellent adaventure ! It will not be forgotten , what fun !
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way of looking at life! It reminds me of a quote I read somewhere: "life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain".
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiration you all are!
Please head to Shell Beach along your way down the coast (as I already suggested as comment in a previous post)... Shell Beach is between Monkey Mia and Kalbarri and is a beach with a million tiny tiny shells instead of sand. I remember going as a young child and being spellbound by the magic of the place (can you believe I loved it more than Monkey Mia?!) - I sincerely hope it hasn't changed much since then, because if it is as I remember, your shell-loving daughters would be in total awe of the place!
Sorry for repeating myself, but I wanted to remind you incase you hadn't seen my previous comment!
Loving your blog - it is simply gorgeous!
Ha ha! The storm!
ReplyDeleteI just posted about the very same storm that saw us getting VERY wet, and then laughing and drinking tea together in one of the motel rooms.
We were on land though (which felt decidedly surrounded by sea at the time) while you were at sea. We weren't scared, just wet!
Wow, that's what it is all about hey!! Waking up to a fresh day with surprises in store, what a fantastic adventure you are having.
ReplyDeletex Sandi
What a fantastic adventure. Terrific!
ReplyDeleteYour adventure sounds like fun! On age I am finding that as I get older it is not the numbers that are bothering me it is the changes in my body that are happening that I can't seem to do anything about and that are challenging my sense of 'self'. My whole body shape is changing and who I have been for the last 25 years or so is no longer looking at me in the mirror. Its not a bad thing and I can see me becoming my grandmother who I loved dearly but it is a bit disconcerting. Beginning your 40's is easier than ending them ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave been following your gorgeous family here for a few months now and loving every bit of your adventure!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I went to a caravan show last weekend and I'm sure he got SO sick of me commenting on every caravan with 'yes lovely but Fox's Lane caravan has "this" and is SO much cooler!'
Just opened my favourite mag, Green Magazine, and was so excited to see you guys and the caravan! Fantastic!
Keep it rolling.
Sx
Oh my word - I would have been vomiting;) Have a blog post to do tomorrow on whale watching and was able to keep down my lunch for the first time EVER...
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story and memory that you will all remember of your stay in WA.
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