X-mas Road Trip

Our 10 days road trip to the South-West between Pemberton and Two People's Bay was a great time-out within a long period of instability at work. Padu endured a couple of waves of organisation restructure in his company and I think that this short escape to nature helped the family to focus on a good start for 2014. It also deepened our relationship with Laura-Jane, our Swiss Au Pair who stayed with us for five months.

As I had the anterior cruciate ligament toned in early November, I was now facing a 12 months period of rehabilitation. Therefore, we didn't really plan to take all our kite surf gear and rush after the wind, but instead decided to explore the Southern Ocean Coast.

However, Laura took that opportunity to progress in kite boarding supported by the help of her host family: Padu committed to teaching her the basics on several occasions in a safe environment until she could do a water start and enjoy her first few short rides. I took the chance to enjoy watching the girls dancing in the sand.

Laura even mastered offroad driving in the remote Banksia Camp South of Broke Inlet in d'Entreacasteaux  National Park. Meanwhile, I really enjoyed my post-surgery recovery in the back seat with Laetitia and Oceane, stretching my leg towards the gear box and laughing with them on silly things.

We had such a good time, teaming up for a couple of days with our Canadian friends Sarah and Chris on the dune of Pemberton and then following up with our French friends David, Maryline, Gilles, Anais and Mika with other adventure activites in West Cape Howe National Park. It was impressive to watch the latter two paraglide over Shelley Beach.

We also explored the beautiful Two People's bay and Little Beach on the East of Albany. It was below Mt Manypeaks that we enjoyed the peacefulness of the area and passed New Year's Eve with the songs of the frogs croaking under a light drizzle. No mozzies, pristine beaches with an incredible turquoise water and red lagoon, result of the tannin of the  gum trees. Little Beach on the other extremity of the Bay was just like a still painting. I could just sit on the beach and watch into the deep blue it as it was a dream.

On the way back to Perth, we spent our last night in the Stirling range and I made the challenge to climb the highest summit of Western Australia with Laetitia, Oceane and of course the fit, well and able Laura and Patrick who carried the pic-nick and water for everyone. We enjoyed the view from the top of Bluff Knoll after 3 hours ascension.

We all received a energizing massage from Padu for our achievement before heading back to Perth. Girls deserved yummy Christmas crafting with their daddy, too! We brought those edible houses to our dear Brazilian friends Marcelo, Alexandra, Hannah and Isabella for their house warming party.

Our photo album on flickr contains some highlights of the trip in pictures: 20140102 X-mas Road Trip.