11th Oct - Perth!!!

Burns Beach corner was great, but a bit expensive... We might end up back there for a while - when we have a car. And that is the first mission today, to get the 'trailer' repaired. The Suzi shop is at Cannington, about 45k away and the other side of Perth. We will wait for the morning freeway traffic to ease...

After 9 o'clock we are off heading inland a bit to the Mitchell Freeway, passing north of the CBD on the Graeme Farmer Freeway and tunnel. The the Leach Highway etc. The Suzuki shop is over 2 acres of cars. 500 Suzukis!!!

Aside from providing spare parts, they modify cars - bigger engines in Sierras mainly. Discuss the details with Peter, the boss, and the Vitara is pushed in... Should be done by end of next week!!!

Next stop Kewdale and WA Hino. I have ordered two oil filters. The bus is well due for an oil change. My dad was always on about investing in clean oil for diesels, because of the high detergent property of the fuel and the fine soot that gets everywhere - including into the oil... so now have oil filters and will find somewhere or someone to change the oil... when we have a car back.

crossing the Swan River... again

Business done it is time to track down Owen. He is at the office in North Perth. We can park over the road. He is working flat out and has two or three days work to do, in the next one day... Hugs and coffee. A bit of a yack and let him get back to work. Ali is at her mums, up the coast in Marmion, and has a scan in the middle of the day, so we will catch up later on...

Thought we better check out the new place. The bus just fits between the carport and the kerb. There is no footpath, so we don't obstruct it! Pity there is a power pole right in front of the house so we can not get onto the nature strip - without hanging over the road; and there is a bus stop at the next house with a bus every half hour.
Convenient, unless you want to park a 7x2.4 metre bus nearby...

 So our plan to check out the closest caravan parks. The closest and best sounding one is not dog friendly... next one is Wanneroo. It is full, mostly permanents, and very tight anyway. Memorable image is of the ducks on the 'swimming' pool.
Next option is Kingsway, a little closer in fact, but have read a few scathing reviews. They have (plenty of) space and facilities not too bad. In for one night.

At the end of this day we have driven 11,500 KM, which is as expected from last years initial plan. But I am pooped, having changed gear more times in the last 150KM than any other month, I reckon.

Owen and Ali have an appointment for the 'three' of them tomorrow morning, so we now have a plan for dinner tomorrow.