December allowed me to check out and service the new Nissan while completing the modifications. Also the boat trailer was galvanised and mounted on the car. The trailer only weighs 30kg and so far works well.

New boat trailer

One of Sandy's Father's neighbour, Ken, was interested when I told him I used to make Biltong, a South African dried meat. He promptly made up a drying box and allowed me to use it before I left Perth. I now have half a dozen sticks of meat and I'm trying to work out how I can make some more on the road because they won't last long, yummy. It is raw meat cut into 1 inch square strips about 10 inches long and marinated overnight in vinegar, salt, brown sugar, corriander, pepper and any other spices you want. It is then dried over 4 to 7 days until it is hard. You can buy it from some butchers who make it for their customers.

Christmas day was spent in Perth with our families before heading off to Cape Riche. Two years ago we had Christmas at Cape Riche and had hailstones and we were flooded with the torrential downpour. We should have learnt our lesson! Sandy's sister Lauren, hubby Tony and kids Laura and Jack came with us for the first week. We set up camp then it started to rain, the tent leaked and the kids sleeping bags got wet so they slept in the annexe. Lauren slept on the van floor and Tony slept in the back of the car. We had musical beds over the next 3 days as sleeping arrangements changed daily. It eventually settled down as we all got organised. Lauren and Laura didn't believe they could shower with only 5 litres of water each, Laura being 13 was horrified. At the end of the trip I think they were using less than 5 litres each, well done. Jack caught his first big edible fish, a large King George Whiting, and was so excited. He enjoyed his fish for tea that night. We all settled down to a slow relaxing camping lifestyle with fishing, swimming, walking and small driving trips to pass the time away.

We packed up camp after they left and drove to Bremer Bay where we are currently camped. Les and Iris are also camped here and I was invited out in their boat for a fishing trip to the islands. A Harlequin fish and two Queen Snappers were my catches of the day, this will keep us going for a week. Still a bit windy but things should start to calm down as we head towards March/April which are supposed to be the best times on the South coast.

Our campsite near Bremer Bay

Next month we will still be here then onto Lucky Bay sometime in February.

Peter and Sandy

Fishing in the South.