Seven hours in the car? There's definitely time for a pit stop along the way. Hello, Cervantes!

After a delicious picnic lunch, we ran down to the beach to explore and get rid of some energy.

The magnetic sands at Cervantes are amazing. After searching around for just the right spot, LR was able to float about 6 inches above the ground!

RJ didn't have the patience, and jumped instead.

Mom had a problem after her lower legs disappeared.

And Dad.... Dad's just a goofball.

We arrived at the caravan park in Geraldton and discovered a giant jumping pillow. The kids immediately disappeared while Mom set up camp.

It seems that the rules are just meant to be broken... No inverted maneuvers when LR is involved? That's just not going to happen.

Later that night, we joined our friends for dinner and watched the huge ships drift into harbour.

LR and RJ watch passers-by on the streets below.

The next day, it was off to the Hamlet at Greenough to see some history.

RJ, LR and E. sprint across the grass to the hall. Most of the buildings have been restored and filled with turn of the century antiques.

E. and LR sit down in the old school to take a test. Lucky kids got to use ball-point pens instead of quills and ink!

LR was a severe judge in the court room. RJ was sentenced to live out the remainder of his years in the colonies.

The day-care facilities were just fantastic... and conveniently just out of hearing distance from the cafe too!

Mom and LR wait outside while RJ and Dad explore EVERY SINGLE ROOM.

After Greenough, we stopped back at a playground for lunch. LR clutches tight to the swing as RJ does his very best to throw her off.

At the Geraldton Museum, for good luck, RJ and LR rub the head of Max Cramer, the discoverer of the wreck of the Batavia.

RJ explores an interactive map in an exhibit about the Shipwreck Coast

RJ also made friends with this guy (super huge thanks to the Gero museum staff who helped us take this).

LR, E. and RJ make a pretty mean work crew.

The next day we travelled to Shark Bay. After a long stretch in the car, we finally reached the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool!

Nothing like watching mats of bubbling cyanobacteria photosynthesise away while slowly building their layerd accretionary structures, eh LR?

RJ and LR relax, watching for fish and tiny bubbles of oxygen drifting up from the stromatolites..

Almost to our destination and we reached... THE BARKING FENCE! To protect the delicate ecology of Shark Bay from introduced species (feral cats, foxes, goats and rabbits) this fence was constructed dividing the peninsula from the mainland. The only way through is via the highway, which is protected by a large, animal-proof (and nearly human proof) metal grate covering a deep pit in the road. When anything approaches the opening, this white post suddenly launches into a terrifying cacaphony of barks and growls. The kids loved it!

Immediately after the fence is Shell Beach... Like many places in Australia, it has a remarkably creative name -- this one apparently being inspired by the fact that the beach is made up completely of shells. There is actually no sand here along this bay, covering a few kilometres, several metres deep and up to about 100 metres from the ocean -- nothing but billions of tiny, white shells.

A typical afternoon on our holiday... RJ jumping on Dad's back while RJ stuffs Dad's pockets and underpants with shells. Meanwhile, Mom sits, relaxed, enjoying a book, a few metres away.

Underneath the shells? More shells, shells and broken shells...

Happy Australia Day!!!!