I've actually had a busy time lately, with both my parents visiting Tom Price for the first time (mum had been here briefly before when I came home with baby no. 3, but because it was for only 5 days, I don't count it as a real visit); I went off on my long-awaited "surfari" to Yallingup; and we all visited Karratha and Port Hedland. Not to mentioned the first-term school holidays have been on, so I've been busy making sure all three kids are occupied and happy.
So, first to my Surfari.
Late last year I had read an article in Scoop magazine about a surfing business in Yallingup (near Margaret River, WA) that was offering women-only surfing holidays. It involved getting a small group of friends together for a two-day break and taking them all down to Yallingup so we could try our hand at surfing.
Now I'm really not a person who is at one with the water, especially surf, so it was some feat to get on that board and even paddle into the waves. I was born in Kalgoorlie, WA, which is a mining town 600 km from Perth, and our nearest beach was Esperance, just under 400 km south of us. We would spend two weeks of summer at the beach in Esperance, but this was just for frolicking. Since then I have always loved the beach, but only when it is calm and very, very hot. So it was great to finally get up the courage to try my hand, albeit not so successfully, at surfing.
I recruited my sister and two friends and we drove down from Perth to Yallingup, of course, stopping at a winery for lunch before arriving at Smith's Beach Resort, a very new and upmarket accommodation option for Yallingup.
Above is the photo of our "shack". I didn't know shacks had dishwashers, outside hot water showers (you'll see that to the right of us and left of the window) and hairdryers!Friday night we were welcomed by our hosts, Krystal Simpson, (what a great hippy surfer's name) and Lizzie Nun. They brought along wine and cheese and then, while telling us what they had in store for us that weekend, cooked us a great bbq dinner. We were told we would have to do nothing all weekend except be guided in our activities, which aside from the surfing, included walking, yoga and beach kayaking, and of course eating sumptous meals at various wonderful eateries in Dunsborough. I've got to say, the food was a highlight, and we didn't feel one bit guilty about it as we were so exhausted from all the physical activity.
As to the surfing - well, on the first day were were taken to Yallingup, a beach that has always intimidated me. All I have ever done there before is walk along the sand, but this day we were taken out on the reef and shown how to lay on the board and if we were able, to get up on our feet and be pushed onto waves. See, I told you we were well taken care of. We did have to paddle out to Lizzie, but once there she called us over and then waited while she held our board and pushed us into appropriate small waves.
I didn't get up on my feet that day, but Kaylene and my sister Judith both were quick to their feet and, dare I say, surfed. It was great to see and we had a great laugh. I only wish I'd been in better condition. I struggled with the paddling and was exhausted by the time I tried to get up. My excuse - a horrible flu I'd had for four weeks just before we went down had prevented me from getting into any training routine, which I had planned to do. But it was great fun. Together with a long walk that morning and sea kayaking that afternoon, we were all physically done-in that night. But we managed to drag ourselves out for a great meal at The Food Pharmacy, one of the best restaurants I've eaten at for a long time.
Next day we were all very sore and tired from Saturday's activities and I really thought I wouldn't be able to lift my head from the pillow. But up we got and that morning we surfed at Smith's Beach (pictured below) and I managed to get up on my board, very briefly. We had an early lunch at Bunker's Bay Cafe - another fabulous meal - and then, sadly, it was time to drive back to Perth.
The four of us are pictured below just before we drove back to Perth, after a fabulous weekend, one I'd love to do all over again.
