Mandalay-The happiest place on earth.

Before we get started, this post will not include any mention of Bunnings.

Not that Busselton has a Bunnings, not that we may have visited Bunnings, nothing, nada, zilch, done.

Mandalay certainly gives off a fabulous first impression. Beautifully manicured gardens, 3 pools, rainbow slide and the tallest bouncy pillow ever. We are escorted to our site by golf cart and our friendly host eliminates reversing wars by assisting with caravan alignment. Ahhh perfect.
The bare minimum of assistance is given before the nagging drives us insane and we are off to the pool. 3 pools all to ourselves. Up the stairs, down the slide, repeat 400 times. Yep, this is the happiest place on earth.

Morning beach run includes an impromptu swim, keeping my eye out for sharks and stingers. When we were kids my Nan would send us off to the beach glistening with baby oil. Bring back the eighties. We would come back 6 hours later bronzed beauties but still stung everywhere. We would then be drenched in vinegar which stings more than the stinger and she'd always joke about no vingear left for fish and chips tonight. This may be why I don't like vingear on my chips.
Train obsessed 2 year old loses his mind as we arrive at the jetty ready to ride the 1.9kms there and back. Unfortunately they were sold out and we had to wait an hour. What else is there to do but coffee at Goose. $27 later, its the most extravagant coffee I've ever ordered. Maybe we are paying for the view. How things have changed... My sister and I would walk the 4kms to the Jetty with a $2 note in hand and spend all day at the Nautical Lady. Trampolines, motorboats, karts. No more Nautical Lady and the most cash I've spent there ever.
Unfortunately the weather rolled in but it didn't dampen Juddys enthusiasm.

Back to enjoy our caravan park facilities. Straight back, no detour, definitely not stopping at the store that shall not be named.
Our quiet, lonely little stay at Mandalay started to be invaded about 2pm. We went from having the pools to ourselves to 100 screaming kids running around the pool and 200 beer and wine drinking parents catching up on the last term of school. Year 6 parent organised camp moved in next door and across the road and everywhere.
We decided to escape the madness and head to the local Arg show. Alot less quiet than our caravan park.

Zorb balls, tea cups, individually lit fireworks and a bertie beetle bag. Life is complete. By the way, when did they become $6! $6!
After a very rowdy night and not alot of sleep, Dunsbough is calling. Tradional bakery, town beach and fun with the wildlife.

We saved the starfish.

Halloween caravan style was a hit. So many kids running around. Minion got a few extra choccies, the cuteness factor getting to the grey nomads.

Zorb ball action at the Farmers Market. Notable mention goes to Vibelicious for my frozen acai bowl.

Old Firestation bar. Yep, we had to go there.

Superman.

Quick visit to Simmos. Judd was asleep in the car. Asleep walking in. Asleep during the 15 mins of perusing the flavours and asleep during the 10min wait to be served. Hence I only bought 3.... The second I walk out with the icecream he's awake and claims my burnt caramel with salted caramel swirl.  😦

Simmos has a few friendly wildlide including my friend the Emu. Of all birds, I dislike the Emu the most. There's alot of 'Get away from the fence' 'You're too close' and I may have let out a scream when Dean tried to feed it icecream and it's head and neck came darting through the fence. They laughed. I almost cried.  It stalked me all the way down to the camel. Or maybe he was following the icecream. Either way I showed why I'd be Australias next walking champion.

Meelup beach. My favourite.