Just a quick update. Well Esperance has now been isolated from the rest of WA, so we are now an island (Esperance) inside an island (Western Australia), inside an island (Australia). We are basically in one of the safest locations around, there has not been a recorded C-19 case within 400 k’s of us. We are like the rest of you pretty bored and trying to find things to do, walks along the beach are nice but they do get a bit boring day after day. Anyway we are safe and that’s the main thing.

We have been here in the park for 16 days now and have a daily routine with Steve and Vicki, morning coffee, exercises and happy hour to mention a few. It’s great having company in this situation, I feel sorry for some of the other people that are by themselves. We have been travelling together with Steve and Vicki for awhile now, before the proverbial hit the fan, so we consider ourselves a family unit.

Unfortunately my vaccine has not been as successful as I wanted. I think a lot more testing is required and being the person I am, I’m happy to be the guinea pig! As a matter of fact, it just might be time for another test!

Just thought I’d enlighten you with a couple of sunrise photos from Esperance. Enjoy!

Now that I have perfected my Isolation Mask I have set my brain to work on a cure for C-19. After reading up on all of the testing done by medical labs and pharmaceutical companies and reviewing all the proposed chemicals or drugs that could be used in their vaccine, I have come up with my own vaccine. The best thing about my vaccine it makes you happy and protects you as well, especially good for flu and colds. I have given it an acronym that identifies the directions for taking it and that is: Better Un-dialated Now Drink it Yourself!

The photo below is one of the many testing sessions I have had with my vaccine: BUNDY!

Well I’ve done all the set up jobs for our stay here in the Park, other than the ongoing cleaning, there is not much else to do. I’m waiting on my course notes to come from the training organisation, so I’ve got a lot of time on my hands. I can’t keep watching the Tiger’s premiership wins (I can but Susan will kill me), so I’ve set my mind to come up with an aid to assist in self isolating and I think I have achieved it.

I have called the aid, SCUBA (SELF CONTAINED from UNWANTED BASTARDS AIR) Isolating Mask. The photo below shows you how simplistic it is. I think its a winner!

I suppose we all woke up today thinking it was an April Fool’s joke but unfortunately its not the case. Our caravan park here in Esperance is 10 acres with 176 sites, there is only 25 vans here now and with no new people are allowed, its a pretty unique situation.

I set up our site today for the long haul, getting the annexes in place for when the weather starts to cool off and rain (if it comes) starts. Today was the quietest day yet in the park, although there is a lot of cleaning going on, with both Cars and Vans getting a spruce up. I think I’ll give mine a autumn clean up next week, got to spread the tasks out otherwise there will be nothing to do (except drink).

Susan and I managed to go out for a drive today for an hour along the Great Ocean Drive which basically follows the coast west out of Esperance. The coastline is magnificent and the photos I’ve taken don’t truly show what it’s like with the naked eye. Hope you enjoy them below.

We’re now 9 days into our stay here in Esperance and from midnight the 9 regions of Western Australia go into lockdown. No other state in Australia has done this but with WA being so vast the government has decided to do it. What does it mean for us, basically nothing, we are committed to staying in Esperance for the duration, doing what everyone else is doing around the world, self isolating. We have managed to get out and about exercising, walking around the local area and taking the odd photo (see below). So far the weather has been great but I’m now getting the Van annexes up and prepping our site for the colder weather to come.

I’m sitting here in the van looking out at the ocean thru the Norfolk pines and the bright blue sky and thinking there can’t be much wrong with the world. It’s 3 months now since I “retired” what a decision that turned out to be. I knew my world would be different but this is crazy!

We hope to do a few local trips to break up the boredom, where we can drive to and not have contact with people, there are still some parks and areas open. I suggest that’s safer than queuing up to get into Woolworths or the chemist.

Stay safe everyone!

We managed to get out again today to do some visiting before we are confined to the Park (or the Esperance environs really). We travelled out to Duke of Orleans Bay which is about 60 k’s east of Esperance and then came back to town and had a picnic beside Windabout Lake, which is a salt lake just outside the central Esperance area.

Going to be different staying all day in the Park but we can exercise by walking along the beach into town or the Esplanade which is what we will plan to do.

Keep safe and well every one, wherever you may be.!

Well from 5pm tonight we are now a permanent resident (until otherwise directed) of the Esperance Seafront caravan park. It was a hot day here, around 34 degrees, so we took a walk along the beachfront after dinner to the esplanade and the town centre. We were sitting on the bench seats having a chat, when a young girl in her late teens or early 20’s came up to us and asked if we had and “green”. I’ve been asked a lot of things in my life but never that! Yes, its a strange time indeed!

Yesterday whilst I was playing golf, Susan went out with Steve and Vicki and did the Great Ocean Drive from Esperance. The following photos are from this drive which is about 40 k’s long to the west of Esperance. The Great Ocean Drive circles inland to the Pink Lake, which is no longer Pink due to the changing salinity levels. The Drive then works its way to the coast and follows it back to Esperance.

We were informed today that the Caravan Park will be in Lockdown from 5pm tomorrow (Friday) afternoon. Susan and I have to make a declaration stating the Caravan Park is our interim accomodation because our primary residence is not available. We have been told the police will be checking in on us, even though the park will be closed. We’re expecting an exodus of people tomorrow as they are also closing the amenities blocks, only those with toilets and showers in their vans are permitted to stay. So all the people in tents and camper trailers will have to leave, its starting to get real now. We have been fairly lucky so far, other than no hand sanitisers, we really haven’t wanted for anything. We expect we will only be allowed to leave the park in the vehicle for shopping (single person only) or medical reasons. Although we are hopeful we will be allowed to walk along the beach opposite the park but that could also be a no-no.

So it looks like we will be in Esperance for the duration of this pandemic, unless we decide to come home but we believe that is fraught with danger in case all travel is stopped and we’re stuck on the Nullarbor somewhere.

We started Be Brave on Tour 6 weeks ago, not knowing how ironic that name has now become. So we’ll follow mum’s mantra and we hope all of you will too! Keep healthy and safe everyone!

For all the golf readers out there here is my latest golf CRAPP!

I played in the Thursday competition at Esperance Golf Club today. Unfortunately with everything going on with social distancing etc, there was only 12 players but never the less it was still a good day. I enjoyed the course but it was still warm and a fairly long course to walk. I have to admit I was buggered after 12 holes and it really showed in the last 3 holes were I only made 2 points but I did play pretty well up until then.

Unfortunately Esperance is also suffering from a lack of water and therefore the conditioning of the course was very dry but the greens were in good nick. I could see that with rain and the lakes full, it would be a very attractive course. The clubhouse was closed because of the COVID 19 rules but it looked very respectable.

Here is my CRAPP review:

Design – 12 out of 20

Condition- 10 out of 20

Cost – 18 out of 20

Visual Appeal – 12 out of 20

Facilities – 6 out of 10

Ambience/Appeal – 8 out of 10

Therefore my CRAPP rating is 67, which I think was a very good score considering the dryness of the course!