When our good friends Clive and Susan invited us on a trip to Augusta I thought “great, I’d love a few days playing golf at the top-ranked course in Golf Digest‘s 2009 list of America’s 100 greatest courses”. When Clive sent me the details, I realised to my horror it was camping in the Western Australia’s south-west town of Augusta.

–Insert usual thing about Covid-19 and complain about not being able to travel overseas blah blah–

We’re not campers. We don’t have any gear, except for the 2 tin cups Clive gave us for Christmas. Jane was super keen, so we agreed to join them, it was Susan’s 60th birthday celebration after all. Other friends were also coming to give it a party atmosphere.

Augusta is on the very south-west tip of Australia. It’s nestled on the banks of the Blackwood river just before it empties into the junction of the Southern and Indian oceans.

We left Perth Thursday morning for the three and a half hour drive. After stopping for lunch at the Rose Hotel in Bunbury, we arrived around 3pm at Flinders Bay Caravan Park for our four day stay. Clive and Susan were already there and helped us erect our tent. I mentioned before we didn’t have any camping gear, but we borrowed a some items from friends. We did in fact have an air mattress and sleeping bags. Thanks to Mary Ann and Alex for the tent and Annabelle and Steve for the portable fridge. Mary Ann and Alex were to join us on this trip, but cancelled due the ill health of Mary Ann’s sister, Rosie in the Philippines. Sadly, Rosie passed away on Friday.

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Susan made a nice stir-fry for dinner in their “camp-kitchen”. After dinner we finished the night with wine, whiskey and cigars.

Friday morning we had breakfast with Clive and Susan. Coffee, bacon and eggs on toast, courtesy of Susan. After breakfast we made our way to the beach, a short walk from the caravan park. The weather was warm, but very windy. That didn’t stop Clive, Susan and Jane going for a swim. It was too cold for me so I took some photos around the rock pools. Unfortunately it was too windy to fly the drone.

After the beach we returned to the caravan park for a shower, then into town for lunch at the Augusta Hotel. Jane and I shared fish and chips, while Clive and Susan had burgers. The view was lovely, overlooking the Blackwood river. The food was nice and the cricket was on TV.

We picked up some supplies from the local IGA and headed back to the caravan park … for a nap.

When we were suitable refreshed we re-joined Clive and Susan to find Janice and her son, James had also arrived. Then a bit later Jenalyn, Sean and their kids arrived. After they were set up, we decided to have an dinner early to secure the BBQ spot overlooking the beach.

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We ate and drank to well after dark, until we were all tired. It seemed like a late night, but I think we were all in bed before 10pm.

Saturday was Susan’s 60th Birthday. We got up early for bacon and eggs again. We all went to the beach for a girls birthday photo shoot.

Back at the caravan park, after a shower we congregated at Clive’s campsite for Susan’s birthday lunch. It consisted of French Champagne, chicken, cheeses and meats. Lots of laughs were had and as the champagne, beer and wine flowed the BS became thicker and richer. The celebrations went on until after sunset when we all retired. Tomorrow was the long drive home.

The drive home took longer than usual because part of the freeway was closed due to a bush fire.

Anyway we all got back to our nice beds and showers on Sunday afternoon. Everyone had a good time. It was nice to celebrate Susan’s Birthday in nice surroundings and with great friends. …although golf in Augusta, Georgia, USA would have been spectacular!