Margaret River

After a reasonable nights sleep, it was up ,breakfast and ready for our coach pick up at 7.20. Weather forecast not so good today with 22 and showers likely. Supposedly in Perth's claim to be the sunniest city in the world with an average of 8.8 hours sunshine 365 days of the year, I don't this it will make that record today. But off we gon on our full day tour to Margaret River. (The sooner we hit the winery the better...) Kerry is our driver today and we are on a brand new very bit coach that is at full capacity. I have an Asian fellow sitting next to me who is asleep before the coach leaves the terminal and that is how he doesn't 90 % of the day. As we get past Bunbury the sky starts to get greyer and grey until we are suddenly in a very heavy rainfall. When we get to Busselton which is our first stop, it is now only light rain, but windy so a mad dash to the cafe for a much needed cuppa. No interest in braving the elements to walk along the 1.8km jetty. It used to be 2km but there was a fire so really shouldn't brag about claiming to be the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Our itinerary then says we were meant to go to the Margaret River township for free time, but instead we are taken on a 40 minute drive to Bootleg Brewery where we had a very nice shared platter lunch with beer and cider tasting. It was a nice enough spot, and it had stopped raining, but I didn't need an hour there. Then we head to Sandalford Winery, the highlight of my tour... Very nice choice of wines for tasting so having to be polite seeing as they went to all the trouble of getting them out for us, I worked my way through a number of them! Didn't buy any as I can get them cheaper back home, but I did enjoy the tastings. I'm still a troglodyte re wine appreciation and am not in the slightest bit fussed as to what region, what side of the hill or how many hours of sunshine a particular north side facing grape received before it was picked by someone's sainted ethnic grandma. I just know whether I like the taste or not. Call me a peasant, just don't forget to call me if there is wine involved!
So back on the coach and then we head to Mammoth Cave where we had a guided tour of a limestone cave which is about a million years old- or at least that is what our guide claims and as I have no way of disapproving it I'm happy to go along with the story. Back on the coach to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.there had been more rain while on the coach, but blue skies and uber strong wind at the
lighthouse. Quite spectacular spot to see the Indianand Southern oceans meet. Time for a very quick cuppa and back on the coach to finally go into Margaret River township, but it is now 10 to 5 and everything closes within 10 minutes, so only just enough time to race into the fudge shop and grab up some hand made chocolates. Am looking forward to trying out the Chilli chocolate. Back on the coach 20 minutes later and all are saying the same thing that there was not nearly enough time here, and clearly should have occurred earlier in the day. Anyway, can't undo what has happened so now we head to dinner which was in this huge resort but the meal was cafe style average so quite disappointing. Anyway, it is not 7 pm and time to head back to Perth. By the time we get back to our hotel it is 10.15 and as four of the kittens are doing the Wave Rock trip tomorrow with a 7.20 pick up again it is a very rushed 'goodnight all' and each back to their rooms. It has been a good day, but I wouldn't recommend the same tour unless they did it in the order the itinerary showed. Am looking forward to Friday which is a totally free day for me, apart from keeping an eye on MS and another kitty who hopefully will find their own things to do.