wine.

Cheers friends! 

After getting some first-hand advice from Colin's business contact here in WA (Western Australia) about front-loading your trip to make sure that you accomplish all of the things you wanted to do, we decided to take him up on the offer to visit his "slice of paradise" in the Margaret River region. 

"Slice of paradise" was quite the understatement. 

Three hours south gives you a lovely drive along the coast of the Indian ocean and brings you to the illustrious region of Margaret River. Which, if it's not on your bucket list of places to go, it should be. Hundreds of wineries reside in this region - all specializing in something different, and all varieties incredible. I mean, even if you're not a wine-person, you will be.

Yesterday, I recovered from my wine-headache migraine while Colin went to a meeting, so we have lots of lovely pictures ready to be shared.

Here is a map in case you want to follow along with us. I'm kind of a "let me see it or I have no clue what you're talking about" person.

We started our trip early Saturday morning and drove along the coast to Cape Naturaliste. It was this quaint, little spot, just a kilometer track or so to the very tip. 

((my goodness, do I really get to keep him for-ev-er?))

In order to kill some time before we met our lovely hosts for lunch, we decided to tour some wineries and do some tastings. Okay, in all honesty, that is why we left at 7:00 in the morning.

A few of our favorites to check out at home:

Window's Estate

House of Cards

Laurance Winery

Lenton Brae

Woodlands Winery

Vasse Feliz (the first to be established in the Margaret River region - and quite spectacular)

Watershed

Saracen Estate

Knee Deep

I mean multiply all of those by a few tastings at each one. Do you have a wine headache migraine already? 

So we met Andre, his partner Kerry, and her two lovely kids Conrad and Meg at one of their favorite wineries/lunch spots, Laurance. This place was exquisite. Rose bushes, lakes, rolling hills with vineyards, and a large gold lady-statue on a blue pole. I mean, you can't miss it. They were such lovely hosts and we were so thankful to get to stay with them for the weekend. Her sweet ones go to a Steiner school in the area, so we talked about that for quite some time. Hoping to use some of that knowledge in my own classroom.

Their "slice of paradise" is 8 acres on a natural reserve. As in, you WILL have kangaroos cross your path while you are running. Our escape plan (because apparently they can be quite mean) was to hoist me on Colin shoulders and punch back. ((Colin's idea)) 

The stars at night were like nothing I had ever seen before. The Milky Way was a clear as ever and they looked so close that it was deceiving if you could touch them. Colin borrowed Andre's tripod and got some great shots. Definitely a "have to see for yourself" moment.

The next morning, we were chauffeured along more of the coast. One of our favorite spots was where the Margaret River feeds into the Indian Ocean. 

Okay, refer back to the map because here's where we start to move. 

Drove down through the Boranup Forest...

...down the coast through Hamelin Bay

...down to Cape Leeuwin 

...and made our way back up through Margaret River and stopped at a few more special wineries and a brewery on our way. 

((I Spy a little kanga munching on leftovers))

I've always heard that you can tell a lot about a person by traveling with them. Colin and I have had the chance to travel to some amazing places and each place we seem to like each other more. You see what they will do in unfamiliar situations, how they treat complete strangers, and how they take the little moments and make them special. 
I like this man.

A few things we have learned:

Left side, left side, left side. 

((Driving takes quite a bit more concentration here))

Attack of the hatchbacks 

((Colin's comment every time we drive anywhere))

Kangaroos are like deer here. We have seen 3 alive and close to 8 well, not alive. Little bits of my heart died every time we saw roadkill.

Thankful for an amazing weekend, with an amazing partner, in an amazing place.