December 30th


Here we are about to leave Gracetown and Bec, Steve and kids. We had a lovely time together. They will be flying back East for New Year’s, while we have booked into York for the week over Christmas.



Goodbyes done and Chris and I headed North .Our first stop was in the cute town of Cowaramup. Life size models of cows were all around the town.





The weather is being so good to us. Brilliant sunshine, as we walked around the town. We decided to camp out at Stockton Lake for the night.


The water is a pretty color of blue. Apparently it is an old coal mine site, very deep, but ok to swim in .So many campers here, but we managed to get a spot on the lake edge and go for a dip. Good way to end the day.



The next day we called into Collie, we had been told the paintings on the wall dam, were worth seeing.

We took a walk across a swinging bridge, before going out to the dam.



I was disappointed that the murels are done in pastel colors, also it was early morning and the suns glare made it hard to get photos. Would’ve been better with the afternoon sun on them.




Anyhow it is what it is. A fair drive for little reward. On our way again, passing paddocks of brown straw, where the grain has been harvested, before getting into York for Christmas.

York is supposed to be the oldest town in WA. Lots of old buildings in the main street have been well preserved and so draw plenty of tourists. The caravan park in York is old, but has clean amenities and in a bush setting. So we booked in for 4 nights.


Christmas day we had lunch at Settlers, one of the heritage buildings, its a B and B as well as function centre and popular pub.

When we arrived we were given complementary drinks and shown to our table in one of the rooms that was nicely decorated for Christmas.


It’s a beautiful old pub with polished timber floors and furniture throughout.


For the first-time ever we sat down to Christmas Lunch out. Yes it felt different, but was enjoyable and no cleaning up afterwards. Haha.





Big feed, time for a big sleep. So that was our Christmas day.

Another of the beautiful buildings we had lunch at, with friends Steve and Mary, was the Casle Hotel. Another old pub thats refurbished nicely.



The Avon River runs through town and has a suspension walk bridge spanning it

I really liked the bright paintings on this fence in town. Worth a few pics, and the detail was well done.






The town hall clock has stopped, I Took this photo as we left town early on Wednesday morning. We are now staying closer to Perth, for the next 4 nights, at Advent park. We have stayed here before and find it reasonably priced, as well as a nice setting, just half an hour or so from Perth.

As the year comes to an end I look back on our trip from East to West over 9mths . Down through NSW

Then Victoria and Kangaroo Island.

Across SA, doing the southern peninsulas, before crossing the Nullabor

and into WA. What a trip its been over 24,431 kilometres, and enjoyed every minute of it. I haven’t added shopping trips, when stopped for a few days. We also caught up with Chris’s previous boss, Daniel Burrows and family from Kalari days in Port Hedland WA/ Springsure Qld .Was great! From East to West always nice to spend the time and catch up with friends.

We spent yesterday in Fremantle, walking around seeing all the old buildings and meeting up with Guy and Annie for lunch at Grill’d.



Lots of lights hanging in the streets and on buildings, would be nice to have seen at night.

I think this place is different, with how the trees are growing out from the building

It appears Santa is running a few days late, or he’s had some sleep overs, escaping out of the top floor by ladder. 🤔😂


The Fremantle railway station.





A beautiful day out and about. And how about the rainbow containers down on the river bank area.


Tomorrow we will probably rest up, and intend going into Perth for the fireworks on the Swan River. To all our Friends and family and others who follow our blog, we both wish you a better 2023. This year has been tough for so many. Lets make it a happier year. Remember to live our life to the fullest, and after the rainbows , the sun will shine. Keep safe and well next year, love from Chris and Merelyn.

Dec 22nd

It’s sad to say another farewell to this family.

To the fun girl days out with Mary and long cuppas while the boys are working. I enjoyed every minute of our stay in Kalannie.

What a team, Steve, Mary, Chris and Jodie, fun and hard working, we will miss you all.




Hope you all have a good break now the harvest is done. Merry Christmas to you all and best wishes for the coming year.

After a long days drive Chris and I arrived at Gracetown caravan park. We intended to surprise the family after we set up, but…who should pull up to check in at the same time we did, Bec, Steve and kids. The excitement on Becs face said it all. Well worth keeping it quiet till we got there.

Gracetown is a surfers paradise, and so its nothing to walk 5 or 6 klms through the hills to get to a favorite surf spot. Doing this once was enough for me, however the sunset was worth the effort.






Rosie and Creed enjoyed a last surf for the day and I took some photos on a walk along the so called beach. Rough going in these parts.










Time to call it a day. Just had to do the long track back to the cars in almost darkness.

Back at camp our evenings are all about cards, kookaburras and feeding Creed. He is a bottomless pit.



The next few days we repeated it all again, but added in a couple of tourist stops as well.



A stop in to the Margaret River Chocolate factory is a must.

Chris was like a kid in a lolly shop, and I tried their waffle and ice cream.


Poppy wins a round of minni golf, Rosie and I tied last, so that’s ok.

More surfing spots, and a memorial to 9 people who were crushed when the cliffs gave way, and they were burried in rubble.




Time goes fast when you’re having fun. The weather has been beautiful, sunny days and mild nights.



More beach time together as our time draws to a close with the kids.


I enjoyed being like a beached 🐳 for a few hours.


Then we tracked back through the hills to Gracetown, had some lunch and drove back to camp for our afternoon siesta.



Last night we had dinner at the local club, which was a nice way to end our stay .


Thats it for now . Chris and I would like to wish all of our families, friends and their families, a joyous Christmas and a happy new year. Let it be a time for peace, laughter and good health in the year ahead. We are blessed to have you all in our life, and thank you for your interest in what we do. Much love and Merry Christmas.😘🥳💖💐🌲🌲 🌲

December 15th

Well, it’s been awhile, life sure is busy when you’re having fun.

We left Wongan Hills and arrived in Kalannie at the beginning of November and in time to help out friends, Steve, Mary and Chris, with the carting of the great harvest the wheat belt is having this year. The wildflowers around the area are almost finished blooming, but I still managed a few pics along the way. Recent rain has also filled the lakes and dams. The small towns are busy and the farmers are friendly and talking of the big harvest ahead. But they need drivers, so put on your work clothes Chris !!



We parked the van in the Caravan Park, opposite the grain storage facility in town, Power,water and satellite tv, I was all good to sit back and do some crocheting, while Chris does extra long days. Also a good spot to see the eclipse of the moon, and some unusual sunsets.





Oh, we also brought Covid to town, must havè picked it up a few days befoe we arrived. Yes Chris gave it to Steve as they tried to work, Mary, Jodie and I, all ended up with it as well. I’m not sure what long Covid is, but I’m not completely over it after 6 weeks !! It is what it is, so just carry on, but sure knocked me around.

With all the men working, Mary, her daughter Jodie, and I, share cuppas and lovely girl days out in Perth or surrounds. They have two beautiful human dogs, Cody the lab, brings me gifts, each time I visit. They are both such characters.

Rosie poseing with Jodie.

The grain storage bins start off empty, but soon start to fill up as the trucks roll in. They are then covered with plastic.





Roses in Dalwallinu. And nice old pub in Northam


The tin dog in Dowerin

Mary and I had a day in Toodyay. The 365 Christmas shop is a must to visit.





After our fun morning we had a late lunch of butter chicken at the Indian restaurant, it was the best ! Then drove up to the lookout over the cute town nestled in the hills.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Some of the crocheting I’ve done while doing this trip. I’ve gathered remnants of wool from little towns from East to West.




Chris has sundays off so we usually go for a drive. Lots of lakes around and this green one is quite pretty.

It’s nice to be out just wandering around . It will be sad to leave here again, but it will also be good to be heading out ater new year. And…..we both are missing our family as its been 9 mths now. This will probably be our last extended trip. Maybe just 6 mths at a time in the future.





Some of the huge rocks were used to channel the rain into a dam, for the town water supply. We have seen so many of these in our travels.

The dried out flowers and wheat are still a sight to see.






Mary, Jodie and I went to the Dalwallinu Christmas street party, where all the kids had a great time getting wet and running a muck. And Santa brought them all a present. The Christmas spirit is alive and well in these little towns.


Last week, us girls ,went for a day in the field, we dropped lunch to Steve, before heading out to their daughters family farm. Love this photo, Steve has such an infectious smile.

We drove on out to the farm, and watched some of the harvesting and loading before, climbing into the headers for a round or two of the paddock.








We caught up with Gary and I had an interesting time, as he explained everything about the process, then as an added bonus he read me some of his poetry, he has written some great work.




Natasha, was driving the chaser bin and does a great job of keeping up with the headers, taking the grain back to the bins at the end of the paddock.


While Natasha is away the bin behind the cab keeps filling up as the header keeps going. It’s none stop, a race against the weather to get the crop in before the summer storms start.

We met up with Millsey and had a family photo shoot. They are great supporters of Dolly’s Dream a Anti-bullying foundation, using their workshirts, which are a conversation starter.



Natasha and Jodie dropped in so a few more photos. We are so lucky to have met this beautiful family 4 years ago. And be back spending time with them again.




Marry and her Daughter’s

Back in Kalannie the bins are almost full now, as well as a stash of pods filled with barley.


The days now are mostly windy, but the wind drops in the evening, so last night I went for a walk and took some photos of the grain storage across the road, all lit up. The trucks come and go till late. Chris is doing 15 /16 hrs a day, as is everyone around here, 6 days a week. They are all hoping to be finished harvesting by Christmas.





As for Christmas for us, something different this year. We haved booked into a caravan park in York, not far from Perth, for a week. We are dining out for Christmas lunch at ” The Settlers ” one of the popular historic, venues there. Then for New Year’s eve, we hope to attend the fireworks on the Swan river.We did this 4 years ago and it was a spectacular way to bring in a new year. Then we plan to leave Perth on New Year’s Day and be back on the East Coast at the end of January .So thats it for now, we wish all our family, friends and followers a lovely Christmas and happy New Year. Keep well, safe and enjoy each day. Even the challenges. We love this life.😍

Girls responding to Chris’s breakdown. It’s all in a days work. Where would they be without us Mary,? haha 😂