Month: August 2024

Aug 28th

After leaving Perth area we headed Noth East ,stopping at Goomalling for lunch and a bit of a wander.

Next was a bush walk in a reserve on the outskirts of town

I found some nice Ant orchids and Chris found some old chain ,good for hanging up a pot plant when we get home.

We had a nice stopover at Minnivale campground surrounded by multicoloured Gazania flowers. Also found a Donkey orchid.

Then the next night at Cadoux. All good quiet spots and the rain kept tumbling down every now and then, but not enough to stop us from having a look around and me taking photos.

Then we arrived at our friends place in Kalannie, parked the van beside the house and settled in. No plans ahead so the next day we were invited to go on an extended family BBQ. About 20 or more.

It was cold and windy with showers on and off, but once the fire got going and everyone arrived it was the best day out . The kids and dogs played in the rock pools and the women went looking for wildflowers, while the men kept the fire stoked.

Hope you like wildflowers as much as I do, as the wheatbelt area sure is beautiful at the moment. I know I take lots of the same ones but I just can’t get over how tiny and amazing they are to grow and survive in the bush, year after year.

So many beautiful orchids in this area, as well as other flowers. When we got back from our walk, the meat was cooked and the yummy farm baked cooking was laid out. What a lovely lunch we shared.

The rain held off for most of the day, and after lunch more of us when looking for orchids.

It’s a great area for kids and oldies to have a picnic. It’s called Petrudor rock.

On the way home we made a couple of stops , another bush walk and in to the old tank at Xantippe for a look. The only town in Australia starting with the letter X.

Rosie and Codie had had a big day out, and didn’t take long to fall asleep. A quick dinner and an early night for us too.

Part of the new mural in Kalannie.

The next morning Steve took us out to a farm close by where the owner has a collection of old machinery in a shed. A few good oldies there.

Happy birthday Jodie,! mum Mary made a lovely lunch and cake for us all to enjoy. I took a couple of photos of the family.

Mary, Steve, Natasha, Christopher and Jodie, a lovely family.

Last Wednesday we all went to the Dowerin Field day. And walked and walked from 9 to 5, a huge display of all things farming. Even caravans and cars . We will stick with what we have.

I only took a few photos of things that caught my eye, thinking this poor fellow won’t make it past Christmas.!

This piece of machinery has been refurbished with oiled timber. Nice work.

Off road buggies, with lots of accessories fitted.

Some of the oldies on display

And of cause so many toys for farmers including this huge sprayer, 180 ft wide and a price tag of $1.2 to $1.5 million.

And a very big grain bin. Some serious $$ on display here .

At the end of the day Mary, Jodie and I went for a fun ride on a trailer, pulled by a tractor. Up one Isle and down the next. We were grateful to rest our legs for awhile, then it was time for the hour drive back to Kalannie

Another good day in the Wheatbelt. That’s it for now xx

August 20th

A Talc mine ? Never heard of them….

we were out North, East of Perth and driving through a little town of womarden. Saw the sign to a lookout and Talk mine. Have never given any thought as to where talcum powder comes from, but now I know.

yep it starts off as rocks mined and crushed here.

The view from the lookout was also nice as you could see right out to the coast.

Back on the gravel road again, a quick stop at the 4 coloured trees, made of metal, representing mental health, Breast cancer, environment and road deaths.

The Canola paddocks are now turning to gold, just beautiful, as well as seeing more wildflowers

We love driving from one small town to the next, stopping to take photos and taking in the history ,usually dating back to the 1800S

Three Springs is a popular spot. Then Carnamah is not far away, some of the rubble and remains of the old Bake house still stands.

Next stop was the McPherson’s Station. The old family home is being restored and what a grand old building it is. We weren’t able to go inside, however I managed some photos through the windows.

Outside there is lots of machinery and old vehicles, as well as the remains of the servant’s quarters.

These little old towns are so interesting to wander around and the wildflowers out at the moment make them more so, especially when I find the tiny orchids springing into flower.

On the narrow roads the big machinery on the move doesn’t leave much room for a caravan to pass . But we’re not in a hurry and always on the lookout for the unexpected.

Driving through Yarra Yarra Lakes area , we started to look for a camping area for the night, we found one in Eneabba just as it started to rain.

A great big area and we were able to set up our friend Neil Marks, under the awning, in his tent, for the night. We just happened to cross paths, so it was a good chance for he and Chris to reminisce over earlier years in Ballina. We had dinner at the pub across the road. And then it poured rain all that night. The next morning Neil packed up and off he went on his bike, and it seemed like the rain had gone.

We also packed up and decided to have a look along the coast road. We drove into Green Head, it was a real change to see white sand after months of red dusty roads.

After having a look around, we moved further south, doing some bush walks and finding more flowers.

We drove up to Gibson’s lookout, where there’s an old surveying marker from the 1800S.

Can you see what I could see. How well camouflaged is this echidna.

Our next walk was around Drummond Reserve, as we headed away from the coast.

Lots of different flowers coming out in this area. But still a lot more to come.

We stayed in this area for a couple of nights, a nice quiet spot ,with lots of pink and grey galahs. We were parked next to a couple that were nesting in a tree. They do however destroy some of the trees by ring barking them.

Next we stayed at Nathon and Stacey place, about an hour out of Perth. We were made feel very welcome and the van went undercover, so good as it poured rain on and off for the whole time we were there.

This is Nathan’s dog, it was her First birthday and had been given a grey goose, poor goose didn’t last the day out.

We had a lovely stay surrounded by natural bush ,lots of green parrots and of cause the dogs. We also had a visit from Dianne and her sister, which was nice.

On Sunday Nathan, Chris and I went to watch their AFL team Carlton play at the Optus Stadium in Perth. What an awesome stadium and Carlton won, making the freezing cold day bearable.

Another day out in Perth to visit my cousin and his wife, he’s very proud of his passion fruit vine.

The next day we visited Steve and his Parents in Perth. A nice catch up and Steve’s mum, did her best to give me some exercises to help my troubling back.

Getting down was one thing but getting back up was another thing. So that brings the blog up to about a week ago. We are now staying with friends at Kalannie in the wheat belt. Keep well and safe family and friends. That’s it for now.

Aug 10th

After leaving Yalgoo, we drove around some of the outback roads, looking for wildflowers and we’re not sure where our next camp will be.

Morning tea was here near this hole, not sure if it had been a mining dig or a well. Anyway I found a couple of different flowers, so it was worth the stop.

From there we headed into Fields Find

We stopped in to have a look at the Cemetery that is being restored, The remains of these 4 young miners, were all buried together. They lost their lives in 1899. Most small goldmining towns of the 1800S have cemeteries full of sad but interesting stories.

It’s a beautiful area to drive through at the moment. Lakes are all full from all the rain they have had and the everlasting flowers are now starting to come out.

It’s lovely to be able to pull up for a cuppa or camp for the night in a paddock of flowers. Guess that’s why we love this area of WA.

We made camp for the night at a vacant station, that the buildings are being restored on. A great spot and only one other van there.

We were welcomed by a mob of Black Cockatoos. Noisy buggers.

We went for a look around the old homestead, and inside as well at the restorations. There is no way you could leave something like this open over East.

They are sure doing a great job. It must have been a hug cattle station in its day as the homestead and living quarters are big

Most rooms still have the metal patterning on the walls.

The old bath is a green fleck porcelain , they haven’t started restoring the bathroom yet. Do hope the bath can be restored.

That night Chris cooked a BBQ as the sun went down. All’s well in our world.

The next day we were off to find some different wildflowers . It’s still a bit early for the orchids, but it’s still nice wandering around looking.

Camel Soak is a big area of rocks with lots of water holes over it. During the drier times it serves as a watering hole for the wildlife.

I walked all around seeing a few different flowers, I love how the little mosses and fungi plants come to life after the rain.

How exquisite are these little cuties?

After walking all over the rocks, I decided to wander through the bush and to my surprise found some orchids

This one is very similar to the Donkey orchid, but I think it’s the Zebra version.

We only stayed one night at the Soak, as it started to rain overnight

The next morning we booked into Perenjori Caravan Park for 2 nights, another little town in the wheatbelt area and well known for its flowers.

Today we went for a drive, checking out some of the bushland and flowers.

Not far from Morawa our bush track took us through the grain storage area, nothing happening there as the cropping hasn’t started yet.

We found another Dam full of water, in a paddock somewhere

Then we arrived in Morawa, it had an IGA, good , and even better a Bakery called Rosie’s. Lunch and a vanilla slice was a must.

The farmers sure have a quirky sense of humour around these parts, you never know what you’ll find in the paddocks

Chris had his 15mins of fun, then we headed back to Perenjori for another night in the park.

That’s it for now ,we leave here in the morning.

Aug 7th

After getting supplies in Carnarvon, we stopped for the night at a roadside camp and headed out reasonably early the next morning. Not far past Wooramel, there is the Gladstone lookout ,which has beautiful views over the Shark Bay area. We drove up and found a pile of memorial rocks at the top.

I placed a rock for Jodie ( my daughter) and Chris placed a rock on top of the pile for John ( his brother).

It was a beautiful sunny morning and the ground below had lots of yellow Daisy’s.

Next stop was Kalbarri, we were here a f ew years ago, but they have put a new Skywalk in ,so needed to tick it off the to do list.

There is two walk outs, which are quite impressive and allows great views over the cliffs and the river below.

We took our time , taking lots of photos and doing the walk out to Natures window. We didn’t go down the rocks ,as we have a photo from our trip, some years ago, and my back is still dictating what I should or shouldn’t do at the moment.

Here is that photo from June 2019. OMG. 5 years sure has made a difference to me, but the window would be the same haha.

Few more photos, then we enjoyed an icecream back at the Cafe, which is also a new addition since we were here last. Lots of pretty pink bottle brush flowers around here.

We stayed in a gravel pit ,with a couple of other vans, that night, just outside the park entrance. So the next morning we did a couple of walks, back within the park , The z Bend and Hawks head lookout.

So that was Kalbarri. As we started to travel further south, the landscape is changing also . Now fields of green and gold Canola.

we stopped for lunch in the Apex Park at Nabawa , in the Chapman Valley.

The drive through the Chapman Valley is beautiful, they have had over 600 ml of rain lately and the Valley is so green.

Next stop was Geraldton, a few more supplies and a photo of the St Francis Xavier Cathedral, as we drove around the town.

Then a visit up to the HMAS Sydney 11, Memorial , would have to be one of the most beautiful and moving memorials I have been to. Each piece of the structure resembles somthing significant about the Ship and its Crew.

This statue of a woman (mother, wife,whatever) looking out to sea, is haunting to me.

The Dome is made up of 645 silver gulls, representing the no. of Souls lost when the Ship Sank.

That night we stopped in a roadside camp, overlooking Geraldton.

The Next morning we drove in to see the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station , of cause it’s a no go zone ,so I had to take my photos from a distance. I can’t stop from wondering if Albo even knows it’s here, let alone come out here in the scrub to visit it. Not too many media photo opportunities around here. Opps!

From there we are going East for a look around the wildflower areas. Great stonework on this old chapel

There isn’t a lot of flowers out yet , but on one bush walk we managed to find the first few orchids of the season.

Our lunch stop that day, was at the old Railway Siding at Tenindewa. We had bought fresh buns and a kilo of prawns in Geraldton the afternoon before, so they went down well.

The flowers are getting more colourful each day and thanks to the rain it will be a great season over here. We wandered around for awhile then stopped at the old Tenindewa School site.

More paddocks of flowers, then back to the Yalgoo caravan park for the night.

The next day was fine and sunny, but it is getting a bit cooler out here. Not far out of town is Jokers Tunnel, he wasn’t joking around when he decided to look for gold in them there hills. And found quite a bit.

we walked inside and it had been dug so neatly. Only head high and goes from one side of the hill through to the other. 140 metres, Chris said , he reads all the technical stuff I mainly take the photos.

we drove all around the hill seeing where prospectors had little diggings. Even that day there were a group of prospectors camped in the hills, looking for a pot of gold.

Back towards town was an old railway water tower.

Then on to have a look at the remains of the Old Coach Staging post, also not far out of Yalgoo.

Then back into tidy Yalgoo, for our 2nd night in the tidy caravan park.

Yesterday was showering and overcast, not thinking of flowers so we went out just looking around . First we drove all around Chinaman’s Rock, and Chris climbed up , not me.

I walked and took photos in-between the light showers.

An old rock well ,with nothing in it.

Then on to Dalgaranga Station, a deserted station, just going to ruins, so sad . There’s so many rocks on the property, it would of been hard to make a living, but such a shame to see all the buildings and hundreds of acres go to ruins.

Old homes, wells , sandy creeks, windmills and stock yards, all going to waste.

Then there was the big rock which they had built a dam at one end ,back in the early 1900s to provide water for the station.

Amazing the size and work to build it. Yes I did walk up to the wall.

just imagine the torrent of water when the wall gave way.

Some more walking in the rain, taking flower photos ,before going back to the van for an early dinner and putting the diesel heater on. Ahhh.

A lazy day today , we had a look through the Arts centre in town and on the walk home, passed the remains of the original store and Post Office that had the 1st letter bomb back in 1903.

The paddock behind the caravan park, full of white daisies. Tomorrow we move on .

Aug 1st

I’m back, !! not much internet service over this side of the country, but the landscape is sure worth seeing . 1ST time we have been into Millstream. Some don’t like it but I think it is natural beauty at its best.

Maybe the few clouds that were around ,made it all the more picturesque

And my favourite wildflower,,the Sturt Desert Pea, were in full bloom.

Sorry I blurred this one. The flowers are only just starting to come out up here.

Termite mounds everywhere!

So much variety no matter which way you look.

Even the spiky spinifex grass can be attractive in some places

Next we took a look around Dampier, back out on the coast.

A tidy little coastal town and Port. With the ships lined up in the distance, waiting for loading

Our camp for that night was on the bank of the Robe River at Fortescue .we had had quite a bit of wind before Karratha, and broken the TV aerial, so as well as catching up with one of my Cousin’s daughters for a coffee, in Karratha, Chris went and bought a new aerial.

We don’t have a ladder with us, so getting up close to an old toilet block solved the problem of getting the new aerial on the roof. Fixed!

Another camp spot further south the next day was at yannarni, a big bush camp on the bank of a dry river. We booked into Coral Bay for the next 2 nights, so this was our wait stop. A lot of vans doing the same thing.

Termite mounds, each side of the road, all the way into Coral Bay, the next day.

The caravan park was packed. Chris went for a swim in the Bay . I thought the pool may have been warmer, but no so. It’s a nice park , but, $62 a night ,no water hookup and packed in like sardines, is not my idea of a good camp. Oh well, thems the breaks. Not to mention yelling mums, screaming kids and barking dogs. It’s fair to say my painfull back over the last 6 weeks was taking its toll.

One has to just keep going, so off to do some 4x wheel drives in the coastal reserve. That’s sure to fix the back !

it sure is a pretty area, this is 5 finger reef. Creating lovely swimming bays between each reef outcrop. Very popular for snorkelling. Great if you’re into fishing or water sports.

The sand buggies do a couple of tours from town each day.

As well as driving we walked the beach and were lucky enough to see a star fish in the shallows.

And what would Coral Bay be without washed up coral on the beach

That done it was time to head back through the sand hills and have some lunch in the centre of the little shopping complex. A very good Bakery.

One more night in the overflowing caravan park and we were back on the road again.

Heading south towards Carnarvon, we are starting to see more of the wildflower daisy’s on each side of the road

we drove around the waterfront and around town, before doing some shopping and heading out of town to a roadside stop which had a few more flowers around.

Ahh this spot is better than a caravan park any day. Just sayin ,my opinion! , each to their own. Love to all .