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The weather cleared, and it was a bit of a non event really. Just a time to stop and catch up with fellow travellers, who give some good and some not so good comments on where to camp and the condition of the roads. We took one neighbours advice and headed out to Warroora Station, known as 14 mile beach camp . It was an hour or so drive off the highway, and we had to let the pressure down on the tyres before entering. When we arrived we were shown to a top spot on the beach front, by the caretakers.

Yes this will do us !! The station itself is huge and has a lovely beach that is protected buy the reef offshore. Can see why people from down south come up here and camp for the winter. Great fishing and swimming, and lots of off road tracks to explore.

The view from the windows of van, not bad either.

Chris is finding it hard to stay still for long, so our daily drives on the property gave him something to do and allowed me to get more photos of the place. Plenty of other campers all over the station, but mainly along the beach front.

Could quite easily get lost, but having the water on the west makes it easy to find your way back.

A bit of fun with the camera

And at the end of the day there was always a beautiful sunset over the water. Loved our 4 days here, especially having our first swims, after being in the dry Wheat belt area .

After a nice time at Wooramel Station, and still heading north ,we called in and had a look around Carnarvon. Quite nice around the foreshore

From there we headed inland again and set up in the caravan park at Gascoigne Junction. Rain was forecast so we decided to see what the day was like before going out to the Kennedy Ranges.

When the Gascoyne River floods al roads for miles around are closed, often for weeks on end, so as you can see by the boat on the roof of the building across the river , it wouldn’t be good to get stuck out here

However the rocky area around the banks of the river make a good catchment area ,and picnic spot.for the town and farms around, still has water in it, when most rivers are dry

Not far out of town there is a cobbled road, by Kingsford Smith, for transport, before he got into aircraft travel. Chris thought it interesting, so I took a photo.

The next day was fine and a little cooler, so off we went to do the Kennedy Rangers,and we were not disappointed

I have so many photos of the places we explored, it;s hard to pick which ones to load up. We walked dry creek beds ,clambered over rocks , nearly knocked myself out on a overhanging branch !! In general had a big day out .

As the clouds started to come over that afternoon we headed back into the Junction, hooked up the van and travelled back out to the coast road and found a free camp on the river, with quite a few others . All sitting there while the showers of rain cleared.

Minilya River camp with rain on the way We stayed for 3 nights before moving on.

We are just taking each day as it comes, which is nice. Not getting very far, just zig zaging from one camp to another, only going to the coastal areas on day trips. So many caravaners at the moment.

We have’nt stayed at a station, so called into Wooramel for a one night stay. That night we were entertained by a bush poet, with damper around the camp fire to follow. A nice night.

The next day we decided to stay another 3 nights . Just loved spending sunrises and sunsets in the artesian spars, there are 4 of them, which are empied and cleaned daily. Water is a constant 34 degrees. Ahhhh.

Across the way from the camp site there is the farm tip, of great interest to all the guys. Lots of interesting things, discarded over the years.

I was more interested in the bird life and taking photos of the magnificent white gums that line the river banks, which make for lovely camping spots on the property. Also nice picnic areas.

While there we purchased a mud map of the station, $10, and went for the day 4 wheel driving. The place is huge, and backs onto the Indian Ocean.

Somewhere we came across the old shearing sheds and quarters. Had fun with the camera here. Chris was more interested in the machinery, still left there.

We took the river crossing, on the way back to our camp. They call it the upside down river, dry on top and a never ending supply of water underneath. The showers are all a constant 34 degrees and the amenities are in big round tanks, quite quaint really.

On the Wednesday evenings the owners do a big cook up in the camp ovens, Chilli chicken con carne, rice greens and damper, was on the menu the night we were there. Our entertainment for the night was country singer songwriter Terry Bennetts, look him up, was he good.! We ended up buying his CDs.

The next morning it was time for one last spa and head out, We really enjoyed this place. The owners are doing a great job of setting it up, whilst keeping it as a natural bush camp . A lovely, friendly family, supplementing the hard life on the land. It only opened 5 yrs ago, and I think it has a great future. We wished them well.

After our big exciting morning up at Natures Window in the Kalbarri National Park, we had to make a dash back to the caravan park and pack up. By this time we were getting hungry, so it was cuppa time at a river park, before leaving town. Next stop was at a lookout, overlooking the Murchison. Glad we didn’t have to walk too far this time. Too much exercise in one day can’t be good for an old girl, eh. !

Ok, that done, next was to venture onto an old lead mining site.

We have been here before, and it appears the old chimney is starting to deteriorate, but that didn’t stop me from sticking my head in to take a photo.

Time to find another camp for the night, there is a good one beside a bridge that we know of so heading there.

There is a new bridge ,since here last, but the old one can still be used

lovely bush camp with lots of bird life and the wild flowers are just starting to come out after having recent rain. so relaxing,just wandering around to see what I can find.

Like a duck to water, I love staying in areas like this. Our next stop is Wooramel Station, and will be our first time to stay on a station. Looking forward to the experience, has good reports on Wiki camps, so hope we like it.

Still in Kalbarri, we were up before the flies, and drove out about 30 kms to the National Park, only $7 entry to one of the best nature parks this country. A lot more walking today, and the pathways are a little bit scary at times, just needed to watch your step, as it;s a long way down to the bottom.!

When we finally reached the top, the views were spectacular, and the early start worthwhile. Next is a couple of my favourite photos, taken from the area they call natures window. Love this first one.

Before we knew it, it was time to get back down and out of here. Need to hook up the van and move on.

Just one last pic of the Murchison River out the window.

We arrived in Kalbarri, late afternoon, and I decided on the Anchorage caravan park,as it was overlooking the river and seemed the most casual out of all . There is no free camping in Kalbarri township, and no camping at all within the park area. So caravan park it has to be. Well we couldn’t be happier with, the site we were given, big site, end of the row, overlooking the Murchison River.

We were all set up in time to go for a sunset walk with the camera. Then it was happy hour in the camp where the campers were treated to some good old singalong tunes. Good time had by all.

Over the next two days we drove out to all places of interest on the coast, then walked, rock climbed, and of coarse took too many photos to show on here, don’t wan’t to bore you all with what I feel is the best part of travelling. So here is just a few to show how truly awesome Kalbarri is.

By the end of the first day and all that walking around the rocks my legs were singing that night, but so worth it.

The next day was filled up more of the same, then we had local fish and chips from the Jetty seafood shop, another top day.

That’s it for this post, and i’ll leave you with a view from one of nature’s best windows.

Chris has decided to try out his culinary skills, which is great, bacon and eggs or pancakes for breakfast is fine by me. Going further North today, around the Geraldton area, the showers are still persisting. Typical coastal weather, but we just have to have a look to see what has changed since we were here 10 years ago, and on a time limit.

The Pinnacles have been made more touristy, as have most places. They say there is over 10,000 of them, and we enjoyed a stroll around around the now set out walking tracks.

You can still wander off the track, but they ask you not to climb on them. Fair enough, but some overseas tourists just don’t adhere to most of the advice their told .

Separation Point was cold and windy, a couple of photos and we were out of there, Didn’t bother going around to the lighthouse.

Geraldton is very populated now, and a clean and tidy place, with a newly built jetty and lookout over the harbour.

A quick look around Port Gregory area and Northampton , where they have brightly painted sheep around the streets.

A couple of old early settlers buildings.just out of Port Gregory

Then a stop at the Pink Lake, just out of Kalbarri.

That’s it for now, off to listen to a bush poet, around the camp fire. Kalbarri National Park next post.

Hi again, it’s rather hard keeping up with the blog as we have had very little service over the last 2 weeks. We are really enjoying being on the road again. the first week we headed towards Perth, Chris had plans of getting another metal detector ! The closer we got to the coast the colder it became and a few days we had rain, well I called it showers, as it wasnt enough to stop us from doing anything. Small towns can be quite interesting.

We sayed just out of Toodyay, in a bush reserve rather than on the coast, a sheltered spot. Next day into Perth to get the metal detector. Had a hold of a nice gold nugget, that some fortunate bloke found the day before. Hmmmm,!! Also caught up with Dianne, my ex sister in-law.

We passed solar farms and a few wind farms as we got closer to Jurien Bay, on the coast.

Camp near Bindoon,with a seat full of books.

Ok so the showers were rather persistent for the next few days, but we camped at Lake Indoon and loved it. Bush walks, lots of bird life and a nice sheltered spot.

The day in Jurien Bay, was wet, windy, cold, and rough seas.

Hope this post will load , photos of the Pinnacles to put up next.

It’s lights out for now.

Well the day has come to leave Kalannie caravan park and start towards home, we have decided to go north from here and over the top as it’s too cold down south at the moment, besides that way we do the big loop as they say, this trip. We have been living in the van for 15 months , and I love it ,although I do miss the family, friends and my garden. We have made Kalannie our home for the last 7 months. We have been warmly welcomed by the residents, and hopefully we will get back again. For now its a sad farewell, especially to Chris’s employers Steve, Mary, and family.

We hooked up the caravan and weighed it and to our surprise we are not overloaded !.

We called in to say another farewell to Steve, sure going to miss this family, great people and fun to work for. We rang Chris, the son and met up with him on his way back from Perth, at Wandan Hills. The two Chris’s had a chat and final farewell in a park while I had a wander and took some photos.

On our way again, and we called into Toodyay. Think it was a late lunch stop, but turned out to be an amazing hour in the renowned Christmas Shop. Bitter sweet experience for me, just so happy we took the time.

So much, so expensive, and I was like a kid in a lolly shop! Chris finally had seen enough, and I later found him waiting patiently outside.

Then it was time to find a camp spot for the night . Pulled up beside Ninan lake just as the sun was setting, I lost the game of scrabble this night, but with this awesome sunset who cares.

Next morning we went for a walk along the lake edge, its a salt lake so there is a lot of interesting driftwood laying around.

Monday was a public holiday in W A, so we also took it easy .Tuesday was a day for Chris to go shopping . He now has another metal detector after our day in Perth. Also had a catch up with an ex sister inlaw, which was nice. That night we found a nice bush camp on the banks of the river.

An 1800s church and cemetery, was all we found of interest here. Think its time we got serious about heading North as its getting rather cold around these parts and they are talking rain in the next few days.

Time to move on, leaving the busy city behind we headed for Ararat. A camp spot on Green hill lake appears ok to use as a base while we explore the Grampians and surrounds. For a small donation, hot showers and water are provided, as well as a safe, picturesque, place to stay. The weather is being so good to us ,with lovely sunsets over the lake each evening. Continue reading Ararat VIC