We have been in Kalannie since last October, and are now being treated like a local. Steve Mary and family now treat us as friends. It has been said that Chris their Son, who manages the trucks, has intentions of chaining Chris T, to the steering wheel so he can’t leave. I went for another trip with chris a few weeks ago and we loaded grain at a farm in Dalwallinu. Got chatting to the farmer while Chris loaded and was told he likes Chris doing his work as he always turns up on time and happy, gives him a good start to the day, he says. Nice to hear, guess it helps that Chris can survive on 4/5 hrs sleep, and loves doing this work. Its an early start, getting up around 2am, to be at the farm about 4.
We arrived in Perth to unload, around 4hrs later. Hundreds of ducks, very fat ducks, gather around the grain storage plant, eating the spilled grain, after the trucks have unloaded.
After unloading in Perth, we picked up a load of fertiliser from Fremantle, and headed back in the peak hour traffic, not a fun time, however I soon relaxed as the sun set behind us and enjoyed seeing the paddocks of fire, burning the stubble, shame we couldn’t stop to take photos, as it is an amazing site. 
This is a photo I took a few days later, of the wind rows being burnt during the day. Nothing spectacular but it shows how they clean up, before planting again soon.
We stopped to wander around old farms, seeing dams, wells, windmills, even thought this old farm bike was cute for a mailbox. We are amazed that nothing gets thrown away from these farms, even today, most farms have a dead machinery paddock. Brings back memories for Chris, and photo opportunities for me Steve also knew where to look at some old sheep dips, took awhile to move on from here as he and Chris pondered over their sheep dipping days.
Some of the sheep dips are still in reasonable condition.
Mollerin Rock was a huge catchment area for water. So much work was put into stone edges around the outskirts of the rock, so the rain water would run down into drains that led into big water tanks. These are mainly on common land so the drovers had water for their travelling stock. 
They even went to the trouble of building rock walls around the scrub areas and holes in the rock, so they didn’t lose any water and kept it as clean as possible, before draining into the tank below.
Some of the old tin covers have deteriorated over the the years, but to me this makes them more original, and interesting to climb up and look in. Can be a bit creepy looking into the depths of there now slimey contents, due to lack of use. 
Most of these big flat rock areas are quite accessible by 4 wheel drive.
So Chris just had to !! Note I got out, before he came back down !! 
And for those interested in old machinery, here is some we found laying around in the paddocks.
Another large water tank is not far out of town, at Xantippe. Locals were thrilled at the end of last Year, that Channel 7, Sunrise team came and featured Xantippe. A town starting with X, as they filmed, and featured towns of the alphabet.
The firies put on a recovery breakfast on the sunday morning. By the time Chris and I walked over to the oval and joined the que, they were running out of bacon so it was an egg and sauce sandwich for us. Think they said they had gone through 25kgs of bacon !! With the cropping finished , it’s time to fertilize the paddocks. Now this could only be done in the West, crazy as it seems they use sand off the beaches . I went for a day with Chris in the truck, to see it for myself and get photos, of coarse.
It’s a 3 hr trip to Jurien Bay, we left by 3am, and was just breaking daylight when we drove into the sandhills, and loaded sand by headlights. Once loaded it was back on the road again, and a we headed to a farm drop off way out East [I think ], these farms are just huge, not a house or person in site. The drivers get a pin drop on google for directions, and the farmer usually leaves a small bucket or stick where he wants them to unload. Bit like finding a needle in a haystack.
Note the size and colour, of the drop off marker, took awhile to find it.
That done it was time to head back to the depot, and Chris can do it all again tomorrow. And to finish off, i’ve found another nice sunset photo. 
Friends from over east were heading to Perth and had booked into Ocean Beach Apartments.
So we had some time with them as well as a lovely brunch at the North Beach Deli. 
Meals there are some of the best we have experienced, we like to go there as our friend Ray Simpkin’s daughter own it, and nice to catch up with 2 of his girls as well.
North Beach is a beautiful area on the ocean, with lots of eateries overlooking the water, making the perfect venue to watch the sun go down. 
When I have nothing to do an Chris is on the road, I sometimes go for a drive and just take photos of lakes and birds, can always find beauty and peace through the lens of the camera.
That’s just about all the excitement we could muster up around here for February, and even the birds have gone to roost.
These first few are taken around the little township of Green Hills. Most of these little towns have only the pubs still trading. One of our favourite is Watheroo Station.
The rail side of the station, is in a state of disrepair, but the front has been made into a lovely pub and diner, serving great meals. Another drive was to the Watheroo caves, a good view from on top of the rocks. 
No we didn’t climb down into the cave. 
A bit of fun with the camera, and still some wildflowers around,
and a windmill near Dalwallinu 
We weren’t back in Kalanni long, and I experienced my first storm on the road. And was it a good one, birds went crazy, and I headed for the amenities block, decided it would be safer there, than getting blown around in the van.! 
When it was over and I opened the door of the amenities, the water was up to the top of the step.
All good was with van. But the park was flooded. The view of the sunsets from the park, are quite spectacular most evenings. 
Time for a break and a cuppa, back soon with more of our time in the wheatbelt.
They pick the fresh pine cones from the trees and rip them to bits, 
they have a real feeding frenzy on them. Mundaring was our first stop.
This little, up in the hills, timber town, has the best kids park I have ever seen, sculptures set in natural bushland. 
Sandpits with working implements and animal sculptures to sit on 
Bike tracks all through the area and even a post with bike repair tools hanging on it. 
Lots of unusual sculptured seating
and an awesome twin flying fox. 
Being a kid at heart I had to take photos of this fun place. 
Too many to show them all, but you’ll get the idea. Another interesting little town, and not all that far from Perth .We had some lunch and headed out again.
Our next stop, was York. We booked into the caravan park there, as we wanted to stay a few days. We liked the town, when we called in on our way down south, and decided it was as good as anywhere to spend Australia Day and Chris’s birthday the following day. The caravan park had 3 or 4 other vans in, when we arrived. A lovely bush setting. The amenities block was a bit old, but clean. We set up and went for a look around town. 
Not sure what these sculptures in the park are about, but I still took a photo. Then for a look through the grand old town hall. Beautiful building.! 
From upstairs you can view other old buildings. Across the road there is one of the many old pubs in town. York is the oldest town in WA, and so full of wondeful old buildings. Next it was a view of the town from up at the lookout. 
The following day we had breakfast in the park and celebrated Australia Day with the rest of the towns folk.
A nice day for everyone, especially the little ones, who happily chased bubbles in the air.
in the afternoon we just sat around and relaxed with the chooks, and birds .
The following day was Chris’s birthday. I managed to make him a very unspectacular cake the evening before, I didn’t have any candles, so made do with smarties. 
That evening we went out to the Settlers for dinner. 
It’s an original old pub that is now a beautifully restored restaurant and accommodation place. 
Made the right choice as the meals were good and the live band was great. So long since we’d had such a good night out.! Even played our wedding song and we had a dance. As well as that chris was made feel special as the owner and staff presented him with a dessert cake, topped with a sparkler. 
And of cause everyone sang happy birthday to him. 
It was a lovely night, made more so by the great staff. 
As it was a long weekend we ended up staying in York for the monday as well.
It’s a popular town for tourists, and we certainly enjoyed our stay. We left the park on tuesday about lunch time, only stopping in Northam to do a grocery shop, before getting back to Kalannie that afternoon. So holiday over it’s back to work for Chris, carting fertilizer from Jurien Bay back to the farms. Not sure whether there will be anything interesting for me to put on blog for a while. But you never know whats ahead, eh. ?
and the following morning had a walk around the beachfront,
before hooking up the van and going for one final drive around Albany. I wanted to take a photo of the Painted silos in town, before we left the area. 
Different to say the least, but nonetheless, still a tourist attraction. So many silos are being painted around the country now, bringing travellers into their area. From here we travelled the short distance to Cosy Corner East. 
However we didn’t stay there. Just took a couple of photos and left to find another spot further along the coast at Torbay, as we hadn’t been in there before. turned out to be a great bush camp. There were a few other campers there, but mainly overnight backpackers, no caravans, as its quite sandy and not a very big area, so most caravaners wouldn’t go in there. 
The beach is accessed by a sandy track, there is also a inlet nearby that is good for both swimming and fishing, lots of bream being caught at the time.
Chris had a hearing appointment for the 23rd, so we could only stay for a couple of nights, but we had a nice couple of lazy days on the beach. 
Although we bush camp alot we still eat well, and I like to cook in webber when we aren’t travelling each day. Cooked a nice piece of pork, while staying here. Chris did his usual taste test, as you can see. 
The night before Chris’s appointment, we stayed closer to Perth at Logue Dam in the National park, was almost dark when we arrived.
Seems to be a very popular are for boaties from Perth. However we were out of there early the next day and into Myaree to drop the caravan off at Graeme McMullens’ workshop. He did some work for us, while we had another day in Fremantle. Rather cool and windy day. but all went well with Chris’s hearing. After picking up the van that afternoon we had another night at Advent Park, just out of Perth. Not long before we will be back at Kalannie, and Chris back at work, after having nearly a month of travelling.
Well worth the stop. 
After we came out of the caves we did a bush walk back to the car park, so had some exercise for the day.
After that we called into Hamelin Bay, had a walk around and a bite to eat. 
It’s my kind of beach, crystal clear, calm water. Next it was a stop at Cape Leeuwin, and a walk up to the lighthouse. 
Cute cow eh,?! On the pathway.
These walkways weren’t built last time we were here in 2007.
So much has changed, a lot of remote areas are now quite developed, to bring in the tourist dollars.
The photo above shows the area that we camped in back in 2007. Now due to change, caravans have to park in a marked out area up the road
quite good, private spots, with toilets not far away, but further from the beach. Cosy Corner is a very popular place, on the south west coast, and one of Chris and my favourite in Australia.
Beautiful beach surrounded by natural bushland.
On one of my walks, I came across a flowering gum in full bloom as well as lots of other shrubs, just love staying here.
Couldn’t have asked for better weather while we stayed there. I think we have only had 5ml of rain since we left home nearly 12 months ago.
After setting up on our site, we drove into town and meet our friends. Had a lovely afternoon driving around all the points of interest, and catching up on our adventures over the last 4 and a half years. They have sold their house and travel permanently.
It seemed to take forever for the sun to go down, to do our light walk.
Finally about 8.30 we entered the memorial park, and the whole experience was very moving as well as beautiful.
A wonderful tribute to our WW1 veterans. As you walked through the field their stories were told through an app on our phone. The lights also changed colour as the story was told. So well done, and great that we made the trip to experience it. We spent a couple of hours there before saying farewell to our friends. I’m sure we’ll meet somewhere again on our travels.
Rosie and Creed have entered into a surf carnival , so spend a lot of time out surfing each day.
Both of them are now quite competent surfers, gaining places in the days leading up to the finals, both were on the winners platform after the final. A great achievement, after competing against others from all over Australia.
Proud parents, and of coarse Grandparents, watched on from the beach, as these youngsters took on the surf and showed their skill. 
A lot of the week was taken up with surfing, but too cold for Chris and I to go in the water, so we spent time walking the beach, or going for drives around the headlands. 
It’s a very pretty area, although I feel it is a very rugged and unforgiving coastline, and always windy. or Windy Always as they say.
Still some bush plants in bloom, so taking photos and collecting shells, kept me occupied.
It was lovely, especially for Chris, to spend time with Rosie and Creed. We played putt putt golf, cards and scrabble, as well as being there for Creeds 12th birthday.
In the evenings we had BBQs together, which the wildlife also joined in on. The kookaburras will take food off your plate if your not careful.
After dark the kangaroos and possums come in and check out the campsites as well. 
On one of our afternoon drives, Chris and I came across this surfboard fence, at Prevelly, which I thought was rather quirky.
The Margaret River area is very popular for its wineries, so lots for the tourists to see and do apart from going to the popular beaches. Very upmarket shops, eateries and homes, around the area. One very popular place is the Chocolate Factory.
Friends from over east were in the area so we all met there for a catch up and of coarse chocolate. I certainly didn’t need dinner that night !! 
Even the birds were getting a sugar fix in the gardens outside.
In all we had a lovely week in Gracetown. Before we knew it the week was over and was time to move on.
Our first overnight stop was in Boddington, had the whole RV park to ourselves. 
Lots of birds and one particular young galah, that continued to squark at its mother. Amused me, it was being so persistent, like a naughty kid.! 
The beautiful rose gardens, had so many different coloured roses. 
Some interesting statutes, 
carvings and totem poles throughout the area. 
Also a walking track that follows the river back into town .
The next day we took a number of back roads, calling in at small towns along the way and stopping to have lunch or a cuppa at points of interest. As we were on one of these back roads, we came across hay being loaded, and stacked in piles in the paddock. We stopped for awhile and watched, also spoke to the farmer. 
Possibly these bales, could of been some of the ones, that were being sent over to the farms in the east, that are in the grip of drought. This is Wungong Dam.
Next it was into Balingup, a very small town with a great old museum 
Another stop for a look at the popular old town of Quindanning . A lovely hotel on the river there.
Also have seen some good use made out of old train and tram carriages around this area. As well as old buildings. 
After a long day we finally pulled into a free camp spot at Greenbushes Pool. It had been a hot day so a swim in the late afternoon was in order. 
The next morning I was up early for a bush walk and some photos of the birds having an early dip in the pool.
So many around before the heat of the day.
We really liked this stopover, and would stay here again. After a bit of a late start the next day, we headed East towards Margaret River and Gracetown ,where we were having a week with the kids, as they have come over from Sawtell to compete in a surf comp. Only one stop along the way at the old milling town of Donnelly River.
There is a wildlife park there now, where the animals are very friendly. Greeting you as you pull up,
they love being patted, 
hand feed
and almost came into our van as we had our lunch there. One cheeky emu, came right up to the camera, for a good look at what I was doing.
We arrived in Gracetown and set up that afternoon, just as the family got back to camp after being out for a surf. And so a holiday within a holiday begins…
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