Fremantle, Rottnest Is & Perth

June 17, 2017

We drove north for the first time.  Settled into a campsite in Baldivis.
The photo looks relaxing but we were really close to a paint ball park - many battles won & lost this afternoon!








odometer reading 55,749
kms travelled today 258
kms travelled so far 5,918
campsite Bonney's Water Ski Park

June 18, 2017

We travelled into Fremantle & checked out the markets.
(over the road from a footy oval)

an interesting surprise was the WA Maritime Museum which housed amongst many interesting things a model of the successful America's Cup winning yacht with a John Bertram look alike at the wheel!
(complete with winged keel of course)
& Bob Hawkes 'Australia' jacket was on display also - what a collection

after Freo we travelled south to check out Mandurah - a beautiful area











odometer reading 55,906
kms travelled today 157
kms travelled so far 6,075
campsite Bonney's Water Ski Park

June 19, 2017

We drove into Freo again & caught the ferry out to Rottnest Island
Had to see the Quokkas!
We also saw a dolphin, seals, & osprey eagles - courtesy of a HoHo bus (hop on, hop off) -
as well as the most western point of the Island.
A peacock strutted around town with the Quokkas while we had lunch & checked out the Salt Store, Lomas Cottage, Museum, Pilot Boathouse and hilltop monument.
A worthwhile trip.




odometer reading 55,988
kms travelled today 82
kms travelled so far 6,157
campsite Bonney's Water Ski Park

June 20, 2017

We travelled into Perth from Wellard Station & caught the ferry to South Perth - this is the view of Perth from there.
A great public transport system $5 for an all day pass on train, ferry & bus.

We caught a bus to King's Park and got another view of the city plus these beautiful gums. Nearby here is the Bali memorial for the bombing victims - the sun rises through the gap in the stone on Oct 12 - the anniversary.

then it was on to the Perth Mint.
this coin is the world's largest coin - 1 tonne gold
actual weight 1,012 kilos - 1 tonne
diameter 80 cms
thickness 12 cms
face value $1,000,000
actual value about $58mill on today's prices

so I stepped on some scales & found out that I'm worth more than $4mill :)
Les worth considerably more!!















odometer reading 56,003
kms travelled today 15
kms travelled so far 6,172
campsite Bonney's Water Ski Park

June 21, 2017

I travelled back into Perth by myself while Les pottered around the campsite

I looked long & hard to find out how to get into the Museum only to find out eventually that it's closed until 2020 - guess I'll pass on waiting

I then found the Art Centre & came across the original 'Droving into the light' by Hans Heysen - a print that hung on our family wall for decades

good to have a wander around Perth


odometer reading 56,042
kms travelled today 39
kms travelled so far 6,211
campsite Bonney's Water Ski Park

Margaret River

June 13, 2017
We drove to Margaret River in the rain.  The first campsite we had considered was too far out of town on a farm - no good in the wet. The second campsite didn't allow power for heating (an eco camp) but we had been cold for days. The third campsite was small & out of town so we settled for a 3 star park near town.

odometer reading 55,155
kms travelled today 165
kms travelled so far 5,324
campsite Margaret River Tourist Park

June 14, 2017

We drove to where Margaret River meets the sea and then followed Cave Road south.  We checked out Contos campsite in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park - it would be a beautiful place to stay in warm sunny weather.
We drove through Boranup Karri Forest and then went to check out Hamelin Bay - a Ray sanctuary - but all the stingrays were MIA.

There are many caves in this area but we picked out the Jewel Cave to be our underground experience.
The chambers of Jewel Cave were once an ancient sand dune about 90km long and 3km wide stretching from Dunsborough to Augusta.

We walked up to the top of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse - the tallest mainland lighthouse at the most south west point.

This photo is taken from the base of the lighthouse. It was a bit too cold to put a foot in each ocean!!


Just around the corner there was a wooden water wheel which has been turned to stone/rock
The water wheel used to provide the water for the lighthouse keepers. Then back through Augusta and home.




odometer reading 55,309
kms travelled today 154
kms travelled so far 5,478
campsite Margaret River Tourist Park

June 15, 2017

Today we headed north on Cave Road. First stop Canal Rocks - ancient banks of granitic gneiss which have eroded along a dead straight line running north - south, forming the striking 'canal' feature. Several smaller canals cross perpendicular to the main canal.
We travelled out to Cape Naturaliste to visit another lighthouse then back through Dunsborough to Busselton.

We walked out 1.841km on the Busselton Jetty to visit the underwater observatory (decided not to take the train)
This is the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.

we could have done without the guided tour here - not interested in facts & figures - just wanted to observe the fish

We're only about 2,600kms from home as the crow flies.

When in Rome .......
we visited 1 winery in the Margaret River Region so it had to be special
Vasse Felix was the first vineyard planted in the area & this year celebrates its 50th year
We sent a couple of boxes winging their way east.

In Albany I didn't taste the BEST whisky in Australia 2016 so when I saw a Limeburner's Distillery in Margaret River I had to go in & give it a go ($700 a bottle)
tasted great!




We came home to watch the footy - both glad we hadn't made the effort to get to Perth to watch the match.







odometer reading 55,491
kms travelled today 182
kms travelled so far 5,660
campsite Margaret River Tourist Park

June 16, 2017

laid back day in Margaret River today

walking tours only!

this cow was spotted on our way to the shops

we'd seen this cow at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
seems lots of cows were decorated a couple of years back

I wonder how many more cows we will see?














odometer reading 55,491
kms travelled today 0
kms travelled so far 5,660
campsite Margaret River Tourist Park

Boyup Brook & Greenbushes

June 9, 2017

On the way out of Albany we visited The Sandalwood Factory - the world's largest Sandalwood oil distillery. We bought some nougat containing sandalwood nuts, mosquito coils & sticks - hopefully they are effective!

We then travelled to Harvey Dickson's Country Music Centre Boyup Brook - apparently the Country Music Centre of Western Australia.

A quirky place indeed!












odometer reading 54,930
kms travelled today 251
kms travelled so far 5,199
campsite Harvey Dickson's Country Music Centre

June 10, 2017

We took a tour of Harveys record collection & his Country Music Centre.

I wonder if I could have a career as a Country Music Star??

We drove on to Greenbushes, set up at a free camp & went to get diesel. We went for a walk up a hill & found another mining pit.
Tin was first discovered in Greenbushes in 1886 and mining began in 1888 making it the oldest and longest continuously mined operation in WA.
We also saw the old gaol.




We had a great night out for dinner at The Shamrock Hotel - plenty of locals around.

odometer reading 54,990
kms travelled today 60
kms travelled so far 5,259
campsite Greenbushes Sports Complex - beside the cricket pavilion - great town water

June 11, 2017

We walked into town for Sunday papers - lots of historical plates around. This one tells how Polly Farmer lived in a children's home here & attended primary school for a coupe of years - he's middle row 6th from the left.

It's pretty cold at night - great to have the open fire.










odometer reading 54,990
kms travelled today 0 (except Les walked & rode plenty)
kms travelled so far 5,259
campsite Greenbushes Sports Complex

June 12, 2017

I decided to do part of the 15km walking trail

seems I got off the track but still managed to enjoy the sunshine & the walk

Les did some of the track also

quiet day
listening to footy on our phones (no tv)





odometer reading 54,990
kms travelled today 0
kms travelled so far 5,259
campsite Greenbushes Sports Complex

Hopetoun, Bremer Bay & Torbay

June 5, 2017

From Esperance we drove 40kms along the Great Ocean Drive - spectacular scenery
this is from Observation Point overlooking Observatory Beach - lots of islands

We ate salmon for dinner on the site of an old salmon cannery.
It tasted delicious!







odometer reading 53,950
kms travelled today 281
kms travelled so far 3,716
campsite RV self-contained 48hr stay Hopetoun WA

June 6, 2017

another painted silo
this time in Ravensthorpe 















odometer reading 54,247
kms travelled today 297
kms travelled so far 4,013
campsite Bremer Bay Caravan Park

June 7, 2017

After setting up camp & visiting the Tourist Information Centre we travelled out to Albany's historic whaling station at Discovery Bay.

We really enjoyed our visit to Torndirrup National Park
This is the Natural Bridge - carved from ancient granite by the forces of nature

The Gap features a 25 metre sheer drop to the ocean - there was a cantilever built out over the gap - scary for me to walk out there :)











odometer reading 54,565
kms travelled today 318
kms travelled so far 4,331
campsite Cosy Corner East, Torbay - sounds a bit like home - Cosy Corner on Front Beach, a house called Torbay on The Esplanade & we passed Combes Rd on the way here!

June 8, 2017

On November 1, 1914, the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops departed for the First World War from King George Sound, Albany. For many, Albany was their last sight of Australian soil.

The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial on the summit of Mount Clarence replicates a monument to the fallen on the banks of Port Said in Egypt.

We also visited the National Anzac Centre further down the hill.

boys & their toys :)
(at the Princess Royal Fortress)

There was time for a taste (@ $5, $10 or $15 a pop)
of whisky at this distillery.

We had to use these to be cosy at Cosy Corner!!
















odometer reading 54,679
kms travelled today 114
kms travelled so far 4,848
campsite Cosy Corner East

Cape Le Grand

June 3, 2017

Heading south from Kalgoorlie & skirting Esperance we drove past Stonehenge

It is a full size replica of the original 'Stonehenge' in the UK, as it would have looked around 1950BC

The structure is aligned with the summer solstice sunrise - Esperance WA. The Station Stones are positioned on this line to allow the sun rays to pass through to the Altar. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year (December 22). The sunset on the winter solstice (June 21) is the same line as the Summer Solstice Sunrise.
We missed it by that much!!

Cape Le Grand National Park
Les' Ranger is a blip up that road where we are camped - I'm taking the photo from up the hill
kangaroos, wallabies & emu live in the scrub here - plus other creatures we didn't see








odometer reading 53,558
kms travelled today 440
kms travelled so far 3,324
campsite Cape Le Grand Beach

June 4, 2017

This is Thistle Cove - I walked from here to Lucky Bay (originally planned to do a return trip but 3 hours seemed too long - turns out I did it in 45mins & could easily have retraced my steps - trouble is I couldn't change my plans with Les - no mobile reception)

Lucky Bay - beautiful turquoise water
Matthew Flinders named this 215 years ago on his circumnavigation of Australia

We drove along the beach towards Esperance
They claim to have the whitest sand in Australia
this photo is when we were on our way back

Les went fishing at Hellfire Bay & got lucky
this is a beautiful salmon & will feed us for a few meals















odometer reading 53,669
kms travelled today 111
kms travelled so far 3,435
campsite  Cape Le Grand Beach

Kalgoorlie

May 30, 2017

16th hole at Kambalda Golf Club
Silver Lake Par 4 - 392m

We walked around town - bought a Parks' Pass at the Department of Parks and Wildlife

one of the many pubs to be seen










odometer reading 52,959
kms travelled today 71
kms travelled so far 2,725
campsite Kalgoorlie Discovery Holiday Park

May 31, 2017

We went to the Gold Museum
This is a replica of the Golden Eagle Nugget
We saw huge painted Union banners - kept in a light controlled room, a moveable police station (can run along the railway tracks), learnt about the lady who bought & renovated the historic brothel, read that the super pit will finish in 2021 - mine asking for ideas on what to do with it, saw great photos depicting life in the goldfish days

17th & 18th holes at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course
C Y O"Connor par 4 - 356m
Golden Mile Par 5 - 519m

I think we were better golfers at the end than we were at the beginning & also that we did pretty well having only a wedge & putter each. We lost 1 ball and found 2 - so finished in front!

19th Hole













odometer reading 52,987
kms travelled today 28
kms travelled so far 2,753
campsite Kalgoorlie Discovery Holiday Park

June1, 2017

The Super Pit

We took a side trip to Coolgardie
Glad I found a Coolgardie Safe in Coolgardie
There was a great museum here in a beautifully restored building. It looked like they had the entire contents of a 1900 pharmacy - all the bottles & tins & lotions etc. Coolgardie had been the 3rd largest city in Western Australia at one point.











We had dinner at Paddy's in the Exchange Hotel - pictured earlier - good choice - it was where all the locals were! We walked through the Wild West Saloon - famous for its gorgeous skimpy barmaids.

odometer reading 53,104
kms travelled today 117
kms travelled so far 2,870
campsite Kalgoorlie Discovery Holiday Park

June 2, 2017

Les went on a mine tour - saw lots of BIG things & was told lots of BIG numbers















Highlight of the day was watching Geelong beat Adelaide!!
but we had to be organised to start watching @ 5.30pm
but it was already dark - sunset @ 5pm or so here

odometer reading 53, 118
kms travelled today 14
kms travelled so far 2,884
campsite Kalgoorlie Discovery Holiday Park