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October 2015
01 October 2015
October came quickly and the start of the month saw us leaving Mt Barker and heading off through the nice countryside and small hamlet of Kendenup and then followed the road through the Western End of the Stirling Ranges which was quite a pleasant drive but the best view was almost at the end.
Looking East at the Stirling Range (from the roof of the motorhome).
With the Stirling Range in our mirrors we stopped for lunch in Cranbrook before heading back out to the small town of Tenterden before heading out to Ninijup Lake where we found three other campers parked up. We selected a spot on the old tennis court and settled in with an afternoon chat with two couples who are on their way to the CMCA rally in Albany, and then a happy hour or two with them again later on in the evening.
02 October 2015
Waking early this morning was a good thing as the sunrise was photogenic enough to get a person out of bed early. Trying not to feed the mozzies while enjoying the very large number of black swans on the lake we spent some time capturing the scene.
The cloud helped with the photo's.
A slightly wider view.
Some of the Black Swans on the lake.
Joanne spotted these Orchids on her morning walk.
and these nearby.
Leaving the campers to their weekend at the lake we took the Boyup Brook to Cranbrook Road through some delightful countryside that was rather undulating but with the wineries, crops and then paddocks with granite rocks and sheep in them, pleasing on the eye.
Turing off into Winnijup Road we came to the Blackwood River and stopped for a look before climbing the hill and trying to get closer to the river by starting down a small dirt road, stopping as we entered the road and talking to a local farmer for a few minutes and then turning around when he said the road didn't go through. Up over the hill and down the other side we came to the Winnejup Gully where we just had to stop and turn around to get photo's of the delightful view, and in doing so got to listen to the birds and frogs that live there.
Winnejup Gully.
Leaving the gully we skirted around Bridgetown and ended up in the small town of Greenbushes where we managed to get a spot at the recreation area free camp. Unfortunately the area is very small and as we were in a good spot for the sun etc we had three other motorhome's come in later on and we are all very close, so we hope they don't snore.
03 October 2015
Happy Hour last night turned out to be a good one and our close neighbors, all single and on their way to the CMCA rally were a quiet lot and by the time we were ready this morning they had all left and only one other camper in a caravan was left there with us.
We left town and took a road that took us up hill and down dale through some of the greenest countryside we have seen. Looking a lot like Gippsland in Victoria, especially the area of the Strezlecki Ranges our road took us along the Blackwood River and through some very nice trees.
Tall, strong and beautiful.
Arriving in Bridgetown we stopped for some photographs of the river and the trestle bridge before parking at the RV parking spot (complete with free power points to keep your fridge going while you are shopping) for Joanne to take a small shopping trip.
The Bridgetown Trestle.
Leaving Bridgetown we were heading for Boscabel just North of Kojonup Looking for a spot to stop for a few days and the old Boscabel Hall seemed like a good spot to do that. Taking some more back roads we arrived at the hall but it was not what we wanted and had limited phone coverage so a short 20km trip later we were in Kojonup where we took up residence with three others in the $5 a night RV camp in town.
7 October 2015
We arrived in Boddington today after spending three nights in Kojonup courtesy of a wind we didn't feel like fighting and the fact that the RV stop is so handy and cheap. Leaving Kojonup we made our way to Norring Lake near Wagin where we have been before. The last time we were there the lake was quite empty and the smell of it being driven towards us by the wind.
On arrival we found the toilet block and shelter gone, the tables and chairs around the place further dilapidated, the grass quite high, the lake still not very full and the wind still blowing hard. The only thing that had changed was the dead salt lake smell was not there. We found ourselves a spot and settled in to enjoy the view and then took a walk around to plan some photo's before waiting for sunset.
A peek at sunset
Capturing the colours on the lake after the sun had set.
As night settled in it became apparent that being away from any ambient light meant it was going to be very dark outside and a check after the sun had well and truly gone down showed plenty of stars but only a small vein of milky way. That meant plans for capturing it over the top of the lake had waned like the last full moon and so we stayed inside as avery cold wind blew.
Waking early before the dawn meant we were able to capture it and the colours in the sky before the sun poked it's head up over the horizon. Thankfully the cold wind had gone but e had to work quickly as the sun was eager to say hello.
Here comes the sun as the moon and escort star head for bed.
Our waterfront campsite.
Even the rocks came out for a look at the sunrise.
Yes, that ol dead tree again.
And the sun makes it's appearance
After resisting temptation not to stay another day (after all the scenery was good, the TV, phone and Internet works there and the price is great) we moved on, taking the road into Wagin and then some nice country (dirt) roads towards the Albany Highway before ending up in the small town of Boddington and the RV Camp on the banks of the river.
The River at Boddington.
And tomorrow will see us back in the suburbs with family and friends again for a little while.
14 October 2015
Leaving family and friends again today we headed off towards Merredin again. Grey skies and even light rain was the order of the day as we made our way out into the wheatbelt. Crops were green a few weeks ago when we came through here but now there are large brown swathes across the countryside as the crops ripen.
Stopping in a brief period of sunshine to try and capture some of the beautiful bush we were passing through along what is the Brookton Highway. Large gum trees with spotted trunks alongside others with white trunks with dark rusty markings made for very pleasant viewing.
A typical scene along parts of the Brookton Highway.
Arriving in the town of Beverley we found a spot near the wooden trestle bridge down by the Avon River where we enjoyed lunch and of course just had to try some photos. The river on the side of the bridge that we were on was full and looking rather nice, but it was a totally different story on the other side of the bridge courtesy of a rock and sandbar. The river down from here is terrible and nothing more than a small trickle as it makes its way through the weeds.
The trickle of water that actually makes it through the blockage manages to provide an artistic swirl on the downstream side.
Leaving the swirl to continue we finished lunch and continued on, passing through more small farming communities, the largest being Quairading. Moving on to the free camp at Kwolyin where we camped last month and settled in as the sky became darker and looking more like a storm.
15 October 2015
We arrived in Merredin today after leaving our Kwolyin camp and battling the wind before enjoying another night at the RV Camp in town.
16 October 2015
Overnighting in the free camp was again a great stop and the next day we parked up in the car park at CBH while I completed the Confined Space Course. With family commitments here in WA we are staying in the State this year rather than completing the grain harvest in Qld and SA as we normally do. As such, we have been able to obtain some work with CBH for the wheat season and so when the offer of the Nationally Recognised Confined Space and GAs Testing Course came up for free it was worth completing.
With the course completed we headed out to the CBH Site at Hines Hill where we caught up with Kylie who we have worked with before at GrainFlow, and who we stopped to see at Menzies when we came through there a while ago. Camping alongside the site accommodation we spent an enjoyable evening with Kylie before heading off the next day to Bruce Rock and the RV Camp at the recreation center.
19 October 2015
Having enjoyed the nice camp, free hot showers down the street, good company with Rex and Josie who were camped next to us, topping up with fuel and then a trip to the CBH site to meet the manager we left town late this morning. Making our way North to Hines Hill again and then on through lots and lots of crops to Bencubbin where we have taken up a spot at the recreation oval. Bencubbin's caravan park has been taken over by the water corporation at the moment and so the Shire has opened up cheap ($10) powered sites at around the oval until December to compensate, and it's a pretty good spot too.
22 October 2015
Well it's been an interesting few days since our last entry. We left Bencubbin and headed North and found ourselves heading down a farmers paddock lane t a set of ruins and a set of sheep yards made of stone. The yards were made by the Pergandes Family who settled in the area back in 1913, the yards made by heating the surface of the nearby rock and then rapidly cooling it to fracture the rock into slabs which were then carted down to be used.
Leaving the sheep yards we took AJ to the top of the rock at Mt Marshall before heading on, and where just 15 km's short of Beacon we found a large area of dead trees and of course a salt lake to take some photo's of. Stopping for some photo's on the causeway across the lake we were trying various angles and compositions and then it was time to move AJ down the road a bit, and that is when the adventure became more adventurous.
Turning the key got all the dashboard lights coming on okay but nothing happened after that, just dead silence. Hmmm, a check of the battery showed it was okay so it had to be a starter motor issue, but with a very limited view and access to it there was nothing we could find wrong. So after a call to Winnebago Roadside Assist we enjoyed a trip back to Merredin where the mechanic/auto electrician managed to squeeze underneath and found a wire at the back floating in the breeze and after reconnecting it the engine roared into life. So it was back to the RV camp for the night, thankful that we were mobile again.
The next morning we set off again heading North once again but following a different track. Making our way to Eaglestone Rock which sits next to Lake Brown an in the Lake Campion Reserve. Threading our way through the trees alone a narrow dirt track we found where we would like to camp but it was so uneven we gave up and went back down the track a bit to a nice level area we had spotted on our way up.
Setting up camp and then Joanne decided to brave the heat and the flies to check out the rock and the views around the area including the salt lake on one side and the sheep and crops on the other.
The weather was warm enough for the sheep to take a dip.
Lake Brown as seen from the top of the rock.
The sun went down and do did the temperature (thankfully) and as we settled in for the night the quietness was most deafening.
Waking early was the perfect chance to try and capture some shots of the rock and some stars as the dawn began to break. The flies and mozzies we still asleep (thankfully) but it didn't take them long to realise someone was awake and up outside and they soon came to see what was happening, but not before some photo's were taken.
The stars were beginning to fade as the dawn broke.
Heading back to bed for a nap before breakfast was great and then it was time to head off again to find somewhere cool as the day was expected to be another hot one.
Passing through the small ex town of Wialka and checking out the Datjoin Pioneer Well we made our way to Beacon where we fueled up, shopped for some things in the general store and began to leave town again before deciding to go back to the caravan park where after they give you a $10 voucher to spend in the town, the cost of a powered site with a great camp kitchen, great showers and even some shade comes to $15. So we settled in with the air conditioner going, caught up on some things, processed some photos and enjoyed a great shower.
25 October 2015
Leaving Beacon having spent our $10 voucher on two chocolate milks (yes, it is expensive there), we did plenty of country driving to check out a few granite rocks and the crops around the area that are almost ready before dropping into Merredin for some shopping and then ending back at the RV stop in Bruce Rock. Meeting Rex and Josie again we spent some time with them catching up on our respective travels and adventures before calling it a day.
26 October 2015
Work seems to be at least a week away and so today we are going to move into the caravan park, where normally it is $28 a night but, if you stay for a week it drops to $15, so that is what we are going to do, stay a week, and if work starts up in the meantime we will just walk the 1 km to work and then move to the site and plug in to the accommodation after that.
30 October 2015
After a walk down to the site to see the Site Manager yesterday we moved into a spot on the site and I commenced work the next morning (today) and Joanne will start in a few days time when it gets busier. The work and routines are pretty much the same as it has been in Queensland and South Australia so within 5 minutes we were settled into a familiar routine.
Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.
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