January 2019

01 January 2019

Happy New Year! We hope that our readers will have a healthy, happy and prosperous 2019.

Slipping off to sleep around 9.30pm in 2018 and waking up in 2019 was the order of our New Years Eve. Still in Bruce Rock we have enjoyed the air conditioning on this the first day of the new year as the mercury tops 40 deg C.

We have been resting up, getting a few small jobs done and even casually casting some thought to this years adventures and travels. Tomorrow we will be back to the in and outloading of wheat tomorrow with an expected 35 deg C day.

We are not sure how long the work will last but we will take every day that we can to add more and more travel coupons to the bank account.

21 January 2019

No work this week was the word from the boss on Friday, and so rather than stay in Bruce Rock we opted for a change of scenery and headed North to the little mining town of Westonia. Having camped here before we know how good the small caravan park is with its modern amenities excellent camp kitchen and all for $119 (discounted).

This week is the chance to relax and unwind, put our feet up and think about what we want to do next. There is a possibility that there will be more work, but for the moment we will relax, think about some photography and then call the boss on Thursday to see what the future holds.

25 January 2019

So after calling the boss we have finally finished the 2018 Grain Harvest, and with work finally over we are now back to using the travel coupons we have stockpiled over the past couple of months.

We are also happy to announce that we have also teamed up with the Jigsaw Gallery in Victoria to produce jigsaws using our very own photography. Our private collection can be found by clicking here. Depending on how well we do we will add more photos as time goes by.

28 January 2019

Leaving Westonia yesterday we made our way back to Bruce Rock where we conducted a complete weighbridge weight check while the site was closed and allowing us time to carry out the five required measurements including disconnected.

Weight check over we made our way to Narembeen where we stopped the night at the CBH site visiting Tim, a guy we have worked with recently. Then this morning it was time to move on some more, heading this time to Kulin, a small town that we have been to quite a few times.

We checked out the empty free camp before heading over to the 'pay what you want' caravan park, settling in just after the myriad of vans and tents had cleared out, leaving just us and one other to enjoy the place.

Settling in and connecting up to the power and water, the air conditioner went on to keep us cool as the heat of the day really began to pump up towards the 39 degree high, and the screeches of delight from the nearby giant water slide confirmed the kids were also keeping cool.

Coming into town and crossing the now disused railway, a photo opportunity appeared out of nowhere and so later in the day it was the perfect chance to get the camera out for the first photo of 2019.

Railway Tree

Growing in my tracks.

The intensity of the heat meant that there was no time to forget what settings to use for fear of getting a red lobster tan.

29 January 2019

Kulin was once again a great stopover and with fuel at $1.34 per litre we decided to top up the tank before we left. Unfortunately the car machine was not working not matter what card we, or anyone else put in, so we left town.

Passing Jilarning we enjoyed the country driving before stopping in Dumbleyung for morning tea. Then it was more country driving to Katanning where we got fuel at $1.31.9 and then checked out the new 48hr RV free camp in town. We thought we might stop there but the bitumen carpark one street back from the shopping area didn't make too much of an impression on us, so we made our way out of town to Lake Ewlyamartup, which we thought might be a better option.

Arriving at the salt lake we found it almost empty, the white salty crust quite a contrast between the brilliant blue sky and the brackish brown colour of the large stinking pools of water that were left. Settling in a spot we were about to set up camp but the smell from the lake, something akin to rotting fish, was so overpowering we decided to head back into Katanning and try the RV stop, that all of a sudden was looking, well, smelling quite good.

Back in town and with the place to ourselves, we picked what we through would be the best spot and set up for the rest of the day.

31 January 2019

The end of the month see's us making our way to Albany. Having stopped overnight at the free RV camp in Mont Barker today found us heading down towards Albany looking at properties we have seen online. Photographs and Real Estate Agents blurb are one thing, but you cannot beat looking at it with your own eye.

After two days of property hunting we finally made our way to Two Peoples Caravan Park, some 20km out of Albany. At $25 a night ($3 extra for large vehicles) the TPCP is the cheapest around town, with most others wanting $40 plus. Sure, the TPCP is not five star, but the amenities are okay, it is quiet and there is room to move, and we are not supporting the exorbitant rip off the town parks demand.

Parking up we were off to explore the Tornidirrup National Park on the South side of Albany, stopping in town at the Visitor Info to get a National Parks Pass. Buying the holiday (month) pass was $46 and cheaper than paying the $13 at each stop (and there are few) in the park. It also allows us access to all the National Parks as often as we want for the month.

Misery Beach is next to the old whaling station, named no doubt for the misery of the whales that were dissected and cut up there ready for processing.

Misery Beach

Descending the path to Misery Beach offers a great view.

Misery Beach 2

The beach and rock meet the ocean.

Salmon Holes

Salmon Holes Beach and the Southern Ocean.

LEaving Salmon Holes we made our way up to Stony Hill, once the site of a Defence Lookout and Signal Tower, now just a nice 450m walk along the coast, over the rocks where the lookout and tower once stood and back to the carpark, all the time the views (even with the wind) were magnificent.

The Gap

The Gap viewing platform, for those who are game.

Natural Arch

Natural Arch which would be explosive if the tide was in and the swell was up.

We stopped at the Blowholes as well, but despite the strong wind they were not working. Heading back to camp we did some four wheel driving as we made our way to Sharp Point along Eclipse Island Road.

We also checked out the $15 a night, no amenities, camp in the bush spot at the golf club. Not a bad spot but obviously very popular thanks to the price. With Three motorhome's and five caravans taking up the area and the golf club enjoying $165 for the night for doing very little we might have been able to get in if we had gone there earlier, but we didn't.

It was around 6pm when we got back and so enjoyed something to eat, a shower and then bed. It had been a long, but interesting way to end the month.

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.