Blowholes at Carnarvon

We drove out to the blow holes this morning but did not even see one wave come up so we turned left and found a great beach for swimming and snorkeling.

We had both forgotten to take our rashies so we didnt swim for long, the sun gets a bit hot. I guess we were there in the water for about an hour. As there is no fishing there, there is a lot of fish and quite large, they were quite happy to come pretty close.The biggest one I saw was about eight inches long, a black one and there were lots of smaller ones, it was magic.

This afternoon we went down the street, I drove for a change and turned down a road which said "HMAS Sydney Memorial 11, I thought it would be a nice drive. Ha! it joined up to the highway that we came in on. Coming back in town, I read the sign in full it was the Memorial Ave!

Then we went to the one mile jetty but too hot to walk it at that time and the steam train only runs on the weekends. 

Shell Beach

On the way back from Denham/Monkey Mia we called into Shell beach. A very different beach with very little sand as we know it but it is just about, all shells.

Warren picked up a handful on the beach and this is what it looks like.

This is what I found very different as there was the beach and then the sky, it was about two hundred metres from the car park to the beach, lots of people were there and there was a heap out in the water, just walking as they were out about a further hundred to a hundred and fifty metres and only up to their knees.

This is a baby jelly fish there were a few of those, luckily the water was so clear that they were easily seen, this one was about the size of my fist.

Ocean Park Aquarium

A few kilometres out from Denham was this aquarium, we saw the sign and thought yes, why not, probably cost an arm and a leg but we are on holidays.

We were pleasantly surprised by the price $22 for adults or $20 for old farts like us. We joined a tour and had about an hour learning about and seeing the fish.

This is Lola a mantra ray who came to be fed, the guide is standing to the side and said that she liked attention and when she doesnt get it, she comes up the side of the pool splashing who ever is around. She came right up about eight inches out of the water.

There were sharks, stone fish Yuck ugly looking things and sea snakes, apparently they will bite but give a dry bite with no venom because they realise that humans are too big to eat so only a dry bite as a warning.

 Afterwards we had a prawn salad for lunch.

Eagle Bluff

From Hamelin Pool we took a drive to Denham and Monkey Mia, there were some spots along the way to call in. Eagle Bluff was one that I am glad we didnt go past.

It was a great drive in even though it was a dirt road and fantastic signs regarding what species could be seen in the area when we got there and then a board walk.

We saw some rays out in the water, often apparently there are sharks that can be seen.

Hamelin Pool

We stayed here for three nights, it is a very rustic caravan park but it had everything required plus a pool! The pool was very welcome as it was 40 degrees when we pulled up there.

We couldn't swim in the sea there as it is a national park and stromatolits grow in the water. There was a walk to go over the sand dunes and then a board walk to view them.

We had a good spot which we were able to chose ourselves, to see who came into the park and it was very busy, some stayed, some walked over to the beach and some came to eat. It is forty kilometers off the main highway and than another seven kms in so not just off the main track. At $30 a night even over Easter. Last night we decided to order a hamburger for dinner. Warren went across to order and came back wanting plates. They would be delivered when ready in about twenty as she had a big order for three carloads for dinner.The woman running it or the owner is on her own with a couple of helpers and were very busy.

This was our hamburger neither of us could eat it all and finished it off for lunch today.

Due to the location we had no phone, internet or TV for the time we were there. We watched some videos and read books plus used the pool and recharged the batteries.

Monkey Mia

What a waste of time and money. We left our camp ground this morning with a view to go there as per all the hype about it. We meandered along and saw some great scenery, fantastic board walk at Eagle Bluff, went to ocean park and finally drove out to Monkey Mia.

Had to pay, dont mind that have paid at other parks but $8 per person! and with concession! We headed to the boat harbour and as I was driving Warren says "park there" its a boat trailer parks, quite a few empty. I duly parked and as we got out a guy calls out to us " Did you see the sign?" What sign? Any cars without boats will be fined $400 we thanked him and drove off, back to Denhan.

Nice lawn here, nice beaches and its much cooler but thanks to our drive to MM will need to get fuel before returning ( $1.25, could be worse.)

Leaving Perth and friends behind.

It was a bit sad this morning as it was time for us to move on and J & S to turn their motorhome in. We both got away at the usual time knowing that we have plans in place to meet up again before too much time has passed.

Some of the scenery going north was similar to the Nullabour but there were these interesting trees.

Later on was sand dunes with very white sands

This was on the right of us and the road and the sea was on the left.

Coming up for a break for a later lunch, a sign advertising cheap fuel, we did have enough to get to our destination but checked out the price. It was $1.08, the sign was right, cheapest we had seen since Sth Aussie so we filled our tummies and the car as well. Another hour and we were at our camp spot for the night. 

As it is Easter almost we could only stay here one night (at $55!) luckily we have rund ahead and have three nights at the next place, time for some down time to do nothing.

Crocs!

Not the bitey ones but shoes. At Hillarys Boat harbour there was a store selling crocs the shoes. I have only seen one store before and that was in Shanghai and the sizes were small as they were catering for the Chinese market not clod hopper Westerners like me.

Best thing was besides many different styles, was that many were on sale at 50% off, my kind of shopping. I chose a strapping pair with multicolored straps and no back, hum, didn't fit. Not to be out done I tried another pair in three different shades of brown. The first pair was $25 which I thought was okay, the second pair fitted but even at half price was $37.50, I walked away as I had bought a pair of sandals already but they had given me a blister.

We drove away and were three or four kilometres away when I decided that I did want them, luckily Warren was happy to turn around and we went back.

After buying them I put them on in the car and wore them to the next port of call which was BCF! (Boating, camping and fishing) I could not believe how comfortable my new crocs were, no sore spots, no pinching. 

 

Hillarys boat harbour

Friends arranged to met us here for lunch. They are from further down south of Perth but with the trusty GPS we had no trouble finding it at all and what a great place it was.

It does appear to be set up for tourists although not all prices reflected this. It is one of the places that the ferry to Rottnest Island departs.

Very pleasant spot to have an almost open air lunch.

Such a day for food as we also had dinner at Hog's breath that night. I couldnt have fitted in a steak so ordered a salad instead baby beets and bacon, even that almost beat me.

Parks and beaches in Perth

Took a lovely drive up the coast from Perth and called into several beaches and parks. One beach must have had schools doing life saving classes as it seemed like they ( the kids) were doing nipper training.

The beach was nice but the colours were not as stunning as we had seen further down south.

Several had boats that were just so far out of our price range but it is nice to look.

A change in routine

I have some trouble sleeping and particularly the night before we leave to move on to a new place.It is annoying and tiring. I am not worried about packing up or travelling but it does seem to happen.

We were moving on this morning and so I decided to change my routine and I had a shower before going to bed last night, thinking that it may be relaxing. I intended to take one of my sleeping tablets as well, they are a natural relaxing tablet that a doctor suggested that i use to get back to a normal sleeping pattern. I try not to take them too often anyway I went to bed after my shower and  forgot to take one.

Couldn't believe it but I did go to sleep and stayed asleep until kids in the playground which was just behind us woke me with their voices. I was thinking what sane parents lets their kids go to the the playground at six in the morning when I got shoes on to go to the bathroom. My shoes were just under the clock which showed 8.15 am. No wonder kids were playing, they had probably had breakfast as well.

Came back to the van and dressed and started breakfast, I am not a morning person, Warren was still in bed, unusual for him. We had breakfast and say over our coffee with J & S before some one said "What is the time?" I had been checking my emails when I had been on my own and my phone was on the table.

OMGoodness, it was 9.25 and we were supposed to be out by 10 am. Without rushing, we packed up and were driving out at 9.50 am, probably our quickest pack up. I didnt wash the breakfast dishes before we left though!

Fremantle

We are staying just south of here and yesterday there was a local football match on starting at 2.15 pm. We thought that if we left Busselton (I know now that it has only one "l") by nine o'clock we would be in plenty of time to check in, get set up have lunch and then go to see it.

It was a cool morning and we even had some rain travelling and yes, we got to the next caravan park just after 12 but it felt like a lazy day so we sat around and read basically relaxed. We did have to go out and do some shopping as we had used all the milk! As we use UHT milk, even at home it was a shock to go to the pantry and there was not another one there.

Today we figured we had to go and do something so we drove into the centre of Fremantle. What a great place, I know I keep saying that but I was impressed with the buildings

Dont know what church this belongs to but I just liked it.

There was outside markets and a really nice atmosphere.

The town hall with a statue of John Curtain in front.

The boys went to the Martime museum while S and I continued to the beach by walking through the tunnel.

Lunch was seafood but as I didnt want battered anything, my choice was limited so I had seven grilled prawns, that was on offer, seven grilled prawns, they were good.

Again we split up, the guys to an Army museum and us to the tramway which didnt materialize so we walked back dropping into a couple of galleries and a second book store. We had to walk some more else I would have bought more ( I bought a couple of books).

This was in a shop window that was closed, plants in old handbags and there was an old pram as well with plants in it as decorations.Quirky but cute. 

Warren and I had a swim in the caravan park pool and then later he walked (ten minutes as advertised, he said it was more like 20 minutes) to the beach and had a dip in the ocean.

h

Busselton

Great place, we went to the jetty and was disappointed to find that it was a paid thing. $12 to catch a small train out and back and even $3 to walk out there.

As can be seen it is very long. The scenery was stunning so stunning that we bought a coffee and just sat on the foreshore and took in the sun, sand and sea.

This was the paintings/murals on the toilets at the foreshore.

Later we visited the church and these were the windows inside.

I found there were some great shops and S and I spent quite a bit of time in one in particular and we came out with a bag each, nothing like a some retail therapy with a friend on the same wave length.

Margaret River

Our last day in MR was very busy. A silk place was not far from our base at Gracetown so we started there. An interesting place, they grow mulberries and export the cocoons from the silk worms to Cambodia to be spun into silk and silk goods are returned to them for sale.We were able to see the hot houses.

Then we back tracked a bit to a chocolate place but they didnt have much in the way of being able to see it being made but there was a lot of chocolate to buy.

A few kms on was a dairy place and so we went in there, it had tastings and yogurt and cheeses for sale. We purchased a tub of yoghurt and three types of cheese, very well priced. Warren particularly wanted a cheese that has garlic in it, it was very mild and tasty.

Cowtown was next (far easier to write that than its real name which I dont know how to spell), found it rather expensive for lunch. Loved the cows around town though.

We continued on to MR for lunch where again it appeared rather expensive to eat, $17 for a hamburger and most were $25 for a sit down meal at a cafe. We opted for Squid Lips (the name got us in), then we got some information about coffee, chocolate and olives places to visit. They were all in the same area. The olive place had tastings and samples. I had heard of the family, they made soaps etc for their children who had all had bad skin conditions and couldnt use ordinary commercial soaps. I bought some foot solution and peppermint tea from the coffee place. All their coffee was beans which is not suitable for us at the moment. a nanna nap was in order after all that travelling around! It is a smallish area with a hell of a lot packed in to it. Not sure if there are more than seventy or more than ninety wineries in the region, we havent tried any as not much of drinkers.  

Time to say goodbye

I have been wearing my rubber thongs almost all the time since we left on our holidays. I even have a strap suntan on my feet.

These are my thongs, however, all that time of wearing has worn them thin and the soles are about to go through. Rather painful when walking on rocks and small stones. I have been looking for a replacement pair of footwear.

Finally as I was walking out of another store with no luck, these were hanging on the end of a rack of clothes, my size, felt good on and best of all half price. A wave of a plastic card and they were mine!

I wore them all the time that we were setting up the van and that proved too long for a start, yes, I have a small blister on top of my foot.

Cape Naturaliste

Leaving the Margaret River region today we took a detour to the Cape and ended up walking up to the lighthouse.

This lighthouse was more accessible than the one at Cape Leeuwin. Some people did go on a guided tour and actually went up inside the lighthouse and we could see them on the balcony. I knew that that many steps would be too many for me at this time so we chose to walk up and around the base of it. I was pleased that I was able to walk the reasonably steep road up.

A replica light was in the tea rooms.

On to Bussellton town centre and where  we parked, it was a special parking area for cars with caravans was this beautiful church.

I was impressed by the look of it and it was so well looked after, it was a bonus to see that it was the oldest stone church in WA.

Cape Leeuwin

We have based ourselves in the Margret River area and will travel to see what we want around. We drove down to Cape Leeuwin and did a couple of stops on the way.

We fuelled up at up at Whichcliffe and it seemed that people in the town had a sense of humour as the above featured out the front.

Across the road was Margret River homemade candle factory which we thought would be interesting. Unfortunately for us, it was closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays.

This was one of their window displays.

This was as close as we could go unless we wanted to take a tour which we didn't.

Back to the nearest town chasing Barramundi. We have had a few fish meals but not one had barra, John was keen to try it and yes! the fish and chip place we chose did serve barra! yay!

I wanted to go into the newsagents 

and this was outside.

Pemberton tramway and Massive trees.

The tramway only runs Monday to Saturday and as it goes into the forest thru the Karri and Jarrah trees, I particularly wanted to go on it.

This was the tram that we travelled on, it went out for ten kilometres over several bridges and then went back the other way. The driver gave a commentary on the way out which was very interesting.

The first bridge we went over was a bit nerve wracking as it was just the tracks but then I got used to it.

We stopped at the Casades for fifteen minutes and passengers could go down to the waterfalls.

We passed several wooden homes in the township on the way and then later there were smaller ones only three left now that had been built for the single workers, there had been over a hundred when logging was at its peak. One tree would be used to build two houses.

The park and town was nice and peaceful so we stayed another day and visited a wood gallery.

Beautiful stuff but nothing that I needed.

Then there was THAT tree.

This is Warren and John going up the tree.

and then there was me.

I was able to get close to a native bird