Hello Family and Friends,
We have finally headed north and hopefully for a bit of sunshine.
We had a great few days at Wave Rock. We climbed all over it exploring all it had to show us. I particularly like the rocks which had been sculptured by wind and rain. Rex thought the rock shape and its colours were startling with the stripes similiar to tiger stripes running down its face. Leaving Wave rock we decided to go the adventurous way to Norseman - 300kms of gravel road but we planned to do it in 2 hits. This is called The Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail and there are places of interest highlighted along its course. Midway there are a couple of places to camp. We chose Mcdermid Rock as our overnight camp. A mini Ayres Rock. On the walk around and over this rock we found many holes holding water from recent rain and small dips in the rock in which little gardens of moss and shrubs had formed which reminded me of the structure of Japanese gardens. Had a wonderful campfire dinner. Hearing rain once again overnight we packed up quickly the next morning thinking the gravel road may hold some problems. It was an interesting trip from there on with sheets of water running down and at times right across the road. Mud and water were flying at times but we made it through to Norseman. The car and camper were red by the time we got there but the rain to Kalgoorlie has washed a bit of it off. After settling in at the caravan park at Boulder we travelled the 4kms into Kalgoorlie to buy some supplies and a new camera - the old one died at Wave Rock. Tonight we have experienced planes taking off just outside our back door. Little did we know when we checked in that the caravan park was on the edge of an airfield.
Tomorrow we plan to move on to Goongarrie National Park where there is an old homestead and salt lakes. Lets see if we can bring them rain.
Photo is Rex at Wave Rock - one of the last the camera took.
Catch up again soon.
Rex and Rob
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
From Wave Rock
Today we left the beautiful Stirling Ranges clouded in mist. Over the last few days we have stayed at St John Brook Conservation Park, Mt Barker and Moingup Springs in the Stirling Ranges.. On our travels out of the UP area (the reason for this name is all locations seem to end with up and we are still trying to work out why) we have seen signs of different animals such as deer rubs in Shannon national Park. Rex talked to the lass at Manimjup information centre and she suggested that he go and talk to the environment people. They were pleased to hear and took note of the location; they also mentioned there were feral pigs, goats and brumbies up around the lakes. We called in at Muir Lake observation area and were lucky enough to actually see brumbies. Another surprise by being at the right place at the right time. Over the last few days we have been experiencing wild and stormy weather - lightning, thunder and rain. The camper has shook alarmingly at times but has managed to withstand the onslaught. We arrived at Wave Rock in clearing conitions and got to have a look around. We will stay over tomorrow to see the Humps and Mulka's Cave before heading along The Granite and Woodlands Discovery Trail to Norseman - 300km of adventure. We hope it doesn't rain in the meantime and they close the road. Photo selection is tough.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
From Busselton
Hello to Family and Friends.
We are at Busselton where we got our car serviced by the lovely people at Fennesy's - the Nissen dealership arranged from Albany by the lovely Jodie. It is so nice to be taken such good care of that we decided to dedicate this blog to the friends we have made along the way.
Firstly a lovely young family which we met at Lincoln National Park at Fisherman's Point. Rex struggled up with a surf board which we found by itself on the beach thinking it had been washed up by the tide to find it belonged to a fellow camper - husband and father to 3 young children travelling around Australia. Nice family. We met up again at Cape Le Grande National Park when we were treated to a light show extravaganza in the form of lightning, thunder and rain. The lightning and thunder went all night and into the next morning as did the rain 110 mls. Apparently the campground was 8 inches deep in water during the night when the drains got blocked.The next day the wind picked up and threatened to blow you off the rocks if you were silly enough to climb on them. We stayed in bed - the only sensible thing to do in such conditions. The family went to Esperance to swim in the pool. After lunch we rugged up in our coats and gumboots and ventured out to watch 4WDs have fun on the beach.
Another friend was Hank from Perth who had travelled to Melbourne to pick up some wood working tools. Hank is a Dutchman and came to Australia 50 years ago. He was also a driver who drove the old Eyre Highway. We met him at Koonalda Homestead and told him about seeing the dingoes and hearing them call during the night. We moved on but Hank stayed the night. We met him again in Norseman and he told us the dingoes were so bad during the night around his truck he got up at 4.00am and moved on. Rex would have been in heaven to have experienced it.
Then there was an Canadian Tour Guide that we met in Albany. She had been out here before but what she like this time was that they were doing it by themselves instead of on an organised tour which they had done previously and were meeting lots of Australians doing the same thing. She has been a tour guide for 30 years in Canada taking Canadians on tour to California and Mexico.
Then there were the group of 3 walking the Bibblium Track raising money for Motor Nueron Disease. It goes a long way in 20 k sections. I take my hat off to them. The Great South West Walk is nothing compared to it. Even driving a part of it seemed exhausting.
Lastly a farmer that we met just out of Manjimup. We were having morning tea at a pool on the Donnelly River 3 kms from his farm when he came down to let go a native rat which had been running around his ceiling and he had trapped and was freeing in the forest. We started talking and it ended up by him inviting us back to his farm. Sadly we had to refuse as we had to get to Busselton that night to get the car serviced at 8 o'clock the next morning. I think he wanted me to convince his wife that travelling was fun. He had bought a camper 3 years ago and it was sitting in the shed unused.
The photo this time had to be of a character and it is the new Rex with beard. He looks like a lovable sea captain - so those that know him recognise him when home.
Tomorrow we start to backtrack to St John Brooke Conservation Park on the Way to Kalgoorlie.
To my Dye Group. I am doing some solar dyeing - lichen, sea weed and eucalypts. I also found some long pine needles in Shannon National Park to plait.
Catch up agin soon
Rob and Rex
We are at Busselton where we got our car serviced by the lovely people at Fennesy's - the Nissen dealership arranged from Albany by the lovely Jodie. It is so nice to be taken such good care of that we decided to dedicate this blog to the friends we have made along the way.
Firstly a lovely young family which we met at Lincoln National Park at Fisherman's Point. Rex struggled up with a surf board which we found by itself on the beach thinking it had been washed up by the tide to find it belonged to a fellow camper - husband and father to 3 young children travelling around Australia. Nice family. We met up again at Cape Le Grande National Park when we were treated to a light show extravaganza in the form of lightning, thunder and rain. The lightning and thunder went all night and into the next morning as did the rain 110 mls. Apparently the campground was 8 inches deep in water during the night when the drains got blocked.The next day the wind picked up and threatened to blow you off the rocks if you were silly enough to climb on them. We stayed in bed - the only sensible thing to do in such conditions. The family went to Esperance to swim in the pool. After lunch we rugged up in our coats and gumboots and ventured out to watch 4WDs have fun on the beach.
Another friend was Hank from Perth who had travelled to Melbourne to pick up some wood working tools. Hank is a Dutchman and came to Australia 50 years ago. He was also a driver who drove the old Eyre Highway. We met him at Koonalda Homestead and told him about seeing the dingoes and hearing them call during the night. We moved on but Hank stayed the night. We met him again in Norseman and he told us the dingoes were so bad during the night around his truck he got up at 4.00am and moved on. Rex would have been in heaven to have experienced it.
Then there was an Canadian Tour Guide that we met in Albany. She had been out here before but what she like this time was that they were doing it by themselves instead of on an organised tour which they had done previously and were meeting lots of Australians doing the same thing. She has been a tour guide for 30 years in Canada taking Canadians on tour to California and Mexico.
Then there were the group of 3 walking the Bibblium Track raising money for Motor Nueron Disease. It goes a long way in 20 k sections. I take my hat off to them. The Great South West Walk is nothing compared to it. Even driving a part of it seemed exhausting.
Lastly a farmer that we met just out of Manjimup. We were having morning tea at a pool on the Donnelly River 3 kms from his farm when he came down to let go a native rat which had been running around his ceiling and he had trapped and was freeing in the forest. We started talking and it ended up by him inviting us back to his farm. Sadly we had to refuse as we had to get to Busselton that night to get the car serviced at 8 o'clock the next morning. I think he wanted me to convince his wife that travelling was fun. He had bought a camper 3 years ago and it was sitting in the shed unused.
The photo this time had to be of a character and it is the new Rex with beard. He looks like a lovable sea captain - so those that know him recognise him when home.
Tomorrow we start to backtrack to St John Brooke Conservation Park on the Way to Kalgoorlie.
To my Dye Group. I am doing some solar dyeing - lichen, sea weed and eucalypts. I also found some long pine needles in Shannon National Park to plait.
Catch up agin soon
Rob and Rex
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
From Norseman W.A
Hi Family and Friends.
We have finally made it to W.A. Our last few days in S.A were spent in remote areas - all beautiful. First was Cactus - a surfers heaven, with spectacular waves to catch. Second was Fowlers Bay; a small seaside town with 14 permanent residents. Rex caught a salmon trout and a leather jacket from the pier and dinner was on at the Heywoods not for fellow campers but for the local mice when Rex tipped some fish burley on the ground outside the camper. They came from everywhere. Lastly was Koonalda Homestead. Along the roadway they have signs to be careful of - camels, kangaroos and wombats. I said to Rob when I saw these signs that we have seen other remarkable sights but I still want to see a camel and a dingo. Further up the road we turned off into the desert scrub and made for the abandoned homestead about 20 k in. We were surprised at how good the main house and the out buildings were. This house was on the old Eyre Highway and was a mechanical repair garage in earlier times which was the reason for about 150 cars going back to earth, rusting out, having been left there years ago when they had broken down. This property got its water from a sinkhole cave about 10 k further inland. After checking out the sinkhole and on our way back to our camp we saw a red dingo which was a surprise and I said to Rob that is another of the things I wanted to see that has happened. As we pulled into our camp beside the old house, standing down the road was another dingo; an unusual white dingo and this time I managed to get a photo of it. See photo. The other thing that I was pleased to have experienced was the dingoes howling to each other during the night. Another really memorable time on this trip.
At Norseman we had time to have a look around town. It originated due to a horse picking up a bit of quartz in his hoof which made him lame and on further investigation the quartz was found to be gold bearing. The horse's name was Norseman and so a town was born. It still has a working goldmine. Tomorrow we move on to Esperance.
Catch up again soon
Rex and Rob
We have finally made it to W.A. Our last few days in S.A were spent in remote areas - all beautiful. First was Cactus - a surfers heaven, with spectacular waves to catch. Second was Fowlers Bay; a small seaside town with 14 permanent residents. Rex caught a salmon trout and a leather jacket from the pier and dinner was on at the Heywoods not for fellow campers but for the local mice when Rex tipped some fish burley on the ground outside the camper. They came from everywhere. Lastly was Koonalda Homestead. Along the roadway they have signs to be careful of - camels, kangaroos and wombats. I said to Rob when I saw these signs that we have seen other remarkable sights but I still want to see a camel and a dingo. Further up the road we turned off into the desert scrub and made for the abandoned homestead about 20 k in. We were surprised at how good the main house and the out buildings were. This house was on the old Eyre Highway and was a mechanical repair garage in earlier times which was the reason for about 150 cars going back to earth, rusting out, having been left there years ago when they had broken down. This property got its water from a sinkhole cave about 10 k further inland. After checking out the sinkhole and on our way back to our camp we saw a red dingo which was a surprise and I said to Rob that is another of the things I wanted to see that has happened. As we pulled into our camp beside the old house, standing down the road was another dingo; an unusual white dingo and this time I managed to get a photo of it. See photo. The other thing that I was pleased to have experienced was the dingoes howling to each other during the night. Another really memorable time on this trip.
At Norseman we had time to have a look around town. It originated due to a horse picking up a bit of quartz in his hoof which made him lame and on further investigation the quartz was found to be gold bearing. The horse's name was Norseman and so a town was born. It still has a working goldmine. Tomorrow we move on to Esperance.
Catch up again soon
Rex and Rob
Saturday, May 8, 2010
From Ceduna
Hi Family and Friends,
Since last update we have stayed in some wonderful places including Coffin Bay National Park, Elliston, Walkers Rocks, Venus Bay and finally here at Ceduna. Most places Rex has caught fish. We have done some wonderful walks, and seen such magnificent scenery. We live in a beautiful country. In one such area called Talia Caves there is a ragged rockcliff face where the limestone has been eroded back leaving a granite cave 200 metres long and 80 metres round; it was called the Woolshed. Rex had an adrenalin rush while edging his way in around the side, off camber and gravelly, with the sea roaring into its mouth. Cape Labatt was another where we stood fascinated watching a colony of Australian sea lions lie and play on the rocks below us. It was a hard decision to chose a photo from all that we have taken over the last few days but we decided to show you our campsite at Walkers Rocks. An area of wild seas, rugged rocks, beautiful long beaches edged by large sand dunes. We were nestled in behind one of these sand dunes.
Catch up soon
Rex and Rob
Since last update we have stayed in some wonderful places including Coffin Bay National Park, Elliston, Walkers Rocks, Venus Bay and finally here at Ceduna. Most places Rex has caught fish. We have done some wonderful walks, and seen such magnificent scenery. We live in a beautiful country. In one such area called Talia Caves there is a ragged rockcliff face where the limestone has been eroded back leaving a granite cave 200 metres long and 80 metres round; it was called the Woolshed. Rex had an adrenalin rush while edging his way in around the side, off camber and gravelly, with the sea roaring into its mouth. Cape Labatt was another where we stood fascinated watching a colony of Australian sea lions lie and play on the rocks below us. It was a hard decision to chose a photo from all that we have taken over the last few days but we decided to show you our campsite at Walkers Rocks. An area of wild seas, rugged rocks, beautiful long beaches edged by large sand dunes. We were nestled in behind one of these sand dunes.
Catch up soon
Rex and Rob
Sunday, May 2, 2010
From Port Lincoln
Hi Friends and Family,
On the way to Port Lincoln we passed Point Gibbon which we had been told had some resident sea lions. 20 kms down corrugated dirt road that ended in high sand dunes we searched the beach. No sign but decided to walk around the point and there was 2 on the beach in front of us; we could have walked up to them. We didn't, but got some good photos. It was a hard decision which photo to use in our update but Makybe Diva won out. She is on the foreshore at Port Lincoln. Spent 3 days in the National Park enjoying the peacefulness of the area. Rex caught fish but returned them to the sea. Tomorrow we head for Coffin Bay National Park.
Our Love to All
Rex and Rob
On the way to Port Lincoln we passed Point Gibbon which we had been told had some resident sea lions. 20 kms down corrugated dirt road that ended in high sand dunes we searched the beach. No sign but decided to walk around the point and there was 2 on the beach in front of us; we could have walked up to them. We didn't, but got some good photos. It was a hard decision which photo to use in our update but Makybe Diva won out. She is on the foreshore at Port Lincoln. Spent 3 days in the National Park enjoying the peacefulness of the area. Rex caught fish but returned them to the sea. Tomorrow we head for Coffin Bay National Park.
Our Love to All
Rex and Rob
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