From Windy Harbour to Perth (and a few BIG things in between)

Our Western Australia adventure continued from Windy Harbour (which wasn't actually all that windy) back up through  the Shannon National Park and the beautiful Great Forest Drive. Trees of extraordinary height and width for miles and miles, then down to the southern coastal town of Augusta where you can spot whales if you're lucky. I wasn't. Margaret River was the evening's camping destination, and after much unplanned sightseeing (we got lost), we set up for the night in the Leeuwin National Park. Quiet, dark, a long drop and plenty of firewood. Not too much more you could ask for!

The next day was a wander through and around Margaret River. Popular for its surf beaches and wine. A very relaxed laid back town .

Margaret River

Then on to Busselton. After our long walk on Port Germein jetty early in the trip we were pretty keen to take a stroll along the 'Longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere'. There was a $2.50 day pass to get on the jetty, or you could pay $10 to ride the train to the end where there was also an underwater observatory. We'd done a lot of driving, so needed the exercise, and seriously....$10?!!!! It was also interesting reading the plaques of people whose ashes had been thrown from the jetty, and there were a lot of them. My favourite "Dad said just chuck me over, so we did". You really want to pick the right day/time to go swimming off this jetty!

Busselton, WA

From Busselton our next camp was staying on the private property of a friend of my Aunt & Uncle. John had a couple of camp spots where previously he'd had buses of backpackers stay, and he had a great set up with toilet AND shower!!! Oh the luxury. This was the first time that marshmallows were cooked on our campfire, and they were goooood. 

There were kangaroos in numbers I have never seen before, and emu's wandering past to greet us in the morning. So so peaceful.

In fact, so great was the spot, we decided to stay a couple of days. But how to fill in our time in a quiet little place off the tourist trail? Off to the laundromat of course, and then the REAL adventure. I had noticed on my map a few BIG things. Being from SA I'm well accustomed to BIG things, like the Big Lobster in Kingston, and the Big Rocking horse in Gumeracha.

 I thought that while doing this trip I might collect pictures of the BIG things I see along the way, and the maps notice of a BIG apple was where I was to begin. With Mum & Gary driving their van in front, all of us kept an eye out for where the apple should be and it just wasn't. After a few laps of the area, back in to town to ask the tourist info. It seems the apple had been sold off privately a few years ago, and the owners didn't love people coming to visit. In fact the notice on their gate when we drove up sort of summed up how they felt "Trespassers will be composted". So from a distance, I took a photo of what turned out to be a much searched for disappointment!!

The Big Apple, Donnybrook, WA

Disappointed as I was, I wasn't going to let it stop me. There were also a BIG cow and a BIG Orange on the map......so in search we went! Seriously Western Australia, for a BIG state, you need to have a look at the rest of the country, and then have a good hard look at yourselves.

The Big Cow, Brunswick Junction, WA

The Big Orange, Wokalup, WA

The Big Pie, Wokalup, WA

Okay, so the BIG pie wasn't on any map. I just saw it and was honestly more impressed than by any of the other things I'd seen. With sauce!

So then it was on to Bunbury which was lovely, then Rockingham which wasn't.

Perth was our final destination as a group. Mum, Gary and I set up in the Karrinyup Waters caravan park, and pretty much held court for a while. We caught up with a number of family and friends over a few days and the best bit was they came to us! That was the best bit, because as the trip moved on so did our navigational skills.

A quick trip to the casino worked out very well for me. From the beginning, this was one thing Gary had wanted to do, so Mum & I indulged him. We left him at the tables trying to win the big $$ while we went off to play the pokies. I hardly ever do this, but Mum has had a bit of practice (well she has!) Between the two of us though, we couldn't work the bloody things out. We'd put our money in, press a few buttons...and nothing! Taking our money out again, and moving on to the next, and the next. Eventually we found one that make all the right 'ding ding' noises and had the appropriate flashing lights...and it even gave me $50. Very happy with that!


After nearly 3 weeks together, it was time for them to leave and make their journey back to Mount Gambier. Yes, there were tears on departure, but I think Gary will be okay, in time.


Next blog: From Perth to Monkey Mia

From Kalgoorlie to Windy Harbour

It's been a while since my last post, both through lack of internet coverage and slackness! But suffice to say, time has also been well spent. After leaving the red dust of Kalgoorlie we made our way south again and camped overnight roadside just outside of Norsman. The next morning on to Esperance. Before hitting the town itself we ventured out to Cape Le Grand National Park which was an absolute highlight!

Lucky Bay is said to be one of Australia's best beaches with pure white sand and turquoise water, and it lived up to it's reputation. I've never felt such fine sand that squelched with every footstep. 

Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, WA

You will never be bored in Esperance...if you have body paint!

After spending some time looking around Esperance, we made our way around the coast to Albany, which was a beautiful place. Again, fantastic beaches and coastal views, including the Torndirrup National Park, with Frenchman's Bay, and home to Whaleworld! Unfortunately, not through lack of trying, I am yet to see a whale. A few had been spotted in this area already, but not while we were there. It will happen, I know it will. But in the meantime.........

Whale World

Frenchman's Bay, WA. Apparently the water gets too warm for the fish this time each year.

From Albany continuing along the main highway we visited the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, where some of the trees are over 400 years old. I'm not very good at all with heights, but the view was spectacular.

Mum and Gary are dwarfed!

 After this, our aim was to get near to Margaret River early afternoon. But with one wrong turn the day was made even better! Getting stuck on a side road waiting for a herd of 300 dairy cows to cross, the farmer in charge jumped out of his ute for a chat and said we absolutely MUST go to Windy Harbour. It was completely off track from where we were planning, but who's to argue with a tourist guiding farmer!

Windy point had absolutely everything. A tiny little coastal settlement you could imagine people that want to hide away from the world would live, and those that want to get away from absolutely everything would check in to once in a while. It also had dramatic cliffs, and a long stretch of beach where fisherman had cast their lines for salmon. A perfect accidental detour!

Salmon Beach, Boorara Gardener National Park, WA

Next blog: Windy Harbour to Perth!

Art? Or rubbish?

Something that came as a complete surprise on my drive to WA, was the trees you see before and after the baron Nullabor Plains. The first was my favourite, it was covered in teddy bears,but with a road train on my tail it wasn't very easy to stop and take a photo. Along the way were 'shoe', 'hats', 'boogie boards', 'energy drinks' and this one that seemed to be random household appliances.

Lucky there's an antenna, otherwise there'd be no reception!

Art or rubbish?

Next blog....Kalgoorlie to Margaret River

From Adelaide to Kalgoorlie

And we're off! For the first few weeks of my journey I'm travelling convoy with Mum & Gary, and so far, they're behaving themselves. We left a very very wet and dark Adelaide on Sunday afternoon to make our way to Redhill for our first night camping by the local football oval.

I had a really bad sleep on the first night, I think just adjusting to the noise of the traffic, and a new bed, and all the new surroundings. But since then, things couldn't be better! The low hum of the road trains, the crickets at sunset, but most of the time, complete silence under a blanket of stars.

Our second day on the road took us to Port Germain where we strolled to the end of the 'World's longest 'wooden' jetty"! Well that's what they say on the sign leading in to the town, and I'm not going to research it to prove them wrong.

We seem to have a bit of a theme walking along jetty's since then, taking in the sleepy peaceful town of Streaky Bay, then Ceduna which completely surprised me. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, but it was a really pretty town with a beautiful beachfront.

Streaky Bay

Another tip, don't stock up on fresh fruit & veg when you plan to cross the WA border in a few days. On the morning of that occasion, it was a lot of fruit for breakfast, plus the night before, cooking up all the potatoes & onions. Tight? Me?

Jean-Claude is running well and chewing up a LOT of gas/petrol.....as expected on a journey like this. At the Nullabor service station I paid $1.99 ltr, so I recommend if ever you're doing the crossing fill up ANYWHERE but there. The Nullabor itself was also not as long and tedious as I expected. Most of the campervan/caravan and road train drivers are pretty courteous and friendly. I'm pretty sure I've waved almost as much as Kate Middleton on her wedding day. Did a say friendly?!

  

It hasn't been a week yet, and I'm having an absolute ball! Camping by the roadside doesn't cost a cent, and as I sit writing this I am watching the campfire sizzle out for the night about 10km out of Kalgoorlie. All is very good in my world!