Eyre Peninsular

Stocked up on groceries at Ceduna. Very casual 'inspection' as I came through - checked the fridge! Maybe I look honest. Have heard so many horror stories of the thorough inspections some people go through.....

Headed east to Wirrulla and decided to stay at the 'caravan park' - a large square of concrete with a 4 plug power box in the centre. $10 gets the key to the showers and what hot strong showers they are. The facilities are in round concrete tanks with dividing walls. Decided to stay 2 nights here. As Saturday was cool and cloudy I wiped all the dirt of the van, and polished the ute. Feeling very pious! Then went to the pub for dinner. A very pleasant tiny village.

Was going to camp at Tchakulda Rock for Xmas but the locals tell me Pildappa Rock in from Minnipa is better so did the 15km of dirt road - so much for the clean van! Pretty spot and another interesting rock. Took a while to decide where to camp - north or south? Drove right around and found a spot on the south side that I liked - until I walked around to the van and realised my feet were covered in tiny ants that were biting me! Had parked right beside their nest! As soon as I put the step on the ground they were all over that also! Too hard - shifted a bit further away but still had ants although not so many! I was the only one here overnight. Went up on to the rock in the morning - wonderful views.

Thanks ants - now I need to move again - so off down the centre road on Eyre Peninsular to Yallunda show ground camp. No phone there and uneven sites so out to Tumby Bay. Got fuel and had a quick drive around this very pretty
seaside town, then to Louth Bay camp. Once again very uneven sites and not very inviting so rang a CP at Port Lincoln and managed to get a site which surprised me. The park is on a hill but the sites are mostly set so that we all get a sea view. Good facilities.

Have booked the ute in for a service on Friday and decided to stay here until after New Year. Had to shift to another site on Boxing Day but that is ok. Found the caravan shop and got a few bits including a water filter.

The centre of the Peninsular seems to be all grain country with railheads, silos and a little village attached. Nice driving on gentle undulating roads.
Stayed at Port Lincoln for 10 days in the end. had a look at Coffin and drove up almost to Mt Hope then across to Cummins. Interesting salt Lake on the way. Had some good fish meals. The pelicans are huge and fairly quiet - although wary of us. Love to hang around the fish filleting table for scraps.
On up past Tumby Bay to Cleve Showgrounds. Lovely little town and the camp area has hot showers etc all for just $15. Has been very hot then surprisingly cool and damp for 2 days.

 Have chatted to 3 people in their 80s who look after the camp and the Lions park over the road. Went for a drive to Yelduklnie Weir where there is a camp but not a lot of room for caravans and the road may be a problem after heavy rain as it goes down across the weir overflow. Nice spot though. Then on up to the look out and around the conservation park back to Cleve. Three couples arrived from Port Gibbon for a few days so went back there with them on Sunday. Very windy and cool at night but chatty happy hours with most of the campers here.  Thousands of snails on the fence posts all along the road.



Only stayed 2 nights then up to Cowell to a CP for 2 nights. Time to do washing, get groceries. Another pretty little town with lovely old buildings. Port Gibbon campers coming up tonight for the $10 schnitzel night at the pub so that will be fun. Several of these people have been on the road for many years. Had to walk past a pub with a pig on a spit on the way to dinner - tempted to stop there instead. $12 a plate.
Drove out to Lucky Bay - a ferry goes across from here. Heaps of cars lined up but didn't wait around to see it.
On out through Whyalla to Port Lowly camp area. People catching crabs and snapper. Busy place so stayed 2 days and headed up over the hills to Port Augusta passed a mine. The vegetation changes from the green/gold to grey/silver saltbush and another pretty feathery tree.

Norseman and the Nullarbor

Stopped south of Kalgoorlie at Mt Thirsty for a night in a camp beside the railway line. Not too noisy thank goodness. We worked out they are at least 1.5 km long - ore trains. Chatted for ages to a couple from Perth. Lake Cowan is really long and actually has water in it. The road crosses over it a bit further south.

Then on to Norseman for a night. Did the lookout hill, put air in the van tyres etc then off to Fraser Station for a couple of days. Lovely undulating drive - the gum trees have fresh new growth and there is a pretty undergrowth of grey and green. Fraser Station was a sheep farm but wild dogs and rabbits have destroyed that so now they have a caravan park there. Only do farm tours if there are at least 4 people so I missed out!!!! Home cooked dinner at $25 so indulged both nights. Plenty of chat with the diners and staff so that was fun.  Very windy during the night, but a pleasant place to stay.

So many rabbits running around the caravan park in the evenings! They try to shoot 150 a night!  Several emus also.

Thought I had better check a van wheel before I left as it had grease stains on the rim - the grease hubcap had come off again!!!! Not happy with the job done at Neerabup!

Played the 'Sheeps Back' 3 par here. Bit tricky with artificial grass greens - very fast. Shocking seeds that go right through crocs - better put my sneakers on. Haven't done any of the others - always too hot by the time I get to them, but will do Eucla tomorrow as I am staying here the night. for those who don't know there is an 18 hole golf course across from Ceduna to Kalgoorlie. You can pay $70 and get the official score card - or just play odd holes. Each road house has one hole it seems.
drove the 5km of very dusty road in to Eucla golf course - didn't see the sign on the road saying how far. Got there and couldn't decide which was the right hole to play - and was hot by then so left.

On to Baxter free camp. Snuck in between some little trees but had to break a couple of branches off to get out again. Have now done the longest straight road in Aus. 90 Miles. Bit rough on the edges though and so many big trucks. At least they have plenty of room to pass along here.

 Had a fish burgher at Caiguna then camped again among trees. Woken with crows pecking the roof. Daylight at 4 am so will be pleased to change time zone soon.

At least 4 places where the flying doctor can land on the road so far.

 

Just before Madura you come off the escarpment and drop down on to the coastal plan - then follow it along until you go back up again at Eucla. Am finally in sight of the sea and white sand dunes. This park is right up on the edge with a great view - if the haze lifts. It has power but no water taps - and their washing machine doesn't work! Lot of renovation going on at the service station - looking very modern.

On to the actual Nullarbor itself. Definitely a treeless plain. Did a few side trips to the coast to see the bluffs, then in to Nullarbor roadhouse for VERY expensive fuel, and some lunch. My clock said 1.30 - theirs said 4pm. Such a big difference 2.5 hours. At least when I wake at daybreak - 4am western time - it will be a much more 'sensible' hour to get up - and the evenings will be so much longer.

Went on to Head of the Bight just in time to see the caretaker to lock the gate. He told me I was welcome to park there for the night and that many people do. Very windy for a while but  slept well inspite of being alone. He was coming back in the morning to grade the grit again to get rid of tyre tracks around the parking area - seems someone had done wheelies again which upsets him - or maybe they just turned around fast.

Went in to see the Bight in the morning. What a great road and facility there - Aboriginal Tourism has much to offer. Easy boardwalk down to overlook the ocean.  Beautiful clear sea - but no way of getting down to dip my toes in it!

Saw a dingo but have not seen any other wild life beside the road - nor any road kill since I came over the SA border. Is there something stopping animals from coming out on the road - or does someone come along daily and pick it all up. The difference between WA and SA is quite amazing. I feel sorry for the people who cycle across - that smell will be coming at them for miles.

The road changes back to the pretty tree lined one - almost a mirror image of the western end. I did check out a few camps  and finally stopped at Kidpinny about 80 km west of Penong. Hid down the back over looking farm land. It is so hot now I had to run the Genie for a while to get the fans going. Then had to sleep with the windows shut as I could hear mossies. Ugh. Once again the only one here but I am getting used to that.



Head of Bight camp at main gate
 

Now need to decide what to do over Xmas. Will spend a couple of nights here at Penong caravan park as there is a heat wave warning and I want to run the aircon!  Also need to eat the last of my fruit and veg before the check point at Ceduna.


 

 

 

 

 

 

Eastward Bound

Left Yanchep and made it to Meckering for the first night. So much wind makes for tiring driving even though it was blowing against the side of me. Stopped at the camp at the Meckering Rose garden and  sent the grand children  their presents. Large general store/post office there with a little bit of everything in stock. They are trying to sell the place.....

Thunderstorm over night but only a little gentle rain with it. Still on NZ time so awake far too early!

On to Merredin to get lunch at the French bakery - delicious! There were huge dust clouds all along the northern horizon and it was still very windy and hot. Wanted to get a photo of a dust whirlwind thing just out of Southern Cross but by the time I managed to get off the road it had hit the road and dissipated. Some of the dust is from harvesting and some just blown straight off the cultivated land.

Interesting seeing the straw dumps in the paddocks again. I noticed a header with a bin on the back near York dumping piles of straw rather than leaving it in windrows.

Stopped the night at the lovely big clean  Koorarawalyee free camp. Chatting to a Tasmanian couple who have spent the last 2 years working on a coastal station out from Carnarvon. No rain in all that time and had to shoot hundreds of sheep. Very tough times.

Another thunderstorm during the night and some rain. Wash off some of that dust anyway I hope.

Looks like it will be a quiet trip across the Nullarbor with no phone etc. The only radio I can get is the ABC - all 3 channels with nothing but cricket - Really!!!

Shifted to the edge of the area in the morning and ran the generator for a while so I could use the computer while I have good coverage, and charge things up.

 Then decided in the afternoon to move to Boondi Rock for the night - only 35km up the road. A corrugated 3km drive to get in there but a very private spot with lots of trees, new toilets and a dam with warnings about not swimming in it. Only one other couple in there.

So many broken branches and trees down in this area. There must have been a storm very recently as the leaves are still green. Someone has cut a bigger tree up that was over the road. Bit hard to find somewhere to park that is 'tree free' but at least they are not huge heavy things here!

 Got up early Sunday and did the short walk to the rock while it was cloudy and cool. Much work has been done to make a wall with stone slabs  at the base of the rock with 2  channels to take the  water into the dam.

I am still surprised that there is no apparent wildlife around especially as there is a dam full of water here. Maybe they only come out at night rather than in the evenings. Don't even hear possums! But the mossies still bite and I still forget to put the cream on.

On to Kalgoorlie to a caravan park for the night. Much easier driving without the wind today. Had hoped to Skype my grand-daughter but I guess she is busy. Nice to have the power and able to run a fan - is definitely warm these days.

 

 

 

NZ and back

Left everything at Yanchep for 2 weeks and back to NZ for a lovely trip. Spent time with my sister who is heading to the South Island to live, and went to a good friend's 60th. A party is a great way to catch up with all the people I have not seen for many years.
The central north island is covered in lush green grass at the moment. A surprising lack of sheep though. I gather people are now grazing dairy cattle as that industry has grown considerably. Went east from Otorohanga in to the hills to see my niece. What a lovely part of the country. Came back via a narrow metal road which wound through beautiful bush. Was surprised to see a wrapped round bale of hay on the edge of this narrow road. Around the corner there was another one - then realised they were baling hay on the side of the steep hill above us!!!! Only in NZ! Hope they don't kill anyone.
A new fuel company called Z has taken over from Shell. They provide the old fashioned service of  not only filling your vehicle but washing your windscreen as well. That was a shock - and a treat!

For those of you thinking of a camping trip to NZ there is a book like our 'bible' put out by the NZCMA. You may need to join to get it. I was surprised at how many camping areas there are in the country. I am told that many people like to travel in groups - partly for safety. It seems there is a bad element who like to target tourist - so what is new! Maybe it is the fact that - unlike Australia - many towns are only 10 minutes from each other so it is easy for idiots to go find their fun by scaring the unwary. I suspect the South Island would be quite different though. Don't let it put you off - a beautiful country. Fuel is expensive - over $2! Diesel is cheaper but there is an extra tax on it - you buy road user miles.
Today I will pack the van, stock up the fridge and get ready to head across the Nullarbor. Plan on being somewhere around Eyre Peninsular for Xmas.

Kwolyin, York

Had a very pleasant lunch with friends at Bruce Rock on Melbourne Cup day - spent $25 and won $44 so that was nice. Not used to drinking at lunch time so of to the van for a nana nap. I had gone back to the sports oval across from the caravan park and parked under the trees so cooler thank goodness.

Off to Kokerbin Rock on Wednesday. No camping there now - it is just a day rest area but there is now a new camp at the deserted township of Kwolyin so I found a spot and stayed for 2 nights. Have decided I could easily become a hermit. No-one there and so peaceful. Played the ukulele and the recorder for a while!!! (it WAS peaceful up until then :)) Excellent new facilities provided by the Bruce Rock Shire - flush toilets, town  water, gas BBQ and a kitchen. Went for a few walks around the town - really nothing left but a few concrete pads and a church. Saw a snake trail but no sign of it thank goodness.

Next stop was York beside the Lowe St park. Council has put in 4 power points and a couple of taps near the toilets. Was only here for an hour when a councillor popped in to say welcome - fancy that. Went up the alley beside the court house and in to the main street. Lots of places to eat, a wonderful Olde Lolly Shoppe, old books and second hand stuff and real estate agents it seems. An IGA and a couple of pubs. Lovely old place.

Denmark, Albany, Stirling Range, Lake Grace, Bruce Rock

Drove through Denmark - pretty spot but will stay another time. Then to Albany - blowing a gale so headed back inland to the Stirling Ranges. Spectacular lumps sprouting out of the wheat fields.

A very small camp at Moingup Springs but a nice ranger who let me park in the day area. Lots of flies. Was damp and cloudy the 2 days I was there. I did drive to Knoll café only to find it was closed and the lookout was covered in rain clouds so back to see Mt Trio. Very pretty alpine shrubs in flower everywhere.

Decided to head to Lake Grace but had trouble starting the ute - lots of smoke and strange knocking noise. Ranger no  help - suggested I rang RAC - they were out in an hour or so. But of course by then the ute was fine. Seems the glow plugs may be a bit slow in the damp and so too much fuel in system at start -up. A relief nothing wrong so on the road again.

Gentle rolling country everywhere and grain being harvested. Stayed at Lake Grace Caravan Park - $20 single. Nice little town. Art gallery, very good coffee shop, clean fresh IGA, a great clothing/bag/shoe shop, and butcher.
The lakes cover around 50km and do have water in them this time of year. Lots of little wild flowers.

Then on to Gorge Pool Rock camp along the Tin Horse Highway via Kulin. What fun that was. Glad it is a long straight bit of road with virtually no traffic - and there are plenty of places to stop and take photos. Very clever horses!
 A pleasant chatty couple at the Gorge pool rock  camp from Perth so nice to have company. We went up to watch the sunset on the rock.

Was going to stay another day but a fellow traveller told me there was a Bush reunion at Bruce Rock for the Vietnam Veterans so I decided to go there.
Well - the sports oval was half covered in vans, buses, tents.....too many for me so I went up the back to park. Some breeze up there also I thought.
 Excellent new facilities for the town. Bowls, tennis and the oval, a bar, big kitchen and a hall, showers and toilets.
The reunion is in its 13th year. Started by some local vets who wanted to raise money for the peace window they had made for the church.

On Saturday I decided to volunteer to help in the kitchen to make the free  dinner for maybe 800 people before the free concert.
 Sunday we did lunch for all the volunteers as well. All the volunteers were presented with a medal from the Shire for our help. Sunday evening entertainment was provided at the Bards Pit by local singers, poets and comedians. I am told there were around 240 vans on the oval so a great muster. The weather was kind this year - even a cool breeze over the weekend.
 Monday was the start of another heatwave so I skittled off to the caravan park for power, aircon and to do washing. Tomorrow I have been invited to go back to the oval for the Melbourne Cup lunch.

Boyup Brook, Pemberton, Shannon, Walpole

What a beautiful part of the country this is especially after all the rain they have had. Stunning rolling hills and so much bush, fat cattle and sheep - reminds me of home!
Spent a couple of hours in Pinjarra getting the computer finalized - silly little things that I needed sorting. Then a muddly sort of a day trying to decide where to go next. Thought about the coast - Herron Point etc but decided too much swamp around there and seeing signs warning of mosquito born Ross River virus...... So down to the Conservation area (Leschenault?) but after 5km of dirt road and no obvious camping area gave up as soon as I could turn around and headed back to the highway. Took a lovely drive over the hill to Collie and to the Stockton Lake camp. Another delightful spot but after rain on Friday night decided to move to a CP at Boyup Brook. Spent a couple of days there enjoying having power for a heater, ensuite shower etc. Drove out into the country - really good dirt roads. Quaint little town with very undulating streets.

On down to Manjinup and then to Pemberton for a couple of nights.Saw a stunning field of bright red on the way in so went back to take a photo. Had to be some exotic flower I thought. Mmmmm - afraid not - talking to a local - just red shade cloth over apple trees - so why red I have to wonder!

 So many of the camps around this area say 'small vehicles only' so back to a CP. Bit tricky here - the place needs reorganizing. Gave up trying to get in to my allotted site and told the office which one I could get in to!!!! Tight little road also. Three old orange tractors with caravans here - WA tractor club raising money for the Flying Doctor.
Did the Karri Explorer drive - lovely way to spend a few hours. Quite a lot of oneway roads through the forest which is great. Stunning big trees - Karri and Marri. Lots of dirt road and some of it one way. Glad I didn't decide to go to the Arboretum camp - definitely for small vehicles and a big wet puddle to get in there.
Went in to the Beedelup Waterfall then to the Bicentennial tree. Amazing - but NO WAY I am climbing up that - 60m of pegs!!!! Highest climbable tree in the world I am told.

Would be great if I knew how to make portrait photos stay portrait in this blog!!!!

 Many avocados and vineyards around here. Big timber mill - passed an old logging truck with a load very big logs - creeping down the hill in to town.
Camped at Shannon  after a rather nervous drive from Northcliffe via Middleton Road. VERY narrow although it is sealed but nowhere to even move over off the edge. Then meeting a tanker and a tour bus in a hurry..... Still - made it OK.
Shannon is a great camp with old and new amenity blocks complete with hot water showers! Set among tall trees and very quiet. Park fees apply.




OK - so if the original is portrait is works - but not if I turn it. But that doesnt always work either - need to check the camera setting again!

Headed off to Walpole - once again a surprisingly narrow road for a 'highway'. Not too much traffic fortunately. Decided to stay at a CP and 'do' the tourist thing today. Walked to the tingle tree, Circular pool,  had a wonderful lunch at the Herb garden, walked the art in the forest thing. Loved the massive mirror, but the rest - mmmmm? Then along Bridge road to the Treetop walk. Decided not to do that today as it was getting late so headed off to Conspicuous Cliffs instead - or tried to. Road closed for burn-off. Pity there wasn't a sign at the turn off - ah well - another 5km of dirt roads.
So now I have lots of photos of absolutely magnificent trees with interesting varieties of bark, many with perfectly straight trunks - will have to get creative one day and put them all together. I just wish the camera gave a true feeling of just how grand these trees really are.

Pinjarra, Dwellingup

Decided to leave Yanchep last week and start south. Got as far as Dwellingup - the camp at Marrinup POW in amongst beautiful tall East Grey Gums (I think) that Alcoa has planted on their old mine site. Interesting getting in there on Grey Road. Had been wet and many pot-holes full of water. Then in to 4x4 to get up the water scoured track to the camp site. A few there including a very noisy mother who insisted on yelling at the kids and telling them not to get dirty!!!!! Hey - we are camping and it is raining and they were having a great time making a fire outside their tent etc.

Turned the computer on the next morning - and couldn't log in!!!! Ouch! Decided to go to Dwelling up and after chatting to the lovely ladies in the Info centre headed back to Pinjarra to the computer shop. A virus they said - and a bad one! Went back the next day to be told the hard drive had died which was a relief in a way, so spent 2 full days waiting for it to be repaired. Fortunately no-one seemed worried about me camping near the dump point for 3 nights. Was far too late on Friday to leave - rain - traffic!
Several campers there last night - local club on a mystery tour.
So - am back at Yanchep for 3 nights mainly as I have so much to re-set on the computer, and to download again. Seem to have lost a few activation codes which is most annoying. Also back to the osteo on Monday - hopefully the last tweak on my 'driving arm' problem.
Then on the road again......

Mt Magnet to Kalgoorlie to Perth

Camped between Yalgoo and Mt Magnet - found an area behind a rest spot around a large rock. Not many wild flowers - mostly lilac bushes along the edge of the road.

Another camp  after Mt Magnet then on to Sandstone on Saturday in time for a  sausage sizzle. What was the grocery store is now an art gallery. We headed off to the London Bridge but I gave up at the 'Brewery' - too many corrugations for me. The sign said the bridge was 34km but it is in fact only a couple of km past the brewery - darn.

Stopped in Leinster Caravan Park for 2 nights. Only $15. Also had dinner at the mess - another $15 for all you can eat. The miners are well fed.










Next stop was Malcolm Dam 11 km from Leonora then 3km dirt. Amazing colour with the tiny yellow pompom flower. Not much water but lots of birds. Spent 2 nights there - so peaceful A few others camped but plenty of room. Nasty cold wind one day - ended up in the van reading most of the day. Went for a walk in the tiny yellow pompom flowers.




On to Menzies and after a great coffee and cakes, and checking at the info centre headed off to Lake Ballard. Good camp there - new toilets, water and a dump point. Another 2 days enjoying the quiet. Did walk around some of the 52 statues but.....
Decided not to stop in Kalgoorlie - the races are on and town is really busy. Got fuel and on to a camp between Coolgardie and Southern Cross. Another very windy day so not much fun driving.
 Coolgardie was gearing up fo a big celebration day on Sunday.
Great French bakery in Merriden - and cheap coffee and cakes also. I so enjoy a little luxury after 'caravan' food for weeks.
Stopped at the Memorial park in Meckering and read about the earthquake there.  Such power the earth can release! Very windy and heavy rain overnight.

Decided to make a run for Yanchep on Sunday - so over driving in this wind! Shocking heavy rain on the run down to Midland - had to stop for 5 minutes and wait for it to clear as I couldn't see the road.
Was going to sleep in the van that night but once again some awful violent wind so crept over to the house and in to the spare bed instead.

Looking forward to a week catching up with all the relatives who are over for a nephew's wedding. PLEASE stop raining and blowing this weekend!!!!!