Tuesday 22 October 2013

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.





Saturday 12 October 2013

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......