We leave Allendale Pool this morning, via the wheat fields, Alinta wind farm, Walkaway. Hay is a big industry out here also, the fields and sheds are chockers with hay bales. It's pretty amazing country side, fields of wheat or grass lead up to the sand dune hills along the coast, as we travel south the Dongara - Denison.
Every town has one right, the old historic police station and gaol which is transformed into a museum. At this one at Dongara - Irwin District Museum, my Darl has a mate to share his cell with.
This is the best kept display of old tools and relics from household to blacksmith to farming etc., we have seen so far, all so neat and everything clearly displayed, also old mate gives us a personal tour of the shed and demonstrates all the workable items.
The main street is lined with Moreton Bay Fig Trees, all bought for 18 shillings and six pence a lot of years ago, and look at them now! They have blossomed now, today with their roots dominating the foot paths. Quite a few historic buildings in this street, a heritage trail walk is marked out for those interested. We did quite a few of them on our own little custom made tour.
One of the main industires in this town, besides wheat is Cray Fish! If I haven't said before, it is cray fish season now. We met an interesting chap at the van park, Bill, he was a cray fisherman for 48 years, so has seen a lot of changes over the years and knows the crays inside out. He told us how now the fishermen have got reduced quotas and they have to leave the pots out for 3 days before harvesting and during this time the Oca's come and help themselves to the pots, day after day. When we queried what Oca's were, Octopus. They go into the pots, strangle the necks of the crays and suck the meat out, then leave when they have had their fill, amazing. Stuff you just wouldn't know unless you talk to the locals.
We got up this morning and thought we would take our treddlies for a spin, it wasn't the nicest day as you can see, but nice and cool for the ride. We rode along the foreshore, they have a nice boardwalk there for viewing black swans, pelicans etc. We didn't see any of them today, they probably away somewhere breeding. This pic taken at the lookout, about 135 steps to the top.
We went over the bridge from Port Denison to Dongara (bit like twin towns down the coast). We looked at this treddly in awe, 3 wheeler with motor, rear view mirrors and plenty of compartments for shopping, I want one Darl! It was here I suddenly realised my Darl had left the back pack at the bikes with my wallet and phone, geepers, we hurried back to the bikes past a 4WD with 2 dogs sitting in the back, not that unusual to see really.
Only these dogs were 100% pure bred dingoes. Boss and Streak, these are alpine dingoes, Phil the owner also has 2 pure bred Desert dingoes. What he didn't know about dingoes. He has had cattle dogs previously but will never go back to them, the dingo one of the most intelligent dogs around. They keep Phil's block clear of roos, rabbits, cats. Alpines can do up to 80kmph, desert up to 90kmph. He has made a business of it for the tourists or anyone wants to have a look, Dingo's at Dongara. We have had our interaction today in the main street.
Saint Domonic's Priory, built in 1881, first served as the Dongara Hotel, before being run by the Dominican Sisters for 70 years as a school and boarding college. These days it is run as the Priory Resort Hotel. The pic only shows a third of the property with a huge court yard, an adjoining building to the right is the accommodation rooms, with swimming pool and a beer garden to the left of this pic. Yes we did enjoy a coldie at this one.
When we arrived at Dongara Tourist Park we noticed this awful smell. We asked the receptionist what it was, seaweed! Never seen seaweed like it, washed ashore on South Beach, usually a pristine, white sandy beach stretching as far as the eye can see. Not today........
I finally jagged a decent shot of an eagle, it took me several to get this one, lucky for digital and delete option. This fellow on a sign post in the marina from Fishermen's lookout where an obelisk is built in memory of sailors lost at sea. There seems to be a lot of that happening right along the WA coast. Down along the harbour, they have a lot of shelters for picnics and also a Shipwreck walk, a short stroll walking patch lined with plaques, naming the ship downed with details of each one.
Check this for a barby area, it is like a green house, lots of plants, walls lined with artworks and nice big tables, 2 of the most spotlessly clean barby's we have come across in our travels. Good idea they supply the water, scourer and town to clean them down, so this probably encourages people to do the right thing. We like to use our barby mat, makes cleaning even easier. The other amenities here the same, abablutions look brand new, nice tiles, even curtains and kitchen facilities great also.
Run rabbit, run rabbit, run run run!! before my Darl gets you...... Yes he did have a go with one of our walking sticks, I think he thought he was an aboriginal out hunting, but it didn't work, they just ran away, stopped turned around, looked at my Darl, kicked up a bit of dust.....blow it!! They have big bugs here too and big hornets.
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