23rd Jan - Wave Rock to Karalee

Since leaving the south coast, heading inland again, the weather is getting pretty warm up in the mid to high 30’s, we hear Perth is having a heat wave 40+.   While we were having brekky in the camp kitchen, we were admiring the view when we thought we noticed the trailer rolling backwards….. we did!!   We did see the trailer rolling, we bolted outside only to watch the trailer roll and thankfully come to rest on a pole and there it stayed.  This place is really immaculate they even fold the toilet paper back, just like in the motels, they also have a fully equipped kitchen, very impressive. We take off for a walk around and over Wave Rock then to Hippo’s Yawn and Mulka’s cave.   Takes a good couple of hours, we head back through Hyden and take some pics of the museum before leaving Tressie’s. 

Yep Darl even tried to ride it!

The catchment wall on top of Wave Rock for the dam

Now that's a hippo's yawn.......

Mulka's cave, will tell you about the legend later...

This is what salinity does to the landscape, a real big problem over here

We travelled up from Hyden over to Narembeen, where we had lunch, via Merredin – we didn’t stop there, by the time we got to Southern Cross about 4pm we had to call in to the Palace pub to cool down.   We got chatting to Brett on his way back to Perth from Leonora where he is a road train driver, rolled one last year, yep he is one lucky dude.  After an hour or so, we had cooled down and set off to Karalee Rocks free camp, a great little spot with historical significance, part of the Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail in the Yellowdine Nature Reserve.  

Another great little camp spot..

The dam at Karalee Rocks

We arrived a little later than usual to set up, so tea was late, we were sitting by the (romantic) light of the lamp, chowing down, when I saw something move in the shadows on the ground, on closer inspection we discovered a Scorpion!!  So glad we are not sleeping on the ground tonight.   We tracked it for a little while, it seemed to wander off into the darkness…but what a mean looking little creature!

Nasty looking little critter!!

22nd Jan - Off to Wave Rock

It’s nearly been 4 months we have spent in WA, you could really spend a lot lot longer, but we have been almost 8  months on the road now and decide we need to get a wriggle on.   So today we cut for it up north towards Wave Rock, we plan to stay at Kulin for the night, home of the Tin Horse Highway.  It’s a hot day on the road, travelling through Stirling Ranges, Pingrup (not far from Ongerup and Jerramungup), Lake Grace.   We almost overheated the car taking pics of the Tin Horses so we bypassed Kulin and continued on to Kondinin to get the car cooled down.  It’s only another 40 odd k’s to Kalgarin so we continue on to Tressie’s Museum and Caravan park for the night, we are now only 17kms out from Wave Rock.

Dragon cloud followed us for most of the day......

The roadhouse with no fuel...only for emergencies

Start of the Tin Horse Highway, Kulin

Go the Poo!!

Russell Crowe eat your heart out!

Never mind the pigs, guess what horses can fly!!

What a great little spot and the best private collection museum we have seen, everything in the museum has been restored to mint condition and everything works.  Even the 1905 barrel gramaphone with 4 different size horns for volume control, amazing.  The owner, Merv has music nights out in the barby shelter where he brings out one of the gramophones and his selection of 4000 odd songs for guests to request.   Now that would be a great night, but Merv and his missus (retired wheat farmers)are away and we are one of two camps in for the night, then again it only takes two for a party.  Caretakers Gloria and Les great couple, recommend we stay at Karalee Free camp en route to Kalgoorlie.

View from Tressie's

A small section of the collection

The 1905 Grammy, just gets bigger and better from here....

21st Jan - Day at Albany

We’re off to Albany to the Farmers Markets and a look around.  When we got there we find that it is all happening today.  One of the churches, St Johns also has a fete on, with a little café set up in the church hall.   We were busy taking photos, when approached by a lady asked if we were tourists (do we look that obvious) and if we wanted to be in a parade, it is Proclamation Day 185 years, Albany the first town in WA to be settled.  We didn’t fancy being in the parade but thought we would stick around to watch.  Farmers markets a great little market, lots to try from chutneys, veggies/fruit, live crabs, icecream etc.

Calling home, no one answering!

Anchors ahoy!

Random tea towel collection at St Johns.....our mums will like it!

Here comes the parade

The ute even features.......

The cannon blast, one of 4 - brig Amity in the background

It was pretty damn hot today, we had to take shelter from a storm at one of the pubs in town, as you do, The Premier built 1891.  Wasn’t much of a storm, turned out, so we headed up to the ANZAC Light Horse monument on Mount Clarence and out to Emu Point.  They have a monument there for Sam the Seal, loved by all for many years, but betrayed by one who killed him only a few years ago, great spot for swimming, parks etc.  We headed out to Torndirrup National Park to The Gap and Natural Bridge, then headed back to Denmark as the weather was pretty dodgy still.

Amazing attention to detail on this monument

Striking against the skyline, shame it is a hazy day

7 magpies making b-line for the ute, reminds me of a movie but I think it was called Crow

Emu Point, the cruise we have heard is pretty good outing

The Gap!  Apparently dislodged from Antartica some 45 million years ago

Natural Bridge, awesome - Darl behaved today

20th Jan - Walpole to Denmark

We’re off to see some giants today…..  a whole valley of them actually.  We’re doing the Valley of the Giants tourist drive which takes us through some an amazing forest of Karri, Red and Yellow Tingles, Marri and Karri Oak trees.  We’re doing the Giant Tree Top Walk and visiting the Ancient Empire and Wilderness Discovery Centre.  All in all not bad value for $12.50 pp.   We did the walk twice – 600 metres long and up to 40 metres above ground.  

The walkway, pretty sturdy but still gets a rock up

Looking down on the trees instead of up

At the 40 metre pinnacle

Grandma Tingle, some 400yrs old

Hey diddle diddle, I'm in the middle

When we left we continued on our way through rolling hills, farming district to meet the highway at Bow Bridge.    Then we took the Ficifolia scenic drive to Peaceful Bay – another nice little spot, back along Ficifolia road – oops another horrendous dirt road, reminded us of the Cape but I wasn’t saying a word and my Darl was swearing, we were heading for Conspicuous Beach/Cliffs – we missed that turn off, double oops, and back to the bitumen heaven, the highway to Denmark.

Peaceful Bay

On the way to Denmark we ducked down William Bay Road to Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.   Both magic little spots and unlike the rough coastal waters we have seen in last few days, these spots are popular and great little swimming beaches.   Lots of people about enjoying the perfect weather.  Greens Pool is rated one of WA’s most idyllic beaches is a sheltered natural emerald green lagoon formed by granite rocks extending 100 metres out to sea from here along to Madfish Bay.    At Elephant Rocks the huge granite boulders nestling by the waters edge framed by lush green hills, limestone headlands, towering trees are an artists dream….

Greens Pool

Another shot of Greens Pool

Elephant Rocks

Elephant rocks

From here we drove the Scotsdale scenic drive into Denmark where we booked into Rivermouth caravan park for a couple of nights, here to explore the area up to Albany. After booking in we went out to take a look at Ocean Beach and a couple of look out points.    The beach is stunning and at the river mouth a lot of people float in with the tide which flows in at a rate I might add.  Back along Lights Road to Monkey Rock lookout, but it looked like it was closed, then back to the Denmark pub for a happy  hour drink.  We had a late lunch so got one fish and chips take away for tea which was a great feed for both of us and at $10.95 a bargain FNC dinner with salad and all the trimmings…

Water crystal clear

Black Hole

Breathe in!!

Apology for Spam email

Hi everyone, I am so sorry if you received a spam email from me, it was out of my control.  I deleted the email when received but apparently too late as it had already attached itself to every address in my contacts list.  I hope you all had a good virus/spam detection on your internet so detected early.

19th Jan - Walpole

We had a cruisey morning, Darl cleaned car and I updated blog.   We exchanged trip notes with Alana and Ian as they’ve been where we are going and vice versa.  By this time it was the afternoon, we had a quick bite to eat for lunch then went for a little explore around Walpole to find a spot for a swim.   Sandy Beach was too windy, Mandalay Beach was too rough but was beautiful.  Alana and I ventured down onto the beach and were amazed to find a Hooded Plover nesting ON the beach, we could not believe it.  It had 4 poles around to mark the site and was nested in the middle, there was a warning sign not to approach, how could this small bird be nesting on such a windy beach, they also must know how far the tide comes in, I don’t imagine they would move nests with the tide height each day?

Dangerous to swim but spectacular to look at

Another view

Here's the little hooded plover, one game bird

Big dunes here too, the boys are up there somewhere

By the time we got to Coalmine Beach it was too cold….Never mind, we ended up back at camp (via a look at a bush sawpit) around happy  hour time so enjoyed a few quiet drinks, another barby (Ian cooked – I love nights off cooking) and ended the night with a Peach Schnapps and a couple of snaps.
A great couple days spent at Walpole.

A log seat at the saw pit site, girls takin' a load off

A view from the banks of Rest Point where we are camped

Chin, chin! That schnapps was nice......