Nothing like Buffalo Beach in the winter time, 4WDing in the sand dunes and hanging out with friends. Otherwise just getting out and about any chance we get.
2019 FRIDGETOWN
Otherwise (or formerly) known as Bridgetown. A few days out, we toured our way through Donnybrook, Balingup and Greenbushes to Bridgetown. Lunch stop at Manjimup, Donnelly River and an unplanned route via Nannup, a mine tour at Greenbushes, and back to work again.
2019 EAGLES NEST
2019 BUNBURY AND BRAG
Hanging about Bunbury and enjoying the architecture of the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.
2019 DO WHAT WE DO BEST
Doing what we do best.
We've never lived on the coast before, coming from the outer eastern suburbs of Victoria, we lived most of our married life in the lush green forest of the Dandenong Ranges.
So we are still in the salty soak up mode of the stunning WA beaches. In total contrast, living a couple of years in the central desert of Australia, Alice Springs and some 300km north east, ocean and great restaurants were the luxuries we missed most.
So now we miss sooooooo much about the red centre and truly can't wait to get back there, but in the meantime, we are making the most of our environment.
Work is crazy. A new lithium processing plant is being developed nearby and the demand for accommodation is HUGE. So we are following the owners needs and working hard on building new accommodation options. There's the 18 new motel rooms completed and occupied by the plant manager and now 42 new "dongas" in progress.
No wonder I love to get out when I can and take pictures of sea birds :)
2019 SISTERS
Lovely to see my sister for a visit. She currently lives in Victoria so of course we took her on the usual dolphin site see and took her to all our fave restaurants.
When I last lived in Victoria, she lived in WA. While I've lived in WA she's lived in Victoria. We seem destined to be on opposite sides of the country so it's been about 5 years since we last caught up in person.
2019 NEW NORCIA CREEPINESS
I think I should refer to Wikipedia for this one.
"New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia. A ground station for the European Space Agency is located 8 km south of the town". Wiki explains..."Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from μόνος, monos, 'alone') or monkhood is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Similar forms of religious life also exist in other faiths, most notably in Buddhism, but also in Hinduism and Jainism, although the expressions differ considerably.[1] By contrast, in other religions monasticism is criticized and not practiced, as in Islam and Zoroastrianism, or plays a marginal role, as in Judaism. Women pursuing a monastic life are generally called nuns, while monastic men are called monks. More recently, both have described themselves simply as “monastics.” Many monastics live in monasteries to stay away from the secular world. The way of addressing monastics differs between the Christian traditions. As a general rule, in Roman Catholicism, monks and nuns are called brother or sister, while in Eastern Orthodoxy, they are called father or mother".
While interseting historical buildings and fascinating modern day envionrment, talk about that eerie feeling! Now my antireligion bias may contribute here, but this place is overbearingly sombre, sad and repressive and courses through my veins all the reasons why I am NOT a supporter of the religious institution. Definitely worthy of a visit though.
2019 MT MAGNET WHY?
There's two reasons why. The school holiday crowds are starting to build in Kalbarri so it's time to get out before I start to suffocate. The second is the need to travel a road we haven't travelled before and Mt Magnet is an interesting name. So without any sort of research, that's the way we headed.
A quick exploration of Horrocks Beach and Gregory we head east.
After some interesting site sees, my lack of research was evident upon arrival at Mount Magnet. A sad looking old mining town with little attraction, it reminded us a great deal of Iron Knob the ghost mining town in SA. The caravan park was clean and tidy, so an overnight stop, brunch burger at Paynes Find then keep on rolling to Moora via Dalwallinu.
2019 WAGOE BEACH FUN
What a way to spend a morning - the stunning Wagoe Beach and dunes, the lovely Lisa and a private quad bike tour. Highly recommend Kalbarri Wagoe Beach Quad Bike Tours best touring value for money, good fun, great pace and timing and simply fabulous scenery.
We just discovered they also have a campsite here and take big rigs so guess where we'll be coming next time.
2019 KALBARRI R & R
When we ask the WA locals where they go for holidays - the answer is simple: 1. Bali 2. Kalbarri
We can't drive the bus to Bali, so Kalbarri it is for some much needed R&R. About 730km north of the Bunbury on the magnificent WA coastline, Kalbarri is a poplular holiday destination - much like say Apollo Bay in Victoria is.
So after leaving the Slocombe's from Boddington we head north determine to arrive via Gregory and the Pink Salt Lake. I just had to explore the lake while Brad and Lola waited in the bus, only to discover to my horror how sludgie it is as I sunk like quick sand and shreeded my ankles on the sharp salt shards as I tried to withdraw in panic. One thong less, severely dented pride and disappointed that there was not a rescue party of two showing their concern, onward to Kalbarri.
A neat little coastal tourist town, stunning coastline we settled in to the Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park just ahead of the school holiday rush to occur in about 5 days from now.
2019 TIME FOR TIME OUT
We are on the move and heading north for Kalbarri. But our first stop is to catch up with friends Karl and Helen in Boddington outside of our park.
A great peaceful and restful couple of days - family Finska challenge where we were beaten at our own game, drone flying which was great fun for the boys until they crashed and birthday celebrations for Lola and I (yes mum and daughter born on the same day different year).
2019 SUZUKI SWAP OUT
Goodbye to the big heavy box and all the crap that went in it to make room for a real 4WD.
When we got to Australind we upgraded the little Suzuki Vitara to a Landrover Discovery. Originally we intended to swap back to something small when we leave but are having too much fun in the Disco on the beaches and decided to upgrade the trailer instead.
So goodbye to the big heavy box and all the crap that went in it to make room for a real 4WD.
Also on the list is a suspension upgrade to 3400kg springs, axle, electric brakes and a brake away system.
Another example of what you can do in a caravan park :)
2019 NOTHING EXCITING
2019 BUNBURY MARKETS & AROUND
2019 HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD BOY
It's the big 50 - bowel cancer test soon to be received in the mail :O It's a busy time of year so no elaborate trips away but a brand new drone to fly and a kick ass cake shared by our awesome team here at the park, not too bad a way to see in the big 5 0 and begin a new decade. Don't forget to pay the bus rego!
2019 SUMMER NIGHTS ON THE ESTUARY
With a front row view here at the park, summer nights on the estuary always include the view of fishermen/woman & children out crabbing and of course the estuary birdlife. Wil crabbing with his dad here is a typical beautiful sunsent evening here.
2019 ANOTHER YEAR ROLLS ON
Christmas/New Year peak survived, the park is packed and we continue to be working way harder than we are paid for, thinking about somewhereelse, but another year rolls on in the stunning south west.
Pressie time, Lola got cash and fillers, Brad got a new pair of thongs straight from the NT :), Daisy got a new toy and I got a new camera, my first SLR.
Taking every opportunity we can to get out and enjoy summer time on the coast.
2018 IT'S THAT TIME IN DECEMBER
When you live the life a nomad Christmas is different every year. We don't really DO christmas any more...because we don't HAVE to. We are not religous and will not be queuing at the local Church service anytime soon. We still comply with some societal norms and put up a tiny tree of some form. This year no wrapping paper, all our presents were wrapped by Australia Post - having made a family decree that all pressies would be purchased on line and handed over in the original parcel packaging.
New friends Helen and Karl were at the park in their van and invited us to join them for lunch and a lovely time on the beach with pooches.
I can't tell you how "stress free" Christmases are these days.
2018 BUNBURY BEACHES
Click to enlarge pictures
2018 THE LITTLE FOLK OF GNOMESVILLE
PORNOGRAPHY WARNING!!! This page contains nude images which may offend some less than open minded people!
More visitors with Wayne & Lorraine visiting from Victoria after catching the Ghan from Adelaide to Perth. Where else to take them than Gnomesville of course.
