Week 502 - Marginiup, Western Australia

This week we have been camped at fellow Highway Wanderers Ken, Ali and Spud the dog in the far northern suburbs of Perth.

A cascade of 3 ponds 

Lazy K - Lazy K is a custom built 6 wheeler big rig

The property has been a labour of love for over 30 years and we arrived in the middle of a roof building project.  Me being cack-handed and with two left hands, was always willing to help but didn't have the skills to fulfill.  However, they had a professional welder on site and a couple of other qualified helpers.  The roof trusses were cut, welded and moulded into shape and are now ready to be hoisted into position by crane.

Sticking bits of metal together - Manufacturing
a steel frame for a roof. 

The roof trusses - Trusses completed and ready 
to be lifted on to roof. Each truss weighs 300 kg. 

We have had a couple of catch ups with other fellow Highway Wanderers -  Maxine and Rob and Lynne and Dave.  Punctuated by a visit from Col and Jan from the Casino Village.  It is amazing when you think that we are on the other side of the country just passing through and there is all these people we know.

We have had a water leak from the waste pipe that serves the kitchen and bathroom sinks and it has been a bastard of a job.  The grey water pipe was installed first and over the years the manufacturers in their wisdom, zip tied and hose clamped cables and any other services to said grey water pipe, making it impossible to get at.  So I had to cut a hole in the side of a locker to gain access, which made it possible to replace a cracked PVC elbow and pipe.  Our solution was to find a hose fitting from a Holden Commodore, which was flexible and could be hose clamped onto the existing pipework.  Not easy when you are working in the space the size of a shoe box.  Several expletives later, job done, tested, locker repaired and forgotten about.

Jo has been shopping, marketing, doctoring and even afternoon teaing with her workmates from Kelmscott from back in 2011-12. 

Rusti has had the running space of 5 acres and is in her element.  The local dog, Spud, who is four times bigger has suffered a lot of bullying from a pesky Shitzhu.

Burns Beach - Wild seas and strong winds, 
made it difficult for Rusti to swim 

The weather has been beautiful and we are looking forward to continuing our travels south.

Comments

Maxine
2018-10-28

As usual we love your blog & also as usual glad to have you in our lives over here in the West

Helen
2018-10-28

Thanks for your blog - good to know what you are up to!

Lynne
2018-10-29

It was great catching up with you and hope to see you again down south.

Rick & Celia
2018-10-29

Hi there...once again good to read your blog. Can jut imagine you Derek fixing the pipe and
all the cursing going on as you struggled to do it. It was good talking to you the other day
and hope to catch up with you when your here next year as we missed you last time you
where here. We are off away in our Caravan tomorrow Wednesday. Not sure where we will
end up just know we are going north. We only have a week as have to be back again for
medical things but will make the most of the time we can have away. Look forward to reading
yor next blog soon.

Leigh
2018-10-30

Looking forward to serimh you. Looks like you’re in a great place
.

Week 501 - Bindoon, Western Australia

It has been a short uneventful week.

After having spent a couple of days rained in at Miling, our campsite was in the middle of a roadwork gang's base, totally deserted by workers, but surrounded by water trucks, bob cats, B Doubles, bulldozers, you name it.  Very peaceful, yet surreal.

The last of the wildflowers

Ring-necked parrot - 
Very common in these parts.

The Western Australian Government are building roads left, right and centre and bypassing a lot of small towns, including our next stop, New Norcia.  Only the tourists come through town now.  Our camp spot was a paddock, the size of a couple of football fields, yet only a couple of us there.  However, the weather is still not ideal.  Very windy one day, hot and humid the next, followed by 8 degree mornings.

St Gertrudes, New Norcia 

?Crypt

The architecture in the village of the monks, is fascinating.  Also the monks brew a mean drop of Abbot Ale, weighing in at 7.3% volume.  However, they would not sell me a pint and served me a piddly 250 ml in a poofters wine glass, then charged me like a wounded bull at $7.50 a nip.  Which equates to $15 a pint.

Bindoon - A $20 a night camp spot around the 
town oval. We have been here two days, using the 
air-conditioner one day and the heater the next.

We are beginning to suffer from the price of fuel, even though we do low mileage per week.  When we left Brisbane in 2009, diesel was $1.01/litre - today's price $1.67/litre and still heading north, that's $502 per fill up.   But if I had to buy 300 litres of Abbott Ale, it would be $4500.     OUCH!!!!  

So we continue heading south to Bindoon and Wanneroo.  We are only a few days away from Perth city at approximately 80 kms.

Comments

Thrush

2018-10-19

Try adding soft drink to the petrol - cheaper.

One Stick

2018-10-19

Or try drinking soft drink Ha Ha

Yvonne

2018-10-19

Loved New Norcia. You are paying around 14c per litre more than us but we

are heading to 1.70 a litre soon apparently. Son is paying 2.50 in NZ. 

In 2011 we were paying 2.00 and up in Cape York we paid 2.50. 

It just kills filling a big rig. We have two tanks and I hate the bill. By the way 

Your photos are wonderful.

Celia & Rick

2018-10-20

We had to laugh over the price you paid for a drop of Ale...hope the Ale was 

a good drop though. We would still love to get over to Perth with our Van but 

can't see it happening as we can only get away for a week per month just 

now. We hope to get up to Toowoomba in a weeks time once my next lot of 

Chemo is over for a few days. We heard you saw Colin & Jan for lunch...

they would have been pleased to see you. Love reading about your travels. 

Now I am getting your emails we are able to follow where you are.

 Look forward to reading your next email. Celia & Rick

Leigh

2018-10-21

Wish we could send some of our rain east.

Week 500 - Perenjori, Western Australia

We departed the suburbia of Geraldton and headed east in to the desert and wildflower country. First stop, Pioneer Well. Not many flowers but plenty of flies and red dust. But it gave us time to recharge our batteries and settle down into our nomadic life.

Wildflower Country - We spent the week 
in wildflower country at the end of the flowering season 

As we travelled along the country lanes we had glimpses of the variety of wildflowers. We were on the tail end of the season and summer is just around the corner.

Classroom sculpture - At Canna, a railway siding. 
There are many sculptures like this in the region. 

So our blog comes from a deserted township called Perenjori. Very much a ghost town. Most of the shops have been abandoned leaving the pub and the post office open.  Of course, the post office does more than just sell stamps.

Mulga Parrots - There are supposed 
to be 68 species of birds in this area, 
but sadly we have only seen 3 so far.

Perenjori Hotel - The big rambling pub has been 
reduced to just one bar open. Sadly we have seen
 this happen to many a big country pub. 
Built in 1919. This pub will be lucky to make it's 
100th birthday. The once grand hotel is now 
reduced to just one bar with two light beers on tap. 

All around town are wildflower trails. Well signposted and the flowers are in abundance although they are on their last legs. It is a wonder anything can grow out here. The soil is so sandy and dry. There is no water about for the wildlife apart from the odd lizard and a couple of snake sightings.

Tip toe through the tulips with Tiny Tim - 
Jo and Rusti amongst the yellow Billy Buttons
 (Helipterum craspedioides). 

We are now heading south towards Perth doing only short hops and changing our strategy to using caravan parks for power and air conditioning.  Because of the remoteness of some of the parks, the CP's are a reasonable price.

Wreath flower - Not as abundant 
as the other wildflowers. 

Common name - creamy stackhousia or creamy candles -
and for you botanists, the latin name - stackhousia monogyna

We only have one more week in the desert and that will probably be enough for us. Looking forward to the town of New Norcia, where the monks brew a fine beer, so they tell me!

Comments

Celia & Rick
2018-10-13

Hi there all of you...this is the 1st Blog we have been able to open from you. It made an
interesting read and it is good to see where you are on your trip over to the West Coast.
 Lovely photos. Will keep in contact now I have found out how to open your email as
still can't get into your blog direct. We are both Ok...Love Celia & Rick

dot & george
2018-10-15

What are the caravan park prices now off season? I see Rusti is still looking cute as ever xx

Helen 
2018-10-17

Love the photo of Jo and Rusti. Always wanted to see the wildflowers of WA so
enjoying your photos

Week 499 - Geraldton, Western Australia

With our stint at Green Head Caravan Park over, the experience and knowledge gained is another feather in our cap.

So we hightailed it to Dongara a free overnighter with all the facilities and a chance to have a pint or two in the local pub- god damn expensive!!  Four pints, the price of a complete carton of beer.  As the camp spot was only 24 hours, we had to move on.  This time to 7 mile beach, camped just 25 yards from the water's edge.  You are allowed 72 hours and monitored by an aggressive ranger, however, if you do the right thing, he might smile at you.

Sunset at 7 Mile Beach - Not much to look at,
 just the sun and a post.

7 Mile Beach - Here we are camped 

just metres from the beach with no 

protection from the prevailing winds.

On On Home at the Seaside - Sun, sand and sea

Our next stop was Geraldton RV "stop".  A bitumen carpark with parking bays, so close there wasn't enough room to open your door fully.  You have to nod your head very slowly at the authorities.  They have spent so much money and got it so wrong.  Where are they getting their knowledge and information from?

So after being confined to a 24 hour stopover in Geraldton, we headed East into unchartered territory for us and finally settled in a bush camp, 12 kms West of Mullewa.  No facilities, an abundance of wildflowers and a bush track of approximately 5 kms long with historic wells, a one room school and a grave for some poor buggar that died back in the heritage times.

HMAS Sydney Memorial - Each seagull 
in the dome represents a life lost on board 
HMAS Sydney.

Rusti has been in the wars this week.  She has obviously enjoyed running around the bush and in the process picked up a spear grass seed in her ear canal.  The cost of 5 cartons of beer later, the vet had seduced her and passed the bill on to me.  Rusti seems to be okay now.

Some of the Highway Wanderers in Perth -
I pulled this one out of the bag because
Steve, Louise, Rob and Maxine are our
contacts in Perth.

Over the past few days, Jo has updated our blog from May.  I have been a bit slack, Jo has been a bit slack, but we realise how important it is to let our friends, family and readers know where we are and above all WHY....  Looking forward to your feedback and comments.

Comments

Jon
2018-10-06

JoDerekRustiOnonhome ... good reading

Maxine
2018-10-06

Luv it

Lesley & Bill
2018-10-07

Obviously... having a good time - only as usual. Regards to Rusti, hope the ear's OK now...
Give a cuddle.... that's to both Jo and Rusti... Luv

Leigh
2018-10-12

What bush track and wells? I’ve obviously missed something.