Week 507 - Boddington, Western Australia

A leisurely departure from Kojonup on the Sunday morning took us just 84 kms north east to Wagin Showground.  A comfortable RV stopover with power and water.  Power for the heater, believe it or not.  The temperature at night has plummeted down to single figures and days have been in their teens.

A painter's nightmare

Waiting for the storm - Wagin

Gary
2018-12-01

You are parked nearly in the same spot as we were when we visited

Wagin is an old railway town.  It did have three huge sprawling pubs but only one operating at the moment and the town is sleepy with not many shops at all.  Alarmingly, there seems to be too many coffee shops, clambering for the coffee bean dollar.  

A relaxing three days at Wagin, we headed on to the Quindanning Hotel and for some reason we ended up on 25 kms of dirt road.  Fortunately, the road was in good condition, but the toad and the bus was covered in desert dust.

Quindanning Hotel - A revisit to the Quindanning 
Hotel, didn't replicate the first.

We last visited the Quindanning Hotel back in 2012, however, it has lost its atmosphere and now only stocks mundane, run of the mill beers.

Boddington Airstrip - the town of Boddington 
has hundeds of sculptures, probably too 
many for a small sleepy town.

From the Q Hotel, we headed to Boddington a successful mining town in the middle of the wheat belt.  The injection of money was evident throughout the town but alas, the Boddington Hotel is another failure, although it did sell 50 lashes - that's the best they could do.

Common Bronzewing - this little critter whoop 
whoops all day as it breaths out.

2018-12-01

Dot - not like you Derek, you whoop whoop when you lease expect it???

For those of you that are uninitiated - "Boddingtons" is a great english beer brewed in Manchester, next to Strangeways prison.  Boddingtons has been my beer of choice for over 25 years. I always had a supply of it at Bulimba and often received a carton or two for my birthday.  Very much appreciated, and funny enough, the coffee shop sold cans of Boddingtons.

Bridge over Hotham River, Boddington

We are camped by the river between the weir and the highway bridge.  The bird life is in abundance.  It is quiet and peaceful and we have had a few days of warm sunshine which makes a difference.

Our mileage this week was 317 kms and our budget was $145 under. Things couldn't be sweeter.

Comments

Gill
2018-12-07

As always amazing photos

Week 506 - Kojonup, Western Australia

The last time we were in Albany (founded 1801) was back in 2012.  The weather was shocking and this time around it is no different.

We have had day time temperatures of 14 degrees (feels like 6 degrees) with gale force cold winds and to add to the excitement, throw in a few rain storms.  Not very nice.  So reluctantly we have started heading north to warmer climes.

Our base camp in Albany was at the rear of a funeral parlour.  The owner being a fellow motorhomer who just happened to be the manager of the Albany Rally back in 2015.  That event was also affected by bad weather.

Field of Light: Avenue of Honour - 
A homage to the Anzacs with 16 000 shining 
spheres, marking the last sight from home 
for 41 000 troops who departed from Albany for WW1. 
The lights are shining in the whites, yellows and greens 
of the wattle and the kowhai.

So in Albany we managed to do a few jobs around the bus and then set sail in a northerly direction to Mount Barker, just 50 kms up the road, an RV parking spot on solid ground.  More rain.

North was the direction of choice and we found another RV spot at Kojonup.  A disused railway yard at the end of the line.

The local government has landscaped the area and made the RV travellers very welcome.  We will be here for approximately three days and will do some excursions in our economical "toad".

Wool Wagon, Kojonup - 1.5 times replica wool wagon

Kojonup Railway Station 

We must add whilst we were in Albany we did a fair few excursions, exploring the coast and sightseeing with the other tourists including The Gap and Natural Bridge, the Wind Farm and the Brig Amity (1826).  I would be amiss not to visit the oldest pub in town, The Albany Hotel (1835).

The Brig Amity - Replica of the original vessel which 
brought the first white settlers to Albany 

Natural Bridge, Torndirrup National Park - 
All natural, converted by the raging Southern Ocean 

Bay of torquoise - Outstanding views of the 
Southern Ocean and the coast from Bald Head to 
West Cape Howe 

As we write, the sun is beginning to shine.  We can feel the warmth already.

Comments

Rick & Celia
2018-11-29

All your photos are great...enjoy looking at them all.

Week 505 - Mount Barker, Western Australia

It has been a relatively short week this week.  Not because our days have been shorter, but because our blog was delayed last week.

The highlight of our week was an expedition up to the Granite Skywalk at the Porongurup National Park.  Having Rusti the dog, we had to plan our trip down to the last minute.  Being a National Park, Rusti was not allowed in, however, we left her on the bus for 2-1/2 hours in the carpark on the edge of the National Park.  

Granite Skywalk - Jo does her Edmund 
Hilary look perched atop the Skywalk

Bus well ventilated, we headed off into the pristine bush, steadily climbing 2.2 km to reach a dizzying height of just over 2000 feet.  The climb was arduous, difficult and on uneven  ground.  At the 1 km mark, our muscles were beginning to ache, we were out of breath because we were out of condition.  We rested regularly and plodded on towards the summit.  The last 30 feet catered for mountain climbers, not elderly bush walkers. Jo was at a disadvantage because of her short legs and found the rock climbing very difficult.

The last 15 feet was up a fireman's ladder onto a delicately perched sight seeing platform.  The views were magnificent in all directions.  The structure balanced around the granite, was intriguingly clever.

Balancing Rock

Framed views - The Stirling Ranges can be 
seen in the distance through the granite rocks. 

Kauri Tree - Hundreds and possibly 
thousands of years old 

Our difficult climb was well rewarded.  My photographs on this trip were a bit ordinary, so we have included a 'Youtube video link' from the WA Parks and Wildlife website - (copy this URL and paste into your browser) https://youtube/63SgKkMoaOc

Plantagenet District Hall - 
camp spot was behind this building

On our return to the carpark, Rusti was rested and we were knackered.  Our next stop Albany.

Comments

Russ & Sandra
2018-11-17

Well done guys, just added it on our bucket list, maybe one day we'll get over there

Helen
2018-11-17

Great achievement but not sure about “elderly bushwalkers” You’re still in your prime! Looks like you were well rewarded for your efforts as the photos are excellent!

Week 504 - Tonebridge, Western Australia

We apologise for our blog being late this week, but we have been busy, busy, busy.
Eight days ago, our first stop was Herron Point, a very crowded popular campground, just south of Mandurah.  We were on our journey from Wandi to Bridgetown.

Our second stop, Peter and Judi's place just south of Bunbury.  We were made very welcome by these West Australian Highway Wanderers.

A camp spot through the looking glass - 
Fellow Highway Wanderers, Peter and Judi 
gave us a warm welcome at Bunbury on the 
way to the Blues at Bridgtown Festival.

Our third stop was a rendezvous with Maxine and Rob at Greenbushes.  We then convoyed to arrive at the Showgrounds at Bridgetown.  We were the first ones there and eventually became surrounded by hundreds of campers.

Greenbushes Cricket Pavilion - 
A lovely free camp spot 

The Bridgetown Blues - This is just one of the 
campgrounds at the Blue at Bridgetown Festival.

The Blues at Bridgetown Festival was full on.  There was half a dozen or so venues, all pumping out a mixture of bluesy, energetic rock music.  Some good, some absolutely excellent. The musicians were very talented and sometimes very entertaining with their antics on stage, of course, all musically based.  The music was loud and sometimes absolutely deafening.

Lest we forget! - We were honoured to be 
visitors at the Bridgetown Cenotaph. 
The proceedings were very emotional.

We volunteered at the ticket office for the first two days and had to juggle babysitting the dog as officially dogs were not allowed.  Rusti was well behaved and kept a low profile by not barking.

Electricity is the future - In our travels around 
South West Australia, we have come 
across several of these electric car chargers.

A message from the community of 23 - 
The rest area at Tonebridge on the Tone River, 
has been established and maintained 
since 1982 by the residents of Tonebridge. 
Population 23 (2016) 

We have now parted ways with our boozy festival comrades and headed south east to a very quiet, very pretty and very lonely (we are the only ones here) Tonebridge.

Comments

Maxine
2018-11-12

Haha You might have only gone into half a dozen or so but there were many more venues than that.
It was an awesome weekend Uber & thanks for enjoying it with us haha

Jan Mbl
2018-11-12

Sounds Great better than dealing with the HW Shit Fight

one stick 
2018-11-13

keep trying to leave comments but they never show so I'm trying again. Not a lot to say from here.
I actually have friends who live in Bridgetown, lovely little town, can't imagine it with music blaring out!
Let's see if this comment takes Cheers

Leigh
2018-11-13

Lucky you would love to have gone.

Week 503 - Wandi, Western Australia

Only short mileage this week - Marginiup to Wandi, just under 80 km. Enough to blow the fumes out of the gas pipe.

We are now with Steve and Louise, motorhome friends at Wandi.  We have stayed here before and we will be back for a park up at Christmas, when we catch up with the plump Max and the slim Rob (whoops! or is it the other way around).

T O R C U A T

As I've said we seem to know many people in this part of the world and must include Jigger,  Willem and Leigh, another long lunch.

Optus Stadium - Perth - We were fortunate 
enough to get a grand tour of the Optus Stadium. 

Part of the $1.16 billion Optus Stadium complex - 

The stadium was part of a major upgrade. 

The area now has pubs, restaurants, 

landscaping, playgrounds, BBQ areas

and bike tracks. 

The highlight this week, not taking anything away from our other activities, was a visit to the Optus Stadium and the Roar playing the Glory.

The Optus Stadium was being prepared for the Australia/South Africa One Day International.  So we did a tour of the $1.6 billion complex and were given an insight into the games played there.  The home team dressing room/complex is luxurious.  Carpets, bars, spas, ice pools etc etc.  

All visitors, no matter what code, are given a "down market" dressing room.  Just the basic facilities. There is no such thing as a level playing field.  When the teams run out onto the pitch, the home team is more relaxed, better prepared and most definitely well and truly looked after. ..............  Who should I complain to?

Perth City - A bird's eye view from Optus 

Australia vs South Africa - Jo oversees 
the preparation for the big One Day International. 

Saturday night the game was at the NIB Stadium, an establishment ready for the bulldozers.  And because of the unlevel playing field, the Roar lost 2-1, in a one sided match, orchestrated American style.  The game was interrupted by crowd prompting and loud music (only for the home team).

Selfie - Not one for Selfie's, but everyone 
else was doing it

Horror contemplating - Ready to go and see the 
Roar play Glory. 

So the stadium and the game, were another eye opener for an experienced football (not soccer) supporter. 

Rusti - bath time

Rusti and Jo are well, I put her in tub for a good scrub - she loves it.

Blue Eyes - A friendly guard dog

Comments

Thrush

2018-11-04

Im off to Spain next week, so I’m a little less jealous looking at your photos than normally.

Bill....

2018-11-04

"GET ME OUTA HERE!!!....Rusti

maureen muller

2018-11-17

Is this where you are having Hw Christmas Party? hope you are as wel l as you look.xxx