Week 511 - Quindanning, Western Australia

Our blog comes to you from the last week of 2018.

We have now completed a little more than 10 years on the road, but it seems like yesterday that we left Bushy's place at Chandler to start our travels.  Everyday is an adventure with a bonus of our lovely Shitzu, Rusti.

The Swan River viewed from Melville

We have now completed our visit to Perth and caught up with some wonderful people including Red Light, our old friends Ivan and Del from Kelmscott, fellow travellers Rob and Maxine, Will and Leigh, Steve and Louise, Phil and Connie to name a few.

A couple of vintage hot rods - 
We were lucky enough to do a tour 
around the south of Perth in these
 vintage vehicles.

See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil, think no evil - 
A sad day in our world of travelling.  
We will not see these folks on the road again.  
We have enjoyed their company immensely 
and await an invitation to the "house warming" 
at their penthouse on the 14th floor overlooking 
Fremantle and Perth.

Horror, Wanger and Red Light

Spaghetti Highways - the highways and biways
 of Perth are a pot of spaghetti.  
Miss one turn off and you are stuffed!!

Perth city pictured from Kings Park

Since our last visit to Perth, the roads, the roundabouts and freeways have changed quite a bit. Perth is growing up!! Some of our haunts of 2011-12, were were unrecognisable. Things have changed and we were not so comfortable in our surroundings.

Vintage 1928 - and it ran like clockwork.

St Bonaface Church, Quindanning - 

this church was built one year after I was born.

Our initial departure took us back to Boddington. The place was packed and we were 
uncomfortable, so after a couple of hours we decided to push on to one of our favourite 
pubs, Quindanning Hotel.

A couple of pints of Little Creatures Rogers and I managed to clear my head and plan 

our migration from Western Australia to the East.

We wish you a Happy New Year from our motorhome (On On Home). Jo, Horror and Rusti.

Week 510 - Wandi, Western Australia

We apologise for the lack of  any blogs for the last couple of weeks.

Our last few days on the road, as such, were at Jarrahdale.  A convenient concrete slab in the middle of the forest with dump point and free running water.  This was just 25 km from Armadale on the outskirts of Perth.  Although so close to our final destination, we enjoyed three days exploring and were made welcome by the small population of locals.

Last Drop Brewery, Elizabethan Village - 
The Last Drop Bewery now owners of 
the Elizabethan.  We were disappointed when 
we revisited the Elizabethan Hotel.  
Alas, Horror only had one beer.

Pressing on to our Christmas destination at Wandi, Steve, Louise and BJ have a comfortable 5 acres of land on the edge of the city, yet still in the country side with enough room to park  20 or so motorhomes easily.

Koala  Country

Airstream - Steve and Louise's motorhome

On the Sunday we had a Highway Wanderers, WA chapter get together of 16 people.  Quite remarkable when you consider that Western Australia is on the other side of the world. 

Highway Wanderers, WA Style L-R - Peter, Judi, 
(dog - Rufus) Horror, David, Rob,
 Lynne, Maxine, Ronita, Rob, 
Leigh (dog - Jigger), Jo, (dog - Rusti), 
Willem, Connie, Phil, Louise and Steve

It was a good catch up and I believe a good time was had by all.

Wandi is a convenient location, just across the road is acres of parkland for Rusti the dog to chase balls and socialise with her mates and we have had many an early morning stroll in the parklands.

The proximity of our campsite has several shopping centres just a stone's throw away and with Rockingham just a few km's away.  So Jo was in her element with shopping and getting ready for Christmas.

Hold tight, fares please!!

Our plans are to depart Wandi on 28 December, head south to Esperance and then cross the Nullabor.  Our adventures continue.  

We enjoy sending you our blogs and look forward to your comments.  It's the best way that we can keep in touch with you all.

Xmas festivities

We wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a very happy new year.  We hope that all your wishes come true.

Comments

Lynne and David Hateley-James
2018-12-24

have a great day tomorrow we will wave on the way thru

Graham
2018-12-24

Merry Christmas. Have a nice day.Always good to read about your travels

Lesley & Bill... Best Wishes for
2018-12-25

Derek must be a bit sick... the top is still on the stubbie!

Jennine & Graham
2018-12-25

Merry Christmas Kids. Play HARD. The big red bus is about all Horror should derive lol. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Safe travels back East, and look forward to catching up in Casino. Cheers Kids

Lizzie Mellick
2018-12-25

Merry Christmas to you both and I hope 2019 is a wonderful year.

Week 508 to 509 - Pinjarra, Western Australia

Last week we departed Boddington and crept just a few miles up the road to Pinjarra on the Murray River, WA.

Boddington - another town hidden in the 
forests, south east of Perth.
The heritage of these bridges is a 
legacy to the timber cutters.

Black Beauty - The horse is kept in 
a paddock next to the pub,
obviously been drinking far too much beer.

dot
2018-12-08

Derek, Black Beauty was a girl not a boy :) (bet you are jealous) :)

Mandurah -  is a concrete jungle of coffee shops,
 bridges, canals and roundabouts. It seems to have lost its
identity as a seaside town.

Cormorant - The wildlife take advantage 
of a concrete pylon for safety.

Murray River, Pinjarra - the weir, the bridge

 and the water make a tranquil setting

Anglican Church, Pinjarra - A picturesque

 church on the Murray River (WA)

We put the facilities of this camp to good use. We thoroughly cleaned the bus getting rid of all the dust from the dirt roads that we were forced to travel on last week and did a few repair jobs. We made several excursions into Mandurah and on one occasion caught up with Leigh, Will and Jigger and wined and dined at the Dome franchise situated on the man made canals of Mandurah.

Iron Horses - A steam engine and an early diesel share the
graveyard at Pinjarra Railway siding.

Trans WA - A modern diesel plies the track between
Perth and Bunbury.

Jo knitting - Jo has always got a project on the go. 

Here she is cutting out material for her handbags.

Pinjarra is a convenient campground close to shops with an easy scenic walk to the township. However, it is only a 24 hour stopover. Not enough time to swing a bat. Alas, we headed onto a Member stopover near Mandurah.

Another quiet stop surrounded by suburbia bushlands. Our hosts Doug and Anne made us most welcome.

The Thursday departure brought us back to pretty Pinjarra for an overnighter and dump point before we move on to Jarrahdale.

Comments

Gill
2018-12-07

As always amazing photos