Day 250: Hovea WA

Good morning All, we have moved onto Hovea WA which is in the hills area to the east of Perth, it's a lovely quiet situation amongst Australian native trees, lots of shade and just the right amount of sun and the nicest pool I've seen for ages.

The photos below are from the gardens @ Basildene Manor where we stayed over Christmas, I thought you might like to have a look at.

We haven't been anywhere recently so I will post a few more older photos of places we have been, however this will do for today.

Stay well and keep smiling.

Day 241: Margaret River

Good morning everyone that's following our journey.  Today is a little wet but no where as wet as on the East coast, you guys must have web feet by now.
We've had a fairly quite time for the last month sitting out the school holidays in Margaret River but we have managed to see a lot of the south west area from Bunbury to Cape Leeuwin along the coast and east to Collie down to Windy Harbour south of Manjimup, we have had all ranges of temperature from cool 20 degrees to hot 38's.  This is a lovelly area, peaceful and beautiful with scenery from oceans - vinyards - farms - forrests.  They have the second tallest trees in Australia growing around Pemberton, the Karri tree.  Nev climbed the Gloucester tree the other day, it is 65 mtrs tall and the steps to climb the tree are 1inch steel rods bashed into the tree. photos following.

 These photos were taken while Melissa was visiting over Christmas,
We had gone for a drive to Augusta and Cape Leewin and the top 2 photos were at a rest area overlooking the Southern Ocean on the way to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.

The cow was part of an exhibition around Western Australia in 2010, I think there was something like 200 cow statues in  different positions and designs, this one is a pirate with sword, parrot and rings in it's ear & nose.

Melissa & Nev are reading about the lighthouse and the view from the top of the lighthouse which Nev & I climbed, all 370 steps to the top, amazing sights from the top and the camera batteries died, what can I say.

The following photos are of Basildene Manor where we stayed for Christmas, it is a 100yr old home originally built as a residence with 4 bedrooms upstairs then it was sold and turned into a motel and another 13 rooms added on, now it is part of the ACCOR group and has recently been refurbished, it is an elegant place to stay and the grounds were tranquil & picturesque. We had a great stay even when the peace was shattered when one of their guest arrived in his own helicopter and landed on the grounds near our rooms.

Nev climbing the Gloucester Karri tree in Pemberton WA.  These trees were used for fire spotting from 1937 to 1992 maybe I'm not sure on the finish date but it was around that time, the fire spotters used to climb the tree every day and stay up there until dark looking for fires they would then radio the position through to headquarters, this was at the peak logging period of the area.

Day 239: Margaret River

Hi there everyone, we haven't fallen off the earth but I have been so frustrated with this blog site that I was ready to throw it away, you wouldn't believe how long it takes to download these beautiful photos.  That's enough of me winging.

We are still in Margaret River however we should be moving on this week, not sure where we are going but will let you know.

This photo is taken at a place called gnomesville near Lowden WA. It started as a small memorial on a roundabout to a ladies husband that died in the area and is now grown so much that bus tours have added to there itinery.

People travel from all over the country and the world have a look one day then come back another day and add a gnome or 2 to the collection, it's been going on for quite some time.

This photo is where Moore River meets the Indian Ocean at Guilderton, it only opens with a really high tide

This is one of the two rocks at Yanchep WA

Rainbow over Wellington Dam WA

                                                                                   

Looking down onto the rocks near Prevelly Beach WA

Part of the burnt out area near Prevelly Beach, happened just before Christmas.

The car park at the beach, the fire wiped out a lot of houses.

Thats all for today, stay well and keep smiling

Day 201: Margaret River

We're back online with so many photos to show, after leaving Ningaloo we travelled to Carnarvon where we spent a week doing very little.  We did meet a group of Tongan fruit pickers that were brought in for the fruit picking, grapes, bananas and what ever else they grow there and they were quite generous and gave us about 3kgs of fresh grapes and where they nice, the best I've had for some time.

 These 2 photos are of Moore River at the bridge where we spent 2 nights free camping, it was so peaceful I wanted to stay longer.

These Alpacas and sheep are just a few of the animals at Willowbrook

Park (near Gingin WA) that are handfed, we stayed 2 and a bit weeks here, it is a smaller quiet farm stay and the hosts a the friendliest people we have met for some time. They have happy hour & BBQ Friday nights and Sunday is morning tea with homemade scones, local made jam & cream, very nice.  During our stay at Willowbrook we visited places like Bindoon, New Norcia and the Swan Valley (wineries, nougat factories and great views).

This is another example of the wildlife out in this beautiful country of ours.

The 3 photos above were taken in New Norcia which is a Fransican Monestry town run by Fransican Monks almost the same as it was when first established in the late19th century.  The paintings on the walls of the chapels and other place were painted by one of the monks during his 7 year stay, I think he painted in his sleep, and the wood work was hand crafted (without all the tools that make it easier today) and gold embosed in the early 20th century. They are still in remarkable condition considering the age of the work.  If you ever get the opportunity to visit New Norcia I strongly recommend it, I was in awe of the town and they make a really nice port and woodfired bread.

 Thats all for today hopefully it won't take so long to bring you upto date next time but it takes so long to download the photos and I want you all to see as much as us.

We hope you all had a great Christmas and have a joyous & prosperous New Year.

Love to all.

Day 167: Carnarvon

                                                                    Mauritius Beach

                                                                         more turtles

We left Ningaloo (Exmouth) last Thursday and arrived in Carnarvon Thursday afternoon and the wind hasn't stopped blowing although if it wasn't blowing it would be very hot.
Today we headed back north to Quobba Station and Blowholes, it is an amazing coastline that has little simming available but the view was spectacular, there is also the memorial monument to HMAS Sydney which was sunk on the 19th November 1941 off the coast by a German ship, 645 sailors were killed which was the entire crew with only 80 on the German ship.

 The Blowhole

Some of the fish in the the best free aquarium

               A turtle in the rough water at the blowhole

The HMAS Memorial Cairn

A wind eroded rock near the HMAS Sydney Memorial

this is the view we had whilst having lunch somewhere on Quobba Station.

That's all for today, until we do something more take care.