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.

Day 162: Ningaloo Lighthouse Caravan Park

This is one of the many turtles we have been swimming with @ Mauritius Beach Ningaloo Reef Exmouth.
Below is a pair of turtles mating, how does he hold on so long?

I have finally sorted out the problem with uploading our photos and why it was taking so long, when you start a new blog there is 1Gb of storage for photos included free and when that is full it won't let you upload any more (but they don't give you any indication that you have reached your limit you have to work that out for yourself and we all know I'm not the most literate when it comes to computers) until you pay for more space, which I have done so now it should be a lot easier.

I'll send more tomorrow after the increase in data goes through.
Bye for now

day 160: Exmouth - Ningaloo

Back again, our travelling took us into Onslow where we stayed 2 nights and it was just as well as the battery on the car failed and we needed the power to charge it, all's well.  There isn't a lot to do in Onslow but it is a pretty little town although I'm not sure for how much longer as more mines pop up around the area.
The next 5 photos are from the remembrance park, dedicated to those who lost their lives during wars or the sea.  It is on a picturesque point with a rotunda to sit in and contemplate all that you have a mind to.

This is the conveyor belt that takes the salt mined in the area out to waiting ships

This is some of the ant mound just outside of Onslow     

We have been in Exmouth for 4 days now and it is a great spot albeit a little on the windy side, I guess that keeps the temperature comfortable for with out it it is hot.  Our stay here was originally for 2 days but we are still having trouble with the batteries going flat and as this will stop us from free camping Nev thought we should buy new ones so it is an extra 5 days we will spend in paradise waiting for the new batteries to arrive as the auto electrician will not order them until Tuesday.
Exmouth is situated on the east side of the Cape Ranges National Park which includes Ningaloo Reef conservation area which is a great spot to snorkel and see the reef, not as colourful as the Great Barrier Reef but it has some amazing wildlife.  we went swimming yesterday and swam with a small turtle and today we went to Mauritius Beach and there were a lot of turtles swimming and mating so close to the edge of the water it was amazing.  This beach is a clothing optional so we had a great swim.


Mum or Dad out for a walk with the kids



 This is Sandy Bay in the Cape Ranges National Park where we went for a swim the water was so warm, it was like a bath and the entertainment of the parrasailers was great, you would have to have good arm & leg muscles.                                                                                                                                                                       

This is a view of the Lighthouse caravan park where we are staying. Can you pick our van? The photo was taken from the lighthouse lookout.

                                                        The Ningaloo Lighthouse




                                                              Sunset over Ningaloo Reef.

That's all for today because it is taking too long for the photos to upload and it's time for bed so stay well until I send more news.

Day 155: Robe River Rest Area

Hi All, we have left Indee Station today after 7 weeks of helping out, it was a great experience and we'd both go back someday.  We were cleaning the ammenities, making beds and cleaning the dongas helping with the meals for the men that were staying on the property, Nev was also keeping the generators running for the power and any other job Colin could think of including changing tyres on rims, fixing windmills and watering the gardens and trees.
We met some really nice people and some strange, one couple came in to stay in the camp area and they are travelling around the world on the back of a motorcycle which the guy has built a canopy for and they have all their gear stowed in every possible place on the bike, there was no wasted space.  Another couple are travelling around Australia and supporting themselves with coin detector that theyuse on parks, reserves, football fields, rodeo grounds and basiclly anywhere people congregate, they have found enough in the first 4 months to pay for the unit ($1400.00) pay their rego & insurance and for repairs to their vehicle ($2000.00) not to mention how much jewellery and watches they have found, not bad for a couple of pensioners.
One of the jobs I had @ Indee was to hand feed a couple of calves, I named the Matty & Sammy, there is also a donkey called wonkey donkey and an unknown number of geese & ducks.

                                                 Matty & Sammy

Mama goose and her 3 goslings

Wonkey was given to Colin & Betty as a wedding present as they already had every thing they needed














                          The following photos are some of the landscape & Sunsets @ Indee Station.

Thats all for tonight as I'm getting tired, hopefully we will have signal again tomorrow and I'll be able to continue our travelling history.