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.