This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 2004 Travels


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2004 Travels June 3

THURSDAY 3 JUNE     PERTH

Mid morning, left to drive north to Yanchep National Park, only some 30kms away. Our plan was to do some walking there and find a pleasant place to eat our sandwich lunch.

Yanchep National Park was not quite what I was expecting. It was much more developed than a National Park should be! However, we were able to walk around the main lake – improbably called Loch McNess! This walk of nearly 3kms took us into the expected bushland and was enjoyable, even if there was no real sense of being away from it all. Had our sandwiches sitting in the more groomed park area.

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In Yanchep National Park

Refuelled Truck at Yanchep – $1 per litre.

On the drive back, bought some fruit and vegies from roadside stalls. Then stopped off at Joondalup and did a grocery shop.

John’s ear was really no better. The Busselton doctor had said it could take a couple of weeks to fix. He had been taking the anti-biotics prescribed.

I wondered about the origins of the apparent string of fresh water lakes that seemed to parallel the coast through Perth’s northern suburbs and further – were they related to coastal dune formation, or the product of a high water table, or impervious soils, or what?


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2004 Travels June 2

WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE     PERTH

Pottered about through much of the morning, then set out to go to lunch with the parents-in-law at their home at Sorrento. It wasn’t far for us to drive. Stopped on the way and bought flowers and a nice Brown Brothers red wine.

We had a very pleasant time there, at L and F’s. They have great views from their place – across to Rottnest Island and can see south along the coast to Fremantle. It must look wonderful at night.

Mid-afternoon, made our farewells. Drove along the coast to the new Hillarys Marina, that F had mentioned. Parked and walked around there, looking at some very expensive boats.

Completed a round about drive through that part of the northern suburbs, following the coast up to Mullaloo, then across to Beldon and then back on the freeway to Balcatta. Stopped off at the shopping centre to collect my photos. I also bought an album to put them in.

Went for a short walk around the back part of the caravan park.


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2004 Travels June 1

TUESDAY 1 JUNE   BUSSELTON TO PERTH   240kms

Today was the first day of winter. It was definitely time to be leaving the southern parts of WA well behind us!

Pack up was efficient and we were on the road in good time. The drive to Perth, through Bunbury and Mandurah, was routine. With more time I’d have liked to have stayed at Bunbury and explored out from there.

There was a prodigious amount of development taking place, south of Perth, especially around Mandurah.

I have never liked navigating through large cities so was not looking forward to traversing Perth. My recollection was of a somewhat confusing set of multiple lanes, where it was hard to find the correct one. But it all turned out to be very straightforward. There were a couple of places where we had to change lanes, but the traffic was not heavy, so this was no drama.

I loved where the Perth trains run down the central part of the freeways and main roads – where a median strip would normally be. Melbourne should have adopted that idea, years ago.

We went to Karrinyup Waters Caravan park – another Top Tourist – in the northern suburbs, because the description made it sound nice.  And so it proved, located beside some small natural lakes. After discount, was $22.50 a night.

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Lake at Karrinyup Waters Caravan Park

We only planned a few nights here – the main purpose was to visit John’s daughter’s parents-in-law.

Because of the lakes, there were plentiful water fowl around. They were interesting to watch – but one had to look where they were walking! At the back of the park, the tent camping area was around two small lakes – very pretty and pleasant to walk around there.

After setting up, we walked to the nearest large shopping centre, the Karrinyup Shopping Centre. It felt a lot further than it looked on my map! Bought a few food items – mindful of the fact of carrying same back, and put my photos in for processing. Then it was the long walk back.

Phoned the parents of John’s son in law and arranged to go to lunch there tomorrow.

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2004 Travels May 31

MONDAY 31 MAY     BUSSELTON

I was “owed” another day of exploring the area, after my bowls participation on Saturday, and was determined to ensure it happened.

So we set out driving to explore Cape Naturaliste and the northern part of the Capes region, having visited the southern portion on Thursday.

At least, it was a much better weather day.

The drive of about 30kms, along the coast to Cape Naturaliste, was pleasant, through the growing township of Dunsborough too.

Here was another lighthouse, where we had to park and walk up to look at the structure, on its headland. It was just a white lighthouse – nothing really special.

We did a one hour walk around the lighthouse area. The track went through bushland, well up above the sea.

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There were some great views along the coastline from various vantage points. Walking through the coastal scrub was very enjoyable, especially where wild flowers occurred.

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After completing the walk, we drove back to Dunsborough, then turned south on Caves road, intending to explore features of interest down as far as Margaret River, and thus complete what we’d started on Thursday.

Yallingup Beach was our first stop, where we sat and watched surfers there, for a while.

Then we realized we had yet another bloody flat tyre! Number 5. There had to be something more going on than just the effects of the Fowlers Bay effort. Changed the wheel, then aborted our plans for the rest of the day and drove back to Busselton to get yet another new tube and flat wheel repair.

As a result, we had a very late lunch. I’d been going to buy this on our drive, somewhere, but there were no shops near the tyre repair place. By the time that was done, had to settle for plain bread from a bakery in town.

There was not enough of the afternoon left to resume our sightseeing, so went back to the van. John whiled away his time there, while I went for a walk along the sea front.

Had collected the mail this morning. Nothing of note in the bag.

Bussellton was a lovely place and definitely worth spending more time at. I felt we had hardly scratched the surface of the area. The week here had been a frustrating one.


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2004 Travels May 30

SUNDAY 30 MAY     BUSSELTON

It was a really wet and windy day.

For the sake of getting out of the van, we drove to look at the sea pounding in along the Geographe Bay sea front. Then drove along as far as the wharf.

This jetty was quite a structure, and had an interesting history. It was originally intended to be less than 200 metres long, but due to sand drifts in Geographe Bay, kept being added to, over the years, until it reached 1.8kms! It was the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere – there certainly was no shortage of good pile timber nearby!

The jetty’s use for shipping ended in 1972, after which it deteriorated until threatened with demolition. But some locals were determined to save it and transform it into a viable tourist attraction. It was repaired, a little train began to run out to the end of the jetty, and an under water observatory was planned for out at the end. A fire in 1999 – possibly from a cigarette butt – was a setback, but it was repaired, and the under water observatory opened at the end of last year.

With that history, I really wanted to walk out along the jetty and visit the Observatory. But today was not a good weather day to do so, and John was not feeling like it, so we just drove back to the van.

Passed the rest of the day by reading and sewing. John played on the computer.


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2004 Travels May 29

SATURDAY 29 MAY     BUSSELTON

After breakfast, drove to the shops and bought the much needed groceries. Also refuelled – $1 a litre.

After an early lunch we were off to bowls, where John had booked us in to play pairs, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the idea. We played in separate teams and the one I was in lost both games. I did not enjoy it.

John was happier with his game but his team was not placed.

I could think of so many better ways we could have filled the day!


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2004 Travels May 28

FRIDAY 28 MAY     BUSSELLTON

I set the alarm for 8am so we could go to the caravan park’s pancake breakfast at 9am. But when it went off, John was reluctant to get up and not feeling keen on either pancakes or socializing. So I went and did the washing instead!

We eventually headed off to do various shopping type tasks. But John suddenly started getting really strange noises in an ear, so we went to the hospital. They were busy and said to go back in an hour.

Went to two tyre places. At the second, were able to source a good Michelin tube. Having it fitted took a while.

Then it was back to the hospital, which was still busy, so John hunted up a private doctor and got an appointment for 11.45. This did not leave us enough time to do the food shop I’d planned. Went to the Library to pick up the books I was now entitled to. This detour was obviously a hassle for John, who was being very grumpy and made comments to that effect. So, in the end, I simply collected back the deposit money I’d previously paid and did not borrow anything. John was often intolerant about my buying or borrowing books, not being much of a reader himself.

Got to the doctor in plenty of time, then had to wait for ages. The diagnosis was a blocked Eustachian Tube. John was to try pseudo-ephedrine, and if that didn’t work, an antibiotic.

We just had time to dash to some shops to get John’s medicine and some bread for lunch, before rushing back to the van for lunch and for John to go off to afternoon bowls.

It was really a rather wasted and boring morning. Because of having no time to shop, we were out of milk for my morning coffee and cereal for John’s breakfast. Didn’t get to the Post Office either, which we’d intended, so would have to wait until Monday to collect our mail.

To add to my woes, it was raining heavily by the time we got back to the van, so I spent some of the afternoon putting my washing through the dryer – cost me $7.

The rain eventually stopped and I went for a walk for an hour, then sewed.

John was pleased with how he bowled, but did not win anything. Despite the ear, his day had been better than mine.

It had been cold at nights here, but not as cold and damp feeling as Pemberton had been.


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2004 Travels May 27

THURSDAY 27 MAY     BUSSELTON

Today it was my turn to set the agenda! It would be a driving and sight seeing day.

Took the main road south, to Margaret River, where we stopped at the cheese factory and sampled and bought some of its produce.

Continued on south to Augusta and then Cape Leeuwin, with its lighthouse.

The area was really scenic and attractive. Augusta, we thought, would be a good place to stay for a while – fairly quiet, very pretty. The quite large Blackwood River empties into Flinders Bay here, so there were both sea and river estuary environments.

At the Lighthouse, we had to park, pay an entry fee, and then walk up a road to the Lighthouse precinct, which included several buildings. The Lighthouse was the tallest in WA, and the third tallest in Australia. It stood in white contrast at the end of the precinct. Having a browse around the whole place was worth the entry money – and the uphill walk!

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Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse – from a post card

At Cape Leeuwin, the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. A sign board indicated this.

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Back in Augusta, took the Caves Road, which tracked closer to the coast than the highway. As the name suggested, there were a number of caves through this area. We were not tempted to visit any of these, excellent though some were meant to be.

Our first side track was to the coast at Hamelin Bay. This was another really scenic place, with beach, picturesque jetty remains, a view to a little offshore island. Today, it was all enhanced by some really spectacular cloud formations. This was another place I noted for a future stay.

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Hamelin Island

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Hamelin Bay was named for a French explorer – Hamelin – who visited here about 1801. His name is also used much further north, at Hamelin Pool and Telegraph Station,  where daughter worked on her long road trip in 1998. Though the Telegraph Station came well after Hamelin!

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After Hamelin Bay, Caves Road traversed some very pleasant forested country of the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park.

We’d seen the Boranup Wood Gallery advertised – exactly the featured wood furniture that interested us, so made a point of visiting that. Truly inspirational – wood furniture elevated to art form.

At the Gallery, yet another tyre went flat. The count was now up to four since Fowlers Bay. What had we done to deserve this! At least, we were getting very skilled at changing wheels.

The only other side track we had time for was to Redgate Bay, where the sea swell was mighty.

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Redgate Bay

Cut back to the Bussell Highway at Margaret River. We got back to camp just before dark, after a long but enjoyable day of exploring.

Had a text from daughter saying grandson was doing well.


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2004 Travels May 26

WEDNESDAY 26 MAY     BUSSELTON

We drove to the main part of town in the morning, and to the Bowls Club, where John booked himself in to play this afternoon.

Then we rushed to the Library, so I could try to get some books to read whilst John was bowling, and because being here for a week allowed me time to borrow from a library. The staff I encountered were petty bureaucrats: I had to pay $20 to borrow two fiction books – BUT was not allowed to actually get them until tomorrow. Unreal! I joined John up too – that way I would have four books, which should see me through the week, without having to make another library visit.

I had an upsetting text during the morning. Daughter had left my little grandson with his father for a visit, whilst she went off to Bendigo to visit a friend. The toddler had caught his finger in the porta-cot, as his father was putting it up. The finger was cut to the bone and the child was in hospital for surgery. Daughter had almost reached Bendigo when she heard, but turned around and drove back to Melbourne.

After early lunch, John went off to bowls. I walked for nearly two hours – there were very good walk/bike paths along the foreshore here.

John enjoyed his bowls. I enjoyed my walk, even though I was worried about grandson, and cross again with my daughter.

She texted about 10pm to say grandson was through the operation and was alright. The last joint of the forefinger may grow permanently crooked, though.


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2004 Travels May 25

TUESDAY 25 MAY     PEMBERTON TO BUSSELTON   140kms

Pack up was fairly fast. Refuelled – $1.12cpl.

Went back to Peter’s gallery and confirmed our order for a small Temple. I was sure he thought he’d seen the last of us yesterday, and maybe regretted spending so much time on us. But all was rewarded. He was going to make it in a deeper colour than the broken small one he had showed us. The light through it then might be more like that through the big version.

He showed us his personal, reserved, Windswept #1, which was more blue than the ones on display, but appeared more three dimensional through it. Absolutely magnificent – but one of those would take more than a season’s work to pay for!

I wrote a deposit cheque for half the price and signed a purchase agreement. He gave us one of the books written about his work and gallery. Our Temple would not be completed and shipped until we were home again at the end of September.

Then we left Pemberton – happy to depart what had seemed such a dark and gloomy area in the forest – and headed to Nannup, with its timber mill that John had been told about.

At the mill, John went inspecting. He was very impressed with the quality of the jarrah timber he saw there, and its price. He bought a pack of jarrah – about $650 worth. It would be shipped to a place in Kilsyth and held there for final delivery to us, later in the year.

We had certainly contributed well to the economy of this corner of WA! Lord knows how much income we could have disposed of, had we stayed longer than two nights!

And so, on to Busselton. The driving was much easier than it had been on the way to Pemberton.

We booked into the Top Tourist Mandalay Holiday Resort for a week. After discount, $22.50 a night. It seemed a lovely park. The plan was to use the time to explore this SW corner of the state.

It was dark by the time we set up the van.

Had to do a rush trip to buy salad makings for tea, as fresh produce was just about out. Found that the supermarkets here closed at 6pm. Damn. Note to self: try – hard – to avoid looking for shops in a strange town, after dark.

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