October 22, 2014

From Jurien Bay to Cervantes and the Pinnacles, very interesting drive through the pinnacle desert.

Then back to Cervantes and over the Cervantes Rd and down to Bagingingarra Roadhouse and to Moora and the to New Norcia a town owned completely by the Benedictine Monks. Had dinner at the hotel bar, very good all locally made.  Had breakfast here again and the went for a two hour walking tour through the the town and the museum. Had lunch and then was off to Northam.  Drove through wheat, barley, canola and lupin fields, flocks of sheep. This area is referred to the wheat belt.

Through Calingiri and Bolgart all small towns- pop. 250 to about 4000 in most small rural towns but are interesting.

Note- the Monks own a large area around New Norcia, have 7000 sheep and cattle and grow wheat,barley, canola and lupins. they hire 40 people to help run the museum, hotel, gas station, store, cafe and cattle and sheep station.  They have their own backers here and make very good bread but you can only by the bread made by the monks at New Norcia.

October 24, 2014.

Northam, lady at caravan park gave  a dozen fresh eggs, she has chickens. After breakfast we were off to the town to view some of he historical buildings and walk the suspension bridge over the Avon river the out of town via the scenic drive.

Drove through Spencer's Brook to York and the to Beverley where I posted a couple parcels  and the on to Brookton,Pengelly, Cuballing,Narrogin and finally Williams where we stayed for the night. there were all very small town about 20 to 30 Km apart all farming communities . Very nice caravan park her but only one other caravan here as it is getting to the end of tourist season and some of the attractions are closed.

October 25, 2014

Bunbury, camped near the beach Big 4 Park , very nice.

Got wifi fixed so now I can do my blog, meet some very nice people from Holland. Did a walk about the breach area and the town walks. 

October 26, 2014 

Seniors show, the RAN Band was playing and sat and listened ,very enjoyable. Also went to a antiques sale and show, but did not buy anything. Afternoon walks around sea trails and up town.

October 27, 2014

From Bunbury to Bustleltone - walked the jetty 2.2 Km  return. Nothing much in town to see so on to Dunborough and out to go whale watching, saw whales but they did not do any breaching, finning or tail waving, but was great to see them in their natural environment. 

staying in Yallingup.

October 28, 2014.

back to Dunsbourgh and out to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and the 7 Km walk around the cape. You can see whales from here but they are too far out for photos. The Cape walk takes you along the rugged cliffs above the Indian Ocean.  Down the road to Gabriel Chocolates for a taste and then bought some chocolate, very good. Then on to the Margaret River grain and nut factory another chocolate factory and finally visited Australia,s only silk worm farm- very interesting but they send their silk to Cambodia to be processed and then returned to Australia and their product is very expensive.

Also went to a wine and nougat shop - very good nougat , wine so so .

Staying at Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park  - Hamelin Bay.

Had first ever damper made by Sharon and cooked by Cyril a lovely couple who were camped next to is and invited us over.  Very enjoyable evening.

October 29, 2014

Left camp late after having coffee with Sharon and Cyril , drove down to Hamlin Bay - walked the board walk to the line stone cliffs that overlook the bay, the on to Augusta and Cape Leeuwin lighthouse and a tour around.  This is where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

Then back to Kerridale, Nannup and have stopped just before Bridgetown stopped at a farm stay on a working farm. Besides cattle, a few sheep they grow blue guns and Linus radiate as a future cash crop.

October 30,2014

Farm stay great, very nice owners Maranup Ford Farm Stay.

Beautiful gardens and lots of birds. Left farm and stopped at Kandalee Gardens one of the gardens in the festival of country gardens tour. Very beautiful.

To greens bushes and a look at the open pit mine, and finally Bridgetown a quaint country village which appears to be the centre of the garden tours. Did a walk about town the on to Manjimup where we went to the forest history park, this area has been a logging area for years.

Rained this evening - cold would love some of the warm from the north.

October 31, 2014

One of those days when nothing is what it is said to be, no orchids on the orchid walk, no signage for the park we wanted to stay at and the other national park was closed, so staying at Pemberton, going out for dinner and tomorrow will be a better day.