Day 22 (1 June) – Denmark (No rain but a cloudy day – another 19o in Denmark)
We did some country touring this morning. Our first stop was the extreme end of our planned touring – Pleasant Bay. The weather was pretty rough and we decided not to drive onto the beach, unlike a number of other people. A quick look around then we headed back along the way we’d come to visit some of the places we’d seen on the way out.
The next stop was at the Good Food Factory. What an amazing place! They make their own chocolates, toffees, preserves, sauces and spirits. I had a giant salted butterscotch ice-cream, fortunately they talked me out of getting the ‘piggy’ size. Lyn bought a number of items and I bought an oaken whisky.
Next, back towards Denmark where we stopped at Bartholemew’s Meadery. Not quite as brilliant as the Good Food Factory. We had been spoilt on Kangaroo Island with the bee shop there.
We drove past McLeod road (the entry to the Summit Rd.) and went to the Denmark Chocolate Company. Great looking items but I think we’d done enough in the Good Food Factory.
Then back up the highway and inland along McLeod Rd and then the Summit Road. It was clay based so we used 4WD in the Jimny. We went to the Summit Rd. lookout and were fairly disappointed – not a great view and with a new house going up on the top of the hill above and partially blocking the view.
We then travelled to the Lake House where we had the largest platter for two. So much on the platter that we had to get a plastic container and had the remainder for dinner.
We continued along the Summit Road then through town and back to the motorhome where I watched a very disappointing Demons capitulate to the Saints – shocking goal kicking!!! 7 goals and 21 points!
As there was still a bit of light, we later headed back up the highway to Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool. We couldn’t believe there were kids swimming in the ocean pool with the sun setting. It was a great sight though.
Dinner? in the motorhome – actually we couldn’t eat much after the enormous platter for lunch and just nibbled on the leftovers.
Day 23 (2 June) – Denmark to Margaret River (RAC Margaret River Nature Park) (A fair bit of rain along the way up to 22o towards Margaret River – 335Km)
We had travelled along this way the previous day and headed to the Valley of the Giants just before the Pleasant Bay turnoff. It is a swaying tree top walk through the Kauri and Tindal trees native to the area. We had done this many years before when we visited my best mate, Phil. And, after a brief circuit of the tree tops, we took a walk around the ground level section of the area.
A fairly challenging drive in the rain on towards Denmark. The lights on the Jimny caused problems and I had to stop and reconnect the 7-pin plug at the Jimny end. I think we are finally tracking down the cause of the intermitent electrical problem that has plagued us for months.
Arriving in the Margaret River Nature Park, we were given a selection of sites – we prefer sites that are open above so that we get better Starlink reception. We chose one, told Michelle (the Park receptionist) and then settled in. After setting up, we went into the Margaret River town – an interesting place – where we visited the Visitor Centre where we were given maps of the area and local towns and then walked up and down the main street. I saw a fascinating sign on the Oumplings shop or was it the Dumplings shop? Have a look at the picture and let me know.
We were too early for dinner so Lyn revisted the Visitor Centre while I made reservations at La Scarpetta. I saw on the menu a local fish of the day and prawn pasta dish and ordered it. Unfortunately (for me) it had masses of tomatoes and the seafood wasn’t to my taste. Very few prawns and although the meal may have suited others, I found it hard to finish. Lyn’s Barramundi wasn’t great also – I think it was too far from Northern Australia.
Day 24 (3 June) – Margaret River (WOW! What a night thunderstorms, torrential rain that continued on and off for the day – up to 22o in the area though)
So, overnight we had torrential rain, thunderstorms and hail. Although the motorhome was inundated, we were pleased that we’d chosen a site that didn’t have large trees and branches overhead.
We received a text message in the morning from the Park, apologising for the weather, hoping we were OK and advising that they weren’t able to do anything to assist at that stage. They also passed on a weather warning from the Bureau of Meteorology regarding the current and predicted conditions.
We decided to visit some of the local attractions that we’d been told about in the Visitor Centre. In particular, I was keen to see the Tiger Moth that had been flown out from the UK to Australia in the 1990s. I’d forgotten the name of the place but had the marked-up map from the Visitor Centre and so headed to the highest concentration of attractions on the map – Tom Cullity Drive. Our first destination was Providore – a fascinating place full of locally produced food. We were the first there and I asked about the plane while we selected some items – jams, preserves and a bottle of their world’s best rose. I was told the two options were Higher Plane (that sounded very positive) or Edwards Wines. Our host also suggested that I Google it.
So off we headed to Higher Plane – quite close and associated with Juniper Estate. I asked about the plane there and was told they didn’t know about it but that Edwards Wines had an airfield.
We decided the next option should be Edwards Wines. We arrived just before opening and, as the automatic doors opened at 10:30, there was ‘Matilda’, the Tiger Moth on display in their showroom. I spent quite some time with Janet, who was on duty, hearing about the exploits of Brian Edwards on his flight from the UK to Australia. It was fascinating to hear some of the exploits and so I bought the book written about his journey. We also went and had a look at the Waves collection of underwater photos – worth a look if you get to the Estate.
We tried to get into Miss Chou’s which is a new restaurant next to the Edwards Wines but it wasn’t open that early.
We travelled back up Tom Cullity Drive to Bettenay’s Margaret River Wine & Nougat shop, had coffee there and bought a lot of nougat.
Next, on to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory. Masses of people and lots and lots of chocolate.
We then decided to head towards Dunsborough and had stops at Grace Farm – closed – then on to Canal Rocks. Very wet, rainy and tempestuous seas, so I stayed in the car while Lyn took some photos.
On to Smith Beach (Lyn taking photos while I stayed in the car again) then through Yallingup (this time at the beach lookout I got out while Lyn took more photos). Then on to Ngilgi Cave. We took a self-guided tour through the cave complex. Some very interesting formations and a fascinating series of caverns and areas inside. It was quite a large system of nooks, crannies and coverns.
Next to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse where we found we’d just missed the guided tour of the lighthouse. It started pouring with rain again so we didn’t worry, had a quick look around, and then made it back to the car before the rain set in.
I’d seen that the fuel price between Dunsborough and Busselton was the lowest in the area, so refuelled as we headed towards Busselton. Just after we’d refuelled, I noticed the service station that I was supposed to go to – not much different so not much of a problem for the Jimny which doesn’t take much fuel.
On to Busselton, a visit to the base of the 1.8Km jetty – the largest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere where we were informed that the train wasn’t running because of the bad weather. Not a problem as we were due to come back this way in a couple of days on our way to Perth.
Back down the Bussel Highway to Margaret River, a brief vist to the local IGA then dinner by the fire at Settler’s Tavern.
Day 25 (4 June) – Margaret River (WOW! Another night of thunderstorms – even worse that the previous night, torrential rain that continued on and off for the day although not as much as the previous day – up to 19o in the area though)
So, overnight we had more torrential rain, thunderstorms with lightning very close and very loud.
We headed off to Walsh & Sons (we were heading to the caves later but had been recommended W&S to visit). When we arrived, the place was still closed – people in the kitchen but not responsive (I think it was 2 minutes to 10:00).
So, heading down the highway (Caves Rd), we went to Mammoth Cave. We were one of the first visitors and, although given instructions to go in and come out again without doing the bushland walk, we found that we’d exited onto the walk with a one-way gate at the top of the 160 steps so couldn’t go back. We did the bushland walk and found that they were going to put up signs and lock the top gate after we’d been through because the path and walkways were still wet and slippery. An interesting cave with a self-guided tour.
Next, down the road we travelled to Lake Cave where we had to wait for around 40 minutes to join a guided tour run by Indigo. The lake at the bottom of the cave was interesting with microscopic fauna that consumed anything that finished in the cave – flesh, bones etc. Fortunately we had the same number of people exit the cave as entered on our guided tour.
We decided to go to Augusta for lunch and stopped at the Bakery.
On to the Leeuwin Lighthouse where the 13:30 tour was just commencing, led by Paul – a very experienced and knowledgable guide who shared some fascinating information about the lighthouse.
We made it to the top viewing platform where the rain and wind were extremely strong. Paul took our photo with me wearing my Cape York polo shirt. I think Cape York would be the furthest point on the mainland from Cape Leeuwin.
The lighhouse is at the junction of the Indian and Southern oceans and is renowned for the stong winds, especially over winter.
Torrential rain as we left the lighthouse, we were completely soaked by the time we got back to the entrance building but we saw a fantastic rainbow from the base of the lighthouse to one of the offshore islands.
We headed back up Caves Rd to Jewel Cave and had to wait for the 15:30 tour which was led by our interesting guide, Tom. By the end of the tour Tom knew everyone’s name (so did we – Kiera, Brett, Karen, Tony, Leo, Lyn and me). I wasn’t expecting much but Jewel Cave is one of the biggest and most fascinating caves in the area. It really is worth the visit and hearing the information provided by our guides. At the end of the tour we waited whilst a new light display was being installed (Tom was directing the beam position) to highlight the coral type limestone formations.
Dinner at The Spot Italiano then back to the motorhome.
Day 26 (5 June) – Margaret River to Perth (Big4 Perth Midland Tourist Park) (Much better overnight weather – just a little rain – up to 21o on the drive to Perth – 297Km)
Time to pack up with lots of our equipment wet or gritty from all the rain.
Driving up the main highway to Busselton, where we refuelled and then Lyn made a Telehealth call from the motorhome while I went to the base of the Busselton Jetty. I had a look through the Visitor Centre, booked our seats on the 12:00 train out along the 1.841Km pier and then had a brief brunch at the brewery cafe. Lyn finished her call early, so we had a look at the new Bussellton Marine Discovery Centre then took our trip out along the jetty and back by the solar-powered, electric train.
Next, we drove to Bunbury to check our Nighthawk battery. I was concerned it wasn’t working but, a couple of days earlier, I used a different charger and found everything OK. However, a brief check by the Battery World guys confirmed it was OK so, off to the Big4 Perth Midland Tourist Park.
We arrived just as the office was closing at 17:00, set up, then walked across the road to have dinner at Pinoy Fiesta (Filipino) Restaurant. The meals were enormous!
I checked out options for replacing the screen on my aviation iPad and found a guy in Mirrabooka who had a very good reputation on Google. I called and he rang back late at night, so we made an appointment for the next morning.
Day 27 (6 June) – Perth to Geraldton (G’Day Sunset Beach Holiday Park) (Beautiful weather – not a cloud in the sky [well maybe just a couple of small ones] – up to 21o on the drive to Geraldton – 453Km)
A lot of planning as I needed to get the screen of my aviation iPad fixed before Geraldton. We needed to refuel to be sure to make Geraldton so the plan was: 1) Refuel; 2) Get a new temperature monitor for the motorhome; 3) Get the iPad screen replaced; 4) have a contingency if 3) didn’t work. I did some research and found the best fuel price around, found that Every Battery in Belmont (just near and after the fuel) had the BMPro equipment, then looked for a contingency in case the guy in Mirrabooka didn’t have the correct screen and so booked in for a installation at Macworx in Joondalup.
We left the Midland Park just before 08:00 – it was a tight schedule as I had to cancel the Macworx appointment if the guy in Mirrabooka could fix the iPad. So, refuelled at Guildford, arrived in Belmont a few minutes before their opening but the guy let me in – we checked the gas level monitor that had been playing up – it was OK – I got the temperature monitor to replace our broken one and headed to Mirrabooka. I took the iPad in to the guy in Mirrabooka who said he could fix is and it would take a couple of hours. I called Macworx and cancelled the appointment. So, with some time to spend, we found, and went to, the massive Mirrabooka Shopping complex just a few hundred meters from the iPad screen repair place. From the shopping centre, I called the repair guy and said it may be worthwhile having a screen protector and cover for the iPad. He had a good cover with keyboard and sent me photos. We went to Aldi, then had coffee and as we were finishing our coffee, I got a message that the iPad would be ready in 20 minutes.
We took our time, went and picked up the iPad and new cover. All done, so time to head to Geraldton. Brief stops at Badgingarra and Dongara and finally we arrived at the Sunset Beach Holiday Park in Geraldton.
I quickly set up then settled in to watch the Storm/Cowboys game while Lyn went for a walk along the beach.
A good win to the Storm and so then I finished setting up our camp for the next few nights.
Dinner in the motorhome with leftovers from the Filipino food we got at Pinoy Fiesta the previous night.
A great sunset from the Tourist Park viewing platform that night.
Day 28 (7 June) – Geraldton (Beautiful weather – just a little windy – up to 21o at Geraldton)
A beautiful sunrise over our motorhome in the Sunset Beach Tourist Park.
I had contacted Shine Aviation Services and, although Google said they opened again on Monday, I drove out to the airport and met Ray who was preparing to do a flight over to Abrolhos Islands. A brief chat to him and he confirmed that they weren’t open for hiring a plane until Monday.
We jumped in the Jimny and headed for the Visitor Center where we were given some ideas for places to visit. A drive around town, then we stopped and had a coffee at Dome cafe. We checked out the local swimming pool for Lyn while I called Shine to see if I could book a plane through them (Ray had mentioned that they do answer the phone over the weekends). Back to the Jimny and home where I put the bikes together, gave them some WD40, got out our helmets and riding gear then checked out the best way to ride into town.
We headed over a bridge to clear the small river near our campsite then along the easy bike paths into the city. We went past the horizon ball – a fascinating view through it – as it inverts the image through the water filled sphere. We then stopped for brunch at Lai Lani cafe, then out past Dome again to the end of the Esplanade, turned around then travelled back along the same route. In total around 19Km over 2 hours – just a tiny bit sore after the trip.
One of our fellow guests came and spoke about his Toad and the troubles he had getting it certified. Nice guy, but I think we were talked out when he suggested we have coffee with his partner, Tracee.
I got a call from Kylie from Shine after I followed up my call earlier with an email. She gave me some options and we communicated over the rest of the day, with me providing information on what I proposed and she outlined a couple of options to enable me to take up a plane on Monday. The plane I was hoping to take is LCS (Lyn’s maiden initials and a C172R). After getting confirmation that we couldn’t fly on Sunday, I booked in for golf at 09:00 the next morning.
Dinner at Skeetas restaurant – a great meal and the end to week 4.
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