Well, after four months since we left home in early April, we are at Perth and leaving here tomorrow (1 September) to start what we consider to be the homeward journey. Lots of ground to cover yet, but the direction will be generally East!
Since posting the last episode in Port Hedland in late July, we have taken the following course:
27 July Karijini National Park
5 August Point Samson
7 " Karatha
10 " Onslow
14 " Carnarvon
21 " Wooramel Station Stay
27 " Perth (Fremantle)
There have been some overnight stays in "free camps" along the way, such as Galena Bridge near Kalbarri and Ellendale Pool up in the wildflower areas East of Geraldton. Almost all of these in Western Australia have been well maintained and spacious - all credit to the road authorities who obviously recognise how many "nomads" are on the roads over here and how much they contribute to the local economy.
Our progress has been good, particularly since resolving the needs of the electrical systems in the rig, replacing one of the deep-cycle auxiliary batteries and adding a solar blanket and an additional 12V to 12V charger/controller, to keep things going in the caravan, the refrigerators we are running in the Xtrail and the other gear. We can stay away from 240V facilities (caravan parks) virtually indefinitely now, but the ongoing need to get supplies of fresh water is usually the most demanding.
Here are some of our photos from along the way.
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| This is the scene I most wanted to get back to, Dales Gorge in Karijini National Park |
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| ...and this is the painting (18 x 14 in, on canvas glued to Corflute, which makes for a very lightweight panel |
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| This is Jubura (Fern Pool) at the bottom of Dales Gorge - 283 steps we were told, and carrying a French easel and all the other gear I carry, a long way coming back up, especially also for M when she had to go back to get my painting umbrella! |
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| This is obviously a special place for the aboriginal people. I imagine the soft yellow ochre in the rock walls nearby were important too |
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| Marilyn holding a flower growing beside the stairway halfway down. You can see the steps continuing on below - very well constructed and a good deal easier and safer than 5 years ago when we were there last |
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| The Scene right outside our caravan door where we camped at the "Albert Tognolini" rest area (I couldn't remember that and referred to it later as the "Stroganoff" lookout - sorry Albert!) |
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| Another pleasant free camp at the Peawah Rest Area between Port Hedland and Karatha. As is generally the case in WA, it was clean and well maintained - you can see the edge of the toilet block in the distance behind Marilyn, stepping down from the van. These rest areas usually are signposted "Maximum Stay 24 Hours" |
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| Sunset at Galena Bridge rest area |
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| Sunset colours opposite our camp at Ellendale Pool rest area |
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| Aboriginal petraglyph (stone etching) - one of many among these rocks at Deep Gorge near Hearson's Cove, Dampier area. These are thousands of years old |
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| Turn around from the petraglyphs and you can see part of the extensive gas exploration and production sites in the area. |
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| These mountains of loose rock are all around in this area |
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| Late afternoon light on the River Gums at Wooramel Station, just beside our camp. We stayed here for 3 days and I do have a painting of this scene (which needs some more work) |
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| We did the tourist thing here - a "Triple Tour" in the one day, first leg around Fremantle in this little battler, then a boat cruise down to Perth and finally a 'topless' red double-decker red bus around Perth. We enjoyed a meal and a couple of drinks at a beaut waterfront venue, with a niece of Marilyn's and her partner, who live here, to round out a lovely day |
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| And finally, yesterday, a visit to the "Araluen Botanical Park" at Roleystone in the hills outside of Perth, has ended our visit to Perth and Fremantle. |
So its off tomorrow morning, down to Albany to visit long-standing friends and then around the South Coast to visit Fitzgerald and Cape Le Grand national parks. We will then cross the Nullarbor and continue Eastwards, and the clock confusion, to meet the earlier rising sun.
