Geraldton to Perth

Here we are in Perth. Have been having a few problems with pictures again so apologies. We had a great day at the blessing of the fleet in Geraldton. It was cool in the morning but got quite hot during the day so we all ended up with sunburnt faces, not a good look.

Monday morning Mary, Richard Tony and I left to head to Dongara. We are now on daylight saving time so for tourists its great, happy hour extends to two!!!! It was only an hours drive to Dongara and we booked into a beautiful, small park right on the beach front. Very friendly staff and spotless amentities, something that has been lacking in a lot of places.

We went for a drive around town but a lot of tourist things closed. Tony went out fishing early on Tuesday morning, very chilly and all he got was a herring. Next day we headed to Jurien Bay, quite a nice town but still no fishing, too windy and the flies still bad. A drive down to Cervantes and a look at the Pinnacles, amazing structures in the Nambung national Park.



The Limestone pinnacles were formed thousands of years ago and are up to 5 metres tall and 2 metres thick at the base. They were formed when ancient plant roots formed a weak cementation of calcite within the dunes and have been exposed by wind and shifting sands. Wildflowers also abound in this area, though its almost the end of the season.

Futher on we went to Lake Thetis, which is one of only 4 known locations where these fossils , stromatolites, are found,( we saw some others near Exmouth) They are supposed to be the worlds oldest living fossils.

Friday we travelled a very scenic road to New Norcia, a town entirely owned by the Benedictine Monks. It was founded in 1846 by Dom Rosendo Salvado. There are various Chapels, Colleges, an art gallery, museum and gift shop and they have their own bakery at which they bake bread in a 100 year old oven. We took a 2 hour tour through the Chapels and Colleges and marvelled at the different styles of frescos and art work within.

They also have their own vineyards and their own style of abbey beer, we partook at the hotel which was built in 1927, Tony wasnt impressed with their beer but Richard liked it. The gardens were full of very old roses the perfume of which you just dont get in todays roses. In fact we have been amazed at how beautiful they have been from Geraldton down to Perth.



After staying a night at New Norcia we continued our drive down through the Chittering Valley, which reminded me of my parents farm in just out of Warragul in Victoria, huge bales of hay, healthy sheep and cattle. Then through the most beautiful little town called Bindoon , once again flowers in full bloom. We arrived in the Swan Valley a very rich area for wineries and got into a van park nearby.

To be on the safe side we did a tour, $80 each for a full day, our guide Nola was great and we had a good group on the bus. We toured 5 wineries, one brewery, the Margaret River chocolate factory, ( yummy but very expensive) tasted nougat and had a lovely lunch at Jane Brook Winery. It was a great day enjoyed by all.

We have also done 2 day trips, the first was out to Mandaring, which is like going for a drive to Mt. Nebo and Mt. Glorious in Brisbane, round to the Mandaring Weir and back home. The second trip was out to Toodyay, Northam and the very old town of York. What a beautiful drive, paddocks full of hay, huge rectangle bales unlike what I have seen before standing like sentinels in the paddock. We drove round and round the streets of York marvelling and the old rose gardens, very like English cottage gardens, I wish I could transport the perfume over the net. Hopefully I will be able to get some pics in the site for you to look at.

We have had a bit of running round in the last couple of days, Tony getting the turbo checked, picking up the replacement compressor, getting a new gas strut for the van boot, Jenny ( our GPS voice) has helped us find our way around Perth quite well. We are now at my Uncle Mac and Aunty Vicki's in Kinross which is about half an hour north of Perth. Will stay here a few days before we head further south to Fremantle.

Am going to the doctor this afternoon, having some problems with the right knee and want to get it checked before we leave. Hope this finds everyone well, we are both good and enjoying ourselves immensley.