There are a number of things we did and saw that I haven’t  got around to reporting on whilst on this trip to and from Perth. On the way over we pulled into a roadside stop , to be confronted by someones nightmare…. Aren’t you glad it wasn’t yours! Whilst finally in Perth and amongst other things, we revisited the Perth Mint. This is a magical place, full of history but now turned into an upmarket jewellery retailers dazzling jewel cave – we struggled to pay the entry fee let alone buy anything on offer. And its not just gold. However we did get a guided tour and interesting it was, particularly watching the gold smelting display…. forming a gold bar weighing a few kilograms (I can’t remember how many) which then gets melted down again for the next show. Interesting to note that some 51kgs of gold comes into

We left Augusta in one piece and as previously reported moved north a little bit to The Jewel Cave. Some 252 stairs later Jude was jubilant at having achieved them, not to mention the awsomeness of the caves themselves….. Onwards north a little bit to Margaret River and a farm stay. I seem to remember a better time at this same farm stay back a few years, but it was OK for the duration of  our exploration of MR. I was most impressed last time with Voyager Estate vineyard and just had to show both Jude and Robyn what I was on about, however I don’t think they exactly shared my enthusiasm for this estate. You be the judge…. and you don’t even get to see a vine. But it is a beautiful place. Jude remembered Millers Ice Cream. We went looking but no could find. There was an ice

Its Fixed. Thank you Mr Webmaster Peter (and Justin). Its a little too late at night now to start uploading but here’s a test or two…… and for the uninitiated and unawares this is Albany’s Jewel Cave and the natural arch.   There’ll be more in due course but we have to get through this next weekend of the Winton 10 hour relay race which with  bit of luck may also get a mention in future posts.   This really is a quick test – and it worked!!!!!!

I haven’t been posting primarily because I can’t upload pictures and I need the pictures to prompt the words. I don’t remember where we’ve been at times. From Augusta we went north, ultimately to Perth where we spent three weeks in the Webbers back yard and for most of that time we were unwell with pneumonia and the flu. I’m not going to try piecing the journey together yet as our web master is working on a new format which should update the site and eliminate the problem I’m having. Suffice to say we are presently in Adelaide with the Monk-Paynes and will be resuming our homeward journey on the morrow. Until we’re fixed this is a sign off.

Info at Ravensthorpe allowed us to access a pooter to book a site at the Fitzgerald River National Park campground. Tough, it was full. But, a free camp at Hopetoun proved to be a viable option. Hopetoun turned out to be a nice little place to stay. Anyway, unhook and into the National Park to catch up with Royalty. We’ve seen these things before, on a previous trip, but Royal Hakeas hold a great fascination for us. Not seen anywhere else but in the south of WA, we actually saw hundreds this time, but these are the best photos of this time ….. They are so valued the cops have arrested this artists impression and have incarcerated it at the station. On the way back to Ravensthorpe for the silo art we found these wonderful artworks….. then the silos… – all very arty-farty. Onto Bremer Bay. Just another dot on

Now I’m not sure where I left off on the last entry cos I’m too lazy to look but suffice to say we are now in Bremer Bay, some 3500 km from whence we left Benalla. Fuel cost to date amounts to $2346 so you can do the sums. But, so far still worth every centime. If I remember correctly we left cocka doodle doo for Norseman where we overnighted in a council free camp along with millions of others (well as many as fitted) then proceeded to Esperance. Esperance as we had earlier discovered is a gem. A really loverly town, beautifully presented with some of the best beaches in the world. The sand is white, pure white. Only negative this time was the mounds of seaweed, but this is probably seasonal and really didn’t affect us at this time in winter. We did however see some hardy souls