Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 7

We went to stay at Hopetoun with Rusty and Val. This has become one of our haunts, and a little home away from home. Rusty and Val always make us more than welcome. We also caught up with Lorraine and Raul who we had met at Cheynes Beach.

It was Lorraine birthday and as on a Monday most things are shut Val had offered her home for us to do a meal for her. Robin her son had supplied Sea Pike as we had had no luck with the fishing...so Stephen and I did a home made Fish and Chips....great meal.

From the next morning things were going downhill..Stephen had bruised his big toe badly (playing with the dog) the weather had turned to sh.t and we had also heard from our friends Peggy and Mike that they were in Hyden waiting for us...so it was up sticks early and head out. That brought our month away to an abrupt end. Not the best weather but met some awesome people!!

Next trip Melbourne and Tasmania...watch this space..see you or speak soon to all our friends.

Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 6

We moved again and headed for Bremer Bay...the coffee stop was this lovely free camp at Pallinup River. We have marked this for future reference.
After lunch at Bremer Bay Resort we travelled some dirt roads out to Quaalup Homestead. Now if you go back in the blog you will find photos of the Qualup Bell, well this is where they are named after ( and yes I do know the spelling is slightly different).
On the first night we were just about the only people there...but the native locals made up for it...the Emu's name is Edna....
Not sure if the Roo's have names but they were eating right up to our door.
The old Homestead has been set up and restored to some extent and the Nature Walk around the Homestead area was very well laid out and a picture with the Wild Flowers.
Now we had gone to Quaalup Homestead to go out to Point Anne but due to the roadworks and Die Back issues..it did not happen. However, Karin, our hostess, suggested we went 4wding to Gordon Inlet.
That small black line is a whale...
A Southern Right Whale and calf...we had two pairs close to the shore and spent a lovely time just watching the antics....all by ourselves on a pristine wild beach.

Although raining we had a ball.
That's the Gordon Inlet in the background.
Royal Hakea and below with visitors.

From the Lookout on the Nature Walk...thanks Quaalup Homestead even if we did not get to Point Anne...maybe next time.

Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 5

We left Albany on a mission. Maree had told us were we could find a Noisy Scrub Bird.Soooooo we moved about 75 ks down the road to Cheynes Beach. Now this small place was quite a find, and the people we met great. The scenery around was not bad either!
Now here we met some serious Twitteres....all kitted out with iphones that played bird calls , cameras, books and more....learnt a few things...heard a Noisy Scrub Bird and then saw a flash as one ran across the road...looking very much like road runner!!!
And still the scenery was good!!!!
We did the small side trip to the enchanting Wychinicup a small inlet that has these huge rocks at the entrance...and the waves crash in.
With local inhabitants strutting their stuff.
In all I found another 4 birds for my book, this brought my total for the trip up to 6..not bad!!

Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 4

We moved on to Albany and as promised contacted Gordon and Maree. After a little bit of organising we met at Ledge Beach for a exhilarating walk. They do this every day...not bad for octogenarians!!!!!!

The waves were a pounding and Stephen was a shooting!
And Suri was having fun with his ball and a few friends that turned up!
Gordon and Stephen then went on a walk around Ledge Point to a lookout. The wild flowers were a blooming.
The Ginboy (not a Blackboy, but of the same family) was fresh in colour, silvery rather than green.
Ginboy with Albany Banksia in the foreground.
We were honoured to be invited back to Gordon and Maree's house for coffee, then a glass of wine. We talked and talked, the birds were everywhere and the flowers all dotted around their 28 acre property, running down to the King River.

We reckon this Red Eared Fire-tail may have got his colours from the Chilli!!!!
Western Rosellas both male and female.
Boronia, Gordon's passion. They have been growing then commercially and I walked away with a beautiful bunch of many hues.

Their incredible home was hexagonal with glass and angles all around. Maree also had the upstairs as her study/bird room. Here she got me all the information on the Noisy Scrub Bird. More on that later. Thanks again Maree and Gordon, we had a great day and hope that this is not the last time we met.
On the last day we walked the beach and collected shells, then on out to the memorial walk..this is the view from the lookout, back to Ledge Point.

Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 3

A quick stop at Coalmine Beach in Walpole. This lovely part of the world still brings us back. We were also very fortunate to meet some great people. Though cold and wet we still managed a camp fire and had lots of conversation. Stephen and Barbara from NSW. Charles and Dianne from Narrabri (NSW) and Winn and David from Victoria.
Some locals still got in on the act..they also caught more fish than us!!!
Spider's tunnel on our morning walk.....
and Sundews in the sun.

Augusta to Hopetoun September 2011 Part 2

On to Pemberton, one of our favourite places. We were last here with Bassie, Christmas 2007, but only for a drive through. We had heard about the tram ride and as we had not done this before, so off we went. The Tram went from Pemberton and out to the Brockman River.
Also on display at the station was this historic steam train from the timber era. Lovely trip through the bush...with the evidence of the wild flowers all around.
We drove out to Pt. D'Entrecasteaux at Windy Harbour. We were going to stay out there and do some fishing but the weather was still very inclement.
The walk along the cliff tops, with lookouts along the way, had me clinging again!

Salmon beach.
Wild Flowers on the Point.
We also visited The Warren Vineyard. Now this Aged Wine Vineyard had been visited by Bassie and Stephen. They had raved about it ever since...so it was a must do. We had the privilege to meet Arthur and eventually Anne. Now conversations got the better of us and we ordered 2 dozen bottles of aged Merlot. They had recently bought a caravan and we even discussed doing some Cellar Door and House sitting for them. Time will tell.

In the mean time Arthur asked if we would like to go on his boat down the Donnelly River...would we ever, we had done a tour before and knew how beautiful it was.
Arthur's friend Dianne, owns one of the shacks on the rivers edge. What a spot for lunch..all washed down with Warren's Wines.
The counter-lever on this tree was amazing...what was keeping it upright? (Yes that's me under the tree.)
Out to the mouth of the river, with a lovely walk and a blast of sea air.
Arthur took us to Goblin Swamp on the way back...you can see why some kids would love or hate this place. Check it out if you are down this way it's awesome.
On top of taking us out on the river, Arthur gave us a free camp....
We had our own spot at the back of the Cellar. They also run a B & B here if you ever want a very special overnight spot. Thanks again Arthur it was fabulous.