Day 139 to Day 150 - Absence

A brief note to let you know family circumstances have necessitated we return to Brisbane for 10 days or so.  Under these circumstances, the Dino's Travels blog will be off the air for this time.  The chariot, the anchor and the Gnome await our return.

Day 138 - Swan River Valley and Perth Hills

We are delighted to say the weather improved today but it was quite cool.  The Swan River Valley beckoned so we toddled off to see what we could see.

We drove west close to the Swan River and try though we may, we could not get something worth photographing.  That is not to say there weren't some great sights, beautiful houses and glimpses of the river but our efforts were thwarted by houses built along the river and incessant traffic not allowing us to stop where we wanted.

By accident we came across the Burswood Casino and also by accident, pardon the pun, a written off Porsche, subject of many news reports this morning.  The driver apparently crashed the car during the night and left the scene, leaving the keys in the car.  Mind you, it wasn't going anywhere.

220814 The Crown Burswood Casino

220814 The Porsche subject of news reports today

We gave up eventually on the river and headed for the Perth Hills. There we had more luck.  By good fortune we ended up in the Peter Forrest National Park.  We came across a fantastic view of Perth but it was hazy due to the remnants of the recent rain. 

220814 Perth from the John Forrest Park in the Perth Hills

We had lunch at the tavern in the park before heading for a walk in the forest. We were able to walk along a heritage trail which was, in fact, the route of an old train line from Perth.  The recent rain was the making of this walk because the river through the park, bone dry in summer months, was "cranking" and both waterfalls, the Hovea Falls and the National Park Falls were flowing quite well. 

220814 The Hovea Falls - sadly behind trees

220814 Some of the exposed rocks at the top of the Hovea Falls.
Water was seeping across the top of the rocks

220814 Top of the National Park Falls in John Forrest National Park

220814 The National Park Falls in John Forrest National Park

220814 Below the National Park Falls in John Forrest National Park

The park had some interesting features other than waterfalls.  Most of the infrastructure at the entry to the walks was built by sustenance workers during the 1930's. That included some of the picnic sites and also a rock garden.

220814 One of the original picnic tables in the John Forrest Park

220814 Rock gardens in the John Forrest National Park

Some of the locals made their presence felt.

220814 Some of the locals in the park

We drove home in bright sunlight which forebodes well for tomorrow.

Days 136 and 137 - Perth, Fremantle and Cottesloe

On Day 136 we made a special visit to Diane's cousin and her daughter, whom we have not seen for 25 years.  A great afternoon tea followed with some smiles and laughter and much discussion about what has happened in those 25 years.  We also introduced ourselves to Garden City, Perth style.  Mind you it was not much different from Brisbane's Garden City.  It will be memorable to us because the Apple Store there, gave us a new mouse to replace our broken down one..... free of charge.

Today was a terrible day weather wise, but we shrugged off the rain and wind and headed up the coast to Fremantle and Cottesloe.  Sadly the weather did not improve one zot but we did take some photos, which only served to prove how poor the weather was.

We have commented previously about the wealth that is evident here.  Today confirmed the fact once again.  The area south of Fremantle along the beachfront is being converted to waterside living, beautiful big houses with marina frontages and large marinas for the rest of the boat loving people.  Some of the yachts were "ooh ah" gorgeous.

210814 The overcrowded Fisherman's Marina south of Fremantle

210814 One of the marina entrances south of Fremantle

210814 Two large "ooh ah" cruising yachts in one of the marinas

We drove through the Fremantle wharves and it was surprising how close we were able to get to the actual docks.  Fremantle is an older area of course and they have restored many buildings and made the whole area people friendly, with eateries by the dozens, museums, parking areas and parks.

210814 Looking into the main wharves area in the Port of Fremantle

210814 The WA Maritime Museum

210814 A European looking street in Fremantle

210814 The Round House, the first permanent structure built in WA
in the 1830's and used as a prison

210814 Whaler's Tunnel - Built under the Round House for easy
access between the original port of Bather's Beach and Fremantle

The Port of Fremantle is protected by a very large rock wall and the Indian Ocean was doing its best to breach the wall along its entire length to Rous Head.

210814 Fremantle harbour's outer rock wall

210814 Rous Head at the entry to Fremantle harbour

210814 Port Beach north of  Fremantle harbour
We drove further north to Cottesloe, another older suburb.  Sadly the weather worsened and we turned to home and slowly made our way through the ever increasing traffic.

 

210814 That's Cottesloe Beach on the left

Tomorrow is another day with a slightly better weather forecast - we hope.

Day 135 - Perth

Last night we were battered by torrential rain and wind at times and awoke to leaden skies and frequent rain squalls.  We learned that Bunbury to the south had been hit by a likely tornado the night before and a huge boat broke its moorings in the Port of Fremantle and hit the rail bridge over the Swan River.  This was our introduction to Perth and Fremantle.  Needless to say we were delighted when, as we left the van park to head in to Perth, the skies cleared and we spent the day sun drenched, although the temperature remained in the low twenties.

We paid a visit to the city of Perth.  It is remarkable what a good navigator can do in a strange city, even with the humblest and most inadequate of maps. We walked around the city centre with no specific plan and had a simple lunch in a sidewalk cafe in King George's Terrace.

Perth is a beautiful city with excellent roads and freeways.  There are parklands scattered all over the suburbs and the suburbs and the city looked clean and well cared for.  Maybe recent rains have helped.  It is a modern city but retains many of its old historical buildings and presents them well too.

We managed a walk down to Jervoise Beach immediately west of the caravan park and via the John Graham Recreation Reserve.  This is a good example of how they make parkland available for the multitudes, while preserving the natural settings as best they can.  The colourful displays of Geraldton Wax on the both sides of the Kwinana Freeway were a sight to see, all colours grading from white, through riesling, to claret.  We felt you would be able to associate with these colour descriptions.

190814 Jervoise Beach looking south

190814 The jetty at the north of Jervoise Beah

190814 The John Graham Recreation Park near the caravan park

We would have to say the locals are colourful and friendly.

190814 A couple of locals outside our front door

Day 134 - Cervantes to Fremantle

It was to be a leisurely 283km drive down to Fremantle today but we drove through heavy rain periodically, which did little to help the "leisurely" bit.  Whenever we stopped to take a photograph, we were sent scurrying back to the car by the inevitable shower or gusty squall.  It started when we went down to the Cervantes beach near the caravan park, a parting gesture for this morning.  We were literally blown back to the van, so strong was the wind.

180814 Looking back to the Pinnacle Caravan Park 
from the beach at Cervantes

180814 Cervantes beach with sea grass and a restless sea

The road south from Cervantes passed through heath covered sand dunes with occasional dunes of some size popping up through the foliage, several kilometres from the coast.

180814 A sand "blow out" south of Cervantes

We stopped at a lookout just before Lancelin and saw some of the most colourful countryside we have seen to date.  The wattle were prolific and, on a sunny day, it would have been even better,  No matter where we looked we were surrounded by yellow and it extended for miles and miles.

180814 Wildflowers from a lookout near Lancelin

180814 Same lookout near Lancelin looking north

180814 The dominant acacia in the previous photos

180814 The dominant acacia close-up

We called in to Lancelin, another of these fishing villages.  The wind was horrific and had the sea in a bit of a tizz.  Us too, as we hightailed it back to the car to avoid a drenching.

180814 Lancelin from its wharf

180814 An island off Lancelin

We detoured off the highway to Yanchep but ended up in a place called Two Rocks.  The sun was out momentarily and we took a couple of shots.  Sad to say we never got to Yanchep.

180814 The first rock at Two Rocks

180814 Looking south from Two Rocks

180814 Two Rocks Harbour

180814 The second of the rocks at Two Rocks

The further south we went the more the traffic increased and as for traffic lights, what a pain in the butt. To drive in rain was a change too.  

Would have to say WA is a wealthy place and this was evident with the development which is going on at the beachside areas north of Perth.

Day 133 - The Pinnacles and Lesueur National Park

First things first.  Our caravan is three years old today, so we gave it a rest while we headed to The Pinnacles.  

The Pinnacles are limestone rocks which could be described as limestone monolittleliths.  The limestone pillars, of varying shapes and sizes up to 4m tall, rise unsupported from the honey coloured sandstone.  There are thousands of them.  We were able to drive amongst them and every time we turned around, we had a different view.  There was very little greenery in the area and it was described in places as a desert. They seem to be confined to an area which is surrounded by white sand dunes.  There is considerable debate and no certainty about how they are formed but accretion with limestone dissolved in slightly acidic water and then crystallising when the water evaporates, seems to be the process involved.  The forms of the columns may have to do with ancient forests being covered by sand and the replacement of the organic material with calcium carbonate over time, followed by repeated wet and dry periods producing the final shape and size of the column.  The Pinnacles are subject to continuing erosion by water and wind.

170814 Wildflowers and sand dunes south of Cervantes

170814 The Pinnacles - or some of them

170814 The Pinnacles - a couple of larger ones

170814 More Pinnacles

170814 Plenty of Pinnacles - at the beach?

170814 The shapes were many and varied

170814 Baby Pinnacles? - yes, with pink bottoms

After being thoroughly impressed by the Pinnacles and their presentation, we headed north to the Lesueur National Park.  The Park is comprised of hills and sand dunes covered by heath.  There is an 18km sealed road which goes through the Park.  It took us an hour to go the first km, so prolific were the wildflowers. Stop, photograph, get back in the car, go backwards because we saw one we haven't seen before, photograph two or three more and move on.  We stuttered our way along for a couple of hours until exhaustion caused us to say, "Enough is enough".  What we can say with confidence are, "There are no Wreath Flowers here " and "We found an orchid".  We had a late lunch amongst some native hibiscus.  The photographs contain but a few of the flowers we saw, but we did include the Arrowsmith Spider Orchid.  We were fortunate to cross paths with a botanist from time to time and she told us what some of the flowers were.  We have forgotten most of the names.

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 A Kangaroo Paw in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park - a relative of the Kangaroo Paw?

170814 An Arrowsmith Spider Orchid in Lesueur National Park

170814 A One-sided Bottle Brush - flowers on only one side of the stem

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

170814 Wildflowers in Lesueur National Park

On the way out of the Park we were farewelled by some kangaroos and an echidna.

170814 Curious kangaroos in Lesueur National Park

170814 (Faceless) Mum and baby

170814 An echidna crossing the road near Lesueur National Park

Our final stop for the day was at Molar Lookout north of Cervantes.  It overlooks the coast with views as far north as Jurien Bay.  On turning to the east we could see the heathlands stretching back to Lesueur National Park and Lesueur Mountain itself.

170814 Wildflowers and sand dunes from Molar Hill Lookout north of Cervantes

What a day of superlatives.  It was a shame the clouds rolled in late in the day with an attendant wind.  No rain and we are home safe and sound.