| February 2005 |
Tuesday February 1st [more pictures] Enjoyed the coast at Cape Freycinet and walked the beach at Conto Spring with surfers taking on the rollers and breaks. Headed to Margaret River and stopped at Cape Mentelle winery to sample their new, cheaper cellar door only wines including Marsanne Viogner and Marmaduke. They are renowned for a great chardonnay and started the Cloudy Bay winery in New Zealand, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. Checked out the beach at Gracetown and stayed in the van park, enjoying the company of Brain, Lindy & Christopher. Brian has a wheat and sheep farm. Van parks decisively cheaper, (as much as 20-40%) emptier and devoid of children as school holidays have ended. Wednesday - Friday February 2nd - 4th [more pictures] Continued our drive north through the Margaret River wine country. There are truly some wonderfully developed wineries and properties. Located accommodation for Christine's parents and ourselves for 5 days in late February/early March at Forest Resort in Yallingup. En-suite beach or simple van cabins in the area, even after a discount, exceed $115/night. We booked a 2 queen bedroom, well appointed chalet with living area and verandahs all round, discounted from $175 for the same price. 
Journeyed to Cape Naturaliste to check out the lighthouse, Sugarloaf Rocks, Bunker and Eagle Bays. The protected beach at Bunker Bay is particularly pleasant but a multi-million dollar Mirvac resort and housing development has just opened. There is a property boom and development still underway in WA and even modest places along Geographe Bay in Bussleton are over $500K. Prices can soon get up to $1M in new developments. This trend continued north all the way through Bunbury, Mandurah and Perth.
Pre-dinner we chatted to Russ/Kay from Perth, Alex/Maria (formally from Romania) from Perth and Elaine/Mal from Mandurah in the Acacia van park in Bussleton. This is an 'oldies' park, full of retirees from the Perth region, less than 3 hours away. It's cheaper than most ($22/night powered site only and $2/clothes washing) and we got a great spot right on the beach. Extended our stay from one to three nights. This could be the point at which Chris actually started to relax into the trip!!
We were completely out of food so did a big grocery shop ($166) and got diesel. Did a good interior front and back clean up of the Troopy and washed clothes. Made some initial telephone calls to get Christine into a gastroenterologist and arrange to see and stay with some friends and relatives in Perth. The temperatures have risen dramatically for the south by at least 10 degree C and we are now enjoying 40 C days. The ocean is warm and the beaches have gentle waves like the Gulfs in SA.
Even went for a swim although there are some jellyfish or stingers in the water. One evening watched Alex and Maria do a little fishing and got a small gummy shark off her line. Also had dinner around the BBQ with them one night and long chats about family, friends and religion. Chris finally finished the excellent 600 page book 'Fatal Shore" after 6 weeks.
Saturday - Sunday February 5th - 6th [more pictures] Walked to the end of Busselton jetty over 2 kilometers long. Chris was a bit uneasy as there is a railing on one side only. Continued north to Bunbury. So many people we have met love living here but it did nothing for us, except for the hinterland. Uncharacteristically phoned and met up with Chris and Judy who invited us back to their home for a few drinks and then we had Thai dinner and took in a local band at the pub in the main street. Enjoyed their company and thoughts about work and Aussie lifestyle. Judy told Christine everything about herself. Chris works nightshift and the aluminum plant but they are on indefinite strike to raise wages from $20/hour to the contract rate of $25/hour. Strike action is open vote and so there is little chance of members not 'going out'. Chris is taking a fencing contract at the rate of $400/kilometer (normally $800/kilometer but fewer posts). He flies a Cessna 6-seater airplane for industrial repair contractors and is also a wool classer. Initially stayed at Koombana Bay Holiday resort with was close to town and came recommended but it was windy and unprotected. Had a look around town in the morning and headed east into the hills and hinterland, through towns of Collie and Donnybrook with mixed pastoral, wine and fruit farms. Then stopped at the Top Tourist park just south of Bunbury. Unfortunately it is always windy in the afternoon (south westerly or "the doctor"), but Chris watched the final of the one-day cricket where Australia took out the series against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Chatted to a couple living in Perth - he was a supervisor for Centerlink - interesting that their aim is to lower costs, which they did last year by $53M. Finished and enjoyed the short book by Douglas Lockwood entitled "The Track" about the Territorians (pioneers living in the N.T.) in the 1940's - 1960's. He has written about 8 books while living in Darwin and I look forward to reading others. Monday February 7th [more pictures] Picked up our mail at the Post Office and bread, rolls and pies at the French bakery. Continued north along the coast via Australind, enjoying the coast and onto Mandurah, where the area baby boomers are flocking to from Perth. Were not impressed by all the new homes on the coast and Mandurah inlet that are on top of each other, with no room for trees and gardens. Did some grocery shopping and headed east of town and stopped on the Murray River at Ravenswood van park. Park is mainly permanents on low-income or Centerlink handouts. 3 part shacks (old van, built-in lean-to and additional 3 sided lean-tos are priced at $14.5-30K. Camped right on the river with ducks and a beautiful male night heron in mating season (he had the 2 white strings handing from the back of his head). Watch the locals catch in-season mud crabs and Trevor Smith cooked us 3 each and we shared a meal and some wine with him. Good night and great spot. It is the US Superbowl (Grid Iron football final) and maybe the New England Patriots to win the 3rd time. Tuesday February 8th [more pictures] Fuelled up @ $1.005/liter, the lowest for some time. Headed north and walked along the Madora beach, enjoyed the scenic coastal drive around Safety Bay, Point Peron and the Shoalwater Bay Marine Park, through Rockingham and then past the industrial and ship wharfs of Kwinana and onto Fremantle for a fish and chip lunch. Dropped back south a few kilometers to the Big 4 van park at Woodman Point. Tonight it is Chinese New Year and year of the Rooster. Wednesday - Sunday February 9th - 13th [more pictures] Headed into the Perth suburbs. First port of call was the industrial area of Canning Vale to talk to K&N Engineering about a new rear bumper bar to fit 2 spare tires on rims and incorporate high lifter jacking points and rear canopy attachment studs plus a new rim, tire and locking nut. Stayed with Meredith, cousin Leona's daughter and Chris's second cousin who he had not seen it 30+ years. She has 3 girls, Sarah a nurse at Fremantle hospital, Amy studying nursing entry at TAFE and Rachel at high school. She cooked us a roast lamb dinner and we treated them all prawns and avocado the other night. Meredith has had a fairly hard life, married young and lived in Roxyby Downs, Esperance and Kalgoolie, but is now divorced, living on a pension. Christine was quite run down and had an excellent acupuncture in the Chinese quarter. Also had another endoscopy at Royal Perth Hospital, organized through her cousin Sue and husband Brendan. Got the all clear, except for a slightly agitated hiatus hernia which may require continued tablets. Then headed up the coastline to Scarborough (to walk along the beach) and then Sorrento Wharf (ships and wharf to Rocknest Island) to stay with Bob and Brenda in Padway. Bob was one of my best mates in Sydney and, along with Gary Miller, one of the infamous Echo Brothers (marketing campaign to pick up ladies). We had not seen them since our wedding, 17 years ago. Nice family, very generous and would not let us pay for anything; although we did manage to buy, prepare and cook a dinner on Saturday night. Bob transferred with Bremick (nuts and bolts company) from Sydney to Perth and works 40+ hours per week, rides a bicycle to work, has a part time job with Coles Liquorland 2 nights/week, works 2-3 times/weeks with his karate and spends time with his boys Brodie and Philip. He is very content and we enjoyed the stay for 3 nights. Chris and Bob probably drank too many Jacks (Jack Daniels bourbon) and Coke especially on Sunday during a BBQ he had for a work associate's 21st birthday from Liquorland. Anyway it was great for Chris to see him again after all those years; and of course, he had not changed!! Monday February 14th [more pictures] Valentines Day. Picked up groceries and headed west along the Great Northern Highway and the Goldfields pipeline supplying water to Kalgoolie 600 kilometers away. With Christine's help driving, made Southern Cross about 400 kilometers west. Weather is now extremely hot with high/lows in the 40-45+/20-25+ degree C mark. Christine cooked up another excellent pasta dish in our new enamel pasta dishes with scallops and prawns in leek, garlic and butter. Tuesday February 15th [more pictures] Continued another 200 kilometers to Coolgardie and onto Kalgoolie, Australia's biggest goldfield and one of the top four producers in the world with over 50 million ounces. This mine represents 80% of Australia's forth largest export, $9.2B of gold. Now the Golden Mile is a huge (super pit) open-cut mining operation 3 kilometers long, 1 kilometer wide and 500 meters deep taking out ore at the rate on an ounce/tone. Toured north to Broken Arrow Tavern, now a ghost town, population 10 but once over 5,000. Had a drink ($9.50 for a wine and mid strength beer) and put our name on the XXX ad on the bar wall (along with thousands of others). Very hot so had a nice swim in the van park pool. Caught up with Lindsey Pate, son of Colin Pate, Christine's family doctor and friend in Bombala and a drink and dinner at the Exchange Hotel. Lindsey is completing his electrical ticket with Roche Mining who contract to the super pit gold processing facility. Wednesday - Thursday February 16th - 17th [more pictures] After enjoying the historical museum, including an excellent showing for Australian award wining photographs of flora, fauna, landscapes, digital, b&w etc. Refueled and headed back west 6 hours into the historic town of York in the Avon Valley. Met Sandra and Craig who ran a very successful B&B on the Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of the Sunshine coast. They were looking at property and possible business in the region so next day we looked quite seriously at the York Cottages B&B with self contained cottages, farm stay on 15 acres in town reduced from $775K to $685K. Revenues were about $65K/year with profits around $20K. Friday - Thursday February 18th - 24th [more pictures] Headed back to Perth, washed the Troopy and joined Christine's cousin Sue, husband Brendan, Juliette and Harry for the week. They have a very nicely renovated home in Cottesloe near the beach west of Perth so they get an indirect sea breeze. This is an expensive area. Brendan is doctor of radiology and works in teaching hospitals such as the Royal Perth, Murdoch Uni and is the part owner/director of a private practice. Today it's all about computing power such as data storage and transfer of huge data files collected by $2M MRI scanners with $500K operating costs. Perth is a nice city but a long way from the rest of Australia. Most love it, but some think its 'dullsville'. Sue/Brendan have a busy social life, so Christine and I had an excellent dinner at 'barchetta', a BYO restaurant on the beach watching the sunset. 
On Saturday afternoon we enjoyed fish and chips and the park in Fremantle with the family. In the evening we enjoyed the movie 'Ray' based on the life of Ray Charles and authentic Thai food in the local area. On Sunday we all relaxed around their home and enjoyed a BBQ on Matilda Bay picnic area over looking the Swan River yacht club and the city - fantastic spot. On Monday we had a 70K kilometer Troopy service and tire rotation at Midland Toyota.
This is in the vicinity of Meredith's, so had breakfast and a chat. Christine and I both had "interesting" chiropractor appointments at a wellness center in West Perth, recommended from Port Lincoln. On Tuesday Chris had the new rear bumper bar fitted to the Troopy at the cost of $2,190 including GST and fitting. K&N is more of an engineering company and market to the mining companies rather than 4WD companies, hence the lower price. Also added a new Sunrasiar rim and tire for $325.
Now we can continue 4WDing and on rough roads after a puncture. It was a nicely done job and a lot cheaper than the Victorian Kamar accessory at $3,500. Wednesday we relaxed around the home and Christine went to the acupuncturist again. Her previous appointment was over 9 months ago in Cairns. He is doing her a lot of good and is considered to the one of the top people in West stern Australia. Saw the movie 'Million Dollar Baby' - excellent.
This movie won quite a few Oscars a week later including Clint Eastwood for best director. Thursday was another relaxing day around the house and in the evening enjoyed a BBQ at Christine's other cousin (Sue's brother) Colin and Ann Ingram in Sorrento. Telephoned Rex Hobcroft, a distant family member who was Director of the Sydney Music Conservatory.
Friday - Monday February 25th - 28th [more pictures] Ten months into the trip. Bit difficult leaving our hosts beautiful home, packing up the Troopy, buying provisions for the week and then settling into a cabin for 2 nights at the Big 4 Perth International van park. It's hard to remember everything and left things at Sue's home, forgot to buy some groceries and left stuff in the Troopy. Anyway, Chris enjoyed a spa in the cabin. Picked up Ron and Betty, Christine's parents at the airport close by. They flew direct from Canberra to spend 9 days including a couple of weekends in Perth and 5 days in the Margaret River region. On Saturday we drove around Perth by heading to the northern beaches via Sorrento, following the coast south to Cottesloe. Had lunch at Scarborough Beach, and enjoyed the beauty of the homes overlooking the Swan and Canning Rivers and inlets. Stopped at Matilda Bay and Kings Park overlooking the city. Sunday drove south to Yarringup and on the way enjoyed fish and chips overlooking the long jetty at Busselton. In Yarringup Forrest Resort, stayed in a large 2 bedroom cabin with verandahs and a good view to spread out and relax. Had plenty of times to chat with Ron and Betty including some of Ron's family history. We had already checked out the region and were able to show Ron and Betty the highlights, which included: 
Monday
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