This is a much bigger disaster than most people think.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Rock Hopping - Homeward Bound
Well, what a freezing night. Clear skies so not unexpected. I think I have a chilblain on one of my fingers.
It was an early start as I had to be at work by 3:30PM. We took the scenic route home via Toodyay and encountered the RFDS fundraisers coming the other way on bicycles and pushing handcarts between Toodyay and Northam.
There was an insanely overwidth vehicle on the Great Northern highway near Muchea (7.5m). Fortunately we were only behind it for a few minutes before breaking off for the coast.
Home by 12:15PM; trailer unpacked and off to work in plenty of time.
A fantastic weekend of rock hopping. More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/paddy0761/20100515RockHoppingOutEast?feat=directlink
It was an early start as I had to be at work by 3:30PM. We took the scenic route home via Toodyay and encountered the RFDS fundraisers coming the other way on bicycles and pushing handcarts between Toodyay and Northam.
There was an insanely overwidth vehicle on the Great Northern highway near Muchea (7.5m). Fortunately we were only behind it for a few minutes before breaking off for the coast.
7.5 meters and heavy!
Home by 12:15PM; trailer unpacked and off to work in plenty of time.
A fantastic weekend of rock hopping. More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/paddy0761/20100515RockHoppingOutEast?feat=directlink
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Rock Hopping Day 3
Paddy slept in today – BIG TIME!
Finally out of a nice warm bed at 9:10AM the rush was on for a 10:00AM departure on today’s excursion. Packed lunch of broccoli soup and leftover salmon pasta from the night before.
First stop was Southern Cross. Forgot to pick up the newspaper (regretted that for the rest of the day as everywhere was sold out after that). Stopped at Yellowdine for hot chips (and no newspaper). We had a look over the local dam and did a drive-by of the old Station Master’s house.
From that point I was relying on memory to find the Gnamma Hole and Lone Grave on the Marvel Loch to Yellowdine Road. I was fairly sure they were close together and at least one of them was signposted. It turned out the grave was signposted (vaguely) and my memory kicked in as we approached the gnamma hole. We have just had the first rains of the season out here so the gnamma hole was dry. In a month or so it should be gurgling fresh water.
We then went in search of Weowanie Rock; thought we’d found it, but hadn’t. It was a nice spot though and Paddy put on his best Jesus impersonation. Weowanie Rock soon turned up though and it is quite impressive. It is a very picturesque drive up to this point (if you like the outback Aussie landscape). We drove right across the top of the rock. There is a swimming hole on the rock and some other interesting formations.
The track from Weowanie to Karalee is a lot less travelled and the Scratch-O-Meter (R) went into the red zone for quite a while. Eventually Karalee Dam was in sight. There was a beautiful couple of drake and duck by the dam. There is quite a bit of work going on at Karalee to improve the campground and associated facilities. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start charging for camping when it is all done.
Karalee Rock is amazing. It is huge and the engineering achievement of using it as a catchment more than 100 years ago is amazing. The vegetation on the rock itself is worth seeing. Beauty in such a harsh environment. Nature never ceases to amaze.
With a spare hour up our sleeves we ventured into the wilderness trying to find Mt Clara, but ran out of time and headed back to the highway. It was a cruisy drive home as we were behind a big rig (B double) whose rear trailer was pretty wobbly. I don’t know whether he was drunk, tired or just a crap driver, but there was no way I was going around him, so we just backed off and cruised along at 100km/h.
We made it back to camp at Moorine Rock at 4:00PM; in time to pack up the awning and the ablutions tent ready for an early departure – some of us still have to work you know!
Margaritas ready at 5:00PM and that’s a wrap.
Finally out of a nice warm bed at 9:10AM the rush was on for a 10:00AM departure on today’s excursion. Packed lunch of broccoli soup and leftover salmon pasta from the night before.
First stop was Southern Cross. Forgot to pick up the newspaper (regretted that for the rest of the day as everywhere was sold out after that). Stopped at Yellowdine for hot chips (and no newspaper). We had a look over the local dam and did a drive-by of the old Station Master’s house.
From that point I was relying on memory to find the Gnamma Hole and Lone Grave on the Marvel Loch to Yellowdine Road. I was fairly sure they were close together and at least one of them was signposted. It turned out the grave was signposted (vaguely) and my memory kicked in as we approached the gnamma hole. We have just had the first rains of the season out here so the gnamma hole was dry. In a month or so it should be gurgling fresh water.
Duladgin Rock Gnamma Hole
We then went in search of Weowanie Rock; thought we’d found it, but hadn’t. It was a nice spot though and Paddy put on his best Jesus impersonation. Weowanie Rock soon turned up though and it is quite impressive. It is a very picturesque drive up to this point (if you like the outback Aussie landscape). We drove right across the top of the rock. There is a swimming hole on the rock and some other interesting formations.
Don't mess with the Jesus!
The track from Weowanie to Karalee is a lot less travelled and the Scratch-O-Meter (R) went into the red zone for quite a while. Eventually Karalee Dam was in sight. There was a beautiful couple of drake and duck by the dam. There is quite a bit of work going on at Karalee to improve the campground and associated facilities. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start charging for camping when it is all done.
Karalee Rock is amazing. It is huge and the engineering achievement of using it as a catchment more than 100 years ago is amazing. The vegetation on the rock itself is worth seeing. Beauty in such a harsh environment. Nature never ceases to amaze.
With a spare hour up our sleeves we ventured into the wilderness trying to find Mt Clara, but ran out of time and headed back to the highway. It was a cruisy drive home as we were behind a big rig (B double) whose rear trailer was pretty wobbly. I don’t know whether he was drunk, tired or just a crap driver, but there was no way I was going around him, so we just backed off and cruised along at 100km/h.
We made it back to camp at Moorine Rock at 4:00PM; in time to pack up the awning and the ablutions tent ready for an early departure – some of us still have to work you know!
Margaritas ready at 5:00PM and that’s a wrap.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Rock Hopping Day 2
After a very lazy morning we eventually ventured out into the icy wind. We had a good scramble all over Moorine Rock before heading back to camp for a movie and lunch.
After lunch it was of for a scenic drive to Baladjie Rock via Police Rock and Caroling Rock. Baladjie Lake was about 50% covered with water so it was quite scenic from on top of the rock. Lots of quality camping sites here at Baladjie Rock.
Lots of climbing here and the views were sensational. Plenty of 4WD tracks around here too.
Next we headed for the gold mining town of Westonia. Very tidy and quaint. Picked up a couple of lemons for this afternoon’s Margaritas.
There was mine site blasting posted for 4:30PM so we thought we had better get out of town while the getting was good. We decided to backtrack a little and checkout Sandford Rock. We didn’t have the time or energy for the walk trail here, but will come back another time. It would be hard to better Baladjie though.
Took the back roads to camp and have finished this blog entry just in time for 5sies.
Just lounging around at Moorine Rock
After lunch it was of for a scenic drive to Baladjie Rock via Police Rock and Caroling Rock. Baladjie Lake was about 50% covered with water so it was quite scenic from on top of the rock. Lots of quality camping sites here at Baladjie Rock.
Baladjie Rock
Lots of climbing here and the views were sensational. Plenty of 4WD tracks around here too.
Next we headed for the gold mining town of Westonia. Very tidy and quaint. Picked up a couple of lemons for this afternoon’s Margaritas.
Westonia
There was mine site blasting posted for 4:30PM so we thought we had better get out of town while the getting was good. We decided to backtrack a little and checkout Sandford Rock. We didn’t have the time or energy for the walk trail here, but will come back another time. It would be hard to better Baladjie though.
Took the back roads to camp and have finished this blog entry just in time for 5sies.
Rock Hopping
After a short sleep following the night shift we headed off for Moorine Rock; not the town, but the campsite.
Moorine Rock Campsite
We managed to catch up to the weather front that had passed through Perth that morning as we headed east. There was some quite heavy rain in it at times which made the journey a bit tenser than we would like.
There were a couple of 4.5metre heavy loads to get around. Having a UHF radio on channel 40 sure makes that easier. These guys are usually pretty helpful.
We managed to get about 30 minutes ahead of the leading edge of the front as we made camp; just enough time to get everything done before the rain hit.
It was a bit of a wild night (the weather cheeky), although the double Margarita did help.
5'sies
Monday, May 3, 2010
Le Toure de Femme - Forest Frolic
What a great day out this was. No dramas apart from our visitor vehicle getting a bit low on fuel, but that turned out OK; getting them to the petrol station just before empty.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Sunny and mild. The off road section of the drive took about 2 hours and the girls performed admirably. There were a few butterflies on one of the hill descents, but apart from that, it was just a nice relaxing drive through our native bushland.
Here is a link to a plot of the trip: Google Map Plot.
The girls hopped out at the Ghost House and walked back to the barbecue spot by Lake Loch McNess while the boys made a (bit too) leisurely drive there. As it turned out we all arrived there together.
It was a very relaxing BBQ with some cheesecake and chocolate mud cake for desert. It must have been nearly 6PM by the time we headed home.
The weather was absolutely perfect. Sunny and mild. The off road section of the drive took about 2 hours and the girls performed admirably. There were a few butterflies on one of the hill descents, but apart from that, it was just a nice relaxing drive through our native bushland.
Here is a link to a plot of the trip: Google Map Plot.
The girls hopped out at the Ghost House and walked back to the barbecue spot by Lake Loch McNess while the boys made a (bit too) leisurely drive there. As it turned out we all arrived there together.
The Ladies in the distance on the walk trail
It was a very relaxing BBQ with some cheesecake and chocolate mud cake for desert. It must have been nearly 6PM by the time we headed home.
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