On a Hyden to nuthin’

Well doesn’t the time slip by. Last post was on the 10th but that only took us up to the 6th or 7th of June. From Augusta we went back to Margaret River where we eventually found the farm stay we’ed been told of. Well of course we entered the roadway from the wrong end – we were coming from the south and the instructions in the book directed only from the north. Anyway we had our trusty sat-nav didn’t we? It found the right road just from the wrong direction so about 7/8 of the way up the road as it got narrower and muddier I overrode the stupid thing and yelled at it to take us back. After negotiating a turn-around through eleventy leven feet of filthy muddy water we headed back to follow the directions in the book. By the time we got into the farm we looked like most farmers tractors – s..t up to the door handles. Anyway on arrival at Big Valley Farmstay we found a familiar vehicle – “The Bakers Den”, a very large silver and blue Denning coach conversion. We had crossed paths with this vehicle without spying its occupants all the way across the Nullarbor and then into Esperance. They bumped into Maggie Laytons friend Glenys Ferguson in Donnybrook who thought it was us but once put right was informed that they had seen us along the way. Well we finally met the Bakers – Margaret and Tony over drinks the next night. The story gets weirder – another couple from Victoria, Harvey and Sue joined us for drinks (as did Keith and Helen) only to discover that Margaret  and Sue did their time as nurses together in training (a long way back), had retained mutual friends but hadn’t seen each other in 30 or so years. Life gets funny sometimes don’t it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L – R: Harvey, Jude, Keith, Helen, Margaret, Tony and Sue (and me out of the picture – again).

Farmstay was OK but not quite as expected, but then I’m not quite sure what was expected anyway. Its really just a caravan park in a farm – probably great for Kiwis…………

 

 

 

 

 

 

and goats and birds….

 

 

 

 

 

But, we weren’t there all the time and we didn’t get a dog or pussy nor did we actually see any of the lambs come into the world but we did finally go to Busselton on a nice wet cold windy day to find the longest pier and the underwater observatory closed cos of the weather. I took some shots anyway cos this wouldn’t be our blog without them (as I’m sure you’ve come to expect)…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this coldest June day we headed back to Margaret River to indulge in Mmmmm..illers  ICE CREAM. Even bought tubs to keep us satisfied over the rest of winter – that’s logical isn’t it!

OK. So we had to start the Zig-Zag – head east old folks was the call, so, back to Wagin. This put us in striking distance of Albany for another session with my personal podiatrist (I know all the staff on first name terms now and they’re following our adventures), a little round trip of some 500km for a 20 minute appointment. This saw Suzi top 10,000km for the trip so far along with 10,000km as well on the truck. Another $220.00 on special shoes to take orthotics and we were back on the road again We stayed in the Wagin showgrounds, a delightful spot with all amenities for just $8.00 per night. Needed to conserve funds with the cost of shoes as they are so we moved on to the Stirling Ranges National Park just 80 km north of Albany and stayed in a forest camp at $10.00 per night. Met Max and Glen from Redland Bay in Qld……..

 

 

 

 

 

and Rod and Jenny from Sunshine Coast and Tony and Andrea from NZ and didn’t get their photos cos it was too dark. The Stirlings though are stunning and I’m not sure that these photos do the scenery justice but I’ll inflict them on you dear loyal reader anyway…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and once again we commend the state government on its preparedness to make all of natures remarkable sights accessible to us.

Even the camp ground, whilst not featuring showers or potable water was a delightful place to be….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta leave ya there cos we’re on a Hyden to nuthin’ . Now that might leave ya guessin’.