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Published: February 3rd 2006
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25th Jan
After using the net to update the blog we went back to the beach for a swim and spent the afternoon doing ordinary things before heading to Helms Aboretum. This is a reserve planted out with maybee 80 - 100 types of different eucalypt dotted amongst some other W.A. natives.
26th Jan
We finally brought ourselves to leave Esperence today and drove to Ravensthorp where we had lunch. The drive in this area goes trough a 'biosphere' a large area of native bushland that the plants and animals can evolve naturally that is Fitzgerald N.P. It is beautiful native bushland that we could not enter into the core of however got great views of the landscape as we were driving. We camped right on the edge of the N.P. at Bremer Bay . We wlked on the beach and then drove up to a look out as being Australia Day JJJ Hottest 100 was on and we needed reception. So we enjoyed a picnic from the top and waited until sunset.
27th Jan.
We drove from Bremmer Bay more inland through the Stirling Ranges and down to Albany. We were going to free camp near Mutton Bird Island however
Russel Coite
Bogged with Car and camper near Mutton Bird Island. Nice one Russel (Nard) Nard metamorphised into Russel Coit and checked the track before leading us into a sand pit in which we had the trailer and car bogged on a one way track. So after emptying the trainler to push it back up the dune, Nard falling on my ankle causing bruising and an egg sized swelling we then dug out the car and found ourselves a camp in a caravan park where we had views out our windows to the national park and acrosss the bay to the lights of Albany.
28th Jan
We had craft morning this morning making a present for Moo Moo and Laksa for lunch before taking a historic drive around Albany and heading up to the lookout.
29th Jan
We visited Toorindup N.P. which has georgous scenery and in the afternoon I walked the end 5 Km's of the Bibilmun Track while Nard went and purchased a new altenator for the truck. Apparently we got the last altenator in W.A, for our model car as they had just ordered it in for someone else but it had internal reather than external bit or vice versa so we got it. What Karmah. This track goes from Perth and
Breamer Bay
Hottest 100 countdown with a view goes through some of the nicest spots and N.P.'s down the South West of W.A for 1000 kms to Albany. For the entire drive along this area there are signs to watch out for hikers as you cross another section of track.
30th Jan
We went out to Two Peoples Bay N.P. today, checked out Oyster Bay
31st Jan
Left Albany today and rove a short drive to Parry's Beach a spot between William Bay N.P. and Owingup N.P. A great camp spot in under the tea trees and a georgeous bay we took the dogs for a walk where Dave tweaked his sore leg and Nard had to carry him home. We dosed him up on soem additional pain killers however he still spent the night awake and panting in pain. So we packed up the next morning deciding we needed to head to a vets in Perth sooner rather than later to fix dave. So we stopped of at the N.P in Walpole and did the Tree Top walk that is awsome. It is in amongst the Tingle Tree's a Eucalypt that only grows in very moist areas of W.A.'s South West. These trees have shallow root systems
and are often tortured by fire and eaten at by parasites so create these great butresses at their trunk bases. If you are afraid of heights then do not attempt this walk. The bridges span between 4 poles that are kept upright by 4 cables running to the ground. The whole thing sways as you walk on it and you look down through an open wire grid to the forest floor below. We drove through Pemberton and Nannup through a little used short cut of dirt road with again great native bushland to Margaret River to stay at Jez's for the evening in Prevelly.
1 Feb
So a day short of 1 month and 2 weeks before schedule we arrive in Shoalwater (between Mandurah and Rockingham). We are renting a house here with Jules and Sandy and respective parteners that look out over Seal Island. From the balcony with naked eyes you can see big fat seals sunning themselves over which the sun sets of an evening. A 15 minute walk down the beach and you have Penguin Island. This evening Sandy has picked us up in the boat and as I update the blog I am in a penguin
enclosure and can hear 10 penguins sneazing and courting. Outside is an array of birds but mostly Bridle Turns at this time of year which have come here to bread. And Nard is out in the boat fishing. Dave has undergone what will be expensive surgery today and we have visited him in hospital and Auntie Jules had made him very comfortable for the night dosing him up on some happy drugs to keep the pain at bay and to help him sleep. He had deffinately torn his Cruciet ligament but some time ago howver his other leg apparently is so arthritic that it was more sore than the new sore leg so did not limp to let us know he had hurt it. They have scaped out the arthritis in the joint and also had to remove some more ligament stuff that was irriparable. So with a limmited exercize regeime, physio and swimming he should be almost back to normal in 3 months and on joint lubing drugs forever to help with mobility and pain. Lets try and keep him at home while we walk Dennis. i can hear him yelping already. We are planning to revisit the section that we missed in out rush to get Dave here which will be easier not having the dogs with us. From Shoalwater it is not far to many of the areas N.P.'s. We will keep you up to date with all of out drives, day tris and weekenders. Feel free to pop in to our piece of paridise if you are over this way. Love to all. Sam and Nard.
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Dad
non-member comment
lots of experiences
You learn more everyday with experiences than all the info you can get from 4wd books, lots if memories coming up, hope you are as good getting out of bogs as you are getting into them.....love the photos Dad