Read, Write, Ramble

 Dear Qantas, Our relationship is over. I am officially breaking up with you. I am sorry to have to tell you this way. I tried to tell you in person at the airport but at 8 o’clock on Friday night,   your desk was unoccupied. The kind man driving the bus full of displaced and disgruntled passengers to Bendigo airport, a fate I had come to rescue Wallsy from, smiled politely and pointed us to lost baggage desk, unconcerned for the effect this was having on my relationship with you. The woman behind the lost baggage desk only wanted the details of the missing luggage. She wasn’t interested in the impact this was having on my relationship with you either.   Hence, I am writing to you now to explain the irreconcilable differences at the root of this separation. It was a little over 12 months ago, when the cracks in our relationship first became apparent to me. Wallsy and I had booked a Saturday morning flight to Whyalla in order to attend my sister’s 50 th birt...

 It was like stepping back in time walking into the country hall. There is both a familiarity and similarity about the halls in Australian country towns, which have long been the hub of the community. Whether they are called the town hall, shire hall or community hall, their purpose is the same – they are there to provide a gathering place for the community and the spirit of the community past and present, resides within those walls.   The Glenlyon community has grown and transformed since I lived there briefly 4 decades ago, but the town hall, although freshly painted, felt the same as it did then. Yes, it has been beautified, an unobtrusive, clear veranda roof added to the previously austere front, but step inside and it is any Australian country hall. As you walk through the entranceway you pass a door on either side, leading off into smaller meeting rooms or offices, but then you step from the narrow hallway into a large voluminous space: high ceilinged, weatherboard l...

 Day 20 August 12, 2023   In contrast to the excited chatter, the morning we drove to the airport almost 3 weeks ago, it was a subdued group who piled into our people-mover for the final time and drove to Perth airport at 7am today. Zips were firmly closed on our bulging bags, and they were stacked in the final game of tetris in the back of the van. The doors slid closed behind us, and we navigated our way to the airport in silence. Wallsy and co-pilot Nicki, dropped the rest of us and the luggage at Terminal 3, while they drove on to return the hire car. This done, we grabbed our bags and proceeded to check them in before facing the scrutiny of security and settling ourselves into a café near our gate where we sought the solace of coffee and breakfast. Each couple at a separate table, there wasn’t much talk, just private reminiscing, or planning for the days ahead as we returned to our real lives. On board on time at 9am ready for push back at 9:30, we reached for our...

Day 19 August 11, 2023   There comes a point in every holiday when all you want to do is go home, and I am ready to do just that. As much as I have enjoyed seeing and experiencing so many amazing things in Western Australia, it is time. Time to go back to the security and comfort of my own home; time to give the gorgeous Oscar a huge hug and be greeted by his wagging tail. I can see him running up the yard to the side gate as we pull into the driveway now, and I can’t wait. Today we travelled from Hyden and the remarkable Wave Rock, via the rather unusual Dog Cemetery at Corrigin and the beautiful town of York where we stopped for lunch. York is the oldest inland town in WA having been established in 1835, with its very attractive architecture which speaks to a time of boom, as the last rail stop before the walk to the goldfields. It was also important for its sheep and grain farming, sandalwood, and cattle. We found it to be a busy and interesting hub, a place I would like t...

 Day 18 August 10, 2023 We packed up and left Esperance this morning, driving by the Rotary Lookout to gaze at the lovely vista (Wallsy’s word!) once more.  As we are a driver down due to illness, Wallsy took the wheel first and drove to Ravensthorpe for a lunch stop, which was the halfway point for today’s trip. The road trip was quiet and thankfully uneventful, and we made it to Ravensthorpe in good time for lunch. As soon as I had finished the sausage roll, I had chosen however, I regretted it. The solid, fatty lump, sat heavily in my stomach, and the strange tasting coffee, added to the uncomfortable mix, as I climbed back in the car for the next two-hour leg. Nicki drove the next two hours to Wave Rock. The rain had started before we arrived, but it was only light and didn’t deter us from getting out of the car to explore this quite remarkable geological feature. After viewing the headline act, Wallsy and I climbed onto Hyden Rock to complete the walk across the top...

 Day 17 August 9, 2023   Our one full day in Esperance began with relentless mizzle. Raewyn and Shane found out how wet you can get in mizzle when they went out for their morning run/walk. The rest of us opted to remain indoors and stay dry. After breakfast, I decided to tackle the 17 km Great Ocean Trail loop from the Esplanade around 5 bays up to Pink Lake and back. Following some discussion and amendment of the plans for the day, Nicki decided to join me on the hike (much to Wallsy’s relief!) while the others had a rest day. We set off, wearing layers in case of further mizzle, but it wasn’t a problem, the sun came out and we were soon quite warm. We visited the Rotary Lookout on the way and then took a shortcut (!) to the great ocean trail which soon took us to West Beach. The sea was its signature turquoise and very calm. The path was paved and at the outset, it seemed to be a deceptively easy walk. Taking a few photos of amazing rock formations and gentle waves...

Day 16 August 8, 2023   We had a slower start to the day today as the onward journey to Esperance was only going to be two hours in length. As a result we were all able to go for a walk/run around Hopetoun and take one more admiring look at the white sandy beach and the turquoise ocean before breakfast and the inevitable pack the bags and the car and get out of town routine. Wallsy was the captain of the ship today. The trip to Esperance was straightforward and we arrived at about midday. We found an outdoor food van selling delicious paninis and fresh juice and its neighbour - a coffee van, so all appetites were covered. As these were situated on the foreshore in the jetty precinct, we took a walk out on the jetty, not quite beating the rain, and then, once the rain had passed, walked to the tourist information centre. Armed with brochures about things to do for the afternoon and tomorrow, we found our accommodation and checked in.   A cup of tea or coffee is usually ...

 Day 15, August 7, 2023   The morning sea fog that hung over Mount Clarence this morning belied the fact that the forecasters had promised us our warmest day so far – 27 degrees! So, it was in a strange assortment of shorts, t-shirts and puffer jackets, that we arrived at The Gap and The Natural Bridge at 8:30 this morning. The Gap, a huge granite cleft with a lookout platform suspended 10 m beyond the edge of the rock surface, offers a unique spectacle of the crashing waves of the Southern Ocean, battering the base of the cliffs. It did not disappoint. To stand out on the metal structure, being buffeted by the wind, looking down through the gaps in the grated deck, or peering over the edge of the railing, and seeing the broiling ocean 40 m below was an incredible experience. A short walk away from The Gap, is the Natural Bridge, a granite arch, which can be viewed from a strategically placed deck, allowing a view of both the top of the bridge and the ocean below as it...

 Day 14, August 6, 2023   Our goal today was Castle Rock in the Porongurup National Park, north of Albany. This huge granite outcrop is home to a unique suspended walkway on the outside of the rock, known as the Granite Skywalk. After a fairly cold night in our rental accommodation, we were up, and on the road early, bidding farewell to the lovely ocean views through the trees, which was one of the most appealing features of the house. The drive was pleasant, the day was sunny, and our spirits were high.   We were in the National Park by 10am and launched into the 2km climb to Castle Rock with gusto. It was a relentless climb, through jarrah, marri and karri forest, but the path was clear and featured many steps, albeit irregularly spaced and sized, which did make the going easier. After about 50 minutes we paused for photos beneath the Balancing Rock and then came to a fork in the road, one branch leading to the lower lookout, where Wallsy opted to stay and soa...

 Day 13  August 5, 2023   It was Saturday, so of course we had factored a parkrun event into the travel itinerary. We were up early to drive half an hour up the road to Manjimup, where the run starts at the King Jarrah tree. The tree is believed to be 500 years old, with a   diameter of 2.6m and a height of 45m – that would seem to make it worthy of the title ‘king’. Although this was event number 462 at Manjimup, it does not have a high attendance - the presence of the 6 of us swelled their numbers to 30 - but they were a friendly group and very welcoming. One enthusiastic local, Karlee, chatted to us all before the run. Afterwards, when we had congregated waiting for the celebratory cake for those who had achieved significant milestones – 250 and 300 events respectively - she asked Nicki and I if we were mother and daughter? I wasn’t game to ask her which of us she thought was the mum, because I felt the answer was going to be pretty obvious … suffice to say,...

 Day 12, August 4, 2023 I was up and out for a walk this morning, something I find essential before spending extended time in the car. I found my way to the River Walk which started at the end of our street and was a pretty 2.2 km loop down one side of the river, across the weir and back along the other side to a foot bridge. The path was muddy in parts, but there were lovely seats for sitting and contemplating, some of which were on decks which overhung the river. The river was full and very fast flowing and the peace of the early morning bush was broken only by the sound of running water, especially near the weir. It was only when I got down to the footbridge on the other side, that I realised this was actually the parkrun course. And a very nice course it would be to run too, although a bit more like a trail run in parts. Unfortunately, we won’t be here for parkrun tomorrow, but we have identified one we can do. I ran into Wallsy as I was reaching the end of my walk, so I ...

Day 11, August 3, 2023 The weather cleared today allowing us to enjoy our day in Margaret River and surrounds. The planned outing was to visit one of the many caves in the area, but not being keen on underground explorations, and having already visited a cave on our last trip over here, I declined and opted for a 9.5 km walk from Margaret River to the coast at Prevelly instead. Shane, also not an enthusiastic spelunker, decided to join me. The trail was well made, paved and wide, designed for bicycles and walkers, through attractive bushland, running beside the road, and we rewarded ourselves with a coffee at the end. The remaining two thirds of the group visited Mammoth Cave, a 15-minute drive down the road. The cave was so named for its mammoth size apparently, not the fact that any remains of mammoths had been found therein, although there were some visible fossilised megafauna to be seen. Following the self-guided cave experience they did a bit of tree hugging in the Karri an...

 Day 10 August 2, 2023 The weather gods did not look favourably on us today. By the time we left Bunbury at 9:30 this morning, it was raining, and it did not let up all day. With Wallsy at the wheel, we travelled first through the Ferguson Valley and then the Wellington National Park, to reach the Wellington dam. The dam is renowned for a remarkable mural painted across the wall, which is the largest dam mural in the world. Brisbane-born graffiti artist, Guido Van Helten turned his talent to painting photorealistic murals and is today known for his silo art in Brim, Victoria and Nashville, Tennessee; a nuclear cooling tower in Chernobyl; and a multi-story building in the Ukraine, just to name a few. This mural, Reflections, covers an area of 8000 square meters and was completed in February 2021. The rain eased enough to enable us to walk a short distance to view the mural from the bottom of the wall, but the thunder and lightning began as we were returning to the car. The...