Albany, WA

Albany has a reputation for being a cold and rainy place, but everytime I have been there the weather is generally fine and sunny, perhaps not 35 degree hot, but I prefer weather where you can do things without sweating your life away, so the cooler weather suits me.
Anyway while we were in Albany (we went for lunch - more about that later) the weather was fine and sunny!

Made a stop at Princess Royal Fortress at Mt Adelaide. See brochure below.

The Fortress is now a museum and contains many fine mementos from different eras of Australias military. There is the HMAS Perth Interpretive Centre, The Barracks, Military Heritage Centre, Australian Light Horse Museum and much more, go I you are in Albany, there is also a cafe so coffee is available!

Stopped at Emu Point for lunch, cannot remember the name of the cafe, but it was at the end of the road and practically on the beach, great location and the salt and pepper squid I had was excellent, highly recommended, even just for the location.

We headed back to Perth on the Thursday prior to Easter (another good decision because there was very little traffic heading to Perth even though traffic out was very heavy). Strange thing, it would appear nearly 85% of the traffic heading down south were 4WD's (How much offroading is being done down there over easter?) must make a hell of a mess of the bush if they all went offroad! or the beaches must be like car parks.

Stopped in Kojunup for lunch on the way home. Stopped at the Visitors centre (Australian Rose Maze - The Kodja Place). Worthwhile visiting to break your journey to Perth.

So we are again back in Perth, but only for Easter and are off to Rottnest Island on Friday for a few days.

Mark Webber places second in Malaysia

Sunday 4th April
Go Mark!!

Karrilup Cottage, Denmark WA

It is Easter Monday, and am only now getting around to updating re Denmark WA, Easter is always very busy!.

We left Perth the Monday before Easter and drove to Denmark via Mount Barker (best time to go - minimum traffic) and turned up at the cottage about 5pm, and what a beautiful location. Set in a lovely rural setting approx. 12km west of Denmark. The cottage itself is the old Telegraph Cottage and it has been beautifully fitted out and has a lovely verandah for watching the sunset through the trees and the antics of the dozens of Blue Wrens which come and feed on your front doorstep. The sheep and donkey also come and visit.

Tuesday went into Denmark for coffee and visited the Visitors centre (as you do) and when we came out there were three Hot Rods in the carpark towing caravans of all things, apparantley on their way to Bunbury for a get together (these guys were from NSW - so one hell of a drive!) Over the next few days we saw a number of Hot Rods passing through from Victoria and even Tasmania, obviously all heading for Bunbury.

The Visitors centre has a claim to fame in that it houses the worlds largest water barometer (The Bert Bolle Barometer - see photo) It is recorded in the Guiness Book of Records
Another place of ineterest is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk just out of Walpole - it is a very easy walk and you are in the treetops without climbing a step, great. The highest point is 40m above ground.
The Denmark area is a lot more laid back than other areas of the South West and better for it. The wines are excellent the food is good and not expensive, it is a very relaxing and beautiful area of our state.

Heading Home

Am sitting in the departure lounge at Sydney Airport waiting to head back to Perth for a couple of days before heading to Denmark ( Denmark in the South West of Western Australia that is).

Have spent 4 great days on the Hawkesbury River, in particular Dangar Island just off Brooklyn.

On Wednesday caught up with some friends we met while they were "in residence" at the Katherine Sussanah Pritchard writers centre in Perth. They came down from Lake Maquarie and we spent the day with them, there is a great little fish & chips shop in Brooklyn, so with a bottle of wine and some salad we had lunch in the park, accompanied by the bush turkey, carrawongs and noisy miners (oh, and a couple of small humans also).

Yesterday got up early and again took the ferry (The Sun) to Brooklyn and boarded the Hawkesbury River Explorer, which is the last remaining River Postman in Australia, for a 31/2 hr trip up the river dropping off mail and goods to the various communities along the river.

But am afraid that is all over now and this morning  Rose and I had to pack up, leave our cosy little cottage and verandah overlooking the river and head off to the airport. Caught the train out of Hawkesbury but stopped off in Sydney, but would you know it, ther are no luggage lockers at the Rail Station! so we were stuck with our lugagge, however found a nice little cafe close by (at the Youth Hostel actually!) and had a lunch of Teryaki Chicken with drink for $9.98!.

So here we now are at the airport waiting for our flight. Next week we head off to Denmark, so will write again then.

Dangar Island, Hawkesbury River, NSW

Well Hullo from Dangar Island!

This is a beautifull and thoroughly relaxing place and only one hour by train from Sydney, perfect.
Although we had to be up at 4.00am in the morning to get ready and catch a flight from Perth in Western Australia to Sydney and THEN the train, arriving at Dangar island about 6.00pm EST (including daylight saving) - so it was a looong day! but certainly worth it.

The Island itself is very small and very lush, we thought we had accidentally arrived in Queenslands far North, the vegetation is so green.

The house we have rented is directly on the beach with kayaks for exploring and very comfortably furnished, even the TV is located in the second bedroom so you are not tempted to switch it on except for important news items, which is a great idea.

There are no cars on the island so almost every house has a wheelbarrow for carting the shopping etc from the ferry to the house - very unique and rather cool!

Have spent today exploring the island, and the first thing we found was the Island store so we dropped in for a caffeine fix and contemplation of the river (I think we may do a lot of that - its that type of place and the river is so beautifull).

Luckily we brought with us some emergency supplies (Rissotto, some greens, breakfast cereal etc) because the supplies on the island are minimal and we have no transport except the ferry to Brooklyn about every hour, so you cannot just pop out and buy something, and the cafe is closed for evening meals.

Tomorrow some friends who live at Lake Maquarie are coming to visit and we will meet them at Brooklyn for lunch and they are going to take us for a tour of the surrounding area, looking forward to that.

On Thursday we will take the River Postman for a morning trip (with Buffet lunch) up the Hawkesbury and hopefully we will be able to see some of the oyster farms which are located on the river.

Will report on this in a later issue, Cheers for now.

Christmas to New Year

28th December 2009

We are in Mandurah, Western Australia, approx 1hrs drive South of Perth. Staying at the Sebel with a beautiful view of the estuary and Boardwalk.

Mandurah used to be rather tatty in years gone by, but like the Phoenix it has arisen and is now quite the place to holiday, with new Hotels, luxury apartments and a huge amount of work done on the foreshore to make it very liveable.

We have only just checked in but are very pleased with our accommodation.

The weather bureau predicted 40 degrees celsius for Perth today, but in Mandurah it is at least 5 degrees less, which makes life a little more comfortable, although one can always retreat tom the airconditioning!

OK, must go a glass of champagne (or sparkling Pinot Noir, methode champagne as it is known here) is calling me from the balcony!!

What's Happening Now?

Well, not much actually. Am back at work but Rose and I are planning a trip to New South Wales next March. It will only be short (1 week). Will be flying over and have rented a cottage on Dangar island on the Hawkesbury rivet north of Sydney, no cars on the island, boat access only, so should be really, really laid back.



(Have just received some goooood news, During peak holiday periods to get accommodation on Rottnest Island here in Perth (well a little offshore actually, not IN Perth!) you have to enter a ballot and we have been allocated a villa at Geordie Bay, fantastic. So off to Rotto next Easter!!.)





Later on in the next year (2010), will be travelling to France to meet up with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, the farmhouse has been booked and now we only have to arrange everything else around it! Plans for a few days in Hong Kong, Paris and Turin, a week in Tuscany then home.



Have bought a new car, VW Golf 2.0TDIwith DSG, great car, heaps of torque (pulls like a tractor!!) and very, very economical, but certainly noiser than the Toyota Camry we had, and I guess we are doing our little bit for the planet? Would have liked the GTi, but hey, couldnt justify the cost.


We did do a trip locally in the new Golf (within Western Australia - that is a BIG local). travelled to Kalgoorlie then North thru Ora Banda, Menzies - with a side trip to Lake Ballard, then to Kykonie, Leonora, Gwalia and back thru Coolgardie to Perth with a side trip through Training? etc (sort of north of Merriden) which avoids the main highway and is much more interesting.

Have also just booked to go to Melbourne in May 2010.

So lots to start of with next year, and who knows what other trips may come up in the meantime (a river cruise between Moscow and St Petersburg would be good or Oslo to Bergen in winter by train would be another one)