Father’s Day
This morning after an early morning walk on the beach with Billy as the wind was very cool, it appears the ocean swell last night ripped up a lot more seaweed and spread it up on the high tide mark.
Today is our last day here at Seven Mile Beach (only allowed a 72-hour stay) so we shall be moving on, and our last day with Neville and Robyn as they make their way towards home. We will miss them a lot as will Billy. We have all again, shared so many incredible and memorable experiences together on this holiday venture over their last two months of travel. From the outback of the Gibb River road to the beautiful stunning Ningaloo Reef and so much in between we hope to plan another holiday with them in the not too far distance.
Packed and ready to go we all head off into town and share our last coffee with them, for at least six months until we get home. After our goodbyes, we take a short drive into Denison and what a very beautiful beach. We have lunch there before heading through into Dongara where we will spend one night in an RV 24hr rest stop. This would have to make the least kms travelled from leaving in the morning to stopping in the afternoon 14kms.!! This is mainly due to only 72 hours allowed at the beach stay, we want mobile range & TV range tonight.
4th September Monday
10 degrees
Leaving Dongara and heading towards Geraldton today for a few days, but will sight see through Greenough and The Walkaways.
We followed the signs to Alinta Wind farms and Mumbida Wind farms, which comprised of dozens of turbines reaching 78 metres high. These are Western Australia’s largest renewable energy generators. The viewing area and interpretive signs provide a fantastic outlook over the farmland below.
From here we continue to the Greenough historic settlement constructed between 1863 and 1913, and provide a rare insight into the early settlement of agricultural lands. It is here we decide to enjoy a coffee and scones for morning tea out under the pergola. The green pastures were home to many alpacas that roamed free sunning themselves at leisure.
A few kilometres further on the Brand Highway we located another popular icon & photo opportunity which was The Leaning Tree. Buffeted by prevailing southerly winds, the leaning tree of Greenough (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) or Red River gum is found throughout Southern Australia growing along watercourses and on flood plains. It is only on the windswept Greenough Flats that the tree develops its distinctive leaning shape.
From here we continue to Geraldton and locate a spot to stay in town, and as caravan set up is minimal it allows us to take a few relaxing hours enjoying a walk through the shops before returning.
Sue decides she is need of some retail therapy and heads off to the shops, meanwhile back at camp Russell puts his feet up & enjoys chatting to the neighbours.
In the later part of the afternoon we are told a whale and calf are spotted just in the harbour close to us so we all take a walk to the lookout and observe. It was amazing to see such a grand creature slowly swimming through the harbour.
5th September Tuesday
We were planning to leave Geraldton today but decided to stay another day as we have lots to do.
The windy weather has continued this morning but hope it settles down later in the day.
After breakfast, we grab all our washing and drive to the laundromat, and while it is washing we take a leisurely walk up town to the arcades. After the washing is done we drop into the butcher and head back to camp and have lunch. The washing is all hung out and dried very fast in this wind, which I estimate dried within half an hour. Russell does some checks on the car and van and we relax into the afternoon.
We decide to take a short 12km drive up to Mills Lookout that has spectacular scenery of the Chapman Valley.
6th September Wednesday
This morning we are undecided whether to move on or not, so will see what needs to be done in Geraldton first.
After breakfast, we walk into town although very overcast and cool it is still a lovely place to be on holidays.
7th September Thursday
Our last day here at Geraldton and will be a shame to move on. We both found Geraldton a beautiful town with wonderful beaches and foreshores, very well kept and clean. The shops are modern with most things that Brisbane offer just seems less hectic, although paid parking in a lot of carparks has happened. We did however locate a few carparks that were free and some had 3-hour parking but were a distance from the main shop areas.
One of the most memorable and picturesque views for me would have to be from Mills Point lookout overlooking Chapman Valley.
After some last-minute tasks like fuel, gas cylinders and water tanks we head out of Geraldton following the Brandt Hwy and continue through South Greenough and Dongara again, continuing to find more places to look at. We want to stay on the coastal fringes so will have to persist with these winds which will be interesting trying to place the van in the correct position.
We follow Wiki and decide on Cliff Heads South (72 hour stay) off the Indian Ocean Drive about 6km South of the Brandt Hwy.
Billy loves the beach and the wind, often re locating himself out of shelter to be in breeze.
This afternoon we have watched a few more people come in and set up camp, it is a truly beautiful spot for a 72 hour stay for free camping.
8th September Friday
This morning I went for a very long walk with Billy on the beach. There are very few shells on this beach but a lot of seaweed washed up on shore.
The Ranger came around and had a chat, remembers us from Seven Mile Beach and apparently where we next camped in at Dongara 24-hour rest area. He patrols all these camp grounds to ensure no one out stays their time limits. Most of these free camp spots you must be self-sufficient with water and all amenities as not every camp offers toilet, water, bins etc.
The day stayed nice and sunny as more people drove in to the camp ground, I suppose being the weekend soon this is a popular place for the locals.
A Bushtracker camped beside us this afternoon so I am sure we will have some conversations at some stage and stories to tell.
A lazy kind of afternoon with nothing much happening as we ease into night fall, the sunsets here on over the water on Cliff Head are spectacular.
9th September Saturday
After breakfast, we walk down to the beach with Billy and the water is nice and calm with an off-shore breeze, making it a perfect swim for Billy. A few families were enjoying the clear waters and doing bit of fishing as well.
After throwing numerous sticks in the water for Billy and not receiving any back, we realise Billy has lost his confidence in swimming out. So, Sue re trains Billy with encouragement and walking into the water to show him it’s all safe, and then he finally starts to swim out. It was great to see him happy to constantly show us what he can do now, so much so, all day he was sneaking off down the pathway towards the ocean and just waited for us.
Thankfully the sun stayed out and dried his fur but what a mess he his. After swimming, he runs back to roll in the sand then rolls on the clay road that turns his fur into a dull dry powdery feel. He has so much sand trapped within that hair it literally falls out when he walks, and the matted knots!!
There is no point even trying to wash him until we leave, as we don’t have that much water to spare. We will have to plan a trip back into Dongara- Denison on Monday, where we can re fill our water tanks then wash him.
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