Peaceful Bay, Kojonup and Lake Towerining. 29th Jan to 8th Feb 2013

Peaceful Bay

Pulled into Peaceful Bay and you can tell that Christmas holidays have just finished. The managers are tired, the park is tired and the amenities are a little sad.

 

We met up with Kel and Patty who we met in Albany, it turns out that they now live in Bussleton but came from Brisbane and also lived at Pottsville for many years where we holidayed for many years. After we posted a photo on Facebook we found out that they had also travelled for some time with good friends of ours, John and Kathy, it is a small world.

 

We also met up with a group from Perth, I knew Arne through work and found out he was holidaying here as well with a group of friends.  who wanted to take us to Walpole and the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The walk situated just east of Walpole is fantastic, set high up in the giant Tingle Trees.

 

The walk itself stands on huge mono poles anchored in place by cables but that does not stop it from bouncing and swaying when people walk on the platform. Even though it was very high and was very unstable it was spectacular and well worth the visit.

 

Later we walked around the bases of the giant Tingle trees standing inside their massive hollow trunks. These trees which are up to 500 years old only have a very shallow root system which seems strange for the height to which they grow. We went on to Walpole for a quick look but we had to get back for happy hour.

 

The Grandma Tingle Tree became the centre of attention for some other Grandma.

 

Went 4WD, Arne and Libby, Brian and Elaine, Tony and Jan. great people, members of a Landrover club, very experienced, should have read the manual again. Drove to The Gap, very rough and soft, turned onto the beach drove about 50 metres and straight down to the floor pan, 3 of the 4 vehicles got bogged.

 

Seals Lolling Around

Winches, shovels, recovery ramps, snatchem straps and finally all got out. Diamond Rock, Castle Rock, Kingy Rock, Cape Hope and Groper Bay. All beautiful beaches ranging from rolling surf to extremely deep water alongside vertical rock cliffs. Cape Hope had seals lolling around in the waves rolling up onto the rocks. Spent 6 hours driving in the sand, learned a lot and the company was great. After the first bogging I was able to handle the soft sand very easily.

Planned to go Kayaking again today with Kel and Patty but the Southerly wind has come up making it very uncomfortable on the beach. Just a day to play around with photos, cleaned the van and car as well. Had dinner with Patty and Kel, it was so cold. Had the fire, 1 electric and 2 gas heaters going just to stay  warm. Had a great night very nice people.

Kojonup

 

Packed up today, still windy and cold. Moved about 230klm north to Kojanup and stayed in the caravan park. New owners and the park, although old, is spick and span. Went to the visitor centre and walked around the rose maze, it represents a journey through life, the rose maze weaves the stories of three women's lives and has almost 1,700 Australian-bred rose bushes. We have to come back tomorrow to go through the Kodja Gallery and story place.

 

Jack and a Mia Mia

Packed up and parked the van in town so we could visit the Kodja Gallery and Story Place. Unfortunately, the audio equipment was not working but even so it was great. We met Jack Cox, who is a 77 year old aboriginal and is the local tourist guide. This centre was built by the community and the artefacts donated by locals.  He was a character and took a shine to Patrice and showed us around for ages. Jack showed us a couple of Mia Mias, which are little dwellings made from sticks and even though flimsy, have weathered many a storm. Young blokes who have had a bit too much to drink have slept there for the night.

I am sure that he could see aboriginal heritage in Patrice. They even had a didgeridoo playoff and Patrice won. Jack's grandfather was an Englishman but Jack was part of the Noongar tribe. He was the Australian Feather Weight boxing champion in 1966. Plenty of the town folk have gone on to represent WA in many different sports including AFL.

We were going to do the town walk but we had spent so much time with Jack we had to cut it short.
 

 In the park near where we parked was a beautiful bronze sculpture of Brigadier AW Potts, the sculpture is unbelievable. Directly across the road is a reproduction of the Wool Wagon, it is built to 1.5 times it's original size and made from steel.

 

 

 

Lake Towerining

 

When speaking to Judy in the Gallery she told us about a great camping place at Lake Towerining, so off we went about 50klm from town.

On arriving here it was like the old days of waterskiing with about 16 ski boats on the water. They look a lot different now with towering ski poles all centre mounted, big speakers and most boats pulling wake boards.

 

We are camped right on the water's edge and although we have no power or water, it is nice and relaxing while I sip a rum or 2 or 3.

Trice decided to feed the chooks, she looked very much at home.

Met the owners Ian and Theresa, they also own and run the neighbouring  sheep property with 4,000 head. They have just had the previous caretakers walk out and leave them in the lurch. They invited us in for a chat and cuppa but the longer the chat went on the more it felt like a job interview. It would be lovely to spend 3 to 6 months here but not at the moment. Put the kayak in and went for a paddle around the edge of the lake which was a lot better than yesterday now that there are a lot fewer boats here. Ian offered to take Trice and me up to their house for a look which we jumped at. The farm is around 2,000 acres and Ian has many projects on the go. From restoring a truck which was ready to paint about 10 years ago to restoring Holden Statesmans which he has a passion for. The problem with the farm and now the camp ground is that they are working 12 to 14 hours per day 6 to 7 days per week. They are extremely friendly people and Ian was happy to show us photos of their grown children and the grand kids.

Ian came knocking on the door to see if we were happy where we were and if we we going to stay another night, when I said no and that we were probably just going to head north towards Perth, he asked us to stay another night also wanted to know if we would like to help him return the rams to the mob and feed them as well. What a great opportunity so we jumped at it and piled into the Toyota Ute.

We went to his leased farm with 6 randy Rams who have not seen a girl sheep for some time. Once we let them out of the back they certainly were not shy in getting to know the ladies. Not much of an introduction needed and no laying back with a cigarette after either, just on the next slowest good looker.

Ian and Theresa are great people and we will make sure we get back to there sooner rather than later. This is the country and the people are just fantastic and make you feel like you have known them for years.

Our last night was cooking in the camp oven while having a wine or two.

We had been planning an event for weeks and that was to fly back home to visit family without anyone knowing. It was a great success and the surprise was better than we expected. We left Perth on 8th February and returned 22nd before heading back south.