Wednesday 19 December 2012

Heading east where everything’s up.

Leaving Margaret River we now find ourselves travelling in an easterly direction rather than south.  Unfortunately that makes us feel like we’re heading home, but we still have a long way to go to get there, many more sights to see and lots of towns to visit ending with the word ‘up’.  Those that have visited or live in WA know what we mean...
Passing through Peerabeelup, Milyneannup NP and Beedelup NP (getting the ‘up’ picture yet?) our next tourist stop was at the Bicentennial Tree in amongst the tall timber Karri forests near Pemberton.  It’s one of a few trees in the area you can climb.  Originally used for fire spotting, they are OH&S nightmares.  Anyway we all had ideas of climbing this huge tree but after arriving and seeing just how dangerous it could be if you slipped through the rungs we had to tell the kids it wasn’t safe for them.  There were a few tears but better to be safe than sorry.  Kaz however did a quick scurry up to the first viewing platform with white knuckles gripping on tightly.
Bicentenial Tree
After checking out a few campsites in Warren NP (Pemberton) and deciding they didn’t make the grade, we moved on through Northcliffe down to Windy Harbour back down on the coast.  This was just for one night (it lives up to its name) and we moved on to Walpole the following day.
After the obligatory visitor info centre stop, we decided to pop in to the Big Hair shop on the main street to say hello to Ivan whom we’d previously met up at King Edward River in the Kimberley.  Back then he was travelling with his mates delivering much needed beer to The Kimberley Coastal Camp and we’d had a drink with them all after all it was 10 am! (photo featured in one of our previous blogs).  He gave us a business card which we’d hung onto, but didn’t really need it as his shop was one of only a hand full in this small town.

Ivan's Big Hair Shop (He's big as well)
Anyway he came out and greeted us and offered us the backyard of his shop to camp in which turned out to be great.  Like a full service caravan park but with only one site we had our own laundry, toilet and washing machine, fresh vegies from the garden to choose from, a fire pit, fresh eggs, lush grass to camp on and a garage complete with tv, couch and dart board. 
Camp site with all the best amenities (one site only!)
We visited circular pool and did the Valley of the Giants TreeTop Walk through the tingle trees.  Reaching 40m high the walking platform gave an unnerving sway while you walked along.
Circular Pool
Valley of the Giants Treetop walk
Apparently in days gone by, people used to park their cars inside the tingle trees for shade while they picnicked and had a look around. Unfortunately this damaged the shallow roots and caused a few to fall over.  So nowadays they treat them like the dolphins at Monkey Mia!

Car parking... Tingle tree style.
The next day we checked out some fishing spots and beaches but ended up at the good old faithful town jetty.  The kids enjoyed their first experience of catching fish (little black bream and trumpeters), and although they caught lots of them they were all a bit small to keep.
Walpole fishing
We spent our last night at Walpole round the fire pit with Ivan enjoying some drinks and in the morning before leaving Kaz took advantage of Ivan’s skills and got some much needed foils and a haircut.
Driving through Denmark we stopped at Albany for lunch before deciding that our next stop was to be at Fitzgerald National Park just north of Bremer Bay.  It was at Point Ann/St Mary’s Inlet and it was a beautiful camp spot in amongst the bush right by a pristine beach and inlet.  How it’s not in the Camps 6 book is beyond us, perhaps that why it’s so nice not having all the tourists go through it?  Anyway during the months of June to October it’s where the female whales come in to give birth.
Point Ann/Marys Inlet Camp site
Burning off the car trip stored energy.
Marys Inlet
Ashley the giant walking on water.
We stayed just the one night (but would have liked to stayed a few more days) as we were heading to Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance to meet up with Ron and Ann again.  Again, the beaches along this part of the coast are pristine, with the fine white sand and blue clear waters. 
We spent a day at Hellfire Bay catching the waves in.  The kids had a ball in the water, as did the adults, and lazing around on the rocks.  Lee and Ron tried some fishing but no luck unfortunately.

Having a hell of a time at Hellfire bay
Rock fishing at Hellfire bay... no luck.
Hellfire Bay
The rock lobster
We did the walk/climb up to Frenchman’s peak which was quite a steep climb, but worth the view from the top!  There was plenty of vegetation up at the top and even a goanna had made himself at home up there. At the top of the peak there is a cave that is open both ends which was quite unusual.
Frenchmans Peak at Cape Le Grand
The peak of Frenchmans peak
We met up with Mark & Megan and their boys Zac & Josh at this campsite as well that we’d been running into along the way, so we all enjoyed our own happy hour each night with lots of food, drinks and laughs!  Although the campsite was more like a parking bay the kids still enjoyed riding their bikes around and Ben made his own awesome tree house, which he proudly showed anybody and everybody.
'Ben Grylls' survival hammock... away from the snakes
After staying four nights, it was time to move again and head up to Norseman before turning right and heading off across the Nullarbor...ing rd.

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