Blog 11 - Rawnsley park Station - Flinders Ranges - Blinman - Thurs 16th July 2015

Blog 11 – Rawnsley Park Station – Flinders Ranges – Blinman – Thursday 16^th July 2015

My former belly dancing injury woke me in the early hours. I'm not joking, hip bursitis took hold when I practiced the ancient art of belly dancing and returns frequently especially when I am stupid enough to go on a crazy four wheel drive adventure. I braved the pain for a bit, as I felt the cold air outside of our two quilts would be a far worse feat.  But of course it wasn't so I hobbled out of bed in search of pain killers. Bonnie, thought this was time for a walk which I quickly informed her it was not. This may seem harsh, but she had me outside at 3 in the morning indicating she needed an urgent wee. Once outside it was pretty clear she just wanted to go have fun chasing kangaroos or playing with next doors dog or generally being an idiot. 

Not long after I get back into bed Moose gets dressed in usual moose gear - tshirt and jeans but adds a thick jacket before taking Bon out. He sprints back in for car keys as the sun is coming out (first time since we arrived here) from the cloud cover, giving him a peek of the possible changing colours when its rays hit the Rock, that he has wanted to see. 

When he pops back in he suggests we hook up the van and move on to Blinman. Yesterday we had thought we'd do a day trip there leaving the van here but now we will tow the van, check out the town - and please god let there be a coffee machine there, then find somewhere nice to stop. 

Guard dog Bonnie

A lark sits on a branch of the tree trilling a song for us as we pack up. 

Bonnie had found an embankment that she can sit on and survey all around us. She hears a bird call or someone's voice and freezes, tail up face pointing in the direction of the noise until she's sure everything is as it should be 

With the sun out scenic flights are buzzing every half hour or so. 

Bonnie is a tad confused as a group of birds seem to be imitating Moose’s whistle for her. She's keeping close to camp while she works it out

Pack up Time

We packed up and I spent half an hour doing a quick clean. Moose tidied the outside drying off ground sheets and sweeping mud out of the car as he went.

Bonnie in travelling position

 We left Rawnsley Park at 10.45 am. The sun still shining but hasn't much heat to share. White fluffy clouds and blue sky have replaced the heavy grey skies of the last few days. There is a frequent icy breeze blowing to remind us its still winter. 

As we pull up at Hucks lookout, I get out to take photos and there is the surprise of a vibrating phone. I no longer take phone signal for granted. A couple of quick texts with Jess then we are offline again. We drive through Flinders national park which has a mix of flat treeless plains, soft rolling hills and bloody huge rock formations plus mountains. When there is trees, there are alot of native pines and old knarled white gums with twisted trunks having moved with the wind and followed the sunlight. 

Blinman is a welcoming little mining town. We pulled in next to some ruins while Moose fixed some wire in the van. Bonnie and I patiently waited. Once finished with his electrical work we headed to the pub as this was the reason for a stop in Blinman. Not for a drink but to follow up on a bit of Moose history. In his last year of high school (matric) Moose came to Blinman for a school trip. He had entered a race to run straight up the steep hill which looks over town, run around a monument and back down where the winners name would be written in a register in the Pub. Moose surprised himself and his class by not only winning but braking record at the time so he had the honour of being written up in the great book. Sadly, on asking we found out the book had disappeared in the 1990s.

 

Cottage 1 on Heritage walk

We enjoyed lunch at the pub where Bonnie provided petting therapy again, to several grownups and kids. Walking down the road Moose was saying how a lot of country towns have a caravan park behind the pub. At that moment I looked up a drive way beside the pub and sure enough it was a sign for a caravan park. We took a look, although not very scenic it looked like a good place to stop. While Moose set the van to rights I popped over to the tourist bureau where I met Peter an ex Mandurah WA resident. He’s quite the character   I’ve left him searching through records to see if Moose’s name is there if it's not he wants moose to supply information about the run plus if possible a picture of the trophy which is a stupid 50c ships anchor with a thermometer on it that I have been trying to throw out for years.

Renovated cottage on heritage walk

By now Bonnie is fairly climbing the walls so we headed up a track behind the buildings of the town. A sign said it was a Heritage walk - Bonnie though found chasing kangaroos and rabbits more fun than old buildings. Moose chasing after her at one stage, only for him to be running down a hill calling Bonnie and her to come walking up the other side to me so I was walking along calling Moose. 

The general store boasts of selling great coffee so I nabbed Moose’s wallet and headed there as he walked up the drive way to the van. Disappointment rained down on me as I approached the verandah and seen two ladies with their hands raised up to the side of their faces and foreheads touching the window, peering inside. We all commiserated on the fact we'd gone for a walk BEFORE getting a coffee. Then stood around talking. They were out for day after camping in one of the nearby stations. There was a 78 year old elegant lady from the Adelaide Hills, her daughter from Canada and daughter in law from Korea plus 2 gorgeous granddaughters. The men folk were around and about but keeping to themselves. The family were all together to celebrate Grandpa's 80th. How cool is that! We said our good byes with the thought that we'd probably meet again over coffee in the general store 

Moose and Bonnie are done out so the van is quiet except for my tapping. 

We had dinner at the pub which has a huge dining room with an open fire but as there were only 5 diners including us, it was a front bar smaller fire for us. 

Bonnie exhausted after her Kangaroo chasing

Walking home from the pub, which is into its back yard we picked out stars and planets clearly in the sky. Bonnie had obviously used up all her energy as she was fast asleep on her mat next to the heater vent. 

Running Moose & Typist Moz signing out x

Blog 10 - Flinders Ranges - 4WD adventure - Wednesday 15/7/2015

Wednesday 15th July

It’s our two week, travelling anniversary. The water here has done amazing things to my hair, well not really I have Lego man hair that is; it is stuck to my head like a helmet similar to how Lego men look.

The top of Wilpena pound and the peaks of Flinders ranges are hidden under low clouds and the grey skies are threatening rain with possible hail. It’s a cool 8 degrees this morning as we check out the 4 WD self-drive tour brochures at the general store, before heading to Merna Mora Station 15 mins down the road where the tours start. I’m not usually keen on 4 WD type adventures but the photos indicate a not too rough ride and promises some ruins worth looking at.

Merna Mora is another huge station covering 130,000 acres with a mix of merino sheep and cattle on it plus tourist accommodation for camping and on site units.  We had chosen no.2 Heritage Trail. Its description read as follows: “An informative trek through time. Explore old Ghan Railway line, fettler’s cottages and remarkable lime kilns. Follow historic bullock wagon tracks up onto northern Elder Range. Trace the hilltops of Bunbinyunna Range for panoramic views. Sites of interest including fossil beds and early architecture.”

It read like an interesting and not too demanding track and to be honest the first half was pretty true to form. We paid our fee, collected our map, key for gates, two page “points of interest” notes and a long verbal explanation of all the details on the points of interest. Like lambs to the slaughter we headed to our car. A family group with three 4WDs were just ahead of us and had disappeared out of sight by the time we had heard the same long list of details, as they had.

First of many gates I opened

The first gate was out the one we had come in at the station, so out I hop open gate, Moose drives through, close it and hop back in. Drive down the road to the start of the drive another gate, repeat the hop out, and hop in procedure. Who needs gym? We drove on a very good track. We saw the area where Chinese pioneers grew vegetables and supplied many local mining towns.

 After a few false turns trying to follow the signage we walked up a creek bed to the Double Arch Culverts on the old Ghan railway line built in 1880’s. We fumbled with flicking from the map to the “points of interest pages” before coming to point 7 when suddenly, in brackets there was reference to how far these points were apart. Moose was confused when I read these out to him. Turns out the “kilometres in brackets next to the descriptions started back at the first gate. So a bit of mathematics was involved to bring us up to date and the trail got easier to follow.

At the top of a hill sat the ruins of the Mern Merna Fettlers’ cottages, these were what all that was left of a railway settlement. One half of the larger building had been a school where up to 20 kids attended right up to 1957 although the train line closed in 1955. 

The community was made up of about ten families. In the distance to the South west were the remains of the Fels family settlement. It was built around 1910 and like so many in the day it was a big family with 13 children. As we headed through points 8 noting the steel railway sleepers halfway through the cutting which had been used on much of the Ghan line because timber was not readily available, I commented to Moose that I was quite enjoying the drive and it wasn’t too rough at all. Warning bells should have gone off as the last time I made such a declaration I broke every bone in my ankle!

The next couple of points of interest included driving along a creek bed, looking at Lime kiln ruins which had made concrete reside from Dolomite rock, which was used in building many of the culverts and bridge abutments for the railway.

Point 14 of the 43 highlights had us sitting under the original overland telegraph line put there about in 1870, followed by instructions of how to get from the track across the bitumen road onto another track. This is where I realised those words I spoke earlier were a mistake. The instructions said …… “Continue through steep creek crossing with caution. Extreme care steep creek.” (The word steep used twice for a reason).

We headed downwards into the creek bed, the decline was so steep the towbar tongue bottomed out, Moose had to get out and remove it so we could do the steep entries and exits which were now clearly the way forward. I was still a little delusional at this point and thought it was a one off.

Photos just don't capture the angle of these dips

Point 20 is rambling about the local vegetation while I internally scream “I want to go home” The track is called Bullocky’s Pass. I swear they have left it in its natural rock infested state as each wheel of the Ute seems to tip toe not so gently over them. God knows how people in bullock wagons coped with this.

Time for Lunch

The view is pretty good!

The family group were parked up in front of us at the look out. They had a fire and bbq going and the kids were ringing their grandparents to tell them how much fun they were having, as there was good phone signal up here. I wanted to ring a helicopter to bring me back down to where we started but instead sat and had a picnic with Moose then walked a bit further to get a better look at the view at which point the shrill of my phone alerted me to a call from Jess. There I was on top of a mountain with not a building in sight, a cold wind blowing and my heart racing from the terror of the drive (I do not exaggerate) and Jess as usual, seems to know I needed a chat.

Again I had convinced myself we were over the worst. How wrong can one be? Our next instructions stated “veer left. Extremely Rocky for 100m. Proceed with caution” Now a 
100m may not seem a long distance, and on a regular road it isn't but by god on an EXTREMELY rocky one it feels like 100 kilometres. My hips were screaming their protest. I tried to meditate to relax them but the vibrations of the rock smashing wasn't helping. The name of this challenging road – yes they called it a road; was aptly “Devils Spine”

Wagon Gap – geez Louise. Warnings of “proceed with caution and steep descent so select low gear” did not prepare us for the 90 degree angle our vehicle would find itself in as it went down one steep bank and up another. Moose worked hard at trying to go down at an angle to take some of the sharpness out of the bottom. Most of the time there was still a grinding noise as he aimed back up the other side.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I seen we were going out a gate, though I was too sore to get out and open it so Moose had to take on that duty. We crossed the main “Scenic drive “road and hindsight tells me, we should of just headed home there and then but we had a map and we were going to follow it. Why did I not read ahead??? Next instructions “Stop here and make sure vehicle is in 4WD low range as from here it is a long steep pull of 800 metres to Hearn’s Cairn Lookout”.  Long & Steep was an understatement, the Ute was pointed at the sky as we headed upwards.

Here we met the other cars as they parked at the look out. My stomach was in my mouth as I realised we needed to go back from whence we’d come.

One of the drivers got out to tell us his radio channel in case we got in trouble – we have no radio! There is a walking trail from here but neither of us is interested. Even Moose is finding this hard going. The Cairn was erected by the Hearn family and I’m not sure if it was because they loved Frank Hearn or because they didn’t like him very much at all as this is where his ashes are.

At this point I decide to look ahead on the map and spy another loop to yet another high lookout, we work out how to bypass it as I seriously don’t want to go up another steep, long climb. We start the slow descent over incredibly rocky track to the bottom of the ranges and open the last gate to a main road. Where I could cry from relief as we drive past Cooee Crest which is where the bullock cueing yards are and return our gate key to Merna Mora Station.

Moose says to tell you the scenery was spectacular – I personally was so sore and stressed I hardly noticed.

It was 3.12 and we are back on flattish ground. We thankfully head back to Rawnsley Park station. Bonnie was asleep through most of the track, only showing concern when she was sliding towards the door on one of the steep climbs. Moose queued the car up for a quick squirt of water to remove the wads of mud stuck to it. The kettle was on the minute I got back to the van for a well-deserved coffee.  At the same time the clouds finally let go of all the rain they’d held onto all day for a hard and short downpour. Campers around us sit warming themselves around their camp fires. 

We bunker down for a quiet cosy night of TV.

Wilderness Moose & Rocky Moz signing off x

Blog 9 - Streaky Bay - Rawnsley Park Station - Flinders Ranges - Monday 13/7/2015

Monday 13th July 2015 - one of those days!

Last view of Streaky Bay 

Rain stayed at bay for Moose to pack up the outside of the van while I found a home for everything inside. He asked me to check the brake lights so being a good Moz I walked to the back of the van as he towed it out. The red lights flashed so I yelled to the Moose that they were working (you have to yell its a long way from the back of the van to the front of the car). Two guys were standing elbowing each other, in the manner men do when cracking a joke; and laughing with Moose outside their van which was level with the front of the car.  I yell again the lights are working, he yells back "yeah ok are you running behind me or getting in" they all laugh loudly". Geez acknowledgement of the first time I let him know the lights were working would be good. So I let it be known that Moose would be getting a slap around the ear" All but Moose thought this was funny!

Really is going to be one of those days. As we drove down the Main Street I noticed the trendy coffee shop was open. I suggested moose could stop for me to pick up a nice coffee. He answers with "you've had a coffee" I pointed out I didn't as the milk wasn't nice and it would be a considerate gesture if he were to stop. He said he could turn around if I wanted. Being considerate myself I answered “no, tis ok. The bakery will have them too”

Grudgingly he said “I'll stop then if you’re that desperate”. He stopped and asked for a custard tart. I answered “I'll get one for you, if you’re that disparate!

We hit the road at 8.20 am it was wet from last night and this morning’s rain but the sun is rising high in the sky. There is no traffic to speak of and radio 693kHz is playing some strange music I've never heard before. Crocheting my way through little towns of Poochera - Minnipa – Yanninee - Wudinna - Kyancutta and turn left, well Moose missed the turn driving straight so a u turn was needed to put us in the right direction for Kimba and Pt Augusta.

 

has Moose been freelancing?

Kimba All Sorts Craft Shop - Chris & Me

Driving through Kimba I spied fabric bolts in a window. Moose whinged about parking on the street as there weren't many parks big enough for the Ute and the van but he eventually found a spot. As I jumped out of the Ute He was heard to say: “don't be long”. I laughed and laughed as I opened the door into the Aladdin’s cave that was “Kimba All Sorts”. Chris spear, the store owner was hidden behind the counter wrapt  up in a thick jacket and 2 scarves, she was in the midst of finding a home for wool, embroidery threads, patterns, needles, fabric and much more as she had just moved from across the road. We shared a chat and had a photo together. If you’re ever in Kimba drop in and say hello to Chris.

Moose doing his "Silly Galah" joke for the boys

A little further down the road we have stopped at the Big Galah, a huge fibreglass structure that was always popular with the kids. The souvenir shop next door has a sign across the window telling us we are half way across Australia. This has always been our stop when we pass this town, which is probably why I never knew there was a craft shop in the main street.

Bonnie joining in on the fun

 

Back on the road I look up from my crochet to see Iron Knob looming ahead of us. I tried to take photos alongside the huge mine but Moose couldn't slow down due to traffic behind us.

Waterway near Pt Augusta

We have travelled through farmland and low scrub but now on the other side of iron knob it doesn't look a hell of a lot different from the Nullabor. Never ending plains with salt bush. A short time later we are driving over waterway into Pt Augusta, more salt bush.

Road through Pitchie Ritchie Pass

We travel through Pitchie Ritchie pass where Steam trains can still be seen running along the tracks that were built in 1878, thanks to volunteers from the Preservation society. - photo of road through hills

empty streets in Quorn

  A stretch and coffee in Quorn which is a large town. It’s very quiet with wide roads and old buildings. Stephen King could of based books here as it is a little unsettling seeing shops, houses and other buildings but absolutely no people. We topped up the fuel and thanks to the cold weather Moose informs me we made a saving as the fuel contracts in the cold so it registers less through the meter then expands in your tank so you end up with a bit more for your money.

Kanaka Homestead ruins

As we came through the ranges we seen a large area of ruins just off the main road which turned out to be the old Kanaka homestead - this was well worth a stop. It had originally been built by Hugh Proby, an Irish lad (3^rd son of the Earl of Carysfort).

He had come to South Australia unlike other pioneers, not to invest in property for housing but looking for farm land to set up a cattle run. He died a couple of years later from drowning in a flooding creek. The next lease holder died before even seeing the property, getting lost in the bush. But then John Randal Phillips took over the lease, changed from cattle to sheep and had much success. 

During the 1864 season 41,000 sheep were shorn, employing an army of musterers, shearers, wool classers, packers and teamsters. At this time the homestead was made up of the 16 roomed homestead, overseer’s cottage, stables, men’s kitchen, sheds huts, a huge woolshed, carpenter and blacksmith sheds and nearly 40 kms of dry stone wall fencing. Living in this nearly self-sufficient station was 70 families.

Bonnie checking things out

Hawker

We drove through Hawker another old railway town which was a busy place between 1880 and 1956 but not so much now.

Road to Rawnsley Park Station

Finally just before the sun disappeared out of the sky, we arrived at our destination: Rawnsley Park Station.

Ruins frequently pop up

This is a working sheep station with approx. 3500 Sheep plus it’s an award winning Tourism Park which attracts 20,000 visitors a year. There’s sheep crossing the road in front of us and on our left on the way in there is restaurant. Moose had looked this campsite up ages ago and read reviews that suggested the non-powered bush camping area was quieter and had better views than the powered sites. So we booked one of those at the reception/general store. They took our money and pointed us towards a road that disappeared into the bush. We drove away from the cluster of powered vans til there were no more, just the odd tent on a hill. There is only phone reception at the camp kitchen which isn’t helpful when I realise I need to send cottage details through to Tomas as he is heading down to Walpole for the last week of the school holidays with Eleesha and Preston. So once we had the van settled in its’ spot, we drove back to the camp kitchen. Which is a huge room with about 8 dining room settings, a couple of lounge suites, a large flat screen TV, 4 big bbqs across the width of the back of the room  and a Kent fire (those square wood heaters). The place is bustling. Men have taken over the bbqs. Families sit at tables talking while others, ourselves included send out texts. One lady loudly talks on her phone. Doesn't seem like it's her fault, more the person in the other end is hard of hearing. 

Once our messages are sent we head back to the van where the gas heater has warmed it up beautifully. Dinner and an episode of peaky blinders and we head to bed with our books. 

Tuesday 14th July 2015

Moose is up early to watch the sun rise and change the colours of the rock face of Wilpena Pound (Wilpena Pound is a remnant valley floor from an ancient range of mountains that have been eroding away over millions of years. It was used in the early years as an enclosure for sheep/cattle. The pound is approx. 17 km long by 8 km wide).

Wilpena Pound

I tried to explain to him that if there is cloud cover which I noticed there was when Moose flicked the curtains earlier; there will be no changing of colours. So I suggested he step out into the freezing cold and check if the rock was changing colours with the sun and its shadows and let me know. The heater had automatically started at 5.30 am, so the van was way too cosy to leave. Out he went, there was obviously no amazing colour change as he decided to open the awning, peg down a ground cover, set up Bonnie's run rope (she has to be kept on a leash) and any number of other noisy endeavours.

Once up with a hot coffee in hand, I could see the complete cloud cover hiding the pound and ranges with soft drizzling rain making it look like a good day to stay inside.  Bonnie's attached to her leash stood staring out to the bush wishing she could run free.

Moose and I sat reading then headed down to the little shop to get organise our gas bottle being refilled. The staff were busy changing shifts as it was lunch time so we had to leave it there and come back and collect later in the afternoon. We hadn't realised the time going in so now we were aware it was lunch time we headed back to the van for lunch. Followed by an afternoon of alternating between reading and napping.

Moose headed back to pick up the gas bottle while I continued reading – once I get into a good book I don’t want to put it away. Looking down at the floor in the van there is a pattern of little paw prints. Moose had carefully wiped Bonnies' feet every time she came inside but the heavens had opened up as we got back from the shop at lunch time so Miss Bonnie ran straight inside. I could be convinced they are very artistic and meant to be there!

As I sit in our warm van I hear squeals of delight. Looking out the window towards the sound I can see 3 toddlers wrapped up in padded wet weather coats, beanies with big pom poms, on their heads, mittens keeping their hands warm and water boots (wellies). They are taking turns racing through the huge puddles. The skies are still sending drizzle down upon them, a freezing cold wind is blowing but they don’t notice it, they are having way too much fun.

Moose had returned with a full gas bottle, so running the heater wasn’t going to be a problem. We got back to our books, next time we looked at a clock it was 4 pm. Bonnie has been curled up on her mat under the bed all this time.

Steve had heard on the radio that the powers that be have been baiting throughout the Flinders Ranges due to the amount of feral cats. We have certainly seen a few cats in our travels. It’s only recently that the restocking of Quolls (Carnivorous Marsupials) from Western Australia has been happening, as the native ones here have disappeared due to cats. This caused an issue that we don’t even think of when news about animals becoming extinct is heard. A local aboriginal elder, actually stopped telling the dream time stories about quolls as they no longer lived here. But thanks to the restocking she has begun the story telling again. Next main shopping area we will try to find a mozzle for Bonnie so she can still run free without being able to eat the baits.

There is an emu hiding behind one of these trees!

Before we started dinner preparations we decided a walk was a good idea. It was invigorating to say the least. The breeze had icicles in it.  Rain threatened. Even managed to receive a message from Jess that snuck through on one bar that came through when we reached the peak of a hill. There was plenty of wildlife around including Kangaroos bounding across the hills and an emu playing hide and seek with me trying to take its photo. Luckily for them Bonnie was on the leash.

The rain clouds carried out their threat as we arrived back at the van. We sat under the awning to watch the rain fall along with more Roos gracefully leaping across the flat land in front of us. The van is as warm as toast. I put the kettle on while Moose organised the BBQ.

As the wind picked up and the temperature dropped (about 9.30pm) Bonnie decides she wants a toilet outing. This is fine and dandy when we can open the door and throw her out but not here as she has to be kept on a lead and its bloody freezing outside. Moose took her out then came back in 15 mins later swearing and cursing. I held back on laughing out loud until he drew breath and realised he was being ridiculous. Bonnie had to do her poo dance – this is a routine she’s had since she was a pup. When wanting a poo she literally runs around in circles which slowly decrease in circumference until she is on the allocated spot to do the deed. It can take a fair amount of time if she started with a large circle.

On their return inside we locked up and climbed into a warm cosy bed and listened in comfort to the weather outside.

Colour chasing Moose & Toasty Moz signing out x

Blog 8 - Streaky Bay - Washing and Cape Bauer Loop

Sunday 12^th July 201

 I am finding it harder to climb out of bed in the mornings, it could be because it’s cold outside or our doona and Moose’s big t shirt quilt with flannel backing is way too cosy or it could be because I don’t like getting up early. Lying here watching Moose make me a cup of coffee, I've decided the speakers in the ceiling have to go. He has the Tour de France on and the commentary is driving me insane, it’s bad enough the squeaky overexcited voices coming from tv speakers but when it’s booming overhead, first thing in the morning or actually at any time of the day it could be grounds for murder!

The Old hills hoists filled up quickly

I decided to do my washing today as it is windy yet sunny day outside. Unbeknown to me everyone else in the park decided it was a good day for washing too. Walking across to the laundry, I whipped the door open, well I balanced my full bag of washing against one hip while hooking a finger around the handle of the fly screen door with the hand which was also holding the washing powder, as well as coins needed for the machine and kinda flicked the latch so I could squeeze into the laundry. Each machine had it’s lid down signalling they were already in use while 3 ladies hoovered like patient hawks awaiting their prey, for their machines to finish their cycles. Just as the door banged behind me one of the machines came to a noisy stop and was pounced on as soon as it did. Its contents emptied into the empty basket nearby. I wandered over and refilled it with half of mine – dam I needed 2 machines. It’s the quick or the dead around this here laundry room and I was too slow in my filling procedure to grab the next one to come empty before some over zealot washer lady beat me to it. So I figured I’d go check out the mini machine in the van. I hadn’t used it, as washing 2 towels isn’t really helpful but desperate time’s calls for desperate measures. Once I figured out the logistics of taps etc. I headed back to the laundry to pick up my bag of washing passing two ladies having a heated discussion just outside the door. I was in luck, another machine had come free and the rush seemed to be over as no one was there to claim it or rather they were too busy discussing an “incident” outside.

Caravan Laundries can be a dangerous place for those unaware of the politics involved.  Okay here’s how it went down. This morning when I first entered the laundry with my pile of washing, an older lady – let’s call her Ethel suggested to a not so old lady that as one machine had stopped (the one I had my eye on for my second load) and the owner of said machine was not there to remove her clothing, it was okay for her to do it. Which as I understand it is usual etiquette in this type of situation. So the lady emptied the machine into the missing person’s basket and loaded her clothes into the washing machine. During the 5 mins I went back to the van, said missing person returned, yelled at the lady for doing this and stormed out of the laundry. Ethel took it in her stride and continued to wait for her drier to finish. She is obviously a kind and helpful lady so once that load had dried and another load was in a machine she offered to watch someone else’s clothes in the drier as “there wasn’t any need for everyone to sit around in there”. It was at this point I walked past her and an equally elderly lady who was in the process of telling off , with wagging finger to make a stronger stand, for even thinking of taking responsibility for someone else clothing after that last carry on! 

I made sure I was back in time for my machines reaching the end of their cycles and I didn’t dare risk the driers, I went the old fashioned route with pegging the clothes onto the well-used hills hoist which due to the increasing wind power, had turned into a spinning windmill – thankfully I’m too short for it to knock me out.

On return to the van I find Moose chilling in his chair checking the direction and power of the wind – planning his afternoon paddle.  Bonnie, of course is chilling beside him. As I ask him if he comfortable and he starts to tell me he is; with a smug look on his face the sun seems to disappear as the shade of a reversing caravan parks in the site directly in front of him. Yes I did laugh.

The view from Mocean Cafe Restaurant Balcony

The wind has a nip in it but we decide to head to the local café and sit on the balcony anyway. Turned out to be a good decision as it was out of the wind and no one else was sitting out there. As we waited for our order a girl of about 5 and her brother who was 4 (I know this because he told us it was his and his mum’s birthday, he was four and his mum was 41) came out to see Bonnie. They chatted with us while petting Bon, then mum comes out to check if we were okay with them annoying us. We said we were fine so out comes two more kids. They were so excited when we let them “walk” her on her lead around the balcony of the café though this caused arguments as they all wanted the lead so we suggested they take turns which they did. Their parents constantly checked on them but in all honesty it was a win win situation, Bonnie amused the kids and kids amused Bonnie so we all got our lunch in peace.

Map of Cape Bauer Loop drive

Start of Cape Bauer Loop drive

After lunch we headed down the dirt road on the Cape Bauer loop drive. The road travelled past farmland and had me wondering how we would end up at a Cape as we seemed to be heading inland. 

First stop was Hally’s Beach, were the surf brought tears to Moose’s eyes, memories of freezing cold surf carnivals with huge smashing waves, or days of surfing with his mate Vibes – this brought tears to my eyes as this usually involved our one day out on a weekend together and he and Vibes would be at the bottom of a cliff surfing while I sat and taught myself to knit or embroider in the car parked at the top. It was usually raining and freezing cold to boot. Bonnie is enjoying the wind flapping her ears and the smells of the beach. A hang glider came within touching distance as we gazed out to sea. 

Hang glider enjoying the wind drafts

Bonnie stopped running when she heard the whistling rocks
and seen the huge spray from the blow holes

The sign on our next stop said “Whistling rocks and blow holes”. Well I don’t know about whistling as much as whooshing and the well laid out walking platform covered in water indicated the blow holes were working just fine. It really was fantastic to watch the big seas smashing against the cliffs then swirling around and bursting out of the blow holes.

The spray from the surf coming through the blow hole

I let Moose go up close first to check it was safe!

Bonnie waits patiently for us to catch up

So much for a dog to do

The wind was wicked, biting through the coat, sleeveless jacket and jumper I was wearing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many colours in the ocean as I did today watching waves roll deep into the bottom of the seabed then rise up with energy and froth smashing against the coastline.

Bonnie thought the walkway was easy climbing and constantly ran ahead, turning around looking at us as if we were too slow to be out with.

Continuing around the loop, we reached Cape Bauer, it’s a  very pretty but I’m really not sure why the council would encourage a visit to the cliffs then as you walk from the car to the suggested look out area they place this "Danger" sign!

Moose stands looking out to sea, watching the surf breaking on a reef and declared it a Paddlers delight.  If he could find a way down to the beach, he’d have had that ski off as fast as I’d hit a coffee shop. As soon as we get back in the car Bonnie falls into a deep sleep snoring loudly.

Streaky Bay township across the bay

Driving on the return loop home around the bay we can see rain along with a rainbow on the horizon.  I hope they by passed my washing on the line. 

On returning to the park the clothes were doing there crazy Mexican wave dance which thankfully caused them to be completely dry. Moose helped me get them off the line without either of us being smacked on the head from spinning ends of the hills hoist. 

The little speck is Moose paddling out to sea

While I enjoyed some time doing an art journal page, Moose hit the water for a much dreamed of paddle. Mind you he had to walk a kilometre before it was deep enough to get on the ski.

Paddling Moose & Laundry Political correct Moz signing off x

Sent from my iPhone