Mon, 19th Feb, 2018 Bob & Margaret’s, near Mandurah, WA (Bradley’s birthday -Cooper’s Mill & Peel Inlet)

Bit cloudy and windy morning.

Rang John and Jocelyn to wish her a happy birthday. He was going to take her for a boat cruise (on the ferry ha ha) but it has come up a bit rough so maybe a nice picnic.

Rang Erica for a chat – all good there.

Passed on our birthday wishes to Bradley via Amanda’s Facebook  page.

Went with Bob and Margaret for a ride in their boat on the Peel Inlet.

Unfortunately it was a bit windy here too but we were all good as we left Dawesville where the Peel meets the Harvey Inlet (where we went walking looking for crabs).

First we past the bridge over The Cut then further north to the Mandurah Estuary bridge. Bit bouncy for photography.

Across to the other side to the entrance to Murray River. Up a bit and we tied up at a jetty on Cooleenup Island.

Nice picnic area here, even a playground. Steve checked the gas BBQ – no gas!! Followed the track across to the other side and checked out Cooper’s Mill.

Lots of information inside what was once the engine room.

Inside the mill itself with its roof redone with timber shingles again.

Bob & Margaret out the other side of the mill.

There is a caretaker here – planting lots of plants on the island as well as his ‘boat gardens’.

I thought this was a red flower but it is the pod then the flower comes out of it when it cracks open.

Looking back to mouth of the Murray as it enters the Peel Inlet.

Beside the picnic area is a nice swimming area.

Cruised up the Murray checking out the shacks, houses and mansions and all the different boats. One side is called North Yunderup and the other is South Yunderup which has canals coming off the river.

The wind hadn’t settled as we headed back home across the Inlet but we made it back. Mind you it isn’t very deep in most of the inlet so we could have walked if we had problems.

Back home for a late lunch. The crows have replaced the galahs as annoying birds!!

Went through Tengraph and downloaded the co-ordinates of the leases we are interested in. Margaret and I will put them on the Hema Navigators tomorrow so we know we are in the right places to detect.

The sky cleared up but it is still windy so no walk after drinks today.

More Olympics. Had to close up the van as it is cooling off.