Thurs, 9th Mar, 2023 Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie to Roadside Rest Area, east of Two Rocks, WA (Cottlesloe Beach sculpture trail)

Warmer night - 19 degrees. Rang Uncle John for his 95^th birthday. He is well and the family are taking him out for lunch. Sent a message to Tracy Pink too for her birthday. Will catch up with her in Cairns and hear all about Jacinta & Joel’s wedding. Her photos on FB are amazing.

Wendy sent a text so I rang her and David was there too so we had a lovely long chat.

Packed up and drove to the north of Perth to visit Kirsten and meet her little daughter, Rachel. Simon was at work unfortunately but Lauren, Dean, Chase & Mia were visiting from Cairns so we had lots of catching up to do. Valerie, Russell and Michelle are in Hawaii at the moment - great photos on FB. Baby Rachel is so cute with lots of dark hair. Kirsten took a photo of me nursing her to send to Valerie. I forgot to take some photos!! After morning tea Rachel was unsettled so I put her over my arm and she sucked away on my arm and nodded off - needs a dummy I think. Kirsten took another photo.

Said goodbye and headed across to Cottesloe Beach to check out the Sculpture Trail. Girlie took us into the city then along the Swan River.

Steve always comments when we see Gecko being used for a business that he should have patented the name but how can you patent an animal’s name I ask!

Found a park south of the main beach area and walked across to look at the beach and across to the limestone and an interesting sculpture we will have to check out.

We walked back through a limestone archway.

Lots of ‘different’ art - some were very good, others were questionable that they are called art! A lot were made of marble like the white one I was looking through.

I thought this one was great for the ingenuity of using softdrink bottles and caps. This silo was all bottle tops too which was fabulous. Got our tick of approval as art. Mind you the names of the pieces were interesting! The silo was called ‘Did you realize!’

Found a historical plaque one too. The bottom half is in French.

Lots of beautiful big pines everywhere.

Continued along the trail taken photos of ones that were interesting - lots we didn’t think were worth a comment!

Another historical plaque about the remaining pylon from the old shark enclosure here.

Looking down at more sculptures on the beach and across the front of the old surf club to the groin.

The general store across the road had its own sculpture on the roof.

Down onto the beach we walked to the end one which was three stacks of firewood timber. Steve was impressed how they got them to stay together and it would have been interesting to see how they got all these big pieces down here and erected.

This one was thought-provoking and the turtle was well done.

The work in this crab was very good.

Looking back up to the silo of bottle tops.

Not sure you can call this a sculpture or art as it is core samples cut up! The next one was a garden of things found along the beach.

These were great - reflective aluminium mirrors. Like the ones at the show - thin & fat! The ball one was good too.

The burnt out van was called - We’re all dreaming of a summer holiday.

A few more good ones as we head around to the groin.

Old chair legs stuffed in the rocks of the groin were called Jetsam. View down the coast to where all the sea containers and cranes are.

This one is the best of the lot. Unfortunately I was shooting into the sun so I didn’t come out too clear.

Looking back over Cottlesloe Beach.

Last one as we headed back up to the grass area was lots of little speakers hanging in the tree and you can record a message on it that repeats it into the speakers.

We had an ice cream and watched all the other people milling about and sun baking etc.

Headed back to the truck via the big sculpture we first saw. It was actually a sundial built in 1988 and was nearly right. It said 2.55 but it was 3.05 so not bad.

Back to the truck and we turned around and followed the coast road north up to Two Rocks - closest free camp north of Perth. There is a small rest area just out of town with a lookout so we parked up and took out drinks up there. Even had a couple of roos to look at.

A band of cloud is going to block the sunset but I got a good pre-sunset photo.

Saw a FB post from Stephanie about Patrick starting a new venture. He has changed jobs to building remote accommodations on Saibai Island so working away now. Lovely chat with Stephanie - she is good.

 

 

 

Wed, 8th Mar, 2023 Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie, WA

I woke at 4.30am which would be 6.30 in Qld so my body clock will take a few days to adjust back to WA time. Nice cool morning so glad we had the flanny sheets and blanket on - 17 degrees.

Another month has passed since Dad left us. The Public Trustee say that Mum’s estate is nearly sorted and then they just have to get a tax clearance once it gets to Dad then she can do a distribution to us and it will finally be finished.

Pottered about the camper putting my stuff away from the suitcase. The road-side collection must be happening soon as everyone has all kinds of junk piled on the side of the road. 

Steve coloured my hair - yeah! Warming up by lunchtime as the wind has stopped. Clouds are coming over.

Rang Terry for an update - Erica very sleepy but after the nurses changed her she sat up for a while as Rod and Jan were visiting. They invited Terry over for dinner tomorrow night.

I rang Terry later when he saw Erica in the afternoon for a chat but she was tired and confused so I just said to let her know I got to WA ok and we love her.

Grey sky produced a few drops of rain - mostly a fine mist - hot 33 degrees and quite muggy.

Played cards for a while then I uploaded my last week’s blog.

Drinks & nibbles while we read our books. I arranged to visit Kirsten tomorrow morning.

Jon rang - working on the Tanami Track, putting down bores for water for the road construction crew putting bitumen on the track. Glad we did that track (which was a wide dirt road when we did it in 2018) before it got bitumen.

Steve cooked dinner then we played cards again.

Forgot to take a photo of our camp!! But it is the same as last time we were here in Nov so I copied that photo but this time Tom & Sandy aren’t home so we are just using the front lawn!

 

1st to 7th Mar, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld to Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie, WA (visit with Roald & Joan on the way)

The lovely singing butcher bird was back to serenade me while I read my book on the front porch. Such beautiful sounds and he enjoyed it when I whistled back.

Visited Hazel again. Kevin still in care after his knee operation. Terry went in and visited Erica alone as I had been in the morning while the cleaner came but she was sound asleep.

Nice day out at the pokies with Erica again for the last time for me as I leave on Sunday. She enjoys it but tires quickly now but we had some wins and a win on Keno so she was happy.

Did my washing and packed my suitcase ready for my train trip south Sunday morning to Cooroy. Spending a couple of days with my cousin Roald and Joan before heading back to Steve in WA.

Last visit to Erica. So glad I have been able to help her and Terry out as the paperwork in latter life is a nightmare but we have things all sorted.

Tears as I said farewell to Terry at the train station. He headed off to visit Erica. When I went around to find a seat I heard the train was an hour late! Luckily I had made a thermos of coffee and had my Anzac biscuits and a good book. Chatted with a couple with their 3 grandchildren who were triplets, born at 25 weeks and so little but they are all doing well aged 7. Reminded me of our Anthony when she showed me their baby photos.

The train eventually arrived and we headed off at 11.18 - was supposed to be 10.05 but oh well I have plenty of time. Messaged Joan and will let her know as we get closer.

Eventually we arrived and Joan picked me up at Cooroy Station. We stopped off at the shops and I tried photographing a fabulous mural - my phone camera isn’t as good as my other camera. Joan said there are little ‘ladies’ hidden in the painting and she pointed out one.

So lovely to see her and Roald again. Had a lovely afternoon chatting. Time to feed the birds - her pet Kookaburras - there are 9 at the moment, a couple of magpies and butcher birds and a few kangaroos hanging around.

Lovely evening chatting over a delicious dinner Joan cooked. All quiet here now the birds have gone to bed - no traffic noise. Will sleep well tonight.

Joan and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood then we had breakfast. They have such a big yard - lots of work but she loves it.

We headed out for the day to explore Kandanga and Imbil where some our Doyle ancestors (our great grandmother’s family on Dad’s father’s side) moved to with timber mills etc.

We called in on Lola who is the younger sister of Doreen, a good friend of Mum and Dad’s. Roald had called into Doreen’s sister’s place at Carter Ridge last year but the gate was locked so we tried again. On the fence it says THISILDOO - good name. It was open so we drove up and Lola was home with her daughter (who was on the phone on a work call). I had forgotten I had met Lola in Tully when we visited Doreen last year - I wondered why she looked so familiar!! She remembered me of course which was a bit embarrassing. It was nearly lunchtime so we only stayed for a short chat and will call and arrange a visit again later in the year. Lola was lovely and I remember Dad saying she looked like a movie star when she was younger. There is a nice free camp on the way up here too.

Stopped at Imbil and had a wander up the lane with lots of history to read. Will do it in more detail when we come back and I have my camera instead of using the phone camera. No mention of the Doyles timber involvement but it did mention Peggy Doyle who was the first woman aviator to do a solo flight.

Around to the old Forestry workshops etc which is all now owned by HQPlantations (they acquired it off the government in 2010 and have 320,000 hectares of pine plantations) so Roald had to sign us in so we could walk up behind the buildings to where a plaque was about a Forestry Convention held in 1928 and the names of the people who planted the trees here and down the lane. The plaque was metal and hard to read and when Roald was last here the area was covered in junk so the local chap showing him around complained to the staff here and obviously they did listen has it has been cleaned up which is good. There was another conference in 1922 where they planted trees too but no indicator of which trees these were. These are the ones near the plaques then there is a lane way of trees from the roads.

Beautiful stag horns are everywhere.

Down the lane and across the road is Yabba Creek and our great grandmother Mary’s brother John had a sawmill here in 1911 but nothing to show for it now.

We continued on to Brooloo and found the information board about the Rail trail. Another Doyle brother, Andrew had his sawmill around here (1909).

Turned back and headed to Kandanga and stopped at the cemetery where a couple of graves are. Another brother to Mary is James and his wife Marion are buried here. They were actually first cousins!! Also a young son of John and Maggie Doyle is buried here too. John and his wife retired to Brisbane.

Looking across from the cemetery to the flat ground that Peggy Doyle landed her plane on according to the info back in Imbil.

Across Kandanga Creek to the original homestead of John and Maggie Doyle.

Nearer the creek is what remains of the sawmill.

Headed back towards home but turned off to Dagun to check out the rail stop here for the Mary Valley Rattler.

Continued on to Amamoor and had an icecream while we read the info plaques by the railway station.

Not sure why there is a tap at the top of the lights with the little glass ball!

Across the Mary River as we headed towards home.

We had a lovely day out. This is the area we travelled.

We went through all the family history stuff on my laptop and I gave Roald a heap more stuff to read.

 

Another lovely walk with Joan listening to the birds morning chorus. Went around to their rental unit to change the sheets etc - only rent to family and a few friends. Pottered about after that and got my bag packed. Had lunch then headed into Tewantin to catch the shuttle bus to Brisbane airport. Will see Roald and Joan later in the year for the wedding.

Interesting drive down through the beach towns picking up a couple of people then we swapped to a bit bigger bus for the drive to the airport. Arrived at 4.30 so only had 20 minutes to wait to put my suitcase in. All auto now which of course wasn’t working properly. Got through then security and found my gate to sit and have a cuppa as I need to empty my thermos. They made us line up to have our hand luggage weighed - didn’t do it to Stephen. We had a few Asians who had lots of hand luggage hence the weigh-in. I passed so all good. I booked an aisle seat - actually 1B so right at the front and I had booked dinner etc too as we had the credit to use up. Had a nice lady on the window who was happy to just look at her movie. I was in the middle and chatted with the chap beside me who was from London and was doing a 6 week trip around and had just come back from Cairns. He loved it even with the rain and humidity. He said it was the best place he had seen in his travels. Heading back to Fremantle to his brother then the long flight back to London. He will certainly come back and loved the idea of touring around like us but unfortunately his wife is a homebody and won’t travel.

We had a turbulent start as it was quite windy in Brisbane and they brought out the meals quickly so my coffee was spilling out - no cap to the cup. I had another $10 credit so used it for a little bottle of wine to help me go off to sleep - worked!

Windy here too as we landed at 10.15pm WA time (12.15am Qld time). Steve came around with the camper and off we went back to Tom & Sandy’s place to park up for the night. They are still in Bali till the 13^th so we will come back and see them. Aah to be back in my bed with my man - life is good again. Still thinking of Erica and Terry and hope things go ok.

22nd to 28th Feb, 2023 Erica & Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Nice walk this morning then an hour later the rain came down and it looked like it was going to be a gloomy day. Then by lunch the sun was out, sky cleared and a nice breeze is blowing.

Showers on and off over the week.

David, Amanda, Bradley & Ella came up for David’s birthday on the 24^th. Rod and Jan joined us at Brothers too. I had taken Erica early so she could get her pokie fix before the others arrived. No joy though so after lunch she wanted another go and at last we had a win so she was happy to leave.

I went for a drive to Bargara to have a walk by the beach etc. Checked out some of the boutiques and found a lovely dress for the wedding. Now to find shoes then clothes for Steve!! Had a lovely chat with Kaylene and then Jon while I was enjoying the view over the sea.

You can tell when you have been somewhere too long when you don’t wake to the road noise in the morning any more!!

I found this carving in a drawer. Terry made it to hang on the side of their caravan at State and National caravan rallies. He did a great job. When they first formed the club he sketched out the ‘turtle’ to use as a logo and the others agreed and it never got changed.

A butcher bird swooped down from the gum tree across the road and picked up the moth I had thrown out. He then sat on the railing and sang and sang. It was all kinds of sounds and a few songs sounded like the lorikeets that were squawking in the trees across the road. I tried to video him but pressed the wrong button and then he flew off. It was so lovely.

Steve went fishing with Kev again and got a couple of fish for dinner.

Had a lovely chat with my Uncle John in Victoria, he is such a lovely caring man and so funny.