Mon, 5th Dec, 2016 Ross & Lara’s, Wattle Grove, WA (exploring Mandurah)

Another lovely morning though a bit chilly still. Rang Mum and Dad for a chat – all good there.

Put on our jeans and boots to head down towards Mandurah to visit Bob & Margaret (put the jumpers in the truck just in case). Maa and Paa sheep didn’t want us to leave.

Steve’s gaze over his stitches had come off so we stopped at a Medical Centre to see about getting them out. Doc had said I could do it but I didn’t feel comfortable about that. We got in straight away and the doctor said Doc had done a very neat job and it has healed well. We’ll call him Scar Face from now on. He reckons ‘girls like scars’!!

Fuelled up and headed down the freeway to Mandurah. Certainly makes it easier cruising down the freeways.

Lovely orange blooms along the way. Such sandy soil everywhere.

Found the Information Centre next to a park area. Even had some WA Black Swans.

Lovely lady, Sharryn, gave us lots of information and maps about things to do here and in Perth. Went for a wander along the boardwalk. They sell the Love Locks in the shop near here.

Around to Stingray Point (no stingrays though) where a beautiful big Moreton Bay Fig is. It was planted when the Peninsula Hotel (known as The Pen) was first built here (didn’t give a date). The hotel was burnt down in 2003 but the fig survived. The hotel is now the Sebel.

Walked out onto the Pavilion Jetty – looking back to the Old Mandurah Bridge, a new one is under construction at the moment.

Then across to Halls Head and the entrance to all the waterways and the big flash homes. There is a Christmas Lights boat cruise we might do which weaves through the canals checking out all the homes who decorate with lots of lights.

Continued along the edge of the Ocean Entrance Channel to Stingray Wharf.

Lovely view of the pines.

To the end and around the point to look across to the boats in the Mandurah Ocean Marina. Which one shall we have?

This area is known as the Venetian Canals. Very nice.

Lara rang to say more sheep are arriving this afternoon. Map of the area.

Back to the truck – got past all the ice creameries without too much whinging from Stephen. Had our lunch by the water then headed to Florida Beach at Dawesville to see Bob and Margaret. We crossed over the Old Mandurah Bridge to enter onto the ‘island’ of Halls Head etc then over the Cut. We have the Indian Ocean on our right and the huge Peel Inlet on the left.

Nice entrance to their area.

Found their place and had a great afternoon chatting. They offered for us to bring the van down and park in one of the driveways for a bit which is so wonderful of them. Great to be able to explore the area from a home base.

As we left we drove around to the sea side for a look of the Indian Ocean. We have made it to the water on the other side of Australia. Beautiful day and the breeze wasn’t too cold.

No problem with the traffic till nearing Perth then it got a bit slower for a while then we turned off. The new sheep are all huddled together at the very end of the paddock. Maa and Paa are up near our van. Steve will give them the night to settle in before putting the bore and sprinklers on again.

Quiet night watching TV.