Thurs 26th Oct, 2017 Ellendale Pool, WA (exploring Greenough area)

7am 19.6 degrees and cloudy. Glad we did the washing yesterday. The corellas are back in full noise.

Off to explore the area. First stop was the Wind Farm – not that we haven’t see so many of these but they had a blade to check out. They are so big I couldn’t get it all in the photo.

Naughty Steve – didn’t read the sign!!

At the other end.

Looking down along the blade and its curve. Then I took a photo from the other end.

Steve gave it a shove and it bends a lot.

Info about the wind farm and the solar farm. Compared the costs and outputs. Wind farm costs $200 million but puts out 55 megawatts while the solar farm cost only $50 million but only puts out 10 megawatts.

Continued down to Walkaway – haven’t found out why it is called that. Cute art display near the Railway Station Museum.

The museum wasn’t open yet so just snapped some photos. The goods shed was built in 1887.

Back on the main highway and across the Greenough River – dry as a bone. There is some water flowing out of Ellendale Pool under the causeway we cross but obviously it doesn’t go far.

Turned onto a dirt track and chased Mr Rabbit.

Hampton Arms Inn (opened in 1863) – now a rare book store as well as being an Inn.

Next stop was Gray’s Store. Looks like it still has its original shingle roof. I wonder what he had in the high fenced enclosure next door.

Across the road was a Wesleyan Church. The first wedding was held here in 1869 before the building was even finished. Now the pigeons have taken it over.

On the road edge were signs ‘crossing pythons’ – probably heading for all the pigeons.

Continued down the dirt road which then turned into a narrow track through the dunes and over to the coast and Lucy’s Beach.

Stopped here for a cuppa, watching the waves crash on the flat limestone ledges. The sea is slowly eating them away. Looking south then north.

Got a good shot of the wave squirting through the hole in the rock.

Beachcomber Steve came back with a treasure!!

Waterfall action.

Back to the farm area. I wonder where this farmer got the life boats from – hope they hadn’t washed up on the shore!!

The Convict Bridge is having some repairs. Zoomed in on the barn and cottage nearby also built by convicts.

Steve had walked down to the Greenough River and found a chair to rest in. I walked across the bridge – looking upstream.

The long approach on the other side had lots of spiky bits.

The view up river from Steve’s chair!!

On the other side is the Bridge Cottage.

Into the Central Greenough Historic Settlement. The visitor centre and café is in the old store. The buildings in the settlement were constructed between 1863 and 1913 and are all under the care of National Trust. All the buildings we have seen so far have been and there are more around the area so they will be busy keeping them intact. It was free to check out the display in the Store but then there was a fee to wander around the settlement. We decided to skip it. Got to be careful with our money so we can’t do everything.

Little notes are painted on the walls telling the stories of the area.

Looking up the road to the other historical buildings – Greenough Convent on left near St Peter’s Church etc.

Another bit of artwork on the ArtDrive we saw first at Mullewa.

Up the Brand Highway to the Leaning Tree.

More across the road.

Looking across the field to the sand dunes and the dark edged clouds – might be rain coming!

Further north to the Pioneer Museum which is house in Home Cottage built in 1862 by John Maley who was known locally as the King of the Flats.

Next door is the Victoria Store and Mill which needs a lot of work as it is just a pile of rocks.

Across the road an old cottage (built in 1857) has been turned into a B&B with lovely gardens.

Continued north to Devlin Pool on the Greenough River – looking upstream then downstream. Just like Ellendale Pool but it would be salty as it is near the coast.

Lots of bees were on the ground beside the water.

Back up the highway then we turned west to Cape Burney. Nice view over Greenough River as it nearly reaches the sea.

Out to the beach, looking across to point near where the river mouth would be then north up the beach. There was a sign stating no vehicles past this point but obviously no one takes any notice as there are wheel tracks going up the beach and there is a vehicle on the beach further around.

Around to where the river ends. We drove across the sand to the point on the other side.

Dune hill climbs – big blocks of concrete were put across the track but they have been pulled aside.

Out to the point – looking back to the blocked mouth.

Across the bay is Southgate Dunes and then I zoomed in on Point Moore at Geraldton in the distance.

Out on the point where the water is eroding the limestone rocks making caves and crevices.

Back to the river’s edge for lunch in a shade shelter – mind you the wind is a bit cool to be sitting in the shade!!

Pretty flowers.

Cute doggy doo-doo bin.

Back to the Brand Highway then we turned north for a bit then east across to Edward Road so we can see a different area as we head back to Walkaway and then back to camp at Ellendale Pool.

Overcast, cold and windy now. I did my blog. Old mate came down to thank Steve for his help with a nice bottle of wine. That was very nice of him.

Sprinkle of rain – see I knew there was rain in those clouds.

Drinks with our neighbours from Hunter Valley.