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.