Fri, 15th Nov, 2024 Tonebridge Rest Area, south of Boyup Brook to Jane & Darryl’s place, Denmark, WA (sightseeing)

Overcast morning and cold - only getting to 19 today! We should have gone north!

Back on the road to head towards Denmark to spend a few days at Bob & Margaret’s neighbours new home.

Continuing through sheep/cattle grazing fields, grain fields, vineyards then olive orchards. Lots of banksias starting to flower and big grass trees.

Stopped at Frankland River township to check out the information board.

Went into the Community Centre and got a few more books for Steve. I can’t keep up with him! The lady told us about the lakes around the area and we decided to head out to one for morning tea.

Headed towards Cranbrook then turned onto a gravel road for 9km down to Lake Poorrarecup. Too cold and windy to have a cuppa outside so we stayed in our homes. I then went for a wander to photograph the lake. Steve had wandered while I put the kettle on and said the water was brackish. Doesn’t look too inviting today.

Walked past the picnic area then through the campground - just bush sites along the track. There are plenty of tracks down onto the beach too. Saw a few info boards about animals then got to the end where a 6 foot high fence and big gate had just been erected. Maybe the farmer has deer or emus! Sad story about poor Andy.

I walked back along the water’s edge with the wind and a few drops of rain on my back. Lovely tree.

The other walk is to graves so we skipped that one and headed back out and back to Frankland River. More drops of rain.

Turned south onto the road to Rocky Gully. Reached the Muir Highway then turned west to check out Lake Muir. Lots of timber plantations around here.

Across the Frankland River. There is an historical site there so will stop in on our way back.

Through the Lake Muir wetlands and then around to the north edge of the lake. Lots of information. Found it the plantations are all Tasmanian Blue Gums.

Walked down the board walk to the observatory and spotted 2 emus meandering across. No other birds mind you.

Info about the birds but not emus!

Had lunch, inside, still too cool and windy to sit outside. Headed back the way we came, across the Frankland River again - view the other side this time.

Turned onto the track down along the river to the site of the old bridge. Wow, would have been very wet here in 1982.

Further over we found the old survey tree, marked with the surveyors names in 1911.

Back to Rocky Gully which was the site of a WW2 soldier settlement. Great information. I wonder if any of the families still have property here.

Continued on towards Mt Barker (we explored this area previously) then turned south before it onto the road to Denmark. Marking off a few new roads in my book.

More misty rain as we went through Mt Lindesay National Park area. Up and down hills then down to the coast highway. Across the Denmark River (didn’t take a photo) and into Denmark township which was very busy (school time).

Continued westward into rural blocks. Up a hill with lovely big gums lining the road then stopped at Bob and Margaret’s friends place. Met Jane (Darryl still away working) and sorted out where to park. There is a steep drive down off the road but flat down there so we parked by the boat. Bob & Margaret went further around the shed and parked on the flat below the house. They have a big chook pens, some sheep and two big pools which the ducks love. Marron in one and yabbies in the other.

Joined Jane for a cuppa and lovely muffins and chatted the afternoon away. Nice and warm inside so it felt colder when we headed back to the camper at 6pm to cook dinner. Decided on pizza to warm up the camper a bit.

The frogs are out in force with their croaking!

 

Thurs, 14th Nov, 2024 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville to Tonebridge Rest Area, south of Boyup Brook, WA

Clear sky and warmer morning (18 degrees) which was quickly getting warmer. Forecast for some warmer days ahead - yeah.

Packed up and headed back to the Old Coast Road and turned southward. Onto the Forrest Highway into Bunbury and around to Kev & Linda’s place to say hi and hear about his birthday fishing trip yesterday. We all put masks on with our colds (leftovers from Covid).

Back on the road again to Ferguson Valley but Bob knew a quicker way just out of town to get to Dardanup (don’t think we have stopped here and read the info boards so will have to come back). Continued on past Gnomesville - a few people wandering about but we didn’t stop again.

Continued through the rolling green hills and down to old rail siding place of Lowden. On Wikicamps it showed ‘Frogs Hollow’ and a comment about the shop having artworks etc. Unfortunately it was closed. I spotted the Frogs Hollow frogs further over in the trees and realised they had tried to do another ‘tourist’ spot to leave frogs but it obviously didn’t take off like Gnomesville has.

Turned onto the Boyup Brook-Donnybrook Road and headed to Boyup Brook. Pulled into a roadside stop to have lunch - busy road.

Continued on through drier area with honey-coloured grass covered fields - some is hay by the new piles of hay bales here and there. Angus cattle and sheep in some fields.

Just as we neared Boyup Brook we turned off to check out the Quacking Frog Teapot Shed with displays of over 3000 teapots (also on Wikicamps) but it was closed too. Not having much luck.

Through town which we explored before and through grain fields. One chap was harvesting his.

Into Kington National Park which had signs about Disease Risk Area but nothing else. Passed the Perup Nature Reserve where you can look for Numbats but we didn’t stop.

Across the Tone River and into the rest area to park up for the night.

Nice spot except for the friendly flies!!

Checked out the river.

Had a cuppa in the shelter shed as the thermometer says 33.8 degrees in the camper but there is a nice breeze blowing. Part of the old 1928 bridge on display.

Read the info about the Perup Nature Reserve which covers 2 national parks and 17 reserves. 

The local community put all this in place which is lovely. Unfortunately they had to removed the bins as it was too much to keep up with and asked people to do the right thing. Most do but the big fire pit has been used by some as a rubbish bin. No fires now till April in WA.

Quiet afternoon reading and chatting under the shady trees. Spotted a big meat ant that had climbed up our side table and flicked him off. More started appearing. Unfortunately one got up Margaret’s chair and bit her arm - very painful but she got ice on it straight away so it was good. Not so good for the ant!! We looked around but couldn’t find their nest.

Lots of little birds flittering around - spotted some blue wrens and a grey fantail dropped in for a drink and a wash at the water tank.

The black cockatoos have arrived and are squawking away.

The sun not setting till 7pm now and gets up before 5am. Cool breeze so closed up the camper as the nights are still cold.