Mon, 7th Apr, 2025 Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie to 48hr RV Stop, Bruce Rock, WA (sightseeing)

Lovely morning again, 20 degrees. Few clouds about.

Packed up and said thanks and bye to Tom & Sandy. Will catch up with them in Meekatharra later on in the year.

Programmed ‘girlie’ to take us up the Scarp on the Brookton Highway as we hadn’t done that section. Automatic going well and Steve happy with the change the chap made too.

Through the state forests then into grain country again. We visited Brookton recently so continued on crossing the Avon River South Branch and onto a road to mark off on my map as we headed to Corrigin.

Further along we crossed the Avon River - just a small stream here.

Turned off to have lunch at historic Lomos township (Wikicamps info) but when we got to the spot there was just an old dam, a few big hay bales in a circle and lovely big trees and lots of old rubbish about (tin & broken glass etc). No info so we had our lunch then headed back out. Spotted a rock with a plaque by a grain paddock so I walked across for a look - site of the Lomos School, 1920-1944.

Back to the main road and continued eastward through more grain country. 7km before Corrigin we passed a sign, No. 2 Rabbit Proof Fence rain north-south here.

Quick photo as we passed the Dog Cemetery before Corrigin - created in 1974 as a tribute to Man’s Best Friends (over 200 loved ones are buried there). I thought we had stopped and looked at it when we visited here at the end of Jan 2018 but looking back if we did I didn’t have any photos but we both remember having a look at the headstones. 

Into Corrigin where we topped up the diesel as it is still cheap here - checked out Kalgoorlie and a lot dearer there. The Dog is still in the ute.

Corrigin was known for having lots of windmills back in the day. Checked out the info board. We stayed at Gorge Rock and checked out the Pioneer Museum.

Went around the block and spotted a fantastic mural on the side of the Ram Sale Yard shed.

We have driven the main road up to Bruce Rock so we took the other one that runs alongside the old railway line which has trees growing along it now. More clouds coming over now.

Turned off and across the railway line to the old township of Bilbarin and parked beside the burnt out remains of the hall. Funnily the fire brigade shed is beside it - maybe it was erected after the building burnt.

We walked along the streets checking out the information boards.

Onto the other street which was dirt and a kangaroo jumped near us then stopped to watch us pass. Along to the old Teachers’ house which had two big chimneys and now lots of junk around it.

The school (1916-1965) was further along and lots of rubbish here too. Steve found a bike to ride! We have noticed that even if nothing is left of a township someone has put up a plaque where the school was.

On the opposite side of the street was a sign about the first two halls. Must have had a shower of rain through here too.

Continued on - tennis courts one side and oval on the other.

Along to the end of the street to the last sign.

Lots of 28s (ring-neck parrots) and galahs having a good time in the trees and lots of flies too as we walk back to the camper.

Back out and across the railway line again. Passed the grain bin at Ainsworth that was moved here from Bilbarin.

Continued on then crossed over the railway line again into the next little township, Babakin. It is still existing with a lovely hall, CWA and a few nice houses about. The old shop needs fixing up!

The road is getting narrower as we turn east to Ardath. 

The hotel was established in 1925. It was closed. There are a few homes and another big grain bin on the other side of the railway line. No one about.

We had a cuppa. Crossed the railway line turned onto the Corrigin-Bruce Rock Road.

Tom rang was we drove into Bruce Rock, checking on how far we got and that the truck was going well. I couldn’t remember what we had explored here so we went around to the 48hr RV Spot and parked up. Only one motorhome here at the moment. There is a van park on the other side of the street but it must be council owned for them to have the free camp here.

I looked back at what we saw on the previous visit (29 Jan 2018). We had visited Bruce’s Rock so won’t got back out there. Put our sandshoes on and walked back into town. New mural on the side of the Emergency Services Building. These info boards weren’t here in 2018 either though I had taken photos of the lovely buildings.

Continued down the street reading the info as we went.

Nice painting though something has been pooping on it.

The Museum building is over 100 years old now. The bins have info and pictures on them too.

Continued on.

Beside the Craft Shop was a tree with fruit that had broken open. I asked the lady in the shop if she knew what it was - Pomegranate, of course!

Some more nice paintings.

More info.

Fabulous mural but of course there is always a car parked in the road!

Continued down to the end of the street.

Crossed the road and found another sign.

Wandered around the Remembrance Park. When we were here there were ‘art’ sculptures everywhere but this is much nicer. I took a photo of just a few of the plaques but there is so much more to see. Very moving.

In the middle of the street is a shelter shed, info and picnic tables.

The mosaic was here on our last visit.

A few more signs near the old railway crane and station.

The mosaics continue. We thought these mosaics were worth a photo.

Good use of the old wagon wheels at the Motor Museum.

Back along the mosaic trail then through a little park and across the railway line to the camper. All quiet, only a few vehicles going down the road.

Drinks and read our books for a while. After dinner watched a movie.

 

 

Sun, 6th Apr, 2025 Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie, WA

A short shower of rain in the night. Nice sleep-in temperature this morning so we didn’t get up till 8am (20 degrees). Mostly clear sky.

Sorted out the new Wikicamps program - deleted it and loaded on the old version - much better.

Joined Tom & Sandy for a cuppa then we played Sequence - we get our game fix here with these two.

After lunch we got back into the cards again. I showed them Uno Flip then Skipbo again.

Sat outside with our cuppas and watch a fire burning black in the distance. Nothing showing up on the FB pages about it but there are 3 helicopters and 2 water bombing planes flying over and over the area.

More cards till drinks outside again - the fire still smoking. Had dinner then saw on the news where the fire was - Police looking into who started it.

Finished off our games fun with more Skipbo - we play in partners so it is always interesting.

Cool again when we went back to the camper.

Sat, 5th Apr, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville to Tom & Sandy’s place, Thornlie, WA

Packed up the camper and loaded it back onto the truck. No wind which is handy.

Said goodbye and many thanks to Bob and Margaret for their generosity and friendship and left them with a gift. Hopefully we will see them in a few months when they find us in the bush.

Across The Cut. Probably our last visit here, a very nice place, except if it is cold and windy!

Into Halls Head to find a Street Library and swapped a couple of books. Along the Old Coast Road and across the bridge over estuary area. Can’t see any dolphins.

Along the foreshore - all the renovations in the park area have been finished. Looks nice. Continued along the coastal road (rather than the freeway for a change) to find a spot for a cuppa. Ended up at Safety Beach which has a big dune between the parking and the beach. Made our cuppa and walked up over the sand - nice view. People learning to surf.

Programmed ‘girlie’ then to get us back to the Kwinana Freeway to head up to Thornlie for a couple of days with Tom & Sandy. Passed a Hindu Temple at Gosnells - elaborate.

Around to their house and set up on neighbour’s driveway again as he is away at the moment. Chatted for a while then had lunch. Warmer day - 29 degrees.

Got out the Skipbo cards for the girls vs boys challenge. Fairly even.

Drinks outside with another neighbour calling in to join us. He had very interesting stories about working with the police in the disposal of drugs and guns.

BBQ dinner then a couple of games of Dice then Skipbo again.

Back to our camper at 11pm - late night but we were having fun. Clear sky and cooler so we closed up the windows.

1-4 Apr, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, WA (my birthday)

Tues, 1^st

Another lovely morning. Into the car with Bob & Margaret and down to Bunbury to visit Kev & Linda. Lovely to see them again and we chatted away. Kev welded up the exhaust for Steve then we had lunch. More chatting then we headed back home.

Steve put the bracket back on and I checked with Tom & Sandy when they were free. We will head up on Saturday and catch up with them before we head to Kalgoorlie.

 

Wed, 2^nd

Cool breeze this morning, had to close the window! Few clouds about.

My 62^nd birthday - the years are flicking by!! Just don’t look in the mirror and I’m all good!!

Margaret as a white hibiscus here called the Rose of Sharon but it isn’t multi petaled like ours at home. Thought it was time for a comparison. The other one was taken at Mum & Dad’s on my 40^th birthday!!

My lovely Tuckshop ladies sent me a photo of my birthday morning tea that they are having in my honour. So thoughtful of them.

Into town to get the new tyres and do some more shopping. Steve will cook us pizzas for dinner tonight with something yummy for dessert.

Lots of lovely birthday messages, phone calls, video chat from family and friends. Sophia clapped hands and waved and Beau walked across the room. So glad we have this technology so we don’t miss out on much.

Drinks with Bob & Margaret watching Tipping Point then the news. Steve prepared and cooked the pizzas then we had Magnum ice blocks while we watched 1% Club. That worked our brains.

 

Thurs, 3^rd

Min temps dropping, down to 18 this morning, overcast and cool wind.

Margaret and I went down for a fish but there was a big swell, top of the tide and no fish. Well I did catch one whiting so we had something to show for our time. So nice to be out with Margaret fishing that it doesn’t matter if we don’t catch fish.

Back home to do some washing. Steve is redoing the silicone on the roof so hoping those dark clouds stay away.

A few light showers of rain passed over during the day but I got the washing dry and packed away.

Continued with my cross-stitching and chatting with Margaret.

Windier afternoon and getting cooler.

 

Fri, 4^th

Cold windy overcast morning. Min of 18 and max forecast of only 23!! Jeans and jumper day. Steve and I walked to Coles and back to get a couple of extra things and get some exercise.

Showers of rain whizzed over us with the strong wind. Steve finished sorting things in the truck and I continued with my cross-stitch.

After lunch I gave the camper a clean all ready for us to head off in the morning.

Last Fish &Chip night with Margaret and Bob as the wind howled around us. It has been wonderful to have such great friends who kindly let us park up here at their house. Hopefully they will come up and see us in a few months further north.

 

 

29-31 Mar, 2025 Bob & Margaret’s place, Dawesville, Qld

Sat 29^th

Another lovely clear sky morning, 21 degree minimum. Steve back to working on the trucka and Margaret & I went fishing again. Only one chap here this morning, not a good sign but we started catching some Herring and had a great time. I brought the camera today to get a photo of the changed beach look from the other times I have been down here.

I got ‘dubs’ 3 times though one got off just at the shore so that didn’t count. Margaret took photos - the first photo, one fish got off the hook so I had to hold him but the other photos has both fish on the hooks.

Margaret works with one hook trailing behind a burley thing whereas I have two hooks floating above a sinker. Great fun when they get on with a big pull, just have to be careful coming in as they have soft mouths and seem to get off just at the shoreline!

Back home for a cuppa and count up - 28 today. Bob comes down with his ‘goafer’ and tows the ‘wagon’ back for us.

Steve is making progress with a few grumbles along the way. All done so he packed his tools away. There are big white bulbous clouds to the east - storm building?

Margaret invited the neighbours over for drinks and nibbles. We had a wonderful afternoon chatting then continued into the evening. The wind picked up and then we could smell rain in the air. Didn’t worry us up on the patio. Someone looked at their watch and it was 10pm so they headed home and we tidied up then went to bed. Great night.

The strong wind is rocking the camper and things are being blown around the place as we have had calm weather for a few days now. This will be the end of the ‘heat wave’ they are having.

 

 

Sun, 30^th

Big cloudy and still windy but not too strong this morning. Good for a sleep-in.

Packed up a bit and then moved the truck and camper across to the shed front so Steve can drop the camper off. Next expense - new tyres for the truck so he didn’t want the camper on to get them replaced. Also he needed to take the truck for a test drive. All good so far.

Cooler day after all the wind - 31 degrees. Sky cleared.

Got a lot of work done on my cross-stitch.

Messaged Kev & Linda to catch up on Tuesday.

 

Mon, 31^st

Cooler morning, 19 degrees.

Put some washing on then had a cuppa before we headed into town to get prices on new tyres. Ended up with a smaller business in Mandurah, City Discount Tyres, who was a lot cheaper than Tyrepower. Booked in for Wednesday morning. Into the Forum Shopping Centre for a big shop up of non-perishables for our trip into the bush soon.

Back home to pack it all into the cupboards! Will do some more shopping on Wednesday after we get the tyres on.

Steve checked under the truck ‘again’ and noticed a crack in the exhaust pipe!! He took it off and will get Kev to weld it up tomorrow. Must be more welds on this pipe than pipe now!

Drinkies with Bob & Margaret watching Tipping Point again.