Noble Falls 26/07/19

Husband and I went for a drive up to Noble Falls this morning. I have been wanting to go for a few years but this week he had to go up to Midland, I casually asked how far from there to Gidgegannup, and there you go.  We went!

 

He drove, of course, and we were on the road by 8.30, up Forrest Highway, onto the Freeway and then onto Roe Highway taking the turn onto Toodyay Road.  Around an hour and 40 minutes from home so not bad considering we were in his old Cruiser and did cop a bit of traffic near Perth.

There is a walk trail around the river  so we started off thinking we'd decide the long track or short track when we had too.  I was thinking the short one seeing as I am so unfit now but when we came to the split we took the high road.  It wasn't too bad, a nice stroll along the waters edge, up a gravel road, through a bit of bush...all up a decent walk and it didn't kill me. 

We'd decided that we'd have lunch at the tavern across the road before we left to come home so after our walk, another look at the water, a quick stop to check out the toilets...



We crossed the road for lunch.










Our meals were really nice, he had lamb koftas, I ordered the pepper steak pie knowing it would be too much and I'd need to share. 












We had a great day and think we will come again.  I'd like to go to York and Toodyay so when we go up there we will make it a 2 dayer and will definitely call in to Noble Falls again on the way home.

Myalup Easter Fair.

This fair is on every Easter at Ottrey Park out at Myalup.  We have a caravan out there so have been to this fair a few times and enjoyed them all.   This year we didn't stay out there but drove from home here.  It was busy, cars everywhere but our driver managed to get us quite close so we didn't have the usual long uphill walk.  Thanks J.

It cost us a gold coin donation to get in but that gave us a ticket in a door prize raffle.  We didn't win but someone did go home with a massive basket of Easter goodies.

There were all sorts of stalls at this fair, a lot to help raise money for the community but a few small business type ones too.  There was a bouncy castle, gold coin to get on so the grandkid had a few goes on that.  An Easter egg hunt and sandcastle building comp for the kids.  A chocolate wheel.  I had a win on that one.   A pet parade and Easter bonnet comp.  A decorated bike comp.  Lots of fun stuff for kids to be involved in.  The woman dressed as a butterfly and walking around on stilts was a big hit with the kids.

There were stalls selling second hand stuff, books, games, plants, etc...On the way out I bought a glass chess set, a light for my pushbike, snakes and ladders game, books, everything was cheap and I could have bought lots more than I did but my transport home was waiting for me.

After walking around a bit we came across a stall selling fruit and veg.  A lovely, fresh looking, inviting stall.  It was in complets contrast to the stall at the Harvey Harvest Festival that we went to a few weeks ago.  This stall was something that needs to be put up at the next Harvey Festival.  It made me smile just seeing it, the produce was donated and selling quickly.  For some reason though I didn't take a photo so I have no proof of how wonderful this stall was...HoHum...

There was a tent with different displays about caring for our coastline and marine animals. Kids got to *rescue* the dolphin and other water creatures by pulling plastic and other rubbish off of them.  They got to see how the wind causes erosion and how vegetation helps keep the sand in it's place.

Some of them had fun playing with the farm that was in danger of being covered in sand...











There were food stalls so we bought lunch and sat in the shade to eat it.  Some stayed and played while us others did more looking.






The fair started at 10am, we got there soon after and it was already very busy.    And quite warm, hot even, something that none of our group was prepared for.  None of us had hats, stupid really and no excuse and because I took a different bag and went in daughters car my water was a bit scarce too.  I know, I could have filled up somewhere there but didn't think to until we were in the car pulling out into the traffic and I needed a drink  Lucky we don't live too far away.

Comparing this fair to the Harvey festival is probabty not real fair, different towns, different reasons, different people wanting to go.  The Harvey one would have had more people, more money being spent but I liked the family/community aspect of the Myalup one. I think the Myalup one was more family friendly and a great day out wouldn't cost a lot.  I know I came home with money still in my purse.  To me the Harvey Festival was more commercial, I think that's why I was disapointed with it.  This one was more my idea of a family fair.

I probably wont go to the Harvey one again.  I will go to the Myalup Easter Fair next year.  Maybe I'll see you there too.

Penguin Island.

Penguin Island is south of Perth and just a short ferry ride off the coast of Rockingham.  

I remember going there many many year ago.  I remember walking around the island and looking for, and seeing, fairy penguins in their natural habitat.  I remember walking across to the island.   

Of course, like a lot of things, things change.  The penguins are now called Little Penguins instead of Fairy Penguins.  According to one of the rangers on the island it is the preferred title.    To me they will always be fairy penguins,   The authorities no longer like you walking across to the island.  Maybe they never did but since there have been a few drownings they now try and discourage it.

A year or so ago Husband and I were in Rockingham and called in to get some information about the island and while there we bought a coffee from the cafe.  I remember that coffee for all the wrong reasons...it was warm, weak, in a disposable cup...I like my coffee hot, strong, real crockery..
Anyway I lost that information and *forgot* about Penguin Island but recently read a review about the island and as we had the grandkid that loves penguins for a weekend I thought we could take her over for a look.

So, last Saturday was The Day.
I researched so knew the first ferry to the island left at 9am.  I knew how far Rockingham was from us, about how long it would take...I was sure that we'd be there in plenty of time to get a ticket.  We were driving down the road to where the ferry leaves from and the car clock was saying we wouldn't make it in time.  Bummer, that would mean we would have to wait until the next ferry at 10.
Pulling into the carpark we saw a couple of other people rushing towards the ticket place so I left husband to deal with the stuff from the car and went to see if we would make the first ferry.  She sold me our tickets and rang through to the ferry to say the last lot were on their way...made it!  It was close though, another minute and we would of had to wait.  I have no idea why it took us so long to get there, I must have had the times wrong or maybe the stop to buy bananas, the loo stop, both took longer than I calculated.


The first ferry wasn't very busy so it was easy to get a seat near the window so we could look out  the water and watch the walkers making their way across the sandbar to the island. 

 We went from back there
                                     To here in under way 10min.

 Our plan was to find a nice spot under a tree where we could leave our esky and bag while we went off and explored.

There is a lovely shaded and grassed area with tables and seats so we picked a spot and plonked down our stuff,  Grandkid was getting impatient and wanted to be off.





Years ago people could walk all over the island but nowadays there are wooden boardwalks that take you from one end to the other, lots of steps too!  We headed North first.  Walked down to the beach to look at the caves there.  People used to live in these caves and they did look dry but I'm not sure how warm and cosy it would have been.  Great ocean views though.

This one had a neat doorway cut into it and was quite big on the inside.

 Up the steps to the boardwalk, down some more steps to a different beach, back up those steps...

 Eventually we came to the end of the walk, not allowed to go further because it is a Pelican breeding area.

Both ends of the island had breeding colonies of Pelicans but they were too far away to see clearly.  At the northern end there are binocular things where you put in $2 coin.  We didn't have any $2 coins but thought they should have been free anyway as we'd already payed out $55.  If we had $2 we probably would have used it to have a better look.

After exploring the Northern end we went back to have something to eat.
There are no shops on PI so you need to take food and water over with you.  There is a cafe where the ferry leaves from but buying from there could add a lot to an already expensive day out.  We take food and drinks when we go out and always have enough for snacks throughtout the day, all kept cold with frozen drinks and icepacks.

Different areas of the island have different rock formations, I thought they were really cool and would go back just for another look at them all.








The beaches were clean, calm, shallow...except on the western side of the island.  That beach was rocky, not smooth, rough...it didn't look safe at all so the grandkid was not allowed in that side.  Lovely views from wherever you were.  This is a beautiful area 

Penguin Island is a bird sanctuary and there are thousands of birds.  When we were there a lot were nesting and a lot of seagulls were quite close to the boardwalks.  It was interesting to see the eggs they have.  Some nests had 1 egg others 2.

  On the way to the toilets there is an old rusty car.  There isn't much left of it but it was interesting to see.

 We would go explore a bit, come back for a snack, a drink and a rest, go off again...

There were a couple of groups that came over in kayaks, it was a bit of a treat seeing them coming across and onto the beach.  










The trees in the grassed area were a popular thing for kids to climb and after a bit the grandaughter thought she's have a go too.

The main reason for going over to the island was to see some Fairy Penguins so to make sure we did we paid the entry fee to the Discovery Centre.  This ensured that we did see some of the cute little creatures and we also listened to the talk about them and watched them get fed.  The birds in here live in here all the time, it is thought that they will not be able to look after themselves out in the natural way as they were either raised in there or had been sick or injured.  They have a pretty nifty area with a swimming pool, nesting areas and feeding on a regular basis.  Why would they want to leave, that's sounds like a good life!

We had promised the child that she could go swimming before we left and as she kept looking longingly at the water here I took her down to it.  This is the eastern side of the Island, the mainland can be easily seen and it is a sheltered area so was quite safe. 









                 The water was clear, calm, shallow, cold!  Safe enough for the young and not so young. 

We caught the 2 oclock ferry back to the mainland, it was full but not uncomfortably crowded.  And!  We found our beach towel that I thought I'd lost on the island.  Oops, looks like I left in on the boat but we were lucky enough that it was still there 5 hours and hundreds of passengers later.

The ferry costs $12 per person, even 3 year olds need to pay that much...well, their parents do! so for a family it could work out to be quite a bit.  You pay again to get into the Discovery Centre...for us, 2 adults and a 5 year old it cost $55 for the ferry and DC entrant fee.
Do I think it is worth it.  I liked the island and would like to go again, spend more time looking around.   I don't think it is worth the money that we paid but in saying that I would like to go back.  If I went again I don't think I would go into the DC again, been there done that type thing but if it was just me I could have a lovely day out for $12 plus petrol money.  

$12 for 1 person is maybe not too much but start adding in other members of your family...it adds up.  As a nice day out though it would probably be worth going without takeaway or other bought treats a few times and putting the money towards this. 

A Camping Trip...Finally!

I am going on a camping trip, taking the van, meeting up with others though so not completely solo and I may have the husband with me so not solo at all if that happens.  But never mind all those technicalities...I am going camping.  And that is what counts.

The daughter said she was going with these people that I know quite well so I invited myself along knowing full well that I would be more than welcome to join them all.   At the time I thought Husband would be away but it turns out he will be home late tonight but maybe only for a day or 2 so I was umming and ahhing about still going but in the end decided that he would probably only be sleeping so I may as well go and I'd catch up with him next week.  He may decide to come as he could sleep just as well in the van for a bit when we are there.  Either way...I'm agoing.

Sad thing is I was out looking at the van after I decided to go and it is not at all ready like it is supposed to be.  Way back when I first got it the plan was to keep it clean and packed so I could just jump in and go whenever I wanted to...well that hasn't happened.  Not sure if it has ever been like that really...
I know, I'm a bad wannabe solo camper person.

Anyway, I went to move her closer to the shed to give her a cleanout and ...nothing, wouldn't start so that was a BIG bummer seeing as I'd spend a bit of money so that wouldn't happen. It had been driven the week before too so it was a surprise that it didn't start.  I think the son has moved it and not turned the key off properly, Can't see why else it wouldn't start.  The daughter and I tried to give it a jumpstart with her car but no go so I took the (very heavy for me to lift) battery out and put it on the charger for a bit.  This morning put it back it and we're ready to go.  Well it starts, I still need to give her a clean and repack but will do that this afternoon.  Then get some water and food sorted...then it'll be ready to go. Camping!!  How cool is that going to be.  Actually, it will probably be quite cool, literary, as we are going up to Lane Poole and Dwellingup is usually very cold.

Nannup Markets.

Granddaughter was going to have a holiday at her aunties down in Nannup and the plan was for her to go down on Friday but I decided I'd take her down Saturday instead as the markets were on and I had been wanting to check them out for ages.  This was a good excuse to make sure I was there...on the day!!

As usual I was later leaving home than I planned and had to pick up a passenger on the way but we with no more stops we were in Nannup before 10.  Daughter L wasn't where we were supposed to meet her and when going to ring her I couldn't find my mobile...which I had plugged into the car charger but it wasn't there.  Looked all over the car for it then used Mum's phone to ring another daughter to ring my phone so I could follow the sound and find it...in my bag!!  Oops, that's right, I put it there when I got out of the car when I had stopped somewhere at the beginning of the trip.    Made the call, left a message and drove closer to the markets where the daughter L pulled up behind us.  She was running late and just happened to see us as she was driving to the original meeting spot!

The market area was busy, lots of stalls for the small area.  Fruit and veg, soaps and luffas, a couple of preserves stalls, a few handmade item stalls.  Others that I don't remember...

There were people there that had birds with them, sitting on their shoulder or just hanging about in trees.  These birds must be well loved because they were close to a road and heaps of people wandering around but the birds were not fussed at all and were quite happy to just sit and move around the trees and bushes there.

I love licorice!  I know, who doesn't, right.  So it was interesting to see a large range of assorted straps of all different flavours.  Not made locally which was a shame but still nice.

For the last couple of years I have tried to grow Luffas with no success but I am going to try again this year.  This stall was selling them and she grows them so there is no reason that they won't grow here so it is obviously something that I am doing wrong.  Some of  their soaps smelled lovely and I was tempted.  If she had of had one that smelled like chocolate then I would have bought a few bars of assorted but alas, no go.  I did ask and she says she used to make it but it wasn't a good seller so she doesn't anymore.  Shame.
But I have decided that I want to support them as a small business and so next time I am at these markets, if they are there, I will buy some of her soaps and maybe a luffa or two.  L did buy a few luffas and there were other buyers too but I wonder sometimes why I am so tight. Sometimes being tight and not wanting to spend has disadvantages too.  If we the people don't support crafters like these then it is likely they wont be around when we want a lovely homemade gift for someone.  And if we ever decide to do it ourselves how can we expect people to buy from us.  So I'm sorry I was too tight yesterday but wont be next time.

We taste tested some sauces and chutneys and bought a couple of bottles of the one we liked best.  Sweet Chilli Tomato Garlic Marinade it is called.  So nice!!  I will use it as a sauce and have it on everthing!  It was $6.00 which I think is a lot for probably 250ml of sauce but cheaper then the smaller bottle of sauce Husband bought in Denmark a while back. OK, daughter L bought this for me so big thanks to her but next time I will pay for my own.  Truly!

And there were lots of dogs.  It looked like it was a meeting place for people and their dogs but they, the dogs, were all on leads and none were barking so it wasn't anything to be concerned about.  When I had a (small) dog there was no way that I could have taken him to a place like this so I respect dog owners that have well behaved animals that are a joy to have in public places.


Op- Shop.
Nannup has a small op-shop, turn right after the bridge as you enter the town from the north...I have been in it a couple of times now.  When we had finished at the markets we walked down to the op-shop.  Lucky it wasn't this far or we'd still be on our way!

We bought quite a bit then had to carry it all back up to the shire office where the car was parked.  We bought books, of course!, a very pretty bone china mug, pillowslips, flannelette sheets, clothes, a recorder, jigsaw puzzle, a small pot for my van so I can pour the hot water a bit safer, camping magazines...I haven't read all the last lot from here yet but will do one day and now have more for when needed.  Grandaughter had her own money so bought herself a couple of things.  Op-shops are great places for children to spend their money, much better than the lolly shop.

Not far now...

A very preny entrance to Nannup Op-Shop.

Mum, there's a chicken cow in my garden, eating all my watermelons flowers.

 And these beautiful flowers are as you walk through the archway.

 These ones are in the main street, passed as we were going back with all our spoils.

 A great day and worth doing again.  If you are ever in the area when the markets are on stop and support the local people.  I know that next time I will.

The markets are fortnightly.  Yesterday was the 29th of September so the next ones should be on the 13th October then the 27th October.   I was wrong, I was corrected...Thanks Tiffany.

Harvey Dam.

Last Wednesday I had a to go to Harvey and after my appointment there we went up to have a look at Harvey Dam.  It's been quite a few years since I was last here and me and a daughter and her daughter took a picnic and planned to get a bit of exercise in while there.

When we arrived we parked near the playground and went for a wander looking for a place to eat.  Grandaughter found the place she liked so we set up our little station, had some food, then after lunch it was time to explore the area a bit.

Follow the path, pass a lovely grassed area where there is a a barbecue and a table and seats overlooking some water.  Onto a wooden bridge

                                                         and a look at some friendly ducks.

Over the bridge and along the path knowing that somewhere up ahead you would find the steps you came to climb.

 And there they are.  It looks like there is a lot and it looks a long way up.

 There were, it was.  I think there were too scarey for *someone* as they chose to climb up the rocks instead.  Naughty naughty. (but we didn't know that until a long time later when we found a sign saying not to. Oops!)

Once up on the top of the dam wall we could see where we had come from and where we had to get back to.

This is a lovey area for a picnic and a wander around.  If you are nearby I think it's worth the few km drive from Harvey to have a bit of an explore.