East Mt Barren Day 3, Morning.

Because we had left home Thursday night we had managed to get to the worksites earlier than intended and with Hubby having me there to *help* him he managed to get the work finished a bit sooner than first thought.

This gave us the chance to get out to East Mt Barren earlier than planned.  .   Below is a photo taken on my last visit to Hopetoun back in May.  I am overlooking the Culham Inlet, the mountain in the background.

This mountain is in the Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia
The park has been closed for awhile due to upgrading of the roads and there are still parts closed so we didn't have to pay the entry fee.  The views from the road, out over the ocean, going up to this hill were fantastic and the closer we got to the mountain the more impressive it looked.  Our plan was to climb it but the closer we got the less confident I felt.
But Hubby is a dear and assured me that I'd be fine and what did it matter anyway if I couldn't, we'd be coming back some other time and I could always try again then.  So we park in the carpark and get out.  I have my trusty backpack on.  In it is all the stuff I wont need...

There is a wooden walkway leading up to the base of the mountain and I go to take a photo...only to find out that some idiot forgot to recharge the batteries.  But I had spares...that didn't work...Idiot!!!!

No non-working camera was going to stop us though so off we went.
The mountain was high, the direction was up, the path was rocky...There are markers leading the way and by the time we were half way my goal was only to reach the next marker and that seemed to make it a bit less daunting.  Afterall, anyone could get to the next marker, it was right there...

We kept stopping so I could rest look at the view and long before I collapsed we had reached the top.  Well, maybe not the top top but it was really really high and the next highest point looked like too much hard work.  We couldn't see any more markers or anything that might be a path...but I don't think we were at the true summit.  I will do some research so next time I know where the top is.
The view though from where we were...absolutely fantastic.  If you are ever in the area, make the effort and climb.  And you don't have to go all the way to see forever...
Coming down was a tad trickier than going up.  Afterall, it was all downhill.  On a windy path with big rocks that needed to be used ass steps.  Nothing for the husband with big strong legs but me with my weak short ones...a different story.  To make the downward trip more dangerous the path was covered in loose stones that slipped away as you trod on them.  I would have gone a header a few times if he wasn't there to stop my quick downward falling..  But before we knew it we were back on the wooden walkway and I was thinking that that wasn't as bad as it looked and we mustn't have reach the top as we were only gone a couple of hours...

It really wasn't a bad climb.  We were stopping often to have a look at the view and there were lots of lizards around.  The wildflowers were abundant and some were so beautiful.

I can now say, in a casual nonchalant voice, "East Mount Barren?  Been there done that"  The fact that I have no photos to prove it. pffft, I have the feeling of greatness and that my friend, is better.  And I will get the photos next time.


OK, I did some web searching and *stole* this photo.  I hope I don't get in trouble for putting it here.  My photo would have looked just the same if I had of been able to take one.  It doesn't look that big does it.
To get how massive it is you really "had to be there"

Hopetoun, Mason Bay Trip. Day 2.

Saturday, Day 2 of Hubby's work-trip and I stayed in Hopetoun while he went off and did more of yesterday.

There was a market in town that morning so that was on my agenda and I had planned on riding out to Five Mile Beach as well as a few more things.

I was up by 6 so went for a walk into town and down to the beach.  Around a few of the streets then back to the house for a coffee with Hubby.
We had seen a sign for a garage sale so went looking for that before he went to work but as we were too early I got him to drop me off at a lookout sign I had seen as we passed..  He went off to work, I went off exploring.  There were paths leading away from the lookout platform so I wandered down one, along a road, down another path.  I was looking at the view and some of the flash new houses but eventually I was ready to go back to the house and...Which way is back?!  Didn't know.  I kinda knew the direction I had to go and after a few dead end steets I found the path to the lookout so I backtracked to that and got my bearings from there.
The photo below was taken from the lookout.  That mountain in the background is East Mt Barren, on my list for when Hubby wasn't working.

 Once I was at this lookout I knew the way back to the house so went back and had breakfast.
Come 9.15 and I walked into town again.  The CWA was have Devonshire teas and I was planning on having one.  I get there and the markets are setting up close by and the CWA also had stalls but I changed my mind about the coffee and scone.  Wandered around the markets, didn't buy the fairy floss I wanted...I see a trend here.  I haven't had DT or FF for years and was looking forward to both but my *don't spend* mentality keeps stopping me.  I regret not buying the FF, maybe next time.  I did buy a small salt and pepper set though, both grinders so they will be added to my van and a hand beater, the oldfashioned kind with a wooden handle.  The daughter borrows mine quite often so now she has her own.  $2 each and there was a nice yellow fitted sheet for $1 so I bought that as *someone* hadn't put a sheet on the swag and I like sleeping on sheets!  All up I spent $6, all on stuff that was better for me than DT and FF.

After the markets it was another walk to the beach, just because I was there, the beach was close...
The beaches here are lovely, clean clear water and though there is weed along the beach the bare sand is clean and firm to walk on.

 Back to the house to get the bike and ride out to Five Mile Beach.

Started out riding but something had happened to the handlebars, they were loose and kept slipping so after a couple of wobbly km's I thought I'd better not risk it and pushed it back home.  Had lunch and a read of a book instead.  Another walk into town to see if there was anything new at the markets then back home to find Hubby had finished already and was there too.

My first day in Hopetoun seemed to be full of walking.  The house we were staying in is only about 1/2km from town, not far at all but after the 5th or 6th time it did became a bit old.

We fixed the bike handlebars that afternoon, I couldn't do it earlier as I didn't have the right tools and I say "we" but really, Hubby did it for me.

Then fishing out at Culham Inlet. 

Back into town to the fish and chip shop for tea!

I had a great day but am looking forward to tomorrow when we attempt to climb East Mt Barren.  That is that mountain that can be seen in the background of the photo above.  Should be *fun*