Sunday 25th March- Big Brook Dam, Pemberton

The site seems to have filled up overnite and we are told some 600 people camped here a few weeks ago!!!!
So just another easy Sunday,up, showered and off to Big Brook Dam ( as recommended by the site caretaker.). We walk/ stroll lazily round the whole dam being some 4-5 km.

Lovely, peaceful and quiet as usual. John suggests we take walk along the waters edge, we get about 50 yds and my feet start to sink in mud...panic? yep. John is giggling and telling me to walk in his steps, which I  do, but I just sink further. So a quick retreat was made by both of us to the beach area... another clump for Dundee? yes!

Just another chilled out day, so here comes the piccies.

 The road leading into Big Brook Dam

More local views on the way to the Dam

This is the Bullibum trail that circles the dam. Its an old aboriginal trail thats been dug out and tarmaced of some 4-5 km to protect the forestry either side. This is the trail we walked.

Local farmland

More views of the trail surrounding the dam.

The Big Brook Dam...

More of the local area..

According to the world of Bellamy Smith lol, this is a 'chicken in the wood (Mushroom)...

More views from the trail..

Peace....... looking out across the dam...

More looking out lol.....

and more...

24th March Saturday-Pemberton- The local pub, ice cream then coffee

We wake at around 6ish which is late for us and eventually get up just before 8 (a lay in). There is a local cockerel who has no idea of morning and seems to start crowing about 2am.... added to which he does not 'cocka doodle do...' its a strange sort of monkey sounding noise. But its the cockerel I am reliably informed by Dundee Smith......hey ho. He is bloody annoying but all part of the general get up out here.

Then up turns Billy and his gang ( about 20 ducks) then along come freddie and the dreamers ( 5 lime green, black and yellow parrots) then we have Johnny Mathis ( 1 black and white small but long bird, don't know what its called but it sings lovely).. The ducks run around looking out for last nights left overs, the parrots jump from roof to telephone line and back to the trees and the other one just sits on the back of Johns chair. Then they all disappear, don't know where to but they do!

Cooked breakfast done, washing done, housework( well tent) done and its shower and out. We wander into town and have a beer at the local hotel. I ask John for a half lager shandy and a packet of crisps.Back he comes with the drinks and a pack of crisps several months out of date. Up and get and into the bar I go. Excuse me, these crisps our of date, The barmaid apologises and says would I like another, "yes please' , then another barmaid comes along and says 'they're all of date, if she wants one in date you'll have to go up to the bottle shop ( the offie) and get her one''. Would you like an in-date pack? yes Please I ansa and tell the girl where we are sitting.... only in Australia, I kid you not there ways are quite different out here.. We sit and relax and watch the world go by and decide to walk back through the town ( about 12 shops most of which are shut cuz its now gone 12 midday) and stop off and buy an ice-cream, well two lollies actually (just under £3 each!!!!). Ok, lollies eaten, world watched and off we wander again back through the other half of town. Coffee? asks John, why not I reply. SO we sit again, drink coffee, have a ciggie and watch the world go by ( all 6 of them lol)....

Nice slow walk back to camp ( which is just as well cuz its about 85 plus today). We get near to camp and see the sign for swimming pool. So off we go to investigate. If its nice then swimming we will go. Well the pictures tell it all..... its also got warnings for poisonous snakes (we are told this is just a matter of course and directed by all insurers to cover themselves).. well as soon as I see this, I am a firm Nope, not going in...JOhn doesn't want to swim on his own, but agrees at this point it does not look to well. we walk back to camp and bump into the caretaker, we talk about the pool and he says '' oh my grandchildren will be up there they love it, its just the best. Thats clear spring water that is !!!!'' Really? I reply it does not look very clear "oh thats just the leaves and stuff, its a lovely swim''.  I smile, John looks at me as much as to say, I know I know, no swimming in there!.  I will leave the Grandchildren of the caretaker to swim, but I aint going in.

Back to the tent and the table and chairs ( see how little things excite you?) for a quiet read and relax.

We have just had a hot chicken salad for tea and watched the camp caretaker and his grandchildren feed the resident ducks and parrots, lovely... so John tries his hand too   The site is nearly full up now but still peaceful. Its 6pm and nearly pitch black, the light goes so early out here, by half past we won't be able to see anything outside as the ozzies don't do a lot about street lamps, in fact in this part they are very few in number. So its off to the tent to read and see who we can catch on skpye. xx
Nite nite ALL, here comes the piccies...

A view up the town,

John swaps the bike again for a new mode of transport lol.... or not as appears to be the case!

The town railway crossing with a ONE carriage train going through ....

The road to the camp, busy as always

The local swimming pool, we decided NOT to take a swim, despite the caretakers reassurances that its filled with clean spring water ...

John tries his luck at feeding 'Billy' and his gang.. they are crafty these ducks, they had already been fed by the caretaker and his grandchildren, then John fed them, then the lady opposite came out and fed them, they were running from van to van. Be interesting to see if they can fly back to their brook when they have done ..

Friday 23rd March Emu Beach, the Giants and on to Pemberton

Both up nice and early. Well awake about 6ish and up by 7am. Had brekkie, packed up tent and stuff and was all ready to go just after 9.30ish.  We are travelling to The Valley of the Giants (A protected forest full of Tingle Trees) as John wants to do the tree walk, and I am going to have a go and see how far I get.  Its about an hour and a half away. We make good time and after a couple of stops and some fast driving by John, we are at Walpole where the giant Tingle trees are. We decide to do the guided tour first, very interesting, not something we usually do, but the lady was lovely and really knew her stuff.

They are called tingle trees because the Aboriginals found them first and called them 'dingle dingle, dongle dongle' which later 'transcribed' to be 'cautious, cautious and careful careful' !. Well apparently we are told 'the white man heard that as 'Tingle tingle' and so thats how the tree was named. How we got tingle tingle out of dongle dongle beggars belief, but apparently we did !!!!  They are very large knobbly trees that go up high so they can survive the fires and the droughts. Their roots are near the surface and they are hollow most of the way up. But look at the piccies and you will see, how big and interesting they are.

We do the tour then go up into the heavens for the tree walk. Now I am no celebrity, but I can shout get me out of here, when some numpty behind me is doing a bloody jig on the platforms that are suspended on nothing but metal wires 40 metres in the air !!!! The numpty being bloody 'Dundee Smith' himself, oh how he laughed!!! del he did till we got down when he got a good old clump from me!  However, I did the whole walk and although it made my tummy go over, it was great as were the views... ( see the piccies for proof).

Once the walks were done, we had some lunch and started to make our way to our new camp in Pemberton which is some 150km away and will take a couple of hours or there a bouts to get to.  So off we go. Boy did he go!!!. By the time we stop at Northcliff for a coffee and up to date directions, Dundee Smith is getting another clump. My dierre' is so bloody sore, because he was going so fast and over lots of bumps ( he says he was't but he fliipin well wuz), that actually I cud barely string two polite words together and could not walk at all when he stopped and I could get off.......

Anyway back on the bike and into Pemberton.  We arrive only to find out that the camp we were going to is about another hours drive in Quanapantu, because its been marked on the map wrong in the camping book.  However long story short. Pemberton has a caravan and camping site, anyway so off we trot there. What a result. Its lovely, the site is great, our pitch was chosen by me !!!!, its all well kept, and we now have a table chairs outside our tent!!  RESULT..

So we book in and its the usual game, tent out, tent up and off into town to get some groceries. You would never believe how expensive it is out here (sorry to keep going on) and how much prices change from town to town, but what can we do??? we have to bite the bullet and pay the money.... We treat ourselves to a bottle of cheap plonk to have with our meal and go back to camp to make beef chilli and rice.  Its pitch black by 6.30pm, so we sit outside the tent in the complete dark, lol, and eat the chilli ( John cooked it and very nice it is too).

So blog done, borrowed camp chairs in tent (luxury) Johns on his kindle nicely chilled, and SAT (lol) in a chair.

So once again its nite from me and nite from him.

To the kids, we love you and to our mates we love you to xxxxx
Here come the piccies...

On the way to the Valley of the Giants at Walpole.

Through Denmark..
Nearly there..

 Some local views..

 More blue skies, fields and cows ...

Grandma Tingle tree (yes thats what its called). She's is the oldest known Tingle tree at 495 years old...

The roots and base of another Tingle tree

I walk into the root of another one. ''Need to be careful,( the lady said) cuz a lot of bats live inside and they are quite messy!'' Now she tells Us!!!

Me and him, xx ahhhhhh

Another Tingle..

The tree top walk way..

and some more, and yes I did walk this, even though I clung on to the hand rail all the way along and shouted at John every time he 'acted about'.. fair to say he got quite few clumps when we got down.

This is the walkway at its highest 40 metres up. Its not on legs or attached to the ground, it just sprung on thick wires across the forest canopy !!!.

See heres the proof..

Me in the middle, hahaha

John on a tingle, what can I say ?????? lol xx

Me on the walkway...

John in the car that they used to park in a Tingle tree.

The exit and entrance to the Giants...

Me and him again xxx

Northcliffe, where we stopped off, but they had a power cut, so no petrol, no coffee, just a few bloody good  clumps round the earole for Dundee Smith...(once I got off the bike that is, which I might add was very,very painful.)

Driving into Pemberton.

Through the sunlight and into town...

our new home for the next three nights. Spot the table and chairs ... as I said RESULT xx

Thursday 22nd March- Emu Beach - night update......

When I said nite nite last nite, I though that was it. Little did I know John was going to have a situation with two chairs lol..

Off I toddled to the Loo's for my final wee, leaving John peacefully sat reading how kindle. But on my return John was not sat on a chair but on the floor cross legged reading his kindle. I asked what was wrong, nothing was the reply. Why are you sat on the floor? , I ask... Well I was sat on the chair and it bloody broke and I landed on the floor.! Was his reply. Why don't you sit on the other one then , I ask trying not to giggle as our John was clearly Pi**ed off.. "I did he said and two minutes later that one gave up too and collapsed and I wuz back on the floor!' well you can imagine how hard I tried not to giggle ( no I did really try).. 'Oh dear, I said we will have to get new ones'.. 'Well those two ****%$£@ things can go in the bin in the morning , I am done with them'.  I can honestly say I did my very best not to mock, but landing on the floor twice in 5 minutes is no laughing matter (for John anyway)..........

Anyway off to bed we went. John had a restless night and was having nightmares about god knows what except he kept calling out 'Hello' cuz he cud hear someone calling him (NOT!!!).  First night on the floor for several days, but actually it was fine. I think we have gotten used to it and John says he can't sleep in a bed anymore, too soft.  Overall though not a bad night, but need to be up early in the morning so we can get on the road..lots of miles to do.

Thursday 22nd March- Emu Beach and Albany City.....

Went to sleep to the sound of the waves crashing, (the sea is so near and it sounds so loud)...... Woke up to the sound of the sea crashing.... Why am I surprised as we are camped next to the coastline and the main beach???

Really slept well, John says its cuz we are back on the floor, I m not so convinced, but I did sleep the night ....

Had pancakes with maple syrup and Bananas for breakfast, you make them in a bottle with water, yum, yum, flippin yum.  Roxanne tells me they sale them in Tesco's??? I'll be buying some if they do.

We shower and decide to take the bike into town. So off we go out the gate and turn left, well actually I tell John I think it was a right. So he turns round, bless him, we drive through the road works down to the roundabout and I see the signs for 'city' ummmmm, Did't wanna do City John ... ok we'll turn round. Round the roundabout, back through the road works. Down to the bay ummmmmm. One coffee shop, and you can't smoke! So we have a latte and John asks where to next ? ummmm City? He knows me so well, he's all smiles bless him and back on the bike, through the road works (long queues!!!! I kid you not ) up to the round about, turn right and into the ....... CITY not !!! Well more like a small town actually, but it seems to have everything. We go and buy some rolls and knackies (frankfurters to you) and some bits for brekkie tomorrow.  Treat ourselves to KFC, should not of bothered, both feeling bloated and fat now !

I spot a clothes shop and a couple of second hand shops, off we trot. Fair to say John has the patience of a saint. I am not allowed to buy as no room, oh and I am so bloody itching to buy something, anything....
I buy two pillow cases for $1, yes 1$ and then into the jumper shop where I see a lovely teeshirt. John sits outside, I have the wallet hehehehe. Out I come bag hidden. Buy anything he asks ?  nope I reply, (fingers and legs crossed).  We get half way up the road I am doing well (I think....), trying to squash the shops bag in the back of me shorts. Yes he spotted it !!!!

Did't buy anything then ??? nope I ansa, oh really ???? nope I laugh. Bang to rights he spots the flipping bag and top.  Well he says, 'new top, one out one in, so decide whats being chucked !!!!!'' Whats a girl got to do to get a wardrobe these days??.. cuz camping aint the ansa.  Still silence and a quick change of subject usually works. So we will say no more ( accept I have a new top xxx)

Back to the camp, through the road works... John is going to wash Ruby down as she is looking sorry, I will catch up with emails and post cards etc.. nice relaxing afternoon.

I go on line and see that Steven is on line ??? this 8 hours ahead lark!, well actually Steven tells us he leaves his internet thingy in sleep mode all the time, so 7am for him and we are skyping.   Up gets Oliver and Joins in. He has had his hair cut and looks flipping handsome. xx All is well in Herts too so thats all good.

We decide to take a walk to the beach, but are delayed by the people who meander by and spot the bike, which slows John and his cleaning down. We eventually get away and walk through the bush to the beach and what do you know the tides in '!!! so we wander along the cove road, its lovely see the piccies they don't do it justice. We find the back entrance to the camp, and realise we walked the long way there.

Just got back and the phone goes. Its Helen, one of the people we met in Kingston. We made friends with her and her husband Lionel, their the couple with the 6000 acre farm !!!!. It was great to hear from her and how lovely that she thought of us. They are both heading toward mid 70's but very active and very keen sea fishers. We have a long chat and lots of giggles. We are gonna keep in touch. She is very impressed with how far we have got!

Ok, relax and chill have a read, eat some choccie, cup of tea, cup of coffee ( yes I did make them), and then tea in about an hour.

So I am gonna sign off now. Rubys clean, the pod (the trailer) is sparkling,  the tent is tidy, Johns got fags, I have choccies and we are both happy bunnies and all is well with the kids and the world.

Here come the piccies;

Ok, remember Dave???. This is him. he's a seagull. Really comical, very smart, very upright and he runs nearly everywhere he goes.  He came for breakfast this morning and had pancakes with us lol. He is always so clean, crisp and tidy he reminds us of Dave W.  I will say no more as I know I'm
gonna get spanked for this hahahaha. Too far away Welfare !!!  do your worst hahahahaha x

Dave...

The road works, everything is big out here !

Driving into the 'City'

One happy Bunny sat at Emu bay coffee shop.

The view across the Bay.

More Bay

The surrounding parks,

Now this little chappy has got a rough deal lol!!!! how would you like to sit up here all day swinging around with the wind..... Just could not resist taking a photo of this. This is the Albany City weather vane.... only in Australia..

 Up closer, nope I definitely don't want his job !!!!

The view from the beach (Emu Beach), here come some lovely piccies that I was really pleased with. This is where we hear the sea from when we are in our tent.

 and more Emu Beach..

Ane more, its beautiful!

and more...

  and still more ....

and me looking out to sea ( it was lovely but bloody freezin)

The man himself...

You can see how strong the wind blows here at times.. but its breath taking...

some more of Emu Beach,

Nite all xxx  Love Linda and John aka Mummy and Daddy xxx