• Mal Beaton
  • Mal Beaton

Perth

Heading to Perth for 3 months Read more
  • Trip start
    May 19, 2023

    And off we go

    May 20, 2023 in Australia

    Loaded the bikes on the van this morning when the temp was -3c. Bloody cold. Got away about 10am. Hope we haven’t forgotten anything

  • Hay

    May 20, 2023 in Australia

    Stopped in Hay for the night, free camp at the Hay Services Club. Was bloody cold most of the day. Didn’t get over 11c until after lunch. Uneventful drive

  • Burra

    May 21, 2023 in Australia

    Redruth Goal Burra. It is here they filmed the goal scenes for the movie Breaker Morant. Couldn’t get in though, you have to get a Burra passport for access. Just out of town heading to Crystal Springs sits the house from the cover of the Midnight oil Album “Beds are Burning”Read more

  • Crystal Brook

    May 21, 2023 in Australia

    Left at sparrow fart (6am) this morning. Cold and boring drive. Only interesting stop was Burra. We decided to stop in overnight at Crustal Springs. My mothers father was from here and his parents are buried here.
    We are staying at the 24 hour free camp which is just across the road from the pub. When we pulled up we were the only campers, now there is 7 or 7 vans, still not crowded.

    Unfortunately it is also right next to the railway line. 4 freight trains have gone past in 2 hours, hope it gets quieter.

    Pub was a real old country corner pub and the meals were great.

    Crystal Springs has been in the news recently as a policeman was stabbed and they shot and killed the attacker
    Read more

  • Ceduna

    May 22, 2023 in Australia

    Not a great start this morning. Batteries (caravan lithium ) went flat while getting ready to head off, no brekkie or coffee until Port Augusta 100k away. Great caravan park right on the foreshore. It was a 500k leg today and what a surprise, boring drive with really long straights. Lots of vans , caravans and campers on the road. Many caravans only doing 80kph, no wonder truckies get annoyed with them.. After leaving Port Augusta we passed Cultana Military range. Armoured and Cavalry must be training. There was a few tanks and lav25s there. Mandatory stop and photo at Kimba which is half way across Australia. Hit the Nullabor tomorrowRead more

  • Cocklebiddy

    May 23, 2023 in Australia

    765k completed today, Ceduna to Cocklebiddy. Stopped at the Head of the Bight lookout but no whales seen. Copped a headwind the whole way, fuel economy went to shit at 23.9 litres per 100 k. Down to about 350k per tank. Filled up at Nullabor ($2.60 per litre), Eucla ($2.57 per litre) and Cocklebiddy ($2.37 per litre).
    Internet crap here, caravan park full, probably 40 campers and. Caravans staying here tonight.
    There are two Wedge Tailed Eagles in a huge cage here that have been rescued from truck hits and cared for. They are not fit enough to be released back into the wild. 600 odd k tomorrow to get to Coolgardie. 2560k completed
    Read more

  • Southern Cross

    May 24, 2023 in Australia

    786k completed today. Early start, on the road at 05.30, still dark. We hit the 90mile straight just at dawn which is Australia’s longest straight piece of road. There were some very big overwidth trucks on the road and we had to pull off the road for a few of them. Between Balladonia and Norseman the gum trees were the same colour as the ground, a deep red. It looks awesome but desolate. Balladonia is just a roadhouse with bar and a caravan park. It was famous in 1979 as the crash site of parts of the Skylab.
    (https://www.watoday.com.au/traveller/inspiratio… )

    We only have 370k to go until perth but stopped here as not keen on hitting Perth in peak hour.
    Read more

  • Gwelup

    May 25, 2023 in Australia

    And here we are in Perth. Didn’t expect the cold at Southern Cross this morning, it was 3C and bloody cold.Rested up then
    caught up with most of the family today.

  • Greenhills Inn

    June 16, 2023 in Australia

    Unearthing Hidden Charm: A Haunting Encounter at a Pub

    I stumbled upon a captivating pub seeped in history and ghostly tales. Its authentic atmosphere, with a charming jarrah bar top and a Hannans lager mirror, along with other nick nacks. The meticulously crafted fire pit outside portrayed iconic Australian scenes. A morning stroll through the remnants of the old town, guided by informative historic signs, offered glimpses into its past. This intriguing visit highlighted the allure of unassuming treasures and the significance of preserving forgotten stories.Read more

  • York

    June 17, 2023 in Australia

    Exploring Hidden Gems: Free Camping, Car Museum, and Revitalized Pubs

    Our stay at the 24-hour free campsite by the river, just a short walk from the Main Street, was convenient and serene. As we ventured into town, we stumbled upon a fascinating car museum. Among its collection, Mick Dundee's Ute from the Crocodile Dundee movie stole the show. Restored Leyland P76, Holdens like theFE, FJ, and HR, along with speedway cars and classic motorbikes, added to the museum's appeal. Amongst the bikes a mint condition circa 1975 Honda CB750. We dined at the bustling Imperial Hotel, one of the three restored pubs in town. The biting cold made us grateful for our newly installed diesel heater in the caravan .Read more

  • Visit to Fremantle

    July 1, 2023 in Australia

    We embarked on a day trip to Fremantle, the Perth port with a rich history.
    After checking out the North Mole (mouth of the Swan River) we payed a visit to the renowned WA Shipwrecks Museum. The museum boasts an impressive collection of artifacts and displays that shed light on the region's maritime heritage. One exhibit, in particular, captured our attention—the Batavia display. It showcased remnants of the left stern that had been meticulously recovered from the sand, offering a captivating glimpse into the past.

    As we explored further, we was astonished by the vast array of silver coins, relics salvaged from various shipwrecks. The museum's dedication to preserving these treasures from centuries ago was truly commendable. Among the artifacts, we encountered a chilling sight—a skeleton of one of the unfortunate victims of a mutiny. It was a grim reminder of the perilous journeys undertaken by these sailors. The skeletal remains bore the gruesome marks of a violent end, with severed hands and feet, as well as an axe wound on the skull.

    The museum also housed an assortment of tools, pottery, pipes, and personal items, offering a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of seafarers from the 1600s. It was truly remarkable to witness the resilience of these objects, surviving the test of time and providing a tangible connection to a bygone era.
    Read more

  • New Norcia

    July 8, 2023 in Australia

    Today, we explored New Norcia, Australia's sole monastic town. Situated just over 100 kilometres outside of Perth, it lies along the Great Northern Highwy that leads to various mining towns like Mt Newman, Parabadoo, Tom Price, and others. There always seems to be massive wide loads on the highway, transporting enormous ore trucks to the mines. The sheer size of these trucks is captured in the photos and video we captured.
    Established in the 1840s, New Norcia's monastery remains an active center. While there used to be a popular New Norcia hotel, it has since closed down as it was deemed unrelated to their primary mission. In order to sustain the town, they now rely on donations from generous visitors. As we explored the area and discovered they continue to produce bread, condiments, and olive oil, all of which are available for purchase at the charming gift shop.
    There is not much else in the way of food or restaurants in New Norcia so, we made our way to Toodyay (pronounced too-jay), a town that is highly sought after on weekends. It seems to always have a lively atmosphere with bustling pubs, brimming with enthusiastic lunchtime crowds.
    Headed home after a full day of exploring
    Read more

  • Cervantes

    July 28, 2023 in Australia

    Up to Cervantes for the weekend. At least it is not raining but it is cold and windy. I now think WA stands for windy always,
    Lunch at the iconic Lobster Shack.
    Sunset on the beach but too cold and windy.
    Off to Pinnacles and Jurien Bay tmw
    Read more

  • Pinnacles, Jurien and Sandy Cape

    July 29, 2023 in Australia

    We are still having no luck with weather so decided to have a drive around and Check out the sites.
    First stop, The Pinnacles.
    The Pinnacles are about 20k south of Cervantes. They are limestone rock formations (hundreds of them) up to 4 m high in a hard Sandy desert. Over time the coastal winds have removed the surrounding sands leaving the pillars exposed.

    Jurian Bay and Sandy Cape.
    We went for a spin up the coast to Jurian Bay and Sandy Cape.
    Jurian Bay was another nice coastal town but would be way Better in summer.
    Sandy Cape was awesome. It is now on my list to come and stay when back again and hopefully in summer.

    We headed back to Cervantes and had lunch again at the Lobster Shack. At the shack I bumped into good friends Di and Ron Thompson. Di and I served together in the army in the early 80s and Ron served with my Brother in law Greg, early 90s. It is a small world but Greg with family moved to Perth mid 90s. His son Dan met, fell in love and married Bec. Di and Ron are Becs uncle and Auntie.
    Read more

  • Another day in Fremantle

    August 6, 2023 in Australia

    My niece had organized a trip for us to experience the tunnels tour at Fremantle Prison. We decided to make the most of our day by starting early and exploring the Fremantle Maritime Museum beforehand. Unlike the Sydney Maritime Museum, I found the Fremantle Maritime Museum to be a bit different, though it didn't quite capture my interest fully. We only ended up spending about 20 minutes there.

    Later, we gathered with the rest of the family at the historic Fremantle Prison for the tunnels tour. Admittedly, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this experience. The tunnels, which served as the primary source of fresh water for Fremantle and were constructed back in the 1850s, continued to be used until around 1910. Following a detailed briefing, we underwent a breath test to ensure no alcohol content and then suited up with Wellington boots, harnesses, and hard hats. We were not allowed to take anything loose with us (no cameras, phones etc) so no photos available.
    See more here
    https://fremantleprison.com.au/tours/tunnels-tour/

    The adventure began with a 20-meter descent down a ladder into the tunnels. Standing at 185cm tall, I found myself in a semi-squat position for much of the tour due to the tunnel's height. This resulted in some noticeable leg soreness by the end. The tour included a section of walking and then a transition to small punts for the next segment, which involved rowing. The water within the tunnels was surprisingly clear, and the temperature remained a consistent 18 to 19 degrees Celsius, though the humidity was palpable.

    Overall, the experience was decent, but it's not something that would compel me to immediately plan a return visit.
    Read more

  • Burns Beach

    September 2, 2023 in Australia

    3 months have gone quickly and it is time to head home via a little trip up north west WA. The weather over the last two weeks have been really good, temps up to 27c. It appears though the weather gods have it in for us, as soon as we move into the caravan park it pisses down and blowing a gale. Tonight’s winds expected to reach up to 100kmh. Hopefully will blow over by tomorrowRead more

  • Paynes Find

    September 3, 2023 in Australia

    What a miserable night overnight at Burns Beach, winds gusting up to 100kph. Even trying to pack up this morning was and adventure with the strong winds.
    Arrived at Paynes Find at lunchtime. Not much to Paynes Find anymore. Was the closest town to Thundelarra where my Dad was born. The wedding photo in the pub is my grandparents wedding. Lunch here then on to our station stay for the nightRead more

  • Nalbarra Station stay

    September 3, 2023 in Australia

    What a hidden little gem. The hosts are very welcoming and the fire pit in the centre of the shearer’s quarter already stocked and burning. They even have a 12 week old donkey in their front yard. Planning an early night tonight as we got bugger all sleep last night.
    We intend to get north of Meekatharra tmw
    Read more