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Augusta trip

April 2019
April 2019 Read more
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  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 1

    Leaving Perth to Marrinup Townsite

    April 2, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Plan was to leave home by 9am. Closer to 11am before we hit the road. Caravan was obviously not full enough for Elvira and it needed a good couple of hours of intensive extra loading up.
    Our first stop on the plan was to be Marrinup Townsite camp site. Located between Pinjarra and Dwellingup, this is a free camp site.
    We found the place alright. Only downside was about 4kms of dirt road with quite a few bumps and dips and corrugations. We went in real slow, so as to protect the van, but even so, it was fairly well covered with dust, by the time we arrived.
    The location is a big open area, with some sites on the perimeter, under the shade. We opted for one of those. Maybe not such a wise decision - all evening and night, pods and leaves dropping on the van and making a bit of noise. Just waiting for a big branch to decide that it might be a good idea to drop. Luckily not much wind overnight. But a lesson learnt.
    Very peaceful area. Good drop toilet. And even with a few other people in camp, they were spread far and wide.
    Spent the afternoon touring around the area, and covering the Everest in more dust. Visited the old POW camp area. Quite an interesting walk around the place. Not much left of it. Never heard of it before, but there were numerous story boards which brought us up to date.
    Back to camp, in time to wish Genny happy birthday.
    And an early and peaceful night, with a few dropping noises on the roof.
    The camp is recommended, but be prepared for a slightly rough drive in, if towing a van.

    PS - for the uninitiated. A free camp, of which there are lots around Australia, is a campsite with minimal facilities. No power, no water, and maybe a toilet. And the price is, you guessed it - free. So, that means your van, or whatever you are touring around in, needs to be self sufficient. Gas to run the fridge and cooking facilities. A 12 volt battery system for your lights and TV and water pump, which pumps water to your wash basin, toilet and shower. And solar panel to recharge your battery. Some people travel with a portable generator, but we have not needed one of those yet.
    I am doing this blog post on my laptop, connected to a wifi modem with a Telstra 4G data card in the back, pulling data from the nearest Telstra tower, all powered by 12 volt battery. Wonderful technology.
    And on this trip, we will also use normal caravan parks which provide power, water, ablution blocks, etc. But of course, this comes with a cost attached - roughly $30 a day.

    PPS - not sure if you have noticed yet from the photos, but Elvira does seem to spend a lot of time sitting outside the van relaxing with a cuppa. Well done to her. I will join her some time !!
    That's it for now.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    1
    Day 2

    Marrinup to Greenbushes Pool

    April 3, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Woke up early and decided to drive to our second planned location - another free camp - Greenbushes Pool camping area, just outside of, you guessed it, Greenbushes.
    The one downside of Marrinup had been lack of phone signal and data. But this soon improved, as we got on the road again.
    Spent the morning passing through various towns on way to Greenbushes. Donnybrook seemed really nice - worth a re-visit.
    Found Greenbushes Pool quite easily, with the help of Google maps. Lovely area, around a natural pool. Being midweek, it was very quiet. But I could imagine this will be a busy area on the weekend. There is a kids playground, a free bbq area, and nice beach area leading in to the pool.
    We got in ( a bit tight) to a great site on the upper level of the camping area - overlooking the play area and the pool. Very happy with the sight, and the bonus of having 4G access through the modem - hooray, it does work.
    Caught up on a bit of work and then went for a drive through Greebushes (nothing much) and then on to Bridgetown, which looks like a nice spot. Very friendly at the visitor centre, and a great dog there - cross Arab Bull ? and a Staffie Terrier.
    Did a bit of shopping at IGA, including a Salted Caramel and Macadamia ice cream, then back to the van.
    Had a long chat to one of the campers there, and picked up some good tips. Might have to spend some more money on an extra battery and solar panel. But will see how our free camping experience goes, first.
    Good quiet night. Had fish for dinner, cooked outside on the gas ring that cost all of $10 at BCF - a good buy indeed.
    We can hear some of the activity in the distance from the Tantalum and Lithium mine in the area. But that noise is being taken over by the sound of frogs from the pool.
    We will go and look at the mine tomorrow - apparently one of the biggest of it's kind in Aus.
    Goodnight.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 3

    Day 3 - still at Greenbushes Pool

    April 4, 2019 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Decided to stay an extra day at Greenbushes Pool. Such a nice spot to spend some more time.
    The day was very cool and overcast with periodic rain - all day. So, it was a bit of a test of how to cope with dodgy weather with a van - not too bad at all.
    We visited the viewing area overlooking the nearby Lithium and Tantalum mine. Quite and eye opener. Some huge open pit areas. Three pits with all the surrounding areas full of mining activity, and the main Cornwall pit is some 350 metres deep and actually partly below sea level.
    One of the problems we encountered was keeping phones and tablets powered up. Forgot to bring proper 12 volt charging plugs, so we can only charge from the car, when driving along. However, we visited the local Community Resource Centre, and were welcomed in to use some of their power points, in exchange of a small donation. So, we duly left everything hooked up on their plugs and went off to have a long lunch at the local eatery. In fact I think it was the only eatery around. Nonetheless, some decent food and a coffee later, we dragged out our stay for quite a while, before heading off for a walk around the town. Not much to see, and I am sure some of the locals were looking sideways at us as we skulked around the place, waiting for a few more percent to be sucked into our phones.
    Eventually picked up the electronics (with almost 100% on board) and headed back to the pool. Spent the rest of the day, around the Pool, in between rain showers.
    Overall, very happy with the Marrinup Pool site. And the price is right. We did feed the turtle with some coins for a donation.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 4

    Greenbushes to Augusta

    April 5, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Set off on our trip to Augusta, via Bridgetown.
    Stopped at Bridgetown, which seems a great place to spend time. Did some shopping. Also picked up a tip that we can pass on - the caravan parking spot just behind the main town area, is a good spot to leave the van whilst you walk around the town. And it also has free power for you to use if you wish.
    Continued our trip, via Nannup, and another tip for would be travellers. If you are looking for possibly the best pie in Australia, look no further than the Nannup bakery. We have previously experienced their pies when we stayed in Nannup with the SA family earlier in the year. So, a return visit was needed.
    And on a slightly related topic, we also made use of the public dump point, which is just near the caravan park.
    On to Augusta and checked in at Munday CP, which is located just north of the Augusta town. This is a small farm block which has recently been converted into a caravan park, with all the facilities. A very friendly and welcoming host. A bit pricey at $40 per night, but good and comfortable.
    Hooked everything up, and setup.
    The host puts on a fire box in the camp kitchen area, and all people in the park pop over at 5pm for a drink and chat. If you get there at 5.01pm, you are regarded as being late. We were a bit late, but enjoyed a couple of hours around the fire, chatting with everybody. Picked up some good tips and suggested places to visit. These Grey Nomads are very friendly and very keen on a chat. Lordie me, can they chat !!
    A cold night, but all ok with an extra blanket on the bed.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 5

    A day around Augusta

    April 6, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Had a full cooked breakfast, and then popped in to look around Augusta.
    The weather was fairly normal Augusta weather - cool and overcast, but luckily, no rain.
    Elvira had researched that there was a community market on in Augusta in or near the main street. They must have heard that we were coming over, because we had to give up looking for that market, after driving all over Augusta, which took all of 6 minutes.
    Spent some time looking around the front of Augusta, overlooking the river and bay area. Great area, and some nice houses. Great place to retire, if the weather was a bit better.
    Watched some fishermen cleaning their catch on special cleaning tables, setup in the river. Closely watched by some very keen pelicans, and a few stingrays around their feet - these rays are very tame with the fishermen actually patting them on the back, sometimes.
    Took the drive out to the Leuwin lighthouse area. Did some photography in the area behind the lighthouse, which is a great area to explore.
    Back to Augusta for some shopping.
    Then back to the van.
    Had a relaxing afternoon (nanna nap) and then went to the camp kitchen area, around the fire and watched the Eagles beat Collingwood in a grand final replay. Great result. And we caught up with our friends of the previous evening. They all still love to chat!!
    A quiet evening. Not such a cold night.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 6

    Sunday around Augusta - again

    April 7, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    The day started (and finished) with good sunshine weather.
    We had decided to have a game of golf at the famous Augusta golf course, where they play the Masters. Imagine our disappointment when we arrived, to find nobody there (a week out from the big tournament) and also to find oil/sand greens on the course !!
    So, we decided to give it a miss.
    The real reason for not playing was that we had to pay for the round using the honour system, and we did not have the right money on hand. Nobody around to ask for change, and about an hour after our round, there was a big local Sunday tournament being held there. And to cap it off, there was a dire sounding warning notice about how our future lives were going to be irreparably damaged if we did not pay correctly before our round commenced.
    So, we woosed out and instead drove to Hamelin Bay. Even though we knew how to get there, we decided to follow the car's satnav directions. It took us along a very obscure route which was about 5kms longer than it should have been.
    But a beautiful time at Hamelin Bay. Great weather and quite a few people around, looking for the rays. There were a few around that were quite friendly, but not as good as the ones we saw in Augusta in the river.
    In the later afternoon, we did another drive around Augusta, and then followed by some shopping.
    We did not partake in the 5pm social gathering, but managed to watch the Eagles dispose of Collingwood in the footy. Good to see.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 7

    Jarrahdene - day 1

    April 8, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After 3 days/nights at Munday park, we decided to move on and do some more free camping.
    Managed to find a camping area near the Boranup forest area, just 40kms north of Augusta. Managed by the WA Parks department.
    What a great site this turned out to be. No power or water, but great sites and properly angled to assist reversing a caravan in. Right in the middle of the forest, and all sites very far apart. Hardly anybody there, but even so, you could hardly see or notice them.
    Very peaceful and quiet. The ideal place to chill out.
    It is the site of an old timber mill from the late 1800's, and there is a fairly informative walk you can do through the remnants of the mill area - not much left.
    And great, clean drop loos to use.
    This would have to be the best site we have been to ever, and we are not likely to find a better place for camping. $11 ea per night, but we paid $7 ea with pensioner discount. Absolute bargain. Highly recommended. And Telstra phone and data coverage in the middle of the forest - great stuff.
    After setting up, we took a drive through the Boranup forest area, and then on to Prevelly beach. Both are beautiful in their own rights.
    Back to camp for a relaxing sundowner outside the van, listening to nature.
    A great day.
    During the night, we had a visit from a few possums. One of them managed to get on the roof of the van - not sure how he did that. The other 2 were just curiously checking around the van.
    We closed the roof vents, in case possum roof climber decided to do a pee through them.
    And I then ventured out to try and chase him off the roof - a bit concerned that he could start nibbling his way through the wiring or trim up there. With bright flashlight shining on him, and putting on my famous hulk hogan growl and a few charges towards him, he seemed not the slightest bit interested. Just carried on with his business, looking for something to chew, etc. This carried on for about half an hour, until eventually Elvira threw some banana peel at him. Missed him by a country mile, but where they fell on the ground, it perked up his interest, and he decided the ground was a better place to be - thank goodness.
    We never did see possums again at that camp - I think they decided not to embarrass me by revisiting and forcing me to put on the hulk hogan charade again !!    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 8

    Jarrahdene - day 2

    April 9, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Beautiful weather again, out in the middle of the forest.
    I spent most of the morning catching up on some client work. Great having good Telstra coverage, and getting a good connection.
    Elvira just relaxed with a book.
    One problem we have discovered with free camping, is how to keep our phones and computer charged up. We neglected to bring any 12 volt plugs with usb connections. The only way we could charge them up is in the car when travelling.
    So, in the afternoon, we took a drive to Alexandra Bridge, which is on the Blackwood river. A lovely area and a great stretch of river. We also checked out the caravan park, which looked quite good.
    And we managed to get some charge into our electronics.
    Back to camp for a peaceful possum free night. Although, at about 9pm with Elvira and I strolling up the road to the loo, with torch shining, there was a possum walking down the road towards us, as casual as could be. I think he was on his way to pay us a visit and look for some more banana peels. With a bit of foot stomping and hulk hogan stuff from me, we managed to persuade him otherwise, and we never saw him again.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 9

    Jarrahdene - day 3 - pushing the limit!!

    April 10, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    You can't get enough of a good thing, so we decided to stay at Jarrahdene for a 3rd day and night. This will test how the van copes with free camping.
    In the early morning, we took another walk through the forrest, and through the old timber mill site. It was quite a cold morning, but as soon as we walked innto the denser parts of the forrest, the temp rose about 5 or 6 degrees. Very noticeable and unexpected.
    After brekky, spent some more time doing some client work.
    Then we took a drive, and spent some time in and around Redgate beach. Another lovely area on the coast.
    Back to the camp in time for sundowners in the forrest.
    Then, around dusk time, we heard our electrical control board start beeping at us. The caravan battery had run too low, even though our lights were still on.
    So, this was the first problem that we had encountered with our free camping test/experience. After 2 and a half days, the battery ran out. But to be fair, we did not have the best conditions for keeping it charged. In that forrest area, there was very little sunlight hitting the solar panel. In other circumstances, I think the battery would have lasted a lot longer.
    Anyway, decided to switch all 12v systems off, but the problem with that is, even though the fridge was running on gas, we needed the 12v to run the regulator to control gas flow to the fridge. Without the 12v, the fridge shuts down.
    We connected the car for a while to pump some power into the battery, and this helped for a few hours, But in the middle of the night, the alarm went off again. Hitched the car agaiin, with lights blazing (what was going on in the forrest?), and once again, that helped for a while. But we were on the slope of diminishing returns, so we ended up just switching the 12v system off, and hoping the fridge would be ok without gas, for a few hours. And it was.
    So, a bit of a conclusion on free camping. Watch the battery closely, but we should get 3 days out of it, in normal conditions. Cloudy or shady conditions, may mean only 2 days free camping. Maybe look at a second battery on board, or another movable solar panel, or both.
    Water supplies seem good. Our water tanks seem to hold enough water for 3 days, which includes showering every day.
    And gas seems to last for ages. So all good.
    3 day limit is something we will probably stick to, unless it is unusual conditions, when we will re-assess.    Read more

  • TravelerAugusta trip
    Day 10

    Gracetown - day 1

    April 11, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Day dawned and we decided to break camp, hitch up the car (get some power back in the van) and head further north. All of about 35kms - long trip.
    Booked in at Gracetown CP, which is part of the Top Parks group, so we picked up a 10% discount.
    A great park, with all the amenities. Fairly old, but well maintained and clean, and very friendly.
    We were very pleased to have power and to get everything charged up again.
    After a supply run to Margarets, and some time around there, we motored to Gracetown, on the coast. A great spot. Looks like a lot of people have set up their holiday homes, or retirement places there, and who could blame them.
    Back to camp, and a bit of a relax, before sundowners and dinner.
    A quiet night.
    And our faulty hot water system seems to be fixed alright - no tripping of switches any more.    Read more

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