We left Yanchep National Park and headed for Gingin Tourist Park to meet up with Steve and Wendy, our travel mates to the Pilbara again. They were getting their car serviced and their caravan, so were booked in for 5 days, but they’re extending as, like us, are waiting for Australia Post to deliver.
We stayed for two nights. If you’re a visitor to the area, it is an historic town. The old settlers’ cemetery is interesting to visit and gives you an idea what they endured in the early days. There a few original buildings standing, renovated but unaltered in style.
A pub, which apparently serves good meals, an IGA with good stock, prices, and fresh vegetables, a hardware store, outside on the footpath they had seedlings of all types. The school looked fairly comprehensive, but couldn’t tell much as it was school holidays. A neat and tidy town, with people willing to help and point you in the right direction.
Next stop was going to be Northam’s RV stop. Alas, being the first weekend of school holidays and a long weekend for the King’s birthday, “there was no room at the inn.” So plan B: on to one of our favourite stops, Meckering.
It’s only a one night stand, so to speak, and a donation rest stop, and maybe a tad noisy for some, but is in a beautiful corner of the town, at the back of the memorial earthquake display and rose gardens
The streets were chockers with noisy motorbikes, getting ready to leave, a Black Dog ride to raise money for assistance for people suffering from depression. It had a huge number of bikes, who were supposed to stop for a little while and carry on to Merredin for lunch.
But the Sports Club catered for meals, and between them and Magnitude Sweets (sadly they have closed down after adding much-needed life to the town), they were well and truly satisfied. The bikes then moved on to Merredin where they will stay for the night (I think) and mosey on for a ride to Esperance.
A great experience and raising a lot of money along the way.
Then onto another try at Northam. Success this time, so we’ve settled in for the next 2 days. A much needed break from travelling, just relaxing, no need to go to the shops, or sightseeing, just relaxing. Wednesday we’ll be off the Perth to take possession of a few parcels waiting for us, and maybe on to another of our National Park favourites, Gnaala Mia in the Dryandra Forest.
Nope, on to Jarradale 72 hour rest stop for self contained RVs.
We have a bit of work to do and a bit of a rest for the chauffeur. We’ll stay here for a couple of nights and then be on our way to Dryandra – just short of Williams.
Because it’s school holidays, everything you want to see, depends on availabilities, so it always pays to have an alternative up your sleeve. On thing in our favour, it’s due to rain on Saturday, (today being Wednesday), so that might put a few people off deciding on the old “Let’s go camping” idea.
After one night at Jarradale, we decided it was too risky to leave it until Friday to try and get a spot at Gnaala Mia, so took off around lunchtime. Just as well, as there were only a few campsites left for caravans, but a few more for roof top tents and tent sites.
So we are entrenched here for a few days.
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