THE END OF 2010 - PERTH AND BEVERLEY W.A.
Well, another year has passed and we are already into the end of the first week in 2011.
Following from our last blog, we are still in Beverley. Walter had his Triple heart By-pass at the end of November in Perth at the Mount Hospital. All appears successful but he still has lots of recovery to do. He has had the first check up with the surgeon the week before Christmas and he was happy with his progress so far. He has limitations on his driving and also what he can lift. Nothing over 5 kgs at this point at least for another 2 months. Walter has another appointment at the end of January with his Cardiologist and if he gets the OK then, we will commence travelling again.
Entrance to Kings Park |
Before we arrived in Beverley and whilst we had the van in Perth, Walter and I took a couple of sight seeing trips around Perth. We did the Double Decker bus tour. This took us up to Kings Park and around the city. Kings Park is magnificent with its views out over the city. We had lunch there before rejoining the bus and travelling around the CBD, including around Burswood the casino. We also found that we could upgrade which gave us a reduced price on a trip the following day that took us on a ferry down the Swan river to Freemantle and then onto the Freemantle tram. Similar conditions of being able to get off and on as you wish.
Maritime Museum Freemantle |
This trip was great, driving around Freemantle, passing the Maritime Museum where "Australia 2" the yacht that won the America's Cup is housed, the Freemantle Prison, the Markets, and the Seafood Marina and Round House (from the convict days). It is a lovely trip cruising down the river, it takes about an hour and on the way home we were treated to a wine tasting! Lovely Margaret River reds.....we were catching a bus back to the caravan park so having a couple of good reds wasn't a problem!
Photo from 1968 after Earthquake |
Picnic on the Avon at Northam |
Peter ready to shear |
Merinos ready for shearing |
Harvesting Barley at Beverley |
Barley Fields at Beverley |
Beverley is a small town of about 1200 people on the wheat belt area of W.A. Grain crops just as wheat, barley, millet and canola stretch away over the hills on all sides of the town. Pete took both of us out one day to a property where a friend of his was harvesting barley. Like two kids, we both had a ride in the harvester as it made its way through the waving fields of barley. Only half the grain silos are opening this year though as this area is in the middle of severe drought. Ironic, when you look at how much water is flowing over the eastern states. The computerization of the harvester is quite amazing. It can tell you when the storage bin is full, how much tonnage per acre is coming off the field, and can control the height and width of the cutting blade
s.
Cottesloe Beach |
Another couple that we met whilst staying at Cape Range, Tony and Vicki, picked me up from Mount Hospital and took me out to their place at Cottesloe for lunch. After dining, then drove me around to Cottesloe Beach and up the beautiful coastline to Scarborough and Sorrento. On returning they then persuaded me to stop for tea before driving me home.
Christmas Day |
Ham & cheese Croissants with Moet! |
Then of course tea at night was late and we polished off some of the leftovers.
Next day, Noddy and Pete were up early as they were leaving in their van for a 12 month trip to the eastern states following a week at Cape Ritche between Esperance and Albany.
We are currently looking after the house and chooks until we leave when a neighbour will take over.
Harem Gnomes at Gnomesville! |
Next day, we packed up a picnic and Bill told us he was driving us out to Gnomesville! I had read about it in a couple of travel magazines but seeing it was amazing! Literally thousands of gnomes placed here by people from not only of Australia but from all over the world! We were only disappointed that we did not have a gnome with us to leave there. If we ever go back we are going to leave our little gnome there too! Honeymoon Pool |
In the Pool with Lena & Mark |
We hope you all had a safe and Happy Christmas and New Year and that 2011 treats you all kindly.
Rob & Walter