The rest of July

Now that I have caught up with our Anniversary trip in May,

Lets do a Photo dump to skip through the rest of July.

At Cake Decorating we moved into the new Community room at Watsonia Library and had a fun time learning to make ..

Fondant Cake Toppers for a Newborn or Christening Cake

There were plenty of expressions to master but the crying ones proved to be the hardest to manage!

DH received another Certificate (with accompanying Handshake and Brunetti Cheesecake for afternoon Tea) for his 550th Blood donation.

We watched as a disaster of a local backstreet roundabout got the makeover it so badly needed.

I made a Mermaid!

And at the 11th hour did a run to *Lulu and Stone for other Sea Themed decoration moulds for DGD#4's 3rd Birthday Cake.

Then it was a school celebration I wasn't familiar with.  

Marking GD#1's first 100 Days of Primary school where everyone had to dress as Old People...... 

Little Miss A wasn't sure about that so went as a Red Hat Lady!

Note:  Unfortunately in Todays Online climate I have had to make the decision to no longer show my Beautiful Grand daughters adorable Smiles on my Blog.

*Thank you Lulu and Stone so much for filling my order at the last minute!

Lulu and Stone Cookie Stamps and Cutters

Heading Home

Today we pack our bags for the last time and head home...

Well, after a trip to the Perth Mint (They also sell Jewellery) - DH wanted to spoil me rotten for our 45th Anniversary but, would you believe there wasn't anything there I liked - at any price!

So, with time to fill in, we boarded the free City Cat Bus at Barrack Street Jetty just to see where it went, ending up at Kings Park and the Botanic Gardens. 

(Note to self - Spend more time here!)

Perth certainly said Welcome, and blessed us with beautiful weather. 

I will miss going down in the lift to the Jetty below, in search of an evening meal or just to enjoy 

Ice-cream on the boardwalk. 

For the stats nerds out there, Western Australia is Our biggest state at 2.646 million km² there is a LOT to explore and although we won't be going off the beaten track, we will be back to see more of it than just Perth.

Will we go via the Indian Pacific again? 

Perhaps the half trip from Adelaide, or Darwin to Adelaide on the Ghan and then pick up the Indian Pacific to Perth. 

But I will advise anyone thinking about doing this Train Trip - there is a lot of Nothing in the middle of Australia, so pack something to do or learn to play UNO!

But Wait - There's more ...

Our Holiday isn't over just yet.

Today we boarded the Rottnest Express and took a leisurely trip down the Swan River before hitting the accelerator for the 20 km ocean crossing to Rottnest Island.

We had been here 5 years ago and honestly thought it quite run down and 'nothing much to write home about'.

But, todays visit showed what 5 years of restoration and improvements have achieved.

The streets were beautifully paved and seemed more open, old holiday shacks had been restored and renovated and the Coffee Caravan at Cape Valmingh has a new veranda that shelters all from the prevailing winds. A vast improvement on the Picnic table and Umbrella.

The Lighthouses that were shrouded in tarps are now fully restored, removed of the lead paint that once coated them.

Reflecting in the Salt Lakes below, the Wadjemup Lighthouse was constructed in 1896 on the highest point of the Island Standing 38 meters tall and with a range of 26 nautical miles it is still a crucial beacon.

This time, we were only here for a day trip, so with a quick Hello to the Quokkas (who seemed to be less of a problem as they were last time) and a not too impressive lunch

We boarded the Express for the return trip back to Perth. 

(Post written 21/10/26 and backdated)

Margaret River Heading Back

Today was supposed to be, (I think) a "Taste of Margaret River".

Breakfast at a local Cafe - 

A very nice Granola, Seasonal Fruit and Greek Yoghurt.  

With the exception of Swapping the Raspberry Coulis for Milk on the side - it was identical to what I had for breakfast this morning!

Next Stop was Coffee Tasting.  

I was getting excited about this - until we got a lesson on "This is an AeroPress and how to use it..." followed by a French Press (Plunger) followed by .... oh dear.

Where next?

Brown Hill Estate for a very comfortable and informative Wine Tasting - In the shed.  

This trip DH and I chose to do the Wine Tasting even though we don't drink and it was refreshing to be advised about what wines we should start with as non-drinkers.

At the end we had our choice of any wine on the menu - 

Much to the Glum faces of some who had already chosen... I was the only one who asked if the Dessert Wine was included...  

It was VERY nice!

Then it was on to more wine tasting - this time paired with local cheeses.  A welcome change from just Wine, as we were finding it all much the same after a while.

There was an informative talk on how they Age some of their Wines in perfect conditions 18 meters beneath the surface of Flinders Bay, Augusta (WA). 

At (AUD) $150 / $165 a bottle - we didn't get to taste this one!

Olive products and Oil tastings at the Olio Bello Orchard was our final stop 
where a Hearty Lunch was also served.

Then time to rest and listen to the Wartime adventures of the tour Guide's Grandfather, or relaxing Music for the 3 hour trip back to Perth.

 - Back in Perth:

THIS is an Ozone Generator - You should not find one in your Hotel Room when you check in.  It is used to remove strong odors like Smoke / Pet smells / Mildew etc.  

In a sealed room (ie: A Hotel room) it MUST be ventilated 4 - 24 hours after use.  

IF you can still smell it - The Air is NOT safe to breathe.  

Fortunately, My Perfume allergy went into overdrive within seconds of walking into the room and we were able to get it sorted quickly.  

The Concierge was very apologetic and WE got a very nice upgrade!

Post written 20/10/26 and backdated

Margaret River - Day 1 Caves and Capes

Hello Folks - here I am playing 'Catch Up' again. Post dating my entries is not something I like doing as it throws everything out of whack, but it is what it is - so let's get on with it.

Margaret River was Soooo long ago I am really ready for another holiday - but réminiscences will have to do! 

We have a couple of Cafes within walking distance at home,  but not with a view like this - I wonder just how long it would take to tire of having breakfast here every morning?

No time to get sand in my shoes, we have to hit the road for our 9:30 tour of ^Mammoth Cave. Unfortunately, we were here at the wrong time of year to see the beautiful stream that flows through the Cave. 

Today it was just a trickle.

It is a Cavernous, easily accessible Cave that has beautiful Speleothems* (or Decorations) and includes bones and fossils of the Megafauna that once inhabited the area.

The Cave is 500 meters long and 30 meters under the surface, which is a little confusing, as you enter at the base of the cave and climb 540 stairs UP and exit into a Karri Forest walk back to the carpark. Not having time for the walk we returned via the 540 stairs and the Gift shop!

A quick taste and lesson on local honey production (something that was more interesting to those of us who have not kept bees) and we were back on the bus and heading for ...

a BUCKET LIST stop for me! 

The opportunity to climb a lighthouse. 

The Lighthouse at Cape Llewyn is the tallest on Mainland Australia, standing stoically at the end of a windswept cape and guarding the waters where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. 

176 narrow steps hug the cool stone walls, it was a hard climb for me, considering I had just done Mammoth Cave, but I wanted, needed to do this.

Was it worth it? 
to climb through a small door onto the gangway at the top - 

TOTALLY worth it.   

And for this view, I am posting a rare uncompressed panorama photo.  

As the DIL says 'Pics or it didn't happen!'

The rest of the day was taken up with Lunch and a Wine tasting before ending back where we started to watch the sun set.

*ABC archives - Oz Fossils

^Margaret River Western Australia - Mammoth Cave

More on Cape Leeuwin

Margaret River - The Journey South

7:00 am  Another 'Up early and Off' day today.  

So Breakfast Pack in hand, we joined McLeod Tours and headed to Margaret River.

Our First stop was a welcome Coffee break, 87 km down the road at The Bay Cafe, Mandurah.  

With the Mandurah Estuary beckoning us and a Sunday Market in the adjacent Foreshore parkland, we could have happily stayed for a couple of hours,

 

But we had an appointment down the road at Australind Wood Gallery.

We listened to an informative talk on Western Australian Jarrah, and happily patted beautiful pieces of timber skilfully crafted into items that wouldn't fit in our luggage,

(and was respectfully requested not to take Photos of.) 

It was ok to take this photo to add to my collection of 'Interesting Signs'.

A lovely Lunch was followed by a 'short stroll' down the Longest Timber-Piled Jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Yes, we made it to the end and back again a mere 3.7 km round trip.

If we are ever here again,  I would like to  explore the Underwater Observatory - One of only 6 in the World.

Breaking the tip, we stopped in at Gabriel Chocolates.
There was a Talk on Chocolate with Tastings and treats to bring home.

Specialising in Small Batch, single Origin chocolate, they were Western Australia's first Bean to Bar Chocolate maker. 

An unscheduled stop and a real treat for the Horse lovers on the bus, to briefly meet and feed some carrots to our Tour Guide's Horses, who enthusiastically met us at the gate.

The last stop for today was at the Saint John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Chapel in Prevelly.

Built by Geoff Edwards, in Gratitude for help received during the Battle of Crete.

I cannot write its story in just one photo so I am including links at the end of this Post so you can read about it yourselves.

Our 280 km road trip from Perth to Margaret River  concluded with a Welcoming Rainbow and a promise of a beautiful day tomorrow.

Click the Links to read Geoff Edwards Story

Prevelly Chapel

Monuments Australia - Prevelly

Day 5 - Into Perth

G'day it is Stowaway Frog here, am I am writing today's Post.

So, What can I write about today?

With no Off-Train excusions there really was nothing different to do from yesterday. 

Many just watched the scenery pass or rested while waiting for Brunch and Afternoon Tea to be served before disembarking at Perth.

But once we settled in to the Hotel, the Folks got all dressed up and we went out for Dinner - because TODAY was their 45th Wedding Anniversary.

We went to a fancy restaurant, at the top of a building and the floor kept moving - It made me feel a little greener than I normally am...

I don't think the Folks liked it very much, because they waited a long time after the Main Course,  and no one came to offer them Dessert or Coffee, so they left and went looking for Ice cream.

I hear we are not staying in Perth so I wonder what adventures we will have tomorrow?