Tuesday 12th November 2024

Tuesday 12^th November

SHE SAID:

We packed up our “bongos” & headed east for Manjimup today. We had a brief stop on the Brockman Highway for an orchid wander & a cuppa, then another unplanned stop east of Nannup when the firies were doing a prescribed burn. Burning just as all the plants are going to seed; well done DBCA, you are MORONS!

The Manjimup Central Caravan Park was our destination, right in town. I chose this place as it is one of the KUI Park members, so we get a 10% discount. It seems to be nicer than I expected.

Cinnamon Bells

Flying Ducks

Huge fungi 

HE SAID:

No rush. We left Sue's Bridge just after 10. The stop for orchids took a while. The 10 minute stop at the burn-off site, with several trucks, utes, and a helicopter, was just annoying. We set up in Manjimup and had a tasty toasted sanga for lunch just before 2. We both did some catching up with others after our 4 days with no signal, then headed to Woolies for a stock up. Washing kept us going before Varena Skyped her Mum.

Monday 11th November 2024

Monday 11^th November

SHE SAID:

We had a quiet day at the campground. I got on with my photo sorting; I’m up to mid-Sept, almost. My culling seems to be progressing slowly at the moment, but they have been big days out.

We had the rest of the soup & Turkish roll for lunch, & dinner was creamy chicken & pesto pasta. We had this by the light of the fire; it was very nice, the fire & the pasta!

HE SAID:

The orchids in this district are not new, and they are not abundant, so the day in was fine. I read, played suduko, read some more, gathered firewood, collected kindling, and had a chat with the Fire Services bloke who informed us that there was now a restriction declared on fires between 10am and 6pm, so we would have to wait before I lit my small wood mountain. Bugger. It was fine in the end, and we had our pasta and vino by the fire until about 9pm. And, seemingly, we were the last in the campground to go to bed. We are still the wild ones!

Sunday 10th November 2024

Sunday 10^th November

SHE SAID:

I made us a cooked breakfast around 9am; it has been a while since we had one.

Around 10am we went off for a few hours looking for orchids. We didn’t have any luck at the first road we went down, though Geoff tested out the “diff-locks” on the car. We had a couple of deepish looking puddles to get through. Thankfully we didn’t get stuck!

Next, we headed down Dennis Rd in hopes of finding a burn; yes, we did! Though, there wasn’t much in it; a single Karri Spider, Blue Lady Sun & some White Fairies.

As expected we had more luck at the stops along Milyeannup Coast Rd. They were places we’ve stopped in the past. We found Spiders, Enamels, Suns, Mignonettes & Pink Enamels. I think the total was 12 types for the trip.

Back at the campground we had late nibbles outside followed by a fire around 5pm. It was a warm afternoon, so I managed to sit outside by the toasty fire for a couple of hours!

A family of Emus &
a few Black Cockies

Forest Mantis x Karri Spider,
Pink Enamel, & White Fairies

HE SAID:

We enjoyed a bacon, fried egg, and baked beans breakfast. So tasty. Topping up with elevenses meant that I was happy with just cheese and crackers for a very late lunch. 

Having a fire when camping is just great. Sitting outside, staying warm, enjoying the night; it's a pleasure.

Saturday 9th November 2024

Saturday 9^th November

SHE SAID:

We left Augusta at 10am heading only 50km up the road to Sue’s Bridge. This campground is “off the grid”; no power, water, phone, or internet, in the Blackwood National Park. We have been here before a couple of years ago; sadly the price has gone up to $30 P/N!

We had a fruitless orchid stop on the way & arrived around 11.30am.

After soup & toasted Turkish bread for lunch we had a walk around; as before there were some Cowslips still going, but not much else.

HE SAID:

It was not a long drive to our next camp. We left Munday Campground late and took it easy getting to Sue's Bridge, mainly to be sure that any previous occupant of our booked camp site had cleared out. There were no dramas along the way, though, on arrival, it was a bit of a squeeze getting into our camp site, needing two goes at backing in due to the confined space and encroaching shrubbery.

Friday 8th November 2024

Friday 8^th November

SHE SAID:

It was an interesting day out. The Sun orchids were finally open, lots seen in 4 locations.

At the last stop we bumped into Tom & Sally Tolman, whom we met around 4 years ago. They are Pommies that come over frequently orchid hunting. Well, Tom is the orchid nut & Sally is the “tag-along”. 

There were also other hunters around. Tom told me one was Nick Prest (I know the name, but never met him). Plus, friends with him.

Back at the campground the wind must have been strong as the awning was torn slightly, though the frame, luckily, wasn’t bent. 

Geoff battled to put it way. We were both amused at the set-up routine of the people next to us. We think the caravan might be either hired or very new to them. It was a pop-top with 2 expandable beds, one at each end, which they them seemed to struggle to sort out. We think there are 3 or 4 adults & possibly 2 kids! Cosy!

Purple trigger plants
Karri Cowslips & a bright coloured Karri Spider

 
King-in-his-Carriage 
& a fading Flying Duck

Blue Suns: lots of different shades
including a pink one!

Christmas Spiders, quite colourful

HE SAID:

It was a cold start to the day, but luckily it warmed up nicely. Meeting Tom and Sally randomly in the bush was a surprise. Tom said that he had just emailed Varena this morning, but nothing received yet. We found a few orchids today, so Varena was pleased.

Thursday 7th November 2024

Thursday 7^th November

SHE SAID:

An orchid morning around the Augusta area with plenty found at all but 1 spot.

We bought a pie for Geoff & a sausage roll for me at the bakery for lunch, & also scored a Lions Club Christmas Cake & pudding too.

Geoff stayed at the van in the afternoon & I zoomed out to the O’Halloran Rd area of the National Park, spending a further 2 ½ hours hunting down more orchids. It was another good day's haul, 22 different flowering types!

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse & Indian ocean views

Skippy Beach

Hardy Inlet, Augusta

Hardy Inlet

HE SAID:

We were running short of bread so hitting the bakery for a pie suited me perfectly! I managed a couple of small jobs at the van while Varena was out, waiting out a squall or two which Varena didn't get where she was. They must have been very isolated as she was only about 10 minutes away.

Wednesday 6th November 2024

Wednesday 6^th November

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I met up with Evelyn & Ian on the Milyeannup Coast Rd. We were hoping to see the Coastal Spiders. Happily, we found lots; they are a colourful late flowering wispy spider. Several other orchid types were also seen. We checked out about 8 different areas in the Scott River NP, finding 13 different flowering orchids.

We parted company around 2.30pm & we got back to the campground at 3.15pm. 

We hadn’t paid yet so Geoff headed off to find the owners. He came back saying it was $45 p/n! Bloody hell! The website site says $35-$45 seasonal & I thought this was the shoulder season. 

Too much just to camp, in my head at least.

Forest Mantis, 2nd one with a dropped labellum (tongue)

Coastal Spider

Snail sp? Scott River Spider, Late Bird
Christmas Spider, Leopard & Karri Spider

Club-lipped Spider

Cicada

HE SAID:

I thought I'd tackle a full day out with others and it was fine. We managed to find several orchids so people were happy. Unfortunately the price at our campground did not make me happy.

Tuesday 5th November 2024

Tuesday 5^th November

SHE SAID:

We left Busselton at 10am, heading 81km south to Augusta. We had a brief tea stop at the big layby on the Bussell HW where we found the expected orchids. I have been here several times, but it was a good way to kill some time before getting to the campground.

This is a new camping place for us, called Munday Camp Ground. It is quite small, only 8 or 10 sites, surrounding the owner's house. We back on to bush, which is nice, though orchid free!

After lunch I wanted to check to see if the Albany Spider orchids were flowering on Jewel Cave Rd. They have just started. We also saw Forest Mantis, Common Mignonettes, Karri Spiders, Suns, & lots of finished orchids, including Southern Curly Locks, I think.

I did one of my favourite “cheat” meals, Woolworths cooked roast chicken & all the trimmings.

Karri Spiders

Freshly opening Albany Spiders
& Geoff's munted one!!

Leopard & Blue Lady Suns

Munday Camp Ground 

HE SAID:

We took our time. With only a short distance to travel we wanted to be sure that any previous occupant of our site had actually departed! The latest departure time is usually either 10am or 11am. We dragged it out so that we arrived well after 11. Having a leg-stretch in the arvo was a good idea, with several orchids found.

Monday 4th November 2024

Monday 4^th November

SHE SAID:

We headed into Busselton for groceries & fuel this morning. We leave for Augusta tomorrow, where the supplies are more limited, & I assume more expensive!

The washing got done, & Geoff managed to watch some cricket, too! The full-on cricket season is rapidly approaching; happy hubby.

Overcast view of Hardy's Inlet:
Flat Rock reserve sits on the inlet

Busselton Art

HE SAID:

We needed several things done in Busselton and were there a couple of hours. After that there was the washing, plus a little packing up before we move on tomorrow.

The imminent US civil war, or at least several nutbags with guns doing awful things, may kick off on Wednesday our time, incited by the criminal, bankrupt, immoral, pedophile, rapist, draft-dodger Donald Trump after their election. I'll be glad when we don't get so much US election coverage. It is draining, and a freak-show.

Sunday 3rd November 2024

Sunday 3^rd November

SHE SAID:

I had planned a short orchid hunt about ½ hour from the van, but Evelyn messaged to invite me to join them in Augusta, so I shot off there instead.

The day started off quiet, with not much seen till we headed for the well known orchid area of Flat Rock. The tally hit 18 by the time we left Augusta. Not bad for November.

For dinner I made Rakott Krumpli, a Hungarian potato bake with hard boiled eggs & salami; it was very nice.

Leopard Suns, Funnel-tipped Spiders &
a South African (weed orchid)

Various coloured Karri Spiders

Christmas Spiders, Lodge's Spiders
& possibly hybrids of the two

Blue Lady Sun, Pink Fairies (including a mutant)
& a Dunsborough Donkey

HE SAID:

We were having tea and coffee in bed when Varena received the orchid call this morning. She was keen. I wasn't. I think she enjoyed the day out, and I had a quiet, though productive, day at the van. 

Even though I had only seen most of my sisters a week ago in Byron Bay I still Skyped for a while in the afternoon. It can be a challenging when you try to have a chat with several people at once online, but it is a good way to keep in touch.

The Hungarian potato bake was very tasty. We should have that again some time.

Saturday 2nd November 2024

Saturday 2^nd November

SHE SAID:

Geoff & I had a fruitless couple of hours looking for the Tuart Rufous on Tuart Drive. No signs of orchids at all.

In the late afternoon we headed to Gary & Dorte’s place for Gary’s 60th Birthday. Dorte had organised it brilliantly & around 35 people were there to help Gary celebrate, both friends & family. It went off very well, with heaps of food, drink & 2 bonfires.

We got back to the van around 10.30pm.

Yet another car wash that doesn't want "dirty" cars...PATHETIC

At the small fire with Dorte, Barb, & Jess

Gary's 60th birthday party

The BIG bonfire

HE SAID:

I was surprised at the complete lack of orchids in the forests we searched this morning. Too dry? No idea. Cleaning the car had looking pretty good. The sign about no muddy vehicles was hilariously stupid, though.

We went along to Gary and Dourte's in Yelverton over an hour early, in case help was needed. And it was, so we socialised, chatted, and assisted with a few things before the official start time, though there were plenty of people there before it was time.

Friday 1st November 2024

Friday 1^st November

SHE SAID:

I had a pampering morning. It has been ages since I have had a pedicure, & I also got a manicure done too. Then it was a last-minute thought to get a haircut. Usually you need to book haircuts, but I jagged a quiet time at the place I tried.

I was back at the van in time for lunch & a quiet afternoon.

Busselton Murals

HE SAID:

I'm glad Varena had the chance to be pampered a bit this morning. She enjoyed it. It was nothing to do with me, just some relaxing and getting looked after in Busselton while I stayed at the van. Luckily there is only minor redness and swelling from yesterday's knock, but I bet it still hurts.

My day was rather quiet, with just a few little things that I had wanted to around the van, and to call Uncle Paul. I just wanted to thank him again for putting us up and putting up with us, and also to see if he's enjoying the peace and quiet now that he has his house back. He seemed glad for the call and said he was happy to be alone for a while.

Thursday 31st October 2024

Thursday 31^st October

SHE SAID:

We headed into Busselton for shopping this morning & did all our Byron Bay washing. Such a fun day.

The highlight / lowlight was when “stupid” (me) wasn’t looking where she was going & walked into the awning strut. My boiling rage at my own stupidity hurt as much as my face, I think.

PS photos from the Queensland jaunt.

Tweed Head murals

Currumbin "Hippy Cafe"

Epiphytic Orchid seen at the Cougal Cascades

Moody clouds

HE SAID:

Several loads of washing meant that I had to dig out some rope from the ute to make an extra clothes line. There was a fair bit there.

Varena came a cropper, totally unexpectedly, this arvo. She took her glasses off to give them a little wipe as we walked and she went full-on face first into the van's awning strut. I managed to get her seated, then into the van, and then to apply a back of frozen peas to her face. Hopefully there was not too much damage...

I managed to bbq some tasty steaks for dinner, with Varena doing the corn on the cob and the salad, and then we had an hour or so Skyping Japan, which was the usual jolly time.

Wednesday 30th October 2024

Wednesday 30^th October

SHE SAID:

We headed 246km from Kalamunda to Busselton today. We are down in Busselton for 6 nights for Gary’s Birthday, which is on Saturday.

I had opted to stay at a caravan park rather than their place as they have quite a few family members staying, plus an extra 3 caravans. I think it will be rather crowded.

It was a warm-ish 27c day, though the breeze kept it feeling cooler. We did go for an hour's walk along the beach, which is across Caves Rd; it was lovely. Geographe Bay was very calm, & we saw a small stingray coasting along the shoreline.

At the entrance to the caravan park

The caravan site we were given!
No way to get the caravan under this low hanging branch,
so, we asked for a different one!

Stingray, Jellyfish? &
tiny little waddling birds

On the almost empty beach

HE SAID:

We were still a bit tired from our time away but, with no hurry to get to Busselton, we took it easy. The van park put us at an unuseable site at the first attempt. The second attemp was a lot more sensible. Varena made a very tasty omelette for lunch, and we enjoyed a nice walk along the beach late in the afternoon.

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Tuesday 29^th October

SHE SAID:

Time to head back to WA.

Us, along with Jac & Mick, are the final family to leave. We all headed for the airport together with Snowy, the owner of the loan BMW, so he could reclaim his car.

We had an hour delay on our flight, which didn’t worry us as will still had 4 hours in Sydney till our flight left. The time was filled in with lunch & doing stuff on our computers.

It was after 9.30pm when we got back to Advent Park in Kalamunda, & to Bertie Billabong.

HE SAID:

Mick and I zoomed off a bit after 8am to refuel vehicles. Mick's hire van then had to be dropped in town, just a few minutes away. After that, when Snowy came over to Paul's, we trooped off to Ballina Airport, dropping Mick and Jac at Jac's uncles care home, only 3 minutes drive from the airport. Varena and I had an extended wait due to the flight being delayed, catching Mick and Jac again when they made it there. After that it was sit on a plane, sit at an airport, sit on a plane, until we made it back to Perth, tired, and glad to be back with our car and van.