Thread: All the way around Aus

I left Pt Lincoin this morning after hearing the squid were on the bite last night . Called in to Venus Bay for lunch then Streaky bay intending to stay, but as public holiday everything was shut and caravan park pretty full and no-where near jetty. So I kept going till Smoky Bay (there are a lot of "Bay"s around here ) and scored a camp site right next to the jetty.

smokey Bay.jpg

Unfortunately they tell me haven't seen any squid since the warmer waters came in last week . So off again tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Grommett

Neil, would not have recognized you from the selfie! Looks like a great campsite. We hope to head to Broome in July. Would be fine to meet somewhere in the North.

Would love to meet up, but I will be passing Broome in late May, hope to be in Darwin June & July, before heading east again.

Could still work. We are leaving Mexico in late Juneandheading North towards Kakadu etc to escape our winter. So let's see where and when we are.

Hey Neil,

Coming round the the coast, don't miss Djarilmari Timbers at Denmark, they have stuff that will scorch your eyeballs, ill pm their details, and also mine. Do you have a rough idea when you will be round the Perth area,

Hazza B

I have to be in Perth for my daughter's 30th birthday 16 April and will be there for 2 weeks, but which 2 weeks is still up in the air.

Yes I intend calling in on Djarilmari Timbers I have purchased stuff from them before and it's on the way to Bunbury. Still debating on Margaret River.

Originally Posted by dai sensei

I have to be in Perth for my daughter's 30th birthday 16 April and will be there for 2 weeks, but which 2 weeks is still up in the air.

Yes I intend calling in on Djarilmari Timbers I have purchased stuff from them before and it's on the way to Bunbury. Still debating on Margaret River.

Trees mate. They grow big down in the south of western Aus. I helped build a house down in Denmark. I think I showed you some picks. Photo is for others to see what a splendid job I did.
Denmark Build 5 (2).jpg

You are nearly as modest as me.

The last few days were pretty boring, sparse vegetation along the Nullarbor, but views when possible of the coast are great. The Great Aust Bite has with 3 lookouts over the cliffs. I stopped 1 night at lookout 2 near the border with a dozen other caravans, basically right on the edge of the cliffs, so no reception but lovely breeze. Wanted to do some fishing, but someone forgot to mention there was a 300' drop to the waves

from the road.jpg GAB Lookout1.jpg lookout3.jpg

lookout3 2.jpg sunset3.jpg

GAB beach.jpg View from escarpment .jpg


Before crossing the border I cooked up the majority of my potatoes and onions, into the fridge for the future, plus ate my fruit to avoid losing it at the border. Unfortunately it is not just fruit/veg/honey (as was the case in my days in the NT), but any plant/food and anything else the officer thought of at the time. I found the officer very unprofessional and seemed to make it up as she went, there was no definitive list as such she could show me. Took my leftover honey, mushrooms and veges. She then tried to take some of my timber because it had termite holes. I finally convinced them that there were no termites as they die as soon as they are separated from the nest (over a year ago so definitely none). She did took some giant banksia I scored a few towns ago because of the seeds, she was ignorant to the fact they are native to WA, and ignored my explanations. She went through every drawer/shelf/space I had in the camper and even opened containers. She asked me to open the trailer, which I did, then looked at me as though "Ok unpack". I explained the trailer contained just tools and equipment for woodworking , certainly no food (although many bags of seed pods for casting ), so luckily she accepted that but then asked me to unpack the chainsaw containers at the front of the trailer – both!


I talked to another caravaner just down the road at a lookout and they said the same "mrs hitler" went through every inch on theirs too, even asked them to strip the bed and lift the mattress, ridiculous!

Considering you walk into a shop at the other side of the border and can buy exactly the same honey (from nsw) and bananas (from Qld) etc etc just doesn't make sense.

Saw a total of 17 Wedge Tailed Eagles, unfortunately 2 dead beside the road, and too old to score some feathers. Also saw heaps of Emus and the odd healthy Dingo, obviously fat on the rabbits and road kill.

Last night I pulled in to another road side pull over just 200km east of Norseman in WA, so today less travel and now at Esperance on the coast of WA. I did give some burls a lift on the way, I'll do a post in timber when I take a few more shots, currently on my front seat . Very tired after driving so far but also the 2.5hr clock change over has thrown me. My knees/legs are pretty sore from driving, plus my shoulder is playing up, so going to stay a day or 2 resting before heading off again.

Even when I head off it will be slowly as heaps of bays and beaches to see and try fishing

Oh, I notice we have some thing in common, a love of Burls and fishing. You must plan to hang around here in Perth and visit Garden island etc.

On your way up, I highly recommend Djarrimari timbers (I hate trying to spell that name) plus Dean Malcolms galler, Southcost Wood works, plus Boranup and the gallery at Pemberton has re-opened, Fine Wood craft Gallery
Welcome to Jarrahland. I am glad the Nazis at the border gave you a hard time, it is one way we try to deter Easterners from bringing their weeds over here and trying to poach our fish. (*oh yeah, TIC, of course).

Willy

Wow! that's some reception ,did she check your "passport" and run a scanner over you ? hehe, probably a relative owns the local food shop ,and they are just boosting business in these hard times Any way you are there now and a lot to see and do yet on your travels Enjoy cheers ~ John

Thanks Willy, I knew about Djarrimari timbers, but will look up the others.

Thread on the burls that hitched a lift here https://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=182928&p=1756804#post1756804

Hi Neil, I had the same trouble when I went that way 10years ago, sounds like the same cow. Wouldn't be surprised if they sold it to the shop to resell. I was told that the honey for WA is triple boiled, from the same supplier!!!!!!!
Safe traveling and watch out for those hitch hikers (nice pieces by the way), too many more and you'll have to put another axle under the poor trailer.
Kryn

Your close to my neck of the woods.

If you are down in Espy you may want to check out the Duke of Orleans. Probably THE best beach/camping ground in Oz!

There are some really nice big suckers of burls I have my eyes on but they are on living trees in protected woodlands!

My Grandfather (RIP) had 100's of burls he cut in the Norseman area, most were stolen after he died

Originally Posted by mach70

Your close to my neck of the woods.

If you are down in Espy you may want to check out the Duke of Orleans. Probably THE best beach/camping ground in Oz!

There are some really nice big suckers of burls I have my eyes on but they are on living trees in protected woodlands!

My Grandfather (RIP) had 100's of burls he cut in the Norseman area, most were stolen after he died

Bad luck about your grandfather's burls. Heading west from here so Duke of Orleans will have to be another trip. I will be spending a week around Mandurah and a few weeks in Perth so should be able to catch up. PM me you details so I can add you to my list.

I went to Munglinup Beach some other campers had recommended, and it looked really good for fishing, but it was blowing a gail and the camp spot was infested with bees. The other campers weren't there either, so I assume they thought the same as myself, just keep moving. Took some photos of the beach looking both ways, there was a lagoon/river as well I could see from the road, but a decent walk away I wasn't in the mood for. Frustrating considering it was a 50km detour.

Munglinup Beach east.jpg Munglinup Beach west.jpg


Bremer Bay also looked nice, but it was also a 130km detour (return trip), so again I have kept going and now stopped at a road side stop with a cool breeze near the Bremer Bay turn-off. Considering how far I am travelling I need to avoid extra kms in detours just to see another beach. Tomorrow I will head for Denmark and stay a few days, it has heaps of woodworking galleries and wood suppliers, but probably closed tomorrow being Sunday.