We have been out of mobile coverage for a few days. We didn’t expect not to have coverage as we are only 30 klms from the nearest town large town – Narrogin. We haven’t had TV since we left home and if we are out of mobile coverage, the only thing we miss is the weather forecast just handy to know how to set up the camp. It’s good for the soul not having media intrude in your life…..
Toodyay – Northam – York – Beverley – Brookton - Pumphrey Bridge
Saturday - Toodyay
We are still waiting on our roof top bag and will chase it up on Monday. We will make a decision on whether to move camp or not depending on the ETA of the bag.
We were going to drive over to York to the Avon Gift Fair, but decided against it, as we will be going over there after we pick up the roof top bag from Northam. We stayed at the camp most of the day and did a tidy up in the car. Sorted through our tourist information brochures and maps and made a rough plan on which way to go and where to camp on our way to Augusta. Carried out a few repair jobs. Glen calculated our trip kilometres.
The trip so far – the stats
We have travelled 14,693 klms in 17 weeks. We did a lot of the big kilometres was getting across and down as we had some long distances to cover. We have been on the move most of the time and the daily average distance travelled is 120 kms.
After Christmas, early February the next leg is across to Adelaide, then north to Darwin and then across to Cairns and south home.
e went out later in the afternoon for a 30 klm drive to Julenup Conservation Park, thought we would have afternoon tea there but it has not been developed. We headed off down one of the many tracks (without GPS, mind you), Glen confidently navigated our way in a big loop back to highway. Could be a challenge if you lost your way as there were numerous tracks going everywhere. We were up for a spot of bird watching, but the area didn’t seem to have any birds at all. Towards the end of the trip, we saw three and then two of the black and white cockatoo’s flying by. We also saw lots of large Banksia flowers lying everywhere on the track which they had obviously been feeding on.
Sunday – We did a tidy up and caught up with the washing in preparation for travelling tomorrow. After lunch we walked into the CWA Hall in Toodyay to see the Movie & Concert – The War Bride. It was great! :) This couple travel around and entertain by playing clips and music from different periods, he does a few songs (quite a good singer) and then you see the movie. We thought we would probably be the only ones there and literally we almost were :) They had a show on the Friday Night and Saturday Night and this was the Sunday Matinee. Another lady came, plus us, plus two of their friends. So we had a private show – what a treat…. we loved it.
Saw a great clip from their band which was entered in the short film awards – called “playing hard to get”. Watch it all the way through as there is a twist at the end.
Monday- It’s pack up and leave Toodyay – we said goodbye to our caravan park friends and got a warm send off. Gen & Skip gave us a plate of sliced oranges for on the way and Micael and Benny (dog) waved us goodbye. We were given a picture of Benny getting his No 1 – Toodyay dog registration from the ranger. It was mid morning before we were on the road, so outside of Toodyay at Millard’s pond we stopped for morning tea.
We travelled over to Northam to arrange for the roof bag to be sent to Busselton – as we checked on the ETA and it will not be until early December – so much for the 7 days arrival.
We left Northam and took to the dirt on the Northam-York Road, no traffic and glorious scenery, beautiful road what could be better.
We called into York for lunch and then took to the dirt again to travel the York-Williams Road intending to camp at Congelin Camp Ground. We happened upon Pumphrey Bridge free camp, so decided to set up camp there and travel onto Congelin on Tuesday.
Beverley
We have noticed that most of these towns are only catering to the Perth weekend crowd and a lot of shops are closed during the week which is a shame. This was the case in Beverley.
Brookton – another small town divided by the rail line. Friendly town, got a wave from a old timer as we passed through. It was very dry, not a blade of grass in sight.
We had been told that this was a good camping spot, but it has been changed to day use only. We stopped there for afternoon coffee. It is a large monolith rock, hard to judge the size but certainly a good size. It is like Bald Rock near Tenterfield because it is surround by forest which unfortunately disguises its size.
I have marked on the map where we camped at Pumphrey Bridge and where Congelin Camp ground is. It is part of the Dryandra Woodland.
There were several mid eighteenth century farm houses still in occupation today.
The bridge had been sawn to collapse it – there are no barriers for warning signs on the road leading up to it. A real Dukes of Hazard bridge – could you make the gap at speed, probably :)
Below – is the new bridge – and our camp spot – there were three vans and a motor home with us.
Found two birds I don’t know what they are. I think the one on the left is a Thornbill and the one below a Robin or Thrush. Back to looking through the bird book again.
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