3 to 7 July 2016 - The final run home

First of all my apologies.  I should have done this final trip entry immediately after I got home.  But....I didn't, so on the 30th of July, here I sit, testing the memory and doing something I am not really in the mood to do anymore.  As a result it is going to be fairly brief and a number of the final stops are lacking photographs.......

On Sunday 3 July, with the ongoing confusion of whether we would have a new Government or not, I packed up early and managed to extract myself from the very tight Esperance Bay Holiday Park.  I set off West along the South Coast Highway headed for Ravensthorpe and home.  The weather forecast was poor, with a cold front and rain due during the morning.  As it turned out I got as far as Ravensthorpe before the rain started.  Stopped for a coffee at the BP Service Station, which turned out to be one of the worst (coffee's) I had bought on the whole trip.  Into the bin with it & back on the road to Jerramungup, where it was just pissing down.  I refueled there and took the road towards Gnowangerup and Katanning, rather than continuing on towards Albany.  Traffic was light which was fortunate as the rain continued for most of the day.  I camped overnight in a roadside rest area before Great Southern Highway and East of Broomhill.  Nice quiet spot amongst fields of crop growing well with the early rains this year.  A cold night as the cold front had passed.

On Monday I continued West through Broomehill & Kojonup, before taking the road to Bridgetown.  I stopped in Muradup, West of Kojonup to have a look around and take a few photos for Jean, who had grown up nearby on the farm (Rosemount) and had gone to the Primary School for a few years.

 Not a lot left of the old School site.

 The old Muradup Co-op.

The Muradup Agricultural Hall.

A really pleasant drive from there to Bridgetown, mostly along the Blackwood Road.  Lots of fat sheep, cattle and good looking crops.  Had an excellent coffee in Bridgetown at one of the many cafes, getting quite Touristy these days, then took the Brockman Highway through to Nannup.  The "Highway" is a very scenic route, with some steep winding sections at each end, but not too stressful, even towing the Bushtracker.

I stayed just outside Nannup with Cousin Kerry & her husband Mercer, who amongst other things run a bed & breakfast.  Check it out at http://www.riverwoodretreat.com.au/ 
A great place to stay if you are in that part of the woods.  As always Kerry & Mercer were very hospitable and it was great to catch up with them.

Kerry & Mercer with the "big" cat.

From Nannup I continued West to Margaret River where I visited Rebecca Baker and her kids Caity & Pat.  Her partner Steve was away in the North, still working a fly in - fly out routine, which they all hope will be temporary.  Great to see Rebecca, who is one (of the very many) Grand-daughters of my favourite Aunt, Anna Baker, my Dad's younger Sister.  Unfortunately all of that Generation has now passed on.

I took a short drive north of Margaret River to Jindon, which is just south of Vasse & Busselton.  Spent the night in a paddock with just one other caravan.  One of the many places I have stayed that were found with the Wikicamps App on the iPad.  A really useful tool for caravaners and campers.  Cost me $10 for the night with lots of space.  A much better experience than a crowed caravan park.

On Wednesday (6th July) I continued to drive North and stopped for a catch up and lunch with Valerie & Mike Rowe in Bunbury.  They had invited our old (Woodside) workmates Wendy & Phillis as well as Tony (Phillis's Husband) and another couple for lunch at "Rowe Castle".  Had a great catch up and a very nice lunch, which was very much appreciated.

 Tony, Wendy, Valerie & Valerie's friend ???? (Isn't it terrible how you - meaning I - cannot remember names after just a couple of weeks.

 Phillis looking good.

Late in the afternoon I continued the journey North to Bouvard, near Dawesville on the Peel Estuary, to visit & stay overnight with Cousin John Baker (Rebecca's Dad).  John has retired from Main Roads and has a very busy life keeping up with his Kids, Grandkids, fishing and quite a lot of golf.  It had been quite a long time since we had caught up and there was much talk of the Aunties and Uncles, not to mention family stories, characters and secrets from past times.  It was a lot of fun and interesting to see John's neighbor Rex return from the Estuary with a few fish, which were extremely tasty, fresh on the breakfast menu.  John has an excellent set up with vege garden, fish cleaning "station", very comfortable house and at least one very good neighbour.  Also great fun to be able to catch up again.

 So, on Thursday morning, I was off again and this time on the very last leg of the long way home from Queensland.  One remaining diversion was to drop in on my old High School friend Phillip, who lives not far from John at Wannanup on the other side of the Dawesville Cut.  Had a coffee, short catch-up and made plans to meet again soon for a movie and lunch.

The final drive home to Folly Farm was uneventful.  Great to see Jean, the big Dog and all the Folly Farm animals.  Home again.

I took a few photos over the next day or two, just to show how pretty Folly Farm is in the Winter time.

 A misty Winter morning in the Avon Valley.  Taken from the front of the house.

 Looking down the hill by the side of the paddocks.

 Afternoon light on the Feed Shed.

 Happy horses at Folly Farm.

Beautiful Folly Farm in the afternoon light.

A new home for the Bushtracker (at least when not on the road) at Folly Farm.
 

 New custom wheel covers bought to replace the cheap & nasty, very tight Bushtracker covers, that kept slipping off and tearing when PJ tried to get them back on.

So ends the first journey of PJ's new 20 foot Bushtracker.  Hopefully there will be many to follow before I end up in a box........

Happy days.