We are smugly snug or snugly smug inside Digger on a Wednesday evening. We stayed in Yalgoo last night and after a drive of over three hundred kilometres from Wongan Hills, we were both tired. Hence, rather than suffering from Failure to Launch, we both experienced Sudden Crash Land. Apart from dinner and the dishes, not much else happened.
However, the trip from Wongan Hills to Yalgoo was surprisingly engaging. We received fabulous service from Julie at Ah Wong's Roadhouse before leaving our first night's stay. Then we pushed forward through Dalwallinu (Jenny's Bakehouse for lunch), onto Wubin and Latham before stopping at Perenjori for a snack. Throughout the Wheatbelt, the crops were sensational and water was evident everywhere. The damage at Perenjori caused on 11 April by Cyclone Seroja was unexpected and startling. The local supermarket's roof and walls had caved in, the pub was missing a substantial section of its roof, the church was taped off and fallen trees were still in evidence. The Midwest and Northern Wheatbelt were not used to Category 3 cyclones and Seroja slammed into the coast at Kalbarri before leaving a path of destruction down to the southern coastline. Apparently, much of the cleanup had already been completed, the pub's roof had been covered by tarps and the damaged supermarket fenced off.
With quiet reflection, we drove on to Morawa before tuning north east towards Yalgoo. The cyclone had obviously caused damage to the road and new bitumen and widening was clearly seen. The Morawa-Yalgoo Road was a pleasure to travel. Suddenly, we left the Wheatbelt behind and moved in the dear and familiar outback scrub. We spotted a dingo and kangaroo and we dashed towards our finish line for the day. With twenty kilometres left, we stopped to wonder at the remains of a stone homestead on the edge of Bunnawarra Station. We debated whether this was actually the original house. After a potter and some photographs, we headed for Yalgoo, where we returned to the beautiful little caravan park that was just about bulging at the seams. Western Australians were obviously holidaying at home with gusto!
We shared a late afternoon drink with Chris and Sharon in the next caravan. The rest of the evening was taken up with food, vino and occasional walkies with the fatheads. At some stage during the night, I heard rain but apart from short trips to Digger's facilities and Michael's asthma requiring Ventolin, I slept until after seven o'clock, when Stella Bella demanded a trip outside.
After breakfast and hot showers and clean clothes, we were raring to go. With Michael keen to return to Yalgoo on our way home, I thought it prudent to book for a three day stay in mid August. Mission accomplished, we set off for Mount Magnet and then to Cue. The drive did not disappoint. Wildflowers, including Everlastings, were already poking their blooms skyward. Always interesting were the remains of the railway, once the lifeblood of regional Western Australia. We stopped in Mount Magnet for a visit to Murchison Hardware, operated by the Famous Jamie and Cora (also the local snake catcher!), filled a gas bottle at the caravan park and queued for fuel and sandwiches at the Servo.
In fact, the Swagman Roadhouse resembled gridlock during Perth's peak hour. Cars, RVs, cars towing caravans and roadtrains were all jostling for position. A hesitant car and caravan blocking the entry found themselves being blasted by a roadtrain's horn irritated at being unable to access the trucks' bowsers. We needed to be patient. After a pitstop for the dogs, Michael signalled he'd finished with fuel and I went to pay. The young man on the checkout quipped he'd left Perth for some peace and quiet and ended up in Bedlam, otherwise known as the Swagman Roadhouse!
We continued towards Cue. I read Michael the Monthly Musings of the Shire of Mount Magnet, which were uncommonly entertaining. Before I was aware, we were on the outskirts of Cue. We arrived at the excellent Cue Caravan Park and checked in with the delightful Dianne. Like Yalgoo, the caravan park was very busy indeed.
We set up and then took the dogs to the town oval. Stella ran herself silly whilst Pip shuffled along in an elderly gentleman fashion. We partook in a snippet of fossicking behind the oval and returned with a long handmade nail, a tobacco tin and a interesting hook shaped object that may have been a bit of horse paraphernalia.
Upon returning to Digger, we have cooked and eaten dinner and watched the news on iview. The dishes are done, the dogs are snoozing and I am just about ready for bed. Stay tuned for the next post in our Northern Exposure trip in 2021.
Hi Kate, I just found your Blog. I love your enthusiasm for life. My partner and I own the old Club Hotel in Brookton and might be the new owners of the Freemasons Tavern in Beverley by the time you return from your trip. Hopefully, all being well we will soon be learning to run a pub in Beverley. I would love to meet you when you get back into town. Travel safe and enjoy your trip. Regards Kerry Toop
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