"Wander out yonder" has been a Western Australian campaign to encourage all Australians, particularly those with disposable income, to holiday in WA. However, most of this state's visitors still tend to hug the coastal regions. The exception would be parts of the Kimberley, which is in a league all of its own. My mission is to educate those tourists who might visit the West of the jewels that are inland, the surprising towns, the breath-taking landscapes, the extraordinary residents and the often captivating travellers we meet along the way.
Michael, usually accidentally, provides great fodder for my blog. Our departure day, Friday 28 June was no exception. Having tried to leave at nine o'clock in the morning (!), we eventually pulled out of Anzac Lane at a quarter to two (in the afternoon!). I had decided to farewell Jodie (of Je Mode Photographic Studio fame) and Sue and Marion, two fabulous volunteers who had stepped in for their first shift in the East End Gallery at the last minute. I had asked Michael to collect me outside the Gallery and proceed up the street to the Op Shop to drop off a bag of clothes.
Much to our amusement, Michael turned right away from me and proceeded directly towards the Op Shop. I farewelled the ladies, all in fits of laughter, and proceeded at a fast trot up Vincent Street. Marion's observation was ringing in my ears - "Whenever I talk to my husband, I open my mouth and I obviously speak fluent Japanese as he doesn't understand a word I say!"
And thus, our 2024 Great Escape began...
We finished our initial leg in Moora, which was a pretty town with a first-class, Council-run caravan park on the banks of the Moore River, next to a beautiful park, ideal for letting the dogs run off-lead. The trip from Beverley, via Northam, Bolgart, Calingiri and New Norcia was a very pleasant drive. We arrived, naturally, later than we had hoped (in the dark). A quick set-up, dinner and bed.
The following morning, we watched the ParkRun, a free weekly event in Moora to run, walk or stroll five kilometres around a designated course. More than a dozen participants turned up on a grey drizzly morning and we listened to the shouts of encouragement from spectators and volunteers. What an absolutely brilliant initiative.
Even more thrilling was that we had no Lexi wee accidents inside Will, proving our Goofball Groodle does have the capacity to hold on all night! We walked the dogs off the lead before we left and I watched Lexi let go of the longest wee I have ever seen...
Christine, a local Moora lass, was employed by the Shire to clean the ablutions on the weekend. She was a fountain of knowledge regarding Moora. Apparently, a large statue of a Carnaby Cockatoo will soon be installed, a symbol of the area. We knew then we will have to return to Moora to further explore this very attractive town.
A brief halt was necessary before we exited the caravan park. Michael had completely forgotten to drop the roof and sides of Will, our caravan...
Our next overnight stop was to be in Mullewa. Coorow ( pronounced Cooroo) appeared to be deserted. Carnamah was better with a scrupulously clean servo, run by a Sikh family, offering good home prepared sandwiches and efficient service.
We pulled into Mullewa just on three o'clock. The only institutions open were the servo and the Railway Hotel. The Estonian barmaid Triin, presented me with a surprisingly good selection of wines to purchase. Which I promptly did.
The Mullewa Caravan Park, which is owned by the City of Geraldton, a hundred kilometres to the west, was another fabulous overnight stay. We met up with Michael's brother Darryl and his gorgeous wife Wendy, who were cruising in style in a most impressive Winnebago. Will could have appeared the poor relation, but his upright stance and shiny new front allowed him to hold his own next to the very glamourous motorhome..
We enjoyed a very happy afternoon with Darryl and Wendy. I am ashamed to say that I stupidly deleted the photos I took during that cheery meeting of our family... We also met Brenna, who was travelling with her Beagle cross, Abby. They were also continuing to Yalgoo the following day. Stella and Lexi were delighted to meet a doggy companion.
The Liberty servo in Mullewa was packed with cars towing caravans filling up with fuel. The accompanying shop was clean and well stocked. Run by an extremely efficient south Asian chap, we bought bread, icecreams and paid for our fuel.
Then we turned Lily and Will eastwards and headed for Yalgoo... We knew there had been a rain event in the Midwest earlier in June, but we we were not expecting to see the jaw-dropping amount of water still all around with the odd stream across the road. Once the water finally recedes, the Midwest will explode with wildflowers in the coming couple of months.
And then we came to Yalgoo. Yes there was mud. Yes, the afternoon was cold and wintry. But the landscape was so familiar and so beloved. We had returned to the Outback.
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