Tuesday morning and at last I am on my way again and heading to Quagi Beach around 80 kms from Esperance. There is an honesty box requesting that each camper overnight puts in $2 so that is very reasonable bearing in mind that they supply good camping areas and toilets.
Arrived there before 10am with plenty of time to look around and select a convenient site, the sites are like Cape Le Grand and Thomas River all separated with wind brakes of natural growth. I prefer sites like Lucky Bay where there is a large open area where vans park in rows that makes for a more social atmosphere. Sure you talk to other campers but the happy hour type of socializing is rarely there.
I walked down to the beach and took photos as usual and thought that there was an area on the rocks that might be good for fishing later. The rain started and the wind blew so for a while it was not very comfortable but it cleared up eventually so around 4pm I gathered my fishing gear and headed out. Not a very good decision because I lost my tackle after the first cast on submerged rocks and spent time creating another rig which I promptly lost also. Back to the van promising to spend time tomorrow creating several paternoster rigs and wind them round a cork ready for the next time.
Arrived at Stokes Inlet early and did the same as yesterday, checked out the place and found a suitable site. Took my fishing gear down to the inlet to catch black bream or so the aim was but in fact I caught nothing but had one on line but it took off for the weed before I could get it closer, got so tangled up that I broke the line trying to get it out. After losing tackle yesterday and today and forgetting to go to the shop to replace sinkers lost on the rocks I am now out of swivels and the larger star sinkers so I aim to go to Munglinup store, before going to the National Park, to replenish my fishing gear.
The sites are separate similar to Quagi Beach and I have taken one near the amenities and camp kitchen planning to have another big breakfast tomorrow morning. Have bought mince meat and cut up fresh vegetables for my next pressure cooker attempt which I have planned for tomorrow night at Munglinup. Was charging the mobile and found several bars of reception and couldn't wait to get on line, didn't look before didn't expect coverage.
sounds like you've got the fishing expertise all sussed out now - fancy rigs and going for specific species. Are you going to post any more stud photos - people here got very excited by them. I made a cooking suggestion in your other post on the general forum. Looks like you are experiencing our typical southwest windy spring. Keep having fun
Now that is surprising, we have been all over this country and had to change to Telstra because we could not get Optus in most places, but that was in 2007, though this year in N and W Qld only Optus in Towns......
Reluctantly I am changing over to Telstra - could not get optus wireless internet to work in Ravensthorpe and Gin Gin which are not remote places by any stretch of the imagination. But I just got a telstra dongle 2 days ago and am taking it back today because it is malfunctioning and will no connect and I have spent a total of 1.5 hrs on the phone to overseas service centres getting no service at all. I hate telstra
Oh yes Elle, I feel your pain with Telstra, but as you say it is the only network to use when travelling. Hope you get a functioning dongle, it's so necessary when travelling.
I got the telstra turbo when it came out about 15 months ago and fingers crossed have not had a problem, when we were travelling got it wherever we were, but I had no phone, I am on Optus for phone............that was when we went away this year.
-- Edited by pauline on Thursday 10th of November 2011 01:22:47 PM
Thursday morning and I used the camp kitchen at Stokes Inlet to cook a big breakfast, tidied up and left for Munglinup Beach, there was no fishing gear on sale at Munglinup Roadhouse so I filled up the van and set off to the Beach. Like before I looked for the most suitable camping site and took the camera for a walk and looking for the best fishing spot. I only had one swivel and no star sinkers so I was not really into fishing today so I set off up the highest sand dune to get better camera shots and to my surprise the phone rang advising me that I had a voice message.
Vic was trying to contact me because he was in the south east of the state and wanted a meet up. After some effort I was able to contact him and we agreed to meet tomorrow at Ravensthorpe which was on my way.
Friday morning and drove into the main street in Ravenshorpe and Vic called out to me recognizing the van and we met for the first time. We talked for a while and decided to drive to Borden Rest Area a free overnight stop about 160 kms away. When we got there it was very exposed and could have been noisy at night so we moved round the corner to Borden Recreation Ground and camped next to the footy oval.
We spent the afternoon talking about the forum and our traveling experiences until we went to our respective vans for the night, I had put up the TV antenna and received a few channels so between the TV, book and typing my blog notes I spent the rest of the night. Our plan for tomorrow is to visit Moingup Springs Campground at Sterling National Park a trip of 45 kms.
Saturday morning and we left Borden and headed for Moingup Springs but turned off at the Bluff Knoll access road. Vic had suggested that I might want to climb Bluff Knoll as he had done 30 years ago, anyone reading my posts and blog will know that I am up for most challenges so off I went whilst Vic stayed behind to watch the vehicles. The sign said between 3 and 4 hours return and a level 4 climb It was accurate it took me just under 4 hours and a lot of effort. The Bluff is 1095 mtrs high and is the highest peak in the southern half of WA. You can see from the pictures how high the bluff is and the car park can be seen from the top but not the cars parked in it. We carried on to Moingup Springs and camped the night there.
We set off from Moingup Springs and headed towards Porongurup National Park to have a look round and to take a short walk, then off to Mount Barker where I was able to get internet access and posted the previous days happenings.
Vic had an arrangement to see his sister in Denmark and I didn't want to get to Denmark until the 21st so I carried on to Albany then made my way back towards Esperance to look at Normans Beach and Bettys Beach some 36 kms from Albany. All the places nominated are in Camps6 except Porongurup which has no camping facilities. Vic is out of internet coverage until he returns back to Perth so he send his apologies for any unanswered Pms or posts.
I am currently camped at Normans Beach, the beach and the lagoon are beautiful but the access is poor. Trees are surrounding the lagoon allowing no good casting areas and the beach is quite a distance away and not an easy walk carrying fishing gear so I decided to use the back pack to carry fishing tackle and a rod. My plan is to look at Bettys Beach tomorrow morning.
Monday morning at Normans Beach and I got up early and went fishing with my back pack loaded with tackle, bait and a cutting board. I found a suitable spot between rocks and opposite the lagoon entrance and an hour later walked away with a nice whiting. I was able to use the cutting board on the sand next to the lagoon to remove it's head, scales, tail and gut giving the seagulls a feed and getting rid of the inedible parts. Stayed the day at Normans Beach and one of my neighbours was going across to Bettys Beach in his 4WD and offered me a lift to see how the other beach looked like. Bettys Beach has much better access to the beach and more camping areas, it is closed between February and April for the salmon season.
Don't worry about Billeeeee, yeoeleven. He's not happy unless he is annoying someone. Love your photos, very pretty spot. Good to see you and Vic enjoyed your time together.
Gee Vic, you've certainly covered a lot of ground since Adelaide. No matter what you do you seem to soak it all in and enjoy every event. I feel your excitement.
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Started the day at Normans Beach but left early heading for Albany where I was able at last collect my RACQ Ultimate Package. It had been sent then forwarded and forwarded again to Albany Post Office. Looked around Albany and visited the Information Office and got maps and more camping information.
Went for a drive around the Frenchmans Bay Road to see the Natural Arch and the Gap, then further round to see the Blow Holes but the sea was very calm and so no blowing erupted.
Then went on to Mutton Bird Beach as per Camp6 but there was no camping at East or West Beach and so I took off to Torbay Inlet for the night.
Had another go with the pressure cooker, the result was good but the effort was too much especially the cleaning up, starting to consider another trip to the Cash Converters may be in order soon. Probably the other option of the Thermos Shuttle Chef would be just as time consuming in any event I will not be following that option.
Am totally impressed with the Engel fridge it can go all night and the voltage only drops around .3 volts and during the day the solar keeps up with it and advances even without driving. I have not used the generator whilst free camping since Thomas River and not used the smart charger either. All in all my charging and power problems are behind me now.
Get yourself a deep frypan (not electric) with glass lid, you can buy all sorts of bases that you just have to add whatever sort of meat you prefer, thai green chicken curry, beef stroganoff, devilled sausages and the list goes on, you don't need to add anything else or you can throw in some veges if you want....quick and easy John give it a go.
Wow you are getting around John and great see you are exploring all of the wonderful great southern coastline. It's very unusual for the sea to be calm around the blow hole. Sorry the pressure cooker is not working out. As Pauline said, the elec frypan is simple and versatile or even a non-elec one. Whats the problem with cleaning up - is the food sticking to the pot? Wrong thread for this discussion I guess.
As I said way back yeoeleven, all you need is a lidded fryingpan, a deep one and NOT electric. So handy and you can cook anything you want in it without getting all the fancy wizzbang things. At the time you were asking Aldi had one, good size. Can't remember the exact price but was under 20.00.
OOOps I got it backwards - serves me right for posting before brekky (it was 6.00, not 9.00 WST). But yes, a good lidded frypan is the most useful cooking item ever.
The Op-shops have some great ones at the moment. Deep and with good-fitting lids. Of course you're on the other side of the country. But kepan eye out there.
Even saw a new Lidded Wok today for $6.00. The Fry-pans are less than $5.00.
Gee Vic, you've certainly covered a lot of ground since Adelaide. No matter what you do you seem to soak it all in and enjoy every event. I feel your excitement.
Ummmmm.........I think you meant John?
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Gee Vic, you've certainly covered a lot of ground since Adelaide. No matter what you do you seem to soak it all in and enjoy every event. I feel your excitement.
Ummmmm.........I think you meant John?
I reckon Granny's so excited she means both of you and everyone else who's having good times on the road right now.