BALINGUP

TUES 7 - WED 8.1.2014: All packed up and ready to take off and we had an "incoming" caravan arrival. The fellow traveller asked where we were headed and we vaguely responded that we were not sure! Advised that we should spend some time at the Wright's Bridge Camping Area which was some 10kms out of Balingup. Four years ago a bush fire had torn through the area and the National Parks and Wildlife had just reopened it for camping. Few people knew that you were now allowed access so they had the camp area to themselves. Sounds like our type of spot! We set off down the ever so lengthy drive (2 kms), and before you knew it came upon the Balingup Tavern - tea break! 

VISTA FROM THE TAVERN

We had also been told that "The Old Cheese Factory" and the Furniture, Art and Antique Shop were must dos. As always, the thought of cheese prompted a positive response - another 2kms down the road and we had arrived. Discussions had taken place on the type and amount of cheese to be purchased  so we entered The Old Cheese Factory with great enthusiasm. There are some six rooms, plus a downstairs section absolutely packed to the rafters with bric-a-brac, antiques, souvenirs and possibly anything you would care to think of - EXCEPT C-H-E-E-S-E!

Departed the building with a few items, but needless to say, no cheese. No problem, further on is the Heritage Cheese Shop so that is probably where we should have visited. Park the motorhome and walk up to the door - CLOSED! Went back into Balingup proper and had coffee and a snack! Drove into Wright's Bridge Camping area - beautiful in every way! Designated camp sites have been cleared in amongst the natural forest. There are larger bays and some tent areas, but all have their own table sets, barbecues, communal toilet and garbage disposal point. The sites are well distanced from each other, with a resident Camp Manager that collects the $5.50 (Grey Nomads)/$7.50 (Less Grey Nomads) each evening - perfect!

BALINGUP - POPULATION: 443

MONDAY 6.1.2014: Finally extricated ourselves from Quinninup and headed for Destination 1 - Greenbushes Rest Area, north of Greenbushes, south of Balingup - MISSED THE TURN OFF! Destination 2 - Grimwade Settlement, north east of Balingup, east of Kirup - down the narrow winding road with branch overhangs growing increasingly worse as we descended into the forest. Would have been a lovely retreat, BUT the 'brave hearts' were not prepared to tackle another tree encounter! Destination 3 - Balingup Transit Facility. Arrived at Balingup expecting the transit facility to be a cement slab at the back of a service station, but the area turned out to be a lovely spot by the water, with toilets, garbage bins, barbecue and only $24.00 powered/$17.00 unpowered. 

The town takes its name from Balingup Pool, located on the Balingup Brook which flows through the town. First recorded by a surveyor in 1850, the name is said to be derived from a Noongar warrior, Balingan. It originally had a station on the railway line, opened in 1898, the same year the town was gazetted. Balingup hosts annual rural festivals, primarily the Small Farm Field Day (late April) and Medieval Carnivale (August). Balingup is also one of the few towns through which the Bibbulmun Track passes. Nearby are found mushroom varieties of interest to both drug users and law enforcement agencies!



B-I-G MUSHROOM!

 

 



FAMILY OF LOCAL DUCKS
PUDDLING ACROSS THE ROAD



QUINNINUP

SAT 4 - SUN 5.1.2014: 4th January - Shayden's eighth birthday so Carole and Sybil had a bottle of bubbly in celebration and the birthday boy had a game, only fair! How fast has the eight years gone - it only seems like yesterday that we implemented the Behaviour Management Program! 
On Sunday morning woke to a smoke filled sky very reminiscent of Murgon QLD when we encountered the bush fires. Sent Fire Warden Peel out to assess the situation and she returned with news that no hazard reduction was taking place. Checked the web news and a fire had been intentionally lit in Walpole - the place we have just left. The Leylands packed the emergency evacuation bag, but by afternoon the skies cleared and all was safe.

PEMBERTON - POPULATION: 757

FRIDAY 3.1.2014: All aboard at the Pemberton Railway Station for a return service which meanders through the towering Karri and Marri forests, over trestle bridges spanning rivers. Trams run south to the Warren River Bridge.  The tram ride is for 1 ¾ hours and shuffles out of Pemberton, past the Saw Mill and descends into the Karri forest. The tram travels through forest, crossing six bridges, stopping at the Cascades and at the Warren River Bridge, where the Lefroy Brook joins the Warren River.  The multi-skilled topiarist later became our tram driver!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pemberton Tramway Company Pty Ltd is a privately operated railway and conveys tourists through deep forests and picturesque countryside as well as recreating the history of the timber railways that were so important to the regions development and growth. The railway uses paid and voluntary staff, and operates steam and diesel trains and diesel hydraulic trams. 

 

 

 

KARRI WOOD - CONTINUALLY
WATERED SO THE WOOD WILL NOT SPLIT

 



'SNOTTYGOBBLE' TREE

Ah, the 'Snottygobble' Tree - when opened, the small, sweet fruit is mucous-like and green hence the first part of its rather singular name - 'snotty'.  The ‘gobble’ part apparently originated when pioneers observed Aboriginals consuming the fruit. 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the State's most picturesque freshwater swimming pools, Pemberton Swimming Pool, has entered the State Register of Heritage Places. Formed by damming a natural watercourse within a forest setting, the pool (200 metres in length), has been used by locals and tourists dating back to the 1930s. Every local worker and citizen donated five shillings to the cause.

QUINNINUP

CAROLE & DANNI

THURSDAY 2.1.2014: 4.00am - "The Bewitching Hour". Shayden knocks on the door to go out to the toilet. The household rises and Carole exits with Shayden in tow, whilst Sybil and Madison take up their post at the door. Both Carole and Shayden had their heads down intent on the business at hand. Carole stands up and is eye ball to eye ball with Eno the emu. Shayden barked (excellent outcome at 4.00am in a caravan park), so he is dragged backed to the motorhome. Sybil looks out to see Carole and Shayden running with Eno on their heels. Once Eno reached the awning he stopped. SO easy to sleep after that entertainment! 

SYBIL, CAROLE & DANNI
AFTER M-A-N-Y ATTEMPTS WE TOOK THIS
'SELF TIMED' PHOTO!

Today saw a mass exodus of caravans from the park so all the photo opportunities were captured before leaving. Danni is from Switzerland and is spending 2 months travelling WA. Ironically she was involved in the Olympics during the same timeframe as Carole - small world. Spent the day in at Manjimup (population 4,164), - retail therapy! 



L TO R: DARRYL, DEB (FROM HILLMAN WA ), CAROLE & DANNI



QUINNINUP

WEDNESDAY 1.1.2014: Happy New Year from bustling Quinninup!

Jim is an artist that has been painting murals at the caravan park. He resides here through the summer months and supplements his income with portrait sketches. Just had to have the family portrait for the study! Having now seen the sketches one would have to say caricatures rather than portraits.

SYBIL, CAROLE, GRUMPY & GRUMPIER!



 




Jim also built a fully operational miniature steam engine. He kindly fired her up and gave the resident children a ride (took 20 minutes to travel 3 ft), and was able to have his cup of tea whilst in transit and not spill a drop!

QUINNINUP

MONDAY 30 - TUESDAY 31.12.2013: Vern (Caravan Park Manager), offered to take us to see an old church that was tucked away amongst the tall trees - if you did not know of its existence you would never find it. Down the dirt track and into the middle of nowhere and we arrive at the church. All the bush fires that have been through the area did not touch the church and it is only in recent times that the area has been cleared. Only real enhancement has been the replacement of the shingle roof with galvanized iron.

 

St. Mark Anglican Church

Upper Warren

Built by the families

CLARKE - BLECHYNDEN

MOTTRAM - WHEATLEY

For school, Social Centre and Church

Builder - Jack Haines

1883

 

 

We were treated to a family of wild emus 'puddling' through the park feeding as they went. It is hoped that Eno (the resident emu), will one day attach himself to one of the 'families' as they pass through. SO not going to happen - Eno welcomes in every 'incoming' caravan, solicits pats from anyone that is interested and generally entertains himself with camp site activities! Just cannot see Eno in the great wilderness of Quinninup.

Pam and Vern (Park Managers), kindly organised a New Year's gathering for those in the park. We each took a plate and spent an enjoyable evening meeting fellow travellers. We had the option of 'kicking on' at the Quinninup Tavern where they were having a sarong and thong theme night, plus a live band. Had the thongs, but forgot to pack the sarong - truth is the Leyland sisters do not 'kick on' like they used to! Saw the New Year in and promptly went to sleep!