For The Love of Travel

Central Greenough (pronounced Gren-eff) Historical Settlement was my first stop. Its on the floodplain of the Greenough River system and close to the mouth of the Greenough River. The area known as Greenough Front Flats was surveyed in 1857 and by the end of the following year, wheat farming began immediately on the fertile river flats mostly without machinery. The agricultural area became a thriving settlement in the 1860’s but the threat of rust on the wheat crops, combined with drought, flood and poor prices for products led to the area’s population declining dramatically in the first half of the 1900’s. (There was also a catastrophic flood in 1888 which led hundreds of people fleeing their homes). The National Trust has acquired, restored and now manages the buildings that provided services to the local population: both Catholic and Anglican churches (Catho’s had much more beautiful leadlight); local store; gaol and police station; school. And a few cute alpacas munching on brekkie as I walked around the settlement.

Drove over Maley’s Bridge, built with convict labour in 1864, with local limestone spanning the Greenough River, was damaged by floods in 2007.

Further down the road, a short walk on the Greenough Nature Trail to the Devlin Pool lookout, revealed a beautiful view. Too windy to put the drone up though and lots of bull ants swarming, so took a quick pic and went back down.

Came across the beautiful ‘Leaning Tree’ on the highway. A WA species of River Gum, its ‘lean’ is caused by constant strong southerly winds that burn off growth on the windward side – a hardy grower, but weak branches. The Wajarri name for these trees is Wirnda Ngadara. I saw a fab photo of this tree taken by WA photographer, Karl Monaghan, featured at the historical settlement and available for sale @$2,000. Here is his, and mine…

First stop, chai tea with soy and a drizzle of honey – ‘Poppies at the Park’ is my fave cafe in Dongara. Great laid back music, customer service and relaxed vibe….and on the Brand Highway to Ellendale, there was a cheery crayfish waving goodbye.

Ellendale Pool is a stunning waterhole naturally formed along the picturesque Greenough River, surrounded by magnificent gum trees and a rocky gorge. Its a popular picnic spot and camping ground.

On the way there, passed by 2 wind farms – Walkaway’s and Alinta Energy’s – so wonderful to see those giants working so effortlessly on the landscape, producing energy for us.

Overnight at the Big4 Port Denison/Dongara Caravan Park. Caught up with some fellow campers at ‘Nibbles @ 4.30’….caravan park put out some appetisers and you brought your drink. Very pleasant couple of hours chin wagging about travel plans, travel achievements, fishing triumphs….etc…etc.

Lesueur National Park is a botanic oasis, a haven to over 900 plant species. In spring, the park transforms into a wildflower wonderland apparently, pity I am too early to witness that! But I did like the feathery look of the smokebush.

Sandy Bay lookout was offering lovely views of an impending storm.

Green Head has the delightfully green Dynamite Bay and I wanted to get a drone shot of same….the wind level was increasing but I had a couple of spare batteries so I wasn’t concerned. However when I tried to get the drone back to me, I thought I had sight of it, but it wasn’t responding to my remote control . As I walked along the beach admittedly starting to get that rising sense of panic, I suddenly saw a guy with a remote control…..and we discovered that was his drone (mine was further out in the bay). I pressed the ‘return home’ button on my drone and it faithfully returned. Adrian, from Perth, and I laughed (what are the odds of 2 drones, both DJI Air 2’s in the same location??), exchanged drone stories and parted ways. Stayed at Green Head caravan park overnight – met a lovely Danish couple who had been travelling on the West coast for 4 months. Severe wind gusts and rain interrupted my beauty sleep all night.

Leeman, further north, has a unique blend of caves, fresh and salt water lakes. I hung around the lake area off Coolimba-Eneabba Rd hoping to bird watch, but very quiet this morning.

The Indian Ocean at Port Denison was warm and inviting this morning – lots of beach strollers and surfers about. A HUGE shoal of mullet was swimming close to the shore’s edge and locals were rushing off home to get fishing lines to catch dinner.