June 10 to 4 July A return to roots for Lindsay

Sunset over the Swan River from our balcony

In this, our year of catching up with people we don’t see often enough, a trip to the West to see family was mandatory.  I love WA and we have spent many months wandering north to south from coast to remote outback – it never ceases to amazing and engage me. With the time constraints we had, this trip was to be a relatively short one primarily to visit family and friends. That took us from Perth to York back to Perth where over twenty of the family gathered for a marvelous reunion (we caught up with more family later). Then we turned our wheels south for a slow meander down the coast to the very tip where the Southern and Indian Oceans ‘collide’ but before we reached the tip we had a chance to catch up with old family friends and more family. It was a joyous time, but as the walrus said  ….. the time came for us to travel back to Perth. 

York is a must place - we had a s\delightful few hours with an old friend there.

A trip to Kings Park Botanical gardens is also a must - totally delightful

Many lagoons and waterway hug the coast a little like the Currong

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse the most south-westerly point on the mainland 

Torndirrup National Park - where wind and waves have created amazing formations 

Looking out to the Southern Ocean south of Albany through a sun-mist show

It had been 3 weeks of talking and eating our heads off – with a few quiet interludes traveling through the beautiful south west. Along the way we visited a few places which were on Lindsay’s ‘want to see’ list – Lake Grace and then on to Dumbleyung to where as a child Lindsay drove a steam train from Perth. A cherished memory. The place is also famous for its huge lake which was the place where Donald Campbell broke the World water speed record in 1964. 

We arrived back in Perth for a day or so to spare so of course we had another lunch with Lindsay’s siblings and a stroll through the city and around China town/the local district where we were staying. 

We stayed in Northbridge a couple of nights - rather nostalgic

Kakulas Bro (est 1929) was an Aladdin's cave of aromas - a sensory trip down memory lane

It had been a delightful trip but the last leg promised to be rather special, different to our normal Australian mode of travel – we boarded the Indian Pacific and headed east to Adelaide with a few short stops on the way.   A very civilised, gentle way to travel! 

Adelaide is a lovely quiet old city so we spent a few days there. High on my list, well the only thing on my which had been there for many years, was to visit to the Museum of Economic Botany at the Botanical Gardens. It didn’t disappoint. But we also visited the city undercover markets, art gallery and museum for good measure. But all good things come to an end and we hit the rails again. This time we travelled on the Overland Adelaide to Melbourne. It was a long rough trip punctuated with some wonderful country, places where our car has never taken so it was quite an experience. 

Stunning educational displays in the Museum of Economic Botany - recommended

…. and then we were home!