When one travels with a Magical Poet, one needs to pack lightly, eat huge breakfasts of bacon and eggs (cause you might not get a meal the rest of the day), drink gallons of coffee, read every "Risk" sign within miles, and be prepared to stop and investigate every Anzac Memorial one comes across. Churches and cemeteries also attract his attention as do old hotels. Like me, he is very wary of tourist attractions and rarely is dubbed into paying "big bucks" to stay in fancy resorts or visit theme parks. Instead, we amble from one national park to another photographing landscapes, wildflowers, granite cliffs, and natural seaside flora and fauna.
On the first morning of our trip, you should of seen Magi's face when they brought out his breakfast as a "stack"....neither one of us could figure out why this "presentation"!
Having toured most of the surrounding Perth area these last few weeks, on Sunday morn at 6 A.M we headed to the Southwest for a road trip. Traveling the Albany Highway, we passed through wheat fields and canola and large sheep, cattle and horse farms. The rolling hills were verdant from the recent rains.
With inspiring and contrasting land and seascapes, Magi assured me that the Southwest would be a region of natural beauty and wonder with rolling hills, rocky mountain ranges alive with colorful wildflowers, rugged cliffs, majestic forests, winding rivers, unspoiled beaches, and secluded bays. We found all of that and more over the several days as we traveled from the Stirling Ranges, through the jarrah and karri forests to the seaside towns of Albany, Denmark, Walpole, and Busseltown. Over the next few days, hopefully, I will find time and Magi's server will prove "up to it" so I can post individual photo/essays on the various National Parks we visited. This is just a "preview" of what is to come.
Leaving the Stirlings, we headed to Albany to be our base of operations.
View of Albany's harbour from Mount Clarence, home of the Anzac Memorial.
Downtown Albany
Torndirrup National Park has spectacular coastal scenery near Albany. Featuring dramatic granite and limestone formations, it was a photographer's paradise.
The "Bridge".
The "Gap".
Viewing the Gap.....for once, I am following Magi's instructions "not to take chances".
The Bridge over the Denmark River early in the morn.
A huge breakfast at the Bimbullum Cafe.
Ocean Beach in Denmark.
Tree top Walk among the Giant kerri trees at Walpole- Nornalup National Park
The Jetty at Busselton....longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in Yallingup has massive surf along the coastline. One of the most dramatic areas to view the jagged cliffs and ocean surf is from "Canal Rocks".
This was just a preview.... come back and take a closer view of the wildflowers of the Stirling Range in the next photo/essay.
Photos by Magi and Bob.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 103
Kathryn: better than that is seeing it with your own eyes.
Like you, Mag has found his walking feet....though he still complains about "trudging". Thank goodness, the weather was fairly cool...around 60 degrees....perfect for exploring.....though not for swimming. All those perfect beaches and the water felt like Maine waters. I guess in December, January, and February the beaches down there are crowded....but we were the only ones on some of the beaches....it was absolutely wonderful having a beach all to oneself!
As for Magi's diet, he assures me that when I'm not here, he only goes to Melanie's for a Big Breakfast once in ten or so days.
My apologies for being so far behind on all of your articles. I've just been swamped lately and there aren't enough hours in the day for everything.
Redcoats came on the first fleet to guard the convicts - no such Pommie buggers here now. LOL
As for redcoats....they have big "crayfish". Mag tries to convince me they are the same as lobsters...but I just smile. Oh, like you, he loves fish and chips! Funny, how two Nicks can be the same.
Could it be Gabe is 40? Doesn't seem possible.
Great times!!
If this is only a preview, I can't wait for the rest, especially the floral parts. The photos of the beach, rocks, the bridge and the Albany Harbour are fantastic shots, Bob!
Magi is proving to be the kind of guide one can only dream of... what a treasure!
Thank you very much for the lovely compliment.
Have a fun time in Cancun.
This must be the Oz Benedict.
I thought Texas liked all things huge, but this Oz breakfast looked like a version of Eggs benedict - you know how the US has done it - the Egg McMuffin - but this looks delicious.
Even though I rarely eat things other than fruits or salads, I have a special place in my heart for bacon and eggs.
Bernadette - it fed a one-man army. Me! LOL
Simply wonderful.
The rocks, the beach, the jetty, the flora, the mountains, all of it....
The US has some great places, but Oz is much, much, much better.
Partly because it is not so commercialized with hundreds of millions of people, and partly because it
Just is.
An enormous state with relatively few people equates to room to breathe, my friend.
Does your camera do video? I'd love to see some live action!
This afternoon, being rainy, Mag is taking a nap, and I am trying to catch up on comments. Mag is forever telling me that I need to do "comments". He is soooooo organized.....and I am so unorganized!
You are connected to us in spirit, my friend ... and that is the truth of the matter.
Do come back for the wildflowers - they are world famous.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
A movie night sounds like a great idea ... here, have your ticket - on the house.
BTW: The big breakfasts kept me going.
Loved the ANZAC Memorial. Funny how now you can't join the Australian Army if you are a Kiwi.( don't get me started on that)
Magi - you look like you are having a great time. Wonderful to see you so happy.
This is a fantastic collection of snaps and I love that Mag's gorgeous pixie smile is now a Gather staple. And you got the Duracell Bunny to heed sensible warnings.. well, that's just a frikkin miracle! And there's nothing wrong with bacon and eggs, just hold the toast and you're well on the way to a heart healthy Atkins lifestyle.
I agree with Bernadette, this is a happy time being recorded here and that's what makes it so much fun for we who are invited along to share.
Thank you very much, dear friend, for the warm words - and the encouragement to keep eating big breakfasts of bacon and eggs. I shall obey! LOL
Indeed a happy time - but we have to slow down the pace a whiles.
Where is the Vegemite? That must be a stand in double for Magi because I just can't imagine he would eat without ..., unless you ate it all!!!
Beautiful.... Thanks!