Beyond Augusta

Today our mission was to search out suitable spots to take our daughter and her family camping on the February long weekend.  I have to tell you that finding those spots in the south west is extremely difficult. We all want the free camping experience we had 20 years ago. Nowadays everything is mapped, amenities supposedly abound and all costs $$$. Whatever happened to exploring off road and staying on a hill by a river. Everywhere are no camping signs or designated areas for day travellers only. 

 After leaving Augusta armed with local knowledge we stopped at Karridale for fuel and stocked up with a little gin from the local watering hole. $10 cheaper than Perth I might add.

Our first stop is Alexandra Bridge off Clarke rd near the Brockman hwy.  This is touted as a minimal fee camping site with some amenities. The road is gravel (Michaels  favourite) and is canopied with beautiful trees welcoming the traveller into her embrace. At the end of the line is a camping ground filled to the brim with caravans. Not a spot to be had. It was really just like any caravan park anywhere but with half the fee. Explains the rabid hordes me thinks. 

Chapman Pool

Down the road we visited Chapman Pool and a more gorgeous place I can't imagine exists. It is pretty, isolated and family friendly but with only 3 caravan sites all filled. Michael as usual is a little testy. He likes to travel but everything has to be perfect. Having said that, he also likes to explore and hates being told what to do. Michael is an anarchist at heart. His attitude is that signs are for plebs to keep out of trouble and are only a means for government to control every aspect of our existence. He on the other hand with god like foresight can go anywhere and do anything because “he” won’t ever get into trouble. He reminds me often of his time travelling with his parents and of course with our family. Michael is experienced and with experience comes the right to ignore the warning signs.

Well, that didn't go so well for us at Chapman Pool. On one of the access roads there was a sign saying 'no coaches beyond this point'. Michael in his wisdom decided that we could get down this road even though our outfit is technically the size of two coaches. It didn't go well.  Our squeeze through left us with a damaged front bumper and a few road poll rearrangements. My lips are sealed however let’s just say that laughing was involved.

Onwards to the next venue. Instead of taking the main Hwy we again choose the off road experience. Why have an off road van if you don't go off road" says Michael".

15 mins into our bone shaking ride we find a sign saying 4 tonne bridge ahead. Thankfully Michael decides we should not go over this one because we are over 5 tonne currently( phew). Anyway after taking another track we find an incredible riverside parking area.  Clever, clever Michael.

I love it! Tall trees and lithesome fish litter the tepid fluorescent green waters. Babbling  waters splash on black rock formations glistening in the afternoon rays. What an inspiring place.... I can imagine fairies flitting through soft purple undergrowth whilst baby animals romp and bask in the fading sunlight. It really is a magical vista.

Me, I'm writing to my peeps whilst Michael is kayaking. Another crappy day in paradise...

Hut Pool

Hut Pool

Started the morning s with a relaxing coffee in bed whilst looking out onto our secret find ‘Hut Pool”.  I reflected on the weird dreams I have been having every night for the past few weeks. Dreams of witch and monsters mixed in with childhood memories. Must be my psyche adjusting to a new life and all it entails.

The morning was crisp and clear and the stillness of the pool reminded me of an old fashioned looking glass. Frosty around the edges but crystal clear in the middle. The trees reflected an iridescent plethora of muted colours that made me long to get out my dyes and create a fabric or weave a complex tapestry. Michael stirred beside me but appears too relaxed to actually move. A car passes by much to my surprise. I have to remind myself that other will love this place too and I mustn’t feel any resentment to their trespass on ‘my territory’.

After breakfast I set up my chair beside the pool and begin documenting the changes as the sun rose proudly in the sky. My camera snaps dozens of incremental nuances of light and reflection.  This is an artist’s study and fodder for my new design collection. I have to remind myself always that I must enjoy the moment but have an eye to the future, for that is what will allow me to play forever in creative land.

Great North Rd

Alternately reading and photographing the morning drifted into a hazy lunch hour that signalled the end to our sojourn. Caravan packed and argument with husband about me as usual doing something wrong sends us merrily on our way through an increasingly rugged track back to the main highway. The road (loose term) is littered with what appears to be rather large gullies washed away in winter and left neglected I suspect. At times I wasn’t sure if we could get through the cavernous cracks especially as I was the one trying pitifully to guide the always adventure filled hubby through the next pit of horror.

After 30 minutes of harrowing plunges, twists and turns we emerge triumphant onto the main road. Michael is victorious and metaphorically beats his chest waiting for acknowledgment of his prowess. Man has once again conquered nature and woman must act accordingly by worshipping said expertise.

Sues Bridge

The next stop is Sues Bridge – a camping ground with suitable sites for the family en masse. Lovely tree lined avenues adorn an area that is typical of government bureaucrats in nanny state mode. Signs are labelled inappropriately and confusion reigns as we try to make out why one area is labelled caravan and another camper van. They all look the same. Reconnaissance complete we make our way to the canoe launching area. Michael and I both have kayaks destined to explore the watery terrains when suitable.  God knows how they decided this was a launch area because there was no way our car could get anywhere near the river. On foot we survey the landscape and indeed it is worth the trek. A stunningly beautiful part of the Blackwood River that will need a closer examination next week with the kids we conclude.

Onwards to our next destination. I am feeling quietly smug in the knowledge that I have found a little known stop suitable for a couple of days that was only mentioned briefly  in a local camping book. Unfortunately for us it was also one that was no longer in use. The site was overgrown and the creek congested with weeds mixed with brackish water. No shady site by a stream for us. No matter! Just up the road Michael spots a track and immediately decides that this it!

My reaction is ‘bugger off’ but still I end up sitting in rugged bush surrounded by bitey March flies. Hallelujah for the off road life. Can’t win them all! Thank god for the gin.

Flies of the Baskervilles

It’s morning. All I can hear is the sound of a million not so tiny wings beating against the caravan fly wire. Huge March flies surround the van. They are big, hairy and have a sickly looking choc coated honeycomb tinge to their wings. Instead of the vampiritic tendences of mosquitos, these ancient beasts I am sure have teeth and they know how to use them. Nipping and tucking their way into any meat available (in this instance us) we have nicknamed them the flying piranhas as they duck and weave their way in a heaving swarm waiting for the any idiot that braves the outdoors.

Big Hairy Flies

Not me! I am not going outside till we leave, but Michael has braved the insurgents to fix our generator  and a multitude of electrical stuff (technical term) which last night failed us. All I can hear is ‘ouch, get off you little suckers and check out the proboscises on these things’ amidst stamping feet and general swearing. Finally after hours and hours we are off into gods own territory, Pemberton.  We are camped for the night in the caravan park whilst Michael fixes the rest of our technical problems. Not so bad! Till the morrow my friends!!!