Trip to the Mountains

Stirling Ranges

Mount Barker:The Caravan Park Nazi – No water for you!

Caravan Parks have their own breed of owner, manager/person working within. They can either be pleasant, helpful and relatively easy to get along with or like at Mt Barker, have  ‘Caravan Park Nazi’ written all over their white,  screwed up little foreheads. This one was just such a beast. Although not horned (they may have been hidden) it became very obvious, very soon that the rules were coming on thick and fast. Have to use the parks washing machines, have to use the park ablution blocks and not our own perfectly good appliances, can’t wash car or caravan, must park van xxx amount of millimetres on the pad and go in from the left not the right, must park car in certain position etc.. etc.. All for the fabulous price of $37 a night plus another $24 for the washing machines and dryers because it was raining and a concrete pad situated on dry bare dirt. No wonder there was only 5 other caravans there. It was also clear that the big attack dog behind the counter may have been the for owners protection and not just for companionship. The town itself was also little underwhelming and as Anzac day approached we decided to head for the hills literally.

Stirling Ranges and the Porongorups

Road into the Stirling Ranges

Now here is where it gets interesting. What fabulous country and so close to Perth I feel ashamed not to have been aware of my doorsteps natural beauty. Think dusty outback red road meets, Yellowstone Park - all ruggedy and awe inspiring. The weather is cool to cold with a hint of rain in the air. We are at staying at Stirling Range Retreat as yet again free camping is not allowed in the area and have been informed that rain in imminent. That they need it badly goes without saying. The road in from Mt Barker is corrugated and we are glad of our Jeeps suspension.

View from Stirling Range Eco Retreat

This eco- camp is a lovely outback surprise, well maintained with friendly staff, a welcome change after Mt Barker and inexpensive considering its’ remoteness. Birds are everywhere, tweeting and flitting around the campsites and nests are cushioned in the arms of the many trees surrounding the area. Several walk trails have been mapped and I am determined to do at least one of them. Sunset comes and Michael is setting up his cameras for the big event – a truly spectacular experience that goes down particularly well with a glass of red wine.

Rock on Devils Slide

Trees on Devils Slide

Our second day in the area and we have a wonderful surprise. Our son Clinton, grandson Noah and daughter-in-law Tammy have taken a weekend road-trip and ended up in a B and B near Mt Barker. We decide to catch up at the Porongorup ranges local shop and then move down the road to attempt a walking trail called the Devils slide. The Poronogups are not as awe inspiring as the Stirlings, really pretty - softer, foliage and gentle slopes rather than craggy outcrops chiselled into the mountain sides. Noah my gorgeous grandson is bundled into his carrying pouch on Daddy’s tummy as we start the long meander up the mountain side (or crawl up if you were me). I am really out of shape, and generally the whole holiday is making me fatter not fitter so I figure this was good for me. I am trailing the gang in just a few minutes, stopping often to catch my breath but pushing on to the halfway mark and back down again. Back at the store after a triumphant Michael has conquered summit of said mountain (albeit with Clinton laughing at how slowly), we sit in the ambient atmosphere of the quaint coffee shop just feeling good. Great Day!

Daytrip through the Interior

Our next foray is a trip into the bowels of the rugged red ranges. The day is blustery and constant drizzle sees the ground caking our shoes in a thick terracotta loam. That aside the scenery was spectacular. 

Stirling Range Vista

Talyuberlup Peak

Mt Magog

    

RIP my friend

The Stirlings will forever be in my memory as the place where we heard that our dog Beau was dying of cancer. It has coloured my time in this amazing environment as tragedy often does. Dogs are gifts I think, given to us for a short period of time to make our lives better. They love us unconditionally and expect nothing. Our little boy was well loved and cared for by our entire family – my daughter having the privilege of being his carer whilst we travelled. We contemplated going back and struggled with not being there in his last days. Anyone who has a dog will understand that this is just as hard as losing any human family member. 

RIP my little one!

My doggy Beau