Friday 27 Sept Middleton Beach is in front of us and there is another Top Caravan Park at the other end. I start my days along the beach. Very few in the water yet. National Anzac Centre, built in 2014, large cantilevered building. Excellent displays. Australian and N.Z soldiers left from Albany in 2 large convoys. The enormous safe harbour gave plenty of room for them. Getting large numbers ashore wasn't easy in those days, so the soldiers spent most of their ...

Sat 21 Sept To the elevated walkway in the Valley of the Giants. Eucalyptus Jacksonii, called Tingles, presumed to be after mis-hearing the noongar word for "red." They've been around since the dinosaurs and are now confined to this 600 hectare area, which has over a metre of rainfall, sandy soil, and moderate seasons. They have shallow roots, so need a buttress, and end up very wide. When fires come through the outside bark and the centre of the Tingles burns b...

Thurs 12 Sept Out to Gracetown Beach - the rain had stopped by the time we got there. Site of a cliff collapse where 9 parents and children were crushed while watching a surfing competition between the 2 local primary schools. Gracie's General was the only store. Very surfy and modern tastes. Girl in the process of painting a surf mural. She was supposed to be a "good little surfer" herself. Great range of home-made pies plus GF slices. Wine-tasting at Felix Va...

Next Thurs 12 Sept Out to Gracetown Beach - the rain had stopped by the time we got there. Site of a cliff collapse where 9 parents and children were crushed while watching a surfing competition between the 2 local primary schools. Gracie's General was the only store. Very surfy and modern tastes. Girl in the process of painting a surf mural. She was supposed to be a "good little surfer" herself. Great range of home-made pies plus GF slices. Wine-tasting at Fe...

Mon 9 Sept Did a circuit out to Canal Rocks and Yallingup. That area gets good swells and there were reasonable numbers of surfers out. A lot of big vineyards out that way, still part of the Margaret River wine region. Had a drink for Ken. Tues 8 Sept Moving Day. Morning Tea at Cowanarup. Couldn't find the hidden calf signs on the cow markings. Where's Molly? Checked into Marg. Only have 10 van parks, and 4 of them are ensuite, so our 1st experience of e...