It’s been almost 2 weeks since our last update and we have lots to talk about but we’ll get the weather out of the way first. Rain has fallen on many days, luckily only showers so not all day and we have had little wind so the 16 and 17 deg temperatures have not been chilled by cold wind. The nights near the coast have been relatively mild but very cold inland.  The last couple of days have been calm and sunny 20 deg.

Next topic – trees. The whole south-west corner of WA has huge areas of trees; huge karri trees, even larger tinglewood trees, ever-present peppermint trees (called peppi trees). Last January and February bushfires burned out an area larger than the Perth metro area but already the regrowth is amazing. Grasses, bushes and small trees and giant trees are all recovering and have fresh green foliage all over the place.

Next – grass. Wherever trees are not growing, beautiful bright green grass is. Farms are covered with it and sheep, cattle, horses and deer look very happy.

Next – places. After Albany we spent a couple of days at Denmark, a really nice town with great meals available at the many wineries, e.g. Castelli. Then to Peaceful Bay, a small fishing and holiday town with a fabulous fish shop where we ate fish caught by the caravan park owner. From there we enjoyed the treetop walk. Next stop was Walpole where we went on a cruise through 2 inlets to the ocean and were entertained by a very knowledgeable and personable cruise skipper. We stopped for a night at Pemberton where we thought about climbing the 75m high tree that has been fitted with a spiral ladder and platform at the top; thought about it but didn’t do it. We spent a couple of nights at Hamelin Bay, the beach where eagle rays feed amongst tourists in ankle-deep water. From there we visited the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse, the south-western corner of Australia where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. Margaret River, or more accurately a bush camp about 12 km out of Margaret River, was a great place to stay for a few days. We took a full-day winery tour today that included 2 wineries, a cheese factory, a chocolate factory, a venison farm, a nougat factory and a brewery. There must be a couple of hundred wineries and most have restaurants; we visited 3 and had wonderful meals.  We have also seen lots of surf, really good waves at 2 to 4 meters high.

Now we are at Dunsborough staying in the yard of an old Army friend and his wife, giving us about 10 days in the very interesting Margaret River region. On Tuesday we’ll move to Perth for the next leg of our trip.

That’s all from us. Hope you are all well, as we are. Love from Ted and Jo.

65 metres high on the treetop walk at Valley of the Giants.

The Giants – beautiful Karri trees.

Amazing red Tinglewood tree.

Pelicans enjoying late afternoon at Walpole.

An after lunch drink at Leeuwin Estate winery, Margaret River.

Small surf on the west coast – we saw much bigger but didn’t bet a photo.