3 – 5 Oct, Albany to Perth

We left Albany and headed in a NE direction then eventually turning NW. We had definitely left the forests and coast of the SW. We now headed through the Sterling Ranges, well through the Chester Pass and once N we were in the wheat-sheep belt of the Great Southern farmlands.

This whole area has been hard hit by drought. Wheat that should be knee high is only just 150mm high. Locals say they have had little useful rain over the winter and the prospects for a reasonable wheat and other crops is remote.

The first night stay, some 220km NW of Albany was a small town called Wagin. We stayed in the local council campground and the next morning did a tour of the town and a few sites.

First up was the Big Marino Ram – largest in the S hemisphere (I don’t know about that maybe they haven’t been to Goulburn). Well what else would they have in a town in the heart of the sheep industry, a town that has a regional population of 1,840 but swells to 30,000 in March when they hold the Woolarama.

The amazing place however was their historical village. This simply transported you back to the early regional life of the town, with some 25 buildings and a huge range of farm machinery and equipment, photographs and some amazing stuff. This is all run by volunteers and reflects the civic pride that the town seems to exude.

We then headed out heading further N through the rural countryside and beautiful towns of York and then overnight in Northam, some 90km E and a little N of Perth.

Leaving Northam we continued our NW direction to the little town of Gingin where I had stopped on my journey down to Perth a couple of weeks ago. Robyn and I walked the park, the lovely walk along the brook, walked the church cemetery and then had morning coffee at a beautiful cafe in the park. We then decided to head S to Perth through the Swan River Valley wineries where we viewed the local offerings and also paid a visit to the wonderful chocolate factory.

Today is the last day for Robyn here in WA. Tomorrow morning (Tue 5th) I will be dropping her at the airport where she catches a morning flight home to Sydney. I will then return the camper and pick up OP from the BMW dealer.

OP has had a well deserved rest, a clean and fluids changed and will be just as ready as I am to hit he road again. Tomorrow night I’ll be staying at the Perth YHA and hopefully, everything going to plan, having dinner with Jon Barnes who arrives in Perth tomorrow on business. It will be good to catch up with him.

I’ll be leaving Perth on Wednesday and commencing the last stage of my journey, across S Australia back home to Sydney. Until I am back on the road, keep safe and speak soon.