{"id":3466,"date":"2015-09-06T17:47:48","date_gmt":"2015-09-06T09:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/?page_id=3466"},"modified":"2017-08-14T19:22:54","modified_gmt":"2017-08-14T11:22:54","slug":"karri-valley-15","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/?page_id=3466","title":{"rendered":"Karri Valley 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monday 20th July<\/strong><\/p>\n

Soooo wonderful not to have to race around to catch a plane, train, boat or any other form of transportation organised by others!\u00a0 We woke around 8.30, had a couple of cups of coffee, packed the final items that we wanted, and toodled away around 10.30am.<\/p>\n

As David drove, I had a plentiful supply of crochet wool in a small carrier bag as well as bulging from the top of my backpack-style \u2018hand\u2019bag.\u00a0 I always enjoy being productive if that\u2019s possible while I\u2019m being chauffeured, and this was to be a fairly decent journey so hopefully I\u2019d get plenty done.<\/p>\n

\"Crochet

Crochet Supplies Galore<\/p><\/div>\n

We live very near to the northern-most end of the freeway and headed south along this very familiar route.\u00a0 The morning traffic was long gone and we sailed along happily at the 100 kph speed limit, reduced compulsorily to 80 kph for the city stretch, and then off again at 100.\u00a0 You\u2019ve truly got to love Perth\u2019s freeway.\u00a0 Once south of the city we began to travel through suburbs we\u2019ve not been near in years and we ooohed and aaahed at how many new suburbs and businesses there were down there.\u00a0 Then the freeway speed limit increased to 110 kph and it was then we knew we were through suburbia and heading for the next (much smaller) city of Bunbury.<\/p>\n

I was happily crocheting, and David took no notice at all of what I was doing.\u00a0 Why would he?\u00a0 After we\u2019d been driving for around 90 minutes there was a sign saying 65 kms to Bunbury, and a roadside \u2018facilities\u2019 block, of which we decided to avail ourselves.\u00a0 By now I\u2019d crocheted a smallish burgundy \u2018ribbon\u2019 and a yellow flower with a white centre, and was just attaching the two.\u00a0 We\u2019d travelled 175 kms.<\/p>\n

\"Comfort

Comfort Stop & Crochet Secret<\/p><\/div>\n

Back on the road, skirting Bunbury via its bypass and we needed to take a left.\u00a0 Our first turn since getting on the freeway!\u00a0 Along this road for about 5 minutes and then a left and a quick right, now heading towards Wellington Dam.\u00a0 Another 5 or so minutes later and we turned right into a road with the Dam signposted.\u00a0 It could hardly have been a more straight-forward journey.<\/p>\n

But wait, there was a side street pointing to Honeymoon Pool, and we can never resist seeing what there is to see.\u00a0 The road quickly became gravel with a couple of steep downward hills, but it\u2019s been a while since we \u2018went bush\u2019 so I tried to be brave.\u00a0 There had been no warning signs about the road so it had to be safe, right?\u00a0 Actually, I think it did say \u2018No Caravans\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"Road

Road to Honeymoon Pool<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019m not really sure how far we went.\u00a0 Probably not a huge distance, but I think we were both wondering if we should turn back and just stick to plan.\u00a0 But I\u2019m glad we didn\u2019t because the short turn-off to Honeymoon Pool arrived soon afterwards and it really was pretty.<\/p>\n

There was one other car there with a man BBQing something amidst clouds of smoke \u2013 presumably from burning wet wood.\u00a0 There were 2 children of around 12 with him and we exchanged cheery smiles and a wave as David drove a little bit past and parked the car (who is named Monty, to save me typing \u2018the car\u2019 all the time).\u00a0 The ground was wet, and muddy, but we were kitted out with a new pair of wellington boots each and had packed them close to hand.\u00a0 We changed into them, feeling kind of proud of ourselves, and grabbed the cameras.<\/p>\n

\"David

David at Honeymoon Pool<\/p><\/div>\n

As David stood on the bottom step of this structure he said he could feel that the water was freezing through his wellies.\u00a0 When I stood there afterwards I couldn\u2019t feel it to start with, but once the cold got through the rubber\u2026 bbrrrrrrr!\u00a0 The structure also moved a little, so my vertigo and myself didn\u2019t stay on it very long.<\/p>\n

\"Cold

Cold Water<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019d just started to explore and take a few photos when the rain came down.\u00a0 I doubled over to protect my camera, holding it near my waist.\u00a0 David sauntered around without a care in the world for his.\u00a0 How can we be so different?\u00a0 But either way, we headed back to the car with some degree of haste.<\/p>\n

Honeymoon Pool is a camping area with maybe 10 little dirt squares suitable for a tent, and 1 toilet block of very rudimentary style \u2013 2 for each gender, and all equipped with plenty of fresh, cold air, spiders\u2019 webs and residents thereof.\u00a0 I think these must have been septic tank toilets because I can\u2019t remember it being a drop toilet *shudder*.<\/p>\n

The time was now 1.10pm, we\u2019d travelled 258 kms and were rather hungry, but off we went to actually get to Wellington Dam.\u00a0 As we were just leaving Honeymoon Pool we saw this.\u00a0 What a gorgeous sight!\u00a0 Perth just is not that green.<\/p>\n

\"Lush

Lush Green Beauty<\/p><\/div>\n

Wellington Dam was easy to find, it was the only place that the road led to!\u00a0 We got out of the car, took a photo each and then shot back into the car again.\u00a0 If the photo looks dull and wet \u2013 it *was*.\u00a0 The rain suddenly poured down and the bitterly cold wind blew along with it.\u00a0 David asked if I wanted his weatherproof work jacket so that we could at least see the Dam now we\u2019d travelled all this way to do that.\u00a0 Yes please!\u00a0 He did have a jacket for himself too so I wasn\u2019t being selfish.<\/p>\n

\"Wellington

Wellington Dam in Winter<\/p><\/div>\n

The rain eased and we got out of the car and put the plastic gear on fast.\u00a0 Another couple pulled up in a van and we had a quick chat.\u00a0 They asked us how to travel north from here and we asked them how to travel south.\u00a0 No options for either of us.\u00a0 Just follow the road in the same direction you had been heading!<\/p>\n

I kept saying to David that I\u2019d thought there would be a kiosk here to buy at least a sandwich, but we saw nothing like one.\u00a0 No other car or person except for the other couple.\u00a0 Well I\u2019ve just seen on Google maps that it says \u2018Wellington Dam Kiosk\u2019 and there\u2019s a sign for food, but I\u2019ve no idea where it was hiding this day.<\/p>\n

We did wander around a little and took a few photos.\u00a0 There were some steps down to the right to get to a viewing platform with some information posters.\u00a0 What do they call those these days?\u00a0 \u2018Interpretive Centres\u2019.\u00a0 Oh please!!!\u00a0 How pretentious!\u00a0 Looking to the right, a little beyond the Dam wall, we could see a horrible old rickety bridge.\u00a0 With the scarcity of roads around here, I reckoned that was our way forward.\u00a0 David did not.<\/p>\n

\"Road

Road South from Wellington Dam<\/p><\/div>\n

It really was cold, it looked as if it could rain hard again any moment, the wind was still strong even if the jackets were protecting us from the worst of its bite, and I was doubting my sanity in suggesting a southern holiday in winter.\u00a0 Sshhh, I didn\u2019t dare say this to David!<\/p>\n

Back up the big, stone steps to Monty and then driving down a bit of a hill to be presented with\u2026 yup, said bridge.\u00a0 Fortunately it wasn\u2019t scary at all, even though the Dam was full and if the wall had failed\u2026 Tee hee!!<\/p>\n

\"Wellington

Wellington Dam Wall<\/p><\/div>\n

Guess I had some raindrops on my camera (top left of shot).\u00a0 Although the photos you will see here are a mixture of David\u2019s and my own, I know for a fact I took this one because David was driving.<\/p>\n

We continued on, totally unsure if we were on the right road or not.\u00a0 I\u2019d printed out thorough instructions and maps a week before we left home, knowing that there was no phone or GPS reception in the areas we would be visiting, so we had no choice but to carry on, despite a complete lack of road signs.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we always did in the days before these electronic devices!\u00a0 We had a couple of T-junctions where the roads were named differently even than the 2 options I had for each on my maps, but we made our best guesses and finally there was a sign that said \u2018Wellington Mill\u2019 and \u2018restaurant\u2019 or was it \u2018caf\u00e9\u2019?\u00a0 We were both hungry, not having eaten anything all day.\u00a0 The sign did me a favour because it also had the name of the secret on there, but David didn\u2019t notice it \u2013 phew!<\/p>\n

We drove to Wellington Mill; a teensy, teensy place with a few houses on acreage and a tourism board.\u00a0 I got out to photograph a lovely narcissus by the side of the road and David said he\u2019d go look at the tourism noticeboard.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u00a0 Stay put, I won\u2019t be a moment\u201d says I, knowing that the tourism board had also mentioned the secret as we drove past it.\u00a0 Fortunately David is not drawn to print the way I am and this second mention had also gone unnoticed.\u00a0 That probably means he\u2019s a safer driver than me.\u00a0 Or does it? \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n

And off we went again, this time, unknown to David, for a very short drive indeed.\u00a0 We came to a small roundabout at a 3 road junction and David looked and saw\u2026 \u201cOh wow, look.\u00a0 There are some garden gnomes on the roundabout!\u201d\u00a0 Then we both looked to the left and our jaws fell open.\u00a0 I\u2019d been expecting this.\u00a0 I knew somewhat of what we were about to see, but never, in a million years, did I envisage the sight that was before us.<\/p>\n

\"Street

Street Sign (Supplemented)<\/p><\/div>\n

David parked Monty alongside another 6 or so cars and a minibus and we put on our wellies once more and took the cameras for a walk.\u00a0 The cameras earned their living!<\/p>\n

Firstly I showed David what I\u2019d been crocheting on the way here.\u00a0 If you come to Gnomesville (yes, the signpost is wrong, there\u2019s an \u2018s\u2019 in it and it surely *is* plural!) it is suggested that you may wish to bring a gnome to leave behind.\u00a0 Well I\u2019d made a tiny scarf with an applique flower as our contribution.\u00a0 And for those that know me, I do nail art, often with a relevant topic, and this time I\u2019d painted garden gnomes on my fingers.\u00a0 David hadn\u2019t thought anything of that either, but he certainly knew the reason now!<\/p>\n

\"Gnome

Gnome Manicure<\/p><\/div>\n

We smiled at the other people there as we passed on the paths, and not one of them smiled back. How on earth can you be at Gnomesville and be miserable???<\/p>\n

\"Gnomes

Gnomes & Scarf Gift<\/p><\/div>\n

And now you want to see the gnomes don\u2019t you?\u00a0 Then I\u2019ll let you do that with no chatter from me.\u00a0 Just please know that this is a miniscule selection of the jaw-dropping whole.<\/p>\n

\"Gnomesville

Gnomesville School Bus<\/p><\/div>\n

\"More

More than Gnomes at Gnomesville<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gnomes

Gnomes Everywhere You Look<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gnomes

Gnomes That Fly<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gnomes

Gnomes on a Hill<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Gnomes

Gnomes Supporting South Africa<\/p><\/div>\n

\"And

And Rude Gnomes<\/p><\/div>\n

Next page\/\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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Monday 20th July Soooo wonderful not to have to race around to catch a plane, train, boat or any other form of transportation organised by others!\u00a0 We woke around 8.30, had a couple of cups of coffee, packed the final … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":18,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3466","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3466"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3690,"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3466\/revisions\/3690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mayl.id.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}