Deep blue

It's a very cold morning but the sunshine promises a glorious spring day. We know there's a storm on its way though and it's due to cross the capes by lunchtime, so immediately after breakfast we hastily make our way along Caves Road to Dunsborough and onwards to Cape Naturaliste. We arrive at Eagle Bay and the sea glitters.

Storm clouds on the horizon

We park at nearby Gannet Rock and walk the short distance to Point Picquet and back. 

At Point Picquet

And Ross too

From there we continue along the track to Meelup Beach. It's an easy track through coastal scrub, alive with flowers and nectar feeding birds like honeyeaters darting through the foliage.

Walking through coastal scrub

Meelup Beach

When we reach Meelup Beach the sun is still shining and the turquoise waters are calm and sedate. So we venture further along the track on a slightly longer section towards Castle Rock.

Dramatic landscape on the way to Castle Rock

That's Castle Rock at the edge of the bay

We pass quite a few walkers on the trail and notice that they're all wearing raincoats. Of course we were similarly well prepared and brought our rain jackets too ... but opted to leave them in the car (way back at Gannet Rock) since the sun was shining and the clouds were so far off shore.... By the time we reach Castle Rock, the sky is looking decidedly mean and the sun has all but disappeared.

Castle Rock

We don't linger. We see the Rock and do a quick about turn. Except for a short stop to photograph some elusive Spider Orchids (which another walker excitedly told us about... we noticed she had her raincoat on too), we power walk back to the car.

Spider orchids

We don't stop at any of our previous stops. We don't stop to smell or even look at any of the flowers. The birds have gone quiet. The sun has gone and the wind picks up. 

But we make it! We feel a huge sense of relief when we reach the car, and not a moment too soon as the sky is heavy and dark. It's very different to when we started our walk!

Overcast skies and a gloomy sea at Gannet Rock where we finished our walk

Safely back in the car we make the short drive to the nearby Bunker Bay Resort for coffee and then wind our way back down Caves Road to Margaret River. We pass multiple wineries along the way and our stomachs start to groan and demand food... but none seem very inviting. Or maybe it's just our tired legs, the leaden skies and the rain. By the time we reach Margaret River, the rain is coming down in sheets. We opt for a light lunch at Sidekick Cafe. It is warm and dry indoors, the staff are impossibly cheerful, and the food is wholesome. Ross even gets to try their famous bagel.

We retreat back to the comfort and warmth of our room for the rest of the afternoon while the full force of the cold front hits. It is a wild afternoon with strong winds and heavy heavy rain. Fortunately there is a short break in the showers ... long enough for us to enjoy some delicious tapas for dinner at Swings Taphouse.

It is a nice meal to finish our short holiday. Home tomorrow but not before Ross formulates his Plan. A return to the antiques shop in the morning to negotiate a price for the clock. If they yield then we return home with it. If not then so be it.

Beautiful vistas

The last day of our short holiday as we head home tomorrow morning, so it was fitting that it was a day filled with amazing vistas. We started in Prevelly, which seems to have recovered nicely from the devastating bush fire of a few years ago. I remember feeling quite heartbroken when we drove through the year after the fire and saw the blackened and burnt out stumps of vegetation and scarred dunes.  In today's brilliant spring sunshine it seemed as if the fire had never happened at all - the only giveaways were the ghostly skeletal remains of the taller trees and shrubs, reaching up from the lush green coastal heath.  

What a transformation that Royalties for Regions has achieved! A multi-million dollar redevelopment of the coastal path no less.  We were stunned to see the beautiful new paving, BBQ shelters, interpretive signage, new change rooms and public art.  At least the surfers are making the most of it!

Part of the snazzy new foreshore at Prevelly

Surfers Point at Prevelly - with the obligatory surfer in the foreground

Along the coastal path - can you see the statue sitting on the rock?

The mouth of the Margaret River - where the river meets the sea

In keeping with the last few mornings of 'best spots in the whole world to have coffee', we drove the short distance to Gnarabup Beach and grabbed a table overlooking the beach at White Elephant Cafe.  Shame service came with a bit of attitude but the view made amends.  

Gnarabup Beach

Still too early to have lunch, we drove through the always impressive stand of trees along Caves Road to the Boranup Gallery.  Seeing as we were only here three months ago, not much had really changed, so it was a slow drive back in the opposite direction towards our lunch destination of Laurance Winery.  

Not a bad spot to have lunch really

If only lunch could be like this every day

The food was impressive but equally nice was having time to eat slowly while overlooking the grounds.  The owner of the winery has quite a quirky art collection, much of which is on display, including the 'chick on a stick' sculpture that rises elegantly out of the lake.

Chick on a stick

The bathrooms are just as eccentric but very tasteful.

Classy bathroom...

An afternoon nap was called for to sleep off our lunch but alas, extension work at the B+B meant hammering and drilling noise made it impossible to snooze. We wandered to the main street for the last time for a bit of a browse before the warm afternoon drove us back to our room.

Dinner was modest and limited to cheese and crackers, finished off with delicious farm-fresh strawberries. Perfect after all of today's grand dining.  And our final evening with the show-stopping possum before our return home to the routines and chores of the everyday.  

Until next time.

Into the forest

So it seems there is a possum that lives in the roof and it has some giant skinks to keep it company... and together they make up a 24-hour tag team. The possum is active at night and the skinks scurry about during the day. The owner seemed quite au fait about it when we queried him at breakfast, so er, that's that then.  

Felt happier at breakfast today having armed myself with my own cereal.  After eating we made the short 5 minute drive to the Carters Road Trailhead and made the most of the sunny morning to walk the Big Brook Trail.  Once again, only a short walk (3.5km) and this time on a smooth graded track.  Having said that, the poor signage at the start meant we walked a different trail to begin with and had to double back so we ended up adding to the overall distance.

The path through the woods

After yesterday's coastal walk, the dense forest made for a brilliant contrast.  Apart from a few places where the path wandered close to the highway and there was traffic noise, it felt like being a million miles away from everything.  Just the sound of birds, the whisper of the wind through the leaves, gentle rush of water, and our footfalls on the path.  

Majestic trees

The path crossed over a number of bridges as it switched back and forth across the brook. 

The 'big brook' giving the trail its name

Big Brook Trail

Feeling happy after our morning stroll, we headed to Temper Temper for a coffee and to sample some chocolate. Question: is Margaret River really big enough for a third gourmet chocolate place...?  Silly question!! From there it was a leisurely drive to our last stop of the day at Berry Farm.  We always visit when we're here, not only to stock up on some more wonderful produce, but to enjoy the lovely lunch meals from the cafe. I wasn't lucky enough to see any brilliant blue Splendid Fairy Wrens fluttering around the garden but Ross caught a glimpse. There was just enough of a chill in the air for us to savour our table in the sunshine while we ate our lunch.

The Berry Farm

Lunch over, it turned into another very lazy afternoon of reading and catching some zzZZZs back in our room.  Feeling way too stuffed to eat anything for dinner, we only ventured as far as the main street in the evening for some takeaway sushi.  

And as we drifted off to the Land of Nod, our little possum friend reliably started his nocturnal tap-dance routine above our heads...

Cloud clearing to a glorious day

I must admit I felt a bit cheated at breakfast this morning.  Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day so when it doesn't quite meet my expectations I feel sad.  Although we're early risers we had to kill time until breakfast at 8:30am, when all the guests descended on the dining room at the same time.  Shock, horror, there were only two communal dining tables so it was an introvert's worst nightmare having to scramble around and concentrate on small talk with strangers so early in the day.  Definitely not for me although Ross was in his element.  The cereal and fruit selection was a bit limited and there was no choice of hot mains.  Everyone eats the same cooked breakfast although it changes daily. I'm really not keen on eggs in the morning but ate my scrambled eggs anyway... will probably bring my own rice cereal to the table tomorrow and forego hot meals from now on.

Yesterday's cloud cleared to reveal a glorious sunny morning and so the clouds from breakfast cleared as we drove along Caves Road to the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.  We opted to do the respectable (almost) 4km Bunker Bay loop walk.  It proved more challenging than we expected with steep inclines and rough sandy track, and took the full 90 minutes but it was well worth the effort.  

Coastal track

The coastal vegetation was an explosion of colour - the pictures below are only a tiny tiny sample of the wildflowers that were in bloom.

Coastal wildflowers

And the coastal views were absolutely breathtaking.  

Looking towards Bunker Bay

While at the Shelley Cove lookout some fellow walkers told us to keep an eye out for migrating whales as they spotted some off the coast yesterday. Sure enough, a little further along we spied a boat and at least three whales frolicking off the coast.  It was a real treat to see them even though they were quite a long way out.  Some other walkers told us about seals in the water visible from another lookout so we had a double wildlife treat today.

Shelley Cove

Limestone cliffs

What better way to recover from a walk than to stop at the nearby Bunker Bay Resort.  Not a bad spot to enjoy a mid-morning coffee really!

Nice spot for coffee

We sat on the rocks down by the water and contemplated the sea for a little while before heading back to Margaret River... via Gabriel Chocolate of course:)  

By the sea at Bunker Bay

Tired from all the fresh air, it was a lazy afternoon of reading and lounging about with only a short detour into town to buy a few things.  An early tapas meal at Swings Taphouse preceded an early night.  Blissful sleep in a warm comfortable bed, in the peace and quiet of Margaret River... until THUMP! Sounds like there might be something scratching about in the roof space above our room...?

Yallingup

Overnight showers meant overcast and atmospheric dawn skies when we went for a walk from Yallingup Beach to Smiths Beach.  It was a relatively strenuous scramble over the rocky track and beach sand but so worth it to hear the surf and breathe the fresh salty air.

Sunrise on the coast

Walking to Smiths Beach

And what sand! Beautiful smooth sand and we almost had the beach to ourselves. 

Smiths Beach

After breakfast it was a trip down Caves Road past wineries and forest to Boranup Gallery, Margaret River, the always divine Gabriel Chocolate, and Vasse Virgin for the nicest local produce.

And to bookend the day, a return journey to Smiths Beach to dine at Lamont's.  My Dad turns 79 tomorrow and it was a fittingly low-key but meaningful celebration.

Birthday dinner

Sunday morning

How long has it been since I've been walking on a Sunday morning... so many months and a slow evaporation of the fitness I used to take for granted.  Anyway, back on the wagon again with a new goal: must be fit enough to walk 12km at the end of May for the HBF Run for a Reason.  So, it was out before 7am this morning with Ross for a walk through Kings Park.  First though, a last glimpse at this grand old house - the last standalone residence on Bellevue Terrace - shortly to be demolished and replaced with six luxury apartments.

Going...going...soon to be gone

Of course walking through the park is made easier by glorious vistas like this:

Melville Water 

War Memorial - decked out for the ANZAC Day Centenary

Poignant to see the red flowers planted around the Flame of Remembrance, in readiness for the ANZAC Day centenary service in a few weeks from now.  Poignant too to see the wonderful memorial to fire fighters which opened last year.  So much captured without the need for a single word.

Firefighters Memorial Kings Park

And just to make this first walk a bit easier - a stop along the way for a hot chocolate.  A glorious Sunday, an early morning walk with my best friend, and a table overlooking the park as the morning rays break through the trees ... is this heaven?

Zamia cafe

Yallingup to Smiths Beach

Another glorious morning in the south west.  There was only a faint red glow on the horizon when we left the house.

Sunrise

We started the day with a short walk (approximately 5km?) along the Cape to Cape track from Yallingup Beach to Smiths Beach.  There's nothing quite like the crunch of yellow sand underfoot, crisp sea air and the slender rays and faint warmth of the rising sun breaking through the cloud.

Smiths Beach at sunrise

Perfect.

Walking back to Wellness

Almost six months after falling over and breaking my face, today was definitely another milestone.  After completely losing my fitness after the fall, it felt fantastic completing the 12km course for the HBF Run for a Reason 2014 with the rest of 'my' Team - my valiant Dad and sister.

At the finish line

We broke no records but each of us overcame our challenges to walk today and we crossed the finish line in a thoroughly respectable time.  The weather even did us a favour and waited until we were on our way home before unleashing the heavy showers.

My smile might not be fully restored but it was definitely cause to celebrate.

From 6 to 6

Sunday morning started pretty much the same as last weekend.  At 6am Ross and I walked to Fourth Pagoda - the Marlee Pavilion near Roe Gardens.  The river's surface was like glass again.  Everything was still and anticipating the hot day ahead.

Marlee Pavilion as the sun rises over the Swan River

The retic had just been on so unfortunately the benches were still wet but we stopped nonetheless at one of the little alcoves within the aptly named Place of Reflection and just spent some time savouring the morning.

Alcoves within the Place of Reflection

******

At the other end of the day, we cruised along to South Cottesloe Beach and got there just before 6pm in time to see the sun sinking into the Indian Ocean.

Sunset over the Indian Ocean

South Cottesloe Beach

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday really.

Marlee in the morning

"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day"

(Henry David Thoreau) 

How true.  There is nothing quite so beautiful as Kings Park in the morning just as the sun is rising, the river's surface is like glass and the birds are having a jolly old time.

Another Sunday morning and another (mini) milestone.  I got as far as Roe Garden this morning.  The retic had just been on so there were delicious fresh earthy smells coming from the dense shrubs around the Marlee Pavilion.

I passed a spot which gave up the perfect view of the City and ended up retracing my steps to capture it.  Perth definitely put on its best face this morning.

Looking down from Roe Garden

Three Pagodas Walk

It has been such a painfully slow recovery in so many ways.  It has now been eight weeks since the accident, the splint is coming off in a few days (relief!) but it's still going to be many months before teeth can be repaired.  So it's still a bit of a waiting game.  Happily I can eat more although dreams of chocolate croissants and granola may just have to remain as dreams for a while yet!

I've really missed my weekend walks and it has been so long since my 'normal' Sunday stroll that my fitness levels have whittled away to zero.  So begins the long hard walk to build up stamina again.  Ross is ever the trooper and has been accompanying me on walks after work and on the weekends - ever so slowly increasing in length.

This morning at 6am we were out in the Park enjoying the first rays of the Sunday sun and a new record.  Maybe not far in terms of distance but it felt like a bit of a milestone.

First Pagoda - peeking out from under the boughs of the Australian Cedar

The walk to Second Pagoda has become our 'usual' weekday walk as I tend to run out of energy by the time we get here.

Second Pagoda

Hooray, made it to Third Pagoda today, down to the bottom of the hill and more importantly, back up it again.   It's a very special place and more than a little mystical in the early morning stillness.  

Third Pagoda - Women's Memorial Garden

And magic is definitely something I could do with at the moment.