I am writing this on the morning after a pleasant sleep in the rather nice camp at Karalee Rocks. This camp is run by volunteers from the National Trust and encompasses the usual walks and story boards telling the history of the area and its association with the 'Golden Pipeline' from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie.  Another project that has me wondering at the type of mind that can consider creating something of this magnitude from nothing. I know that you all know this but just a reminder that it consists of a dam (Mundaring Weir) the pipeline (650 kms) and a reservoir (Mt Charlotte) in Kalgoorlie all built at the beginning of the 20th century.
No less inspiring is the water collection systems devised by the pioneers, the gold prospectors and the early settlers. Here there are 2 rocks and associated acquifers bringing the water into a dam. I walked around the dam, along an acquifer made of half steel pipe and complete with control gates to send the overflow into the bushland. Then I climbed to the peak of the rock and added a small rock to the customary cairn.

Today started with a prebreakfast walk. There is this great big rock in Merredin known as the peak. A small wall is built all around the outside to create a gutter, this is a considerable distance as it is as I have already stated a great big rock. This gutter channels the water runoff into an acquifer, about 3-400 meters long which takes it into what is known as the railway dam. Once again a decent size dam. All this was done many, many years ago and was the town water supply until CY O'Connor built his pipeline. This system using the runoff from the big boondies that are spread through this part of the country is quite common and was learned from the aborigines who got here first (by many thousands of years apparently). I walked over this 50 mtr high rock and through the surrounding bushland. One could feel like an early explorer except that most of these walks are shown on a board, clearly signposted and have lots of story boards telling one all there is to know - making it all very interesting.
We then headed east stopping at another rock call Moorine Rock, mainly to see one of the wells which we're also part of the early water supply. Not quite as big as my morning rock, but pretty big just the same and without marked walking tracks. Elaine joined me and we climbed to the top, took in amazing view, then climbed back down.
On to Southern Cross, checked out the lookout and the town before proceeding to our overnight stop at Karalee Rocks dam.

Another day and more nice things to see. A short drive from our overnight stop, after doing some washing, water filling and solar panel cleaning we arrived in Bruce Rock. First at the information bay some plaques relating to long term, if you call 100 years long term, farming residents of the area. Then into town and a rather grand, for a small town, amphitheatre with an attached garden. The garden had some scrap material sculptures and the whole thing surrounded by a bunch of memorials to soldiers of all wars including women.
Then we moved on stopping at Totadgin Rock, another big granite thingame. We both climbed to the first level , then I climbed the rest of the way and was rewarded with a magnificent view of the local farms. I also saw lot of little lizards scurrying around. A walk well worth the effort.
Onwards, ever onwards to Merredin where we settled in, after much toing and frying to find a level spot, in the free RV park. It would appear that some effort is being made in this part of the world to provide these to encourage tourists like us to stop overnight.

  Here we are on day two of this years trip and once again we are finding so much to see. As much as we say that we are only scratching the surface. Every where we go there are things to see that nobody seems to promote. Today we went to look at Toapin Weir which is just west of Quairading and which is located by a small sign on the side of the road and a small note in the local tourist brochure. Anyway the story is that an Esquire Parker obtained 28000 acres in the area for $175! Then in 1912 he located a suitable rock formation and built a relatively small dam wall to hold around 4 million litres of water - note a private person building a big dam. It is a very picturesque site and after a middling climb a great view. It has had some additions over the years and an interesting history. There was more today including some very very big rocks. 
We are spending the night at the Kwolyin Free Camp Ground, created to breathe some new life into the town, only trouble is that we can't find the town. It is very basic bush camping with toilets, picnic tables and bbqs, but very pleasant. 
That's all for now, more tomorrow when we head for Bruce Rock and Merredin. 

Well our motorhome (aka van or motorised caravan) now properly named 'Loose Ends' has finally broken its city shackles and is heading east. Furthermore we are actually travelling with it! After a hectic couple of weeks making sure that our house was shining like a new pin. Before leaving had the pleasure of spending quality time with our children and grandchildren, that made it just a little bit harder to leave but we will keep in touch. After stopping in Mundaring to top up fuel and a few supplies we have stopped at a small picnic area about 34kms west of York for the night and to just sort ourselves and the van out.

It seems that I am back to my bad habits, I was so busy enjoying the trip that I forgot to do this blog. Anyway here is the catch up. 

Belvidere was ok but not close to the beach, so we decided to move on. The new campground that we chose was Potters Gorge at Wellington Dam. This turned out to be another  nice site situated in a nice jarrah forrest next to the dam. The weather was hot, actually very hot, so we (that's correct Elaine too) went for a swim, then went for another one, in fact whenever we felt hot! The camp site was very close to the water, less than 50 meters, so we enjoyed the water lots of times over the next couple of days. There were lots of other caravans there each night so we had lots of company. The next morning, Thursday, I went for a long walk through the forrest. It was very pleasant walk and I had the pleasure of seeing a kangaroo, admittedly just the back view as it ran away. 

Friday morning we headed for home, firstly to Collie then along Mornington Road to Harvey Dam. It was almost impossible to get our Tom Tom gps to give us a route along that road until we actually found it and he'd proceeded along it for a few kms, so much for technology. Harvey Dam turned out to be a very nice spot, lots of landscaping, grass, an auditorium and gazebos. All in all a great spot for lunch. Then we continued along South Western Hwy to home.

Another very pleasant short trip and another surprise at just how much there is to see in this great country of ours. Just a footnote one doesn't have to be in North Queensland to see lots of greenery and our forests are rather good. 

Well we are on the road again. Left home this morning for a 4 day trip, heading south. Down the freeway we went past Rockingham, past Mandurah then headed towards the ocean to a place called Martins Tank Lake. The last 6kms were very corrugated and when we reached the campsite we didn't like it, so we turned around and repeated the procedure. Then on further south to a place called Belvidere which is on the northern end of the Leshanault Inlet about 30km North of Bunbury. It is a bush camping site with lots of trees and the only facilities are long drop toilets costing not much for senior citizens like us. After sharing a drink with a couple from NSW we are being serenaded by kookaburras.