Do you ever feel like technology takes more from your life than it gives? Computer games, News on line, and googling everything and anything as little queries enter your head, My computer usage could easily be termed an addiction, and I know I could be a lot healthier in both mind and body if I made better use of my time. Some weeks my daily average screen time exceeds four hours, and if i’m to be honest with myself, more than half of that time is just mindless time wasting.
December until April is feeding time for whales in Antartica, however, when breeding time comes they must leave for warmer waters. Their young, born with only a thin coating of blubber, wouldn’t survive the first few months of their lives in the freezing waters, so the parents travel up towards the Equator to give birth. The adult whales don’t feed again until they return to their feeding grounds in November, losing an estimated 25 – 50% of their body weight between their last meal in April, and their next meal seven to eight months later.
By June their babies are born, and they can be seen heading back down the coastline of Australia. Whilst the mums don’t feed at all for approximately seven months, they frequently stop close to shore to rest, and to feed their calves who need to develop some insulating blubber before they reach the krill rich, icy waters of Antartica.
By the time they’re passing the bays close to where we live, the adults are feeding their young and resting as much as possible before they leave the protected waters close to Australia’s shoreline and head into the open waters which will take them to Antartica. Whale watching is now a big industry with whale watching cruises taking thousands of people out each season to get an up close sighting of these fascinating ocean mammals. Being a local though, we know the bays where, on a good day, its possible to see dozens of whales only a few metres off shore, with no boat required. From September to November we often head up to the bays between Dunsborough and Cape Naturalist for a chance encounter of seeing some up really close. Some days we’re lucky, some days we’re not.
Sunday we put on on our walking boots, packed a picnic lunch and headed towards the Cape. First stop was Point Picquet, which is a consistently good spot for close whale encounters. It’s so good in fact, that there’s usually volunteers there from daylight to dusk recording all the whale sightings. The volunteer on duty when we arrived advised us we’d just missed a Blue going by, and that three Blues had been past that morning. Damn – we never seem to be there at the right time to see a Blue. He showed us a photo – it was HUGE! We waited around for a few minutes. A few humpbacks were out towards the horizon, to far away though to get a good view.
Continue readingYou may remember that recently we sold our little cottage by the sea, and moved up the road a bit, into one of those Lifestyle Village thingies. We’re still close to the sea, but about 100 metres further away than we were before. Mr Tilly still gets his morning walk on the beach almost every day.
I’ve given you a glimpse of the unit we purchased the lease for life on, but I haven’t shown you around the village yet. So get yourself a cuppa, get comfy, and I’ll show you around.
Air fryers seem to be the latest ’must have’ appliance, and although I’m not one who likes to have a lot of kitchen gadgets, Ive decided to give one of these a whirl. We don’t have an oven in the caravan, so I’m thinking it’ll be useful when we’re away. After reading the reviews I chose the medium sized K-mart one for $82.
Paul booked us into Rustico at Hay Shed Hill for lunch to celebrate our 39th anniversary. The on line booking system had a box that could be selected if a dog friendly table was required. We decided to give it a go….
It wasn’t overly warm so, expecting to be outside, we rugged up warm and set off for Rustico at 511 Harmans Mill Road, Wilyabrup, Margaret River. I took charge of Mr Tilly while Paul went inside to find out which of the outside tables was allocated to us.
Paul returned with a look of total surprise – our table was inside in the warm. In we went, passing the doggie treat table, to a fully enclosed patio with ceiling heaters.
In Australia a duvet is called a doona. I don’t know why, we just had to be different on that one. They say a rose by any other name smells just as sweet. Well in my, not so humble opinion, I’m here to tell you that the duvet, or doona, or whatever name you give it, is just frustrating!
Located 48 kms west of Cue, Walga Rock is definitely a worthwhile day trip when in this area. At 50 metres high, 1.5 kms long, and approximately 5 kms around the base, its reportedly the 8th in size of the monoliths in Australia. In case you’re not familiar with what a monolith is, its basically one very big rock. I’ve heard conflicting reports on where this one is in the order of size, including one local report that claims it’s second to Uluru – but research indicates 8th is nearer to the truth. The rock itself is impressive as you approach it, and there’s a track that runs around it’s base, and it’s definitely worth the drive around to see it from all angles. I believe it’s relatively easy to climb too, but I can’t vouch for that.
As you approach the rock you’ll notice a high but shallow cave.
Inside the cave is a very impressive collection of early Aboriginal art, making the site of deep cultural and spiritual significance to the local indigenous people. The gallery, painted with ochre, is predominantly motifs that are non-figurative. One outstanding sketch stands out:
The ship shows two masts, rat lines, rigging, and square portholes in the hull, and is believed to depict one of the Dutch ships that would have visited the coast in the 17th century. However the site of the cave is more 300kms inland which raises questions as to whether or not the artist could perhaps have been a sailor from one of the ships. I guess we’ll never know.
Its amazing the things you find when you stop over in some of Australia’s small towns. Walga Rock was definitely worthwhile stopping over to see.
Breakfast out with the family first thing this morning, then we were on our way.
It’s good to be home!
Having been unmotivated to write now for longer than I care to remember, I’ve used this holiday to try to force some writing motivation. I set out with the intentions of trying to post a blog every day of my holiday. I skipped some days, but then I posted two on other days. know a lot of my posts have been a bit wafflie, and for that I apologise. However, the forced motivation has worked I think. I’m pleased to say I think I have my writing mojo back again…..
Mingenew to Perth
Tonight we’re in Perth. Tomorrow we will be home – and I feel a need for a Staycation. Apologies to all of you who have no choice but to stay put in your own homes, but right now, home is where I want be. We’ve travelled far to many kilometres in to short a time. I’m feeling it, Mr Tilly is feeling it, and Paul, who does all of the driving, is definitely feeling it.
I love Broome, and I love the Wildflowers, and I love road trips. We’ve been retired now for eight years though, and we still travel as if we’re making use of annual leave. I don’t know how we’re ever going to manage to slow down, but we’re going to have too. 5000 kms for the trip, plus incidental driving each day, in less than 5 weeks – madness!
