Australia

Perth to Cue: The Outback

Jan — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

Cue
Western Australia
6 April 2005

G'day,

Please click on the image
for more photos of Perth to Cue.

I am at the Queen of The Murchison Bed and Breakfast, sitting on the second floor terrace, potted plants all around the perimeter and many more hanging from the edge of the angled roof that protects me from the afternoon sun. The Great Northern Highway bisects this town called Cue, pop.300 - nearby gold mines and mining town architecture. Basically, I am in the middle of nowhere.

Newman: Radio Hill Lookout

Jan — Fri, 08 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

Radio Hill Lookout
Newman, WA
8 April 2005
5:00 pm

G'day mates,

How ya goin'?

Please click on the image for more
photos of Newman: Radio Hill Lookout.

I'm just out of town, up on Radio Hill Lookout and I'm looking down at wee Newman below (pop 3600). In actual fact, Newman does have one 18 hole golf course.

Karijini National Park to Tom Price

Jan — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

Kalbarri, WA
16 April 2005
5:45 pm

Breezy, cool, "fine"

G'day mates,

Please click on the image for more
photos of Karijini National Park to Tom Price.

I began writing this letter two days ago, in Denham, at the Heritage Resort, sitting on my second floor balcony watching the sun set on Shark Bay - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cape Peron: Exmouth, Carnarvon, Monkey Mia

Jan — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

The mind-numbing drive to the coast was endless and flat. I do mean flat. Three other travelers I met have confirmed this notion: "The landscape is so flat, the sky so bright, the horizon so distant and so black, that you reckon you can see the curvature of the earth."
	Please click on the image for more photos of Cape Peron.

Finally, Exmouth (pop 2500) on the North West Cape.

Exmouth rhymes not with Plymouth, Falmouth or Weymouth, but with "Pak Wan." What the Thai girls call me when I try to say something nice to them. Pak Wan. Sweet Mouth. Exmouth.

Kalbarri: Murchison River Gorges

Jan — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

Heading south now to Kalbarri and the Lola-Rose
Bed & Breakfast.

If pushed to name just one place it would be Kalbarri. Kalbarri has it all. Swimming beach. Boating. Excellent Restaurant. "The familiar arid bushland, impressive gorges and rugged coastal cliffs."

Please click on the image for more photos of Kalbarri.

Outside Kalbarri is the Loop and Nature's Window - a rock arch - two meter round window carved by the wind. Lots of tourists posing for photos. I started to trek the 1.5 hour Loop - a rocky trail on a hillside above the Murchison River gorges. I was alone. It was hot. I had only a little water. I had trouble finding the trail. The footing was rocky with loose stones. If I slipped, it was a long way down. So after about 10 minutes I turned back. Next time I will do it with a partner. Any volunteers?

Southwest: Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta, Bridgetown, Pemberton, Walpole, Denmark

Jan — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 +0700

Perth, WA
27 April, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Please click on the image
for more photos of Southwest.

I completed my travels in Western Australia with several days on the South West Highway through the "must see" areas of the Southern Forests - a very temperate zone compared to the northern deserts.