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All in a Day #12 – toenail moon and rocky outcrops

Under the Milky Way we camped. On the site of an old town in the middle of the Western Australian wheatbelt.

The Western Australian Wheatbelt is so unassuming from the outset but so rich when you dig deeper (or in this case: climb higher).

A camping trip to Kwolyin Camp site in the middle of wheat and canola country was the perfect weekend getaway for three adventurous women. We arrived mid afternoon on Friday to set up camp on the old Kwolyin Town site around 40 km from Bruce Rock and 7 km from the nearest shop in Shackleton.

The camp site was spacious and the sites are not marked so it’s first in best pitched. We chose a spot not too far from the toilet block (flushing loos it might be said!) but far enough away so as not to be disturbed by comings and goings.

I had already been distracted on my way in, by a sign saying ‘Kokerbin Rock’ not far from the campsite turn off and had made a detour to check it out. So when I arrived I was full of stories. ‘Monlith this, monolith that!’ Incredible, in case you were wondering. More about that later.

We pitched our tents and helped Lainey hoist up her fancy camp trailer with everything (and the kitchen sink) included. Chairs were placed strategically around the fire pit and then we prepared for dinner as the sun set behind the trees. Fire lit and bubbles in hand – all was good with the world.

The night sky was incredible. The toenail moon the milky way pulled us into the void – this trip was going to be the trip I finally sorted out my camera settings and got some astro shots. But not tonight – we ate, chatted and enjoyed the serenity before tucking ourselves into sleeping bags. There was a definite chill in the air!

The next morning I emerged from my tent to find our camp site enveloped in mist – the sun struggling to push though. The nearby sheep (that had impossibly long legs) were obviously distressed about something (maybe the mist) because we could hear loud baaing across the camp ground.

We sparked up the fire and brewed some coffee and tea. A cook up breakfast was on the cards – eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes with toast. Incredible! We had already discussed our plans for exploring the Granite Way the night before and decided to head straight out to the furthest rock, Mount Stirling, first up.

We hit the gravel road where rock after rock sprung from the flat wheat country. Most rocks were on private properties so access was limited. Mount Stirling was incredibly striking – rising from the newly planted crops – deep green and lush. A drive around the side of the rock took us to the shell of an old church and some strange person-made rock structures that had the hallmarks or sacrifice? My wild imagination thought so anyway. They were probably someones attempt at a picnic table – nothing sinister.

The grass was long and hard to walk through – mosquitoes were everywhere (I regretted my choice of wearing shorts) but we managed to get fairly close to the base. There were some Picnic at Hanging Rock vibes – Mirandaaaah!

Because most of the rock was on private property there was no access to the back end of it. We discovered a sign at the entrance where you could climb the rock. The ascent looked quite steep.

Next we did a drive by some of the other rocks on the trail before heading back to Kokerbin Rock (the one I had explored the day before) because I knew it had walking trails and summiting the rock was relatively easy. The sun was out and warming us up by this stage. We walked around the edge of Kokerbin Rock and climbed part of the way up. The views were spectacular – yellow, green and brown.

Within the camp site is Coarin Rock – walking distance from our tents. We missed this one even though it was so close.

We stopped and chatted to a Kellerberin local who runs the fruit and veg shop – out for an explore on her day off. Back at camp a group of ‘detectorists’ had gathered and they scoured the land for old pennies. They wore gaters, head phones and boots, carried small collapsible shovels while their metal detectors let out a constant high pitched beep when they discovered ring pulls, tin cans and the occasional piece of history. I had an overwhelming urge to shout ‘what r u got?’ – a line from the Tv series “The Detectorists” but I think I was the only one who had seen it.

Instead we asked them questions about what they expected to find and it was all very interesting! I had an urge to buy a metal detector and join in the search for treasure.

The detectorists retired for the afternoon and the whole campsite seemed to have a siesta. Flies buzzed and the breeze washed softly over our camp. I think we all fell asleep.

Time for afternoon drinks and nibbles followed by dinner prep. Lainey delivered the goods and wrapped every conceivable vegetable known to womankind in foil. We set up the fire to produce coals and then placed everything strategically into the coals. Everything was perfectly cooked and incredibly delicious!

There is an air of Saturday night celebration in the air as the camp site became more populated. Groups of people chatted around fires while listening to music and dancing under the Milkyway.

I had written down some instructions on how to take astro photos before leaving Perth so I was ready for nightfall and the promise of clear skies. After our veggie feast I set up my camera and played around for a while. At last something ressembling Astro photography emerged on my playback screen. I had photographed the universe! Not bad for a first effort.

We were tucked up in bed around 9:30 pm. Then, up the next morning to pack up camp and head back to Perth. What a grand adventure!

What’s the skinny?

  • Kwolyin Camp Site is around 200 km out of Perth
  • The camp site has basic facilities and fresh water is available
  • The Granite Way is a 60km self-drive trail to see giagantic granite rocks throughout the wheatbelt shires of Bruce Rock, Quairading and Kellerberrin.
  • Camp fires are permitted in the cooler months – always check first. Bring your own wood.
  • Astro Photography is a bit of a buzz and as long as you have a camera or even a phone anyone can have success.
  • The closest shop for staples is 7 km away in Shackleton
  • Picnic at Hanging Rock is an eerie story made into an equally eerie Peter Weir film in the 70s
  • The Detectorists is a quirky look at the sub culture of metal detecting – worth a watch.

All in A Day #11 – Dwelling on Dwellingup – a ‘cusp of Spring’ Break

All in A Day takes a break from camping to enjoy the luxury of a winter cottage.

Crisp mornings with a dash of sunlight , steam rising from rooftops. Quick – light the fire! Walks through the forest across the road and relaxing on the verandah. Pretty nice way to spend a weekend!

A box fire warms the front room, providing a glow to the cheeks and the cockles of our hearts. What actually is a cockle? Note to self – find out the origins of cockle.

The bush beckons from the front verandah. Glimpses of ravens hopping across the road, glossy wings half extended. Always up to something – no good? Smaller offerings – Flaming Robins, Blue Wrens and New Holland Honeyeaters flit about proving hard to capture (in my lens).

The drive to Dwellingup is delicious – green pastures, random cows and copses of bush. Some flooding from all the recent rain. I stopped in Pinjarra for groceries and lunch. Whisky to make hot toddies as I have lost my voice – three days and counting.

I always feel like I have forgotten something when I am not camping. Camping is simple – grab that box, that crate, that bundle. Airbnb is just throw more and more stuff into the car and slam the door. More than I need and not everything that I need. Unfortunately one of things I grab is a bundle of keys – story about that later.

About my voice, or lack therof. I have been whispering like a creeper for a couple of days. No other symptoms, just no voice. So I sit and listen mostly. Hot toddies with whisky, honey and lemon do nothing but warm those cockles. Oh well, not all bad.

Then, lazy afternoon sun, birds a cacophony (there is no better word) of sound. A stroll to the railway station where historic carriages and diesel engines languish. The Hotham Valley Steam Train must be out steaming up the tracks. High vis enthusiasts tend to the aging trucks and engines. Visions of Sodor.

Backyard hounds strain on chains, their voices harsh with barking. Poor creatures lack stimulation. Pampered city pooches with little room to move are treated like kings and queens compared to these country dogs.

Meals appear at intervals. First breakfast, second breakfast, brunch, snacks, dinner – punctuated with drinks (and cheese).

Then, woken (or shaken awake) at 5:30 am by an earthquake – 5.2 on the scale. My bed felt like someone was trying to get me out of bed. I leapt up to check that everyone had felt the same thing. Some thought vertigo.

Last morning – ice on the car windows. Memories of childhood when ice was a daily occurence, kickstarting the Peugot 404 and casting a bucket of warm water on the windscreen only to have if freeze again as we trundled down the drive heads out of windows like dogs catching the breeze.

A drive down to Lane Poole Reserve to catch the flowing river and go for a final walk through the forest. The river flowing and frothing like a milkshake and the steam still rising from the ground as the sun thaws the ice.

Then, home to unpack and relax. Another superb weekend.

What’s the skinny?

  • Dwellingup is around 1 hour and 15 minutes from Perth
  • We stayed in an AirBnb on the edge of the forest
  • Pinjarra is about 20 minutes away for any major shopping and Dwellingup has a well-stocked IGA, some lovely cafes and a restaurant or two.
  • Lane Poole Reserve is a National Park 20 minutes out of Dwellingup and you can camp there – Bookings essential for most sites.
  • Water sports including kayaking and paddle boarding are popular in this region
  • Mountain Bike trails are everywhere – in the parks and around the town
  • The Dwellingup Hotel (Dwelly Pub) is perfect for a pub meal!
  • Cockles of your heart –dates back to the mid-1600s, a time when scientific texts were often written in Latin. The Latin term cochleae cordis means ventricles of the heart, and most probably, the word cochleae was corrupted as cockles.

All in a Day #10 I teach therefore I am (a teacher)

July 2023

“My tummy hurts, I have a sore foot, leg, arm, eye, and hurt feelings.” Despite my aptitude for curing all of these ailments (sometimes with nothing more than a piece of wet paper towel) , I am not a nurse but a primary school teacher.

I teach small children. Not all the time, but a day or so a week. I was once a full-time teacher until I went part-time and realised there could be a life of less stress. Now I mostly write, sometimes I mark standardised writing tests, and will be supervising student teachers from next month.

While that sounds like a lot of different hats, it is no where near as crazy as a fulltime teaching load! I don’t think I realised how all-encompassing fulltime teaching was until I stopped.

On Thursdays, I don my teacher’s garb, gird my loins and head out into the world with a packed lunch and a water bottle. I spend the day teaching Year 5s in the morning and little Year 2s in the afternoon.

By lunchtime, I look forward to the end of the day and ask myself how I ever managed to teach full-time for 14 years. I read news reports of teachers leaving the profession because they are burnt out and have had enough of the added burdens placed on them by schools, the government and the general population, and I understand it’s a tough gig.

I maintain my teaching connection for the money and to keep up my teaching quals. Lets face it, it’s a good thing to have in times of economic uncertainty and I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. Anymore.

I make the most of my time at the lovely northern suburbs school where I work. The children are from essentially high socio-economic families. They have breakfast before they leave for school, they all have healthy lunches and are generally well-behaved and polite.

Some schools where I do relief do not have children like that. Sometimes I head out to the south-eastern suburbs where children don’t have breakfast and sometimes don’t have lunch. They are not always dressed warmly in winter, and they are not always polite. In fact, they can be downright rude and disrespectful.

But kids are kids – sometimes they bowl you over with their joi de vivre, and other times they slap you right in the face (not literally, hopefully) no matter where they come from or their circumstances. Mostly they want to learn and do the right thing.

I had to teach a sport session the other week, and my allocated sport was tunnel ball. Everyone has played tunnel ball, right? Apparently not. The kids had no idea what was going on. I had no whistle, so my not-very-loud voice was put into action. “Line up! Spread out, step your right foot out. The other right! Watch the ball, the ball! It’s under your legs…” It was a disaster. I don’t know who was more relieved when it came time to return to class, me or the kids!

Tunnel ball aside, I enjoy attending school for other reasons. For one, staff and other teachers provide me with the adult contact I sometimes lack as a WFH writer. Two, schools have the best staff morning teas! And finally I get to have fun with kids – what’s not to love about that?

My team teacher inspires me to be organised. In fact she is the most organised teacher I have ever met! I sit at her desk, and within half an hour I have reduced it to a mess of papers, have lost my pen, spilled pencil shavings and scattered her neatly stacked papers everywhere. If only I could emulate her organisational skills in my own piles of paper and pads at home on my writer’s desk!

My current work mate
My personal assistant

So, I look at my occasional foray into schools as human development and a steady income stream to supplement my erratic freelance income.

I suppose I will always be a teacher to some degree. Just don’t make me use my teacher voice!

Welcome to All In A Day

Early in 2023 I decided to focus my writing more towards travel and adventure. Travel writing is my passion – it doesn’t even feel like a job!

I also pledged to write an All In A Day piece every couple of weeks – Short adventures and musings that may or may not involve travel. I have loved this challenge and will continue for the forseeable future. Some of these experiences have become paid gigs that have been, or are about to be published in print or online.

While web content and copywriting (sometimes) pays the bills, and I enjoy the lifestyle freelance copywriting has allowed me to have, it doesn’t bring me the same joy of a well-worded travel piece or blog .

With changing economic times and AI thrown into the mix those web content and copywriting gigs have become more scarce. When businesses realise they can’t trust their business brand to AI there may be a turn around. But, until then travel writing has my back.

I hope you enjoy my blog. Unfortunately (or fortunately) if you spend time in my company you may also end up in my stories. I will always do my best to represent you in the shiniest way possible 🙂

What’s the skinny?

  • I will provide links and hints at the end of each blog.
  • The links I have provided are not sponsored, nor am I affiliated with any of the businesses I speak of (unless I say I am)
  • If you want me to write something for you, hit me up – this is my Lisa Ikin Writer hat.
  • I can write anything – web content, social media, blogs, emails…
  • Thanks for reading – you can subscribe and make comments 🙂