All in a Day Adventures

Women go solo on the highway

Australians hit the road in droves when they could no longer travel overseas. Women travelling solo continue to make up a significant number of adventurers to call the road their home.

On any given day, there are thousands of people road-tripping around Australia. The numbers increased over the 2020 – 2022 period, with caravan and motorhome sales going through the roof. Many of these thousands of people travelling around this vast country are women travelling solo. This is their story.

Queenslander Lynda Greening, 66, recently drove her Windsor Daintree motor home from Brisbane to Perth to visit her grand children. She travels alone because she loves road-tripping and camping, while her partner of 30 years prefers not to.

Melbourne local Ashleigh Hobson – 28, road-tripped solo for 18 months through 2021 and 2022. Ashleigh is a freelance writer who quit her “perfect job” and hit the road in her decked-out Rav4 for a trip of a lifetime!

Elaine Dowd, 57, is a public servant from WA. She enjoys camping in her HiAce Van or Subaru with a pop-top tent. She regularly camps on her own throughout WA and has plans to drive solo from Perth, WA to Tasmania, with a few stops along the way.

Visiting the grandkids

Lynda is a marketing consultant who is able to take her work on the road. She works 20 hours a week – pulling into caravan parks and connecting to the internet to service her clients. When in Perth, she stays in caravan parks close to her family and takes short trips away.

Lynda is part of the Facebook group Women Caravanning, Camping And Travelling Solo Australia. She found the page helpful in garnering travel tips and support while preparing for her trip. The page has 22K members and caters to women who “must be travelling solo”. According to the group admin Carlea Visco, the page is “a safe place for women to have a laugh, inspire and encourage each other when travelling solo.”

Lynda also joined the Windsor Daintree Facebook group (not a women’s only group), which helped her with advice and information specific to her motor home.

The trip of a lifetime

Ashleigh drove her Rav4 from Melbourne to South Australia, through the centre to Darwin, across to Western Australia, where she took the Gibb River Road, visited the Kimberley, and then travelled down to Margaret River. She stopped for six months in Margaret River and worked in a winery. From Margaret River, she headed back up to Exmouth and then Bali for a change of scenery. She has recently arrived back in Melbourne after crossing the Nullarbor.

This adventurous young woman is no stranger to solo travel. She has previously travelled overseas on her own, but she said that didn’t really prepare her for life on the road in Australia, especially during the Covid lockdowns.

When Ashleigh stopped on her first night on the road, she arrived in a dark, deserted park and questioned her decision. The Facebook Group Women Caravanning, Camping And Travelling Solo Australia were there for her when she posted her thoughts, and the feedback she got from the group helped her pass her first lonely night.

Ashleigh consulted the group while she prepared for her trip. She loved that she could post any questions without fearing ridicule for asking “stupid questions”. Ashleigh also used the Facebook group Planning a Lap of Australia to help with her planning.

Ashleigh was two weeks into her trip before she started to see that she had made the right decision. Darwin and the Northern Territory gave her hope as she met and made like-minded friends and spent time with her fellow travellers.

Setting out from WA

Elaine started as a member of the Rolling Solo Australia group, “an online, offline and real-time community that provides support, friendships, information and connections for independent female road-trippers interested in camping, outdoor adventure and travel in Australia.” The group operates on a subscription-based membership.

Elaine no longer subscribes to Rolling Solo as she found the mass gatherings (of 500 upwards) not her thing. However, she has used the same Facebook site as Lynda and Ashleigh and found the advice and support invaluable as a solo woman traveller. The fact that there are never any “stupid questions” when it comes to solo travel or camping in a group is one of the reasons Elaine uses the page.

Meeting up with other women campers and travellers

Elaine has found that members of Facebook groups expressly set up for solo women campers have been willing to meet up for coffee and chat about their travel experiences. Members will post on the page that they are planning to arrive in a town or city at a certain time and if there are members in the area, they arrange to meet for coffee or a meal. Sometimes a friendly face or company on a solo trip is most welcomed.

Camping Stories

The groups provide a place for women to check in with others before travelling. Elaine and Lynda agree that there is never a shortage of topics to chat about in the groups and at caravan parks. Travellers have many things in common, even if they have had different experiences and come from all walks of life. And who doesn’t love to talk about their setup?

All three agree that there is a higher percentage of solo women travellers on the road in Australia, than men. There are women on the road for many reasons and who have differing circumstances, from the recently widowed to those on a working holiday. Or, as in Lynda’s case, they have a partner who prefers not to camp or travel.

Age is no barrier

While there is no age limit for those who join the Facebook page – Women Caravanning, Camping And Travelling Solo Australia, the group tends towards retired or semi-retired women in their 50s and 60s. Elaine says she has come across women in their late 70s and even 80s who are camping and road-tripping on their own, sometimes for the first time.

Some of the other groups, such as Solo Camping Ladies Australia and Ladies Camping Group Perth WA, attract younger women with and without children, and their meetups tend to be on weekends. There are even groups for women who travel with dogs – such as Ladies camping with puppies in WA.

Staying safe

Many women travel with dogs for company and security. Security is always forefront of everyone’s mind. It is high on the list of topics discussed in the Facebook groups and the caravan park chats or meetups. While women do occasionally report negative experiences on the road, the women I spoke to were not overly fearful of travelling alone.

The Facebook groups are all closed groups, meaning that women must answer a series of questions before being allowed into a group. While this gives some peace of mind to solo women travellers it is important to practice cybersafe habits when posting to any social media platform.

Lynda says that she had security concerns when she first set off on her trip and initially felt nervous. However, in 2.5 months of travel, she hasn’t had any negative experiences and finds that she can talk to anyone while travelling. The Facebook group helped her to realise that their other women out there travelling solo. Her only fears now are breaking down or getting a flat tyre on her big van in a remote location.

Ashleigh said had no security concerns and has always felt safe on the road. She thanks her Mum for doing the worrying for her!

Elaine says she very rarely feels unsafe, apart from the occasional incident where she errs on the side of caution. There is truth in the adage “safety in numbers.” The Facebook groups’ sheer size is a testament to the many women taking to the road to see this amazing country.

With so many other women hitting the road there’s no need to feel alone. If you are considering a solo trip, get in touch with a group today and start planning your getaway!

All in a day # 1 Fremantle Western Australia

Wondering what to do with your day? A quick trip down the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) to the port of Fremantle is a fine thing to do on a Summer’s day.

Perth to Fremantle – Boats, trains and cocktails

January 2023

One sunny Saturday in January, we were home with no plans. It was one of those perfect Perth summer days – not too hot with the promise of a breeze. So an afternoon in Fremantle was just what the doctor ordered (see what I did there). If you are not from Perth, you may not know that the sea breeze is fondly known as the Fremantle Doctor.

The train is usually my transport of choice when heading to the port city as parking can be a nightmare, and what’s not to love about riding the train along the coast? However, today we decided to do as the tourists do and jump on the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) for a boat ride. I quickly checked online and discovered a Captain Cook cruise departing from Elizabeth Quay at 2:15 pm. $43 for a one-way trip – probably not something I would do every day. So without overthinking it, I booked!

We threw on some hats, grabbed the camera, and caught a bus to Elizabeth Quay. The boat was ready to board when we got there, so we headed for the top deck. The bar was open, and beer was on the menu, so we ordered a beer and sat back to enjoy the trip of just over an hour. There was a commentary of course, which is not always to my liking – but this was OK. The skipper pointed out landmarks and told us about some of the houses we passed.

We arrived in Fremantle Harbour, where we caught sight of frolicking dolphins and could see the bustling Gage Roads Brewery, now situated on the wharf in one of the old passenger terminals. We decided to go and check out the brewery first. The brewery was impressive, with views of the harbour and enough seating configurations to suit groups of all sizes. A playground at one end with a real boat and an old four-wheel drive for the kids to climb on.

This might be the best bar view in Perth!

Next stop was the Fremantle Markets – I must admit I last went there some time ago, and it feels a bit tired. Even though it was bustling, it didn’t have the same vibe as the old days when permanent markets like Fremantle were king (or queen). I enjoy the outdoors of a farmers market these days. We did a quick circuit, breathed in the flavoured coffee smell that always assaults the senses when you enter the market and decided to head back to the other end of town. We meandered and stopped to check out op shops and bookshops. Fremantle wins hands down when it comes to secondhand books and killer op shops.

The next stop was the Jungle Bird, where the cocktails were flowing – so when in a rum bar… We stopped for a cocktail and soaked up the atmosphere before deciding that we should think about getting on the train for home.

The train was in the station, so we boarded and sat back to enjoy the coastal view. By this stage, we were starting to feel a bit hungry, so we decided to get off the train in West Leederville and duck into Besk for some share plates and one last drink. The food was delicious and really hit the spot – we over ordered, of course, and had to abandon the basket of french fries!

We could have gotten back on the train and continued our journey as we started by returning home on the bus. But with full stomachs and all that fresh sea air, we were happy to jump into an Uber for the trip home.

We arrived home as the sun set and agreed that our adventure had met all expectations considering we had none about 30 minutes before we had set off.

What’s the skinny?

Fremantle is around 30 minutes from Perth City.
The train departs every 15 minutes during peak hour and every 30 minutes on weekends and at other times.
Fremantle is a port city with a rich maritime history.
Gage Roads Brewery is worth a visit, if not for a beer, just for a gander.
Its best to catch a train (or ferry) because parking can be tight.
Captain Cook Cruises depart from Barrack Street Jetty in the city & arrive at B Shed in Fremantle.
Give yourself a day to meander.
Go and visit the Maritime Museum – there are two.

Fairbridge Festival 2021 – Rocking out with the kids.

2021 saw the comeback of the music Festival following a year of uncertainty. Fairbridge Festival 2021 – Rocking out with the kids.

Every event that goes ahead these days is a triumph. I am feeling incredibly lucky to have attended my second music festival in as many months. Once again, I attended as a volunteer and found the festival very rewarding and loads of fun.

Fairbridge Festival is an institution in Western Australia. In 1992, two committee members of the WA Folk Federation, Max Klubal and Sally Grice, decided to investigate the possibility of a folk festival on the Fairbridge site. In 1993, the first festival was held and the rest, they say, is history. https://www.fairbridgefestival.com.au/about/

In 2020 the festival was cancelled for the first time due to Covid19. Ticket holders were asked to hold onto their tickets and volunteers guaranteed a volunteer position the next year.

My friends and I have been attending Fairbridge Festival for over 20 years. In the early years our children grew up with Fairbridge being an annual event. Loading up children and tents in tiny cars was an art in packing. Marie Kondo would have been impressed. As they became more independent teenagers we would all converge for giant cook-ups in the mornings only to go our separate ways during the day. Showers stopped being a thing and the drive home was always a stinky, dusty experience. Now we go together, mostly without our kids. Adults now, they occasionally make an appearance. In recent years we have all started volunteering and it’s a great way to be part of the festival.

In previous years I had volunteered in the “Woodshed” with the little tikes. The Woodshed is run by Tracey Laird of Perth Kids Shed, who provides workshops for school-aged children. https://perthkidsshed.com.au/pages/about-us Fairbridge’s Woodshed is probably not the destination for you if you have issues with your hearing, your nerves, or you are hungover. 30 plus children all wielding hammers, saws and electric drills! What could possibly go wrong? Each year I worked the Woodshed I would swear I was going to “try something different, next time”. Each year, I would forget the pain and the ringing ears and once again put my hand up for the job. I liken it to childbirth, you must forget the pain over 12 months.

Following the appropriate amount of time required to forget pain I was prepared to assault my ears and senses in 2021. Two years had gone by, which meant I was positively waxing lyrical about “working with the little ones to unlock their creative woodworking potential.” So you can imagine my disappointment when I was informed that the Woodshed would not be running in 2021. I was given the job of “Stage Manager” on the Kaleidoscope Children’s Stage. Two shifts of listening to children’s music and children’s entertainers. A pretty cruisy gig.

The entertainers were all brilliant and I found myself belly-laughing on more than one occasion. The Saturday night kids disco was the place to be. The dance floor was bouncing, and not just with children. Adults YMCA’d, Moved it Moved it and generally had a great time. When Sam the DJ dropped Primal Scream’s Loaded, parents flocked to the dance floor, not a child in sight! It it hadn’t been 7:00 pm and 2021, AND I wasn’t stone cold sober I could have been back on the dance floor of my favourite 90’s club.

My job, as Stage Manager? A piece of cake. I had to make sure the artists had everything they needed, move some chairs around, and occasionally report a lost child or parent. All while looking important with a “walkie talkie” and a clipboard. I think the kids stage was the least stressful of all the Fairbridge stages.

The rest of the festival was brilliant. The acts consisted of mostly local WA artists. Highlights: Seeing my good friend, Leanne get up and perform her own song at the morning jam session in The Loft; Carla Geneve at the Backlot; and a good old Beatles singalong on the last night. It’s great to see that musicians are getting out and gigging again. Its been a tough 12 months for the performing folk. The dust storms followed by torrential rain made it a very muddy affair. But, what is a festival without a bit of mud and dust?

Post Script: When I arrived for my first shift at the kids stage I was surprised to see a Woodshed set up right next to the stage tent. I admit to feeling slightly miffed. Was it something I said/did? Following some investigation, I found out it was a last minute inclusion and the Men’s Shed were running it. From all accounts, I think they found it quite challenging. I predict that I will be back in the Woodshed next year.

To read about volunteering at Nannup Festival – Click here https://www.lisabenjess.org/nannup-music-festival-2021-a-volunteers-view/

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How to get the best out of a music festival. Volunteering at Nannup Music Festival 2021

Nannup Music Festival, the little festival with a big heart!

There’s an old military saying “never volunteer for anything,” but that is certainly not my adage.WA has truly been one of the lucky states in Australia for the 12 months since Covid19 first impacted our country. In Western Australia, following the initial lock down of April 2020, we enjoyed many days of Covid free living, apart from the recent 5 day lock down. A stark contrast to our friends in Victoria and NSW.

I attended Nannup Music Festival this year as a volunteer. I drove the shuttle bus a 3km round trip from camp site to town , while my friends worked the bar, (wo)manned the gate and MC’d the stages. The fact that we could attend a music festival at all was not lost on any of us.

Nannup Music Festival is a three day festival set in the Western Australian bush, situated in the quaint town of Nannup which is 3.5 hours south of Perth. The festival usually attracts artists from the national and international stage and sells around 4000 tickets. 2021 saw crowd numbers limited in venues, due to Covid19 restrictions, and the talent was very much a Western Australian affair with some artists travelling interstate from Darwin and Queensland.

Nannup Music Festival 2021 will forever be etched on our minds as “the year of no beer”. Over the many years I have been attending music festivals with my friends, there is usually a single event or a series of events that define that year. There was “the great flood” of Fairbridge Music Festival in 2008 when torrential rain flattened our tents and cut off power to the main stage. Particularly memorable because one of our children called 000 as they were caught in their tent when the rain started and did not know what to do. The first we knew of their panicked call for help was a police car turning up and 2 puzzled constables wading through mud, searching for “the scene of the crime”.

There was “the big wind” of 2017, also at Fairbridge, which ripped tents and shelters out of the ground and generally wreaked havoc. A foray into the earnest world of folk music at Nanga Music Festival is one we always remember and laugh about, and we will never forget sleepless nights at Wave Rock Weekender , when we camped beside the soundscape, which ran all night. I have attended many festivals in my time but this is the first one I have known to run out of beer.

I had first hand information on Saturday afternoon that some types of beer had already run out and there was only a small selection of other beverages available. By Sunday lunchtime the alcohol situation was pretty dire despite more supplies arriving. Sunday night I was driving the shuttle bus from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm and word on the street was “the bars have all run out of alcohol!” Following what had been a fairly raucous Saturday night of ferrying inebriated patrons to and from the camp ground, Sunday was a fairly sober affair!

Nannup Music Festival is an artists festival and it can only run with the help of volunteers. I only received my volunteer rosters 2 days before the beginning of the festival so I did not get a lot of choice about the timing of those shifts. Two late nights shifts meant I missed all the evening performances and had the added joy of dealing with drunk passengers with no extra support. So the lack of alcohol on Sunday night actually made my life easier!

It’s these moments that I will remember with a smile: The group of 20 somethings who sang a canon of “The Wheels on the Bus” with ALL the verses; the inebriated guy who sat in the front seat and got into a discussion with me about teaching and then asked if he could do another loop to continue the chat; the young girl who got on the empty bus alone, and when I asked her if she was having a good festival, she burst into tears and told me she had just broken up with her boyfriend and he had left her alone with no transport home; the group of lovely young women on a “hen’s” weekend who were constantly ferrying members of their group back to the campsite because they had too much to drink; the countless young men who thought they could pull the wool over my eyes and pretend there was a seat at the very back of the bus when there wasn’t; and the laughter when I told the whole bus I was a school teacher and that I wasn’t going to take any shit.

Despite the lack of alcohol, the crowd kept dancing and the bands kept playing. The world did not stop turning and I think I could safely say that everyone who attended this years festival would have only good things to say. It’s just a shame that this glitch might mean the difference between a festival that breaks even and one that doesn’t.

Musical highlights for me: Ruby Gilbert @ the Secret Garden on Saturday morning; Ben Evolent @ the Nannup Hotel on Sunday afternoon; Alter Boy @ Tigerville ; Gina williams & Guy Ghouse also @ The Secret Garden; and John Bennett Trio @ The Amphitheater on Sunday night.

My next volunteer gig is Fairbridge Festival 9th – 11th of April, 2021 in Pinjarra, where I can be found in the Woodshed helping kids hammer nails into wood and use electric drills. What could possibly go wrong?

Side Note: The 2021 Fairbridge Festival ended up being the last one to be held at Fairbridge Village. The festival organisers are still looking for an alternative venue 😦

Think you might want to volunteer? Most festivals require that you do 3 x 3 hour shifts over the weekend. If you can get there early and have some extra time you can get your shifts out of the way in the set up and take down. Fancy a bar gig? Get your RSA online. Like working with kids? Apply for your Working with Children Check. Bus driving ? An F Extension on your driver’s licence is all it takes! You get to be part of the fun and enjoy all the music, all while feeling like you are doing something good.

If you would like to read about volunteering at another great WA festival. Fairbridge Festival is a must for volunteers and music lovers alike. https://www.lisabenjess.org/fairbridge-festival-2021-rocking-out-with-the-kids/

Hiking and Biking Taroko Gorge – Taiwan

In November 2016, my partner and I traveled to Taiwan. One of the reasons we decided on Taiwan, apart from the fact that neither of us had been before, was because we had read an amazing account of a hiking and mountain bike adventure in Taroko Gorge.

Taroko Gorge is in the Taroko National Park on the east coast of Taiwan. The mountains are incredible, spoiled only by a massive concrete factory at the foot of the mountains. The limestone and marble is quarried for concrete and jade.

Before we traveled to Taiwan we had researched and planned to stay at Taroko Lodge, a home stay set at the foot of the Taroko mountain range. This modest accommodation is run by Rihang and his family. Rihang purchased National Park passes for us and assured us that he would be at the train station to pick us up when we arrived.

https://rihang.wordpress.com/

True to his word, a white van was waiting at Xincheng station, and we were greeted warmly by Rihang. Rihang spoke some English and his son, who we met later, also spoke quite good English.

We stopped at the 7-Eleven for supplies and then settled ourselves into our accommodation. Taroko Lodge is the front part of the family home. The sleeping arrangements were very comfortable, with our own bathroom, and a shared living area.

The only other guests at the time were a group of Americans who were leaving the same day as us. We had access to bikes the whole time so we could cycle into the town for snacks or meals.

The first morning, following a delicious home-cooked breakfast on the veranda, we were piled into Rihang’s van with our bikes and transported to the top of the Taroko Gorge access road. Rihang let us out with a few words of warning about the tunnels we had passed through on the way up.

We strapped on our helmets and waved goodbye to our host with some trepidation. We had a brief discussion about the tunnels which were numerous and completely dark and the fact that we had no lights on our bikes! Too late now, we were at the top and the only way was down.

Luckily there didn’t appear to be a lot of traffic on the roads, that was until we saw the stream of tourist buses making their way up the winding road. Tourist buses that I wouldn’t like to meet in a pitch-black tunnel with no light! We watched them approach and started our descent. Once the last tourist bus had reached the top and the crowd of local and Chinese tourists had disembarked for their obligatory selfies and group shots, we decided it was time to go.

The initial part of the descent was fine. We stopped along the way to take photos and to take in the incredible views. Our first tunnel was one of the shorter ones and there was light at the end so it was easy to navigate. “We’ve got this!” we thought.

The next tunnel was one of the super long ones, no light at the end of this one. There came a point where we were literally plunged into pitch black. Fumbling for phone torches while avoiding potholes. A huge sigh of relief when we reached the other end and had not been taken out by a tourist bus or fallen off. We lost count of the tunnels and needless to say we got to the end without further incident. Rihang’s white van was a welcome sight!

Gauging from the loose health and safety precautions of the previous day, we prepared for our upcoming hike on the Zhuilu Trail with some caution. The region had experienced an earthquake in the months leading up to our visit and we were informed that parts of the trail were unstable. The ranger let us onto the trail through a locked gate and checked our permits. Apparently, they only allow a limited number of people on the trail per day. The signs warn of not attempting the climb if you have a fear of heights or a heart condition. Venomous snakes and falling rocks are also something to look out for. None of this deterred us but we proceeded with caution, nonetheless.

A suspension bridge that spans the entire gorge is at the beginning of the trail. We were two of maybe 5 other people hiking that day. Breathtaking and exhilarating are the only words I can use to describe our adventure. The trails were used by the indigenous inhabitants of this region for centuries before our arrival and later by Japanese forces in their bid to control the area. Towards the top of the climb the trail becomes a very narrow ledge of around 1m in width and there was nothing but a steel cable to hold onto and a 700m drop. There was only one-way traffic on this stretch of the path.

We had a clear day, so the view was phenomenal. Such experiences do not come along very often. If the thought of the Zhuilu Trail is enough to give you vertigo, there are plenty of places to hike or take in the view without balancing on a ledge.

That night we had a lovely meal at a local restaurant with our fellow travellers from America. It was the eve of the US election results in 2016 and they were certain that Trump would not be elected. They left early the following morning before we knew what the result was. I often think about them and how disappointed they must have been.

The final morning was spent exploring the small village and venturing onto the deserted, rocky beach. Rihang took us back to the train station and we said farewell to our lovely host before heading back to Taipei.

If you haven’t read the full account of our trip to Taiwan. https://www.xyzasia.com/home/first-time-taiwan-hiking-biking-train-trips

Bular Mial/Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia

Fancy seeing the world from the top? A sunrise hike up one of Western Australia’s highest land forms will not disappoint.

We were up at 3:15 am on a Friday to climb WA’s highest mountain in the South West! Bular Mial/Bluff Knoll stands 1095m above sea level and it is classed as a grade 4 climb of 6.8 km. Bluff Knoll is part of the region in the Stirling Ranges originally inhabited by the Mineng and Goreng people. The mountain is a four hour drive south from Perth on the way to Albany. https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/bluff-knoll-car-park-trail-head

***The summit of Bluff Knoll at sunrise***

The night sky was lit with bright stars and there was no cloud cover to be seen when we strapped ourselves in the car to drive 45 km to the base of Bluff Knoll. We were staying in accommodation at the Karribank Chalets in the Porongurups. A stunning part of the world and a first time visit for my partner and I.

Being around 6 degrees Celsius, we layered our clothing and made sure we had something warm to put on at the summit. Water, a small flask of coffee and some nut bars for sustenance, were jammed into our backpacks. I decided against taking the big camera and opted for my GoPro instead.

The car park was empty – we were the first to arrive! We paid our National Park Fee of $15/car at the Trail head using the automatic machine. This is a requirement of entering the park. Your docket must be displayed on the dash of your car. At 4:16 am we strapped on our head torches and found the beginning of the trail. Apart from the amazing skyscape all we could see was the imposing shape of Bluff Knoll looming above us in the dark.

The beginning of the trail lulls you into a false sense of security as it plunges down into a valley before rising. The paths is well maintained and made up mostly of steps fashioned into the granite rock and box wood construction. It wasn’t long before our glutes were singing and our heart rates pumping. After walking for around 30 minutes the path began it’s spiral around the Knoll. It was still dark so we were relatively unaware of the growing drop to our right.

It wasn’t long before we were warm enough to take off some layers and stop for a quick drink. We could hear another hiking group not far behind us and this spurred us on to keep going. Nothing like a bit of competition to inspire you!

Sunrise was supposed to be around 5:33 am and we started to see a change in the available light. The looming Knoll was very imposing. We also realised the sun was rising behind us so we quickened our steps to reach the summit in time. When the sun started to come up over the horizon we had reached a point on the climb where we could see the orange glow lighting up the peak. Perfect timing!

At 6:16 am we reached the actual summit, which is a bit further than you first think. Breathtaking! Our hiking competition arrived around 10 minutes behind us so we had the summit to our selves for the shortest time.

We were poised above the low cloud cover which made the view even more spectacular. There was not a breath of wind but it was certainly cold. Our layers were quickly relayered, coffee poured and we sat on top of the world looking down on some of the most beautiful country in the world.

Unable to bring myself to stand close to the edge like some of the young climbers who seemed hell bent on getting the most crazy Instagram photo they could, I lay down and peered over. Took my breath away. Sheer rock face all the way down. A sign warned us not to throw rocks off the edge as rock climbers could be below.

Once we had taken our photos and rested for a while we decided to head on down to see what scenery we had missed on our dark ascent. They say that “coming down is the hardest thing”, to borrow a song line from Tom Petty, and I must say my calves and knees are certainly paying the price 3 days later.

This climb is one I have always wanted to do and I was not disappointed. Come prepared, wear appropriate footwear and clothing in case of extreme weather on the summit. I used a stick that a previous hiker had kindly left by the beginning of the trail, and I would recommend walking poles especially on the way down.

If you love hiking and climbing the Porongurups are around 30 minutes away and boast amazing granite peaks with a number of climbs. We climbed up to Castle Rock and the Granite Skywalk which was well worth the walk. https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/porongurup

Sculpture By the Sea 2020

Another stunning sculpture exhibit at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia.

The beautiful beach of Cottesloe has once again hosted “Sculpture by The Sea.” Due to reduced government funding for The Arts the event is on shaky ground. This year the organisers asked attendees to pay $5 per person to view the sculptures. I had many favourites this year.

Below are some photos of artworks from this year’s show.

Thank you Former Prime Minister

An open letter from the future to the former Prime Minister of Australia. Wishful thinking ❤️

For my grandchild…

January, 2040

Dear Former Prime Minister of Australia,

I want to thank you on behalf of my grandchild, who is now a young woman, for doing everything you could to ensure that the world she now flourishes in, is clean, sustainable and ethical.

Thank you for listening to the young people who led the climate change protests in 2019 and for then making the changes required to bring about a more sustainable world. The way you led our country and showed the rest of the world that Australia is a country to look up to and to be reckoned, with was phenomenal.

The funding of wind farms and the solar energy initiative introduced in central Australia, in the wake of your revolutionary decision to halt coal mining, was inspirational to say the least. I commend the way you managed to reemploy the almost 200,000 people employed by the coal industry by funding retraining in the wind and solar power industries. Making Australia carbon neutral ten years before the original target was an absolutely mammoth effort! World leaders now look to you when there are big decisions to be made. Congratulations on your recent Nobel prize, by the way.

Thank you for placing a ban on logging of old growth forests Australia-wide and for making it illegal to damage trees on private property without a permit. Such insight is to be applauded. The Australian animals were greatly reduced in numbers following the terrible fires of 2019/2020. The Koala was on the critically endangered list for many years but numbers are now being boosted by the breeding programs in the federally funded wildlife centres. The tree planting initiative undertaken by your government has meant the trees are also now regenerating.

The restriction on importing cheap timber from the Amazon Rain Forest has meant that the Amazon Forest, the lungs of the Earth, has started to regenerate and other countries have followed in your footsteps. Well done.

My gratitude to you knows no bounds for the way you imposed sanctions on the use of single-use plastics and made a pledge to phase out the use of plastics in supermarkets and the retail business sector. The howls of derision from the retail sector did not weaken your resolve. You stood firm and made the hard decisions. Thank you for taking control of Australia’s rubbish and recycling and thank you for no longer sending it overseas for processing. Our rubbish, our problem.

The demise of the Murray-Darling Basin, where millions of fish suffocated and died and blue-green algae blooms decimated the waters, was one of the worst environmental disasters of the century. Your actions following this disaster meant that agricultural waste was no longer permitted to be washing into our river systems. It has taken a long time but gradually we are seeing a difference.

The way you turned over the management of lands and reserves to Australia’s first people, following the long overdue signing of the Treaty, has made the world of difference to the amount of bush fires in the hotter months. The formally dispossessed people have finally been able to complete their journey towards reconciliation. Thank you.

Because you made the difficult decisions when required I am now filled with hope for the future. The current Prime Minister, and her cabinet are an inspiration to women everywhere with her empathy and her strong leadership. Just the type of role model I want for my granddaughter. Thank you for paving the way for women in leadership. Your decision to put more women on the front bench was a prudent one.

Thanks to you, my granddaughter now has a future that will provide for her children and their grandchildren. When they study history at school they will see that you were instrumental in their hopeful future. Again I say thank you From the bottom of my heart!

Yours sincerely,

Future Grandmother

The Western Australian Police Historical Society Museum

A hidden museum in Highgate with some interesting artefacts.

I made a new discovery this weekend. As I am oft to do, I was out wandering when I chanced upon a museum I never knew existed despite living in this area for many years.

The smell of cooking sausages and onions was what first drew me in, even though I am a vegetarian. Who can resist the smell of onions? The museum is located beside and under the Sewerage Ventilation Tower on Lincoln Street in Highgate. The Heritage listed tower has been there since 1941 when the Chief Engineer of Public Works, Mr Dumas commissioned it’s building. The purpose of this tower, you may well ask? It was originally built to vent the Perth sewer of acidic gases.

The 38 metre tower, which took 6 years to build And 250,000 bricks was used for the purpose it was built for , for a sum total of four weeks but the stench was so overpowering and the residents were up in arms. From this point on the tower was referred to as “Dumas’s Folly”.

In 1942 the WA Police installed a covert aerial inside the tower to operate their communications during World War ll. The small hall attached to the tower was used as a lecture room for traffic offenders and now is used as a meeting room for the WA Police Historical Society.

The Museum which is usually only open on Tuesdays and Fridays holds a comprehensive collection of WA Police paraphernalia including an old Anglia Police car, police uniforms dating back to the 40’s, police cameras, speed cameras, decommissioned weapons, many photos and documents and a collection of hats.

Maree, a volunteer with the society, showed me around as I was their first customer. They were hoping for a big crowd and had cooked up a mass of sausages. Unfortunately for them, I am vegetarian so I just had a nice cup of tea and a chat.

*The original Police Station which had two lock-up cells*

The photos of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples being taken prisoners in the remote North West of WA were quite distressing, with pictures showing large numbers of people chained and restrained. There is a photo of the Prison Boab Tree just out of Derby where people were imprisoned while waiting for transport to other towns.

The staff photos of large groups of men are testament to just how male-dominated the WA Police Force was up until the 60’s when one or two women were permitted to join. Even then the photos list the names of individual men but the women were not named, but instead labelled as “2 female police officers”. Women were not permitted to be married, as with the teaching profession and they had to be trained nurses in order to join.

My favourite item would have to be the Anglia police car that was out on display. As a lover of the TV series “The Young Ones” I have fond memories of Vivian, the punk in his Anglia. The kids who see the car apparently refer to “Harry Potter” as there is one in one of the Harry Potter movies.

Worth a visit but it is not usually open on weekends, just Tuesdays and Fridays. Maree did say that they were hoping to open on weekends in the future.

The Sixty Foot Falls walk trail in the Perth hills

Sunday morning started out at around 22 degrees with a lovely fresh breeze and some sunshine with a promised high of 27 degrees on the horizon. Perfect morning for a hike!

Perth City is only around 45 minutes drive to Darling Scarp or as the locals call it, “the hills” area , and we picked out a trail we hadn’t walked before At Banyowla Regional Park in Gosnells.

Banyowla (pronounced ban-yow-la) recognises Banyowla a Nyoongar elder at the time of colonial settlement. The park has 550 species of flowering plants, 116 species of birds, 9 species of frogs and 8 species of native animals. The Ellis Brook flows seasonally from June to October, depending on rainfall.

There are 4 marked trails varying in difficulty and length beginning with the Easy Walk Trail, a 500m loop, the Eagle View Trail (moderate) a 430m return. The blue Wren Ramblue was listed as being easy and 2.8km return. The Sixty Foot Falls Trail (difficult) 2km loop with elevation.

*The marker for the Sixty Foot Falls Walk*

The walk we decided on, the Sixty Foot Falls Walk Trail took to us an elevation of around 150m and promised waterfalls and great views of the city. Waterfalls were definitely not expected as it is the middle of summer but views on a clear day are always a yes from me!

*The place where the falls would be falling in the right season.*

When we arrived at the gate we had to park on the road as the gate to the park was not open despite there being a sign stating that the gate was open between 6.00 am And 7.00 pm. No problem, it was only a short 1 – 2 km walk up the road to the beginning of our trek.

The walks were very clearly marked and maps were on display in various locations. We chose the “Sixty Foot Falls Walk Trail” which was around a 2km Loop that took in the water fall and the old quarry site.

After a quick look at the map we cleaned our shoes at the dieback station and started following the clearly marked arrows that took us up to the first lookout area.

The path was pretty rocky in places and had steps cut out to enable easy climbing.

While climbing up we could see where the waterfall would usually be flowing and the view from the top was incredible. The city and surrounding suburbs clearly visible as it was a clear day.

Once we got over the top of the waterfall area we came across the old quarry with views from the top. This area is fenced so it is difficult to get too close, however, we could see that there was a road or track that allowed access to the quarry from the bottom.

The quarry was full of water which looked very inviting, however, there were signs warning that swimming might not be safe due to meningococcal risks. The surrounding cliffs are quite beautiful.

A video of just what is at the bottom of the Old Barrington Quarry

The quarry site, previously known as the “Old Barrington Quarry” is quite awe inspiring with huge cliffs that have been carved out by years of quarrying for stone.

The walks are suitable for both families and serious hikers. We saw some rock climbers in the quarry so it must also be popular with the climbing community

I thoroughly enjoyed our hike to another of Western Australia’s hidden spots. We will definitely be back to see the water falling and the wildflowers blooming!

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