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I purchased a 4X4 Mitsubishi in April 2010 and was keen to see how it performed on a run to Perth. The seats fold down to make a bed and I have a small tent and camping stove so I decided to see if I could cope! I left Adelaide on 5th Dec.at 5am. and had breakfast at Port Wakefield. With several rest stops for coffee & cake! I reached Streaky Bay at 4.30pm. It rained and hailed with lightening and thunder! so I booked into the pub! cost me $50.00 with a breakfast!

My journey from Streaky bay was amazing! I set off, after a walk along the jetty, at 7.15am heading for West Australia

and the treeless plain of the Nullarbor desert. The weather was incredible, the rain so heavy it was difficult to see the road which in places was like a river! passing trucks (B doubles) was frightening. However after many rest stops for

fuel and food I reached Eucla which marked the West Australian border. The rain had stopped and time was confusing for it was central time! but it was late afternoon or early evening! I looked at the caravan park  and chose an unpowered site under a tree costing $10.00 and after some food settled down for a comfortable night! I slept for ten hours! had breakfast and set off for Norseman. I had a comfortable night in the caravan park,  I found a quiet spot and after a tea of beans on toast! I slept like a log! cost was $26.00 for a powered site and the camp kitchen was well equipped.

After an early breakfast I headed for Esperence for a break and then to Stirling range national park where I stayed for 2 nights in a caravan for $50.00 a night

This is a very lovely national park, well cared for and the caravan had 4 bunk beds and a double. Fridge, microwave and kettle. Toilets were very clean and a huge camp kitchen. Abundant bird life and walking trails.

One of the main attractions here is Bluff Knoll, A big hill or small mountain! it is national park and popular to climb, however it can be dangerous because the weather can change so quickly and low cloud descend upon  you in minutes. There are warnings to heed climbers but each year you get people die in the Bluff. It is only a shot drive from where I stayed.

The car park for the Bluff Knoll is excellent with toilets and an Interpretive centre to assist you on what preparations to make prior to the climb. I got about 1/3 of the way up!! and realised I needed warmer cloths!  The picture below is where the climb starts, you have to go through the interpretive area. Great idea.

From the Stirling Range National Park  I traveled through vey dry rural land that had no crop or livestock and was quite depressing to look at. Some areas near Ravensthorpe have had very little rain for several seasons. However, as I headed west towards Bunbury the country improved and I saw both crops and livestock.

It was great to visit my older sister in Bunbury who had her daughter and son in law with her to greet me! It is several years since I have seen them.  We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch together after which I made my way to Perth on the new expressway which is very busy and has some problems with the  heavy traffic.

I am not what you could call an avid reader of books but as I have grown older I have come to realise what joy comes from being engrossed in a good book. For my birthday in May I was given two books, both of which I have enjoyed. This blog is about one of those books. It is written by a mountaineer called Greg Mortenson and David Relin.This is no ordinary book, it is a fantastic story about a most extraordinary man. He has achieved the impossible and almost died doing so. His story is one of the most inspiring tales I have ever read and I urge everyone to go out and find a copy of this wonderful book. It makes me feel like my life has been pretty useless when compared with what Greg has achieved. Go to www.threecupsoftea.com and follow the prompts it will give you some idea of what he has achieved!

I wrote this last year, I have since given several friends this wonderfully inspirational book.   For those interested I would encourage them to also read his second book called ” Stones into Schools” Greg is still doing a wonderful job.

• My one week Holiday in Brisbane was really great. I left Adelaide on 12th April and was most surprised to find the weather very similar to what I had left. A little milder but beautiful! It really is not cold at night and the evenings are perfect for walks to the local eating places of which there are many! This first photo is of me with my grandson Sam who is a big lad and works hard in a local engineering company.
• I soon started catching ferries on the Brisbane river which are like buses in other cities, and finding my way round. It was good to spend time with my son and his family and see where they have made their nest! a fourth floor unit close to the city.

This is the entrance to the garden. It is a very beautiful place right in thr heart of Adelaide. The feeling of peace and tranquility is strong and you feel like you have wandered into a different world. Nestled in the parklands on South Terrace many people pass it without knowing it is there. I love it and visit it as often as possible.

Earlier this year Suzette and I went to a B&B on a farm about 2 hours from Adelaide. It was called ” The Dairy” and was in a small town called Springton. It was very quiet at night and very peaceful. The birds came to visit us at breakfast each day and were surprisingly tame considering how shy the Blue Wren is normally. So I took these photos which came out quite well.