We arrived home today after flying the “red eye” flight from Perth last night. We left our caravan at Bianca and Joes’s place at Two Rocks about half an hour north of Bec and Steve’s home.
Nick (Breen), our very good friend, picked us up from the airport at Coolangatta, QLD. I am sure he has earned a carton of beer !!!!
It is good to be home, if only for 5 weeks. Mutley and Salem were pleased to see us. We have missed them so much. The garden was healthy, due to all the rain Ballina has been having. The sun has come out for us though. What rain guys????
Like always, our wonderful house sitter, Jen, has looked after our home as if it was her own. I guess it is sort of, considering by the end of our next trip she will have lived in the home for nearly eight months. !!!!! Thanks again Jen.
We head off again for three months on the 30th April (only 5 weeks time). We will start from Perth and head north, then across to NT and Uluru, then into northern QLD before heading south home. We hope to be home by the end of July.
Bye for now, Ros and Mal
I really missed my kitchen. We both love cooking, but we do run out of room in the van. We will cook up a few fun meals while we are home.All ready for a dinner party !!! I need to cook. !!!!!!Mutley won't let Mal out of his sight. Lucky they are both obsessed with boats !!
Well, we are on our last few days of our second trip before leaving our car and caravan here and flying home for 5 weeks late on Sunday night.
We could not do it quite so easily without the help of Steve and Bec, who are running us to the airport in the middle of the night and storing our car in their garage, Nick, who is picking us up at the other end on the Gold Coast at some ridiculous hour and Bianca and Joe (Bec and Steve’s good friends), from Two Rocks who are storing our caravan at their home for the 5 weeks we are on the East Coast. A huge THANKYOU to you all.
We are presently camped at Burns Beach, about 45 minutes from Perth and about 10 minutes from Bec and Steve’s home. Our campsite is directly opposite the beach. Some of the photos below are taken from next to the van. There is also a cafe on site where we are meeting some new friends, Neil and Jean, for a coffee this afternoon.
Enjoyed a BBQ at Bec and Steve’s tonight. We even had the excitement of needing the fire extinguisher to put out the fire on the BBQ. The good old leaking gas hose.
Rosie and CreedBurns BeachBurns BeachMum on a mission Burns BeachDinner at Capri with Maggie, Lou, Anna and VinceTwo RocksTwo RocksTwo Rocks beachNeil and Jean at Burns BeachRosie and Creed watching Kelly Slater surfRosie's new surf board
Any foodie traveling south from Perth to Margaret River is likely to have stopped at a variety of places seeking elusive amazing new tastynoms. Mal and I are no different.
One of these, and in many ways the most significant is Gabriel Chocolate. We saw the chocolate sign and turned around and went back. We were not disappointed. When entering the building I glanced through a glass panel and saw sacks. Of cocoa beans. Unroasted.
No one, to the best of my knowledge, roasts cocoa beans in Western Australia. Gabriel roasts the cocoa, hand sorts, grinds, conchs, tempers and pours. That is, they actually make chocolate, not just blend courveture or enrobe things to make truffles. Better yet they use single origin cocoa beans of great quality that have characteristic flavours.
Western Australia has a genuine chocolate producer using high quality ingredients and rare bean stocks. If you are going to Margaret River I think you really need to add a visit to this tiny producer of amazing things.
As a bonus, if you drive out of Gabriel’s driveway and into the driveway immediately opposite you will drive into another discovery – Windows Estate.
Nadia is the cook at Gabriel’s. With Mal’s hot chocolate he had THE MOST AMAZING biscuit I have ever tasted. “French Kiss Cookies” He ended up having to let me have a second bite. Nadia was generous enough to share the recipe with me. She also shared her “Absolute Best Brownies” recipe with me. I think we will go back before we leave to try the brownies. If you make the cookies and love them, and would like the Brownie recipe, you will have to bribe me !!!
I have decided to share the recipe with you as well……
FRENCH KISS COOKIES
240g cake flour
240g bread flour
1.25 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp course salt
285g unsalted butter
285g granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
570g bittersweet choc discs @ least 60%
sea salt
Sift flour, soda, powder and salt. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until very light – about 5 minutes. Add 1 egg @ a time. Mix well after each addition. Add vanilla. Reduce to a slow speed and add dry ingredients then mix for 5 – 10 seconds. Drop in chocolate without breaking them. Wrap in plastic for at least 24 hours. (up to 72 hours). Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Scoop 6 100g rounds (golf ball size). Turn any chocolate drop horizontally so it is not poking up. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt, bake until golden brown but soft. Transfer on sheet to wire rack for 10 minutes, then on another rack to cool.
Secrets supplied by Nadia and Jacque Torres.
Batter – chill for at least 24 to 36 hours
6″ cookies to get snap and chocolate goo. I am going to increase the mixture to get more yummy cookies !!!!! I know, more walking.
Best served hot or warmed up again.
60% plus good quality chocolate.
Chocolate dough use no less than 40:60
Belgian (Belcolade) uses quart disc so they are flat and melt in layers.
Lunch @ Saracen Winery and Duckstein BreweryDuckstein Brewery
A walk along a beach.....Moses RockMoses Rock birds...will have to find out what type. They look like a weird cockatooWe love the contrast between the beautiful gums and stunning grasses....left click on the picture to get a better look.Redgate BeachClimbing the rocksRedgate BeachRedgate Beach with the Christmas bushfire damage in the backgroundNational Park on the way to AugustaCape Leeuwin...Australia's tallest lighthouse and still an important working lighthouse. Southern Ocean to the left. Indian Ocean to the right.Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Bird life AugustaMal feeding the ducks waiting for their dinner when we got home to BusseltonHistoric waterwheel Augusta. The waterwheel was built in 1895 to supply water to the builders of the lighthouse and later to the lighthouse keepers cottages. The wheel is now encrusted in calcified lime.Hamelin BayMum and her newborn calf on our way home after leaving Augusta. She is still washing the baby. Left click on the photo Rosie and Creed and you will see the baby better.
A two to three hour drive south of Perth lies the sheltered shores of Geographe Bay. Voted one of the top 10 places to visit in the world by Lonely Planet, the region is famed for its breathtaking natural beauty.
Here we have experienced extraordinary. From the heights of the largest remaining tuart forest in the world , to the depths of Australia’s greatest artificial reef at the Busselton Jetty. In between we have found hundreds more equally spectacular spots, and just as many ways to enjoy them.
Geographe Bay is home to the vibrant seaside towns of Busselton, Dunsborough and Yallingup, 30kms of pristine, white sandy beaches fringe the renowned Margaret River Wine Region to create the perfect holiday spot for us. We extended our stay from one week to two !!!!
Eagle Bay Brewing Company
Eagle BayGeographe Bay....Cape Naturaliste
The whole area is stunningBeach near BusseltonAt Knotting Hill we enjoyed their delicious Cheese Platter..... Creamy vintage cheddar, pepper cheddar, Margaret River Organic Camembert, red chilli dip, basil pesto, Italian black olives, marinated feta, Salami, dried apricots, Italian chocolates, thin wafer crisps and baby Turkish bread...yes, and lots of exercise !!!Flame Tree CellarsThe 145-year-old Busselton Jetty, measured at 1841 metres, is the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere and today is one of Australia's most unique eco-tourism sites.
We have decided to stay in Busselton for another week and use it as a base to see all the area including Dunsborough (a beaut spot…only 10 minutes from Busselton), Augusta (1 hour away), Gracetown and of course Margaret River district (less than half an hour away).
We spent yesterday down south enjoying the Margaret River, but also seeing the devastation caused by the bush fires just before Christmas when about 40 homes were lost. The fire started while the authorities were doing, in hind- site, an incorrectly timed routine burn off to prevent fires. Out of respect for the home owners, I did not take any photos of the burnt out homes. So sad.
Today we have been car less due to a Mum and baby possum taking residence under our car.We moved them yesterday, but did not have the heart to move them today as it has been very hot, so spent the day working, relaxing and bike riding. The possums are so cute, except when they insist on peering down at me from the top of the caravan while we are trying to sleep!!!! They sound like baby elephants.
Gracetown bush fire damage
Prevelly Beach was the worst effected….over 40 homes lost. It is such a pretty area normally.
Our resident possums getting ready to climb up under the car.Having a scratchPrevelly showing huge fire damageBoth are very sleepy and very comfortable and cool up under the car. Left click on photo to get a better look.
A quote from our son-in-law Steve explains the “ups”….. “up” is “place of ____” in Noongar aboriginal language. Yallingup is “place of love”. Nannup is “place of parrots”. Etc
We have avoided causing any accidents while taking photos of just a few of the many “ups”. I have also had fun walking back along the highway, usually in the heat, while getting strange looks from passing traffic so that I get a photo of an “up”. I know, small things amuse small minds !!!! Oh well, enjoy my “ups”.
We are down in Busselton at the moment. Wow, what a beautiful spot this is. Only just under 3 hours from Perth , but cooler, near the Margaret River, with stunning beaches and surrounding areas. Have spent yesterday and today checking out the area.
Today we spent our 15th Wedding Anniversary here in Busselton. We went for a late lunch at Palmer Wines of Margaret River. I had a Vitello Tonnato – Chilled Veal in Tuna Sauce, and Mal enjoyed Pork Belly on a delicious potato rosti bake. We both walked away very contented. !!!!
Palmer VineyardStill @ PalmersBusselton Jetty...closer to sunsetEarly evening fishingBusselton JettyCows on the Beach BusseltonBusseltonNight visitors to our campsiteI loved the stripes in the water....left click to get a better lookBunker Bay...south of Busselton. Bunker Bay has a great resort we have stayed at before. We love caravaning but ......resorting is hard to beat !!!!We walked about 2 kms but the poor fellow was long gone
Today, post wedding, a few of us headed down to Il Cibo in Fremantle for a delicious brunch. Good restaurant that I would love to return too. Bec and Steve leave for Bali today, so tonight Chris, Merelyn, Mal and I will probably settle on a quiet BBQ in the park. Tomorrow, Mal and I are heading south towards the Margaret River region for a couple of weeks.
A Freo beautyYes, we somehow ended up across the road from Little Creatures again todaya dog friendly happy beachSouth Fremantle...it reminds us so much of Hobart. It must be why we like it in Fremantle so much.Fremantle a couple of nights ago
What a beautiful wedding it was. The weather was perfect. The ceremony was held down by the banks of the stunning Swan River at Mosman Park, with Rebecca, Rosie and Chris arriving by boat. Bec looked absolutely beautiful and so was Rosie. Steve and Creed looked pretty good too!!!! The wedding was casual with gorgeous native flowers and many special touches. Following the ceremony the wedding party and parents (Derek and Therese, Chris and Merelyn and Mal and I ) went back by boat to Little Creatures Brewery where the reception was being held. Fun for all was had with the 3 fathers giving speeches, Mim (Bec’s grandmother) reading a beautiful poem of Bec’s life that June(Mim) had written herself, finishing off with Bec and Steve having a few words. Molly, the MC was very amusing.
Below, are a few photos I took. I am looking forward to seeing some better ones.
Merelyn and Lee doing a great job with the hair dos.A kiss for Rosie from Creed before the wedding preparations.The bride arriving by boat...left click on photo to enlarge
Bec, Steve, Rosie and Creed....Not a good photo. I was too busy enjoying the weddingCreedRosieRosie and GeorgiaRosie and Creed...yes we are proud grandparents. They are beautiful children.Creed playing an instrument with the band...he looked the part, took it very seriously !!!Bride and Groom left the wedding by tandem bike. They had a a couple of kms to ride down to South Beach.
We have spent the last couple of days relaxing and really enjoying ourselves.
Exploring the Swan Valley, Coogee Beach, Cottesloe Beach, Mosman (beautiful spot), more of Fremantle, so many places.
Today we started the day with breakfast at “The Blue Duck” at Cottesloe Beach with Chris (my ex husband) and Merilyn (his new wife). It was a delicious breakfast. With ocean views extending to Rottnest Island, and a refreshing sea breeze, The Blue Duck in Cottesloe Beach is an ideal spot for breakfast or a quick coffee. This restaurant’s unpretentious interior is simply decorated, with a wall of windows maximising views of the beach. We all enjoyed our breakfast judging by the empty plates. After finishing our breakfasts, the staff then bought some huge, just cooked, complementary muffins. We couldn’t help but try them. It would have been rude…..well that’s Merilyn and my excuse anyway !!!
Following breakfast, Mal and I headed out to the Swan Valley. We had a good day visiting places such as The Chocolate Factory and Feral Brewery. Just thirty minutes drive or a two and a half hour journey by river cruiser, the Swan Valley in the upper reaches of the Swan River is Western Australia’s oldest established wine growing region.
Famous for its orchard-lined roads, peaceful areas, international wineries, gourmet food producers, restaurants and cultural attractions, the Swan Valley makes the perfect day trip from the city of Perth.
Sculptures by the Sea Cottesloe BeachBeach fun for this pooch...photo was on a gargage bin. We loved it.Cottesloe BeachYum....chocolates at the Chocolate Factory Swan ValleyFeral Brewery...picture from their websiteSwan ValleyCottesloe BeachA visitor to our campsite last night..a bandicoot
Coogee Beach...we are staying hereSunset CoogeeFremantleBon Scott ACDCRoundhouse FremantleShipwreck Gallery FremantleFremantle PrisonA Perth local
