Dalwallinu to New Norcia

In quirky accommodation, you meet some interesting people at meal times. Yesterday, I spoke to a woman who works for the Department of Agriculture and drives around the most remote parts of the State. Her job is to interview farmers about the size of their flock and the expected size of the grain harvest. This happens every year to help the Department in its forward planning.

At breakfast this morning, I chatted with a man who was absolutely covered in tattoos. There was literally no space left on his body for any more! He was born in the UK in Stratford on Avon and one of his most prized tattoos is of Shakespeare. When he migrated to Australia, he was shocked that hardly anyone recognised him:

He told me that this one on the top of his head was really painful when the needles went in! His job is in Pest Control and he goes around spraying for all kinds of pests. He actually lives in Como, not far from C. We might call him in for our rat problem: they eat all our figs, stripping the tree bare before we can get any.

Driving home this morning, I made a stop in New Norcia, Australia’s only monastic town. It was founded in 1846 as a Benedictine community. Once it was a thriving religious establishment, but now there are only 6 monks left. They make money from renting out accommodation of various kinds, including camping sites. I spent some time in the Museum and took these photos:

His travelling trunk: he made frequent trips back to Europe to raise funds for his venture.

Here he is sitting on the trunk in his cell.

Dalwallinu

The Old Convent is a strange place to stay. There are 11 rooms in the main building, with 3 shared bathrooms. Nobody likes this arrangement, which is why they are so cheap ($100 a night). That’s OK, but my room is too near the dining room and cooking smells permeate the corridor at night and hang around all day: not cabbage, but frying. It’s like living in a Fish and Chip Shop! You get what you pay for!

My little cell had a splendid TV, but the workings of the remote were a mystery to me and I had to summon one of the waitresses to help. She was a lovely Irish girl who was as mystified as me, but managed to fathom it out in the end. I was finally able to watch the ABC news. Tonight they are serving roast lamb, my favourite, so I’ll give it a try.

Today has not been much of a success in my hunt for wildflowers. Driving north was not enjoyable because of all the road trains travelling in both directions. You have to pay attention to give them enough space. When there is an oversized load with a pilot vehicle, you have to pull off to the side altogether. In the end I turned back to Dalwallinu.

Here are some of these monsters parked at Wubin and Dalwallinu:

This is a shot of the Old Convent this morning:

… and the old train station late in the afternoon:

After eating this roast lamb, I forgave them all the cooking smells!

Wongan to Dalwallinu

The caravan park has suddenly become full of A-Frame caravans, which fold down into camper trailers. They are part of a club, staying here for a week. As I was taking a photo, one of the owners (a woman on her own) invited me inside to have a look:

The bushwalkers were all leaving this morning to go back to Perth, but I was heading north to Dalwallinu. First, though, I wanted to fit in a visit to Christmas Rock, a nature reserve just on our doorstep. It’s interesting, in that the huge area of rock has been converted into a catchment to collect all the rainwater that falls on it. Originally, this water was needed to supply the tanks of steam engines passing through the townsite (steam engines need water to produce steam!)

Fields of everlastings came into view during the final part of the walk.

Then it was on to Dalwallinu to The Old Convent, where this fierce looking cat was guarding the entrance:

Rica Erickson Reserve

We didn’t join the bushwalking group on Sunday. I was keen to attend the Nats Guided Tour of the Rica Erickson Reserve, which is about 45 minutes drive back in the direction of Perth. From there, C could get a lift with one of the other participants in order to go back to work on Monday. Afterwards, I drove back to Wongan Hills so that I could have a few more days looking at wildflowers.

Everyone said they had never seen the Reserve looking so good. There were orchids on all sides and many other flowers as well (more than you could point a stick at, as the saying goes). J was in charge of the outing: she is a qualified botanist and is writing an illustrated guide to the wildflowers of this area. There were others in the group who were also expert at identifying what we found, including some locals who had met J before, when she was doing her research.

J telling us all about the Reserve 






A strange fungus (poo ball??) which sent out spores when I tapped it with my stick:


 After exploring for 2 hours, we set up our chairs in the sun and had lunch.

Mt Matilda Scenic Trail

On Saturday’s agenda was a 12 km drive west of Wongan Hills to the Mt Matilda trail head. Then there was a choice of a 7.3 km hike (approx 5 hours) or an easier Gimlet Gully Flora Loop (4.8 km 3.5 hours). Both started off together with a very steep section, including steps and a handrail. I chose the latter, whilst C and most of the others were keen on the former. H came with me.

It was a beautiful day, with clear blue skies and the possibility of views in all directions. When we were here before, a couple of years ago, it had been raining with persistent drizzle. Everyone was in high spirits at the thought of the views ahead of us. 

C took a selfie at one of the lookouts:


Here I am struggling up one of the steep bits:


We were tormented by flies as we got higher and the weather got warmer. I regretted the fact that I had several fly nets left at home! Apart from that it was a day to remember, with many wildflower sightings as we walked upwards:

The lookouts, with seats placed very close to the edge, were spectacular:

Don’t step back!


We saw lots of cowslip orchids:

…and several varieties of spider orchids:






Back down at the trail head, the view was equally lovely, as we all relaxed at the shelter and reminisced:

How lucky to be here on such a beautiful day!