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!

Wongan Hills

The Bushwalking Group are having a weekend away, staying at Wongan Hills Caravan Park. A number of chalets were pre-booked some time ago, since this is prime wildflower season in these parts. My friend V was supposed to be sharing with me, but she has been in hospital having surgery on her foot, so is missing out on the trip. C said she would come instead.

It’s Friday the 13th and my day did not begin well. Driving out of my underground carpark I heard a strange noise and realised I had a flat tyre. Sod’s Law: just as I needed to set off to pick up C. 

I called the RAC, who said they would be there in 60 minutes, which they were. Then I had to take the tyre to the garage to get it repaired. It was just a nail in the tread, but this took another 45 minutes. I drove to Como, where C had a nice lunch waiting for me. Finally we could be on our way to Wongan Hills. We stopped at Bindoon Bakehouse to pick up a few goodies; their bread was sold out by the afternoon but some little cakes were added to our provisions.

The weather has suddenly turned very hot, up to 27 degrees: not the best for bushwalking, but it is what it is. There are many flies around, in and out of the chalet. We were all booked into the Wongan Hills Hotel for dinner, a typical country pub with a very long bar and a huge selection of beers. C and I enjoyed fish and chips: the portions were generous and I could only get through half of mine.

Wireless Hill

The second day of Spring was warm and sunny, with a forecast top of 25 degrees. Time to go on another wildflower hunt. Wireless Hill is a nature reserve very close to the city and full of interesting flora:

There are information boards all along the pathways, like this one, but they don’t always correspond to the site of the actual flowers:

Lots of people were out, enjoying the sunshine and taking photos. I’m pleased with what I managed to see:

Kangaroo Paw

Donkey Orchids (these were prolific!)

Cowslip Orchids.

Fringe Lilies 

Milkmaids

Cats Paws 

Spider Orchid: Carousel Spider Orchid?

Kings Park Bushwalk

It’s that time of year again when Kings Park puts on a carefully curated show of Spring wildflowers. I was keen to see if I could put in an appearance as I’ve been “resting” for two weeks. I managed to walk with the group for 6 kms before taking a shortcut back to my car. Getting to Kings Park was a bit of a challenge, since there were many road closures for the annual City to Surf Run. Access to the Park was limited to one entrance from the south side. It wasn’t easy after that, since Lovekin Drive was closed for resurfacing. Finding the meeting spot was like finding your way to the centre of a maze!

When I finally reached the Pioneer Women’s carpark, I was immediately introduced to a mother and son who were planning to do the Camino in mid-October and wanted to pick my brains. I was envious.

The wildflowers were wonderful, maybe a bit early this year:

Paper Daisies always attract attention.



This seems to be a fungus growing out of a tree stump.

Near the carpark is a display of wax flowers. I never realised before how many varieties exist:

When we were in Japan we saw a solitary common-or-garden Geraldton Wax on a restaurant table, in a bud vase like a single rose.

The botanists are doing a similar job breeding varieties of Kangaroo Paws:

P.S. I've just watched a documentary The Cost of a Rose about flower farming in the Netherlands and Kenya. The cost of growing waxflowers in W.A. does not involve such human misery!

Winter pursuits

This is the first time in quite a few years that I haven’t been able to escape up north for some warmer weather. Two reasons for this: firstly, I spent too much on my Andalusian trip and secondly, I was awaiting a medical procedure. Like the Royal Family, I’m not going to reveal details (except to say it was in a part of the body we don’t talk about in polite company). I’m just recovering now and have this little reminder of my time in day surgery:

This is a good time to concentrate on my crafts. My wrist warmers in the Arne and Carlos yarn go nicely with one of JL’s merino jumpers that I’m making use of. 

My blue bed jacket in a retro pattern is almost complete. The very first thing I knitted (aged 10) was a pink bed jacket, done under close supervision by my mother. I wish I still had it. My mother taught me to knit and my grandmother to crochet. I am really grateful for both. We used to do it over the Christmas holidays when everyone was bored with too much food. I wish I could pass on my skills to my daughter and granddaughter, but they seem to have other interests.

I will put my bed jacket to good use when I sit up in bed with a cup of tea on cold mornings, catching up with emails and YouTube videos that I follow. Among other things, I enjoy Rachel is Knitting and Little Miss Drop Stitch as well as lots of videos about campervan travels.

For knitting inspiration I keep looking through this book, purchased when I was in Margaret River:

Now for some quilting. This is a project that has been going on for too long. It’s supposed to be one of those covers that hotels put over the foot of beds: very difficult to photograph. It’s based on fish motifs from JS’s balcony railings in Exmouth, together with a few Camino touches:

A small amount of preserving has been done, in the form of red onion chutney. It’s delicious on a cheese sandwich. The jars are sitting on one of JN’s handwoven tea towels; weaving is not one of my accomplishments:

Finally, there’s always time to go out for a coffee. Have you ever seen them do a seahorse?

Centenary Lunch

The W. A. Naturalists Club is 100 years old. We enjoyed a beautiful lunch today at the University Club. I haven’t been to any of their meetings for a long while and was shocked to see how OLD everyone appeared! I suppose I am just the same - surely not?

Val and I.

Someone had worked very hard with appropriate table settings:

Even the napkins were just right.

Here are some of the older members:

Otto Mueller.

This man (ex President) is amazingly 100 years old himself and is still coherent!

Food:

Smoked salmon w. curried apple and fennel slaw.

Fillet steak: it’s a long time since I dined on this!

Scrumptious

On a cold and miserable weekend, I’m just reviewing some of my recent food photos.

Goldband snapper from Kailis, cooked in lemon pressed EVOO from Olio Bello, enjoyed yesterday with C and E at Como. This was finished with a little dressing of Ginger, Soy and Sesame, also from Olio Bello.

Vegetarian cottage pie, with Puy lentils, bought as a take-away from The Larder in Margaret River.

Another take away from The Larder, this time some spicy Beef Rendang (just like Siti used to make for me in Singapore!).

Two pies from the Deer Farm, heated up at our Tree Change chalet in Yallingup.

A delicious frozen concoction made by C for our first night at Tree Change, heated up in the microwave with some baby spinach.

Feeling peckish now, but just eating leftovers!