31. Two oceans meet, lighthouses, caves, kite surfers; all before turning left and heading east.


The sights we have seen heading down to the SW corner before taking a necessary left turn are mind blowing, making it hard to reduce the number of photos, however, we have kept them to a minimum.
The kite surfers and caves were out of this world in photogenic opportunities.

Bunbury is a neat town and another chance to tour by tandem.  We parked the car and rode 30kms around the town before moving on.

Bunbury Lighthouse has had a chequered history with many locations and  five structures.
It was relocated to the current position, design, height and colour scheme in 1971

What is it with Western Australia and great pedestrian/cycle bridges?

 Blue whale skeleton design. 

Even the chairs are more upmarket than normal park benches. 

Small towns, like Capel, where we took advantage of their free camp near a sports oval are doing marvels.  The neat little town had even neater garbage bins and playground.

Oh, to be a kid again!
So many WA parks had swings of the type removed from eastern states due to danger.
WA seems to take the old fashioned approach of have fun, but take care. 

Back wall of the RSL.
This year is 100 years since the end of WWI

Forests abound in this corner of WA, with a drive through a tuart forest.  Tuart trees grow to almost 40m with a girth of up to 11m and live to 400 years.
We were going to try and find a round tuart, but didn't get a round to it.

Reaching high!

Distinctive bark

 Busselton is famous for the jetty.  At 1841 metres long it is the longest timber jetty in the world.
The town is bustling with new structures, playgrounds and enthusiasm.

Busselton jetty said to be 152 years old.
It is reminiscent of an old axe which is said to be original with exception of a new head and handle. 

The old rejuvenated steam train.

The new battery train which is capable of leaving the tracks and driving on pneumatic tyres to turn around and get to the other end of the carriages. 

Near the end of the jetty, an underwater observatory allows folk to see life under the waves.

Looking down to the sea bed.

Carrol's stripes can be seen impacting on the piers. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Busselton:

The bike path, setting sun, wildflowers and sand extend for kilometres up and down the coast. 

The most amazing playground is nearing completion, possibly modelled on any of the 1,400 shipwrecks along the
Western Australia coast. 

A blinding sunset in Busselton.
Psalm 113:3 NIV
""From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."

The full time while at Busselton we could hear a low fog horn noise day and night from pigeons.
Here he is chest puffed up courting his bird 

Harsh sun has burnt a hole in the foliage. 

Pretty bird is not impressed at hole burnt in tree. 

A drive further south took in lighthouses at each end with caves in between.

Cape Naturaliste Light at an elevation of 123m (on 100m headland)
Group of 2 flashes every 10 seconds.
12 ships had been lost in surrounding waters prior to the light being activated in 1904.

The bearings for the rotating light to give a fluid ease of movement.
Probably frowned upon now.
A large jar of mercury was lost overboard at the time of construction at nearby Quindalup Jetty. 
The jar has never been found, except could possibly be the reason for high Hg levels in sharks. 

Nearby Canal Rocks had another interesting set of man made structures.

A series of canals linked by bridges.

Apparently OK in cyclonic conditions. 

The kangaroos live an easier life in this part of Australia than in some of the drought stricken areas to the east. 

Wine and surf have put Margaret River on the map internationally.  Again we have posted several photos, as they seem to give a story as the events of the day.
These chaps were so talented in riding the waves and the wind in an organised anticlockwise circuit with great skill and understanding of avoiding wrapped kite lines.

Shore bound through the surf.

Then heading back out. 

Southern Cross formation.

Opposing directions without entanglement. 

The numbers kept on increasing. 

 Going underground at Mammoth Cave was another chance to brush up on our speleologist studies.
The cave has housed bones and fossils of the giant marsupial herbivore Zygomaturus and Thylacines (Tasmanian tigers, possibly from a time before Tassie was set adrift).
Unlike the Jewel Cave featured shortly, this cave tour is self guided.

The walkway disappearing in the distance gives an idea of size. 

Thousands of stalactites 

Beautiful, however would be quite painful if the ceiling collapsed. 

Out into daylight.

Camping in Jarrahdene Campsite nestled within a mix of Jarrah, Marri and Peppermint bushland in an area, once a thriving logging community, complete with a school.

Dwarfed by some impressive trees.
A peaceful secluded night.
Ahh....the serenity!  So much serenity!

The amenities were impressive as always. 

Morning glory. 

We sent this letter to school teachers; daughter Felicia and friend Kim suggesting they sign their letters the same as this one written by the local school teacher in 1913.
The replies came back as "Not likely!!"

Jewel Cave is the largest cave in Western Australia and features three massive caverns.
To give an idea of size, the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse (the tallest on mainland Australia at 39m) featured after this article on Jewel cave, can fit at a slight angle inside the main cavern; although with difficulty in getting past the cash register, fridge magnets and stuffed toys.

Eyes adjusting to the light.
This is one massive cave. 

Laser line shows water level up until the 1980s.  

Awe inspiring beauty.
The lights were turned out at one stage and we were in absolute darkness.

Finally down to one of the Five Great Capes of the world, Cape Leeuwin, situated on Australia's most South-westerly cape.
The other Great Capes, or most southern capes in sailing around the world are South East Cape, Tasmania; South Cape, New Zealand; Cape Horn, Chile; and Cape Agulhas, South Africa.

Famed Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, so prominent on the world scene.
Australia's highest mainland lighthouse.  Constructed in 1895.  Highlights the junction of two oceans; the Indian and  Southern Oceans.
At a height of 39m could stand inside Jewel Cave at a slight angle.

View from the top showing Indian Ocean to the right and the Southern Ocean to the left.
Antarctica is over the horizon straight ahead 4000kms. 

Three lighthouse keeper's cottages are now obsolete due to automation. 

The SS Pericles, a sister ship to the Titanic which was owned by the White Star Line, sank in 1910 on its maiden voyage to Australia.
Due to ideal conditions, all on board made it safely into this bay. 

Flash every 7.5 seconds. 

Intricate design and function in great condition after more than 120 years.
Same as the model standing looking out, at less than half that age.  

Local stone and masonry.
British engineering and steps.  

This water wheel built in 1895 supplied one litre of water for every stroke of the wheel.
It has now calcified and frozen in time like a stalactite. 

Hence we have reached the end of our journey south and have no option but to turn left and head east, homeward bound.

Trusting your wheels are still turning and you are not allowing all to calcify in place.

Eastward bound.
Cheers, Don and Carrol.