In and around Walpole Part 2

I headed to Mandelay beach just west of Walpole. In 1911 a ship was wrecked here and the survivors were left on the beach for many days. This area was very remote back in those days and it was pure chance that one of the crew members set out and managed to find a settler not too far away.

There was no sign of the wreckage today, I think the tide may have been a little high. Still the coast line here was quite spectacular and there were some magnificent deep gutters along the beach, I’d love to come back here with my fishing gear.

As I turned and left the beach I snapped this unusual picture looking up at the stormy clouds with the sun behind them.

On the way out of Mandalay I noticed a camping area off to the side so I had a quick look. What a magnificent camping spot, not a soul there and it didn’t look like there had been anyone camping there in a little while, the place was very clean, nestled in among old shady peppermint trees and carpeted with clover.

There are rubbish bins, picnic tables and chairs, campfires with hotplates, a water supply and toilets, everything you could ask for in a camp site. I imagine that this would get packed during the summer but it’s empty in winter.

Leaving the campsite I was heading towards Fernhook Falls, roughly 15km north. I decided to take a side road which looked like a shortcut, yeah famous last words. Well it was a shortcut but the road wasn’t the best so over all it probably took me a little longer to get there, still it was an interesting little road and nice countryside.

I believe that I’ve discovered where the idea for some 60’s haircuts came from.

Arriving at Fernhook Falls I was amazed by the set up. I haven’t really been to many places of interest as yet, and the level of services and conveniences were really surprising.

This is just a small set of falls on a little river out in the middle of no where, yet there’s an enormous building to provide shelter, there’s a sink, fresh rain water, two gas barbecues, tables, chairs, toilets and lovely camping sites. Big congratulations to national parks and local shires for providing such outstanding services, it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to see such things and I hope I find similar setups as I travel around the country, I hope it’s not just a Western Australia thing.

The falls were nice I feel a little guilty because I couldn’t just walk the provided board walk, I had to get down in amongst it all, but I was careful not to cause any damage.

I found this rock in a small bowl shaped depression of the bedrock, it looks like it has been rolling around in there for years every time the river floods in winter.

Next I was on my way up to Mount Franklin but that will have to wait for another post.