We’ve had over a month of rain and I think we’ve come to the conclusion there are only so many errands, shopping, and gardening between the raindrops one can do before you just have to take off to the country. But where should we go? There was more wind and rain in the forecast, and the one orchid we were hoping to see would surely be closed, and the fantastic wildflowers north at Coalseam would also be closed. I even sent John a list of country bakeries we could visit, but mostly I was joking. So mid-trip north, John decided to head east and go explore some rocks. Large rocks.
But first, the car packed and ready to head out, we had to listen to our favorite rock star, Sam the Muleman. Using my phone, a Bluetooth connection, and a lot of accumulated data on my phone plan, we could hear his live show and still attempt to communicate with other Mulettes and Sam while we took in the Western Australia countryside.
Canola fields in the countryside is typical viewing this time of year.
Canola is an important crop in Western Australia, with production in 2018/19 estimated at 1.45 million tonnes worth around $812 million to the state economy. Nearly all WA canola production is exported, predominantly into Asia for human use and to Europe for biofuel production.
The first thing you notice when surrounded by canola fields is the smell. There is a faintly urinous note and something deeper, more animalistic and fleshy almost. Overall, however, canola is a sweet, bright, and semi-powdery smell, slightly reminiscent of wattle, but much gutsier. It’s narcotic, syrupy, rounded, rich, and sharp all at once. At first, I couldn’t deal with the smell, but now I have acquired a liking to it.
When the Muleman live show was over, he came up in random play from our flash drive of mp3s.
A very quick stop at Lake Ninan that actually had water in it, thanks to the rains. We’ve been here before, and walked out to the center and on hard dry salt under our feet, no water at all.
I can’t help but wonder as we drive by the older buildings what stories could be told about the place, its history and its people.
Soon, everlastings were seen by the roadside. Never get tired of seeing this hope of spring.
So John sees a sign for Datjoin Rocks, and since it wasn’t on our list of stops, asks, “Do you want to go and explore?” I agreed, so he turned the car around, and right away, we find a Pink Candy Orchid.
Followed by thousands of Blue Fairy Orchids.
We were in a literal Blue Fairy Orchid heaven. You had to watch your step. They were very small, and they were everywhere.
We even found a few white blue fairy orchids.
After looking at how many there were, John gently reminded me we had a long way to travel, and he never had intended to stay that long. We left without seeing one rock.
This was pretty much our view for miles and miles. We were well out of Beacon when my body decided it needed a ‘bio break.’ But I wasn’t worried there was a mention of Wialki on the map. So I didn’t worry, it seems all towns have public toilets. Wialki ended up being nothing! We saw nothing. Our next hope was Bonnie Rock some miles ahead.
And there it was, in the middle of a LITERAL nowhere, was the BEST public toilet for the middle of nowhere, I’d ever been to. (Trust me, I have some experience on this matter).
When I say in the middle of nowhere, it really was, but there was also this historic town hall and rusty tractor.
Fully relieved, and miles later, we found ourselves at Beringbooding Rock. Beringbooding Rock has the largest rock water catchment tank in Australia. We didn’t explore everything sadly, because I read later the northern side of Beringbooding Rock also has the beginnings of a rock wave. It’s really just a steep indentation, slightly overhanging, with a waterhole at its bottom, but is evidence of the same erosional forces which created the breaking wave structure of Wave Rock. The shape, rock colors and out-of-place pool of water – known to the local Aboriginal people as a gnamma hole – make a picturesque scene. Next time.
We did take some time to hang around and watch a wedged tailed eagle hover over the rocks.
The interesting part of the day was pronouncing some of these places. Anyhow, next stop was Elachbutting Rock.
So this is our first look at Elachbutting Rock. Elachbutting Rock is a massive granite outcrop with a spectacular natural rock formation with similar features to Wave Rock. The rock has a number of large cavern areas and is surrounded by natural bushland.
After parking the car and walking closer, we soon saw the wave rock.
Another view of the wave.
For being at the base of a big rock, getting around was a bit tricky. We followed a sign that said “Monty’s Pass.”
Still tricky to maneuver, given my history with ankle sprains and injuries, I managed to do OK.
‘Monty’s Pass’ turned out to be a 30m tunnel caused by a rock slide. Due to camera/graphics trickery, this tunnel doesn’t appear as dark as it really was.
John on one side while I waited for him on the other.
We did end up catching up with each other 🙂
I was very happy with our day out, I love getting out into Western Australia’s country rural areas, exploring, and this was special because it was something new.
Before leaving we took some time to admire the Ptilotus, or Mulla Mulla.
There were some more rocks we wanted to see, in particular one, but we were running out of time and daylight. We decided to head home, which was going to be a near 5 hour trip. But sometimes it’s not about the destination, we did take time to make stops and see things.
Like this rusty car… (1953 Morris Minor 1000)
…and the mouse that was living under it.
Watching galahs on the fence.
We stopped to get some more canola photos. I did a panorama with my phone.
Sure, pretty skies, canola fields, but rust is a thing too.
I couldn’t resist this sky with the canola either.
One last canola photo, from a moving vehicle. Drive by canola shooting. 🙂
I miss home, but I sure love exploring Western Australia. What a wonder of creation this place is.
