Monday, October 16, 2006

A sortie around Margaret River

The day started early with visits from kangaroos. Pam found a skink in the wood pile:
Pam and skink
Pam and skink
We went out and visted a number of wineries, including Cullen Winery,
Cullen Winery
Roses at Cullen Winery
Vines at Cullen Winery
Cullen Winery
Cullen Winery
Cullen Winery is a family winery that has a great reputation. Vanya Cullen is the now the chief winemaker following on from her parents Dianna and Kevin.It's been on my agenda for a number of years and I an glad that I finally got there. There are something like 84 wineries in the Margaret River area and we cannot possibly visit them all in our short stay so we will just visit a few.
After tasting their wines we enjoyed a nice morning tea.
Morning tea at Cullen Winery
Cullen Winery
Rose at Cullen  winery
Cullen Winery

Sunday breakfast

We had discovered a nice cafe "Angels" so we enjoyed an
al fresco breakfast before driving to Margaret River.
Sunday lunch
We had afternoon tea at Bunbury and arrived at The Red House, Margaret River at dusk.
What a house!!!
The Red House
The Red House

See this 360 degree photo
From an online site where you can book it:
"The Red House is an architect-designed straw bale home set on five acres of jarrah and mari forest mid-way between Margaret River town and the beaches.
Finished to the highest level, this is one of the most unusual homes in the district.
The huge open-plan living room has two sets of 5metre wide cafe-style bi-fold doors opening out to the north-facing gardens and the forest. The open-plan living room features a wide-screen, flat-screen TV with DVD player, stereo sound and hi-fi.
The solid jarrah dining table is 3metres long and seats 10 people in comfort. The second living area has a huge wood burning stove set against a granite wall.
Bedrooms are luxuriously appointed and all have big timber French doors that look out to the gardens. The beds are all hand-crafted jarrah or tuart beds with top-class linen including European pillows.
The main bathroom has a hydro-therapy spa bath with two pumps and 26 jets.
The gourmet kitchen has an Ilve six-burner range, an Asko dishwasher and solid jarrah benchtops.
This is a spectacular home in a gorgeous forest location close to everything."
Another bedroom
One of the bedrooms
Spa bath
The open space lounge and kitchen
Kangaroos, inckuding a pouched joey have greeted us. I got lost leaving on the property driving to get some food! It was lovely having a shower this morning looking out on the bush

Saturday evening in Fremantle

I met Pam and Terry at Perth Airport, we picked up our car and drove to Fremantle.
Terry's bruisingTerry had just come out of hospital so a wheelchair assists him. We took a stroll to the Fremantle markets.
Esplanade hotel
A stroll to the market
Taking a ride
Fremantle architecture
I spoke with this busking soprano, a local lass who sang as she signed cd's!
Great voice and nice to talk to.Laughing soprano Fiona Mariah
Then it was walk to the wharf area for a meal. I tried the famous Fremantle sardines as an entree.
Fremantle wharfs
Fremantle wharf
Fremantle wharf
Fremantle wharf
Fremantle sardines

Friday night outback at Alice

Jeanette, Claire and her partner, Marty and I headed for the hills near Alice Springs to toast the sunset with wine and cheese and beer and then I went out with the ladies for dinner, then a walk home.
Jeanette, self, Claire
Jeanette and Claire
Marty, Jeanette and Claire
Sunset Alice Springs
The Outback