Leeman to Lancelin

 

Sunday 4 September 2022

Day 21
Leeman to Lancelin

Sunday was a full-on day, starting with breakfast in the hall with 118 attendants, who by the way, together with the rally committee brought $48,000 into the local community.  That was a great achievement!

After taking on water and dumping at the dump point we are on our way again, having packed up the night before.  

On the road we are still seeing some wildflowers, although going south it will temporarily be less as it is not warm enough here yet. Seeing the different bushes along the roadside though is such a pleasure.  I never get bored looking at the scenery.

Besides the bushes we now have wide views on the left and white dunes on the right.  Hard to photograph though from a moving vehicle.

On our way we make a quick stop at an information sign where I know there is a cache.

#2399 - Take a rest at Jurien Bay (traditional cache)

First stop today is at Jurien Bay where we get out for a walk.  We also wanted a cup of coffee, but the only café here is closed, so we make one in the camper after our walk, which includes finding a cache, number 2400!  It took a bit, but after reading the logs I realised I was looking in the wrong spot.  "Magnetic" was wrongly used in the description.

#2400 - Dobyn Park (traditional cache)

Next we arrive at Cervantes with a great welcoming sign, and some more wildflowers on the side of the road. 

Before we visit Cervantes itself we stop at a nearby lake, Lake Thetis, which is of interest because of its stromatolites and thrombolites.  It also is an earth cache.

#2401 Lake Thetis - Living Fossils (earth cache)

Then we drive to Cervantes, well-known for crayfish/lobster.  We find the Lobster Shack and have a lovely lunch almost on the beach.  A great restaurant with an even greater view!

Further, on our way to Lancelin, we see a sign about the Pinnacles.  Yes, let's turn off and go for a walk amongst them!  We follow it up with a visit to the Pinnacles Discovery Centre and a bit of a rest with an ice cream.  The Pinnacles also contain an earth cache, which is a bonus.

#2402 Pinnacles - Enigmas in Stone (earth cache)

Following the Pinnacles we are seeing more and more sand dunes on both sides of the road.  Very white in the bright sunlight.  

Next we visit Wedge Lookout, and while we are there I discover that there is a cache not far from it.  Unfortunately I have no internet connection and and haven't saved it beforehand, so I can only go by the little dot on my map and see that I can get close to it.  I don't know what I am looking for, that makes it even harder.  I circle the dot for a while and Kevin comes to have a look.  He picks up a large plastic bag that I have avoided (you never know what you'll find in those....) and it appears to be the cache.  Hooray!

#2403 - Spot a Roo (traditional cache)

Of course there are also a lot more wildflowers, including the yellow Kangaroo Paw.

Onwards we go until we see a lot, and I mean A Lot, of grass trees, also known as Xanthorrhoeas or Blackboys, but the last name is not politically correct, so not in use anymore...

Lucky for me there is also another cache, so why not?

#2404 - Which One? (traditional cache)

And then we finally arrive at Brian & Megan's holiday house where we park for the night. We have arrived at Lancelin.

We were happy that we had good internet, because cousins in the Netherlands had organised a family reunion and we briefly joined them via a video call.  A great moment to introduce Kevin to the rest of the family and interact with cousins who I hadn't seen for a while.

Solos Rally - Leeman

Monday 29 August - Sunday 4 September 2022

There are just over 100 vehicles at the Rally and about 118 people.  Most are solo travellers.  There are also a few couples who are generally allowed to register for the event.  I'll cover the week day by day.

Tuesday

As the group is too big for the usual group photo, a drone is used to capture us all.  As is the norm we will have a group photo of all rally-goers, of volunteers and of first-timers.

Kevin and I go for a walk along the seaside and buy some groceries at the supermarket.  It's a great day and finally warm enough for something lighter than jeans and jumpers.

The walk includes a lookout where we find a cache.  That is, Kevin finds the cache for me! ;-)

#2396 - Tee Tree Lookout (traditional cache)

There is also a cache in the sports grounds, but, as it appears later, I found the wrong one.  It's the old cache which was lost and has been replaced at a later date.  So, I will have to go back some time.

I have also discovered two more geocachers amongst the group: Butch (surname?) and Carol Reason.

Wednesday

Today we wanted fish and chips for dinner, so we walked to the shop and back and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. 

Thursday

There are a number of activities during the week, but I keep forgetting to take photos.  Members were asked to help with putting shade cloth on the arches in the community garden:

There is craft every morning, so I join and make a few Xmas baubles:

We went for another walk and found a second cache.  This cache owner seems to have a penchant for fake magnetic nuts and bolts.

#2397 -  A time to reflect - take 2 (traditional cache)

It was again a lovely day and we took some more pictures on our walk.

When home again I go in search for the cache of which I found the old one earlier and find it:

#2398 Legend of the Mighty Merlins (traditional cache)

After all that we walk to the service station around the corner and get pies and ice cream for dinner.

Friday

Disc Bowls competition in the afternoon today, and nautical fancy dress party tonight.

I couldn't be bothered to get up and take pictures, so I have a very poor presentation.

Music was very good by a female sax player.

Lots of nibbles, port and cake and of course dancing.  A great night, celebrating 25 years of the Solo Network.

Saturday

As usual on the Saturday mornings during a rally, we sit at Poets' Breakfast. A sausage sizzle, fried egg and a hash brown.  A good start of an otherwise drizzly morning.

Some of the Solos are very good at poetry and some poems are hilarious.

Next was supposed to be market day, but our only wet morning spoiled it a bit.  The music by our sax playing lady again was great though.

And the day/week was closed with skit night.  Of course, being done by amateurs it's always good for a laugh.