The ocean's edge - Yallingup & Smith's Beach, Western Australia

Last weekend we plucked a few days from our too busy lives and stayed at a lovely beach side place at Smith's Beach at Yallingup in Western Australia's spectacular Cape to Cape region that stretches between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.  It is an area we have explored many times over the years, but there is always something new and interesting to do and places to go. And is just perfect for relaxing. A prime area for surfers and holiday makers in summer, it is also a great destination any time of year, as there are bush and coastal walks, wineries, gourmet food outlets, galleries and restaurants. Or just lay on your balcony looking out over the ocean, and spend time walking along the beach.

Here are some views. 

Early one very cold morning as the sun was coming up we went walking along the beach. There was a mist rising up from a stream running into the ocean, and the mist gently spread out over the ocean, caressing the waves.

As the mist curled over the crashing waves and it looked to me like a mob of wild white horses plunging across the water with their white manes flying in the wind.

They inspired me to write my first attempt at Haiku poetry which I have just been introduced to by my writer's group, South Side Quills.

Mist over crashing waves

flying manes of wild horses

in the morning light

                                                     Jill Harrison 25-7-2011

At the end of the beach you can see where we stayed at the  Canal Rocks Beach Front Apartments.  It really is a lovely spot, with a balcony and view over the ocean.

 From Smiths Beach we did part of the Cape to Cape walk around to Canal Rocks and then beyond to Wyadup and back. It was a wonderful 3-4 hour walk (depending on how many times you stop) with spectacular views over the rocky cliffs.  There were only a few wildflowers out but during spring it would be a mass of colour. This is looking towards Canal Rocks.

At Canal Rocks you can see the power of the ocean as it crashes against the rocks.  Spectacular on a winter's day.

 Further on we came to a seat where we just sat and looked. On the seat was plaque commemorating the life of Alison Taylor (1980-1999). And we were reminded of her words which we had read at another lookout along our walk - 

"The ocean's edge is a place to contemplate life's journey with it's changing patterns of winds, waves and tides. 
Please care for these special places."

And a beautiful sunset at day's end with the promise of another beautiful tomorrow. And the knowledge that life is a wonderful gift to be treasured.

I hope you have enjoyed these images. I look forward to hearing from you.  Have a wonderful weekend. 


To see more of the Capes region, you might like to go to my September 2010 post - click here - Walking at Cape Naturaliste 

mist in our path

Life changes and our future is in the mist - we might have a plan, but we don't know how our path will twist and turn, and take side roads we never expected.  However, there can still be joy experienced along the way, if only we embrace change and the challenges that are put in front of us. And see beauty through the mist.

And a few words that I borrowed from the wonderful blog of one of my favourite "on-line" Canadian "friends" Lisa at Red Willow -please click on the link to visit her blog - Red Willow Photography

Letting Go

"When we choose not to focus on what's missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present...we experience heaven on earth." 

                                  Sarah Breathnach

This photo was taken through the top of a glass outdoor table, with the roses underneath. A little grain added in Photoshop Elements.

The Bird

The beautiful Bird of Paradise is flowering at the moment.............such gorgeous colours on a dull winter day.......have a wonderful weekend

and a quote for you -    

Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors 
we don't even remember leaving open                                                                                            

                                                    - Rose Lane

Camp amongst the Cajuput trees, Skull Springs, Western Australia

Skull Springs is a free camp site located 108kms east of Nullagine - an old goldmining town on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, 1186km north of Perth and 110 km south of Marble Bar in Western Australia (known as the hottest place in Australia).

There are no facilities, but Skull Springs provides a wonderful place to relax under the Cajuput trees, wander along the river banks, or try some fishing.

We collected a “mud” map and some local information from the Nullagine Road House before heading off along the Skull Springs Road which winds through spinifex covered hills softened by the colour of Mulla Mulla and Sturt Desert Pea.

It took us three hours to drive from Nullagine to Skull Springs.  There are many creek and river crossings to negotiate that require low range 4WD and good ground clearance.  It may be necessary to wade through creek crossings to check for depth before crossing. Places of interest along the way are the 20 Mile Sandy Creek State Battery ruin and the Granite Wall, a natural ridge of rock that juts up like a manmade wall.

The turnoff to Skull Springs is appropriately signposted by a camel’s skull.  The springs are located in the bed of the Davis River and despite its name it is a beautiful and idyllic place to camp and spend a few days. Gigantic silver cajuput trees shade the numerous trickling watercourses that crisscross the river bed. 

Explorer Nat Cooke named Skull Springs when he found an Aboriginal skull here in 1886. It is said that the papery bark of the cajuput trees was used by Aborigines to construct huts and make baskets. 

The river is protected from the wind by high ridges, but the force of cyclonic flooding is illustrated by the debris caught high in the tree branches and huge trees that had been uprooted.  Flooding can happen without warning, so be careful where you camp. 

My full story about camping at Skull Springs can be seen in the May edition of On The Road magazine, Australia.  On The Road Magazine

Gorgeous Grevillea's

There are many types of Grevillea in Australia - and there always seems to be one or two flowering around my area.

I love the way the parts of the flower start all curled up and then slowly open out

This one I didn't notice the ant till I downloaded! - see along the lower edge of the pic...

And this is a Flame Grevillea from the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia

And the Silver Leaf Grevillea from the Kimberley

Have a wonderful week - life is too short so enjoy every minute - and hug the ones you love.
Thankyou for stopping by to have a look at my blog - I look forward to hearing from you - and your comments are always appreciated and enjoyed. 

I am joining Mary and other wonderful photographers from all around the world at Mosaic Monday. Click on the link to see their work - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House 

Life's path

A lot of changes have been going on in our lives lately, and we were talking today about how we plan the path we would like to take in life, but life doesn't always go to our plan. Sometimes our plan and path changes, and we either fight against the change or adapt to it. 

We all have challenges that we are given. And I am often reminded of something I read somewhere once -

"it is not the challenges that life throws in front of you that are important but how you deal with them".

In the process we meet and are inspired and helped by new people that come into our lives at that particular time. 

Then today I saw on the wall in a health worker's office this saying -

The Will of God will never send you to a place where the Grace of God will not protect you.

May you all have the strength to face the challenges that are set before you.

For Jeanie

My dear mother-in-law is very sick in hospital at the moment, so I send her these flowers with love.

Memories in old things....

During a project on Fllickr last week, and inspired by fellow photographer Lindyannajones, I went around my house photographing old things. Each of them holds memories from the past -

Clockwise from top right -
 pair of candle holders mounted on my wall, handles of salad servers from my mother-in-law, the basket weave of my grandmother's sewing basket, ribbon spool from old manual Imperial typewriter (I learnt to type on one of these at school), detail from a kerosene lamp, an iron stand, my grandmother's silk iron, keys from the Imperial typewriter, and in the centre my grandmother's silver thimble. The thimble dates from the late 1800 - early 1900s. The detail is exquisite - I treasure it.

If you wonder about the coppery tones on some of the objects, these photos were taken in low light so I upped the ISO so I could hand hold, ans this was the result!  I think the colouring suited the age of the objects.

and the handle of a silver serving spoon

 

I'm linking up with Mary and other wonderful photographers at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday - please click on the link to see their beautiful work -  Mosaic Monday - Little Red House

Last blooms of autumn

The last blooms of my roses are hanging onto the bushes, and giving me colour in my garden that is bedding down for the winter.  Soon the blooms and leaves will fall and it will be time for pruning again, but until then I can enjoy these last rays of autumn sunshine.

I hope over the weekend you find time to spend with those you love, and doing what you love to do.

and remember.........

You will find as you look back upon your life 

that the moments when you have truly lived 

are the moments when you have done things 

in the spirit of love.

                                                                                                                      Henry Drummond

 As is illustrated in the first photo above, even as the petals fade and fall there is still beauty.

 I love this white rose - it is the Iceberg variety - I never tire of photographing its beauty.

 You can also see other photos of this white rose in a previous post by clicking here - For the Love of Roses

You can now follow me on Flickr also - hope you have time to drop by and visit! Click on the link here -  Life Images by Jill on Flickr

A walk around Bunbury's history, Western Australia

I took a walk around Bunbury the other day taking photos of architectural detail for an assignment on Flickr.
It really highlighted to me the many different eras of architecture we have in Bunbury.

The history of Bunbury and Australind began in 1803 when the first registered sighting was recorded by French Captain Louis Freycinet. The Leschenault Estuary was named after the expedition’s botanist, Leschenault de la Tour, and Geographe Bay after one of the fleet’s ships.

British interest dates from 1829 when a survey party from the Swan River Colony sailed down the coast and explored the area around Koombana and Vittoria Bays.  A military post was established at Port Leschenault in 1830. It was renamed Bunbury by Governor Stirling in 1836 in honour of Lieutenant HW Bunbury, who explored the area on his expedition from Pinjarra to Vasse. In 1838 Stirling leased part of his land in Bunbury to John Scott whose family became the first settlers. The Bunbury townsite was gazetted in 1841.

There are two Bunbury Heritage Trails which feature 58 sites of historical and natural interest. In the collage you will see some of the different styles of architecture -

Bunbury’s original post office, constructed with convict labour in the early 1850s.from limestone with a shingled roof (see detail of the roof second from the right bottom)

The Regional Art Galleries in Wittenoom Street is housed in the former Sisters of Mercy Convent and Chapel built in 1897 in Federal Free Medieval style, a blend of Gothic and Southern European architectural characteristics.(middle left)

An attractive part of the city’s streetscape is the Rose Hotel in Victoria Street built in 1865 and although extended several times, the two storey wrought iron verandah reflects Bunbury’s prosperity during the goldrush era. (middle right)

The building on the opposite corner was constructed in 1937.  Its symmetrical facade is typical of American art deco styling. (middle top)

The Grand Central Hotel built in 1900 is now part of the busy cappuccino strip and houses speciality shops.(center pic). And some decorative scroll work from the 1890's (bottom left hand corner)


The old railway station which features a bent-rail supported platform roof, now houses the Visitor Information Cenre (bottom right)   The building was constructed in the early 1900s following a fire that destroyed its predecessor.

The checkerboard lighthouse built in 1971 (top left corner)

The Bunbury Tower (bottom left), often called the "Milk Carton" for its distinctive shape and blue-and-white colours, is the major feature of the city centre's skyline. It was built in 1983 by businessman Alan Bond (who won the America's Cup from the American's in 1983.

Thankyou for looking. I look forward to hearing from you.

This is my contribution to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House - to see the wonderful work of Mary and other contributors across the world, please click on the link - Dear Little Red House