-- From Perth to Pemberton

Second inspection by MVR

On Monday 11/01/2010, I left about 05.00 am to head to the Licensing Centre in Welshpool. The gates were open around 5.30 am, I was the first. My truck was inspected from 7.30 during nearly one hour, I obtained a license to drive until the 10/01/2011 thanks to a new carnet de passage en douane until January 22, 2011 sent by the ACF after the intervention of my brother. The cost of the inspection was around 90 euros. Then I made the paperwork's at the Main Office. I awaited my turn with a ticket and then I received an insurance for one year at the price of approximately 175 euros. I stuck at the back of my truck a sticker: Caution Left Hand Drive. Finally I left the centre about 10.30 am to return to AV Truck Services in order to finish the work on my truck which lasted until 6.00 pm The truck had suffered on the gravel roads in the NT & the WA. I turned again to the Central Caravan Park where I decided to remain until Wednesday to prepare my truck for the continuation of the trip.  The next morning I went shopping with the truck in Perth, certainly it is one of the State's capitals in Australia where it is easy to drive. Back to the Central Caravan Park I became acquainted with two young French. The afternoon was devoted to make the administrative work and to do my truck in order drove.

The next morning I went shopping with the truck in Perth, certainly it is one of the State's capitals in Australia where it is easy to drive. Back to the Central Caravan Park I became acquainted with two young French couples in Working Holiday Maker, WHM, and a French couple with three children coming from the Reunion Island. The afternoon was devoted to do administrative work and to do my truck in order drove.

On Wednesday 13, after having had my civilities at French of the camping I left Perth without nostalgia for the south-western coast of the Western Australian. This first day was not outstanding, succession of beaches of white sand and balneal cities. I had lunch in Mandurah of traditional Fish' nd Chips. Then after the obliged visit at the Visitor Centre I carried on my road to bivouac at Buffalo Road R.A.

The following day on the way I made a first halt in the pretty Bunbury city with some old buildings from the end of the 19th century. I discovered a war memorial for Australian army during the WWI in France. They had come to help us to drive Germans out of our borders.

I continued my way to see in Busselton the longest, 1 mile, jetty in Australia to embark logs bound for Europe. There I stationed on a carpark close to the jetty hoping to be able to spend the night vis-a-vis a turquoise sea.

The 1400ème day of my journey around the world I visited two sights close to the town of Yallingup in Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, the Cape Naturalist Lighthouse and the Ngilgi Cave. The area at the extreme south-west of the Western Australia is famous for its Mediterranean climate getting ideal conditions for the breeding of wine around Margaret River. Tour operators organize the visit of Cellar Doors from the Cape Naturalist to the Cape Leeuwin close to Augusta.

The following day I traversed the Cave Road, it said that there are more than one hundred, then I forked to go to Margaret River, the focal point of vineries of this area. I did not remain there a long time, to visit in the Visitor Centre and a cybercafé. Indeed it was a very tourist city where the main street was bordered with shops of clothes and restaurants. I headed to the second lighthouse of this quasi rectangular peninsula, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta renowned for being the highest in Australia. I bivouacked on the move towards Bridgetown.

In this Sunday of school holidays until January 31, I left in excursion in the back countryside fleeing the holidaymakers of seaside resorts. The Blackwood River Drive from Nannunp to Balingup twists in rolling coaster between undulations of mountains. The road was not very broad but fortunately I was alone; thus I strolled on my own way.

The town of Balingup on Hwy n°1 does not have anything to attract the tourist. The stone Tavern is capped like the majority of Australian houses in painted or rough corrugated sheets.

A few kilometres far away and away from the Hwy the town of Greenbushes gathers all activities of the beginning of colonization, mining, milling and farming. Oh happiness, Greenbushes Discovery Centre was open and there still I was alone. It exhibits a counterpart of the underground mining with interactive videos. The milling is explained by exposing the various wood produced in this area. Fauna and flora are not forgotten. Finally at the exit of the city the Mine Lookout makes it possible to plunge to less 300 meters and to consult informative panels.

The following cities, Bridgetown and Manjimup, were almost dead cities. I continued my road up to Pemberton where I establish my bivouac for two nights.

Previous page

Next page