John, well done mate, great shots and fantastic memories, I'm going to have to cool my heels for a while before I get to see them again, but I tell you I am green with envy, you are living at the very footpath leading to heavens gates, and yet you managed to keep it down to just 276 HAH!! HAH!!! thats about what I squeeze on to 1 cd and I have got dozens of them as well as miles and miles of video, god we are so damn lucky to live in such a beautifull and bountifull country as ours, and yet a lot of people never see it, good job john, keep it up, fantastic!!!!

In one word John, SPECTACULAR.....Both the subjects and the photography. I found birds the most dificult thing to photograph, a bit like flying a helo, which is like ballancing a ping pong ball on a biro tip while walking on your hands. Birds always seem to avoid being photograped by me. The scenery is breathtaking too.....

Basil Faulty wrote:

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In one word John, SPECTACULAR.....Both the subjects and the photography. I found birds the most dificult thing to photograph, a bit like flying a helo, which is like ballancing a ping pong ball on a biro tip while walking on your hands. Birds always seem to avoid being photograped by me. The scenery is breathtaking too.....

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G'day Basil,

Thanks for the kind words, I reckon you're correct about the difficulties in photographing birds or any other wildlife for that matter, I believe it is about 1% skill, 1% patience and 98% luck. 

On this last trip I had one rotten bird turn it's back on me, lift it's tail and proceed to relieve itself, didn't really make for a good photo.

I will put some more pics on when I get them all sorted but as I stated in a previous post I don't wish to bore people, I can remember visiting friends and having to sit through their holiday snaps, "and this is me and Annie at the Tower of London", well I can damn well see that from the photo, what am I some kind of an idiot, but protocol and good manners dictate I sit there and ooh and ahh at the appropriate moment.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.

John


-- Edited by JRH at 15:56, 2008-09-29

John we have a couple of people on the forum that I am sure would be fascinated in the area you live in, they are coming from victoria and heading your way, a bit of your knowledge about the area I think would be much apreciated

G'day Dave,
I will be only too happy to give whatever info I can, maybe you could get the couple from Vic. to contact me or put a message on the forum indicating where their interests lie.  For instance which way are the entering WA, from the East or down from the North.  Assuming they come in across the Nullabor then from Norseman they could head up to the Goldfields, Kalgoorlie and Kambalda where they could tour the Super Pit and the Hannan's North Historic Mining Reserve, Broad Arrow Road, just to mention a few.

Alternately from Norseman they could head South on the Esperance - Norseman Highway and spend a little time in Esperance, Cape Le Grande National Park offers some great scenery and camping at Le Grande Beach or Lucky Bay, both are fine for caravans and most of the roads are bitumen. From Esperance they could then head towards Albany, which is a very pictuesque town with plenty do do and see, there is Whaleworld, the Natural Bridge, the Gap, Salmon Holes and the Blowholes out on Frenchmans Bay Road.  A little out of town is the John Barnesby Memorial Lookout on Melville Drive, Mt. Melville just to name a few spots of interest in that area.  Denmark, 50 k's from Albany is a sleepy little village on the Demark River, Mt. Barker 50 k's along the Albany Highway towards Perth is close to the Stirling Ranges and also has some winery's for the wine buffs.  If fishing is the go then Rest Point CP at Walpole is a great place to spend a few days and there is the treetop walk not far South of Walpole in the Nornalup National Park where one can walk above the Giant Tingle trees.

Closer to Perth is My hometown of Rockingham and Penguin Island where they rescue and rehabilitate Fairy Penguins and well worth a visit as is Mandurah and Pinjarrah.  To be honest my friend there are so many places here that I could still be typing this time next month.  May I suggest a little info on the areas they would like to visit and their timetable.

Frank.

Many thanks for the kind words re my photos, I can agree with your sentiments regarding the hole in the rock (Natures Window) in all honesty a photograph simply cannot do it justice, one really needs to be there to absorb the atmosphere and to stare in awe and wonderment at the spectacular beauty of it all and to speculate on the forces of nature that have sculpted it over the years and will continue to do so for as long as this planet exists thus ever so slowly creating an ever changing scenario.

As for the road between Gin Gin and Geraldton I would assume it would depend on the time of year as to what was available to see and as you so rightly say "you see nothing speeding by in a car"  slow down and if something looks just a little interesting then stop and investigate you will be surprised at what can be found in an otherwise boring looking area. 

Please don't take this the wrong way but I have found most people suffer from white line fever, meaning they see only the white line down the middle of the road, usually because they are driving so fast they have to concentrate very hard on their driving and when they reach their destination they are usually tired and bored stiff, slow down and enjoy the drive, I realise as a retiree I have more time than a working man so my holiday starts the moment I get behind the wheel.  So I have not found the road from Gin Gin to Geraldton boring at all. 

I remember when I was a lot younger and working full time my holiday did not start until I reached my destination as time was at a premium, now I have as much time as I need, depending on him up above of course.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.

John

G'day Pam,

Great photos, I must admit to being a bit of a landscape nut and can look at other peoples photos for ever.

Pam to save me a lot of time as I forgot to copy my post to Drongo & Wendy, could you please take a look at my reply in Question Time.

I hope the info there is of some help to you and please if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

I am sure you will enjoy your trip to WA and I can assure you that you will not have time to see it all so maybe another trip at a later date, we will be happy to see you.

Best regards and Safe Travelling.

John

-- Edited by JRH at 16:04, 2008-10-01

oHHHH!!!!! pam you wound me with your wayward non free camping ways, surely a free camp along the bight may just be in the offing HMMMM!!!, you do realise that I will get you in the end, you will see the error in your ways, I looked at that damn photo and didnt realise it was my backyard, I didnt realise it was our little port germein. 5 - 10 weeks, HAH!!! you wouldnt even see the bight in that time, never mind couple of years then you will see everything, most things worth seeing in w.a. is free, I dont personally like the state but I guess someone has to go there, LIKE HELL TRY TO KEEP ME AWAY!!! hey john!!

It's a pity work gets in the way of taking long holidays.

I walked along the sand beside the jetty at Port Germain as the tide was rolling -well creeping in and made it to the next set of steps just as the water hit them. Next time I may have the sense to walk out along the jetty and back along the sand but then again I wouldn't have had the fun of beating the tide if I had done it that way.

Dave I would pass you a bandaid for your wound if I could.