We both had a marvellous sleep last night, thank heavens, and woke up about 10:00am. It was peaceful and quiet.

The day is overcast and a bit chilly but the bitter strong wind from yesterday has now abated.

Mukinbudin is a small town in the northeastern Wheatbelt region of WA. It is near Lake Campion and is the main town in the Shire of Mukinbudin. At the 2021 Australian census, Mukinbudin had a population of 336.

The present Shire of Mukinbudin was settled by pastoralists who in the 1870s took up large leases in excess of 20,000 acres to run sheep, and by sandalwood cutters and miners enroute to the goldfields.

In 1910 the first of the farmers arrived to commence wheat growing on their 1,000-acre blocks and it was some time before they added stock to what had been entirely a wheat growing enterprise.

From an article written by Jean Hudson I came across this gem.

‘The Blue Tree Project’ began in Mukinbudin. Locals have turned a tale of tragedy into a powerful message of hope, by painting dead trees blue and giving them a ‘blue’ lease of life to raise awareness about mental health.

In 2014, Jayden Whyte painted a dead tree blue in the middle of his family’s farm at Mukinbudin as a joke. Sadly, in 2018, Jayden took his own life.

After his funeral, his friends painted another tree blue to honour his life.

The story went viral on social media initiating a movement, with people in WA, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania also, and even in the UK painting trees blue in the name of mental health and suicide prevention. Keep a look out for blue trees. They are now everywhere.

Muka is also the home of some AFL players during the 60s and 70s.  Mark Seaby and Rowan Jones both played for the West Coast Eagles, and Todd Menegola played for Richmond.

After breakfast I made a teleconsultation appointment with my doctor for Thursday to get more scripts, and then Russ and I went for a gentle meander along part of the Muka Walking Trail. We ended up walking 3.8 kilometres, saw some lovely birds and got photos of some early wildflowers.

Russ took it very steady and rested on the park benches along the way but managed it without any huffing and puffing which is excellent. As I said previously the wind was very cold and I was rugged up with thermals and my coat. In direct opposition to me Russ was wearing a t-shirt with a singlet underneath it so he didn’t get too hot which does affect his breathing.

I managed to get all the photos edited and ready for another upload before I wrote this final record for the dairy before it is distributed.

Both of us had a really awful night last night, but for different reasons.

I had Chinese pork sweet and sour (although I hadn’t realised it was a sweet and sour when I got it) and it did not agree with me. I spent many hours with reflux and was left feeling very nauseous. I didn’t drop off to sleep properly until after 3:00am.

Russ, on the other hand, could hear the steady thump-thump of the base from the band who was playing across at the footy hall. The dance continued on until 2:00am, so he didn’t get to sleep until they had stopped.

Needless to say, we woke up at 10:30am this morning – a bit of a late start to the day, but we had been going to use this as a rest and catch-up day anyway.

I got a huge load of washing done, put out on the line, dried, folded and put away by the middle of the afternoon. And not a moment too soon as it began to rain heavily shortly after I had finished. It also got a lot colder very quickly.

I have completed the photos, and Russ has uploaded them to the website, and I am in the process of completing the rest of the diary entries.

When the rain stopped, we drove to the dump site and then took a ride around Muka. There is a Ferguson Street here as well as a Shadbolt Street.

Unlike Merredin, there appears to be quite a bit of birdlife here. We have listened to the Butcherbird, the Black Cockatoos, the Galahs, the Corellas and a few extra small ones have been heard. I placed some bird seed outside so we may get some to visit while we are her.

We are not sure yet if the Black Cockatoos are the Red-tailed variety, or Carnaby’s Cockatoos.

I am now about to put my feet up for a time and read some of my book before it is time to go to bed. Russ is watching a video with his noise-cancelling headphones on.

He was unable to wear them last night because if he falls asleep on his back he wakes up with a horrible panic attack.

It was very nippy this morning. The sun was shining brightly and there was a stiff and very cold breeze.

The alarm went off at 8:00am so we could get packed up and on our way to Mukinbudin (Muka).

We left the Merredin caravan park at 9:30am after a bit of excitement. We went to leave and neither of us had picked up the chocks from between the wheels on the driver’s side of the caravan.

Let me just say that the Black Jack Chockas are really good. The caravan moved, but only after applying a good bit of downward movement on the accelerator. They also left a huge ditch in the ground which I had to firmly tamp down once we had removed them.

The drive to Muka went without any troubles and I read most of the way. Because we had booked online we also had chosen which site we wanted to use, so it was a simple matter of driving in and setting up which didn’t take very much time at all.

After lunch the local football match started on the oval which is adjacent to the caravan park. By golly those guys were loud. Whoever Jack was he played a significant role in the game

While Russ had his nap, I took the tripod and camera over to the fence and got some terrific action shots of the footy players. I do not know, even now, who Muka was playing or if they won. That will have to wait until I can ask a local sometime this week just to find out.

At the end of the final siren, it got fairly quiet for a while. This was in marked contrast to the Merredin caravan park where there was always some type of noise in the background, some of which was very noisy.

I got a bit of a shock when Russ and I took a walk around the caravan park. When we got to the laundry it was to see top range appliances (unfortunately front loaders) and they were charging $6 a wash or dry. They had better be really good.

The caravan park is well set out with different types of accommodation available in a range of styles. With the Sports Oval on one side there is the Swimming Pool on the other side. If you are in the caravan park apparently you can get into the swimming pool for free.

There are concrete blocks in some of the van sites, but we chose a scoria base for our site. The van sites are intermingled with the dongas and cabins.

Some vertigo this morning again. It is a sunny day with a very cool breeze. It got down to 2 degrees overnight and a top of 16 degrees is expected today.

After breakfast we took the chance of another drive before we leave the area tomorrow and went off to see Talgomine Rock.

Along the way we passed Mangowine Homestead and would have loved to have stopped for a while there, but the caretaker is ill and it is closed to the public. Ordinarily you can go and camp there (you must be self-contained), book a tour with the caretaker, and explore the homestead.

The National Trust Homestead at Mangowine was built in 1876 by pioneers Charles and Jane Adams and is rich with history.

The property consists of the first homestead constructed of stone and mud brick by the Adams family, a wayside inn, cellar, wells and a family store.

Each room has been restored to its original condition and is filled with antiques and memorabilia from this era.

The grounds comprise of 10 hectares of natural bushland that also includes a one-kilometre tourist trail featuring illustrated interpretive signage at nine different points along the route.

There is also a one-kilometre wildflower trail around the property for people who are more interested in the local flora and fauna.

We stopped at Nungarin to stretch our legs. Unfortunately, the Opportunity Shop was closed.

The canola fields keep getting bigger and bigger. My wish is to see a farmer at his canola crop so we can stop, and I can get permission to walk into the crop and take some photos. It hasn’t eventuated as yet.

We first came to Eaglestone Rock Campgrounds. It is a picturesque area with lots of shade near the shores of Lake Brown.

The waterways and wetlands of the Wheatbelt have been shaped over millions of years by the climate and geology. The Wheatbelt landscape of today is very flat and the ancient river valleys (paleochannels) have become filled with sediment. When significant rain falls, the salt lakes become a fully functioning aquatic systems with aquatic flora and fauna usually lying dormant as buried seeds and eggs awaiting the right conditions.

Lake Brown is a salt lake and when full is used for water skiing. Eaglestone Rock is on the north shore of Lake Brown.

Eaglestone Rock is a spectacular natural granite rock and cave formation situated 20km northeast of Nungarin. Wedgetail Eagles are often seen perched on the Rock and it is a popular organised rock-climbing spot.

Word is that many locals actually refer to this rock as Turtle Rock and looking at it, it isn’t hard to see why. I looked at the Eaglestone outcrops and could find nothing that resembled an eagle. And we didn’t see any flying around while we were there either. However, it is certainly impressive.

The history of Eaglestone Rock dates back to its early exploration by Surveyor J.S. Roe in 1836. The rock’s features were first recorded in his Explorations East of York, where he noted the presence of a salt lake and the surrounding landscape.

The rock’s significance has been recognized over the years, with its granite outcrops being a prominent feature of the Nungarin District. Eaglestone Rock’s historical importance is further highlighted by its association with the local Aboriginal people, who continue to care for the land and contribute to the region’s heritage.

There were two caravans camped in the shady camping area where we stopped and had our lunch before taking a walk down to Lake Brown. The wind was bitter, so it was a short walk. If you like free camping this place is a gem.

Talgomine Rock was a bit of a disappointment after Eaglestone Rock. We drove in and drove out. If there had been wildflowers it would have been a different story.

Location names for the day –

Knungajin Hill (the Twins), Durdguding Rock and Durdgacuttin Rock. I am still shaking my head trying to pronounce them.

I set the alarm for 830am so as not to be late for my haircut. It is very, very chilly this morning and the breeze is now cold.

After my lovely $60! haircut – thanks Jessie – we put our scripts into the chemist and went to the IGA for our big stock up before we venture into smaller towns.

As it was Thursday the cashier at IGA gave us the pensioner discount on our supplies, which was very nice of him. My Ritchies Reward card for the IGA in Mildura was also accepted here so still contributing to our community while travelling.

As it was almost lunch time, and still bitterly cold (even Russell’s hands were like ice – a once in a lifetime event – we abandoned our prospective walk and hunkered down in the van instead.

The Pies game is on Free-to-Air tonight, so we got out the TV and set it up in preparation for the game.

I finished editing the photos from yesterday afternoon.

While this was happening, we were once more intrigued by our next-door neighbours.

Their caravan looks new (JB Caravan) with all the bells and whistles. Apparently, their awning wasn’t working to spec and, over the last two days there were a few heated phone calls.

Today, they managed to get their awning out properly and have now started to add an annexe. All I can say is that if putting the annexe up was this difficult, I would never bother putting it up. It came in 8 pieces, not counting the awning roof.

Russ thinks they have either sold their home to go on the road or have won tattslotto. They travel with 2 new vehicles, and their teenaged son is with them. He may have a disability of some sort after seeing some of the equipment come out of their numerous boots.

It took them about three hours to get the annexe up the way they wanted it, and that was with assistance from other people.

After an early tea I set up and watched the Pies beat Adelaide. For us, the game started at 5:30pm which was a bit weird. The game then finishes about 9:00pm and it is too early to go to sleep.

We have decided to leave it for a day before we watch the replay so Russ can see the whole game. (He sneaked a peak for the last ten minutes of the last quarter.)

The sky is full of fluffy white clouds with some blue showing, and the sun was shining.

I did a load of washing while Russ had his shower and breakfast and left them on the line to dry.

Once everything was loaded, we headed out on the Great Eastern Highway for Westonia. This drive is part of the Goldfields Water Pipeline Trail.

In 1903 the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme became the ‘golden pipeline’, bringing reliable fresh water to the parched area. Once labelled a ‘scheme of madness’, it is now internationally acclaimed.

Designer CY O’Connor believed fresh water could be pumped so far and lifted so high through a steel pipeline that it would reach the gold fields at Kalgoorlie, 560 km from the storage reservoir (Mandaring Weir) in the Perth Hills. It was such an audacious plan for the time that it was met with both wild optimism and harsh condemnation.

The pipeline, together with the ensuing population expansion and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes, spelled prosperity for many colonist farmers and miners, but disaster for traditional Aboriginal ways of life.

The Goldfields Water Supply Scheme is now recognised on the National Heritage List, and the associated Golden Pipeline Heritage Trail offers a unique heritage tourism experience that explores this history of struggle and survival, with 25 stops at key places along its length.

The National Trust has been managing these places and the many stories associated with them, in collaboration with Water Corporation and various local governments, since 1997.

The pipeline continues to operate today, supplying water to over 100,000 people in over 33,000 households as well as mines, farms and other enterprises.

Although supported by Premier Forrest, O’Connor had to deal with widespread criticism and derision from members of the WA Parliament as well as the local press based on a belief that the scope of the engineering task was too great and that it would never work.

There was also a concern that the gold deposits would soon be depleted, and the state would have a significant debt to repay but little or no commerce to support it.

Sunday Times editor Frederick Vosper – who was also a politician, ran a personal attack on O’Connor’s integrity and ability through the paper. Timing was critical, Forrest as a supporter had moved into Federal politics, and the new Premier George Leake had long been an opponent of the scheme.

O’Connor died by suicide in March 1902, less than 12 months before the final commissioning of the pipeline.

Lady Forrest officially started the pumping machinery at Pumping Station Number One (Mundaring) on 22 January, and on 24 January 1903 water flowed into the Mount Charlotte Reservoir at Kalgoorlie. O’Connor’s engineer-in-chief, C. S. R. Palmer took over the project after his death, seeing it through to its successful completion.

The government conducted an inquiry into the scheme and found no basis for the press accusations of corruption or misdemeanours on the part of O’Connor. (Frederick Vosper – Big bully, and I bet he never had to account for his part in the suicide.)

By 1930 it was obvious that, without substantial reconditioning, the days of the pipeline’s active service were numbered. In year 1931-32, the number of bursts on the main conduit due to corrosion reached an all-time high of 14 326, which was more than double the number in 1928-9 and represented an average of 39 every day for the year.

It was to be an army of unemployed (men out of work thanks to Great Depression) that saved the pipeline, relaying it above ground. Some of the original steel pipes were badly corroded and replaced with wooden pipes, assembled in the same manner as wooden barrels.

The Goldfields Water Supply Department first used wooden pipes in 1912 when about 800 metres of 20 inch (508 mm) Oregon pipe was used at the Toorak Hill bypass in Coolgardie. The trial, however, was not a success.

The pipe was subject to dry rot and termite damage and leaked profusely. So why were they used in the 1930s? The answer has to do with lack of state money to buy steel pipes from overseas at the time combined with a campaign (led largely by their wives) to keep workers at a wooden pipe factory employed.

At the height of the Great Depression in the early 1930s the Department was under enormous pressure to replace damaged steel pipes with pipes made from karri wood in an attempt to provide jobs and stimulate the local timber industry.

The Department was reluctant and it was only after 2½ years of testing that wood stave pipes were first connected to the main pipeline. Between 1933 and 1937 approximately 33 km of 24 inch (609 mm) and 30 km of 30 inch (762 mm) karri stave pipes were laid as part of the main line. A further 8.8 km of 10 inch (254 mm) wood pipes were used for branch lines.

The pipe lengths varied from 1.5 m to 6.6 m according to the available timber. The 5 inch (127 mm) wide staves were treated with sodium fluoride and kiln dried before being bound with galvanised wire, covered in tar and bitumen, and dipped in whitewash. Before installation they were closed at each end and filled with water to allow the staves to expand and seal the pipe.

The last section of wood pipe remained in use until 1968, and this is no doubt the reason for the myth of the original pipe being made of wood. While the original pipeline was buried, the wooden pipes were installed – when it was re-laid – above ground and people alive today can remember seeing wooden pipes in situ.

In many parts as you drive along Great Eastern Highway to the Eastern Goldfields, the trench in which the original pipeline was buried is still clearly visible. Less easily seen, but sometimes spotted, are the remains of some of the wooden pipes laid in the 1930s in the shape of rotted staves and the wire that bound them. There is a section of this wooden pipe here at the Merredin caravan park.

Wood pipes were more easily damaged than steel pipes. Stories are told of thirsty donkeys that kicked holes in the pipe to get to the water. And wood was much less of a barrier to a wayward car.

In 1949, for example, 445 000 litres of water was lost when a car ran off the road near Southern Cross and hit the 24-inch wood pipe.

We took a slight detour at Burracoppin as there was evidence of a nature reserve just out of town. We had to pass the hotel to get to this road, and the hotel is for sale. (see photo) It is a beautiful looking old building, but I have no idea what it is like inside.

There was some indication that the wildflowers are starting to come out as we spotted lots of yellow along the roadside verges and the canola crops are a vast sea of yellow all around the area.

As we came around the corner of the road we saw a sign saying Watch for Mallee Fowls. Russ was about to comment and say that he wondered if the mallee fowls were aware this was their area when a mallee fowl sauntered across the road in front of us.

Of course, the cameras were in the back seat and by the time we had grabbed them and faced forward once more, we saw the fowl move into the bushland and lost it. Sorry, everyone – no photo.

Then a kangaroo bounded across the road and into the bushes. Once more, too late for a photo!

We couldn’t find Hunt’s Well after which the nature reserve is named but we stopped and stretched our legs for a look around. We could see any wildflowers, any more mallee fowls or kangaroos, but we did find the tiniest orange toadstool I have ever seen. There is a photo of that one.

We continued on our way through Westonia on the road to Sandford Rocks.

In 1910, a sandalwood cutter and part-time prospector named Alfred David Weston (17 May 1876 – 26 September 1924) discovered gold in the area, near Bodallin Soak, while enroute to the Eastern Goldfields. As a result, the area came to be referred to as Weston’s Reward and later Westons.

By 1914, people who had taken up residence in the area had changed its name and formed the Westonia Progress Association.

By 1915 there were two major mines in the area, and the population was in excess of 500. By 1917 the area had a population of more than 2,000.

In 1919, low gold prices forced the closure of the mines, and many people left the area. Westonia was gazetted as a town in February 1926.

In 1935 one of the mines reopened, but closed again in 1948, only to be reopened in 1985. The mine then closed once again in 1991.

In mid-2009, it was announced that mining would once again commence at Westonia’s Edna May Gold Mine, with the first gold pour anticipated for May 2010, coinciding with the centenary of the discovery of gold in the district

The lookout at the Edna May Mine has been re-opened to the public, but it is a steep uphill climb on a badly water rutted road. It wasn’t something we were prepared to tackle.

Boodalin Soak was the next location on our drive.

Boodalin Soak is situated within the Westonia Common, approximately 6 km west of the Westonia townsite, and can be accessed via Stoneman Road. The area is part of a 5,600-hectare remnant bushland, offering a tranquil natural setting with native grasslands and seasonal wildflowers in spring.

The soak holds great historical value as a resting place for travellers journeying from York to Kalgoorlie. Originally a native well, it was improved and lined by Charles Cooke Hunt and his team of probationary prisoners and Pensioner Guards in 1865 during his Wells and Track Expedition.

The well was part of a series of watering points along what became known as Hunt’s Track, which was crucial for sandalwood cutters, pastoralists, and gold prospectors.

The stonework around the well is an example of dry-stone wall construction in a circular fashion, and the well is fenced and surrounded by newly planted trees. (see photo)

The gravel roads we travelled were in excellent condition. On one occasion we were travelling 70 kilometres an hour along the road and some top knot pigeons were flying in front of us and continued to pull away. Boy, they can fly fast. This continued for at least 2 kilometres.

Part of the way I read to Russ to rest my eyes from the flashing scenery going past, while other times Russ alerted me to the wildflowers that were beginning to appear on the verges.

Many of the places we have already been, and several more we are yet to get to, are surrounded by parts of the Great Western Woodlands.

Our final destination for today, and where we stopped for lunch, was Sandford Rocks. The rocks are located on Boodarockin Road. (I kid you not!)

These rocks were named after surveyor Henry Sandford King who was active in the area in the late 1880s. He was Surveyor General of Western Australia from 1918-23.

The brochure says, “We doubt if you will be disappointed. The rocks are home to a marvellous array of trees and plants – native peaches and sandalwood, wattles, myrtles, native orchids, tiny carnivorous plants and a profusion of colour, all emerging in a low phosphate environment.”

I think we were a trifle early, but fingers crossed for other areas we explore later.

Home to rock wallaby, numerous gnamma holes where every little waterhole is worth looking at. They contain a profusion of life – tiny, banded tadpoles, water fleas and other creatures.

The rocks are upholstered in lichens. The wind blows cold around you and civilisation is somewhere else. Here Mother Nature is totally in charge.

There is a little walking trail that leads you to a Bird Hide and places to sit for a picnic lunch.  The bird hide is a gem. It is well placed to see the birds as they access the water holes on the rocks, and the seats and viewing slots are at different heights to cater for all.

The Nature Reserve protects 806ha of granite outcrop, pools, wildflowers, scrub and woodland and it has many diverse species of flora and fauna.

Along the way we found some early blooming Velvet Leaf Firebush, and Russ captured a Weebil and an owl, but the owl is too far away for proper identification purposes.

Sandford Rocks is part of the Yilgarn Craton, a rock formation made up of granite that is estimated to be 2600 million years old.

This vast expanse of granite extends for thousands of metres below the surface and is seen when erosion allows higher formations to extend above the land’s surface.

The dreaded vertigo has struck once more. I am not good today. We had been planning a drive but that has now been put on hold.

The day is very overcast, and at the moment there are not many others here in the caravan park. Most of the studio, cabin and bungalow residents are off at work in the mine operations.

I took the opportunity to book into Mudinbudkin (pronounced Mud-in-bood-kin) for a week on their website which is one of the best I have used. By the way, in case I haven’t written it before, the locals call the town  Muka – much easier.

I also rang the hairdresser and booked a haircut for Thursday at 9:45am.

In the afternoon I had a nap and felt a bit better when I woke up, so fingers crossed.

It was very chilly in the night and we both turned on our electric blankets. However, with the cold, we also had a great night’s sleep.

After breakfast we headed out to the Visitor Information Centre here in town to get some more local information. I also found other leaflets for places we will be going further down the timeline.

The Visitor Information Centre is located in the old and refurbished Railway Station. It also is the place where you buy your rail tickets to Kalgoorlie and Perth.

A few groceries were next to tide us over until we do our big shop before moving on to Mukinbudin – pronounced Muck-in-boo-din, or Mucka if you are a local.

After we had put the groceries all away and Russ checked again his side mirror (it is still vibrating and the kitchen tap is still leaking) we hopped back into the Beast and went to see Merredin Peak.

The Merredin Peak Trail provides an uninterrupted view across the town and the surrounding rural area. As the highest peak in the area, it offers spectacular panoramic views as far as the eye can see.

We followed the walking trail which went for 3.8 kilometres, and it was a lovely place to spend time. We took it very slowly so that Russ can get his wind and some stamina back.

We came across a very interesting feature on the walk. Before we left Mildura there had been an article in the ABC about Ant Lions which had been rediscovered living in our area.

Apparently, they are a feature of this region. Their presence shows up as little pits on the sandy footpath (in the photo). The pits are made by the larvae of the ant lion who then lie hidden at the bottom and wait for an ant to fall in.

The angle of the pit is such that it makes it very hard for the ant to escape so, once caught, the ant is sucked dry by the larvae. The species spend the majority of their lives as larvae. Once they change into an adult, they have a very short life of approximately a month in which they fly, mate and lays their eggs before expiring.

Back at the van and we had afternoon tea before I once again edited photos and filled in the diary, all ready for upload and emailing.

As yesterday was such a long day we both slept in this morning. I woke up with a bad headache, so I took some Panadol with my breakfast and it has eased off, thankfully.

After breakfast, and as the sun was trying very hard to peep around the clouds, I did the washing. I was amazed and very pleased when I got everything dry except my heavy-duty mat.

After lunch we watched the replay of the game and then I concentrated on downloading and editing photos. I also made some time to do some relaxing reading.

I started this book (ebook) and I thought it might not be quite the type I generally read (science fiction – which I like), but every time I thought I would put it away something else would happen in the storyline to grab my attention. I am still reading it and over halfway through it.

While I edited, Russ took a look at the leaking tap in the kitchen area. He tightened all the screws and hopes that might do the job. Otherwise, it is a job that will take much longer to fix (under the sink, of course).

He also tightened the screws on the driver’s side mirror (extendable caravan ones) which has developed a vibration from the recent corrugations.

Today it was very overcast with periods of rain showers and some weak sunshine. It was also a much cooler day than it has been recently.

It rained heavily overnight which contributed to the white noise of the fan and helped cut down the noise from traffic. Over the last two days Merredin has had almost 2 inches of rain.

When we left the caravan park, I asked Russ if he needed directions and he said no, which proved to be wrong. He was going in the right direction he had just gone on the wrong road (and they didn’t meet!). So, we had a little tour of Merredin that hadn’t been on the agenda before we took the right road to get to Hyden.

We went via Narembeen and Kondinin on the way to Hyden, which is part of the Secondary Wheat Freight Network roads, and came back to Merredin via Mt Walker. All the roads we travelled were sealed and in good condition. Russ and I both commented that any of these B roads would have been better than the main roads in Victoria at the moment.

The crops we passed along the way are in excellent form and there is plenty of rain in the paddocks and along the sides of the road.

I discovered as we approached Narembeen that I had packed lunch for Russ but had neglected to put mine in the container. There were plenty of afternoon snacks though, but I took the opportunity of grabbing a box of muesli bars at the IGA when we went through Narembeen.

Muntadgin is one location name of the day. It is a tiny little town with a population of 39 people. Woorkakanin Rock is the other one.

Woorkakanin Rock is located in the SW part of the wheatbelt country and sits 317 meters above sea level.

The land around Woorkakanin Rock is flat. The highest point in the area is 361 meters. There are fewer than 2 people per square kilometre around Woorkakanin Rock, and the nearest larger town is Kondinin, 4.1 km to the west.

Many of the paddocks we travelled along had enormous rocks in the middle of them, or along a border. They are huge dome-like protrusions and even the vegetation began to smell different to what it had been in Merredin.

The satellite dishes on the houses are huge, and we saw some lovely wildflowers on the roadside verge. One of them I am sure is a form of Acacia, but I have been unable to find what it is called exactly. I have never seen this one before to my knowledge.

There are plenty of Port Lincoln Parrots in the area and like making themselves heard.

We passed the first fresh roadkill of the journey today. It was an extremely large kangaroo.

We had lunch at Hippo’s Yawn when we got to Hyden, and we were very lucky that it remained dry while we were walking the trails. Hippo’s Yawn is, in geologic parlance, called a ‘tafone’. It is 12.6 metres tall and tafone is an Italian word which means window or aperture. It really does look like a hippo yawning.

After Hippo’s Yawn (see photos) we then arrived at the car park for Wave Rock. The amount of rain that has fallen recently meant that the wave rock was actually a much darker colour than usual and we got some terrific photos, including one of Russ surfing the wave in remembrance of the first time we were here.

Wave Rock is 27 million years old and made up of grey and red granite strips. It hangs over like an incredible 15-metre-high. It is a natural rock formation that is shaped like a tall breaking ocean wave. The “wave” is about15 m high and around 110m long. It forms the north side of a solitary hill, which is known as “Hyden Rock” wave about to break.

A wall lies above Wave Rock about halfway up Hyden Rock and follows the contours of the rock surface. It collects and funnels rainwater to a storage dam.

The wall and dam were constructed in December 1928 by the Public Works Department for the colonist settlers of East Karlgarin District. Both were renovated in 1951 to increase water capacity for the Hyden township. Such walls are common on many similar rocks in the Wheatbelt.

We found some dried wildflowers and bought a posy for mum like she had requested. I could have spent a long time in the Visitor’s Gift Shop, but I was strong!

On the return trip we encountered the Shoe Fence on Mt Walker Road. It is not heavily loaded down by shoes, but it does stretch for about 800 metres along the road.

Straight roads abound in this region of WA. One we travelled today went for 43 kilometres. That is a long straight road!!!

Mount Walker is a small rural locality in the Wheatbelt region of WA, situated within the Shire of Narembeen. Covering a substantial area of around 662 square kilometres, the locality has a population of just 76 residents according to the 2021 Census. The landscape is dominated by broad-acre farming, with wheat and sheep grazing as the primary land uses across the gently undulating terrain.

We got back to the caravan in plenty of time to turn on the radio and listen to the Pies win the game against the old enemy, Carlton. My mum barracked for Carlton when she was alive and was very passionate about her football.