Western Australia - A Retrospective look at our time in WA - Part 2

I really wanted to do this retrospective all in one post, but it was taking too long & the computer was doing 'funny things' last night so I posted Part 1 on the blog before I lost it!  Here is Part 2 with more photos of some of the highlights of our stay in the West! Hope you enjoy looking at them!

In early June we went for a drive to Kalamunda in the Perth Hills. Had a wander around the Sunday markets & lunch in one of the lovely cafes. Followed signs to an Open Garden place & were lucky enough to see the Patsy Durak Rose & Camellia gardens on their last open day for the season!

Kalamunda in the Perth Hills, WA - Patsy Durak Rose Garden surrounding a beautiful home on one side of the street;
on other side of the street was another garden with lots of camellias - all very nice & a lovely sunny day,too!

The first weekend in July I joined a group of friends for a Sewing/Craft retreat at Mundaring, in Perth Hills. Had a lovely relaxing time! The weather was really, really cold so the wood fire was very welcome & most of us spent some time standing in front of it! Everyone brought along some food, so meals were easy! Some sewing, knitting & cross-stitch was done but there was a lot of talking too!

Mundaring in the Perth Hills, WA - Sewing retreat with friends; the great warm fire; 
some of the projects - beautiful cross-stitch of Government House, Perth; my blue & white wall hanging [I worked on embroidering the words, it is finished but not yet put together!];
the quilt on table was not done at retreat-I helped my friend Robyn to make this in my apartment in Perth. We had several enjoyable Thursday afternoon sewing sessions to get it finished for her g-daughter's 1st birthday! 

The last weekend in July we had a lovely visit from Kirsten & Dale, our daughter & son-in-law from Sydney. They only had about 4 days so we spent the time looking at attractions in or near Perth including walks in the city & Kings Park, a day trip to New Norcia [an historic monastery town north of Perth] and a drive to Fremantle where we enjoyed very fresh fish & chips before taking them to the airport!


Kirsten & Dale's visit to Perth, 2010 - Kirsten & Dale at new Norcia, Hotel in background where we had lunch; Banksia & Qualup Bell flowers in Kings Park; view of Perth city from Kings Park; Kirsten saying bye to Dad at airport; on balcony with one of the beautiful Perth sunsets in background.

  August was a busy month packing our belongings to be sent home & putting aside the things we would need to take with us for the Long Drive Home! Luckily John is very good at sorting & packing & somehow everything did get done! Before leaving we flew to Karratha to spend a long weekend at Wickham with our other daughter Tracey, son-in-law, Ken & grandchildren Jessica & Joshua.
Joshua had a party in the park for his 6th birthday on the Friday afternoon. On Saturday Rio Tinto had an open day and John & I joined Tracey & Jessica for a bus trip to the port facilities at Cape Lambert where we had a glimpse of the iron ore mining & were taken on a guided tour of on of the tug boats in the harbour. Ken took us out to Cossack late Saturday afternoon where we watched the sun set over the water. On Sunday we packed a picnic lunch for a day trip to Dampier. Had lunch on beach, children swam.  On the way home we walked along a fairly rough gorge to look at the Aboriginal art.

Sunday day drive to Dampier, WA - Lunch on beach; swim for some; Aboriginal art & tree in gorge;
Sunset at Cossack on Saturday

After walking the children to school on Monday morning Tracey drove us in to Karratha for coffee before dropping us at airport for 2 hr flight back to Perth. It was good to see them again & to see where they are now living!

Joshua's 6th Birthday Party in the park at Wickham, WA

Bus trip to Cape Lambert, WA - Tugboats in harbour; John & Jessica; Tracey & Jessica; iron ore loading & stockpiles

 We returned to Perth from Wickham on August 17th & left Perth on August 30th for the drive home which is where this blog starts. Sorry it is not all in chronological order but I hope you still enjoy looking at the photos even if you do not have time to read all the text! Now that I have completed the pre-drive photos I will try to keep adding more news as it happens!! Love, Heather.