017 - Fraser Range

Our first night at Fraser Range was pretty windy, as it we seem to be the Wind Whisperers. Cool and overcast, but reasonably pleasant. Certainly nothing that we weren’t accustomed to by now.

Mother Hubbard looked in the cupboard and it was looking decidedly bare after a few days in non-central towns. Whilst it wasn’t quite Stalag 13 standards, we did have to break into the Emergency “Shakin’ Pancakes” which pleased, well, pretty much everyone.

We make full use of every camp kitchen at every park we’ve been to, as it allows us a bit of space and an ability to use the park’s power and gas rather than our own. I have to say that Fraser Station’s camp kitchen is easily the oldest and most rustic, given it is part of the original Homestead building complex.

Camp Kitchen to the left, Dining Room where we had our "Special Dinner" to the right.

The surrounds and grounds are incredibly well kept and are very pleasant to stroll around in. Dotted around the garden are various bits of scrap and old machinery from yesteryear.

Is a sundial on a cloudy day essentially a watch with a flat battery?

Afterwards we kicked on with school hour where we changed it up a little. B took the younger two while Sam and I worked on his blog, and discussed how to make it something we’ll try and get to every day. Even as I type right now, he’s next to me writing today’s events. Duelling Blogs perhaps?

School led into a brilliant couple of hours whilst we took the drink bottles and did the Summit walk up the mountain behind the Station grounds. We’re keen to get as many walks into the kids as possible in practice for some more heavy duty stuff up North walking into some gorges.

It was a reasonably solid climb and circuit around, and our kids were brilliant without too much as a whine or a whimper. The older two are certainly part mountain-goat, whilst James is still developing his walking pace. His stamina and determination is without question, and I do have to remember his little legs don’t nearly cover as much turf as the rest of us.

The view from the top was nothing short of spectacular, and we signed the guest book, which I try and do as much as possible as the opportunity arises. On the journey, we picked out an array of wallabies, kangaroos, emus and a plethora of different types of poop which Evie of all people kept pointing out.

We lost the track on the way down and ended up near the Station’s golf hole, which forms part of the Nullabor Links, the world’s longest golf course. It’s a cool little concept, playing a hole in most roadhouses and stopovers along the Nullabor between Kalgoorlie and Ceduna. But it’s not one that lends itself travelling with 3 kids as at times, you just want to keep trucking rather than pull out a piece of astro-turf to hit a rock around a bunch of paddocks. I feel I’ll return to this concept in later years.

In this landscape, Sam's red Welsh Soccer jumper proves to be excellent high vis.

Evie, although part baby giraffe, bounds over this landscape like a younger, female version of the BFG. Smaller ears though.

And our little red caboose... James I'm referring to. Epitomises the "I think I can" mentality though.

Quite the view from the top though...

Getting the hang of this family selfie thing.

More emus... I'm sure I heard one of them say "C'mon Beryl. Mt Helen is this way"

"Oh... we're off to see The Wizard..."

A bit of lunch and then I was in charge of PE whilst B decided to invest some time in a good book. I’m not sure if I’ll make a great PE teacher but everyone seemed to have fun. Just me giving them ball games to work through and work on the hand eye co-ordination.

On from there we pottered around, Sam and B having a game of Battleship and the other two flitting away the time as kids do. Also got to tick two more animals off on the Fauna Bingo. The local resident carpet python and a Thorny Devil picked up from the driveway.

A lovely little moment.

Which way did he go...

Ahh... there he is. Incidentally, didn't see many mice around the station.

Oohh... spikey

We had a “special” dinner at Station’s Camp Galley where they offer a set menu of pretty much staple fare they offer the workers, and open it to park guests. The kids were very excited to have some chips, pizza, nuggets and other general pub junk. A solid fish and chips for me and a custom made fish burger for B, and ice cream for all for dessert made it a very popular dinner for all.

We had great a conversation about ghosts named Alex who haunt Gareth Bale and aliens who fly marshmallows. Everyone was happy and in great spirits.

Tomorrow we move on to Kalgoorlie a day earlier than planned but really in need of a stock up and a reasonably priced washing machine.

And maybe, we might get reception. So someone other than myself can read it should they feel inclined.