I Got The T-Shirt

After my post about the day trip that Rob and Leeane took us on up to Mundaring Wier, Barry, our "younger brother", asked if I got a Bibbulmun Track t-shirt for the minimal distance I managed to log on the track (i.e., 5 meters +/-). As you can see, yes I got my shirt thanks to Don. Now I have to figure out how I'm going to log the remaining 999.9 kms.

Photo Reminder

Just in case you have not found out from this blog site. You can click on any of the photos posted and they will enlarge to full screen. So if you had difficulty seeing some detail, especially in some of the darker ones, the enlargement will be more clear. Try this on the pub interior, and the shot labeled "Where in the world are we?".

Here are some more shots taken at the Mundaring Wier Dam. The day was so clear and the air so still that the reflection on the still water made for some interesting pictures.


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A Post for Chris

The last time I was in Australia was with Chris in 1987, for Christmas. Jenny and Don had a live tree that year. They planted it in the back yard behind the garage. And this is what it looks like today, taken from the schoolyard next door, directly behind Don.
One more major change at the Miller home is something that I would expect to see in Texas, and was pleased to find that Don had beat 'Bubba' to the idea: an addition to the outside dunny!!

The Dam Hike!

Monday, May 11: Rob and Leeane pick Don and I up and we're off to an area just east of Perth up in the hills, to the John Forrest National Park and the Mundaring Wier reservoir and dam. A very rugged region with huge trees, canyons, and massive rock outcroppings. Our goal is to hike out to an old railroad tunnel that was constructed to support the building of the dam and water pipeline. The dam was built in 1903 and is the water supply for Perth, and later a huge pipeline project was added to supply water to the goldmining town of Kalgoorlie, about 600 km. east.

But first, lunch at the Mundaring Wier Hotel. Another classic structure in a stunning location, I have to guess that it was built around the time of the dam, c. 1903. And by a curious coincidence, the Bibbulmun Track crosses right in front of the pub! We had agreat lunch and a couple of cold ones and enjoyed the company of the parrots helping themselves to the leftovers. And I saw my first Kookaburra!

Uncle Bob, Leeazza, and Rob at the Mundaring Wier Hotel.

The Kookaburra is actually a bird of prey and has a very strong beak. Very beautiful bird.I can now say that I walked my first few meters on the Track, only 999.9 kms. to go!

Mother's Day Part 3

Simon behind Glenda, and Robert. And no, Simon is not a preacher, it's just a hand jesture.

Hey, Gumpa! How about a couple more Emu Bitter's over here please.

Sophie, Marnie, and Tony, and on the right, Braden, "wuffin' it down the cake hole".

Tony, Braden, Sim, and our younger brother Bazza.

The future international super-model hams it up for Uncle Bob's camera (Sophie).

Mother's Day Part 2

Barry and Glenda

That's Priscilla with her son Simon behind the palm, and Uncle Simon in the black shirt.

Marnie, Don, Barry, Jackie, and Glenda

Left background is Jenny's brother Sim, and his son Simon, then Jenny, Marnie, Don, Barry, Jackie, and Glenda.

Sophis is hiding behind the palm, Don, Jenny, Barry, and Jackie in her sunglasses.

More Road Trip Photos

The Railroad Station at Dwellingup, our coffee stop.

That's Don in the distance, walking the tracks.

Bob, Barry, and Don at our coffee stop in Dwellingup.

A view from the car driving through the forest.

Here's Don at our lunch stop in Quindanning. That's not his bike.