Exploring the Local Region

Wanting to tick off our daily swim, we headed to nearby Gracetown which is nestled on Cowaramup Bay. We arrived to a busy carpark thanks to summer swimming lessons in the bay which soon finished. Although the bay was sheltered, the wind was brisk making our time their relatively short! Nevertheless we explored the rocks at each end of the beach before taking the plunge and swimming. With chattering teeth the girls emerged taking refuge in their towels. Not much desire for sandcastles or sand in our lunch, so it was a quick change before droving off deciding where we were going next!

Various options were considered and those which meet numerous criteria were voted on. Casting votes from the rear decided our journey would continue on to Ellensbrook Homestead. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the banks of a little creek in the cool shade of the trees before embarking on a small walk (which had been part of Andy's run earlier in the day!)

Now we begin the history lesson on Ellensbrook! Ellen and Alfred Bussell, the first Europeans settlers to this region chose this location as it provided shelter from the winter storms, had access to fresh water and surrounded by fertile soil. And so the homestead was built in 1857. For several years they farmed beef and dairy cattle before moving further south building Wallcliffe at the mouth of Margaret River.

Despite the Bussells naming the area Ellenbrook, the local Nyungar people have always known it as Mokidup, a traditional summer camping spot. We wandered past the house, marvelling at the large and rusting water wheel before joining the Meekadarribee Trail. The well built trail is about 1.5km return trip to the Meekadarribee waterfall - the bathing place of the moon. Once there we read about the Aboriginal legend, that the cave is where the spirits of Aboriginal lovers, Mitanne and Nobel live.

Next on our to do list for the day involved a short drive to the Yallingup Maze to meet up with the Braid family whom we'd nearly accidentally bumped into the day before!! While the children explored outside and then attempted the many games inside, we enjoyed chatting and catching up with Ceri and Graham.

Eventually Ella and Katy bugged Andy enough and they disappeared into the real maze. Managing to visit all four towers and find the secret doors, they were out again well before we had expected them. Must have been the maze practice in the UK two years ago! Then a quick game of cricket to finish off the afternoon.

Back to the animal farm for some....yep you guessed it....more patting!!