2012, 7 October - Margaret River to Pemberton (via Nannup / Bridgetown / Manjimup)

Trip Meter Reading Start –  7386

Trip Meter Reading Finish –  7600 (591kms)

Filled Up Manjimup
Petrol $1.59 / litre; 43.79 litres $66.02

Accommodation
Free camp – Big Brook Aboretum.  10km N of Pemberton.  This place was beautiful; surrounded by big tree it also included your own personal concrete fireplace pit with plenty of wood already chopped up by National Parks.  Fires are not allowable from November, so we cranked her up that night and Luke got some toasty marshmallows.

Comments – Luke

Today we said goodbye to Scott but before we left I gave a baby lamb a bottle of milk.  First we drove to Nannup and had lunch.  After that we went to Bridgetown and did some shopping and had something to eat at the Bakery.  After that we arrived at Big Brook Dam in a big forest at night we toasted marshmallows.

Comment – Mum and Dad
From camp we headed east to Sue’s Road following it south until we hit the Brockman Highway.  Instead of heading further south to Pemberton we decided to head North East to visit small inland townships of Nannup (34 km) and Bridgetown (a further 45km from Nannup on the way.  It was a good choice.  These little places are quaint and quiet.  Being a Sunday, not much was open as is with most areas of WA unlike the rest of Australia.  But it was nice to revisit the good old quiet feel of the 70’s where you stocked up prior to the weekend.  The bakery at Nannup was open so we bought a couple of fresh pies and a loaf of sourdough (which mind you was one of the best I have ever tasted)  The good thing with whole bread like this is it lasts a little longer than normal bread as it was uncut and topping it with some fresh hummus, tomato, salami and cheese is an easy choice for lunch when you are on the run.  We took a stroll along the riverbank and up the main town.  Old buildings planted out with overhanging wisterias in full flower and bedded cottage foliage adorned the edges of the main street.

Geese at Bridgetown

The drive further on to Bridgetown was a pretty one through deep green hills amass with bright yellow flowers and sheep.  It was hilly landscape for a change and very picturesque.  Into Bridgetown which is larger than Nannup a few more gift, coffee and boutique shop doors were opened up.  We parked and pottered around before heading to IGA for some last minute grocery items (not cheap so only the basics were obtained).  The buildings were historic and quaint; the banks of the river were filled with dark browned calm tannin waters home to an array of large geese.  Beautiful shady and grassy picnic areas adjoined.

Mark and Luke in the lavender garden, Nannup

Off and onto our freecamp which was south 37 km through Manjimump then south west a further 9km to the Channeybrook Road turnoff.