We are on the road circa 7.30am and head south to Wongan Hills with the aim of just a short day driving. No luck with the caravan park having cabins/camp kitchen.
After viewing the range of local flora in the cemetery, where a woody pear is in flower and very profuse, and a number of unsuccessful telephone calls looking for accommodation, we head north west to New Norcia. New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia run by the Benedictine Monks. We book into a 2 hour town tour plus additional tour of the Museum.
The tour is fascinating, providing an insight into the establishment of this self sufficient town, originally by Spanish monks in the 1830s and their interaction and involvement of the local aborigines at the time. The Abbott position continued to be appointed from Spain for the first 100 years. Currently they produce bread, olive products, wine, fruit & vegetables not to mention their large land holdings with sheep and cattle husbandry. The special chapels and school buildings for aborigines [stolen generation] as well as orphanages and borders are in the process of being renovated or upgraded to meet various Government OH&S requirements. It was a a very informative afternoon.
We drive south looking for a spot to camp, with rain threatening. Eventually we arrive at Bindoon and set up camp in the dark around a Council cricket ground. It was challenging for Dot preparing a pasta meal in the rain. We all enjoyed this in David and Barbara’s caravan where it was dry.
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