Shiona Herbert 20/5/23 Shiona Herbert 20/5/23

Drovers Rest Picnic Area

Mingenew-Morrawa Road, Mingenew, Western Australia 6522

Rest up!

When Blue and I travel to Geraldton, we always love to have a break at the Drovers Rest Picnic Area in Mingenew. It offers lot’s of interesting history and travel information, plus there’s droving artefacts and steel cut-outs on display.

I must confess that Blue does NOT behave like a gentleman around livestock, so its usually a stressful arrival as he goes ballistic at the rusty cut outs of livestock that inhabit the picnic area. But then he settles down to sniff and ‘check-in’ with each rusty, dusty, creature.

Drovers Rest also boasts a steep but fun stair walk to the most spectacular view of the town and surrounding land. Or, you can go hard-core and trek further up the hill for an even more spectacular view of the area. (It will be worth it.)

“Alright mate, giddy-up. It’s time to push on.”

Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com

Shiona Herbert 9/5/23 Shiona Herbert 9/5/23

North of the Border

Midlands Road - On the border of Three Springs 6518 and Carnamah 6517

North Boundary Bounding

Sometimes Blue and I pop up to Three Springs to visit their Community Op Shop to buy supplies from the Three Springs IGA.

Following the shopping (and gasbagging), Blue is always keen for a bit of a run after waiting patiently in the car. A spot where we love to stretch our legs on the way back to Carnamah is located almost bang-on the border of Three Springs and Carnamah.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Carnamah and Three Springs border signs; super close to North Boundary Road (12.5km north of Carnamah town and 10 km south of Three Springs). In close proximity you’ll see numerous dirt road entries into an open space hosting defunct piles of quarry stone and cracker dust.

This open space leads down to a flat, dried out section of the Mulliah Yarra Yarra Lakes system. Its quite unique with its eerie but beautiful dead trees. You’ll note that the ground cover is attractive to both the eye AND the insects who inhabit the area. The flies are very friendly here at all times of the year, so don your fly net before adventuring.

Keep a look out for animals tracks in the dried clay as you stroll along. You’re bound to see some huge emu and kangaroo tracks on the ground.

Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com

Shiona Herbert 8/5/23 Shiona Herbert 8/5/23

MULLIAH - YARRA YARRA LAKES SCENIC DRIVE

Via Winchester South Road, Carnamah, Western Australia 6517

Take Off the Breaks... at the Lakes!

Sometimes Blue needs more than an extended stroll around town or run along the airstrip. Being part Blue Heeler, he loves a good, long, run. We’ve found that the dirt road that runs parallel with the Mulliah - Yarra Yarra Lakes off South Winchester Road is perfect for this. I set the cruise control to 25km per hour and off we go!

We would have travelled this road over 100 times by now and have only once come across another vehicle (shout out to Paul and Sue), so we feel that its a safe place for you to let your four-legged-friend out for an extended run. You may even see kangaroos, lizards, and hawks, in the scrub near by.

As it is a salt lake, it is an interesting experience to tread along the salt seam lines and see how it separates from the clay beneath. During some times of the year the lake has a pink tinge. It looks quite magical!

Blue and I often walk out onto the lake itself. Its is broad and expansive and feels like you’re on another planet but it is also tranquil and rejuvenating.

Something I love to do that really packs a relaxation punch is to stroll around slowly on the lake with headphones on listening to the beautiful work of multimedia artist Marianthe Loucataris:

If Water Could Speak - A meditative audio visual improvised conversation with WATER

Marianthe created this nourishing digital work of art during her artist-in-residency experience for the Ebb and Flow exhibition that was facilitated here in Carnamah.

Filmographer Chris Lewis captured this stunning birds eye view of the Mulliah - Yarra Yarra Lakes system. Just like Marianthe’s nourishing meditative clip, Chris’ footage offers an awe-inspiring visual meditation to relax to also.

Our beloved friend Mike has joined us numerous times out on the lake. We always laugh at the ‘salt men’ he makes (as opposed to a ‘snowman’) when he visits.