Lap Around Australia: Northampton

Northampton  and around Geraldton

Well it's now 17 days since we arrived in Geraldton from Northampton on the back of a RAC truck. We are still here waiting waiting...............

It's getting pretty hard to remain patient and up-beat about our car repairs as the time goes on. Latest is one of the mechanics is off sick, delaying our repairs longer.

To stop ourselves going mad with frustration we have been trying to get out and about exploring Geraldton and surrounds from top to bottom and Barb has also been spending some lovely times with Prue and her family. We drove to Northampton on the weekend to have a proper look around. We were a bit distracted with our broken car last time we were here, so saw nothing of the town.

It is a rather pretty little town, but like so many, the shops in the main street are dwindling in number. We parked in the main street just near the Catholic Church. Of course we had to have a look at this and the ex-convent building beside it as it was designed by Monsignor Hawes who seems to have been a remarkably prolific architect in this area. We wonder how he ever found time to practice as a priest.

Our friends had told us to be sure to have lunch at the Shearing Shed bakery if we ever came back this way. It has great vanilla slices apparently. We were too late for those. Sold out by lunchtime, We were lucky to just squeeze in before there early afternoon closing time for pies and coffee. They were good. We walked across the road to have a look around Hampton Gardens. They do seem to keep up the public spaces and gardens very well even if the town itself is a little worn.

We drove back to Geraldton via the Chapman Valley route. Such a pretty and peaceful rural drive. This time we even got to stop off at Mills Lookout which gives a beautiful elevated view of the surrounding farmland.

On Sunday there was a market going on at the old Railway Station in Geraldton. We went along to have a look. It was glorious weather, so too nice a day to stay inside.
After dawdling around the market stalls and making some gift purchases. we walked down to the main beach at Geraldton to sit in the shade and people-watch. There were lots of families out enjoying the beach. Even some sailing boats out. We think Geraldton has quite a lot to offer and is a very liveable place.

Barb spent the next couple of days with Prue, teaching her to sew. They made an outfit for Jade this time and she is very pleased with her twirling  sun dress. Kara has been teething and possibly also has a cold with a runny nose and general malaise. She was pretty irritable and very clingy to her Mum because of this, but luckily had some midday sleeps which we took advantage of to sew.
This has been the best thing about being stuck in Geraldton. Precious time with family. You can't put a price on that.

John has used the time puddling round fixing this and that. He ended up buying another car jack so her could take the caravan wheel off and take it and the spare wheel down to Bridgestone tyres to sort out the cracked wheel rim situation. Hopefully our tyre won't keep deflating now. Or blow out as the last one did. He's also attended to some plumbing and electrical issues. All minor but annoying.

Barb has been doing a lot of reading too. Prue pointed her in the direction of a really good local bookstore. The first time this trip that we've seen a good one (although we didn't look in Alice Springs to be fair). She's also done some book swaps at the caravan park here as it has a better selection than most. She should be okay for reading material now until we return to Maleny.

Hopefully our next post will be from Perth.