Northam
“Northam is located 150 m above sea level and 98 km east of Perth on the Great Eastern Highway and, like York, is one of the earliest settlements in the Central Wheatbelt area.
The town, with its beautiful setting and its population of nearly 7000, is remarkably attractive although it has a reputation for fiercely hot summers. As early as the 1850s the Anglican archdeacon of Western Australia was writing about how he ‘rode to Northam in the evening through an atmosphere which felt like that at the mouth of an oven. Horses sweating copiously even at walking pace.’ -smh.com.au”
We woke up real early today, and went to Northam Airfield, where the ballooning will take off, if any. And unfortunately for us, non today.
Anyway, if you would like to try your luck, Northam Airfield is only about 10mins drive from town, at the end of Withers Street.
Take Fitzgerald Street, go North pass the town, on to Goomaling Road (Route 115) and its the third (or fourth) right turn off the road.
So we drove back to Fitzgerald Street, and bought some bread from the bakery we found last night, and found out that its opened by Chinese! Really didn’t expect to see any Chinese living here. But the feeling of seeing someone from a similar background, possibly even from the same motherland, is heart warming.
We got our bread and croissant, and went over to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Australia.
Saw some flowers along the way.
Suspension Bridge
On our way back to the hotel to check out, we saw some real nice looking maple tree, with leaves falling, covering the ground.
We drove on to York and and have to travel 400km to Stirling Range today.
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Bullsbrook and Bindoon
Well, not really Bullsbrook. Because even before reaching Bullsbrook, we have turned left onto Chittering Road, and have embarked on a spectacular visual tour of the wineries.
I was simply taken away by the sceneries and was driving with full bladder, so no pictures were taken.
I stopped by a shady and quite place to take a leak on Chittering Valley Road, just before turning right into Chittering Road again and a great guy came along soon after I finished my do.
He thought my car was broken and he wanted to help! Now, its even more difficult for something like that to happen in Singapore than to strike lottery. Thank you sir, for your concern and good heart.
Drove on to Bindoon but did not stop. Bindoon is a relatively small town, and nothing much I can see, or remember worth stopping by (due to my pretty tight schedule).
Bindoon is where the majority of training and selection takes place for the Australian Special Air Service Regiment. Some of the facilities include live-firing ranges, the Brigade Special Training Facilities (MOUT) and full scale Boeing 747 mockup to simulate the storming of an airliner, so we went on to Toodyay.
Toodyay
“Toodyay, one of Western Australia’s oldest towns is located less than an hours drive from Perth. Located on the Avon River, nestled between Mt Anderson and Pelham Hill, Toodyay boasts exquisite views in every direction.” -Toodyay VIC
We stopped by Toodyay for a quick break, after driving for almost an hour after my last bladder leak.
The main town area has quite few road side cafes and bars, and its a really nice place to be.
I heard that during the weekends, this place is filled with bikers.
So after a short 10mins break, we carried on to Northam. Its already 4:34pm, the sun is setting in less than an 45mins, and we have to find Avon Bridge Hotel, Northam, 30km away.
Northam
Now, the real reason why I wanted to stay overnight in Northam is this:
Northam is the Hot Air Ballooning town, nearest to Perth.
And being the cheapskate me, who is not willing to pay A$250/pax for a breakfast champagne flight, I decided to try my luck, and see if we can catch any flights the next morning, so that I can take some pictures.
Coming down South from Toodyay, the hotel is immediately to your right, once you cross Avon Bridge.
We stayed at Avon Bridge Hotel’s Motel unit.
Its a very cosy place to stay in, really.
Its basically a pub and restaurant at the front, and upstairs, its the hotel rooms, and to the back, the motel units, right next to the pool table.
2 Daytona machine is there, and a jukebox ready to pay the song you want, cold beer at hand, playing pool, and just pop into your room 5 steps away when you are drunk.
I must say that the room is rather small, with an en suite. Must I have nothing to complain, seriously. I like the atmosphere.
Anyway, we got kinda hungry and we on walking along Fitzgerald street (turning left after coming out of the hotel’s main entrance), trying to look for some food, at about 6pm in the evening. Shops are already closed, everywhere.
Walked all the way to Fitzgerald hotel (its only 10mins walk, but hey, its almost winter!), and saw a restaurant open, but that looked too fancy for us.
Walked back, and we saw this little shop – Mighty Mackrel.
Walked in and the smell of deep fried seafood overwhelmed my senses.
Unfortunately or fortunately, they only have take away. We got the seafood basket, and a beef burger set and salad, and went back to our hotel. $24 in all. Not bad at all, considering that we nearly couldn’t finish the food, and you know how much I can eat.
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