Back yard Tourist

In my own back yard

I grab a glass of wine and head out my back door for one of several outdoor settings. From there I gaze across Perth’s hills and lose myself amidst the trees. Its bliss! I don’t need to go much further than my own back yard to enjoy respite from my day. Yet, just down the road there is an option.

Local back yards

I could jump in my car and drive a few minutes to the stunning Mundaring Weir, pictured above. This water catchment serves Perth and many country towns in regional WA, thanks to CY O’Connor’s vision. I wrote about the Golden Pipeline that kept my mother’s garden alive, here.

A back yard ‘just down the road’

Recently a girlfriend invited me to visit her in Beverley to see her newly purchased home. What a brilliantly tidy town! Filled with tourist opportunities. We enjoyed breakfast across the road from this vintage car. Plus a meal at the local pub, a walk across the bridge that crosses the Avon river. We enjoyed our stay in the local caravan park, within easy walking distance of the main street and our dining venues. With an active theatre arts centre that attracts singers and shows of well known artists, we bound to find our way back there in the near future. Check out my reel of our recent visit here.

A regional back yard or two

Being a tourist in my own backyard is immeasurably pleasurable. I get to see great deal for much less money. No airfares for a start! Especially if I treat regional towns in WA as part of backyard.

Throughout my life, many family-focused road trips have taken me along the Great Southern Highway and other roads through the wheat-belt. I’ve passed through historic York, Quairading, Shackleton and ended my trip in Bruce Rock, my hometown more times than I can count!

There’s many sites worth seeing in each town. An historic walk of mosaic images captures my attention, as it proudly shows Bruce Rock’s history in works of art. In the image below, my mother, the grandddaughter of pioneering families, shows one of the slabs my brother and I managed to create.

As we pass through Quairading I note Jordan Sprigg’s sculpture of the bull. His works of art have gained world wide repute.

Some of the many ‘back yards’ I’ve visited in WA include Geraldton and Greenough. I loved our trip to Greenough. The historic place we stayed at was filled with curios. Nearby was a prospective source of family history, though that proved to be a wrong rabbit hole. But hey, that’s the fun of seeking out links.

City back yards

Weary of car travel? I chose to head across Canada by train rather than car. It is an exciting and relaxing option. But let’s see how that can translate to being in one’s own back yard.

Train travel is a wonderful option. My friend, Maureen Helen wrote about in her trip to Perth airport as a day’s outing.

Returning nearer to my own back yard

There are other options too. My local area holds many treasures. I plan to explore them. Like the Perth’s Hills Open Studios held each year. I wrote about it here.

There’s the local coffee shop, Whites Mill & Grind that serves one of the best coffees in town, along with delicious bagels. Just opposite a park, the staff willingly bring your take-away order to you while you chat under the trees!

Travelling in my own back yard is something I plan to do more of over the coming months. I’ll seek to share some of my discoveries along the way.

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