Bush walk

Anth and I went on a bush walk (of sorts) in John Forrest National Park on Saturday afternoon.

I was wearing thongs(!) because bush walking wasn't on the agenda when we left home, but I still managed a good 5 or 6 clicks (kilometres) before we ended up in the beer garden of the tavern, (thoughtfully situated in the grounds of the park).

It was a sentimental stroll for me, because when I was a kid (back in the day when there was no such thing as an eleven dollar entrance fee!) my family spent nearly every Summer evening there. Mum would pack a picnic dinner and we would eat it in one of the little hand-made huts built by sustenance workers during the depression in the '30's. This after spending hours in the "swimming pool".

(read dam here - and looking much more like one these days than it did when I was little! I'm sure the water was clearer and cleaner back then - I wouldn't let my girls swim in it, that's for sure! Not that I'd have to restrain them, I'm sure they'd turn their noses up - I can hear the "ewwww's!" now...these days swimming is prohibited anyway).

My littlest sister actually learnt to swim in that 'pool', I still remember her making her way across it, foam turtle strapped to her back. We weren't the only one's either, the place was usually packed with families, making the most of the long, hot Summer evenings.

Perth families have been doing the same thing we did at John Forrest since the 1900's, but on Saturday we very nearly had the place to ourselves, it was lovely, but it was a bit sad to see the little huts and stone walls looking neglected and unloved. The bush though, was/is as beautiful as ever...

As I mentioned, we ended up at the Wildflower Tavern. This place is not fancy (although the beer is deliciously cold), but if you're ever in Perth on a holiday (or you're a local with kids) and you want to get up close and personal to a kangaroo, this is the place to do it. Cheap, no annoying tour guides, just a cold brew (and a jug of lemon squash for the kids!) and a roo or two. Perfect!



That's Anth in the foreground and that kangaroo (there were a few of them, including a joey) came right up to our table. The kids in the tavern were all over them and they didn't mind a bit. They let them pat them and scratch them behind the ears etc - it was gorgeous! The little boy in thepic below was here on holiday from Ireland, I bet he'll remember that roo for years (his parents took plenty of photos!) I was less enamoured though, with the mother (an Aussie - she should've/would've known better! Surely?) who allowed her daughter to feed the kangaroos potato chips. Helloooo? I really wanted to say something, but I bit my tongue. Some people, right!

p.s. if you've got a special little vintage spot in your home you'd like to share, don't forget the Hung Up On Retro/Lucy Violet link-up on the 11th. Details here. A pretty cushion, old china tea cups filled with succulents sitting on your kitchen windowsill, a vintage tea towel hanging from your oven door, or something groovier...we'd love you to join in x