time for some light house keeping....

 


        Oops!  that should read some Lighthouse Keeping.....


    Took a drive to the south west coast of the Continent today, landing ourselves at Cape Leeuwin, the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet.


    The lighthouse was erected in 1895 and has served this section of the coast very well, considering it was lit by kerosene, requiring the lighthouse keeper to carry up to 30 litres of Kero up to the light each night, This continued until 1982, when it was finally electrified. 

    This section of coast is trecherous, due to the currents, caused by the collision of the two oceans, and bad weather.

    Because I haven't walked much on this holiday I elected to climb the lighthouse and take in the view from the top...


    The lights rotation was originally powered by a clockwork mechanism, (similar to a grandfather clock)  which require the lighthouse keeper on duty, to use a hand crank, to raise a weight to the top of the tower ..every two hours (24/7)



    


Evert vessel that sails the south coast of Australia passes this Cape.   Befor the lighthouse was erected 22 ships were lost on this Cape, since being built, on one, due to negligence by the Captain......




    

    On a nice day with a little rain on the horizion, this lighthouse looks remarkable.


    After we left Cape Leeuwin, we made our way back towards Bunbury via Margaret River.    Of the several hundred wineries in the Margaret River district, we (I) elected not to visit them.   It is more fum to do wine tadting with someone who drinks wine.... (luckily Victoria had plenty of wineries and that's where my wine drinking mates are......)

    

    We stopped at Cowaramup, for a wander, an interesting spot, apparently a town with the word COW it it needs to make the most of it....










The bloody thinghs were everywhere.....


    We made out way back to the van, tomorrow we head north to Perth...to continue the adventure.....




Stay tuned......






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