Michelle Ridgway

Well as promised I have my lovely gift from Cheryl to show you..better piccie this time.
How cute is that and it is so beautifully stitched in variegated thread. Can't wait to find a spot for it come Christmas...and it came with a gorgeous little hanger too...very spoilt here.
If you thought the nature pics were over...Sorry!
Today we thought we would visit some of the more sedate and easily accessible lookouts. We began with the Boroka lookout and the views were quite stunning and such a lovely vista over the valley.

It was quite windy hence the 'windblown and carefree' look.

The next on the agenda was the Reid lookout which has a 1km walk there and back to a spot called "The Balconies"....no problems thinks I, 2kms is not far and another great view.

I was struck along the way by these little pink bell type beauties which seem to be just coming into bloom.

Now as we were powering along and enjoying ourselves we thought that we would make the Mackenzie Falls our last stop and we also had it on good authority that we could view the falls from the top and it was not to strenuous walk. Here is Gary looking cheerful on the path to the falls.

The view of the falls from the top was wonderful..

Isn't this lovely I thought and then I heard the voice beside me say 'it would certainly be some thing to see from the bottom and you know seeing as we are here'.....I groaned but off I went. I then find out there are 300 steps down which means there are also 300 steps back up. Did I think to turn around and say NO! Of course not....down I went...
Following the smiling sadist..

The "voice" was right and it was certainly something to see from the bottom...

Couldn't resist a photo mainly to show you the size of it and this is only one section of the falls....his and

hers...

These are a few of the 300 steps it took to get down here and that I had to then walk back up.

The "voice" then discovered this was not the end...ohh noo! There was more yet to see and walk too...

and..

Oh wait and then there was this..

and then thankfully the end was in sight and as they say the peasants were revolting and so I viewed the end from afar...

Then the mighty journey up all those steps and pathways to where it all began..oh my! You know how you get really silly and incoherent when you have over exerted yourself...well that was me. I even came up with a name for us as we moaned and groaned our way to the top..."The Mutant Whinger Turtles" being not myself by this stage I thought that was hilarious and hysterical laughter insued.
Finally we reach the blessed, beloved top and head for the carpark only to be diverted by "him" to look at "Broken Falls"...

I tell you I was not only broken I was shattered..I just know I will be thrilled I went to see these wonders of nature...when the pain subsides. That's the Grampians for us folks. I will leave you with a few of Mr. R's friends that he couldn't resist playing with.

Gotta fly,
Blessings Michelle xxx