Trip 50 – Raising the bat for half a century

That’s right, this is our 50th trip in Goldie, our much loved Goldstream Crown caravan. But before we pop the corks on the champers and release the balloons, settle back, because this shit is about to get freaky….

Today, being the 10th of July 2025, marks our 50th trip in Goldie since our first trip which was also on the 10th of July, back in 2015 – I kid you not. Pure coincidence, but 10 years to the day, have passed between our 1st and our 50th trip! And during those 10 years we have enjoyed many wonderful places across our great country, shared fantastic experiences with friends and family, and have amassed a wealth of unforgettable memories.

Following is a summary of our 50 trips over the last 10 years, covering approximately 70,000kms – gotta love a Goldie!

#	To	Km	When	Blog Link
1	York, WA	200	10/07/2015	URL
2	Warner Glen, WA	600	18/09/2015	URL
3	Augusta, WA	650	24/10/2015	URL
4	Augusta, WA	650	25/12/2015	URL
5	Albany, WA	850	30/01/2016	URL
6	Molloy Island, WA	650	13/02/2016	URL
7	Busselton, WA	460	27/02/2016	URL
8	Francis Peron National Park, WA	1800	9/04/2016	URL
9	Nullabor to Flinders Ranges, up to Uluru, home across Great Central	8500	7/08/2016	URL
10	Molloy Island, WA	650	19/11/2016	URL
11	Augusta, WA	650	25/12/2016	URL
12	Augusta, WA	650	23/03/2017	URL
13	Dryandra, WA	350	25/04/2017	URL
14	Dryandra, WA	350	16/10/2017	URL
15	Molloy Island, WA	650	4/12/2017	URL
16	Augusta, WA	650	25/12/2017	URL
17	Elachbutting Rock & wheatbelt, WA	700	2/04/2018	URL
18	Ferguson Valley, WA	400	23/06/2018	URL
19	Dryandra, WA	350	8/07/2018	URL
20	Cape York Qld loop	14000	13/08/2018	URL
21	Augusta, WA	650	9/01/2019	URL
22	Augusta, WA	650	25/12/2019	URL
23	Dryandra, WA	350	2/03/2020	URL
24	Dryandra, WA	350	20/06/2020	URL
25	Mt Augustus, Kennedy Ranges and Kalbarri, WA	2600	5/08/2020	URL
26	Dryandra, WA	350	11/09/2020	URL
27	Dryandra, WA	350	25/09/2020	URL
28	Molloy Island, WA	650	31/10/2020	URL
29	Augusta, WA	650	4/01/2021	URL
30	Dryandra, WA	350	20/05/2021	URL
31	Donnybrook, WA	420	4/06/2021	URL
32	Failed big loop trip to Queensland, got to Merriden	400	30/07/2021	URL
33	Molloy Island, WA	650	20/11/2021	URL
34	Augusta, WA	650	25/12/2021	URL
35	Yenyening, Pingrup and Hyden, WA	1100	13/04/2022	URL
36	Dryandra, WA	350	2/06/2022	URL
37	Giralia Station, Exmouth, WA	2650	11/06/2022	URL
38	Bolinda Vale farm, WA	160	14/10/2022	URL
39	Molloy Island, WA	650	13/11/2022	URL
40	Augusta, WA	650	19/12/2022	URL
41	Helena Aurora Ranges, WA	1000	5/04/2023	URL
42	Molloy Island, WA	650	11/11/2023	URL
43	Augusta, WA	650	19/12/2023	URL
44	Dryandra, WA	350	29/04/2024	URL
45	6month sabbatical trip through SA, Vic, NSW, ACT and NT	15000	13/05/2024	URL
46	Dryandra, WA	350	29/11/2024	URL
47	Augusta, WA	650	7/01/2025	URL
48	Norring Lake & Holland Rocks, WA	800	17/04/2025	URL
49	Dryandra, WA	350	30/05/2025	URL
50	Bridgetown, WA	500	10/07/2025

---

But now returning to normal blog post programming.

---

Settled on the banks of the Blackwood River, Bridgetown is the destination for our 50th trip. A short 3 night getaway to take advantage of my hockey bye this weekend. However, as both the girls are also away, our dog Harriet gets to enjoy this trip with us.

To keep things simple, we glamped this trip at the Big4 Bridgetown Caravan Park, a nice little park on the Blackwood River but the amenities are pretty old and tired.

We’d decided not to do too much this trip, and instead opted to spend our wealth in town, availing ourselves of the local food and drink as much as possible.

First stop, the Freemasons Hotel for a couple of arvo drinks in the sun, before a quick wash up back home, then back to the pub for some pub grub. Chicken Schnittys with chips and gravy were good, but not great.

Friday morning it was brekky at the Barking Cow Cafe where Jules had an Egg & Bacon Burger and I had Brushcetta with a side of bacon, followed up with some coffees, including a Pupacino for Haz – YUM.

We then spent the day meandering through the backroads, which at points were very ‘back roads’, traveling through overgrown tracks in the bush, popping out first in Greenbushes where we found a future campsite to stay at, and then to Balingup.

First up, a quick explore of the beautiful Golden Valley Tree Park and then into Balingup proper for a bakery pie/sausage roll for lunch.

Friday night’s dinner was at Little Henry’s Diner in Bridgetown, a throwback to the eighties vibe. Jules had the Cheeseburger Pizza which was good, but a bit sweet with the BBQ sauce, and I had the Aussie Bogan Burger which was amazing, but stupendously huge. So big that even I couldn’t fit a bite into my gob, and instead had to nibble away at the edges to consume it. YUM, but felt a bit dirty and very lazy afterwards.

The forecast rain set in Friday evening and continued throughout most of Saturday, so we opted for a home cooked brekky this morning of coffee and toast, saving room for our lunch booking in a couple of hours.

To kill said couple of hours, we followed the Blackwood River upstream, driving along Tweeds Rd for 20kms or so. A beautiful drive through the verdantly green valleys and hills, through which the Blackwood River has carved its home.

A quick refuel in Bridgetown and it was off to our lunch booking at The Cidery. Luckily I’d planned and booked ahead, reserving a table outside, as we had the dog, under the pergola, but out of the rain. Jules partook of the six glass cider tasting paddle, and I did the beer paddle, whilst we waited for our lunch special of Irish Stew and bread to arrive. Both the paddes were ok, but none of the ciders or beer tasters blew us away and, unfortunately, nor did lunch. The Irish Stew was ok, nice chunks of meat and some veg, but we both felt it lacked oomph. Because of this, we opted to head back into Bridgetown for our dessert, ending up at the Mulberry Tree cafe for a pot of tea and a cake.

We’ve decided to chill and have Can’o’Soup and toast in the van tonight. Something simple and wholesome(ish), as we’re all dined out, and we’re not sure Harri can handle another night of watching us gorge ourselves.

Then it’s off home tomorrow (Sunday) morning.

Here’s to another 50 trips in Goldie – you bloody legend you!!