Well, I've been thinking about the next Dirty Weekend, and checking a few calendars, and it looks I'll be running it during September, either the weekend of the 7th to 10th, or the 21st to 23rd, as there's events at Wanneroo for 2 of the other weekends in September, and the last weekend is the AFL Grand Final (which I don't mind missing, but I know a few people will). Running the cruise in September should mean we miss the start of the drag season at Kwinana by 3 or more weeks, so hopefully it won't interfere with anyones preparations too much.

I'm planning on keeping the stops pretty much the same as this time, we might drop one or 2 to save a bit of time, and will be leaving earlier Friday morning (we'll actually leave around 9 - 10am, instead of just saying we will)

As for accomodation, obviously the Margaret River Lodge has served us well, and is a strong contender for a place to stay, but I'll be checking out a few other places and will make a decision after speaking to those planning on coming.

So if you'd like to come along, then keep an eye out for some more information as I'll post it up as far and wide as I can without annoying too many people, and if you want more information, send me an email, pm or call / sms me, or just ask me when you see me next.

We ended up leaving a little later than expected on Friday, so the first stop became the only stop on the way in to Margaret River...

Beckett’s flat, where we purchased 1 bottle of 2005 vintage port, 3 bottles of 2002 Shiraz and a bottle of 2007 Autumn Riesling. Also bought a couple of wine glasses. I forgot to take photos, but went back there on Saturday to make up for it...

Checked in to the accommodation ( www.stationhouse.com.au ) then headed in to town where we went to IGA to get bacon and eggs to cook for breakfast and a bottle of 2006 Happ's Fuchsia to drink with dinner, which was Subway.


Our first stop for Saturday was Adinfern Estate, where we bought a bottle of 2005 Shepherd’s Harmony (Autumn Harvest Merlot Cabernet)


Next stop Howling Wolves / Harman's Ridge Winery. Great Chenin's in the Harman's Ridge and MooTown varieties. Small batch Grenache and Shiraz impressed also.

Stopped at Palandri to meet Tim who was driving down from Perth that morning, took a few photos there but after a call from Tim decided to head back to Beckett's flat to take the photo's I forgot to take last night. We will meet Tim there then go back to Palandri to taste their wines.


Palandri have a heap of great wines, but we only bought a bottle of the Baldivis Estate 2005 Late Harvest Riesling. Their wines are also readily available at our local bottle shop, which is handy.

We stopped at the Cowaramup Brewery for lunch, where I had a pint of Hefweizer (a German style wheat bear), some wedges and pizza.

Treeton Estate is right next door to the Cowaramup Brewery and have some great wines, although we didn't end up buying any.


We then stopped in at the Colonial Brewery another fairly new micro-brewery turning out some nice ales in the region. Here I had a pint of the Kolsch (another German style wheat beer).

At this point, Tim and Brendan had to go home and k8 and I decided to visit another winery or two and then start to think about dinner.

At Mad Fish (Howard Park wines) we tasted several wines and ended up buying a bottle of 2006 Late Harvest Riesling. Mad Fish is another label that's fairly readily available in Perth bottle shops, and I enjoyed every wine I tasted there.


We arrived at Vasse Felix just before 5pm when the cellar door was due to close. After tasting several of their wines we decided to take home one bottle each of their 2007 Theatre Verdelho and 2006 Cane Cut Semillon (dessert wine).

We had fish and chips for dinner Saturday night and more bacon and eggs for breakfast on Sunday.


On our way to our first stop at Brown Hill Estate on Sunday morning we stopped to take photos of a recently abandoned Commodore.

We bought a mixed (bakers) dozen at Brown Hill Estate consisting of 6 of the 2005 Block 45 Paddy’s' Red, 3 of the 2006 Chaffer's Shiraz, one 2007 Desert Rose Light Red, one 2007 Autumn Mist Late Harvest and 2 of the 2006 Lakeview Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. I've been very impressed with the reds from Brown Hill over the last couple of visits, and have now got a fair bit in stock to keep me happy for another few months.


Next stop was the Berry farm. We bought 2 bottles of their port, a Boysenberry (Number 3) and an Apple Vanilla (Number 6) and some chutney.


Next up was Redgate where we bought a 2007 Chenin Blanc and a 2006 Anastasia (white port) then a stop in Margaret River for fuel before a Visit to the Fonti Farms cheese factory and Margaret River chocolate factory


Bought a Club Cheddar (Smoked) and a Metricup Gold (this is still my favourite strong cheese) at Fonti Farms


Then we stopped at the Bootleg Brewery for lunch and a beer - a Brewer's Platter and pint of Raging Bull

Happ’s is next then an ice cream at Simmo’s before the drive home


Bought a mixed dozen at Happ’s winery and got 2 free bottles. Mixed dozen consisted of 6 bottles of the 2001 Cabernet's, 2 bottles of 2007 Late Picked Semillon, 2 bottles of 2006 Pale Gold, 2 bottles of 2006 Chenin Blanc and 2 free bottles, one being a 2003 Marrimee Semillon Chardonnay and the other a 2006 Fuchsia

Last stop was for an ice cream at Simmo’s Ice Creamery in Dunsborough then we were on the road for home.