On Wings and Wheels: a Western Australian adventure

Hi, I’m Fran West, pilot, adventurer, photographer, writer, speaker and creator of products for aged care. 20 years ago, I piloted a Cessna 172 aircraft around the coast of mainland Australia.
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To celebrate that milestone, I’m returning by 4WD to Western Australia (almost half continental Australia) to see the country at ground level. I'll revisit places which I flew over, landed at and visited during that 1999 flight.

On this trip there will be more opportunities to explore at length and include places I didn't have time for before.

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On Wings and Wheels was created to give you an insight into both a flight and a road trip. There will be loads of photos and travel tips as well. 

You too can participate in the journey by following with the "Where's Fran?" activity (ideal for schools and aged care facilities).

The adventure begins on August 1st, heading from Adelaide, over the Nullarbor, inland and up to Kununurra and Lake Argyle and then following the coast of Western Australia back to South Australia. 

Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel the exact route of the flight because there aren't always roads there and my vehicle is a 4WD without low range and high clearance (maybe next time!).

Wi-Fi is not always available in the Outback, so if I can't post every day, then don't worry. I'll catch up when I'm back online and do several days' posts at the one time.

This is definitely a road trip with a difference.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. In case you're wondering, I still hold a Private Pilot's Licence at age 66. I'll never stop dreaming and doing and my bucket list is increasing all the time.

Tags: pilot, female, woman, female pilot, woman pilot, adventurer, senior, grey nomad, writer, photographer, Australian, South Australian, traveller, solo traveller, 4WD, speaker, 4WDing, solo, plane, aircraft, Adelaide, coast, coastline, coastal, Western Australia, Nullarbor, Kununurra, Lake Argyle 

Flight around Australia's coastline 19th anniversary

On the 3rd July 1999 I set off to fly around the coast of Australia in a Cessna 172P, so this month I'm celebrating the 19th anniversary of that flight. Read more about it at http://franwest.com/adventurer. I'm planning a few things for my 20th anniversary next year so stay tuned.

Fran West Photography on Fine Art America

Fran West Photography is now available on Fine Art America.

Check out the slideshow below and click on it to be taken to the website.

Photographs as wrapped canvas wall art

One way of using your photographs is to upload them to a Print On Demand website like Zazzle.

I've just opened a new store on Zazzle: Fran West Photography. 

It "specialises in unique wall art for home, corporate and commercial use. Wall art brings flair, elegance and style to your spaces. It provides an instant colour palette and creates a focal point. It brings a sense of texture and makes spaces appear finished. Make a statement or set the mood with original photographs from Australian pilot/adventurer, Fran West (Adventurer Fran)".

At the moment there are eight categories to search through, with some categories expanding even further. Click here to go to the website.

You can choose to have the wrapped canvas in colour, sepia or black & white.​

Various sizes, widths and styles of the actual canvas can also be customised to your taste and you can even add your own text to the wall art.

Please drop by and have a look. More products will be added during the coming months.

Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue Inc.

I love to photograph animals and birds in order to put their photos into my DVDs or on products in places like CafePress and Zazzle (http://www.cafepress.com.au/profile/franwest1 and http://www.zazzle.com/adventurerfran).

One of the animal programmes which I watch is Bondi Vet.

Last episode had the Twinnies and their Pelican & Seabird Rescue place, so I decided to make a donation to help them out. They're located in Queensland.

If you want to help out here's the site: http://twinnies.com.au/. Every little bit counts!

Greater Flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Last year, "Greater", the Greater Flamingo at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia, died at the ripe old age of 83 years.

I remember seeing the flamingo standing on one leg right from the time when I was a child many years ago.

The bird was beautiful with its stately plumage and not much went unnoticed as the bird watched people pass by its home.

I'm sure its photo has been taken countless times but here's the photo which I took and made into a series of interactive jigsaw puzzles.

I've had the pleasure of seeing flamingos in the wild when I was trekking in South America, but they were never that close that I could have touched them like "Greater" at the Adelaide Zoo.

Maybe you don't agree with animals and birds being kept in captivity, but many modern zoos these days love and respect the creatures they care for and provide them with food, a home, safety (free from predators) and their own free medical health plan.

And for the people who aren't able to travel to places from where the animals come, zoos provide a tiny glimpse of wildlife which lives on our planet.

Animal and bird photography can be a bit tricky at times, so patience is required. Standing or sitting quietly and not making any sudden movements is also essential.

In a walk-in bird aviary a telephoto lens isn't really necessary unless you want close ups of plumage etc. However, a telephoto or zoom lens can be of real benefit when photographing in the wild and you are unable to get really close to the subject.

The Birds Interactive Jigsaw Puzzle CD is available for purchase below. Here's the link for more information on my jigsaw puzzles on CD.

Birds Jigsaw Puzzles CD

Australia (incl. P&H) $29.00 AUD Overseas (incl. P&H) $33.00 AUD

Here's the link to my beautiful local zoo - the Adelaide Zoo.

Australia's Coast from the Air Detour to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia

During the "Australia's Coast from the Air" flight, a detour was made to the Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia. This blog post adds to the first post of "Diamond Adventure".

The Argyle Diamond Mine, located in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia, near Kununurra, is the world's largest single producer of natural coloured diamonds and is famous for its rare pink diamonds.

A commercial joyflight was taken from Kununurra to the diamond mine airstrip and then a bus tour followed. The bus trip was hot and dusty but FIFOs (people who Fly In and Fly Out) enjoy the work and the big money from mining in the Outback. A great lifestyle for people who want to work away from home and save their money. Western Australia really is the "State of Adventure and Excitement" with loads of opportunities for people who want to work hard and reap the monetary rewards.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

 The mine area is quite extensive with several buildings around the place (like those above and below).

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

However, the most impressive sight is that of the open pit mine (below) which is huge.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Kimberleys, Western Australia - Fran West

You can read more about the Argyle Diamond Mine and Rio Tinto's operations by clicking here.

As with any marathon flight or holiday, you need to take a break and let someone else do the flying (or driving) and just enjoy.

It was worth the effort of researching side trips for my flight and having time off every now and then.

By visiting the mine I learnt something special about my own country and I learnt more about diamonds. As far as I'm concerned diamonds aren't always a girl's best friend. Give me a beautiful blue Australian sapphire any day!