Perth

We were looking forward to getting to Perth - we had always heard great things and had been meaning to visit for many years. It didn't disappoint - what a wonderful, laid back, clean, liveable city. It is probably the first place on our trip that we could picture ourselves moving to - if only it wasn't so isolated from the rest of Australia. The city had no doubt had a spit and polish to look it's best for CHOGM, which was starting on the day we arrived. Our arrival in Perth was in fact timed to precision to coincide with the Queen's visit, specifically her appearance at a "sausage sizzle" (nothing but the best for Her Mag) where she would meet and greet her loyal Aussie subjects. And as most of you would know, never was there a subject so loyal as Master James Rapp. We excitedly dressed in our very best caravan clothes (the ones with the least stains) and headed off on the train to arrive at the park two and a half hours before Liz and Phil's scheduled arrival, thinking that would guarantee us a spot front row centre, where we could pass on our flowers and cards and invite her back to the van for a cuppa. Little did we know that Perth is filled with royalists even more royal than our right royalist. We had to settle for squeezing into a spot on the side of the road - where we could only witness the royal wave from her slowly passing car. After months of anticipation, it was somewhat of an anti-climax, however James was happy just to be able to say that he had seen her in person, no matter how fleeting, so that was really all that mattered.



Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

  

At last!  Here She comes....and goes.





The next day we enjoyed a ferry trip down the Swan River to Freemantle where we had the obligatory fish'n'chips, had a fascinating tour of the Freemantle Prison, and saw the famed Australia 2 yacht at the maritime museum.  



Freemantle harbour



The famous winged keel



Freemantle



The hangman's noose. Freemantle Prison

Later in the week we took a side trip to Rottnest Island where we stayed for the night in a villa on the beach. Any break from the confines of the caravan is always cause for excitement, however we were somewhat dismayed to find the arm of the couch in our new digs was decorated with the fruits of a previous guest's very productive nasal cavity cleaning.  Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good times, blame it on the boogies. It was snot pretty, I can assure you.

Needless to say, we didn't spend much time in the villa. We did however, adore our time on the island and had a wonderful time discovering all the beautiful bays and beaches on our bikes (though we badly bruised our bottoms!) We couldn't believe that such a seemingly unspoilt island paradise could exist only half and hour's boat ride from a major city. The kids also loved seeing the quokkas, and made it their mission to feed and name just about every one on the island. There was Doory, Gutsy, Greeter, Sniffy, Gatey, Mangy...and Doc, just to mention a few. The only negative (other than boogie wonderland) was that the flies that we managed to so cleverly evade at the Pinnacles, found us in their millions. We soon realised the only way we were going to enjoy our time was by sporting fly veils, which we wore the minute we stepped outside. It was quite funny when we repeatedly went to eat or drink, forgetting that we were wearing them.

Georgie (in my nightie) feeding Doory outside our villa.

A creature from the deep!



Rottnest



Rottnest

Insect repellent, Rottnest style.

The Basin - Rottnest

We also had the pleasure of catching up with new and old friends. The lovely Stanleys whom we met in Karijini, invited us to spend the afternoon with them at their sailing club and kindly had us over to dinner, during which hairdresser Delia attended to our long neglected hairstyles (John's Darwin mullet was at last rectified and my alarming new grey hairs disguised) We also enjoyed meeting up with long time family friends Janine, Ali and Nicholas Wheeler for a relaxing afternoon in the beautiful Kings Park and another gorgeous home cooked, non-barbequed meal.



Fun at the Sailing Club with Greg and Gen.



Trick or treating eating.

The caravan park we stayed in for the week was certainly the best we had been to thus far. It had all the usual attractions (heated pools, jumping pillows, playgrounds etc) plus a lovely big lake complete with new born ducklings. The kids were delighted with the setup, especially as we met up again with our friends the Eisners and Brewers. Our first night coincided with Halloween, so costumes were improvised and trick or treating joyfully imposed on all the neighboring grey nomads. Many of whom had strangely gone out for the night and left their lights on. Trish Brewer and I were both celebrating birthdays in the same week in November, so we also took the opportunity to spend some time topping up our wardrobes at the shopping nirvana that was Clairmont Quarter. After spending the week seeing Royalty, being invited to dinners, having our hair done and shopping, we left Perth feeling a lot more civilised than when we arrived!

Tom, Grace and their pet ducks at the Karrinyup Caravan Park

Cottesloe Beach

Cottelsoe Beach sunset