FREEMANTLE

19th , may 2011.

Freemantle and we are here for one week.
We have come alone and are catching up with the others in a few days.We all have a different agenda for the next few weeks.

Thursday and we have arrived the day before and are now ready for a trip around to get our bearings.

Our host for the time we were looking through the prison.

First adventure is the Freemantle Prison for 3/4 of the day.

This last photo is where they were hanged.

Friday next day and it was the girl's turn to have a day out. Judy and Wendy came into town from Mandurah and Sandy from Freemantle. It isn't hard travelling around by the public transport system for the first time. I met up with the girls around 10.30 and we all enjoyed the day. The craft fair isn't as big as Sydney but it was still a good day. Plenty to see, and the Quilts were to die for. It made you shape up and make yours better.  Back on the train and John to collect me from the station. It has been an awful day with Torrential rain and flooding everywhere. On the news that night they told about the Tornado that had hit the area at 8.30 am. We actually felt it as the car was swaying while we were at the lights and when John let me out at the station in the morning the wind nearly blew me over

Beautiful Cathedral in town but was not opened.

Saturday 21st May,2011

Just a few pictures showing the shops and the War Memorial and a picture from the War Memorial at the top of the ill looking across the city and beyond.

 Shops and Markets of Freemantle

We are off to the city of Freemantle today for a look see at what there is.

SUNDAY

We are out and about again. We have seen the Round House where it used to be the prison and now closed. We have seen the Museum of sail craft and the Australian Yacht 11.

We also went to the Markets and then the E Markets which both were boring. but they think it is good.

 Markets open today and around lunch time . The streets were abuzz with the coffee strip functioning at full pace.

A beautiful harbour full of every kind of sail yacht and or boat.

The Round House of time gone by.

 The Round House

Looking out ac cross the harbour

 Warren and Judy arrived today and we had a drink with them that night when we came home. We are all going to Cottesloe in the morning for coffee then back to Freemantle to catch the Ferry Captain Cook Cruise for lunch and a view of Perth.

Beach at Cottesloe

at Cottesloe this is where we had morning tea. very old building but beautiful.

 On The Captain Cook Cruise fun day

BELL TOWER in town PERTH

OH what a few billion will buy you. This property is from the top of the picture to the bottom including staff accommodation Gardener's quarters etc.

Looking at the Museum for the Sail craft. it is a beautiful building and we 3/4 of the day looking around here

Money Money Money all the boats look the same over here.

front ship carrying animals

Looking over at the first ship it is carrying all the live stock for overseas

We all went to Cottesloe for coffee in the morning and this is where we were. Later we went on the Captain Cook River cruise along the Swan River to Perth and back . The weather has been excellent and we are taking every opportunity to have a good look around. The captain cook tour included lunch and was very enjoyable.

Next day

Tuesday 24th May 2011.

Fun Day today, we are all four going to Perth for the day. Train first then we went on the RED bus, BLUE bus, and YELLOW bus.

Each colour represents a part of the city. The trip takes about 20 Min's give or take a few Min's.

We covered the City of Perth in the day and were exhausted. We went to the Mint first and did the tour of the pouring and this was very interesting. Warren purchased Judy a gift of gold while they were there. It wasn't a nugget but it is a charm for her bracelet.

All in all we have had a good day. and we are planning to stay home tomorrow and the guys are going to the pub to watch the footy.

The MINT

showing us how the camp was set up and the HUG NUGGETS that were found by miners

Judy and John on the Bus. Which one isn't enjoying himself.

Bell Tower.

Wednesday 25 Th, May 2011.

Hey l am catching up on all the blogs l have missed. The one thing about this is that l will have a record of the trip when l get home. Home can't wait.

Rest day today has changed. Warren and Judy are going into Rockingham to check out why they can't get their dish working. We are tagging along as well as we can't get ours to work either. What a guy will do for the footy!.

GUESS WHAT?

We all came back with another new dish and card..................They just hope that we can work this one out. It seems that we had a copy card and this is why it won't work. To be seen yet if we can work this one out.

Boy's went to the PUB to watch the footy thank goodness. It isn't that we don't want to watch the footy it is that we all need some time by ourselves.

Thursday

cook and clean and then rest day.

Friday

Saturday.

John and l are off to ROTTNEST ISLAND  for the day. Snorkeling and push bike is our mode of transport when the boat drops us off.

Weather is supposed to be good and then we will be heading out of Perth and Freemantle for Geraldton.

Warren and Judy are still sightseeing as we have been everywhere here before they came.

Well another blog has been written and we are off on Sunday for Geraldton.

We love and miss all of our Family and Friends. We are having a great time exploring all the different towns and Cities along our way.

13 th may,2011 Donnybrook

Donnybrook,

We are still here and the park have allowed us to stay for a few more day's which is great.
Today we went for some veg's and at the shop was this huge pumpkin just waiting for someone to take a picture, it weighs 224 kg.








Today it is the guy's turn to visit the men's shed.

DARDANUP another up town.

We are at the Dardanup Heritage Park but it is closed.

How lucky one of the volunteers have just turned up and said follow me, so we all did.

You travel back in time when visiting this heritage park from the pioneering past. Gary Brooks passion for collecting and restoring old machinery and great vision led to the establishment of this magnificent park.
All machinery is fully operational with the steam sawmill operating. Come and see the TD23 EUCLID TC12 Claimed to be the largest doze rs in the world.

Extensive display of Military equipment. Wagons, buggies and horse drawn hearse. The Park is truly a must see on your Travels.


A good look around was had by all. It took the ladies about two hours and the guy's around four hours.

This is how the girl's spent their time while waiting for the men to finish their GRUNT tour of the old machinery They were so lucky to be able to go for it all day as it was closed.

How this unique display came about is because of a guy named Garry Brook's and his Wife Keeping Memories Alive.

The girls looked around and were pleasantly surprised. When they were finished the did their knitting and sewing. Always come prepared as when the men see these thing it takes all day.


Saturday.
14-5-2011

Catch up day to cook and clean for the next travel day. Getting closer to Perth now should be there by Monday.


Sunday 15 Th May 2011.

DONNYBROOK to BUNBURY.

It was a very short drive to Bunbury only 47 km so there was no rush.

 Looking out from the Look-out over Bunbury waters and the homes. As we get closer to Perth the land shortage is showing itself. The homes have no yards and are joined by a common wall everywhere we look. Beautiful area and lovely homes.

Craft show starts on Monday. We are going on Friday and we are all looking forward to this day for two reasons. [a] Love the craft show [b] Leave the guys to themselves for the day.

16th, May 2011.

BUNBURY to HARVEY

 Isn't he gorgeous, he ran up to us as if he had known us forever. He belongs to the local Harvey Cheese farm.

We have all parted again for a few days. John and l stayed in the town and free camped in the local parking ares alongside the Murray river at PINJARRA.







Although these towns are a small they are growing now due to the land shortage in PERTH. Population 4,000. Pinjarra is an historic town [c1834] the beautiful Murray river flows all year round through the town. Not knowing how we would be accepted parking for the night where we have kept us on our toes. The car park is just excellent and the towns people wished us well while we were having our cup of tea in the arvo and said they hoped that we enjoyed just stopping for a cuppa. We didn't tell them we were camped there for the night.
About 8.30pm there was a knock at the door and l thought that the police were here and going to ask us to move on as this was not for camping and the caravan park was just up the road.

We were surprised that it was the SES and they apologised that they have a training night and it will be a bit noisy. We thanked them and said go for it we will watch. They said that we would be alright here for the night.

 This is a picture of the suspension bridge in town and the plaques tell the story about the local Aboriginals. There isn't any information anywhere about the number of aboriginals who lived here or as a matter of fact anywhere we have been which is sad.

This is a friend who just dropped in to say hi!.

Just a couple of IDIOTS walking around in the dark at our free camp. We look so brave but we weren't really. Just a test run for when we go camping out in the never never.



17th, May 2011.

Tuesday: Leaving this morning for MANDURAH

Although we only have another 30km to travel this morning we stopped along the way to take a picture of the farm art.

We arrived at Mandurah with beautiful homes and jetties all in a prime position. We are only here for the night as we are getting closer to Perth.

 O. K. We are talking serious colours in the ocean from here and the sand so white also the areas themselves are wonderful. Should l choose to move this is one of the areas that l would consider.

Mandurah with its beautiful waterways and rapid growth. It has become a prosperous, vibrant,connected and sustainable city. Actually it is the fastest growing city in Australia.

Although we are only here for one day it is time well spent walking around the area and along the shore and thought the park in town.

We have been doing plenty of walking but not loosing any weight. We have only been out for dinner once and are not over indulging. We think it is all the sitting in the cars while we are on the road travelling. We all have been eating heaps of fresh fruit purchased in WA.

18th May,2011

Mandurah to Freemantle.

Stops along the way as we don't have a great deal of travelling to do today.

First stop is at Safety Bay.  Beautiful Bay and loads of seaweed along the shore line. Notice how flat the water is on this side of the West Coast heading North. This is still the Indian Ocean and they don't get the surf that we get on the East Coast of Australia.



Our next stop is at Rockingham ...population 90,000

During World War 11 it was the base for the  allied sub-marines special reconnaissance group, 'Z Force', who trained on Garden Island. Today Garden Island is home to the WA Naval Support facility known as HMAS Stirling.

It is an excellent holiday destination.The Rockingham beach is now linked by train from Perth.

 We stopped here for a walk and to get the feel of the area.

 These are the local toilets and showers for all who go swimming here.  Very clean.

 What a beautiful sight to see. The water is a clear as anything.


Well it is bye for now from part of the Get Lost Team. We are missing all Family and Friends. Love Sandy and John xxxx