There are a couple of saved up post following this one.
Update on comments:
Charlie T. - It was cold on the Alpine Jet Boat ride but we did get used to it. The double hats were more of a 'keep the hair back and out of the camera lens than anything else. BUT the water melting off the Alpine Mountains, overcast conditions and the wind at 50 m.p.h. is nothing to sneeze at.
Amy G. - We did get your second post, so it looks like you got it figured out. Julius sounds like he is all business protecting your humble abode out there in the countryside. Wait until the critters started to charge back towards him, he'll be back on the porch than you can count to 1.
Chris - We wish you were here with us too. We have not run into anyone that has done a world cruise before except one lady who travels all the time. She already has her next two trips planned for 2010. Don't know what she does for funds but I'd like to find out!
Fremantle
Yesterday we were in Fremantle (Freo as the natives refer to it) and went to Rottnest Island (Rotto). We were late getting into port due to strong headwinds so we missed both the 9:30 and 10:00 am ferries over to Rottnest but we did get tickets for the 11:30 a.m. out and 4:00 p.m. return. Prior to catching the ferry, we walked over to the Round House, which is a twelve sided building constructed back in the early 1800's. This is the oldest building in Fremantle and it once served as the prison. You know you always have to go se how the prisoners lived - cramped, but on a brighter note they did get their own cell! There was a wedding taking place there that morning. Very unusual for a Sunday morning, I thought, but maybe a very appropriate venue - you know the prison theme!?! They also had a mechanism that marked the time at 1:00 p.m. everyday by dropping a ball from the high mast atop the hill and simultaneously shot a cannon out in the water. In 1937 radio transmission replaced this method but I think I'd like to see the cannonball trick one more time.
Rottonest island was named after an animal that looks like a rat but it's really a Quokka. The island was overrun with them before tourist started coming out. Today there are still quite a few and they are pretty large rat-looking creatures but cute enough to take a few pictures of them. There are no cars allowed on this island, only service vehicles like garbage trucks and buses. The island has 63 beaches and 20 bays and is very 'glossy travel magazine' worthy! This is the playground for all those who own boats in Fremantle and Perth. Every bay we came across had about a hundred boats all anchored and facing in the same direction, some huge, some small but most about medium size. They made for some nice pictures with the beaches in the background. We went to Basin Beach first. It had a rock shelf that was carved out in a circular teardrop formation just under the water and beyond the front of the beach that then dropped about 3 - 5' into some dark emerald green water. THIS was our kind of beach. After a while we walked up the road to find Parakeet Beach and Small Parakeet Beach. Along the way we bought lunch, coke and potato chips, which we saved until we got to the beach.
We walked for quite a bit through the picturesque roads and only had to dodge the biker riders. Everyone, kids/grandparents, were on bikes, which was the only transportation other than one local bus that looped the entire island. There were small little vacation homes to rent ringing the entire island and in some ways it reminded you of being at summer camp but with really good beaches! When we were waiting for the ferry we noticed big luggage bins filled to the brim and ready for transport over to the island. Once on the island we discovered what this was all about. All the visitors coming and going from the vacation rentals put their luggage right out on the road for pick up (I guess you can't ride a bike too well if you try and hold all your luggage). Very trusting and it was refreshing to take a step back in time where everyone respected other people's property. Kids the age of 3 were out riding their bikes all by themselves and groups of kids traveling together with no adult supervision. Very safe place, kid and family friendly and I'll bet no crime to speak of, although we did see signs posted telling you to lock up your bikes or lose them. So, maybe living with a bicycle theft every once in a while is not so bad!
The road started getting too long and hot so we gave up looking for Parakeet Beach and walked back to the last bay we saw for lunch. After refueling, we decided to head right back to Basin Beach and hung out there until it was time to go. It was so pretty and the water was just a little chilly to take the heat off that we kind of lost track of time and were five minutes late getting started back to the center of town than we had planned. The ferry left at 4 and we were suppose to be there at quarter til the hour and we noticed it was 3:26 when we went to shower and get the sand off of our feet. Time to forget the shower. We only washed our feet off in order not to get any blisters and hoofed it back to town. We were sweating in more ways than one since this was the last boat off the island for the day. We did make it back in time but Candice thought I'd be able to sweet talk one of those boat owners for a ride back - let's not press our luck (but I wouldn't have been shy in asking).
All in all I'd recommend Rottnest Island for anyone who wants to get away from it all, take a step back in time to more simpler way of life, and has time to enjoy all 63 beaches! We rate this island a 5-Star - rats or no rats!
Sandy
I sure am enjoying the posts! Yeah, I think if I ever decide to go to this island, I'll cut a month off the arrival time and just do a 1-day flight!!!