Perth to Fremantle

If I visit another city on holiday, an almost imperitive requirement is that the city has a river and a fleet of ferries. Why? Because I feel blissful when sitting or standing outside on a fast ferry, getting blown inside out by the wind!

Thus, Perth and Fremantle, linked by the Swan River, rate pretty high on my holidaying, ferry riding list.

Fremantle, with 26,000 people is 20klm southwest of Perth, and a lovely 50-minute ferry ride away. 'Freo' is the port city for Perth and was the point of disembarkation for many migrants arriving by sea from the northern hemisphere.

Leaving the ferry terminal in Perth

Perth city

The Narrows Bridges over the Swan River

One of the many marinas on the Swan River

Container ship in Fremantle

In Fremantle Harbour

Let's hope these containers ALL arrive at their destination. We heard that about 10% can be lost at sea in a storm.

Fremantle has many beautiful buildings lining its streets.

Restaurants by the water.

VERY expensive craft.

The Rotnest Island ferry.

Terracotta roofed buildings are reputed to be the most expensive house in Australia, valued at $85million.

South Perth

East to West and back again.

We had a wonderful two weeks in beautiful Perth, on the southwest coast of Australia.

The weather was delightfully warm and sunny with only a day and a half of rain.

We basically went over for a hockey tournament - watching, not playing...lol - and the team in which Sara plays finished third, behind Western Australia and Queensland, and ahead of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Northern Territory.

During our match-free days we drove south to Bussellton, visited Araluen Botanic Gardens, saw 'Miss Saigon', took the ferry to Fremantle and back, visited Kings Park - once with friends whom I've been longing to meet for about a year - took lots of photos and generally roamed around and had a good time. We even went into the city to shop one day but I got sick of that even before the shops opened...lol.

I will post a few more photos over the next couple of weeks.

Virgin Blue Airlines at Sydney Airport

Flying into Perth

The reason for our trip - ACT team warming up before the match.

ACT playing NSW. That's Sara running towards No. 13.

Up, up and away .....

Tomorrow morning will see us up, up and away,

from one side of the country to the other,

from Canberra to Perth,

where we will spend 2 weeks watching hockey,

photographing the sights in and around that beautiful city,

and meeting a dear friend for the first time.

This photo was taken whilst watching hockey in Brisbane last year.

I'm sure two weeks will be far too long for me to stay away from a computer

so, hopefully, I'll find an Internet Cafe somewhere so that I can check up on YOU!

Take care, one and all.

More watery photos

Tanya and Shelle have posted beautiful 'watery' photos, so I thought I would keep with the family theme and post just a few more 'wet' photos in the hope of keeping our southern friends a little cooler during this heatwave.

At Narooma, with Montague Island in the background

Narooma

Moruya

Guerilla Bay

Mossy Point

Happy Birthday, Richard and Tanya

I hope you both have a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

even though you're 1800klm apart.

Sorry, Tanya, I just had to post this 'typically you' photo!

The tide came back in ....

.... and how!!!

You may have realised by now that along with my other photographic addictions, such as clouds, gardens, trees, sunrises/sunsets, pathways and scenery, rough seas and big waves are right up there with my favourites.

I could watch the breakers rolls in and the seas pound the rocks for hours on end, just so long as I am firmly anchored to dry, stable land. There's no way that I ever want to be in a boat where the waves are higher than 5cm....lol.

The first photo was taken at Guerilla Bay, and the rest are all in the Tomakin/Mossy Point area of the NSW South Coast.

It's not all Sun, Sand and Surf at the coast ....

.... sometimes it's Kookaburras outside the door,

Goannas by the roadside,

Things aren't always what they seem ....

.... this Navy helicopter, with descending crew, hovered over the rugby ground tonight as part of the Royal Australian Navy's 107th birthday celebrations. The Navy Brass Band had entertained the crowd before the football started.

Oh, did you want photos of the football?

Sorry - perhaps next match!

Interim Report ....

The water was warm(ish), the waves rolled in, the sand squeaked and simply asked to be walked on, played in and sat on, the sun shone, the breeze blew, the seagulls shrieked, and the fish and chips were delicious.

What more could one ask for?

Duty Calls

Yes it does! Every so often we need to go down to the south coast of NSW and check whether the waves are still rolling in, the pelicans are being fed, and all is serene. It's several months since we've been down there, and someone may have pulled the plug and let all the water out, for all we know....lol.

This break will be more welcome than most as we've had a very busy time painting an entire house in the last 7 days. We still have to do the doors but we're very happy with the result. One undercoat and two top coats on a 3-bedroom (15 square) house is a lot of painting for two ageing amateurs.

So, if we're not too tired to pack and drive the 2 hours in the morning, we'll be off for a few days of relaxation - with not a paint can, brush or roller in sight, I hope.