David and Mel's visit
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Tue 24 Apr 2007 05:24
The da Cunha's visit to Perth Western
Australia
Fremantle
23rd April 2007
Like all good friends David and Mel arrived at
Perth airport at 0200hrs in the morning! However knowing what an
effort it is to travel across the world we were only too happy to meet
them. I will tell the story of their visit largely in pictures.
Basically we motored some 1300km north as far as the southern end of the
Ningaloo reef at a place called Coral Bay. Having returned to Perth we
then went south to Pemberton and stayed on a farm of friends of ours. In
other words we managed to show our friends both some of the outback, albeit
rather civilised parts, also the green wooded landscape that lies to the south
of Perth.
This cathedral in Geraldton is the work of an amazing
man
called Monsignor John Hawes and far out
outshines any other
building in the town. He was trained as an architect in
London and
left examples of his work throughout Western Australia.
He ended his days
in the Bahamas, living as a recluse. He died in
1956.
This inquisitive chap was photographed on the beach in Monkey
Mia. It was here that we
were entertained by a school of dolphins that have for many
years come right into the edge
of the beach for food. This is now given very
scientifically so that the animals do not get
reliant on this food. All very touristy but actually
very well done.
If you wonder why I show you this scene then pause.
These are stromatolites and
believe it or not are the reason that we can live on
earth. They give out oxygen and over
millennia they were responsible for our life giving
atmosphere
In other words Australia has always been useful. Oxygen
in the past, minerals nowadays.
Plus of course giving the world lessons in how to play
cricket.
The tourists hard at work
David failing to negotiate a deal with our
B&B hostess about the supply of new
pets for Lower Riversdale
This was taken on the 7km dirt track drive to our friends
house near Pemberton.
The scale of these old growth trees can be judged by the fact
that
our Landcruiser is over seven feet high.
Finally the Leeuwin Estate winery which we visited.
We were grateful for David and Mel causing us to do
more landcruising to an area we had not visited (the trip up the west coast of
Australia) as when we had gone on our big trip we had headed up further
inland. It was a great way to finish our Australian adventures. As I
write this the plan is to set sail directly to Christmas Island, about
1500nm, next Tuesday the 1st May. Our webdiary provider has now added the
new toy of a map and our position on it. We will try and send more
regular, if short, reports so that anyone who wants to may watch us crawl across
the ocean's surface.
Fair winds for the coming Northern Hemisphere
sailing season.
David and
Annette