Very early start this morning- up at 3am. Mark obliged by driving our car back from Penrith Station, and we sat and waited for the 4.03am train to Central. Unfortunately the train wasn't listed on the arrivals board, which caused a few moments of consternation, but the regulars reassured us that it would come. It was 10 mins late, but come it did. Eventually got through all the airport checks and scans and had breakfast before boarding at about 6.40am.

Then the plane was 30 mins late leaving - engineers required to correct problem. So very reassuring...but we took off without any hiccups and the weather was picture perfect. Had great fun tracing the highways and then spotting Lomatia and Tom Hunter parks. Spotted the land again through the clouds over South Australia and the bight. Beautiful serene sea and then the flat expanses of WA. The boys were pretty happy because there were a couple of spare rows of seats and that meant they could spread out a bit more than normal.

Landed only 20 mins late at Perth, with a smooth touchdown, and a walk across the Tarmac . Took a while to sort the car, but got it eventually - a black Outlander that has a few signs of wear, but is otherwise quite satisfactory. Automatic, but hey.

After we worked our way out of the airport, through road work and a pit stop at McDonalds - the boys all had Sydney Stacks......all the way across the country for you know what- we headed down the Albany Highway to Mount Barker. I have no idea what the rainfall has been around here lately, but it is picturesque, green and pretty. Lots of sheep with Lambs; donkeys, geese. Lots of trees down after the recent tornadoes I expect. We are staying at Valley View Hotel, and have procured a few groceries for breakfast and lunch tomorrow.

We are hoping to go to the Stirling Range tomorrow - it is the only feature in the flatness around here. It looks pretty impressive from here anyway. The weather is balmy and the boys have found the tv -surprise,surprise- and are watching Back to the Future on Foxtel. Good grief.