Wednesday, 21st May 2014
I got into Perth at 10.45pm local time (3.45pm UK time) after around 30 hours of actual travelling. Didn't sleep very well last night despite being tired but made up for it by having a lazy start to the day this morning. As Laura and Aaron were at work and as they live about 10 minutes away from the beach, this afternoon I went for a 3-mile walk along a beautiful coastline in what turned out to be hot and humid weather. This evening we went out for pizza and a six-pack of beer and watched a movie - who says acclimatising to a new country was difficult!
Thursday, 22nd May
I went for a 5-mile walk along the beachfront this morning. The sky was overcast and it been raining heavily but I was grinning as I stepped out, listening to a Ricky Gervais podcast. As Billy Connolly said 'there is no such thing as the wrong weather, only the wrong clothes' - nevertheless, it was still warm and humid and the sun soon came out again. As yesterday, there were the occasional dog-walker and jogger out and about with people parked up in their cars looking out to sea (see). Today however, a little, silver-haired old lady in the passenger seat of one car smiled at me and I smiled back at her as I passed; the lady in the driver's seat - probably her daughter - was doing a 1,000-yard stare out the window. I also passed a car that had the neck of an electric guitar sticking out an open window with the guy holding it picking out some chords and strumming it. I didn't hear anything - that could've been me, or maybe it just wasn't plugged in.
This afternoon I caught the train into downtown Perth - a busy, modern city much like most other modern cities anywhere (first impressions anyway) with the exception that Perth enjoys the reputation of being the world's most isolated city.
In the evening I met Aaron after he had finished work (Laura was on a work course in Sydney and returned later this evening) to go for a beer and something to eat - we ended up in a place called the 'Generous Squire' drinking 'Hop Thief' and having a 'Wagyu Burger' - very tasty!
Friday 23rd May
Had another wander around downtown Perth and got me a bit o' culture by visiting art galleries etc. In the evening I met up with Laura after she finished work and we caught the train to Leederville near where she and Aaron live and had a very nice meal. Afterwards, we met up with Aaron at a place called the Claremont Hotel and had a great night there listening to a live band called 'Shot Down in Sugartown', a 3-piece ensemble playing some terrific rock-a-billy and blues music. We made it home around midnight, ready to set off on a road-trip for a week of travelling around the countryside south of Perth, starting tomorrow.
Saturday, 24th May
We set on a 400km or so journey to Albany along a long, straight highway in the pouring rain. After a few hours we checked into the Banksia Gardens Motel just on he outskirts of Albany.... The weather was noticeably different - it was now wet and cold! After the drive, we walked into town to stretch our legs and had a meal in a Chinese restaurant called the 'Three Plenties Palace' before doing a little food shopping and a walk back to the motel in the cold and windy rain! (It seemed like a good idea at the time).
Sunday, 25th May
In the afternoon, we set off to the home stay farm where Laura worked picking asparagus when she had to get up at 5.30am ever morning, seven days a week to commute from the backpackers hostel in Albany (I was impressed then - I'm even impressed now writing this!). The farmer, Jason (her 'adoptive' dad) and his family were very supportive of her and made us feel very welcome. It was a great pleasure to meet with them in the short time we were there.
Monday, 26th May
We set off from Albany and drove through Denmark and Walpole, stopping off to have a look around such places as 'Bartholomews Meadery' and the 'Elephant's Rock Cider Brewery' before going for a tree-top walk on a steel suspension walk-way over the 'Land of Giants' - giant Tingle trees. This didn't seem very high as below us were the tree tops; on seeing the photos however...... We were pretty high up! Eventually, we arrived in Pemberton and to our accommodation - 'Cottage 21', a 3-bedroom rustic house with an open, log fire - very comfy!