Farewell Australia

Our time in Australia is fast drawing to a close. The weather in Perth has been good for us with temps. of 22 degrees with sunshine in the day & all the heavy rain that was forecast, falling in the night.
 On Wednesday we ventured on the train some 45 minutes South of Perth to the city of Mandurah. It is on the coast & has a canal system known as Little Venice, with some rather lush properties on its banks. It is a bit of a holiday resort, but as we were there out of season it was a bit quiet

On the jetty waiting for the boat to take us on the cruise

Just about to board the boat for the 60 minute cruise.

Relaxing on the top deck

Looking down the estuary towards the Indian Ocean

This is why they call it Little Venice.

One of the luxury properties on the canal system.

Time to nip down below to enjoy some refreshment

Anne on the bow, looking out for dolphins

Safely back in port & a "Titanic" moment

Anne enjoying an ice cream after the cruise

 4

Is it Bill or is it Ben? In the precinct at Mandurah

On the train in Mandurah station, waiting to return to Perth

"pen nibs" sculpture in Stirling Gardens, where the Supreme Court is based in the City.

Stood at the base of the Bell Tower monument, prior to the assent.

Both of us on the top level on the viewing platform overlooking the River Swan

Anne on the outside platform taking in the views.

"The bells, the bells".  These are the original bells from St. Martin in the fields, London. As in the rhyme "Oranges & Lemons"

That just about concludes our visit to the very beautiful City of Perth & our time in Australia. All that was left to do was head back to Kerry's for our tea & collect our cases before he drove us to the airport for our flight to Melbourne just after midnight. We had a 3 hour wait in the airport at Melbourne for our connecting flight to Hong Kong.  Before leaving Kerry's, home his son Bryce called in to see us off.

These bells are from Ascot, England & ring every 15 minutes

Anne at the side of the oldest bell in Australia

FAREWELL AUSTRALIA  until next time!!!!!!!!!

The sights of Perth

Anne' cousin Kerry took us for a drive around the City of Perth after picking us up from the station. First impressions are that it is a beautiful City with lots & lots of open green spaces & trees everywhere, not as I had imagined at all. Perth claims to have more hours of sunshine than any other City in the world.
 Back at Kerry's house, after settling in we were joined by his son Bryce, who had given up his room for us. As it was a nice sunny afternoon we sat out on the patio.

Bryce, Anne & Kerry on the patio

Trying to master the hammock. Well they didn't have them when I was at sea.

Finally mastered it & the sun was still out.

The matriach of the house, Lillian, pretending to be camera shy.

On Sunday morning we made two attempts for Mass at the Cathedral, one for 9.00 & the other for 11.00  Unfortunately for us there was a charity run on that closed off roads and brought traffic to a virtual halt.
 After lunch we headed out of the City, South, in the direction of Freemantle on another sunny day.

Kerry & me by the harbour

Kerry & Anne

Anne & me outside the first gaol in Freemantle

The two of us inside the gaol

Anne & I on the headland in front of the original gaol at Freemantle

We arrived back in Perth in time for the evening Mass, not at the Cathedral but at a parish (St Joachim's) nearer to home.

Inside of church after Mass

Monday & Tuesday of this week we have been sightseeing around Perth.

Anne chatting to one of the locals while waiting for the City tour bus

The controversial Bell Tower, viewed from the tour bus

On the top deck of the tour bus enjoying the sights & the sun.

Trees & grass everywhere with the Swan River in the background

Crossing the Swan River on the tour bus

Tour's end.  Anne getting off the bus

This Kangaroo sculpture on the pavement of the very busy Adelaide Terrace

This is in the heart of the City

Outside The Royal Mint

Anne at the entrance to the Royal Mint before our tour.

View looking down on the city from Kings park with the Swan River setting the scene.

Another view from Kings park

The Great War memorial in Kings Park

The Eternal Flame burns in the 39 / 45 War memorial with the Great War memorial in the back ground.

Letting the train take the strain - to Perth, Western Australia

As I have managed to recover the technology needed to post more pictures I will start this blog by completing the previous one. Remember I had visited Adelaide zoo and was fortunate enough to feed one of the giant pandas? Well here is the picture to prove it.

The following day was our last one in Adelaide. We spent it in the city, visiting the library & museum, before heading back to the hotel to catch a taxi to take us to the interstate train station.

 A view of the State Governor's residence taken from the library.

 A wing of the library.

We arrived at the train station in good time to check in for our epic train journey to Perth, in Western Australia. The train, The Indian Pacific, was due to leave Adelaide at 6.40 pm on the evening of Thursday 23rd May & arrive in Perth at 9.15 am on Saturday 25th May. The train had started it's journey in Sydney & had called in at Melbourne on it's way to Adelaide.
 All aboard The Indian Pacific at Adelaide station

 Once onboard we were directed to our cabin to settle in before departure.

Settling in waiting for departure at Adelaide station.

 The evening meal was served in the Queen Adelaide restaurant car as were all our meals onboard.

 Whilst having our evening meal our cabin was transformed to sleeping accommodation which was very comfortable.

Trying out the top bunk for size & comfort

 It took some time to get to sleep on the first night due to the movement of the carriage on some undulating track.
 We were woke in the morning at 6.30 and presented with a cuppa in bed. Very civil start to the day. Shortly after breakfast on Friday morning the train pulled into the station of Cook, population just four.  Before arrival we had to put our watches forward by 30 minutes to bring us in line with the time zone we were in. This made us just eight & a half hours in front of UK time. We were able to stretch our legs with a 30 minute self guided tour of the town.

The disused buildings on the "platform"

The old school, now abandoned.

Anne outside the abandoned school house

The swimming pool has been filled in

Need to spend a penny?????

The old Gaol house "his" & "hers"

Anne on the platform

"All aboard" leaving in 5 minutes.

The rest of the day would be spent on the train crossing the Nullarbor (land without trees) The only wildlife we spotted were 1 camel & 2 dingos.  T he landscape was pretty barren. We stopped momentarilly to drop off some mail at an outback post.

The outback

Pulling into Rawlinna to drop a passenger off along with the mail.

 The lounge car was open throughout the day for drinks & a chat with fellow passengers.

Anne chilling out in the lounge carriage

By the early evening the train pulled into the mining town of kalgoorlie, but not before advancing our watches by 90 minutes (now we are only 7 hoursin front of the UK) to put us on Western Australia time. This was a thriving town & despite it being dark we were taken for a 2hour tour on a fleet of coaches. We stopped off at the mining museum & were able to explore the vehicles they use at the super pit in the town.

The train station

On the tour of the mining museum

Anne stood inside the bucket of an earth mover used at the super pit.

Dwarfed by the wheels of a tipper truck.

Sat in the cab of the tipper.

Anne & I holding a gold ingot valued at about $80,000

We were back onboard and all tucked up for the night before the train departed Kalgoorlie. Next stop would be Perth, Western Australia scheduled for 9.15 in the morning.

After a good nights sleep we were again woken by the steward with a cup of tea. Just time for a shower before breakfast and arrival in Perth.

Enjoying our last meal (breakfast) on the Indian Pacific

 A few miles out of Perth the train was boarded by Australian quarantine service who confiscated items of fruit, nuts, plants etc.  Apparently the same applies if entering the state by road.
 At 9.17 the train ground to a halt at Perth station, just 2 minutes late.  We were met at the station by Anne's cousin Kerry. It is over 34 years since we last saw him, when he visited the UK.  The weather was a nice & sunny 24 degrees.

 The platform at Perth can't be much shorter than that at Manchester Victoria/ Exchange stations.