Rottnest Island - Day 2

 14th May 2021

Glamping was not exactly High on my Bucket List but when you leave the accommodation to whoever puts your tour package together - you get to stay in some interesting places!

Other guests commented that they didn't know if it was supposed to be a Luxury Resort or a Camp Ground.

I think the  'Luxury Eco-Tent' experience would have been more enjoyable had they not planted us under a massive Gum Tree. 
(They always make me nervous!)

The Day's activities began by coming to the realisation that you CAN actually forget how to ride a Bicycle - DH who was a more experienced cyclist handled the ride a lot better!

We were ignored by Quokkas - who being semi nocturnal had obviously had all their fun last night and just wanted to be left alone.

And the Lighthouses I was so excited about Photographing were also camera shy.  

We were informed that Lead Paint was being removed from all surfaces of this Lighthouse which is why it is wrapped tighter than a Christmas present.

The Pinky Beach Lighthouse was also under repair.  

Whereas I was disappointed to not get that Classic Shot, it is not everyday that you can actually see them being restored.  

We think of lighthouses standing stoic against all that Nature can throw at them and not consider that they deserve to be cared for.

With disastrous Coffee (This is the foam DH scooped off his Flat White) 

and meals that were definitely not "Instagram worthy" you would be thinking that today was a bit of a write off.  

That is until...

Best Holiday Activity Ever!

I almost declined the included Segway Lesson and Tour but am SO glad I went - The Segway were so easy to operate and It was so much fun. 

I would definitely do this again!

But all good things must - and it was time to collect our souvenirs, take a few last photos and say Goodbye to Rottnest as more adventures await. 

Rottnest Island

 May 13th 2021

Whereas I could really get used to the view of the Swan River for Breakfast, there was little time to enjoy the scenery when you had to be elsewhere by 8:20 am

Just as well the Barrack Street Jetty was only a One Minute walk from the Hotel. 

This is where we were to get the rest of our tickets and passes for the next 2 days and board the Rottnest Express.

Rottnest Island is 18 km West of Freemantle and a 90 minute Cruise by Ferry from Perth.

With an 8 knot limit in the river it was a leisurely trip past some of Perth's most expensive real estate.

We had barely landed when we were whisked off for a Bus Tour around the Island.  

There is only one main road. The only vehicles are those that work on the Island and they have to give way to everybody!

Our Coach stopped at West End and Cape Vlamingh Viewing Platform where we were able to stretch our legs and breath in the wonderful fresh air straight off the Indian Ocean.

It is here I got my

"Shot of the Day" It is in fact 

'A Shag on a Rock'!

Further along, our tour passed the Lakes - Very pretty but no Fresh water here.

These are Salt Lakes.

  

There is actually no fresh water (Other than collected Rainwater) on the Island at all which made it unsuitable for farming.  

The entire Island and its surrounding Marine environment is now a Class A Reserve.

So by now some are asking 

"Did I meet a Quokka?"

Yes I did.

Did I get a Selfie?

No - I Tried but eventually gave up, bought a Stuffed Toy and took one with that instead!

By the time we had finished dinner we were a little "Over" our Very Friendly local Wildlife.

Very Cute - Outside, but became somewhat annoying as Dinner Guests.

(These cheeky Locals snuck in via a door that was left ajar and proved rather difficult to round up.)

Beaches hold a special place in my heart and the opportunity to walk along one at Sunset, even more so.

An after Dinner stroll along Pinky Beach gave such an opportunity to watch the Sun set over the water before heading back to our accommodation for the night.  

But I will show you WHERE we stayed 

- in the Morning!

Another Adventure

 May 12th 2021

It was supposed to happen in June 2019. 

It was postponed until May 2021 to Celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary and we have been anxiously watching the News, COVID numbers and Borders that opened and closed.

Masks were mandatory from the minute we climbed into the Taxi until we got through Police checks at Perth Airport and to the Hotel room via the Local Bus.  

It was a long day. 
So Hot Cookies received at Hotel Check-in was a Very nice Touch!

Happily unmasked and looking for Coffee, we settled down in a Cafe with a view of the Swan River to work out with our Travel Agent back in Melbourne as to what was happening with the rest of our bookings!

Nothing like being on the other side of the country with no idea as to what happens next!

That sorted (sort of) all that was left to do for our First Day away since August 2019 was to stroll through the quiet City Streets on a pleasant evening in search of ....

The Best Sashimi ever!

We were really just looking for somewhere to have dinner and stumbled across a Restaurant that describes itself as a Japanese Tapas Bar. (Main Street Ryu)

A perfect  finish to a big day - It was a long time since Breakfast in Melbourne.

The Absence of Posts

I haven't fallen of the edge of the Planet although 

I do feel like I am on a Merry-go-round.

We are once again back in Lockdown.
- a 7 day Circuit breaker to try and halt the spread of the "Highly Infectious Indian Strain" of COVID which has put an end to our 3 month run of no community infections.  

All it took was just ONE case.

On a brighter note - it will give me the opportunity to get on top of things that I have put aside for the last month - Including catching up on my Blog Posts!

So here we have a definite "Blast from the Past" - Yowies are Back!

Catching Up - Half Hexies

I am managing to keep up with the "Focus Cutting" Challenge I signed up for this year, although with Instagram taking over the Progress posts I have completely forgotten to update my Blog!

February Theme was "Getting To Know You"

Week 5 - "All About Me"

I chose to represent  The Royal Exhibition Buildings in my Home Town of Melbourne by using Leesa Chandler's Melba fabric which is also made by my favourite fabric company Robert Kaufman.

Week 6 - "My Favourite Colour"

The Central Hexagon in this block is my favourite shade of Teal,  a timeless colour I have worn for 40 years. And I styled the Photo against some Teal Mugs in the Tea Cupboard.

Week 7 - "Things I Love"

Footsteps in the Sand walking around Wave fabric centre depicted my 'Happy place".

The Smell of the Sea, Wind in my Hair and Sand in my Shoes.

Week 8 - "My most Recent Fabric Love"

Mackinac Island by Moda was bought for my Hexi-Mystery Quilt and with only 40cm I just had enough for the Quilt and this block!  The photo taken on Most Favourite fabric ever - 'Fusions Mist' by Robert Kaufman is sadly no longer available.

I am happy with my February Blocks - March is Book Month.

Technical Difficulties

I enjoy Blogging
I enjoy the Creative writing side of making a Post

What I do not enjoy is --- Fighting with my Laptop!

When it takes 10 minutes for the machine to decide to Boot up I start thinking of giving IT the Boot and begin researching new ones.  

On my phone.....

Then I start looking for THAT photo, the one I took for a specific post only to find that it is missing, lost or misfiled. 

So I start searching.

I have discovered that I have way too many photos of my Cat.

So my Friends, I am not Missing In Action and April really DID happen.  

I will catch up  - Tomorrow!

Easter Sunday

Four Years ago we sat in Beautiful Strasbourg Cathedral and listened to Sermon delivered entirely in French.  It is an experience I will never forget.

Today, the Message is the Same whatever the language it is delivered in.

He is Risen - Hallelujah!

Thinking of the People of Strasbourg.