1/10/12 - 5/10/12

The next week was spent checking out the sights and delights of Perth city.

Sign says it all...

Perth City

The city seems like a pretty nice place to be...if shopping and/or wearing a business suit is your thing.

Malls

Don't think we're in Broome any more Stevo

Public transport makes it really easy to get about with the free buses that go in continual loops around the city.
The WACA cricket ground is really close to the city too.

The WACA

I saw this sign and thought it must be some sort of joke but I think it's serious? Residential units as part of the cricket ground? What the??!?

Would YOU want to live at the WACA?

There are plenty of parks around the place and the Swan River is a lot bigger than I imagined.

Awwww look at the thirst kangaroo drinking

Fraser Point Wetlands...so close to the city

Kings Park is the biggest and probably the best with the Botanic Gardens and excellent views of the river and city.

I swear one of the bottom buttons this shirt keeps popping open...makes me look like I have a gut though...hang on! Maybe I do! oh....

And a visit to Perth wouldn't be complete without spotting a black swan on the Swan River...

Doesn't get much more Perth than this.

27/09/12 - 30/09/12

The next few days I just continued my journey south towards Perth.. man! This is a big country!
Today I experienced my first shower of rain in a long time...it was strange to be mildly incovenienced by it after not having to account for the weather since being in the NT and northern WA.
I took a detour off the main highway to Kalbarri and was glad as I did as the wildflowers were out on display, and again the photo really doesn't capture what it was like to drive along "Wildflower Way" (that's not actually the name of it, but it's MY name for it)...

"Wildflower Way"

Kalbarri was a nice enough sort of place and on the way further south, there were these lakes, let's call them "The Pink Lakes", which were, erm, bright pink!

"Pink Lakes"

On the way towards Geraldton I got off the main highway (had a gutful of road trains by now) and on to a country road which wound it's way through some spectactular rolling hills and rural countryside.

Look at those colours...and that captivating "No Fires" sign...

The next day was AFL grand final day and what a great game it was! I watched it at a place called Lancelin which is just another sleepy coastal town that I assume only wakes up during the summer holidays.
The day after I finally made it into Perth after a brief stop at Guilderton. Hello Perth! Time to get my car and guitar serviced then I can relax again...

"Kids, what did I tell you about pissing in the river???!?"

24/09/12 - 26/09/12

After reluctantly leaving Coral Bay behind I was off further south today.
I stopped in at Canarvon for a bit of a look around and some lunch - there was a strange mood about the place as on the weekend, alcohol restrictions were put in place for a couple of days which the general community were not real happy about.
There wasn't a lot to see or do there but there was a long pier...

My....that's a long one...

The rest stop tonight was high up on a lookout which had fantastic views but if I had my time again I think I would have chose a more sheltered spot as the wind HOWLED all night long.

Benefits of camping on a hill

Ahooy thaaaaar neighbouroooonies!!

The next day I was off to the World Heritage Shark Bay area, which, I guess had a rugged beauty to it.

Rugged beauty...bit like me (lolz)

I passed through Denham then drove on to Monkey Mia. I was too late for the dolphin feeding so set up camp for the night so I could be up bright and early tomorrow to see Flipper.
The next day it was Dolphin Time.

Surfers must shit themselves when they're out there on the water and see something like this

After a brief talk by the rangers, a couple of dolphins came in and some people were picked to feed them.
These days you're not allowed to touch the dolphins or go anywhere near them really so the whole things was a bit of a novelty but I supposed I can say I've done it now.

G'day

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Feeding time

To be honest, I found this turtle more interesting...

Hero in the half shell  TURTLE POWER!