Perth - Splendid Isolation

Perth - Splendid Isolation
We have been in Perth since Thursday, December 16th.  We will leave here on Tuesday,  January 4th - 2 days from now.
Australian Christmas traditions are very similar to Canada's.  Lots of food, presents and families getting together to enjoy all. Don and I were made very welcome by the whole Roche clan.  A Christmas to remember.

I have been tardy doing a blog as I have experienced a few trials - three to be exact - over the last little while.   Two that would b e considered trivial.  On December 27th i realized that I had lost my green hat.  I bought that hat in Sharjah, United Arab Emerates in 1999.  If you look at my travel pictures over the last 10 years you will see that hat.  It has travelled the world and back again.  When I discovered that I had lost it - on a wine tour - I did not realise, at the time, that it was the first in a seriers of three.  This pattern has ruled my life.  If one thing went wrong I knew to gird myself for the other two unfortunate events that would soon follow.
Sure enough the next event followed on the heels of the lost hat.  We had booked a camper van in Cairns to drive down the east coast to Sydney.  We were notified, by email, that due to two of their vans being wriiten-off they no longer had a van for us.   Not huge but an irritant nontheless.
The real devastation was the news that our beloved mother had passed-away.  It is a blessing for her and we do not begrudge her going, but she will be sorely missed.  Ollie Fay was one in a million - over her 88 years she positively affected a lot of lives.  I do not doubt that her angel wings were waiting for her when she departed this earth.  Rest in Peace, Mom.
The world is full of stunningly beautiful sites, the Pinnacles in Nambung national Park, north of Perth is one such a place.  Some areas that you see will forever figure strongly in your memory.  Machu Picchu in Peru is unforgetable.  The Pinnacles is another.  Thousands of limestone pillars rise mysteriously out of the desert sands.  Eons ago the area was the sea bed.  The aboriginies called the area, Noorgarsknew (this place as Werinity, which means devil place).  The older,  wiser natives gave the area a wide birth.  Young, cocky males did not listen to their advise.   It was not uncommon for an unfortunate lad to disappear into the sands never to be seen again.  Can you imagine the horror of being slowly swallowed alive?

All of Australia is being pelted with rain which  is causing flooding in many parts.  Perth remains stubbornly hot and dry (35 - 40 degrees).
Perth sits on a bedrock of limestone covered over with sand.  All the houses and public buildings are low maintenance as they are built of brick and stone.  They alll have the tile or metal roofs, that at home, only the wealthy can afford.  The driveways are paved with brick.  The whole effect is a sturdy tidyness.   In place of traffic lights - especially through the neighborhoods - there are round-abouts that keep the traffic moving.  You have to be careful not to step out as the cars have the right-of-way.  Most important -  remember to look Right not Left.

Who would vbe interested in a trip to Macca's for a meal?  Most people would, once in a while, as it is none other than McDonalds.  And would you fancy a trip in a ute with a tray?  Don't worry, it is not a scary fair ride.  It is your every day pick-up truck with a box.  Yes, sorting out the language does keep you on your toes.  No worries mate, you'll soon get the hang of it.
Friday, December 31 was not only New Years Eve, but Don's 60th birthday.  The celebrating started early in the day with gifts from Peter and Christine.  Later was dinner at Pat and John's,  friends who live in their 'village'.  After dinner Christine brought out a birthday cake.  We sang the usual birthday song, but surprise, the Aussie's have a unique twist.  They add:
Why was he/she born so beautiful
Why was he/she born at all?
Because he had no say in it
No say in it at all.
Later at the community hall dance the band and the attendees sang happy birthday twice through, plus one of Don's favourite, golden oldies was dedicated to him.  it will be a birthday he won't forget.
You may be tired of hearing about the convict history - if so skim over this part.  Personally, I find it fascinating.    You won't be surprised to read that we visited another prison turned museum - Freemantle Jail which is located in the Freemantle Port area.  The museum has  4 or 5 tours, but the only one available to us (time wise) was the Great Escape Tour.

 Boredom and a copious amount of time to think and plan, the prisoners were creative in their quest for freedom.  The only thing that they did not plan for was where to run to once they got out.  With the shark infested waters in front of them and the dense, snake  infested forests at their back they were trapped in Perth and were quickly re-apprehended.  There were only two successful escapes during the whole course of the jail's history.  Both were successful due to American intervention and the use of their ships.
Some escape attempts:
One prisoner used his shirt to tie himself to the axle of a delivery truck.  This worked fine while the truck drove straight, on level ground.   When the truck started down the ramp and turned, his shirt pulled his arm around the axle.  His screams gave him away.
Three prisoners stole the laundry truck and used it to ram a hole in a wall they had previously weakened.   With no way out of Perth they were soon back behind bars.
Some jumped over the walls, breaking limbs.  Others managed to steal guard uniforms and walk out.  Always freedom was short lived.  I guess they looked on it as a weekend get-away.
The most famous prisoners were:
David Birnie ( with his wife, Catherine) was a serial killer. He was so reviled that the prison designed a cell to keep him in absolute confinement.
Moondyne Joe, a colorful horse rustler.
Brenden Abbott, bank robber, was branded the Postcard Bandit by the Western Australian Police to attract media attention.
During our two weeks in Perth  the food and drinks have flowed non-stop.  It is a paradise for sea food and wine lovers (in the Margaret River area there are over 150 wineries).  We have been spoiled by Aussie hospitality.

When we fly from here we are without any firm plans.  As previously stated we no longer have a camper van, which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.   The Cairns area is flooded up and down the coast.  We will keep you posted as we re-work the next leg of our journey.
A new year with unlimited possiblities.  Health wealth and happiness to you all.