That’s a First

How many times in your life have you uttered the words “that’s a first?” When one thinks back, there are so many firsts in our life that are a given, first steps, first day of school, first date, first love… The list goes on and on.

Some firsts are not much fun, first time falling, first car accident, first broken heart, first experience with a loved one dying, many firsts are ones that we would prefer to forget. But, the exciting firsts more than make up for it. Perhaps it is just a little first, or sometimes a big one such as first time married or first baby, what is stimulating is the knowledge that as you are experiencing this first, you are growing as a person.

The problem is that as we age, the firsts in our lives start are few and far between. I have the answer.

Move to another country, experience another culture no matter how subtle the difference. It has sure worked for me. I can’t believe how many “firsts” I have experienced since moving from Canada to Australia. This came to mind just today as I walked into a mall and was hit by the air conditioning. Being from British Columbia, I have never really specifically sought out air conditioning. Here in Australia it is summer right now. It is not necessarily hot. In fact many locals will tell you it is the worst summer in years because we haven’t had any prolonged heat waves. But it is humid!

For the first time in my life, I have had a really hard time sleeping for well over a week. A couple of weeks ago (on a Friday night), the temperature never dipped below 28 degrees celsius. Try sleeping in that! Impossible!

This humidity has driven me to seek air-conditioned places. In fact even Al was happy to spend the day in a shopping centre with me a week or so ago. It was just too hot to be outside! The shopping centre was packed with like-minded people. This was a first for me. I have never spent a whole day shopping just to get some relief from the heat!

Living in another country has afforded me many firsts in a very short period of time. I know moving to another country isn’t for everybody, but if any of you  have the urge to expand your life by embracing firsts, you don’t have to move to do it.

Try flying in a large plane for the first time which will allow you to visit another country (yes, Jackie this is aimed directly at you) or maybe it is something as simple as serving scrambled eggs for dinner instead of breakfast which is more likely a first Jackie will try!

What I am getting at is that when you are experiencing a first you are expanding your personal world. When you are expanding your personal world, you are learning. When you are learning, you are growing. Learning and growing is a life long process.

Don’t be afraid! Unless of course you are on the roads of Central Coast Australia. That is where you will find me driving a car on the right hand side of the road. It’s a first for me, and sometimes scary. It can also be funny. When you are in a right-handed car, everything is opposite including the windshield wipers and blinkers. This means that when I go to turn, I turn on the windshield wipers instead of the blinkers. leads to a very clean windshield! I get the last laugh though because our new car is a North American make (Jeep wrangler), which means it may be right hand drive, but the blinkers are on the correct side for me. This allows me to laugh at Ozzies who drive my car. They wash the windshield with the turn of every corner.

Experiencing “firsts” doesn’t have to be stressful. Embrace the change and have fun. It is worth it!

Four Days in the Life of…

Four days in the life of Al & Judy… BUSY! Here’s a snapshot of the last four days, you can then judge for yourself whether we live a busy life or what!

Saturday, we have company. They actually arrived Friday night. The morning starts in a typically Aussie way, coffee and in our house, trivia from the Sydney Morning Herald. This mornings trivia is about Australia as Australia day is on Tuesday. Al aced it! Not only is he a trivia buff, he is very knowledgeable about his country.

This lazy morning was followed by a swim on the beach with Stef and Steffani. The water was great. I also had the luxury of sitting in our beach tent while I viewed life through the eyes of seven year old (Steffani). This not only meant playing in the water, but also building a duck pond at waters edge for the gaggle of ducks who kept swimming by. The ducks weren’t impressed with the makeshift pond, but I was. I think the ducks would have much rathered a couple of slices of bread to impress them, but Steffani had other ideas. Her grand plan of the duck pond only managed to attract… Al! What a great Godfather he is.

Saturday night was dinner and entertainment at Lizottes, a local eatery that has good food and great entertainment. This Saturday was a treat for us because Al and Stef’s friends The Robbo’s were playing. Check them out at www.robertsonbrothers.com.au. Al has known them for many years which makes it even nicer to listen to their toe tapping music. We even danced, which is quite a feat since it is a restaurant. Al & I are so shy!

Sunday was a nice relaxing day spent walking on the beach, going to the markets and then a drive to Patonga for coffee on the waterfront, which is silly because it is waterfront everywhere you go on the Peninsula (where we live), but Patonga is “different” waterfront!

Monday morning, company is gone, it’s early and Al and I are golfing at Peats Ridge. The weather was beautiful. When I say the weather was beautiful, it means overcast and warm. Perfect golfing weather for me. We have recently joined a golf “club” which entitles us to inexpensive (a nice way of saying cheap) golfing at many courses, some of which are very near to us. Peats Ridge is only a half hour away and turns out to be a nice challenging course. More challenging perhaps because we haven’t golfed since we were in Vancouver last July. How do you say… rusty?!

We actually didn’t do nearly as bad as I thought we would. In fact for such a challenging course, we did pretty well. There are a lot of water hazards and sand traps, but the biggest hazard of all was the crow on the 17th hole! I was using a fluorescent yellow golf ball. I had just tee’d off with a great hit, when he (the crow) swooped down and stole my ball. I had even hollered at him to drop it, but he wasn’t having any of that. He flew into a tree with his new treasure. I had to drop a pink ball very near (I am sure) where my yellow ball had been and proceeded with another great swing! It was the kind of hit that keeps one playing this silly game. When all of a sudden, the crazy crow was back. I couldn’t imagine he would steal another ball, but that is exactly what he did! He took my pink ball!!! I played the rest of the hole and the last hole with a white ball. I wasn’t taking any more chances.

When we got back to the clubhouse, I mentioned the crow incident to the lady at the desk. “Oh, he’s back” she said. Turns out that he is a fairly regular thief at the course and does take white balls at times. Here I had thought it was only because I was using the coloured balls.

On our way home we stopped at a couple of roadside fruit and veg stands to pick up some yummy local produce. It is all sold on the honour system and if you happen to be out this way, well worth the drive!

Today (Tuesday) is Australia Day. This is the day that Australia comes out to party in a big way. The flags are flying, the beer is out and Australia is celebrating… Australia! The streets are filled with “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi! It should be the national anthem!

We were up early again, this time to ride with a motorcycle club that we have just recently joined, Ulysses. This club is in a nutshell, for old people or nutters who are old, whichever way you want to look at it.  You must be over 40 to be an junior member, and over 50 to be a full member. Al qualifies for full membership, I only qualify because I am his spouse (just had to add that).

This was our first ride with the club and my first ride with any motorcycle club. The ride was great, the people were nice, I look forward to getting to know them better.

I know what you are thinking, another club! We now belong to a business group, Toastmasters (of which Al is president), a golf club and the motorcycle club! In our spare time we kayak, write and snorkel. It’s enough to make one’s head spin.

In fact the thought of all these clubs has made me so faint (could be the heat also) that I think it is time to go for a swim before heading out with friends to the Australia Day celebrations and fireworks! And, that is four days in the life of Al & Judy, too much fun! Know of any good clubs to join? We’re in!

A time to change – growing old disgracefully!

The signs are everywhere. The government has dispatched the bowel cancer screening test, reading demands the use of spectacles and all the jokes about partying for half a century have faded into the dark distance behind me. Youth has officially left the building! Now I am able to to appreciate the sage words of the insightful George Bernard Shaw – youth is most definitely wasted on the young!

As I peer into the life that now lays before me, I think about the things left to be achieved (some of which are on Austin Power’s list of things to do before I die). Today, Australia Day 2010, I have ticked another box. I went on my first ride with the Ulysses Motorcycle Club – as a full member (the Ulysses web site will tell you what that means). Yes, I am a FULL member.

My plan is to grow old disgracefully so Ulysses is the perfect fit (this is their motto after all). If it has two wheels or a skirt you cannot afford it… so the expression goes. I have spent my life adoring both. My gorgeous girl Kitty talks of a motorcycle trike, that would be when I cannot hold the motorcycle up anymore – a long way off I hope!

Kitty has joined Ulysses also. A junior for now. I guess this means Kitty and I will are destined to ride off into the sunset – Tequila flowing and action aplenty and growing old disgracefully – Yaaaahhhhooooo!!!!!!!

Lap Band Cheating!

OK, I’ll fess up, I’ll go quietly… I cheated… bigtime!

After the pain, risk and cost of having a prosthetic clamped around the top of my stomach, I set off on a course of beating it! MAN! What a goose! My only defense is very bad habits!

Rule #1 Don’t drink any liquid before, during or after a meal — Broken

Rule #2 Don’t drink too much alcohol — Broken

Rule #3 Use a small plate and small portions — Broken

Rule #4 Don’t eat between meals — Broken

What a fool I have been – bad habits! I cannot believe how hard it is not to drink even water with a meal. I look down and the glass in my hand and on the way to my lips… I need a good spanking.

Well, my doctor, who has a definite evil streak, has me sticking to the rules and eating/drinking 600 calories a day for six weeks. Lets see how that goes! Fat sucks! It is such an addiction!

I will win though!!! If it kills me and the doctor

Water babies!

Summer in Australia produces a blend of beauty and terror in and around our beaches. Killer sharks, lethal jellyfish and the dangers of an environment that is now inhospitable to humans – perhaps we should never have left the sea in the first place.

Australian summer is a cocktail of a hot climate, beautiful beaches and warm, clear ocean waters. When the mercury climbs on a balmy antipodean summers day, there can only be one thought, “to the beach!” Well, and a cooling beverage, the occasional frothy, sparkling brown wine.

My lovely partner, Kitty, and I love the water. We both grew up with it. For Kitty, she would be in the water as often as possible. In the chilly waters of Canada, this was not always possible so she had to be content with holiday swims. However, she grew up in a place only accessible by water; being on and around the water was part of her daily life. I grew up south of Sydney, I was on and in the water constantly.

When Kitty moved to Australia, her one thought was to spend as much time in the water as possible. Despite her love of water, the risks of things that will kill you in Australia made her a little concerned. She read Bill Bryson’s “A Sunburned Country” on the way over. Bryson’s famous quote “Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else” seemed to have an impact on her, as you would expect. I’m sure the first time I took her swimming in the ocean she was seeing the shadows of lethal mammals all around us.

More than two years since Kitty first visited downunder, she is now a devotee of the surf, swimming and now, since Santa gave her snorkeling gear, taking a look under the water. This too brings a renewal of concern of scary Aussies, other than those hanging outside the pub. Last week we went snorkelling at The Haven in Terrigal. We went right our along a rock reef and saw lots of things. One special moment was when a black stingray about one meter across gracefully flapped along the sandy bottom right below me.

Kitty is such a water person and I love our water adventures. I am so impressed with the way she has taken to our deadly seas. She shoots waves like a veteran, occasionally ending up staggering out of the water with her bikini top wrapped around her face. She goes snorkeling confidently, despite wallowing like a beached seal with flippers in the air (not quite like the woman in “Along came Polly“). Taking life by the horns and giving it a solid shake!

From hardy Canuck growing up in a remote and beautiful coastal settlement to Aussie beach babe and big city shopper! Thats my girl!

Kitty @ Ettalong Beach

Kitty snorkelling

Kitty – flippers ready!

Kitty with her new love!

Kitty – New Years day Skipper

All in A Days Work.

Nothing to do, no job in sight. Then I saw the ad, “extras wanted for TV and movies.” Why not! It sounds like fun!  So I called.

Olga asked my age, height, weight and then asked if I had done any “work” before. Even though I said “no”, she told me to come in and see her anyway. I had no idea what to expect. she had said that I should bring a change of clothes or two. I arrived to find that we would be doing a photo shoot as I would have to be listed on a website! Then Olga told me that I would be charged $250. to be listed on the website.

Was this a scam? I decided to take the chance, paid my $250. and had the photo shoot done.

A month later, I get a call. I have been selected to be an extra on an advertisement! I was told to bring several sun dresses, summer shirts, sunglasses and a selection of jeans. Sundresses! What exactly does that mean? I brought four summer dresses that I am sure don’t qualify as sun dresses, but oh well, that’s all I have. A selection of jeans? Are they crazy? I have one pair of jeans that fit me! I brought them.

The shoot was yesterday. I had to travel for an hour, so I decided to dress comfortably for the train. I wore a long summer shirt with capri tights. I figured it would be easier to change in and out of. First mistake! I got there and found we would not be given time to change. This is what I would wear all day.

The interesting part about the entire day were the other extras. We were given a lot of time to stand around and were often asked to work with another extra and make conversation while we walked. This gave me time to chat with some of them. Interesting.

There was “actress girl”. Her name is Gabrielle. She is 30ish and feels that she is “too good to be an extra”. She lives for the day she will be “discovered”!

“Italian girl”, Connie was a breath of fresh air. The life of the party! She seems to be a “what you see is what you get” kind of person. I liked her instantly.

“San Jose girl” is Jana. She is an Australian who lived in California for five years. She and I shared the ups and downs, trials and tribulations of living in another country. Jana is another very authentic person. I really enjoyed her company. She has only been an extra for a month and this week alone she was dragged across the floor as a dead body on Tuesday, did this ad on Wednesday and Wednesday night was off to have her head shoved in a bucket of water as a murder victim! She was really enjoying herself.

There was “Polish girl”, who is typical Polish. Blonde, blue eyes and beautiful with a delightful accent! She is twenty nine, very well travelled, well spoken and will go a long ways in life. A ray of sunshine!

“Irish girl” was a sweet, quiet person. She and I shared immigration frustrations. She married an Australian whom she met when they were both living in London and then came to Australia a year later. They have been here for three years. She has served her two years on her temporary visa and is now in the second stage of applying for her permanent visa. I learned that she has to resubmit all the crappy paperwork all over again. As well, they have asked for more proof that she is in a relationship with her husband even though they have now been married for five years.

“Producer girl” is English and works as an extra when she is not producing. She has been in Australia for many years. She was quite interesting, very pretty and not full of herself which she easily could be as she knows what goes on behind the scenes. I was “shopping” with her because that was what we had to do at that moment and we were chatting away when she saw an old friend. After saying “hello” to the friend she shared with me that the old friend was actually an old boyfriends friend and when they had broken up, the friend said that she couldn’t be friends with her anymore. It turns out the old boyfriend got caught cheating on her (he married the girl), but wouldn’t admit it. As they both worked for the same company she was embarrassed and actually left her job! I am not sure what she would be embarrassed about when he was the “crud” who was cheating or why the old friend would choose to stay friends with him rather than her! Anyway, she is a very nice person who adores her cat and is probably well respected in the industry. Her looks remind so much of a person I know back home (Shari). I always find that weird when I am on the other side of the country and see someone who looks like a person I know in Canada.

“Russian girl” was quite interesting. She was quiet, reserved and at first stayed off on her own and did not chat with anybody else. Not an outgoing person at all. She was dressed in a dress that looked like a KGB overcoat. It reminded me of something a flasher would wear. It also made her look very “Russian”. I had the chance to chat with her during one of the scenes and she turned out to be quite nice. She works in an office and has Wednesdays off so she looked for something that she could fill her Wednesdays with, hence working as an extra. Very “matter of fact” woman, very Russian!

“Maori guy” was quite striking dressed in a suit. As a typical Maori he was a large, muscular build. I often find Maori men to be quite handsome and he fit the bill entirely. He did have a big chip on his shoulder about how Maori’s have been treated in their home country of New Zealand. Rightfully so! He did take offense to the recent announcement by scientists that they have traced all peoples DNA back to Africa. He feels that Maori have always been in New Zealand and that this is society’s way of justifying taking their land away from them! Who knows, but he was certainly passionate about what he spoke!

“Young guy” was interesting in that he didn’t have a conversation with anyone the entire day. Not an easy feat when you have to work with someone and part of that work is to act like you are talking to each other. He managed to avoid it at all times. He looked like he would have rather been anywhere else than where he was.

“Kind guy”.  Jason was the first person to introduce himself to me. He is very soft spoken, about 30ish and has the kindest eyes. I told him my name was Judy, he replied “I will remember that name, because it is my Mom’s name”. He then told me his name was Jason. I replied, “I will remember that because that is my sons name”. We certainly got a laugh out of that. Jason is the type of person who is willing to share any information he has. He knew of several websites that have information to help extras be better at what they do. He was willing to send the site to anyone who wanted it. Truly just a kind guy who definitely got very bored near the end of the day!

There were a couple more extras, but for the life of me, I can’t remember anything about them!

The shoots I was involved in went something like this: walk from point A to point B and back again. Make it look like you are shopping together! The next shoot was to walk up and down the escalator to fill in the holes when there are no people on it. We did this for about two hours. Up and down, up and down! The next shoot I had to walk with Jason and a shopping cart to look like we were grocery shopping, then it was back to a shoot where I was with Connie going from point A to point B and back again. We were standing waiting for the shoot to start when a lady walked up to us and asked what they were shooting. I said, it was a Citibank Commercial. “Oh” she said, then suddenly realized that we were watching the director waiting for his arm to come down which was our cue. It was funny, she was suddenly “oh my goodness, you’re in the commercial”. I was surprised at how fast she could move! It was a good laugh for the two of us.

The next shoot involved Jana and I walking along in the shopping mall, then turning back and walking the other way. A lot of walking the entire day. Good exercise. The producer then asked for four of us to stay on overtime and shoot a scene at the bank. He asked me to change into jeans. My first change of the day and it was 4:30! We arrived at the bank, sat there until 6:15 and then the producer told us we could leave. He never did use us in the shoot. Nice to get paid to sit around although all of us were quite tired by then.

As you can tell by now, I can’t remember everyones name, which is frustrating.  I learned two important lessons yesterday. In the future (which I hope will be a future as it was a fun day)  I will take a pen and paper and write down each persons name as I learn it and I will come to the “shoot” dressed to start! The important thing is that I made my original $250. back and then some. Good pay, good company, good fun. All in a days work!

Is Customer Service Dead?

I have to ask where has customer service gone and if it is still practiced, how low can it go? Whatever happened to “the customer is always right?” The worst part, this customer service disaster story happened in a tourist information centre.

Al and I were in Western Australia. We had just arrived in Margaret River, which I might add is a very beautiful part of Australia. We had no idea where to stay so we thought we would go to the Tourist Information Centre which was very conveniently located right on the main street.

It was a busy place so we dutifully stood in line to wait our turn to be served by the young girl at the counter.  After a 5-10 minute wait, it was our turn. The conversation went something like this:

“We would like a room for the evening. We were thinking a nice little B&B perhaps overlooking a vineyard?”

(look at watch) “Do you realize it is 4:45 and we close at 5?”

“Does this mean we can’t book a room?”

“I will try to find you something, but we don’t have much time because we close at 5″

“Okay, we were looking for a quiet B&B”

“Let’s see what I can pull up on the computer. Here, I have a caravan park down the road?”

“We were not really interested in a caravan park, we were thinking a B&B?”

“Okay, let’s see what else I have. Oh, here’s another caravan park. This one is called Riverside!”

“Is this all we can get? Because we were kind of thinking about a B&B or something funky, with character!”

“What do you mean by funky?”

“Something different? Does the Riverside Caravan Park have a cabin overlooking the river?”

“No, it’s not on the river. (Look at watch again) What about a hotel built in the 1800s? Would that be considered funky? It’s nearby too!”

“Oh, that sounds great. That is what we meant by funky. So…it’s quite nice?”

“Yes, it’s very different because it is so old”. (look at watch again) “It’s called the Grange on Farrelly!”

“Okay, we will take it if we can get a room.”

She quickly gave us the confirmation number and the address and sent us on our way. After all, it was now 5 and she wanted out of there. She had told us to look for the round sign with 1886 written on the front gate. Sounded so quaint! What seemed like a very painful conversation might have turned out to be worth it in the end.

We drove up and down the street, but couldn’t find the place. The only accommodation was a Comfort Inn motel!

It finally dawned on us. Round sign? We checked the address and yup, it was the typical late 60’s, early 70’s Comfort Inn! On the front gate as we drove in we saw the little sign, 1885! Turns out only the restaurant is from the 1885, the rest of the hotel was built around it much later on! No view, no spa tub, no tub at all! At least we got to park right outside our room!

I am left to wonder, were there no B&B’s available? Did the girl get a “cut” if she booked us into one of these lower end accommodations?  Were her listening skills that poor that she never heard us say B&B? Or, more likely was she in such a hurry to get out of there that she just wanted to book us into “whatever” and then leave with no care in the world for our Margaret River experience? I suspect it is the latter. My only hope is that she decides on a career outside of tourism! Perhaps accounting would work for her as she was very good with numbers or at least the numbers on her watch!

Thankfully Margaret River and the surrounding area is so beautiful and has so much to offer that our night in the little motel did not deter us from having the time of our lives!

Finding the actual Tourist Information Centre (there is a sign pointing to it from the freeway, but that was it, no other sign after leaving the freeway) or for that matter ANY hotel in Bunbury was another story!

The afternoon commute – a chance to chill… or is it?

I’m sitting on the 4:45 train out of Sydney’s Central Station. I have ‘boarded’ and ‘alighted’ here for 51 years! The massive, cavernous main building changes little, resplendent as ever in sandstone and Aussie corrugated iron! It feels like time has stood still… and it feels good that it has!!!

Train travel has always been so relaxing. It beats driving! Just sit back with a good book… ah!!!

The trains have changed, however. The old ‘red rattlers’ have given way to modern, air-conditioned trains, comfy and quiet. After many years of commuting, one change is big.

Electronic stuff!!!

I remember feeling smug about travelling with a cassette player and primitive ear buds. I used to lug a dozen cassettes around with me

Today you would not be seen dead on a commuter train without noise cancelling ‘buds’ or ‘phones’, a sexy mobile phone that plays 1,000s of tracks and possibly a notebook computer.

If you want to be super hip, a portable DVD player is essential. Of course, electronic readers are starting to appear (like the Amazon kindle).

I’m semi-hip… iPhone pumping Mozart into the SkullCandy (extra big base) noise cancelling ‘phones’ and a good old fashioned book – high brow literature? Well, this is a Les Norton – ‘High Noon in Nimbin’ gripping stuff!

Gotta go, I’m writing this on the WordPress iPhone app, I have a call on hold from my partner (Kitty Kat), email from Amazon confirming my next read has just come in, I am updating my To Do list for the week, Mozart has to be shuffled and poor Les is about to get fives bells knocked out of him!!!

I can’t wait to get home for a rest!

Big Red

We have left Perth and are on our way to Margaret River. Driving down the highway when I start screaming…roo, roo, roo! I am excited because I have just seen a kangaroo. Not just any kangaroo, but a red kangaroo.

Playing peak a boo

There are about 40-50 kanagaroo’s in this paddock (for all my North American friends, that’s just a field). We are pulled over (because Al listens to me so well when I am screaming roo, roo roo) on a major highway. Vehicles are wizzing by us. Are they crazy? I think everyone should stop to gaze and appreciate the beauty of these magnificent animals. They are huge!

In fact the red kangaroo is the worlds largest marsupial. The male red kangaroos can jump over 30 feet in one jump and clear a 6 ft fence without a problem. The male kangaroo can grow to about 6 ft tall and 200 pds. One would not want to get too close to the dominant male in the mob (that’s what you call a group of kangaroos).

I didn’t have to worry about that because we weren’t even close enough to get a decent picture. After letting me goo and gaw over these incredible animals for awhile, Al finally decided we had to move on. I reluctantly agreed, but was so happy to have seen them.

We have grey kangaroos where we live in New South Wales, but no red ones. The red kangaroo inhabits the more arid regions of Australia. I was happy. One of my missions while in Western Australia was to see a red kangaroo in the wild. Mission accomplished!

We continued on to our destination, Margaret River. This region is known to produce some of the best wines in Australia. This region must also be known for it’s lack of signage! Even with a GPS (that never worked and almost went out the window many times) we got lost, many times. That in itself is another story.

One scenic route (lost again) found us in a rural area with farms all around. I noticed a horse lying in a field then suddenly realized that it wasn’t at horse. “Roo ,roo, roo” I screamed. Al slammed on the brakes! What a good partner he is.

Look at the power in that tail!

Sure enough, it was a paddock (field) full of red kangaroos. They were all around the farmhouse, in the backyard and in the neighbours yard. We found the back lane that went behind the houses, got out and walked a little closer so I could get a picture. They were everywhere. I got some great pictures of some bounding away.

On the run

Then the roo that had been lying in the field stood up. It was the head of the mob! The head honcho! The big kahuna! He was huge, well over 6 ft tall and no word of a lie, he had balls that hung down about 2 ft. When he stood up, the harem of roos around him dispersed. I got some great pictures, but you don’t have to tell me when to back up. I am respectful!

Momma with a joey in her pouch

We got back to the car safely. I was ecstatic. Kangaroos are such a beautiful and different animal from anything else I have ever seen. I just love seeing them.

On our way home from Margaret River, we decided to take the scenic route (the real one) back towards Perth. We would drive until we got tired and then find a hotel room for the night, which is what we did. It wasn’t easy though because apparently hotels aren’t easy to find. We found towns (some quite large), but couldn’t find the main street or any hotels. It was the weirdest thing. If the GPS had of worked, we might have had some help, but it was taking another break (one of many).

We had just been through a town, but luck was not on our side, no hotels! Or, at least not any we could find. We decided to snake our way back towards the highway and try our luck in the next town. It was dusk.  Roo, roo, roo! Man I am good at spotting kanagroos. I just don’t miss a thing!!!

Seriously now. Too cute!

This was a narrow two lane road, but my main man stopped and reversed anyway. He couldn’t have me missing the opportunity to see another red kangaroo. There were two of them. They were close to the edge of the road doing what kangaroos do best, eating! I got some great pictures of them, but these kangaroos had no fear. They were not in the least bit interested in me. They were content to keep eating with one eye on the food and one eye on me. This meant they wouldn’t stand up! I still got some great pics!

Don't bother us, we are eating!

I can tell you, I am home from Western Australia a happy person. I am such a lucky person to be able to experience the magnificence of the red kangaroo in the wild. I look forward to seeing them again…next time I am in Western Australia. Because I have to go back and ride the camels and travel through the Kimberly’s and, and, and…

Two Rocks

We had a couple of hours to kill so we decided to leave Perth and head North to see what we could find. We tried to keep to the coast which wasn’t easy as signage is not good.

What struck me was the new houses and subdivisions. We drove for about an hour and all we saw were new houses. We even went through subdivisions that are built and don’t have anyone living in them yet. What an eerie feeling! It is like driving through a ghost town, but new.

Another thing that we noticed was the amount of boats and boat ramps. Every town no matter how small it was had boat ramps. There would be a line anywhere from 4-10 of them in a row. Fancy boat ramps. And, boat storage places. There were boats everywhere. The waters don’t look that calm, but they must be because the boats really ranged in size from small runabouts to beautiful large yachts.

We ended up in Two Rocks situated about 45 minutes from Perth, aptly named for the two rocks sticking out of the water near the marina. Another boating community, fishing not pleasure. All of the fish boats are dry docked so it must get rough in these parts. It looks like it does. The coastline is beautiful and the sand is white, very white!

The second rock

Two Rocks has a large statue which is not unusual for Australia. They seem to like to build large statues of the weirdest things. My first impression of this statue was Good King Wenceslas, but it wasn’t. It turned out to be King Neptune! It is the remnants of a marine theme park that went out of business. Two Rocks then went back to being a small fishing village.

King Neptune

Two Rocks is as far as we went. It was time to head back to Perth. We found a nice little marina pub and had something to eat. Not hard to find marina’s either as there are many. I tell you, I thought I was from a boating community, but I have never seen so many boats, marina’s and launches as I did North of Perth

Lunch at a marina .

Lookin good in front of one of the rocks

Unfortunately, it was time to turn back. I would have like to have seen more of the North Coast. Beautiful!

The second rock

Lovely coastline