Erk To WPerth

[erkpod]

While I would have preferred not to have Awful as my first J transcon, there were only 10 people in the cabin. The cabin crew were nice & the seat was a lot better than being in Y in a 73 like I will be on the way back on Sunday.





Bringing fruit into WA is bad, m'kay!



Waiting for the shuttle bus to the city. 1 of the inter-terminal shuttle bus drivers says the next bus is at the top of the hour at 2100 local & is $15. Considering it was 2030 at that point, he suggested walking further down to the Transperth bus stop. There was a bus sooner (2040) & cheaper ($4.20) but probably takes longer.





So here I am...

 

[erkpod]

The regular bus route only took about 30 minutes to the city. Jumped off the bus & caught my first Big Red Truck of the trip.



I found a major entrance to Perth Underground station, the main Perth station & eventually my hotel.





When I found my hotel around 2130 local, reception is closed. They are only open weekdays 0800 - 1700. At other times (eg when people normally want to check in, you have to walk from Wellington St to the Country Comfort on Murray St (just over a block), check in & then walk back around to the hotel (Royal Hotel).



But after leaving home at 0530 AEST, it is now 2200 AWST (midnight AEST) & I'm ready for bed.

 

[erkpod]

I need to use a CPAP machine. There's no power points near the bed. I didn't bring a powerboard or an extension cord to save weight.

So I went from this....



to this...







Now I'm ready for bed.

 

[erkpod]

Day 2, Perth
Saturday 10 May

Good morning from Perth. Had a good sleep & am off to explore the trains first & then heading off to an ice hockey game this afternoon.

My first goal is Mandurah. The line runs down the middle of the Kwiana Freeway for much of its length.

 

[erkpod]

I have a verandah outside my room but it looks like I can't use it.



A nice staircase at my hotel.



An exterior view of the hotel.

 

[erkpod]

Perth CBD certainly has a mixture of new & old buildings.

 

[erkpod]

Ticket machines at Perth Underground.



I purchased a Dayrider ticket - all day on Perth public transport for $11.60. Surprisingly, it was a paper ticket & not even a magnetic stripe ticket. There are smartcard options too.



Barriers at Perth Underground.



The lift at Perth Underground simply has a GO button. Great idea!



Passenger Information display for my train to Mandurah.

 

[erkpod]

Perth's trains have a small number of stopping patterns as illustrated on this sign at Perth Underground











My train arrives.

 

[erkpod]

Enjoying the scenery & speeding past the cars on the Kwiana Freeway.

 

[erkpod]

As my train slowly arrives at Mandurah, another train is waiting to depart for Perth.









Greetings from Mandurah!

 

[erkpod]

Greetings from coughburn Central. In case you were wondering, it's not pronounced the way it is spelt.

 

[erkpod]

Interesting signs



Transit Officer & Police Officer compared



Cool priority seating ad on the train



Ned Flanders makes an appearance on the front page of today's paper



For someone to make a sign, it must have happened. Speaking of firmly holding children...



I shouldn't firmly hold children on the escalator. I've also never heard of an escalator referred to as rapid transit.

 

[erkpod]

Off to the ice hockey this afternoon. If I was going to either Sydney team's home game, I can drive there in 20 - 30 minutes from my house.

If I went to either Melbourne team's home game, I'd have to go to Docklands. But to come to a Perth Thunder home game, there's a train & then a bus every hour on a Saturday.



On a bus.









I made it. I'm 90 minutes early prior to the doors opening. Once again, my navigation via Google Maps is pretty good.

 

[erkpod]

Warm up.

 

[erkpod]

Pre-game Perth Thunder huddle



Thunder Goal Tender



Intermission entertainment



Intermission entertainment (for Erk, at least!)



Bears Goal Tender

 

[erkpod]

Face off action. It was tied 3-3 at the end of the game but Sydney (red/white) won in a shoot out.



Good job by the Bears Goal Tender. Due to the amount of gear worn, there's always a back up guy dressed & ready to go.

 

[erkpod]

Am I going on the bus to Not In Service?







On a bus again. The driver commented at the end of the trip that this was his best run on that route for ages.



The bus zooms off for another run.



A train at the main Perth station (Perth Overground? LOL)

 

[erkpod]

Another view of my hotel.



Housekeeping recognised my DND sign & the paper in the card slot & left me a note.



So close to WP. Yesterday's flights have been credited. Based on single SC, I'll be WP on the way back home. Are DSC credited at the same time as the original flight is?

 

[erkpod]

Day 3
Sunday 11 May
PER - MEL - OOL - SYD

Today the sun came out after a night arrival on Friday & a cloudy/rainy day yesterday.

Today sees my first visit of the PER Vlounge & I'll tick over to WP on the MEL - OOL sector.



Handing my key in to check out.







Bankwest Tower



Old Bankwest building

 

[erkpod]

Hay St Mall





I'll miss the V8 Supercars race by a week. Not worried, though. Better viewing it at home - not the best viewing track live, I think.





I saw a BRT while waiting for the bus.