The view from my "office"

[OZDUCK]

Fremantle Harbour.

A distant female German cousin of my wife is visiting us. Tomorrow we head off to Kalgoorlie & Esperance so today is pretty much the only chance she will get to visit Rottnest to see the quokkas. It is very windy with occasional showers but seeing the quokkas is pushed heavily in all the tourism advertising.

Very 'considerately' I volunteered to drop them off so they could share a 'girls day' riding bikes around the island. The forecast of high winds for the ferry crossing across open water didn't enter my mind at all.

The ferry



Heading into the open sea.

At the time of their departure the winds on Rottnest were at 39 km/h with gusts up to to 56 km/h. It is a 21 km trip and normally takes 30 minutes.

 

[RooFlyer]

I’m not familiar with the JNB layout.

Perhaps its an optical illusion but there’s a building, airport road and what looks like a Dash-8 behind the QF bird.

How do aircraft get in/out of that gate.

Doesn’t look like sufficient room to taxi in or push back?

It is an optical illusion. There is a Taxi way between the gates and that building & parking area. We are out the gate the far end of this pier on the unoccupied 'V' air bridges.

 

[Flashback]

Fremantle Harbour.

A distant female German cousin of my wife is visiting us. Tomorrow we head off to Kalgoorlie & Esperance so today is pretty much the only chance she will get to visit Rottnest to see the quokkas. It is very windy with occasional showers but seeing the quokkas is pushed heavily in all the tourism advertising.

Very 'considerately' I volunteered to drop them off so they could share a 'girls day' riding bikes around the island. The forecast of high winds for the ferry crossing across open water didn't enter my mind at all.

The ferry

View attachment 405630

Heading into the open sea.

At the time of their departure the winds on Rottnest were at 39 km/h with gusts up to to 56 km/h. It is a 21 km trip and normally takes 30 minutes.

View attachment 405631

I'm taking Mrs FB to visit Esperance when we next come over to visit the folks etc. Any thoughts on what to do after? As a kid we used to drive straight there and back. We've already done from Albany and north back towards Perth, so Denmark, Augusta, Margs etc. Trying to put my tourist hat on for her but it's different when you grew up in a place!

 

[kookaburra75]

I'm taking Mrs FB to visit Esperance when we next come over to visit the folks etc. Any thoughts on what to do after? As a kid we used to drive straight there and back. We've already done from Albany and north back towards Perth, so Denmark, Augusta, Margs etc. Trying to put my tourist hat on for her but it's different when you grew up in a place!

When MrsK and were in the west in 2022 we enjoyed the Ferguson Valley to the east of Bunbury. And then of course there is Gnomesville in The Ferguson Valley | Wellington Mill WA

 

[VPS]

I'm taking Mrs FB to visit Esperance when we next come over to visit the folks etc. Any thoughts on what to do after? As a kid we used to drive straight there and back. We've already done from Albany and north back towards Perth, so Denmark, Augusta, Margs etc. Trying to put my tourist hat on for her but it's different when you grew up in a place!

I enjoyed the forests around Pemberton if she hasn't been there

 

[Flashback]

When MrsK and were in the west in 2022 we enjoyed the Ferguson Valley to the east of Bunbury. And then of course there is Gnomesville in The Ferguson Valley | Wellington Mill WA

Haven't done that, so will check out where it lies on the route although if just east of Bunbury then probably a bit off where we want to go.

I enjoyed the forests around Pemberton if she hasn't been there

I was thinking of doing more inland as we've done most of the coastal areas/path from Denmark back around to Perth. But what is interesting to do other than Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie, not sure........... We went and saw the tallest tree in England on the weekend

 

[VPS]

Haven't done that, so will check out where it lies on the route although if just east of Bunbury then probably a bit off where we want to go.

I was thinking of doing more inland as we've done most of the coastal areas/path from Denmark back around to Perth. But what is interesting to do other than Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie, not sure........... We went and saw the tallest tree in England on the weekend

but could you climb that tree?

 

[Flashback]

but could you climb that tree?

Mrs FB doesn't like heights, so moot point!

 

[Daver6]

Haven't done that, so will check out where it lies on the route although if just east of Bunbury then probably a bit off where we want to go.

I was thinking of doing more inland as we've done most of the coastal areas/path from Denmark back around to Perth. But what is interesting to do other than Coolgardie/Kalgoorlie, not sure........... We went and saw the tallest tree in England on the weekend

Not sure what sort of things interest you, but if you're after an adventurous hike then Peak Charles National Park might be worth considering. Then head on back via Hyden and Wave Rock.

 

[Flashback]

Not sure what sort of things interest you, but if you're after an adventurous hike then Peak Charles National Park might be worth considering. Then head on back via Hyden and Wave Rock.

Sounds perfect, thanks. I haven't been to Wave Rock in some time either (and she's not been at all, of course) so sounds like a plan.

 

[Daver6]

Sounds perfect, thanks. I haven't been to Wave Rock in some time either (and she's not been at all, of course) so sounds like a plan.

To be fair, I've only been to Wave Rock once (my brother flew us there in a Cessna 210). It was kinda cool, but if I had driven there from Perth just to see it, I wouldn't have been a happy camper!

 

[Flashback]

To be fair, I've only been to Wave Rock once (my brother flew us there in a Cessna 210). It was kinda cool, but if I had driven there from Perth just to see it, I wouldn't have been a happy camper!

Likewise, was some music festival there. We camped..... and uh........ I lasted 1 day before I escaped instead of spending the 2-3 nights there Had fun, though.

Rough itinerary sorted now I think.

 

[Daver6]

Likewise, was some music festival there. We camped..... and uh........ I lasted 1 day before I escaped instead of spending the 2-3 nights there Had fun, though.

Rough itinerary sorted now I think.
View attachment 405878

Peak Charles impressed me. If you're ok with dirt roads, it's not much of a detour.

The statues at Lake Ballard are very cool if you want to detour north from Kal.

 

[Flashback]

Peak Charles impressed me. If you're ok with dirt roads, it's not much of a detour.

The statues at Lake Ballard are very cool if you want to detour north from Kal.

If the folks don't mind me taking the Lexus offroad, then should be good We've got friends in Corrigin, so may as well swing by there on the way back too.

 

[OZDUCK]

Fremantle Harbour.

A distant female German cousin of my wife is visiting us. Tomorrow we head off to Kalgoorlie & Esperance so today is pretty much the only chance she will get to visit Rottnest to see the quokkas. It is very windy with occasional showers but seeing the quokkas is pushed heavily in all the tourism advertising.

Very 'considerately' I volunteered to drop them off so they could share a 'girls day' riding bikes around the island. The forecast of high winds for the ferry crossing across open water didn't enter my mind at all.

The ferry

View attachment 405630

Heading into the open sea.

At the time of their departure the winds on Rottnest were at 39 km/h with gusts up to to 56 km/h. It is a 21 km trip and normally takes 30 minutes.

View attachment 405631

Their mission was successful

 

[JohnM]

If the folks don't mind me taking the Lexus offroad, then should be good We've got friends in Corrigin, so may as well swing by there on the way back too.

I believe you are here next summer. The dirt roads in the areas mentioned will be fine for a Lexus - but I wouldn't do it if it only has run-flats, no spare wheel or a temporary spare wheel.

Kalgoorlie to Lake Ballard is almost all sealed.

 

[Flashback]

I believe you are here next summer. The dirt roads in the areas mentioned will be fine for a Lexus - but I wouldn't do it if it only has run-flats, no spare wheel or a temporary spare wheel.

Kalgoorlie to Lake Ballard is almost all sealed.

Spot on, late Feb/early March. Spare wheels are hard to find these days on non-4WD cars, so might be best to err on the side of caution on that one.......

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Back to the 'views' please.
[/mod hat]

 

[Flashback]

[mod hat]
Back to the 'views' please.
[/mod hat]

They're giving views on a good WA itinerary?

 

[SYD]

As someone who’s seen Pam Ann numerous times, I always have a chuckle to myself when greeted by “Susan” at the BA First lounge LHR T5…