Rottnest Island

We decided to defer our planned trip to Rottnest Island yesterday as the forecast was not encouraging - and just as well we did as it was a drizzly, miserable day!! So Darryl cheered us up by taking us on a mystery tour. We went inland and into the hills and had morning tea at a dam and we learned a bit about their water system from a chap there. WA has desalination plants that provides a third of the supply - its mixed with the dam water and bore water provides the other third. We then went to a nearby Araluen botanical garden which was lovely.

 

We weren't seeing this at its best but there were still some roses, azaleas and camellias in bloom. They  are beginning to plant thousands of tulips and we'd love to see them when they are flowering!! 

 

Our mystery tour then headed to Scarborough beach where I imagined sitting in a cafe sipping a coffee or wine watching the scenery - Not!! It was raining and roadworks prevented us from seeing the beach - so we just drove along the coast, through Fremantle back here. 

Then today dawned with actual sunshine and off we set bright and early to catch the ferry across to Rottnest Island. We were cautious and took umbrellas and coats - but wish we had shorts and thongs as the weather was glorious and I can report that we had the best day!! We hired push bikes and Dennis felt like a teenager again once he got his bike - plus he loved ringing his bell!! Tops didn't think she'd be able to cope riding so far seeing she's not ridden for years, Darryl challenged himself on every hill but he wished  he had a fatter behind as he got saddle sore. And me? I absolutely loved riding around at a leisurely pace and wished I could have ridden much longer! I didn't want to hand my bike back!! 

 

It's an interesting place with lots of buildings(Dennis and I thought we were going to a deserted island)

 

and lots of history - some sad because the island was used as a jail for aboriginal males.

 

There's also some military history as it was a base during WW 2. and all the houses now belong to the WA Government and the Rottnest Island board. What a great place it would be to have a holiday there! 

 

The Island is famed for the little quokka which are plentiful and quite friendly:

 

We also enjoyed a beautiful refreshing wine and beer then a delicious sea food platter once we'd traversed the Island. We filled in the day quite easily and caught the 4.30 ferry back to Fremantle, thus ending a fantastic day!! I'd say to anyone contemplating a WA holiday, include this Island on your agenda!! And we weren't in the swimming snorkelling summer season either! 

Now we've  taken down our annexes as it's a dewy evening, ready for a quick departure in the morning, heading east towards home!! We're not sure where we will be tomorrow night but we're on the way to Kalgoorlie. 

So from the very happy cyclists, we send our love ❌❌❌❌❌🚴🚴🚴🚴