Perth Western Australia March 2015

This is the part of our journey where we ditched the caravan and used the traditional method of transport which this time was flying!!!
Our caravan was all shut up and left at Mandy and John's place for the next 3 weeks.
Mandy was off to Auckland and we were off to Perth both on the same day, the 26 February and we all wouldn't be back until 18 March.....
Perth, as usual was very hot, Richard and Helen managed to get a taxi to pick up a hire car ready for the arrival of Jennifer and Toby Robert. First things first and Richard fitted a child's seat in the back of the Toyota Corolla in the very hot sunshine. We then headed back to the airport to wait for Jenni and Toby, they arrived early thank goodness but we still had to wait for luggage! Whilst waiting, Jonathan arrived to meet us all and we were all soon ensconced in two vehicles, Helen with Jon and Richard with Jenni and Toby in the Corolla!
Perth's traffic is quite something to contend with especially when everyone is leaving the city late afternoon. We did manage to keep together and eventually picked up our older grandson Kyan, we were to have him with us for the next 5 days.

 

 

 

 

 

Bath time for the boys

Toby pulling cousin Kyan's hair

2 big boys in a small bath!

cousin love!



Jon's place is quite a way north of the city and near to the beautiful white beach.


not Richard's best picture!

Needless to say we had a few visits to the beach.

Jenni did some baking with her nephew and baked a lovely chocolate cake. Kyan helped Grandad to clean Jon's car.

But, generally Grandad sat with his two grandsons watching cartoons on the 60inch TV. Jonathan has one of the latest TV's that you can access old cartoons and of course Popeye was found and the two little boys were in awe of the old cartoons!!





Watching cartoons

A few visits to the local supermarket for provisions was undertaken a number of times. We managed to fit the two boys into the trolley!!



We did manage to have a bank holiday on the first Monday we were there. The nearest beach café had advertised a special evening on the Sunday night so off for an evening out we went. This was just the right time for a family photo with the sun setting over the Indian Ocean.



We also visited the fantastic beach at Yanchep which was a 15mins drive north, such a lovely area.

Helen's cousins came to visit whilst Jenni was still with us and a really laughable time was had. It is great to catch up with relatives. We managed to get out to dinner with Helen's cousin David and wife Heather and we met David's son and wife who is staying with them at the moment. We had not met them before so it was a great catch up/




Unfortunately Jenni and Toby had to leave us after a week. It was a very sad time saying goodbye. We still had lots more time with our eldest Grandson though, and we took him on the train a few times into Perth, he loved the train.

We had a great opportunity to meet up with some friends from Holton le Clay. David Thomas and Karen Todd were over in Perth visiting Lisa, David's daughter and her beautiful children (David's grandchildren). They had a busy schedule and we only managed 2 hours over lunch with them at Hillarys but it was so good to see them both. We chatted non stop!!



Dave, Karen, Helen and Richard



The next day was time for our return to Melbourne where we will start another adventure! More to come thanks for reading!!



























































 

 

Victoria, Melbourne, Barwon Heads, Torquay and Hoppers Crossing

Barwon Heads, Torquay and the Great Ocean Road

Whilst in the area of Melbourne we got in touch with two friends who live kind of close to each other. Linzi is an ex colleague of Richards from Grimsby, she lives in Barwon Heads and Pam our friend from Howick. Pam sold up and left Howick to be nearer her family in Torquay, Victoria. Pam asked us to stay for two nights with her initially so we could have a good get together and catch up and also Pam wanted to show us the area that she lives in now. Discussions ensued and we decided to take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliffe, (we had seen this on the TV and quite fancied it). It takes about 40 minutes and saves the long journey through Melbourne City.



Waiting on the docks

Ferry docking

 

En route to Pam's, we called in at Barwon Heads, a lovely little holiday area, to meet up with Linzi. We had a lovely lunch at "The Beach House" and great catch up with her. Linzi is now a manager at an Equestrian Centre, unfortunately we didn't see her little boy Dexter but we will be back.

Linzi and Richard

 
 We said our goodbyes to Linzi and carried on to Torquay. It was great to see Pam and her new home which is a brand new 2 bedroomed Villa in a beautiful retirement village, it is just the job as we say!!Pam took us straight out for a little tiki tour to view the foreshore/esplanade/beach of Torquay. It was very nice indeed. A great afternoon with lots of talking and a BBQ to follow.
The following morning we had a leisurely breakfast and then headed out to "The Great Ocean Road" where we travelled as far as Lorne for lunch. Airey's Inlet and the Lighthouse was our first stop for morning tea!



 There is a significant sculpture and plaques, informing visitors to how and why the Great Ocean Road was built. 
A trust started up in 1917 and the first sections were started in 1919.
"The first sections were built buy the GOR trust and handed over to the government on 2nd October 1936" These sections were dug out and laid by soldiers who had returned from WW1 to give them employment.

This first part we saw was a magnificent feat by these men.

Lighthouse and café at Aireys inlet



 

 



The arch at the start of the Great Ocean Road

We went for a walk with Pam on the pier at Lorne.






We said goodbye to Pam on the morning of the 14 February and as we had a Trivia night to attend.

Trivia night at a hall in the small village of Jeetho, we walked into the most beautiful building where lots of tables were set up for the teams that were involved. We had a great night and should have won but the quiz master took off some points for us arguing.... a great time was had.

All wearing hats!

After having fun at the Trivia night, we went on another little road trip to see our friends whom we met "on the road" Ian and Maureen. We had a great time with them at the Mareeba Rodeo, last July.

Ian is a dour Scotsman and Maureen hails from the lovely town of Whitby in Yorkshire.

They made us so welcome at their beautiful house at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne. We were taken on a little tour down to Geelong and Portarlington, a lovely holiday seaside town. 

Helen and Maureen

Port Arlington

We went for a lovely meal at the Bowls club and  spent the night in our own cosy en suite accommodation. Ian has designed the house to resemble a hotel with hair dryer and toiletries in the bathrooms! Richard asked where the trouser press and bible were kept!

 The following day, we went for a look around Melbourne City. We have visited a lot of big cities in Australia and this was just as busy! We seem to have got used to the quiet parts of Aussie, so when we go to a city, it's a bit of a culture shock! Helen loved Victoria market especially the meat and fish market. Its one of her favourite things going to look at the local butchers shop. Ian bought lots of Lamb cutlets they were very good and a great price! we bought a few things along the way.

QV Markets

Chinese New Year



Great meat stalls



Old style tram

Melbourne, busy busy!