20100916 Perth WA

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I'm reminded today of a story about Margaret River. It seems they have a surfing curriculum in the local high school. The students electing it learning about surfing and boards and board manufacturing and all that. The graduates go on into competition or making of boards or instructing in other countries. Interesting.

We got up and packed. Sad to leave Margaret River, but we must go on. We went up route 10 to the Hertz office in Bunbury. They gave us a replacement car for an hour while they replaced the smashed mirror on our car. We asked for a food location and got a generic answer.

We stopped at the Passionate Baker. We had hot chocolate and croissants (very good) and chatted with the staff. Very friendly. Then back to Hertz. As we entered, the maintainer put our car out front, so we hopped into it and continued toward Perth. The GPS worked fine until we entered a new expressway that hadn't been coded into its memory. It thought we were in a desert somewhere.

After a bit, we got onto the older section of freeway; the GPS picked up on that and guided us to our motel – the King's Park on Thomas Street in the Subiaco section of Perth. It's a cozy little room, but should do well.

We unpacked and put everything into place. Then we drove across the street into King's Park and went around in it for a while. We found the Western Australia floral exhibit and took a mess of pictures of the stuff from northern WA. We skipped the southern WA things, because we've been there.

Paul the aussie submariner friend called to say he’s looking forward to seeing us beginning Saturday. Good to hear from him, although he took the afternoon off due to feeling poorly. Hope he pops up before Saturday.

We went back to the information desk and got maps for tomorrow. Good information. We'll go back tomorrow and do the place, clothed for the day (it was over 70*F here today).

Back to the motel and started laundry (being practical again). Then we did dinner in the small motel dining room complete with the local “character” and a bunch of people of our age. We surmise some of them are staying here due to the proximity of a large university hospital.

The menu was limited but the food was excellent. We finally detached ourselves from the Aussies and returned to the room (with the dry laundry). Then we found I've lost a backup hard drive somewhere. We emailed many of the places we've been to see if they've found it. Humph.

Now we're doing the chores and settling in.



20100917 Perth WA

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Up at a reasonable hour. Out to King's Park, across Thomas St from our motel. We got there around 0930. We walked around until the scheduled guided botanical walk at 1000. Then, guide Roger, who speaks eloquent and precise English, joined us. After introductions, he set off with his guide bag over his shoulder.

He showed us plants and trees as well as flowers, paying particular attention to those items in the park that don't belong in the park. People have, for various reasons, placed a tree/plant in the park because they think there should be one there. Most can't survive by themselves in Perth's dry environment. The Boab tree from north Western Australia is one such.

Roger's walk or presentation lasted the better part of two hours. We were ready then to sit for a bit. We ordered lunch from the stand and rounded up a table. Three ladies came along and asked to join us (seating was full) at our table. We agreed, of course. We ate and chatted about things American and Australian.

A magpie sat on a vacant chair-back at our table. While we were getting ready to take its picture, it darted at the table, snatched a french fry (chip) and took off. Bold bird. And very quick for its size.

We then took the car to several parking areas and walked mini-tours from there. There are bush walks (walks into non-tended areas that are what they would have been had man not moved into Perth) as well as walks through exhibits. We did some of each.

We tired after six hours in the park and returned to the motel. We rolled the pictures out of the cameras into the computer. We examined them and threw away the obviously worthless ones.

Last night, I'd sent notes to the various places we'd stayed, asking them to look for a backup hard drive I'd lost. In today's email, we received a response from Kath at the Comfort Inn, Albany WA, saying they had found it. We conversed with her to have her send it to us at home. We're quite relieved it hasn't gone astray. The vital information on it was encrypted, but still.....

Now we're preparing to go out to dinner... more later.

We'd seen this afternoon a nice-looking establishment a dozen blocks from the motel called Galileo. We looked it up on-line and found mixed reviews but mainly “great”. So we dashed over there just before the Australian standard restaurant opening (1800); we introduced ourselves as American tourists with no booking (reservation) and asked if they could fit us in. With some hesitance that may have been mere acting, we were asked to return in ten minutes to be served, but that we should leave the table free at 1915.

We walked around the neighborhood and returned. We were seated and the service began. We asked for a wine recommendation and got it – the wine was brought to table and tasted. Perfect – a Galli Estate “Lorenzo” Shiraz from Victoria – very smooth and a wonderful long-lasting taste. We asked for bread and spicy sausage appetizers – again, very nice. Dolores had lamb and I had chicken diavolo, again, very good. Then they talked us into dessert – canneloni, just wonderful. Undoubtedly the best meal we've had in Australia this trip. During the course of the night, we were told that tables here are booked four to five weeks in advance.

At 1900, quite a few people came in. One table of nine was seated, and several tables for ten and eight were in evidence but had not yet been filled. We finally left around 1930 what with delay in signed the credit card and so forth, but still we did what they wanted. We'd return.

Our waiter and wine recommender (Giuseppi) recommended in addition to the one he served us the wines from Carpe Diem Winery in Margaret River if we can get them. The vintner is a friend and graduate of the wine school in northern Italy, by the name of Gianfranco. Something to keep in mind.

We drove and waddled back to the room and settled in. I'm doing these notes, but once I get them posted, I'm going to recline with a book. 'night.