WARNING!! If you're frightened of spiders you may want to proceed with extreme caution! We did! It's the 12th picture down and it's nasty!But first lets start with a good old 'free cup of tea' question. Can anyone tell us why the Dutch explorers on seeing this beautiful island, gave it the hideous name of 'Rottnest Island'.
Just a 30 minute ferry trip from Perth, this little gem is a fantastic break from modern life. The whole island is only 11km long and 4km wide - there's NO cars on the island - if you want to get around there's a bus, your legs or, like us - two wheels!
The first picture is Corporal Hodge-Von-Dodge outside of Kingston Barracks, which is now a hostel and where we stayed for two nights. It used to be a working army barracks up until 1984. It has a fine ablution block, if you're interested!
A couple of pictures around the harbour. The second of these pictures made us laugh - a little girl resting in a boat with the daily paper!
Some stunning beaches and coves around the way. We did a full circle of the island on our bikes. One way was distinctively easier than the other due to the winds.
The slogans in Australia say that we shouldn't rely on sun cream alone. So here is me with my sun factor 200 on.
This is Elvis at full speed on the way to the little cinema on the island, we were running late as usual but in fact we made it in time. 'Stardust' was the film by the way, the cinema was a little hall with about 20 rows of deck chairs!Us with those ridiculous 'half-melons' on our heeds!
One of the beaches we settled down on was quite close to an Osprey nest. After a few 'fly overs' the parent came in very close and swooped right over us - message received and understood. We moved!
Here is the horror show. I was looking at the light house trying to line up a picture and came very close to walking face first into this thing! Could you imagine it? They have bird catching spiders here - this isn't one, but I still wouldn't like it on me clagged to me face.
This is Elvis cycling towards the impressive lighthouse on Rottnest. The sun was starting to set and in the next picture....
The setting sun lined up perfectly with the light at the top of the tower. I just need someone to 'photoshop' out those telephone wires!
Elvis sillohetted against the setting sun. This photo-I like!!
Here is an inhabitant of Rottnest Island and believe it or not - a major reason as to why the Dutch named the island so (there's a clue for you!). It's real name is a Quokka - it's a small marsupial and is almost exclusive to this island. It actually looks like a small kangaroo! They're a bloody pest when you're cycling home from the cinema in the dark because they come out at night - and there's lots of them. There's also snakes on the island and yes - we did see one!
The inland lakes are full of salt - so when the sun evaporates the water, the salt crystals form. The island was famous at one time for providing so much sea salt.
After this we went back to Perth and then picked up a campervan for the next trip - but as you know, that's for another blog!
11 comments:
This is getting too easy - 3 first blogs in a row I believe is called a 'Hat-trick'. A free cup of tea to anyone that can explain who first used the term and why.
Anyhoo, as it was the Dutch who named the island Rottnest, I reckon looking at the small marsupial picture that they thought it looked like a fat rat (Borat would probably ask if it were a small hippopotomas), and therefore the island was like a "rats nest". Do I win?
And what's Ghan on with that spider? It's more like the critter from Alien.
Paul.
P.S. Where have all the Commenters gone? I'm feeling lonely.
The hat trick term originated from the English game of cricket , the feat of the bowler who took 3 wickets by 3 successive balls would entitle him to be rewarded a new hat or something equivalent by his club. In the 40's someone with the Maple Leafs started giving hats to players who got 3 goals in a game , this still is believed to be an offshoot to the original origin of cricket
A free pint of Guiness to anyone who can name the captain who gave Rottnest its name.
Good answers, but I was thinking about Victorian magicians producing 3 rabbits out of a hat - 'A Hat Trick'.
What happened to the brief blog that appeared before this one? Have K&S removed it for some reason?
Would I receive the Guinness if I said the answer was Willem de Vlamingh? I'm out tonight and so will make sure I celebrate with more than just one though (Guinness, not Ship Captain).
Here's an idea. How about K&S tell us where they're going next, we do some research, come up with some questions, and have them come up with photographic answers? At the moment they're clearly just sitting on a beach, sun-bathing, taking photos from the front of postcards and posting them on the blog. This way they'll actually get to see some of the countries they're visiting, keep them busy and us all entertained.
Do you mean the blog with the " Cup of Tea" answers? Aye, I was wondering where that went.
Paul, I like your idea of giving them tasks....after all they should serve their fans. So here's mine....due to the fact that I wasn't there when the photo of the spider was taken, and because the amateur photographer didn't place an object beside it to get a reference point....how about you go search for one like it, and this time, place it on Suzanne's a**e so we get an idea of its size, (the spider not her a**e!). Same with snakes...when you see one, get Suzanne (who will already have legged it 100 yds down the road) and make her pose beside it. She is your assistant after all.
As far as knowing where they go and giving them things to find, I've figured out that when you read an entry on the blog and they talk about where they are going next. they've already been and left!! Go figure for Pete's sake already!
First serious quest for the trekkers. I'm assuming you're heading North on the Western coast of Oz, if so, here's your quest. Include a photo in the blog of a town just south of the Tropic of Capricorn which shares a name with a family member.
That wouldn't be C.S. Bay would it?
You're on the right lines, except that everyone in our family has been called CS at more than one point in their lives (as well as Pete!) This name is very specific to just one particular family member. In fact, I believe it originated from Keith.
I can imagine. He has a tendancy to give people nicknames that tend to stick. I have several.
Hi Suzanne and Keith,
Really enjoying your big adventure. Perth photos brought back some lovely memories for us. The Dutchman who discovered Rottnest thought the island was invested with rats, which were actually Quokkers.
Keep enjoying.
Luv Derek and Margaret
Thanks for the birthday greetings..couldn't send any pictures of me in my speedos..it was warm,but not that warm and at 60 I have to stay wrapped up in case I catch card.The ABC,The Picture House,The Gaumont(It's all come flooding back.."we come along on Saturday morning greeting everybody with a smile" for those old enough to remember)
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