South of Perth and Pinnacles

  To the south and north of Perth, Australia
Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Tuesday to Thursday, December 5th to 7th  SouthEast Western Australia (WA)

Great one of the first trains to Perth in morning from Freo and there in pretty of time to meet backpacker mini bus at 8. Going on a three day trip with 11 others to Western Australia below Perth.  End up that was told to stay at wrong place by hostel and luckily decide to ring bus company to check what story was.  Get talked on phone through how to get to bus and I am the last one on. Well I knew there are lots of Irish people in Australia but this bus takes the biscuit. Of the 12 people on board (including me) 6 are Irish, three of these are from Tipperary and Sean the driver is second generation Irish.
Everybody a bit tired this first morning and conversations hard to get going.  Two Tipp girls (Tina and Gemma) at Kylie Minogue concert so a bit out for the count.
Get woken up with trek up Castle Rock to great views for this part of WA and wine sampling down below.  All notice the sudden drop in temperature down here. Couple of hours from Perth we are already at least 5 degress colder here.  By evening quick stop at beautiful beach middleton and then stay tonight in Albany.  Sean is great cook and lovely lasagne tonight and couple of lite beers. Up mad early tomorrow to get everything done.
Today off to see first blow holes (see pics) where wind from waves pushs through narrow hole in rock causing a gust of wind to sit in front of!  Then off along the Denamrk (former whaling coarst line)

where coastal communities are much less than once where and from where Australian troops went to World War 1.  Beautiful scenary and then into the woods to see the ´Valley of the Giants´of huge Karri and Tingle tress which can literrally fit into (see pic) and walk a tree top walk.  Pretty good but I think Bill Bryson in his book ´Downunder´ a bit over sells it. Take a chance to climb a fire lookout and get to see the fitness of Sean climbing it UNDERNEATH the steps.
Tonight have a great night staying at house for ouselves. Sean gets out the guitar and off the songs start.  Two girls from Clare (Una and Chris) want to keep going alnight but early morning again prevents us.
Final day and off the see the vineyards and beaches of the Margaret river area and then go Dolphin watching in Bunbury.  Very luck with Dolphins as get to see them all playing along side the boat.  Back into Perth and most of us head to great veggie Indian restaurant at Perth Wharf which is pay by donation. Sean promises photo of Simon and I at front ot minibus will get on company website we look such pros!  Really great group and some of us will meet again tomorrow night out in Freo.