Tues, 13th Dec, 2016 Ross & Lara’s, Wattle Grove, WA (exploring Rottnest Island)

Up early and on the road by 8am to get to Fremantle for our 9.30am ferry to Rottnest Island. Lovely day with a clear sky, cool to start. The ferry leaves from O’Connor Landing – named in recognition of the designer of Fremantle Inner Harbour, CY O’Connor, Engineer-in-Chief of WA, 1891-1902 (who did the pipeline to Kalgoorlie, busy man).

Checked out ‘The World’ moored up from us – everyone has a balcony on this one.

Further along towards to ocean was ‘STS Leeuwin II’.

The mouth of the Swan River where we will be heading.

Across the river to all the shipping containers and cargo ships.

Little wobbly trip across as there was a good swell from the south-west. Got our bikes – takes us back. Oh the seat, now we remember why we don’t ride bikes anymore.

Walking down the jetty – lovely view to the right.

Steve had to get a photo of me on my bike.

Into Thomson Settlement. Rottnest Island earning its name in 1696 when Dutch explorer, William de Vlamingh, mistook the island’s unusual marsupial population for common rats. Now the Quokka is one of the main drawcards of the island. Rottnest Island was originally established in 1838 as a prison for Aboriginal people from the mainland. They were housed in an octagonal “Quod” built in 1864 which is now part of the Rottnest Lodge.

The water is so clear and blue in Thomson Bay. Lots of buoys for the boats to tie up to.

Nice pines everywhere.

Headed off – not bad but I my gears don’t change, luckily it is stuck in the easy pedalling gear.

This jetty was originally built in 1907 and there was a tramway connecting it to the Settlement. Renamed Army Jetty because of its use during WW2. They put in more rail lines to transport heavy equipment etc. The road we rode down was originally the railway track.

We are on the other side of Thomson Bay but there is still a bit to go to get to the point.

Continued on – someone forgot to tell us there are hills on the island!! Into Kingstown Barracks and the railway station.

The barracks and houses are now used for holiday accommodation. There are walks to do as well as the bike ways, would need a few days to do it all. Rode out to the water – view back to the mainland and sand dunes.

This is the map they should have given us – better detail.

Not sure who the houses are named after, maybe commandants as each has a different name and year span – Fitzgerald 1848-1855.

A couple of peacocks enjoying the shade at Clarke 1846-47. The sun is warm but there is a cool breeze so it is pleasant.

The Barracks built in 1936 and Parade Ground are still in great condition. Big gun too.

Across from the Barracks is the Royal Australian Engineers administrative offices. They used copper for the gutters and downpipes.

Another admin office for the Royal Australian Artillery.

The railway line to Oliver Hill is only for walkers.

We continued along the road and came to the railway shed anycase.

Bickley Swamp.

The hills get our knees so we get off and walk which feels great after being on the bike seat!! Lots of trees in the gullies.

The view of Porpoise Bay when you get to the top though makes it worthwhile.

Stopped to explore Henrietta Rocks and the wreck of ‘Shark’, sunk in 1939. Only the winch mechanism is left now.

Fabulous view.

Walked down the stairs to the beach.

Continued on – the downhill bits are fun. I go a lot faster than Steve as I don’t have the gears slowing me down but he gets me up the hills as he can change gears.

Turned off to do the Parker Point Loop.

At the bottom of a hill there were a lot of people milling around so we stopped for a look and found our first Quokka. If he thought you had food he would go to you for a sniff.

Steve conned him with a stick.

Nice treed area.

At Parker Point there were more Quokkas under the trees.

There is a marine sanctuary here where you can snorkel but no fishing. Time for a selfie at the lookout.

Steve trying ‘the shoosh’ that the American movie commentator said gives you a better look for photos – don’t think it worked!!

Great beach area.

Zoomed in over the island to Perth City.

Continued along the coastline – fabulous.

Next stop was Little Salmon Bay – very nice. Great cave to get out of the sun though the wind is strong on this side and quite cool.

Chatted with a couple of internationals who are skateboarding around the island – doing well as they have been everywhere we have been and we are on bikes.

Continued around Salmon Bay.

Two Osprey are on their nest.

While we were watching one took off for a fly over us.

Then he landed gracefully back on the nest.

Great limestone rock formations along this part of the coastline.

Looking across the Bay to Wadjemup Lighthouse.

Another great beach area – there is 36 beach coves around the island.

Clicking away as we continue around – getting good I can click while I ride!!

Sandy area and pines.

There are a few signs guiding our way – still a long way to the western point of the island. Lunch at Green Island – that sounds like home.

Bit different to our Green Island.

Nancy Cove surrounds Green Island. Nice ledge to sit on. Fed one seagull then all his friends arrived but he wouldn’t share and got all cranky at the other ones.

Headed off again to the most westerly point. Another few Quokkas stop us – lots of poop everywhere.

Down the narrow neck with Rocky Bay on the northern side of the island – lots of boat anchoring buoys here.

Stopped to check out the memorial to Roland Smith.

Steve found another Quokka then a little one came out. So cute and soft.

I walked up the steps, bending over to get under the trees, to the old lookout – there was even a picnic table. Rocky Bay and across to Wadjemup Lighthouse.

Mr Percival floated along looking for something to eat.

Went across to the eastern side of the neck to Strickland Bay.

Only low foliage along here so the wind is blowing us backwards. Nearly at the end.

Cape Vlamingh (named after the Dutch explorer). Great photo.

There are lots of wrecks around the island. This Japanese ship ran aground in 1984 out there somewhere.

A bit further yet.

A quiet cove called Fish Hook Bay on the southern side of the cape.

The waves are rolling in over the ledges.

Site of a search light.

Lots of water between us and Antarctica.

A King’s Skink enjoying the sun.

Steve had wandered down the boardwalk.

He was reading about the food web.

Noticed lots of holes in the ground and guessed right – more Shearwaters.

Watching the water rush over the rocks through the hole in the rock.

Then washing up over the ledges.

Great spot for whale and dolphin watching but none were around today.

Made it to the western point – now to get back to the other side going around the northern side.

Back on the bike and off we go.

Turned off and headed north. Found some more Quokkas near the Radar Stations.

Down the hill to Stark Bay – glad the brakes work.

Pushed the bike back up another hill for another great view back over the bay.

Crayfish Rock.

Ricey Beach.

Can see the lighthouse again.

Spotted a Quokka under the tree and when I pulled up he came rushing out to say hello. Then he continued across the road. Got a video of him jumping – both back legs hopping together.

City of York Bay named after the wreck there which ran aground in 1899.

Earlier this morning we had jets flyover us, now we have three of the Roulettes.

Took another detour past Catherine Bay.

Then around to Little Armstrong Bay where they are creating a stairway down to the beach. Using the limestone blocks for the entrance.

Back to the main road then turned off for a kilometre ride down to the pink lakes – Lake Baghdad.

Great photo.

It looked pinker through my polarised sunglasses.

One wind turbine on the island. The way the wind is blowing today they could have a whole farm here.

Back out to the main road, up the hill and then we are beside the lake again – 2 extra kms we didn’t need to do!!

Turned off into Little Parakeet Bay – a favourite for the snorkelers. Tempted but we are waiting to swim at The Basin as it is the only one with a free water shower.

Continued on to Geordie Bay.

As we cycled around Steve spotted a mantra ray working its way along the water’s edge – or was it the girl’s rear end!!

Around to the general store then back along the water’s edge. Nice secluded bay here.

Fay’s Beach in Longreach Bay.

The road is getting taken back by the sand dunes.

Arrived at The Basin with everyone else!! Got changed and headed in for a dip. It was freezing but the sun was warm and after my skin froze it was very nice. Nice little sandy area between the reef. Heaps of fish came out to check me out.

Steve gave in and got in too. Ticked off another thing – swimming in the Indian Ocean.

Nice area with big pines lining the foreshore.

I even found a souvenir shell – well the bottom of it.

Washed off and redressed. Revitalised us. Not much further till we are back at the Settlement.

Continued around the bay to a lookout – looking over Thomson Bay.

One of the street signs with history information.

More Quokkas.

Back into Vincent Way (one of the oldest streetscapes in Australia) and there are Quokkas everywhere.

Found some history plaques outside the old limestone buildings that are now holiday rentals. The Pilot Service quarters.

The Boat House set into the bank.

House first used by a Moral Agent – his task was to improve the morals of the prisoners. Then it became the pilot’s cottage.

Second home for the Superintendent.

Prison guard’s quarters.

These were the first two buildings on the island in 1840 – home for the Superintendent until 1848 then the Governor made it his summer house.

The Front Walk – these buildings have been used continuously for 150 years.

The Salt House where all the salt was stored from the many lakes on the island.

The shops are where the stables used to be.

We found the ice cream shop – our reward for all that riding and walking.

Of course the Quokkas are everywhere and the crows and magpies fight over the leftover food.

Spotted some more history plaques. The Common. Still looks the same except for the big trees in front of the building.

Went to the other side of the Common to check out Buckingham Palace. I think the Queen might be disappointed.

A section on the Aboriginal aspect of the island.

The old school house is a rental too – people were on the balcony enjoying themselves so I didn’t get a photo.

Across the road is the orchard.

The Chapel.

Boys Reformatory.

The Hay Store is now the Museum. Need to spend a couple of days here to see it all.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, complete with bell tower.

Nearly time to go so we rode back to the jetty and dropped off our bikes. Has been fun but we much prefer walking!! Found a big anchor near some seats. Rang Mum and Dad to tell them what we have been up to!!

Realised we missed the Bathurst Lighthouse which was a further around from where we rode out to the lookout over Thomson Bay – but we have seen lots of them so not going to rush over to it!! There was another wreck out from it – ‘Transit’ 1842 and a few more further out.

Saw the skateboarding international boys at the jetty – they did well but didn’t make it to the western point like we did. Our ferry is here.

All the bikes are loaded back on too.

It was a rolly trip back as the swell has come up a lot and the wind has got stronger. Lots of spray coming up on the windows.

Back to Fremantle and our truck then programmed ‘girlie’ to take us home. The Fremantle Port Authority have a big building – nearly looks like an airport tower.

Man and dog statue – will have to find what that is about when we come back to explore Fremantle.

Sun still shining at 7pm but the moon is up and nearly full.

Nearly home at 7.20pm and the sun set is creating a lovely colour above the Perth Hills.

Back in for a drink and to put our feet up. Great day though we might not remember the hills and the bike seat fondly tomorrow.