ROTTNEST ISLAND

Saw quite a few of these quokkas on the island. Cute little guys. Can you see his claws?

There's never a shortage of pelicans when you're near the water. They are awaiting what the fishermen throw out.

I do love lighthouses. Think there were a couple on the island that we cycled round and found. Lovely clouds here eh?

There were 6 stingrays at the water's edge. We watched them from the pier just above them. As they came into the very shallow water they were mostly out of the water. Then they'd head back away from the water's edge again. Really neat.

Just one of the quokkas who checked out the Bike Fridays,

Wendy did well on the Tikit seeing she'd not ridden for quite some time. It is very user friendly even if it didn't perform for Rodney from Sonshine FM!

Alex and Lucy were on the Bike for Bibles trip 2003. Maybe they'll saddle up again for 2009! It was great to have lunch with them at Cicarello's in Fremantle.

Barb (nee Campbell) and her man Dave Otterman. He's a Canadian! Well, he still talks like one anyway. Barb went through Wagga Teachers College in 1961-62. I started in 1962 and Fay started in 1963. It's hard to beat a good WWTC girl isn't it Dave?

Caught up with Rodney and JD from Sonshine FM today. They're also from the 2003 BFB ride. Great to see them again.

Tomorrow we say farewell to Wendy and head to Ballajura to the Kingston Caravan and Camping World!!! Hope our Matilda is OK. After a sleep there we'll wander north to Geraldton and Kalbarri. Maybe it'll be a bit warmer there.

Diesel fuel prices are ridiculous! Up to $1.829 for a Litre of diesel here in Perth!!! We got some for $1.68 in York thanks to Fuel Watch.

It's been really great catching up with the BFB folk, ex WWTC folk and the Pritchard crew.

ADELAIDE PERTH TRIP

Departed Dubbo 20 March.
Visited Phil and Pam in Tumut. Folk from Moula days. Phil is the world’s greatest dentist and is now specialising in tooth implants. Pam (pictured) was recently chosen as the Citizen of the Year for Tumut. What an honour. Next time I’m there I’ll have to play table tennis against Phil, and that’s not going to be a pretty sight. He has been practising heaps. Phil’s an ex Hurlstonian and Pammow used to teach with Fay in Moula (when they were both single).
Next stop was Rutherglen where we attended a Rotary wine tasting night out at Morris Winery. Most enjoyable. Thanks Graham and Margaret. Graham is currently having treatment for prostate cancer. We went for a bike ride… just Graham and I. They are really involved in heaps of community related events and projects. He's also ex WWTC.
We then headed for Bendigo. Caught up with Anne and Alan on their property at Springhurst on the way. For someone who was diagnosed with cancer years ago, Anne is a real shining light. Taught with Anne in Sydney in 1965 (first year teaching for both of us.) I thought Anne was alright! (That means pretty cool). Now I think she’s fantastic! What a great faith they both have.
In Bendigo, we visited Roy and Nancy. It’s 15 years since Roy was diagnosed with Parkinsons. On Thursday night he was pretty “jumpy” which bugged him a bit. We go back a long way – Roy and Nancy and myself. I taught three of their four kids at a one teacher school called Niemur. And they’ve ll turned out pretty good! The third kid, Christine, has just become a grandmother recently! Strike I must be getting old!
On to Mt Gambier – tad over 400 km. Here we have holed up with Jeanette and Colin. We’ve known them for about 15 years – they’re Servas friends. Colin is principal of a local primary school and also does a fair bit of work for ABC Radio as a sports journalist. They’ve visited us in Dubbo and Cudmirrah. This is our third visit to the 2nd largest city in South Australia (did you know that?) He underwent major heart surgery maybe a couple of years back. Yesterday and today we watched North Gambier beat East Gambier in the cricket final. North's 129 didn’t look competitive but today East Gambier collapsed about 15 runs short of the meagre total. Amazing what happens in a grand final.

Last photo above shows us with Colin and Jeanette as well as the crazy couple from Narrawong - Lady Di and Gra Gra! We found them in a pub in Nelson (as planned.)
Tomorrow we have to attend a school camp which includes cycling as a feature. Looks like we’ll unravel Banana Split and give a few kids a spin on it. Should be fun.
Scheduled to be in Adelaide by Wednesday. Maybe 450 km. Looking forward to catching up with Servas friends and Di Di (ex WWTC) and her family. Di Di is my ex girlfriend from 1963! I was madly in love with her. When Fay and I married back in 1967, she chose Di Di as her bridesmaid, but dressed her in pink just to be sure. Maybe next blog will show photos of Di Di. You be the judge!