Freo

Freemantle, or 'Freo' as it is known to us locals, is the port city for Perth about 15 miles down the Swan River.  A little while ago, after Australia had won, they held the America's Cup yachting race of the coast here, though not sure how they evaded all of the tankers and container vessels anchored off shore (there were lots of them- very busy port).

Biked from my nice hotel about 5 miles up the coast to take the ferry from Freo to Rottnest Island about 16 miles or so offshore.  Rottnest is very popular with Perthians (not to be confused with ancient Parthians) who go there to swim and snorkel the island's many beaches.  There are no cars on the island so most everyone rents a bicycle... and it seemed like the Perth commuting pelathon decided to go Rottnest on the same day as I- crowded is one way to say it.

The island has this sort of Caribbean feel-

On the island, there is also a marsupial called the quarhk (sp?) or something like that, which only exists there.  To see these extremely shy creatures, you have to hike deep into the bush-

 
They have a marked underwater trail for snorkelers on one of the beaches.  I found it and followed it for a while, until I got disoriented and started to snorkel out to sea, proving, I guess, that I can get lost as easily on a water trail as on a land one.

Returning to Freo...who knew that Notre Dame had an outlet here-

On the way back, got temporarily lost on my bike but found a cricket match-

 
The Aussies have a sign for everything-

Tho this does little justice to them, the IO sunsets are something.