Around Oz the First Time - Chapter 73 - Perth Day 3

After a slow start we discuss the plan for the day. The others are keen for a Fremantle day, and given we were led astray yesterday, we can lead the charge. What we can do is start with the point, where we saw the surfers and work our way back.

I struggle to get any point of interest into the GPS, later Robyn gives me the lesson on the spelling of Fremantle, which is the route of my evil, so to speak. There are only two “e’s” in Fremantle where I was using a double “e” in the name and getting nowhere.

Off with a list of things to see we trundle down the motorway into Perth and then on to Freemantle. Everyone amazes at the port and its operations. There are containers on top of containers as well as cranes moving them. As we pass there is a large car mover docked and another heading out towards the open sea.

Finally, we get to the end of the point, where the ships enter the container terminal. Yesterday there were people surfing and fishing here, but now without swell, there are no surfers here. We do not get out, given its still quite chilly and the wind is blowing, so we head back towards other places we want to investigate.

Fremantle Gaol was where we were able to park yesterday, so I tune that into the GPS, and we are off. At the gaol, parking is at a premium. The car park we used yesterday, today is full. I get stuck at one end and have to 4WD it over the curb into the street ahead, firstly to get out, but more importantly there is a spot on the street, which I jump into immediately. We feed the metre to its maximum – 2 hours – and start towards the Fremantle Markets across the street.

It is much busier here than yesterday, and tourists are blocking the entry to get photos, rather than head in. When we finally get in, I suggest to the others the advice from Sarah yesterday is worthwhile, not to purchase the first thing they see as there may be cheaper, and in the case of food, much tastier options further in. Add to that I want to show them all the Muffle shop, the one with the amazing waffles that Matt engulfed yesterday.

We wander around, Robyn sees an interesting claim on a tea display and purchases some of the product to investigate later, along with some caramel fudge, which she shares some with us straightaway – yum. Pushing through I get Silver Leader and Rosalie to the Muffle store and they immediately are enticed to buy, Forbsy is less interested, having already sampled Bao. Silver Leader and Rosalie go the full hog and because their waffles are made fresh, it takes some time for them to get their treats.

The street performer is at it again outside, which gives a short break while we wait for the food. Splat balls are also on the list of things to see, not far from the Muffle shop. Samples are tested to the hysterical joy of the group.

Once the waffles are handed over, many snaps are taken, including one of Robyn holding one for Rosalie as she takes her photo, which I post on certain Groups in Messenger, which bring lots of mirth in replies.

The markets are done, its time to find the Little Creatures Brewery and sort out lunch. Between Forbsy and I, Forbsy really, I have all sorts of issues working Google Maps directions, and start us in the wrong direction, we take the short walk to the brewery.

Like the markets the brewery is much busier than yesterday. We wander up and down looking for a place to sit. Robyn spies half a clear table down on the ground floor and we race down to stake our claim. Unlike earlier attempts where there were a small number on a larger table this one is actually free and we settle in.

A young waiter comes to us and takes our order. He suggests things are a little busy so perhaps he should put a bowl of chips on order to get something on the table as early as possible. We agree and he heads off, which will give us a little time to sort out our orders. On return we are ready to order and we add to the chips with two pizzas and various libations.

The drinks come quickly, and I need to keep an eye on the time as we only had 2 hours from the metre. I think it will be touch and go on timing for me eating any lunch before I have to go and feed the metre. The pizzas arrive surprisingly quickly, well before I need to leave. We have gone easy on the food today given the consumption in the Markets. I enquire as to the chips which were “ordered” earlier than the pizzas, the waiter agrees it should have come and heads off to find out why.

He giggles on his return, agreeing the service is not up to scratch and the chips will be available momentarily. A few minutes later he arrives with them, and I grab a few and head off to feed the metre.

Trusting I am heading in the right direction, I call the Missing Link, and laugh with him about being lost in Fremantle. I pass the markets, which instils me with confidence that I am on track and then the football oval adjacent to the carpark. I stop for a few minutes, with plenty of time to spare and watch a game in progress. It is a women’s AFL game and marvel at the skill level. My attention is taken away by my phone ringing, its Robyn, the others have decided to go to the Markets, then head back to the car, so I am to wait for them there, rather than perhaps try and pick them up.

In the meantime I have been getting texts from Sarah and Matt discussing the potential of dinner and fishing tonight, near their place. Robyn in keen on the dinner part, but not so keen on the fishing, which apparently suits Sarah who goes back to work in her teaching role tomorrow. I get back to the Cruiser with a couple of minutes to spare and sit, make a couple of calls and play some Candy Crush while I wait.

45 minutes later, the group turn up. They “needed” to go to the markets and buy Splat Balls and now need to go and book their passages to Rottnest Island tomorrow. Again, I have difficulty getting the destination into the GPS, but eventually find something close enough to get the Cruiser on the right track. Yesterday we travelled up the coast quite a way on our way back to the van, directed by Matt and Sarah, against the wishes of the GPS. Today with the new destination, just west of the van park in the GPS, we are heading very much, the same way.

At the terminal, it takes only a few moments for them to book their tickets, and we are soon back to the van park. Forbsy has a hot date, well he is catching up with a cousin for dinner. Silver Leader and Rosalie, although invited, decline to join us for dinner and fishing. We turn around quickly and head towards Redland again.

On the way and looking south, the clouds are building. We get to their place and load up with provisions and fishing gear. Robyn and Sarah go in Sarah’s car so they can bug out early, if they see fit. We have the destination in the GPS, and Matt and I lead. We get to the GPS suggested point, but Sarah objects that this is not right. She takes over and heads to another spot.

When we get there, there is no sand bar as she thought was the “right” spot. Plugging another address into her phone we are off again, and this time we get to where she was hoping to be. There is a long sand spit, reaching out across the river.

Heading out, we find a spot. The tide is coming in, but the movement in the water, should it get to the line of seaweed, will only be a few inches, in stark contrast to the 9 metre tides of the Horizontal Falls. We plonk all the stuff on the sand, and I rig up, only one thing missing, I have left the bait in the Cruiser. Robyn and Sarah head back and retrieve it, as well as another jumper and the bottle of bourbon.

The water here is very shallow, probably no more than ankle deep well out of casting range. Unperturbed we launch baits into the water. Having set up two rods, Sarah can fish, Robyn is uninterested.

It takes a lot of time before we get our first bite, and its very small. Matt has been losing baits regularly but not feeling the bite. All of a sudden, he is winding in, thinking he has a fish, then not, then again perhaps he does. Finally, with line almost at his feet, a fish is evident. It’s a small bream, and a sensible answer to the loss of baits so far.

We release it, take photos and return it to the water. We can watch it swim away making quite a wake with its dorsal fin.

The wind is blowing quite hard now and we can see rain showers in the distance. Thankfully we have positioned ourselves with it behind us to maximise the distance we can get into the bay. The girls are peeling prawns and feeding us as we fish. The weather really looks like closing in, so the girls pull the plug and head home.

Not long after, I feel some reasonable bits and then, the fish hooks itself. From a long way from my feet, the fish is splashing in the very shallow water. It is much bigger than the earlier one, and if we really wanted to we could have taken this one home. We decide to return it and as I let it go, its disorientation has it swimming back up the beach. Matt takes it into deeper water, and it does it again, before we are able to entice it into the right direction and the wake goes much further than the first fish.

All evening I have been taking shots of the moon, the clouds and the lights of the city. The wind has now dropped and the moon is out from behind the clouds and the fish have stopped biting. We decide that is enough, plus Sarah has to go to work so we don’t want to be too late.

Walking back along the sand spit we pass 2 swans in the dark, but there is enough light to see 2 cygnets emerge from under their wings and move with the adults away from us. I am able to take photos, without disturbing them, we pack the gear back in to the Cruiser and head to Nedlands.

Once we are there, we quickly finish off the prawns and chocolate on offer and leave them for retiring to bed. We have decided to meet again tomorrow night for dinner, and while there, make the decision on who will bring what, I remember we have blue nose salmon from 80 Mile Beach in the freezer and that would be a great thing to serve. Agreed, they will bring the salad and we will drag out the Weber Q for a go, allowing them to research the equipment.

Not sure what we might do tomorrow, we will make a decision in the morning.