Troppo on Rotto or That Takes the Quoklates

In the beer garden

For once we managed to organise a schedule well enough that we could actually be somewhere when something special was going on. Emma (sister) was over for work, and Bronwyn (partner) came too. We arranged to meet them on Rottnest Island over the Anzac Day holiday. Rottnest was a revelation. Everyone in Perth had told us how fabulous it was, but we expected that to be some sort of marketing ploy to distract us from the injustices of the mining tax. It was pretty special; in fact, it is the first place I really want to come back to.

Em in her fish helmet for little heads

There are no cars on Rottnest. You have to ride a bike to get anywhere (although you can catch a bus). The pub has the best beer garden in the world. The beaches are pristine, and the water so clean and clear you’d drink it if not for the salt. We stayed one rung above camping in a six berth cabin that slept seven comfortably when Oli and Ivy shared a bed. E & B arrived on the Tuesday and we caught up over coffee. I wasn’t surprised when Emma said she’d head over to the shops to pick up a few things and the kids all volunteered to help. It must be wonderful to have aunties that believe Chuppa Chups are essential to a good diet.

Sara, Oli, Ned, and I got up for the dawn service on Anzac Day. The morbid but curiously tuneful drone of bagpipes over the water filled in the silence of a motor free island as everyone filed down to the shorefront in the dark. The sun came up in front of us, with Perth’s skyline silhouetted in the distance. After ordinary speeches given in an enthusiastic fashion, and a good sausage in a roll with onions, we pedalled back to the girls for brekkie.

Anzac Day Dawn over Perth

Pelicans with Perth in background

Oli powers up a hill

Mid-morning, Curt showed up on his boat with Lucan doing a great Leonardo Di’Caprio “King of the World” impression in the bow. Curt and his GPS took us out fishing which was hugely successful, but became even more successful when we moved to the sheltered side of the island. Oli had by then recovered from a mild and non-productive bout of sea sickness, and everyone except Sara caught something. Curt gave us a quick lesson in how to clean our bounty before he and Lucan headed back to Perth. Dinner was as spectacular as you’d expect, the weather so mild we ate outside with the quokkas. Puns a plenty with regards to these little rodents, one stole a weetbix as big as his head, imagine how happy he was. Sara a bit nonplussed overall, as she really had trouble with their tails.

E & B left the next morning having chatted and spoiled the kids heads off. We cycled some more, with Sara now riding side saddle. Nice beach, snorkelling, pedal back, ferry home to Freo, tea, chat, beer, wine, Goodge. Isn’t it lovely when plans come together!