Easter Adventures!

March 30

We were picked up by an escort & taken to the African Reef Resort. We were offered free camping. Due to the inclement weather we opted for units – great deal of $50 per night each room. Trevor from Rotary visited us & took us to the Breakers Hotel where President Ian, his wife Carol, and another member Bob, all met us for drinks. Old friends joined us for dinner & took us for a night view of the city.

March 31

We had a guided tour of the Sydney memorial, a most moving experience with a dome holding 645 seagulls. Each seagull represents a lost soul of a sailor who perished. There is an anchor on the starboard & port light, the roses in the surrounding garden are named “Courage”.  It is on the top 10 tourist attractions of Australia. After the visit we went to the RSL & we were interviewed & photographed by a local reporter. We went to a friends place for afternoon tea and were served home made sponge cake with passion fruit icing & left with cookies. 

That night we had the RSL as the venue for a BBQ, we bought a $10 meat pack & salads were provided. Steve used to be the President & his name was on the plaque on the wall. There were 60 people in attendance representing the Geraldton Rotary, Geraldton-Greenough Rotary, The Batavia Rotary, the RSL & Legacy. We bought out the glass case where Steve's boots, hat, scarf, & dog tags were displayed. He donated them when we left some yeas ago. The Geraldton Rotary promised us $200, but they said the presentation was so good they changed it to $1,000! Well-done Steve & Grahme. It was a nostalgic night for us to meet up with many of our old friends, even Steve’s Doctor. Well done Geraldton, very professionally arranged.

April 1

We took the scenic route on the Indian Ocean Highway with lovely views of the water. A quick trip into the Pinnacles with the striking rocks just rising from the sand - quite spectacular. We arrived at our host Laurie & Jan who welcomed us with a roast lamb dinner & all the trimmings. Doug took his wife to his friend Max's place, which was close to the airport & stayed there to put her on the plane back to Lao to continue with the family businesses. 

Unfortunately we sprung a leak in our bed but Grahme came to the rescue. He went to the bike shop & got a puncture kit & repaired it for us.

April 2

We went to Kings Square at Fremantle where the local Rotary had set up a gazebo with a free sausage sizzle and drinks for us. The Lord Mayor & the Member of Parliament welcomed us. The Mayor said he would ask the council to support our cause. Some of our friends joined us & we

went for coffee & reunited with Jock who had flown over from Newcastle to drive the ute back. That night we were taken out to dinner with 3 of Steve’s nieces & one husband, formal dining & very nice.

April 3

Good Friday & Jan took Grahme & I to her church. At 11am we went to the factory where the local Rotary & other organisations make wheelchairs for kids in developing countries. It was so good to see & especially heart warming, as volunteers do all of the work. They have just reached a milestone, having sent out over 30,000 chairs since 1998. For lunch Steve prepared lobster mornay & Jan made salads & our niece came to join us with a nice bottle of wine.

April 4

Rhonda joined us on the back of Grahme's bike for the trip to Bussellton. On arrival at the bus depot we were served subway rolls from the owner (a friend of Rhondas). Accommodation was provided in the sheds of the bus depot. It is well appointed with ablutions & kitchen. Peter, the owner of the business has 6 Cadillacs & a Corvette parked in the sheds. The boys were in 7th heaven sleeping in-between these classic cars. We visited Steve’s sister & her husband & did our washing while she served us afternoon tea, & we were packed off with home made cake for our ongoing trip.

The presentation that night in the bus shed was very good even though there were only few in numbers. It was Easter & most people were away. We were served yummy curries & rice, naan bread & ice cream. We were assured of a cheque for $500! Peter from the local Rotary & Shirley were very hospitable & came over the next morning to see us off. Craig & Rhonda joined us for the next days run through Nannup. Grahme returned to Perth to have the mechanic look at his bike. Nothing major, just a computer glitch, we hope.

April 5 

We drove through the pretty autumn leaves, farmland & wheat fields & stayed over night at Jerringup in dongers. Dinner was at the local roadhouse, with Chinese & hamburgers.

We are at about $17,500!