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Published: November 19th 2007
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Brochure Text:
• Hutt River Province
• Wildlife Park
• Sandboarding*
Today it’s up early for our first visit to the Principality of Hutt River Province, an Independent Sovereign state to meet H.R.H. Prince Leonard . Don’t forget your passport if you want a unique visa stamp. Then we make our way to Greenough Wildlife Park to meet the local snakes and if you can bear it, you can hold one. After lunch we continue our journey back to Perth arriving approx. 6.00pm. But before this we are now off sandboarding* ! Have some fun surfing over large natural sand dunes so hang on. (B,L) Another early start, and a cold one at that! Not woken up so chilly in Australia yet... Had my shower last night so quick dress and pack (so glad bought nearly nothing with me), and up to the shed for breakfast. Feeling bit grotty this morning but head out for another sunrise (619-624 this time), set behind a backdrop of gum trees, so very Australian! By 645 we're on the road again, and soon headed into Hutt River Province.
Hutt River Province is a Sovereign State formed in 1970. In 1968 the Australian
government introduced wheat quotas, which Len (farmer, mine owner, physicist, theologian, Queens Counsel, etc.) said was illegal and working within the law, declared war on Australia and gained letters from the Queen that he was entitled to do what he was doing, and in 1970 he seceded from Australia and is now a tax-free State with Prince Leonard and Princess Shirley, with their own currency/stamps, chapel, research lab (into energy fields in pyramids), police force, army, and who knows what - all set within land the size of Hong Kong. Fascinating to see, and a masterclass in marketing! People needing to do a 'visa run' from Australia are able to camp here overnight and re-enter Australia for another 3 months...
Back on the road again (another dusty track, apparently 80% of Australian roads are like this) - suddenly we pull to a halt, Laurie goes looking for something but it has run away, 5 minutes later he finds another one - a blue-tongued lizard which spits but would cause only a dermatitus-style rash, and is far more helpful at killing snakes. A few minutes later we're 'back on the bitumin' and driving back through Northampton, where there's much evidence
of early (convict) settlements.
In the Geraldton area, after a fuel stop where we all sign disclaimers, we pull over next to a steep sandbank and here's the activity I've been wanting to have a go at ever since Emma mentioned it months ago... sandboarding! Due to a misunderstanding we only have 3 boards but this is enough for us all to have a go, some two - and actually getting up to the top in such fine sand is such hard work two goes is plenty, and it allows us to photograph each other too. That was great fun, looked scarily steep from the top, but was over far too quickly - although for some reason I grounded on my second run so not that quick!
Before jumping back on the bus again, we try and shake all the sand out of everywhere, and half-hour later we're at the Greenhough Wildlife and Bird Park where we're given some feed and sent off to see the horses, llama, ostrich, camel, kangaroos to feed, and check out assorted birds, including the kookaburough (sp?), and some dingos and a crocodile. All animals in the park have been rescued when their
mothers have been run over, etc, and then hand-reared. The 'joey' (baby kangaroo) we saw on the way up will end up in this park. After lunch we're promised a 'surprise', which is a chance to hold a number of snakes! These are all used within school programmes to demonstrate the proper way to deal with snakes - which is mostly to leave them alone if you see them - and how much they've been mis-sold via the movies. Lindsay is the brave one who volunteers to put her hand in a bag of snakes, after which we all get draped/photo opportunities. I'm not THAT comfortable with it but am going with it, just get more jittery when it's face gets near mine, but the owner's very good and takes it away in good time!
Back on the road for our longest no-stop stretch, e hours, and I try and get some rest as got a lot to do tonight, and another early start in the morning! Apparently on this trip, including detours, we've covered about 2500km, straight to Monkey Mia was just over 1000km. The afternoon is mostly driving, one roadside stop for Laurie to stretch his legs,
then a stop at the first roadhouse we stopped at. For some reason we have run into about 5 sets of roadworks on this last stretch of road... And an oversize vehicle (a small oversize this one!) - heralded by a vehicle in front/behind flashing amber lights, warning drivers to pull onto the sand verges - some wide loads can span both sides of the road.
By 530 we're hitting the suburbs of Perth - plenty of new housing here (although probably also unaffordable, apparently house prices are rocketing - what's new?) - Laurie had told us on the way out that Joondelup and any suburbs beyond that didn't exist 10 years ago, but are now thriving areas. Also lots of traffic, which we've not been used to. We make good time and are back in Perth soon after 6pm, where I get dropped off back at the Emperor's Crown, catch up with the friendlies from last time, then have a much-wanted/needed hot shower before shoving 95% of my clothes in the wash, and having a nutricious dinner of noodles, followed by an ice cream out with the girls, then back to pack away my bag again (again, going
with the 20l bag + bum-bag only), and onto the internet before a planned early night! Catch up properly with things on Friday which am aiming for a relaxing day and a chance to meet up with John & Noleen again!
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