Australia!

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April Fools' Day 2005, Pete and Sarah arrive in Australia. We very quickly got into the Aussie lifestyle after meeting Sally; we were in the spa drinking beers very quickly. On Saturday we went out for Sally's birthday, which was the next day, and pretty much as soon as we woke up on Sunday hair of the dog was suggested (and accepted) and all the blokes and soon the girls were drinking again in the hot Perth sun. That evening we had a barbie with Kangaroo steaks, of course drinking pretty much all day.
Then until thursday myself and Sarah very much enjoyed the garden and weather at Sally and Jamie's place by sunbathing and alternately doing some weblogging when it got too hot.

Sufficiently relaxed and recharged after the stress of selling the van, later in the week we decided to go and visit some of the rest of Western Australia - the area south of Perth is very accessible and full of variety. We visited the ancient forests of Karri and Tingle trees - massive beauties from an era long, long ago. The area is also a highly productive wine-growing region (the Margaret River) so we had to go and visit a few wineries and taste some delicious food at the Rosemount Estate.
There are also many caves with the associated limestone stalagmites and stalagtites, as well as the most South-Westerly point in Australia which of course we had to do as another part of our "biggest fastest mostest" tour. I climbed the World's highest Forest Fire lookout tree, and we also took a look at the World's largest living Eucalypt - one of the gigantic Tingle trees.

On the way back we stopped by the town of Fremantle near Perth, stopping to have a bit of a look around. We found an amazing second-hand bookstore and also a really awful backpackers - the Sun Dancer, before visiting Cottesloe beach and spending some more time with Sally and Jamie. It was great to meet up with her in her new home and herself and Jamie seem very well suited and are doing really well for themselves.

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Photos

Our first Aussie Barbie
Jamie cooking up a storm in true fair dinkum style.

Giant Tingle Tree
Big enough to fit the Empire State Building in.

Climbing the world's tallest fire lookout tree
The 60m Gloucester Tree - it's got a 3 storey lookout on top!

Inside the Jewel Cave
It's all slimy and like 6 million years old and stuff.

Looking towards the most Southwesterly Point in Australia
where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian

Sally, Jamie, Pete and Sarah all smiling because we're slightly drunk
(in Australia most people are slightly drunk, most of the time)