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Rottnest Island
Up and out to the pick up point for our trip to Rottnest Island. The first stage of the journey was a coach from just near our hotel to Hillary's marina in North Perth for the ferry. Only one other person was on board when we got on but we picked up a family en route. At the ferry terminal we collected the bikes we had hired and rode them to the boarding area where they would be loaded for us. The bike hire was all part of the package we had booked with the tour company. Once parked there was enough time for breakfast before boarding at 10.00. The forty five minute voyage to the Island was uneventful and quite smooth but the views were not great due to cloud and some rain. It wasn't cold, about 26C. Having arrived and collected our bikes from the ferry and off we set. Not having ridden a bike for a year or two it was a slow start but that seemed to be true for many of the people around. We very quickly mastered cycling again and decided to follow one of the roads to do one of the suggested routes, a 10 kilometre circuit to the south of the island. As no motorised vehicles, except service vehicles, are allowed on the island the only choice of travel is to walk, bike or catch the shuttle buses that circle the island, hence it is all very safe, even for the many children riding with parents on quite small bikes.
The route to the south away from the only real settlement, Thomson Bay which dates back to 1840, was past some visible shipwrecks and the opportunities for snorkelling on these and the reefs were numerous. We had decided cycling was enough sport for us today. We saw some stunning coastal rugged scenery at Parker Point and Quokkas who were very friendly. When the Dutch first saw them they thought they were rats and so the island is named rat's island after them, but actually they are a type of tiny wallaby; all very cute and inquisitive but they do look a little like rats.
We took a detour to see the view from Wadjemup lighthouse on Oliver Hill which was superb. Below this hill, the interior of the island was dotted with salt lakes and rolling hills, great fun to cycle down but not up. We then rode across to the less windy gentle northern side of the island. After nearly three hours of cycling and walking it was time to hit the beach for a spell. The sun emerged more and it was very relaxing lying on the beach for well over an hour. The sea was tried but proved to be just above freezing so swimming was ruled out. We then cycled back to the jetty for the return trip, having covered about 14km on the bikes.
It was a really enjoyable day and whilst not the sunniest, it was good for cool cycling. The ferry back was more turbulent but not uncomfortable. After the coach trip the day concluded with an amazing sunset again.
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