Day 7 (November 9)

At the Fremantle ferry terminal after getting back from Rottnest Island

We’re getting in the habit of getting up at 5:30 in the morning, due to the sun coming up around 5:00. This morning we just took our time packing up, as the ferry from Rottnest Island back to Fremantle wasn’t until 11:30 am.

While passing time waiting for the ferry, a group of local Perthers wandered by our fully loaded bikes and stopped to take a look. That lead to a conversation with us about what we’re doing, where we were going, etc. Then the conversation turned to the big topic of the day – the U.S. Presidential election, which was underway as we spoke. One of the fellows asked us if we had voted (we had) and then he asked us who we voted for (Clinton). His wife quickly admonished him, telling him not to ask strangers who they voted for (she obviously thought it was very impolite of him to ask). Then I told him I had just checked the early incoming results, and that Trump was ahead. He shook his head and said something to the effect of “I can’t believe he got to the position he’s in. I sure hope he doesn’t win”, and other non-Trump comments. All we could do was agree with him. It’s clear that Aussies dread the thought of Trump as President. I fully share their sentiments.

We boarded the ferry for the quick 30-minute trip back to Fremantle, then hopped on our bikes and officially began the real trip across Australia. The route took us some 30 kilometers easterly through Fremantle and the suburbs. Upon reaching the edge of town, we saw the first kangaroo road signs, followed by a long, steep climb up into the hills on the east side of Perth. Due to the lack of granny gears on my bike, I was moving only about 5 km/hr, while Mattie, behind me on her more hill-friendly bike, was cranking along with ease (at least it looked that way, compared to how much I was huffing and puffing). At one of our rest breaks, we ended up at a dirt side road which became our roadside campsite for the night. We cooked up some noodles and threw in some peas, mushrooms, and tuna, which made for a really nice meal after the long hill climb.

Cooking dinner at the end of a long hill climb

We still have a bit more climbing to do in the morning, and hopefully the terrain will start leveling out. We’re on Highway 40 heading east toward the town of Hyden, which will probably take the next six days or so.

And we still haven’t heard who won the election. My retirement fund is really hoping it was not Trump!

Posted by Scott