Tour today out of Perth and going south. It was a long day but the tour company did try and pack in a lot to see even if that meant we had maybe 15 minutes at some places, 20 minutes at another with a maximum time at any one spot of 45 minutes. Still, we learned some things and got to see some cool stuff and got to stand at the end of the continent, right where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet.
Our first stop was the Xanadu Winery to taste wines. A very different experience from the wine tasting I had a Massandra Winery in Yalta. Today we stood at the bar and got just a splash in our glass before moving on to the next wine and all 8 wines were tasted and completed in 20 minutes. Whew. back on the bus - hurry, hurry.
A picnic lunch at the Heritage Eagle Center. The brochure did say a picnic lunch but I had no idea they meant it so literally The bus driver actually had the food with him and we just circled around it and grabbed a plate and sat in the center to eat. A quick run past 5 cages before lunch which held raptors who have been disabled so they cannot return to the wild. The cutest were the little boobook owls. Then down the path to the flying demonstration where those who wanted, could have a black kite sit on their hand. As I had a wonderful raptor on my hand last week, I just took photos today. Finally, the caretaker had 4 black kites flying in to grab food out of the air. quite magnificent birds.Quickly back on the bus and drive, drive, drive to Mammoth Cave.
Boobook Owl
It was a nice cave and quite active but it was a quick walk in, a quick walk out, then back on the bus and drive, drive, drive through the Karri Forest. These trees are only 150 years old but look to be maybe 100 feet tall. This is not virgin forest because the virgin forest had trees of 400 and 500 years old before the forest was leveled for settlers and for the lumber. Now they are protected and have been growing just 150 years. I'm going to have to go back and see them when they are 500 years old. haha
Back on the bus to reach our furthest destination which was Cape Leeuwin, the southwesternly most point of Australia. This is where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. It is a beautifully isolated spot of land surrounded by bush and rocks and ocean. sometimes you can see whales migrating past but we were not so lucky today. Sometimes you can also find tiger snakes in the tall grass too and nobody put that to a test. A lovely lonely spot of world where you can see the blue sky and blue ocean and imagine sailing away to Antartica.
One more run to Busselton where we had preordered our dinners and ran into the restaurant for a quick eat then out to gaze at the 2 kilimeter pier which is being repaired so we couldn't go on it, not that we would have had the time anyway. We did get some sunset photos though. Then finally back on the bus for the run back to Perth. Whew. A very long day but good to see.
More Pictures
Black Kites flying
Karri forest
Leeuwin Lighthouse
sunset over Indian Ocean
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