LIfe in Fremantle

Just thought we'd check in...

I've managed to escape the polishing by promising to update the blog.  I also thought that if I sat close to the bar, someone would take pity on a poor and dirty bear and provide alcoholic beverage.  No luck thus far.

Perth has such terrific weather.  I mentioned this in our previous post, but every day is so pleasant here.  Obviously if you are a plant, you'd be best adapted to longish periods of drought, but the sun just keeps on shining.  Yesterday we went to Dwellingup to find a few more things in the shed and give the young fruit trees a drink.  It hasn't rained since we've been home, just over a month now.

Speaking of plants, Chris is attempting to garden on Basanti.  Not the Bonsai this time, he is being well looked after by Phil's mum.  We now have basil, corriander, dill and parsley growing, and the basil is doing so well that it is a frequent addition to our meals.  Perhaps she should try something really useful, like grapes or sugar cane.

We are still all in a state of shock at Perth prices.  A couple of friends from Melbourne visited this week, and they too commented on how expensive everything is here.  Much to my chagrin, Chris and Phil are limiting my red wine consumption...citing not only a few embarassing incidents with a tipsy bear, but the cost of my favourite vice as well.  Gone are the good old days...

We have spent a couple of weeks over at Rottnest Island which is just brilliant.  Crystal clear water, lots of sun (of course) and some like minded friends made for interesting morning teas, animated happy hours and some intense card games late into the evenings.  We are really happy to be back on our boat.  Thought I had some photos but they seem to be currently unavailable...will have to add them at a later time.

I was going to finish off this post with some examples of Perth prices for things, but maybe I should compile a better list...or maybe I just shouldn't.  Don't want to discourage visitors...

Return to Fremantle

By this time you probably know that we made our way back to Fremantle on January 11.

What an epic adventure we've had in the US and a little bit of Canada thrown in as well.  We drove 34,000 miles through 38 states and 2 provinces and I am so glad we posted this blog if for no other reason than having an ongoing pictoral record of our many activities.

Since our previous post in December, we spent Christmas with friends and family in Florida.  Next we drove up to Annapolis, Maryland and stayed in our friend's beach house which was a real treat.  We celebrated the New Year with family and friends there and then headed back to Culpeper, Virginia.

Our last week in Culpeper was hectic.  We were trying to sell our lovely RV, phone or visit people for last minute catch ups and pack all our things for the flights home.  Where did all that stuff come from??!   When we were packed up and ready to fly home in June 2012, our four checked bags were all under 50 lbs each (50 lbs or 23 kg is the limit).  This time we had two additional bags and when we first weighed them all, several needed lightening.  Believe it or not, we even left quite a bit of stuff behind, kindly being stored by Pat.  There seemed to be some questions regarding me!  Was I even going to be included in the trip home??  Eventually they stuffed me into my little bag with some cutlery and odd items and honestly, I guess I was kind of relieved.  Uncomfortable as hell, but relieved.

At Dulles airport, we loaded our 6 bags totalling 300 lbs (138 kg) of checked baggage onto the scale at the Emirates check in.  Chris explained to the ticketing agent that we had some difficulty choosing our seats (economy) on the website.  When we were through with all the formalities, and she handed our boarding passes to us, she'd upgraded Phil and Chris to Business Class for the flight from Washington DC to Dubai.  Thirteen hours of pure bliss...pass the Moet please. 

We arrived at Perth airport and artfully arranged all those bags in the small rental car and then drove to our boat, Basanti.  Good to be home...really nice in fact.  Fremantle is blessed with awesome weather...hot, sunny and dry and we are lapping it up.  We've caught up with so many friends and family.  We spent a couple of days with family near Busselton and we've sailed over to Rottnest Island for week.

Basanti was surprisingly clean and tidy but needs some TLC.  Already we've spent hours polishing stainless steel, varnishing, cleaning out storage lockers and polishing the deck and topsides, but now she is looking sharp and when she gets her new dodger and mainsail cover fitted she'll glow.  We'll keep you all up to date on our plans and our next adventure.

It has taken me a while to recover from my remarkably uncomfortable flights home.  I seemed to have a fork digging into my thigh most of the time and someones huge Samsonite settled on my neck there in the baggage section.  Glad Phil and Chris enjoyed their fully reclining seats, pillows and mattresses for 13 hours.  I have a few more posts from our last travels along the east coast of the US, and if they ever stop using me to polish the boat, I'll get those done.