Vicquilter: AUSTRALIA ~ Busselton

We had 2 sea days between Adelaide and Busselton. Fortunately the weather finally improved enough to walk the Promenade Deck. Unfortunately there is not quite a promenade deck on this ship. On the higher decks there is a short roundabout but it is necessary to go through doors into and out of the basketball court. I just did not want to handle possibly germ laden door handles! So I ended up going back and forth, enjoying the warm sunshine and the music on my phone. On the promenade deck one can walk partway up and down one side only and much of it is narrow so is not convenient to walk it when there are other walkers.

Busselton is a small town just 2.5 hour drive south of Perth, it is overwhelmed by the cruise ships that swell their population. There is a long pier, at 1.8 kms it is the longest timbered jetty in the southern hemisphere. Our ship anchored out in the bay and passengers were tendered to the pier. There is transport from the tender the short distance to the edge of downtown. From there one can catch a free Hop On Hop Off bus around the town.

Keith was not eligible to catch the tender ~ no mobility scooters permitted ~ so without him, Mom and I set out early to beat the heat. We walked along the waterfront enjoying the creative play area complete with pirate ship.

We stopped and talked to a few locals who all raved about the wonderful lifestyle of residing in this isolated corner of Australia. There were many cyclists, dog walkers and families enjoying the area. I have to say that this was the friendliest place by far of anywhere that I have traveled.

Time to remove our shoes and enjoy a walk on the beach.

The water is clean and warm enough.

Yet another Australian Pied Cormorant

We talked to this group of 4 friends that swim regularly in the sea. There is a roped off section that is safe from predators... or is it?

"Whilst the City of Busselton makes every reasonable attempt to ensure your safety at this location, there remains the possibility that marine species may enter the enclosure.

Your safety is your responsibility.

Entry to the water, at or in, the beach enclosure is at your own risk."

YIKES!

We wandered into town...

Many women had very difficult lives in early Australia.

It was still early but getting very hot. We cooled down in this little art gallery for a while and invested in some art cards. A few artists were busy creating in the back room so I was able to ask questions and appreciate their art in progress.

Mom and I finally found where to catch the Hop On Hop Off Bus, it only took 20 minutes to tour the entire town. We were let off near the jetty and Mom decided she had enough and that it was getting too hot. She took the transport back to the tender and I headed back into town to check out a quilt store that had been mentioned on the bus tour.