McCulloch Family Giant Leap: Back in the big smoke

Packing up in Albany saw us doing it in the rain for the first time this trip. Not bad really for just under six months of travelling. Mind you we got some done without rain but then it came down heavy, so our ponchos came out of their packet for the first time ever. Before we knew it we were hitched on and ready to go. We just had to wait another five to ten minutes as someone was hitching on, on the only road that was the exit to the park. Then they pulled up and blocked the driveway out as they hadn’t returned their swipe card (you didn’t need it to get out so I had returned ours earlier to prevent this).

Our trip up to Freemantle was a long one without not much happening at all. I guess that is how you like to have these long drives. We were sitting on our usual safe 90km/h and holding some people up every now and then but the road was good and had quite a few overtaking lanes. We also pulled over a few times to stretch our legs, eat and get some fuel. It is interesting and I should find out if it is a rule for all of WA roads, but whilst the road had a speed limit of 110km/h it also stated that anyone towing could not go over 100km/h. I thought that was probably a wise thing to have in place and not that many travel that fast but it is just an added safety feature.

Getting to our caravan park was a lot easier than I thought. I think I had these pictures of big freeways and missing exits, but really it was just like driving through Albany except a lot bigger. Checking into the caravan park was quite easy, and thankfully we got to our site with no dramas. The turn into the boom gate was quite tight for our long van but we managed it. Then there were the two pages of rules to read over, which of course involved no portable clothes lines. Honestly I don’t understand that rule, what is wrong with your own clothesline. So I went and spoke to the office as I really like to hang my towels outside to dry. Well it turns out our clothesline is fine but what they mean is the rope ones that people hang between their trees and people can’t see at night.

Free from the car.

Not a bad way to end the day.

Hamish taking it all in.

Life is tough.

So after setting up quite fast in the sunshine, and actually it was quite warm, we enjoyed an ice cream and a play on the playground. We also booked our car in for a minor service on Saturday and started to plan out our week a bit more. Then we headed out for a drive and checked out Coogee Beach before driving around Fremantle. The beautiful old buildings and streets look so cool and made us want to stop and have dinner out but we thought we should go home and have the leftovers we had and it would help out the budget. It was a definite decision that we were going to come back to Fremantle the next day to explore it more.

Streets in Fremantle.

Just a small section of this wonderful place.

Well we all certainly crashed to bed as obviously the big drive had taken it out of us, but at least it was a nice sleep, and I woke up just before six. At least I could get up and quietly type the blog and do a few things, but then my phone rang and thankfully I managed to grab it before it woke everyone else up. We were a bit slow going this morning as we wanted to get our trip to Rottnest Island booked. Trying to make a decision on what day was best whilst taking into account prices and weather was hard but eventually we managed to lock it in and buy our tickets.

Before we knew it we were hopping in the car to head out. The only problem was that Hamish had cut the back of his ankle the day before so all his shoes were hurting him. Our solution was to buy him a pair of thongs so on the way into Fremantle we came across a Reject shop and scored a bargain pair for a whole 50c. We did a few bad turns and held up traffic (a whole one car) at one stage. Hamish piped up from the backseat about what terrible drivers they are… of course we didn’t correct him, we were too busy laughing.

From there we kept driving to try and find the Fremantle Prison. Just as we were saying we had no idea where it was we just happen to come across a sign pointing left which led us right to the entrance. Talk about luck. That is when the confusion began. We arrived at the gates knowing what we wanted to buy. There was a lovely old gentleman there trying to help but I think he was a bit confused by what we wanted. So we went up to the main counter and he said we had to buy the package tickets at the Gift Store and it should be open soon. However he could sell us the tickets we wanted for Hamish (Kayla was free), so we bought them.

Then it was a matter of waiting for the gift shop to open. We asked someone and well apparently it opened at 10am, but the tour we wanted and the kids were booked on started at 10am. Hmm how on earth was that going to work and what if the tour the kids were on sold out before we got our tickets! In the end one of the guys sorted it out and the gift store opened early and sold us our tickets and sorted others who seemed to be just as confused as us. Apparently the guy on the main counter could sell us our tickets so I think they need to sort that out a bit better!

So off on the first tour we went. Hamish was well behaved but Kayla was not interested in staying still and the guide wasn’t keen for the kids to walk around – not even in the open massive courtyard or on the grass. Thankfully it was only 1 ½ hours and for the most of it Kayla was good, but I guess she just found it boring. Jason and I however loved it and found it so interesting seeing inside and learning all about the jail. Some of the stories that come out of there are very sad though and obviously there have been some very horrible people locked up in there.

The only time I want to see my son inside a prison.

Getting the low down on life inside.

Just in case anyone thought of jumping.

Some of the artwork inside one of the cells.

After the tour ended we had half an hour until the second tour commenced. I was wondering if we were going to regret having organised to do the two tours in quick succession with the kids but it was too late to turn back now. So in the spare time we had morning tea at their café before checking out some other exhibits before the bell was rung for our tour. Oh joy we had the same tour guide who didn’t really take me as a kid friendly kind of guy. Still I was determined we would succeed this time. Again Hamish was well behaved but Kayla still had her moments, but thankfully I managed to keep her entertained a fair chunk of the tour by getting her to draw pictures. Then she befriended another little girl and they had fun together.

Don't think you will be getting out of here fast.

The main chapel part.

Two escapees out the front.

Playing a bit of music in the mall.

The second tour was more about stories of prisoners escaping and I really enjoyed this one. We loved learning about all the successful breakouts and failed attempts. If anything you have to give them credit for thinking outside the box. Each time some new check would be put in place to stop it from happening again. Still some of them totally amazed me at how determined the guys were to break out and then the silly things or bad luck that saw them get captured again. Their claim is that no prisoner has ever escaped Fremantle Prison and not been captured and returned.

I don’t fully think this is a fair claim as one guy managed to escape, go interstate, marry, have kids and lead a very long life without ever doing wrong again (not even a parking fine). The only reason he was ever caught was because he applied for Centrelink in his old age and had cancer. If he had only applied for it a few months earlier the computer systems weren’t linked so he wouldn’t have come up that he was wanted in another state. So they had him extradited back to WA and of course due to his age and circumstances he was let off very lightly and didn’t even serve half of the 10 week sentence. Personally I think they only bought him back and went to the effort so they can make the claim that all prisoners that had escaped had been returned to the jail.

After this tour we thought we would head back down to the main part of Fremantle and go on the big ferris wheel that we had promised Hamish. This may have had a lot to do with him being well behaved! Unfortunately though it was not running today, so we did promise we would come back another day to do it. Instead we enjoyed lunch in the café by the park before letting the kids loose on the playground for a while. Kayla seemed to be getting more irritable so we decided to slowly make our way back via the beautiful old buildings. Not such a good idea as both kids were tired from all the walking in the morning so both wanted to sit in the pram.

So before things got too painful we headed back up to the Fremantle Prison where the car was parked and I took the kids back to the caravan for a rest. Jason was booked in for the tunnels tour so we left him there to enjoy. Thankfully the kids were exhausted so when I got back I just put on a movie for them and that seemed to entertain them for quite a while. It allowed me to get a few jobs done, plan dinner and catch up on a bit of washing. Mind you, part way into the wash it starts to rain so obviously not my best idea for the day.

Still it was a good afternoon and I managed to have the kids showered and fed dinner by the time we went to pick up Jason. This was realistically a secret plan that they might just fall asleep on the drive there and back but I was not in any luck at all. Fair enough really as it wasn’t even 7pm by the time we got home. Still they were tired and we managed to get them down at a reasonable time.

The next morning was cold. The condensation on the caravan walls certainly made you realise how much warmer it was in the van but we still didn’t feel the need to turn on the heater. The best thing of all was that it was a perfectly clear and beautiful day. So onwards in reducing the washing pile I went, which really is a slow process with a small washing machine. The plan was to meet with my sister and her family at 10am at the Aviation museum. We didn’t even know there was an aviation museum. This place just has so much to do.

I thought we were doing well for time and were going to get there before them, but they obviously did better and were already there when we got there. Hamish was so excited to see his cousin Madie again. The whole way there it was how much longer and how much further. This too can wear thin on a simple 16km journey. Still it was a fascinating place with all these old war planes and old aircrafts. They even have buttons with moving parts to keep the kids entertained and a few they can hop into and pretend they are flying. Again this is a place someone like my Dad could spend an entire day looking at and reading everything. With kids we managed to knock it over pretty fast but I think Jason and Sean could have stayed a lot longer.

Madie and Kayla having a photo.

Old refuelling truck.

Three hop in but Kayla bails fast.

Ready to go up in the air.

From there Jodi recommended Kings Park and we certainly loved that idea as I have only previously seen a part of it and thought it was spectacular so was certainly keen for Jason to see some of it to. Getting there was easy at the start but then we got separated from Jodi and Sean’s car and took the wrong turn. I apologise now to all the Perth residents for our weird turn around and slight hold up of traffic, but we managed to re-join the Connolly’s and then spent the next half an hour driving around trying to look for a carpark. Yep I am guessing because it was the first sunny day for a while combined with the fact it was school holidays, everyone had the same idea.

Kayla having fun in the pond.

Two cousins building a cubby.

Inside their house.

Kayla still in the water.

Still we walked down to one playground where there was a café and enjoyed a nice lunch whilst watching the kids play. I went and ordered lunch and as I was bringing it back I couldn’t see Hamish. I asked Jason where he was so I could get him to come and eat his lunch and Jason said down by the ship, which I knew he wasn’t as I had just come past there. After a proper five minute search we managed to find him in a playground up top, but gee I was worried for a minute.

After we had all filled up we headed to the Rio Tinto play area which is all about bringing the kids back to simple nature fun. Of course we didn’t find the first ten minutes fun as Hamish saw a tunnel and ran through it with some other kids and as he was coming out the other side I saw something black hit his back and fall off. I just assumed it was a football as it was quite large but when Hamish yelled our ‘hey’ and started to cry I realised it couldn’t have been. He ran back to me and when I saw his back I was mortified.

Some kid had thrown down a rock, which I am sure was not deliberate or intended for Hamish but still throwing a big rock over a tunnel kids are coming out of is stupidly dangerous. My first thought was how lucky Hamish was that it had not hit his head as that could have made it a lot worse, and then my next thought was where on earth are their parents to stop that happening. Surely if you were watching your kid and saw them lift a big rock you would tell them to put it down and then make your kid at least come and apologise. After a while Hamish settled down and happily went on to play in the water pond and then build a cubby out of the pile of sticks and rocks around.

Up the top of one of the towers.

Dancing on stage (Hamish did not want to).

We walked around the area a bit more before we had to leave as I had the 3:25pm tunnel tour of the Fremantle Prison. In the car Jason put into the navigator what he thought the general address was and off we headed. Thankfully as we were turning out of Kings Park I decided to check what time it would have us getting there and it was 11:56am… hmm why was it going to take so long. Then I realised it had over 3600km left on the journey. Whoops obviously we had picked the wrong Fremantle, so I quickly turned that off and we used my phone as I had the prison flagged in wiki camps so it could get us there directly.

The drive was really pretty and took us a totally different way which was nice. We are quickly realising we just can’t see this place in a week. You could spend a week in Fremantle alone. Jason dropped me off and then took the kids back to the caravan. Kayla was fast asleep which was good as poor Jason was feeling a bit off. I sat around and enjoyed an ice coffee in peace before my tour started. This tour goes for 2 ½ hours but a lot of it is spent getting all the gear on and the safety talks. It is odd doing a tour on your own as you don’t have anyone to share it with but still I met some lovely people.

I wasn’t sure how I would go with this tour as I had to climb down a ladder in big gumboots and then walk through tunnels (bent over as they aren’t that high). In the end it was fine and I wasn’t the slightest bit worried. My back got a little sore with all the bent over walking and I actually for once wished I was shorter but that didn’t last long. When you hop in the boats and paddle around it was really cool and then when they turn out all the lights and get you to paddle in the dark, it is scary and funny at the same time.

I really did enjoy this different perspective and insight into the history. The only thing I was slightly disappointed in was that due to us running late the tour guide had to walk whilst talking at some points. As it is only single file and I was down the back, this meant I really couldn’t hear what he was saying. This wasn’t his fault as we had to wait for two latecomers so our tour was a little late starting so we had to make up the time somewhere but maybe when you purchase the tickets they should say that you need to be there ten minutes prior to the tour starting so all paperwork can be completed. You need to sign away your life and have a breathe test, so no pub visit before this tour! Okay you can have a beer; you just need to be below the legal driving limit.

At the end of this tour I text Jason to see how he was, as if he wasn’t still feeling well we were going to swap around our night tour times. Luckily he had managed to also have a nap and was feeling better so was happy for me to stay and do the first night tour and then he would meet me and swap over and do the later one. I had 45 minutes to fill in between tours, so I couldn’t get down into Fremantle for dinner and back again so just had basic lemonade and packet of chips for dinner as the café didn’t look like it was serving meals. I also popped into the bookstore and got a new book to read and some fun stuff for the kids (and big kids). Of course Hamish got a forensic kit right… oh my love of CSI is coming through there.

I can honestly say whilst I have loved all four of the tours I did at Fremantle, this one was my favourite. Definitely a wise idea not to bring young kids on this tour. Well unless you want to be up with them having nightmares for the next month or so. I don’t want to give it away but again we went to a few different parts of the jail, heard different stories and they had some moment where it made people jump. Seeing the face on one young kid was priceless. I just hope he was okay last night and slept well. Our tour guide was brilliant and really made it.

The main building at night.

Yep still not going to get out.

Shadows of those on the tour.

Lashes (well the shadow of it).

Then once the tour was over I hot footed it to the carpark where Jason was waiting with the kids. Both kids were still very much awake (bummer) so we quickly swapped over as his tour started in 15 minutes and I went home with the kids. They didn’t fall asleep so we watched a movie, but again they didn’t fall asleep. Golly gosh kids, mum is exhausted and it is 10pm, how can you not be asleep! So I sent them to bed and just made they go to sleep. Hamish obliged thankfully but Kayla took some more convincing. Apparently she had a long sleep in the afternoon. Eventually she crashed, pretty much just before Jason got home.

Well after such a late night we were certainly in no rush to do much the next day. Also we had set it aside to catch up on a few jobs that we had been putting off and really needed to be done. So I went through the massive pile of mail that Jodi had been keeping for us. Obviously there were some exciting things like new clothes for Kayla and I and then the boring stuff of school books. Still I was excited that they weren’t as heavy this term and could easily fit them into the cupboard. Hamish was super excited too as there were heaps of awards and treats from his first term work. I then also put them all in the folder ready to go and started reading through the first few lessons.

From there it was food shopping, getting oil for the car and just general banking of the kid’s money and posting some mail. All in all it really wasn’t an exciting morning out at all. In the afternoon we headed out to Cottesloe Beach to see what it was like and just to get out and see something for the day. It is funny, as it was a nice beach but I imagined the area to be more upmarket then what it came across as. For some reason I pictured lots of place to eat with expensive clothes stores but it wasn’t like that at all. Instead it was nice and had a relaxed casual feel about it.

Hamish enjoying a play on the beach.

Kayla bringing back her goodies.

The surf club.

Looking back down from the carpark.

We stayed there for a while but eventual we headed back home as we hadn’t taken the sunshade down or anything so it was a bit hot in the sun. Kayla fell asleep on the way home from the beach which meant we were in for another late night which we really weren’t keen on as we wanted an early night with a big day at Rottnest ahead of us.

We already knew that a week in Perth really wasn’t going to cut it, but we weren’t sure if we would move north of the city or not for the second week. In the end we decided that it was just going to be easier to stay in the one place the entire time so we booked in for another week. That will take us up until the end of the ANZAC long weekend before we start our trek north. It also gives us plenty of time to see everything here without rushing, especially with school starting back up next week.

I decided I would start doing a school session with Hamish but half way through I realised I was on unit 8 which wasn’t right as we were only up to unit 6. Whoops. Oh well, back to the right one we went and completed a session. It is great when you can relate the work back to your trip or you can see future things that we are doing which will re-enforce what he is learning on the road.