Monday 2^nd April, 2012

After the final common breakfast Sandra accompanied us to Auto Barn. Here Dominik rented the a camper. The instructions were much extensive and kinder than with Apollo. After we drove to the hostel to get our luggage. So we could start towards the south. First we drove to Rockingham. Here it rained so we just went shopping and continued. In Mandurah we went to the tourist information to learn what we could visit. There was nothing we found interest in so we continued driving. At Lake Clifton we stopped to see the thrombolites. This are algae and bacterias which grow together a kind of rock (living rocks). Unfortunately it started also to rain and so we fast returned to the camper. Then we followed a scenic road to Bunbury and looked there for a camping. As it was only before 5pm we walked a bit along the beach and did some sightseeing in the town. We hope that we weather will improve and that it will not rain all the time.

Friday 2^nd March, 2012

We soon left Perth and followed the highway towards the south. We wanted to go to the sea. After passing big industrial facilities we came to Rockingham. A bit ahead of the town we stopped and enjoyed a walk along the sea. From there we could see a grain terminal where grain was pumped into big cargo vessels. In Rockingham we soon went to the tourist information to find out about accommodation possibilities. We got a list and the information that it might be a bit difficult as in Western Australia there is a long weekend due to Labour Day. First we walked to a nearby Motel and asked, but without success. We called different places, all booked out. But the first Bed&Breakfast we called had still some free accommodation. With the certainty of having a bed in Rockingham we went to the quay of the ferry to Penguin Island. Here we booked a tour for tomorrow. More I do not want to tell yet. As it was only early afternoon, we walked around Lake Richmond. It look a bit far, but after 40 minutes we were around. In the lake there were many pelicans, some were also flying. At the lake there were also thromolites. They are algae and bacteria which together grow to kind of rock (living rocks). At one point at the shore there were many information panels explaining the landscape and its formation. Also the animals living here were introduced. I realised that the snakes here can get up to two metres long. As we checked-in to the B&B we saw the same white parrots as yesterday. I was astonished that they also could raise their head feathers like cockatoos. We drove to Peron Point to watch the sunset. Unfortunately there were clouds hiding the sun, so we thought that there is no sunset, but just before it touched the sea, there was a hole in the clouds and so we still got to see a nice sunset.