Australia just don't want us to go...technical problem with the aircraft, after 2 hours delay still working on it...what can you do...i guess waiting is the only option and we do hope we don't miss our connection flight in Dubai... Finally after 21/2 hours problem solved and off we are ...bye bye Australia, Dubai here we come... Once landed in Dubai they drive us by bus at the terminal ,where we first think we'll never make it for our connection flight to Brussels...but no worries to pass security check and after a ten miles run we just make it on board ...who said flying is so peaceful???...never mind and lucky the departure was delayed with 45 minutes... Take off flight EK 183 Dubai-Brussels and around 13h30 we land, after a lovely flight with clear views , at Brussels Airport...where another surprise is waiting for us. Our luggage didn't make it and is still in Dubai, got to registrar this at the lost and found desk at the airport... THE END!!!!!! To all who followed this blog, thanks a lot, and I hope for those who are thinking about it to travel to Australia our New Zealand it can be helpful ...see you mates
A special day to leave Australia, ANZAC day... the day the Australians remember there boys that died in World War I &II, Vietnam, Irak and Afghanistan. We attempted 100 years of ANZAC service in North Beach at dawn...never seen so much people together here in Australia...The spirit lives " They went with songs to the Battle, They were young Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow They were staunch to the end, against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe They shall grow not old, as We that are left grow old Age shall not weary Them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember Them " Next, a Head girl of North Beach Primary school reads "In Flanders Fields" so it goes right to our harts...
Out of nothing sounds "The Last Post" , a bugle call that signals the end of the day, it symbolizes that the duty of the dead is over and that they can rest in peace...
After this beautiful ceremony, we walk back at Katrien's place for a nice breakfast and a walk along Trigg Beach and the Bush...A marvelous sunny day doesn't make it easy to pack and get ready to go to the airport to catch our plane at 22h10 to Dubai, 11 hours flight Belgium, watch out ...here we come
This is it...on our way at West Coast Honda Motors in Joondalup , trying to get the best prices for "Katrien" and "Edda"....After hard negotiations we agree on a fair price and have to let go our two girls who gave us so much pleasure and fun...With some tears in our eyes we see them drive off ...next job , drop off "Coco II" at the Perth Branch...all done and ready to leave this amazing most wonderful country... We invited Edda and Andrew, Katrien and Lawrence for a farewell dinner at Amaretto's and so lovely to spend a last evening all together...no need to say we closed the restaurant and even the waitresses had so much fun with our table.
Early this morning we're present for the men's final surf...but nothing happens and when the organization announce the final is cancelled today...we have another look at the waves , and get on the road back to Trigg. Last ride today, so we enjoy our ride through the Winston hills and it is quite cold, only 18 degrees...so cold that we have to warm us up at the fireplace in the pub where we have lunch... We get jammed in traffic around Perth and arrive with sunset at Katrien's ....and now there is no more doubt..."Katrien" is the global winner that survived the whole trip 24069 km...well done!!!! and if there is a winner there's always a loser, in this case two...lol... Katrien cooked us a lovely Spaghetti Bolognese and Edda made a delicious fruitcake for her son Ben's 19th Birthday...we spent a lovely evening together with heaps of laughs... Tomorrow , some serious business left...in the morning we return the bikes and try to get a good price back for them , in the afternoon we have to say goodbye to our homie "Coco II"....now it is getting really at its end...
World Surf League Margaret River
Quindanning Pub
Cosy at the fireplace
The cast
The winners on"Katrien" with Katrien
The losers on "Edda" with Edda
My 2 lovely nieces Edda&Katrien
but who's the luckiest one????
Ben blowing the candles for his 19th birthday, lovely cake mom...
Nannup - Margaret River Prevelly Surfers point 109 km
Straight to Margaret River today for the women finals World League Surf at Surfers Point...guess what...indeed as we arrive it's already finished....but tomorrow morning ....if the waves are ok men's final... We have a walk at the place where it all happens and some young surfers are showing their tricks and moves .... Time for lunch and what a luxury, first siesta in Australia...followed by a walk along the coast... Sunset at surfers point is gorgeous ...our last dinner in the motorhome...and last night...tomorrow we drive back to Trigg and Friday we return Coco II and the bikes to fly back to Belgium on Saturday...
As on Wednesday the finals of the World Championships Surf are held in Margaret River at Surfers Point and we're here at the right time we would like to see those young surfers trying to be the best on huge waves....so we decide to skip our first idea to go to Denmark. Instead we head along the coastline, with a short stop at Hamelin Bay, for Augusta , Flinders Bay and Cape Leeuwin, Australia's most South West point with it's nice Lighthouse and coastal scenery's... We leave the coast behind us and drive to Pemberton, timberland and gateway to the Karri National Park with it's big trees...In front of us the Gloucester tree , 61 m high and 139 iron steps leading all the way to the top of the tree...Luc and I are so brave and make it to the top with a amazing view over the National Park.... our initials are written forever at the top...back with our 2 feeds on the ground we sign the book of climbers... From Pemberton it goes by little hilly and windy roads to Nannup, our final destination for the day, located 67 km East of Margaret River. During a walk over Blackwood River bridge we see a floater, marking the hight of the river in flood seasons, 1910 the record year with the river that raised more 10 m....Nannup is also well known for its Nannup Totems, originally Aboriginal Totems... And it has a superb tennis court, so Martin and I have another go....
We finished our roundtrip to soon, so we treated ourself with a mini trip to South West Australia... As i speak , the world championships surf are running in Margaret River, so let's have a look ...Fremantle is very quiet , there must have been a big celebration yesterday after they won the derby...coffee break at Mandurah and Mandora Bay...a walk on the 2k long jetty of Busselton and a big walk at Cape Naturaliste to the lookouts Bunker Bay and Eagle Bay, to end the day at Margaret River, a region well known for it,s wines and surf beaches...The countdown has started ...only 5 days left in this beautiful country....
Sunday lazy day starts with a walk on Trigg Beach , a nice autumn day brought all people at the beach, swimming,surfing,sunbathing...whatever...under a blue sky and lovely 26 Celsius... After a good walk, Lawrence picks us up for a tennis game ...Lawrence and me against Luc and Martin...after a 2hours hard game ,Lawrence and me are the official winners ....I guess we were lucky... In the afternoon we're expected at Edda and Andrew to watch the Derby Australian Football between West Coast Eagles, Katrien's favorite team and the Fremantle Dockers,Edda's favorite team....so not easy to choose a side...it takes's 4 quarters of 30 minutes , and a very hard game...Well sorry Katrien, but this time the Fremantle Dockers are the best...Some friends of Edda and drop by, Alan and Julie and Peter and Julie and we all had a nice evening together with a delicious pork shoulder signed cooked by Edda...well done...
This morning Luc and Martin drive of to Joondalup West Motors to pick up "Edda" , at 11.00 am Katrien Luc and me have a appointment with Phil the Chiropractor for some little adjustments in the back and neck... Back home chez Katrien, we have a lovely sunny lunch and in the afternoon Katrien is so kind to give us her car to drive to Perth, where we have a big walk in Kings Park, visit Bells Tower and some nice views over the mighty Swan River, called the Dreaming Snake... On special request from Katrien, so everybody is sure and there is no confusion...."Katrien is the winner" ole, ole ole.... Martin our master cook surprises us again with a super BBQ....hmmmm
Check in Perth Airport
Boarding flight EK 183 Dubai-Brussels
Take off Dubai Airport
Bye bye Dubai
nice air view
and another one
Tired and a last job, claim back our luggage ,still in Dubai!!!!!
Australia just don't want us to go...technical problem with the aircraft, after 2 hours delay still working on it...what can you do...i guess waiting is the only option and we do hope we don't miss our connection flight in Dubai...
It's time to go home...
Bye Katrien and Edda
Total distance done 24108 km
Isn't she lovely , Edda
Martin in 7th heaven
Farewell dinner at Amaretto's
World Surf League Margaret River
Quindanning Pub
Cosy at the fireplace
The cast
The winners on"Katrien" with Katrien
The losers on "Edda" with Edda
My 2 lovely nieces Edda&Katrien
but who's the luckiest one????
Ben blowing the candles for his 19th birthday, lovely cake mom...
It has been a great trip
Surfer on a big wave
South West Coastline
Just love it
Rough sea
Main break
Sunset @Surfers Point
Last dinner
Hamelin Bay
Water Wheel Cape Leeuwin
Lighthouse Cape Leeuwin
Riding on the rocks@Cape Leeuwin
Flinders Bay
Climbing to the top 89 steps to go...
@the top of Gloucester Tree 61m
Our initials forever at the top
On a Karri Tree
Whinston Hills
Welcome Pemberton Karri Country
Beedleup swingbridge
Nannup Floodtree
Nannup Totems
Mandora Bay
Mandurah
Catching up with the locals
Busselton Jetty
2 km is a long way!!!!
Cape Naturaliste
Autumn Sunday @ Trigg Beach
Enjoying a zip of wine with Edda and Julie
and Katrien
Katrien loves "Katrien"
Kings Park
Perth Skyline
