Back to the hotel and the free bikes. We all had 'Giant' mountain bikes. For those who don't know, that doesn't mean they belong to a 30 foot high mythical creature or are enormous bikes, too big to be ridden but are in fact made by a company called 'Giant'!
The bikes were quite good, Calum loved his, Jen's was good although Les's front wheel was slightly buckled! We all had to wear helmets (a legal requirement in Australia) and Calum found three that 'fitted' us. Jen's was so loose (and couldn't be altered) that every time she shook her head it fell to the back of her head, looking like a giant grey mushroom growing out of her neck.
Off we went to find Kings Park. We had read the reviews in the leaflets and had seen an advert on the plane and it looked fab.
We knew it was somewhere behind the hotel but were not sure how we got into it. We cycled along the roadside/riverside until we found a flight of stairs heading up the hill behind us. We knew the park was somewhere at the top and so decided (influenced by Calum) to carry the bikes up the stairs. As we started we were met by a nice young couple who has just come down the stairs. They advised us it was probably not a good idea as the stairs go on and on and on and get steeper and steeper.
Well, you know us, not to be deterred, off we went. Now if you can imagine walking up the stairs at Leigh Hill, carrying a heavy mountain bike in the hot sun you are somewhere close to imagining what it was like!
The reward at the top certainly made up for the effort. The views were spectacular of the city and the bay. Kings Park is also the memorial gardens for all the Western Australian men and women killed in action since 1914. It is by far the most magnificent memorial we have ever seen. Unfortunately due to being on bikes we didn't have the camera with us so we're going to drive up tomorrow to take some pictures.
The park itself is huge. It goes on for miles and is a great ride for bikes with paths for bikes, pedestrians or both. As you go around there are view points and children's playgrounds, picnic areas or just places to sit and watch the world go by. You are not encouraged to go off the beaten track and we sussed out this is probably to do with snakes etc.
After the ride it was back to the hotel, lock up the bikes and off into to city for food.
The best way into the city is via the free bus service. They have three free routes called Red, Yellow and Blue and the busses are called 'Cats' (we haven't worked out why yet!). The Blue Cat passes the hotel and goes on a loop passing all the places in the city you might wish to visit. It's a great idea and there is a bus every 15 minutes.
Into the city for food. Don't know what to say really. We walked up and down the road trying to decide what we fancied. Nothing sprung out at us. Les got approached by a tramp, obviously drunk and wanting money. He managed to avoid giving him any!
Eventually we decided on Pizza which because it was so warm we ate alfresco.
We met the chef who was Italian and the Pizza was superb. It might be expensive to eat here but you do get huge portions.
When we sat to eat, we didn't notice that on the opposite side of the road was a sleeping nightclub/bar. During the meal, this came to life 'thump, thump, thump' went the music. We found it quite funny really. We also noticed a short distance away a nightclub with bouncers on the door and many, many scantily clad women going in and out. They all seemed to be having a great time, laughing and joking and even wandered over to our restaurant to laugh with the customers. Needless to say Les found this very distracting and totally unnecessary (yeah, right). It culminated in a young girl who obviously worked there and was wearing a Ann Summers type maid outfit wandering over to the Pizza restaurant, apologising to us and then walking up the steps into the restaurant (where she was obviously known) and showing us her naked hips and buttocks.
After the meal we had to stand outside the nightclub whilst waiting for the Blue Cat. Whilst waiting a van pulled up and the doors opened at the side to reveal it to be fitted in luxury with a huge flat screen TV in the back and approximately 10 girls rolled out for a hen night. What a great idea for a van!
Back to the hotel and off to sleep, another great day was had by all!
More soon
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