There are a number of things we did and saw that I haven’t got around to reporting on whilst on this trip to and from Perth. On the way over we pulled into a roadside stop , to be confronted by someones nightmare….
Aren’t you glad it wasn’t yours!
Whilst finally in Perth and amongst other things, we revisited the Perth Mint. This is a magical place, full of history but now turned into an upmarket jewellery retailers dazzling jewel cave – we struggled to pay the entry fee let alone buy anything on offer. And its not just gold. However we did get a guided tour and interesting it was, particularly watching the gold smelting display….
forming a gold bar weighing a few kilograms (I can’t remember how many) which then gets melted down again for the next show. Interesting to note that some 51kgs of gold comes into the Perth Mint from Kalgoorlie every day and is refined here (but not where we were watching).
The building houses some fascinating gold exhibits and itself is a beautiful old building….
How about slipping that gold dollar into your pocket!
I can’t remember whether we saw this going or coming, but I loved it nonetheless…
and with an election now imminent perhaps its time to release the load.
This wasn’t the trip of dreams – we covered the same ground as we did in 2013, by and large experienced nothing new, had dreadful health issues and the worst possible weather. Whilst it was great to see the Webbers again our own health issues kept us separated for most of the time that we were with them. I think to that the caravan was not the same experience as the Winnebago – we were special in the Winnie but just “joe average” in the van. The van didn’t really get tested – we changed out to get the ability to experience more “outback/offroad” adventure but failed to do any on this trip. I also think that perhaps we may never again get to do what the van had been intended to do ie get seriously off road, cos we are now 5 years older and feeling the advance of old age. I don’t know what 2025 holds in the way of new adventures but one thing is for sure – we will head north this year for the winter and spend as much time as possible in the sun. This may mean sitting in one or two places for weeks on end just being warm and together. We’ll see!