Photos

Perth and surrounds, Western Australia
28 May - 1 June, 2008

	It is true that I applied for a job in Perth but that was before I got the job to write a book on New Zealand water. So I told the Perth office I couldn't say yes without seeing the place and I might not be able to say yes after. They said come take a look and see what you think. This is my three day look (with one day's travel to and one day's travel back to New Zealand).
	Collie is a coal mining town, about 2 hours southeast of Perth. You wouldn't think so but I kind of like mining areas and coal in particular because I understand it from growing up as a kid around me. Neat Victorian buildings that you see in other inland towns as well--a world away from modern, shiny Perth.
	A view of the Collie landscape. This isn't dramatic stuff and I would be pleased to have moved on from it if I were from here. But everybody's gotta be somewhere. My work, if I take the job, would work with agricultural salinity caused by clearing the lands for bush to grow wheat.
	After two days in the office and touring the southern wheatbelt area, I woke early Saturday to drive south. I stopped to photograph downtown Perth with morning cyclists out for a ride. Cycling is very popular and lycra is de rigueur Sunday morning attire.
	A view from downtown Perth, looking down the Swan River toward Freemantle.
Between leaving Perth and arriving in Bunbury was a hellacious rainfall. I was too busy trying to spot the road to take any photos. The greatest, loudest thunder I had seen since being in the U.S. 15 years ago and ecstatic lightning.
	So I arrived in Bunbury, two hours south of Perth, in a more bush area. And my first stop was the local surf club. Wherever I live, I expect to be active in the surf club to have a place to store my surf ski and kayak.
	Bunbury beach, looking north (as if that mattered).
	Basalt along Burnbury Beach. This is interesting stuff because the swells hit the basalt and send waves running back to sea. This means that surfers surf out to sea.
	Me, on the basalt rocks along the beach. I explored this area for an hour, looking about the basalt pools, blow holes, and mild water temperatures for winter.
	Bunbury lighthouse. Every town should have one of these!
	Bunbury harbour. You can still see a bit of the aftermath of the stormy weather that blew through.
	I drove back to Perth Saturday evening and checked into a hotel on the sea, Cottlesloe Beach. I had read about all these beaches before I visited. I woke early Sunday morning for a long walk along this beach and returned for a swim. How can winter water be so warm? Day temperatures were always above 20C, which is about 70F.
	If you look closely at that flesh-coloured stick at the right side of the photo, you will see a swimmer's arm doing laps along the shore. Between the swimmer and the distant ships at sea are surf skis. I paddle a surf ski back in Napier. Paddling year round on warm seas seems too good to be fair. And this reminds me. When I swam out into the surf, wearing my goggles, I was startled to see the bottom in the very clear water. In New Zealand I swim about unable to see much and being happily separated from other life in the sea. I'm not sure I like seeing what's under me. I've commented before how a person changes interest with time--once mountains were so important and now the sea takes so much of my imagination.
	A closer photo of Cottlesloe surf lifesaving club. Actor Heath Ledger was from Perth and his memorial service was held on this beach about a month ago.
	The is the same Cottlesloe surf lifesaving club, which also doubles as cafe or something. It is called Indiana, which has nothing to do with the U.S. Midwest state except it and India were named after eastern Indians.
	Later Sunday I stopped off at King's Park in downtown Perth. Enormous Park, about the same size as New York city's Central Park.
	View of Perth along the Swan River, from King's Park.
	This walkway goes along tree tops in Kings Park. You can see Perth City is just around the park.
	I don't know what this plant is called, but it is an Australian native. This also lives in the park. And after having done this, I drove out to the airport and sat around waiting for my return flight to Napier and cooler temperatures and my familiar home.

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