Freo (Fremantle)

After a bad night (gusts of wind) and a 16-degree cold morning with swirling drizzle, we were a little tired of camping and booked a hotel room for the first time. The entrance to the garage was a bit tricky, especially if you don't know the exact height of your car. We couldn't get to the hotel parking spaces and parked Toni next to other campers. Then we enjoyed the hotel's amenities with a fitness room, indoor pool, whirlpool, and a huge room with a view of the Swan River. After countless camping showers, showering without flip-flops felt like pure wellness!

Since the weather was still a bit changeable, we went to Perth Zoo. Except for the wombat, practically all animals were on display. A beautiful zoo with spacious enclosures that are designed beautifully.

After thousands of kilometers on the west coast, we wanted to spend some time in Freo and checked back into the campsite for four more nights. Since many people start or end their trips at this campsite, there are always unexpected finds from other campers. For example, there were two deep-sea fishing rods! The next day, we visited a fishing tackle shop. Jacob could tell from our lack of knowledge when we entered the store and immediately gave us various fishing lessons. Lesson 1 = equipping the fishing rod, Lesson 2 = knots for hooks and bait, Lesson 3 = casting and retrieving a caught fish. After that, there were still the 'silliest' questions that beginner anglers usually have. For example, which fish can I eat? Or do I need a license? Or what do I do when I catch a fish? Where and how do I kill my fish? With the answers to all these questions and equipped with bait, we set off very motivated. First, we went to a secluded beach to practice casting techniques. Jacqueline's first cast was perfect, as it landed in the water after 5m. Martin's first cast was a total disaster as the entire fishing line got tangled in the reel. After taking apart the reel and doing enough dry rehearsals, we felt ready to fish! We went to the recommended North Mole, where other anglers were also present. With bait on the hooks, we skillfully cast our fishing lines. Not even two seconds later, there was already a tug on Martin's fishing line. After bringing the fish ashore, we were a bit overwhelmed. We were worried that the fish would suffocate before Jacqueline could identify it with the app. The app told us that we could take this fish and eat it. So we moved on to the next steps. Fortunately, Martin had acquired the knowledge of how to gut and fillet fish from YouTube the night before. Armed with a Victorinox knife, he went to work. The fish tasted excellent pan-fried with onions and garlic. Since we survived the night without any stomachaches or other complaints, we now consider ourselves official anglers!

Well-rested, laundry done, and breakfast eaten, we decided to spend the afternoon in Freo. During many pleasant conversations with Australians, we were invited to go on a boat tour. We couldn't say no to that and went to Mandurah the next day. With Judy and Marry, we had a wonderful morning on the boat with fish and chips! Thank you so much for this lovely time!! What could be better than ending this perfect day with a round of golf.

Tomorrow, we sadly have to return Toni, but we are looking forward to four more days in Perth.