Perth here we come

With our market bargains packed away we head back on the highway for Perth. There is so much we could do on the way and after much debate and discussion we decide to head inland for a town called Gingin. No, there is no distillery there but rather the AIGO and the GDC. The Australian International Gravitational Observatory and the Gravitational Discovery Centre. The million dollar question is who had more fun, Robbie, Robbie or Robbie! 

A quick reminder for us that we share this highway with many others.

E.C.S

So close to Perth.

We almost missed the turnoff into the Gravity Discovery Centre. The drive in presented us with the most beautiful display of wildflowers.

Inside the centre we had an incredible experience with hands on experiments in physics and astronomy with a focus on gravity and cosmology. We were only there for 2 hours but could have easily spent all day. The centre is the public education face of  the AIGO, which is part of a world wide network of lasers which turn the earth into a hypersensitive network for the purpose of proving Einstein's theory that gravity travels in waves.

  

A storyboard of the universe from the Big Bang up until the present day.

On the road again. This day will also be recorded as the first time of this trip that we have plugged a destination ino the GPS. Destination Gooseberry Hill, approximately 30klms east of Perth.

E.C.S as we turn off the highway into their suburb.......

This would have to go down in the history of our trip as the best and most beautiful caravan park we have stayed at.

Not a bad site, would you say! And all to ourselves!!

Looking back up at our site from behind their dam. Now we understand what was calling them home from Melbourne.

They jumped for joy at the thought of heading to the Godden's and they jumped for joy on arrival. Kids voted this the best caravan park ever, lovely hosts, yummy clean fresh water and spotless ablutions!!!

The first night of many dinners together. Michele treated us to a home cooked roast dinner with roast vegies. The kids seemed to just take off from where they last left their conversations two and a half years ago. Unfortunately for Andy, the man of the house, he was in hospital having his appendix out. We also had the pleasure of meeting Michelle's mum and nephew who are also staying in the house and will be joining us all for a week in Albany in a few days time.

On our arrival, after a quick tour of the house the kids disappeared....there was jumping to be done, sliding on a home made slippery dip, scooters and bikes to ride. It did not take long for our crew to feel at home, maybe half an hour tops!!! It also did not take us long to discover the best seat in the house. A day bed swing, hand crafted in Indonesia, was soon to become our favourite spot. Sun on your face, beer in hand, looking through their gazebo into their back yard, what more does one need!

It still feels quite surreal that we are actually in Perth, and like the kids, after only a few hours, we also feel totally at ease. We guess it is not so much the physical structure of the house but the familiarity and hospitality of the people within that can make a strange place feel like home.