Fremantle

A bit over a week ago we limped our way from Cervantes to Fremantle, Whadjuk country. We've enjoyed staying put for a little while to rest and repair our sore and broken bits.

Our arrival in Fremantle coincided with two major events: the fortieth anniversary of Australia's victory in the America's Cup; and International Mini Moke day. We could hardly believe our luck! Throw in sunny days, a long weekend and footy finals, and Freo has been buzzing.

The importance of celebrating International Mini Moke day is fairly obvious, but it's only those of us over a certain age who will remember exactly where we were when Australia II, with the help of Ben Lexcen's winged keel, broke the longest winning streak in sporting history, wresting the "auld mug" from the Americans after 132 years. Who (among those over a certain age) could forget Bob Hawke sporting his Australian flag jacket and all but granting every Australian permission to call in sick that day? Casual observers could be mistaken for thinking we'd won every gold medal at the Winter Olympics, rather than a boat race that no one outside the yachting community had ever heard of before, or since. But we do love a sporting victory, especially if it's over the Poms, the Kiwis or the Yanks. In that order. So this week in Freo, people over a certain age have been partying like it's 1983, and those under a certain age have been enjoying the ride.

For our part, we've really loved spending time with friends, both old and new. We've avoided the crowds and ventured outside the metro area to the south and east, including a short visit to York, Western Australia's oldest inland town. Stanley's sore paw has been very well looked after by the wonderful folk at the Fremantle Animal Hospital and he's just about back to his bouncy self. I've put both Labs on notice that there is to be no further injury-causing shenanigans.

So we're all well rested and ready to move on to our next destination. Here's a selection of photos taken over the past week. Enjoy.