Fun in Fremantle comes to an end

Leeuwin II leaving Fremantle

Thursday morning was rainy and cool and spent rehearsing some new songs for busking before the clamouring to go to Scitech became too loud! We headed towards Perth, but stopped to have lunch at the harbour in Fremantle. We ended up exploring Challenger Harbour and were thrilled to see Leeuwin II heading out to sea. Tall Ships are incredibly romantic as they skim the waves. We could almost imagine ourselves in Fremantle in the 1800s.

The Roundhouse 1831

Wandering around the foreshore we also came across the Round House which is WA's oldest public building. It was opened in 1831 and used as a prison. Unfortunately we were just too late for the 1 o'clock cannon firing! And just too early to bump into Tim Winton on his daily walk with his dog.

Amazing view down High Street

After dallying at the Roundhouse we had to postpone our visit to Scitech as Vasko had finished Jackson's accordion. Heavy rain started as we entered the Freeway and it took us nearly 2 hours to get there and back. Vasko had completely overhauled the accordion and Jackson was thrilled with the result. The boys were talking about the coin given to the Queen and how she didn't really need the money. Ella, in her usual wise fashion, said "I just don't get the Queen. It's just one family and no other families get a turn. Is that why you're a Pelican Mummy?" HUH? Oh, a Republican!! There has been a lot of Republican debate on the radio and I think her ears must be full of sand. (Note to self: book hearing test for Ella upon our return home!)

Sparks in his element - feeling very positive as the
presenter is stealing his electrons!

On Friday morning we made the alarming discovery that we hadn't booked an extra night. I raced off to the office at 8 a.m. to extend our stay, only to find that we had to move to another site. That put paid to our busking plans but we managed to get set up in between showers. The promised Scitech visit had the kids highly excited. We arrived at 12 and spent a fabulous 4 hours investigating all the hands on science and technology exhibits.

Jackson on the phone! He won't
need a mobile now!

Plasma Ball Power

Marcus was chosen to be part of the High Voltage Electricity Show and we all really enjoyed Cosmic Collisions in the Planetarium, where Jackson answered lots of the questions and I realised that he has retained far more of Bill Bryson's Short History of Nearly Everything than I. We thought Scitech was open until 5 and the kids were absolutely gutted when it closed at 4. Marcus said he would like to spend at least 2 years there! Fish n chips in Fremantle called us as we drove back. Cicerello's (est. 1903) was right on the water and reminded us very much of our evening with you in Mangonui, Bob and Yvonne. The Restaurant has recently been featured on an Australian Post stamp issue celebrating iconic Australian tourist destinations.

Cicerello's at Fisherman's Wharf

Our third tour of Fremantle Prison was the Torchlight Tour. They had a few actors hidden away at appropriate junctures and the guy who jumped out of Solitary Confinement gave us a start. He asked Ella if she'd knocked off a sweet shop on her tricycle! In the Commissariat an Irish troublemaker jumped out at us and demanded to know who had the keys. Dead silence. "Who has 'em?" ... and Lachie couldn't take it anymore and pointed to our guide. He then got berated for being a snitch. Ella was hiding under my black jumper with a hood and looked like a mini Grim Reaper as we wandered around the gallows and morgue.

Torchlight Tour

Front Entrance of the Prison

Stay tuned ...