1997-11-21 Perth -> Fremantle, 40km, 10km/h
Started the bicycle trip for real. Left backpackers at around 10h30. Big bag balances ok, but Ch. has difficulty getting it through doors. Rained like crazy so we stopped 15 min. at library where I checked Internet to see that my site was in order. Went to auto club in downtown Perth and bought 5 maps of W.A. for $3 each. (Found out later that they don't show nice small routes for bikes.)
Then went to W.A. Energy Department to see Joe Wyder. Very enthusiastic guy about solar (in particular solar cooking). Got some energy magazines and brochures. He is supposed to mail me a report on energy in the outback. Mentioned big solar conference in Sidney on Dec. 1-3. Fuck! Gave me addresses and web sites. Result: no concentrator stuff going on in W.A. Decided not to vistit Murdoch U.
Bicycled to Fremantle along the Swan River
mostly. Nice, but often raining and Ch. feeling ill. Windy.
Windsurfers. Ate a meatpie in a mini-mall where electricity had
failed. No beds in Fremantle because of yacht race and windserfing
championships, so we went a bit out of town and camped for the
first time. Made mistake of setting up the tent wiht entrance
towards the wind. Wind tore up pegs about 3 times! I had difficulty
sleeping but not Ch. Ate so-so canelloni and drank a bottle of red
wine for W.A. Good grass campsite, but it needs some bushes as
breakwinds. Rained at night a bit.