Rottnest Island

Jag var vaken före klockan ringde den här dagen. Smörgåsar, handduk, solglasögon och kamera packades ner i ryggsäcken och jag var iväg. Med en kaffe i handen hoppade jag på båten som skulle ta mig till ön. Solen gick upp och värmde långsamt upp luften som var rätt så kylig efter natten.

Förväntansfull hämtade jag ut min lilla cykel och fick en karta i handen. Vilket håll ska jag cykla? Med solen förstås. Intrycken tog fart och i efterhand känns det inte verkligt. Fast samtidigt som om jag känner till den största hemligheten som finns. En hemlig ö som ingen annan har sett. Och jag vill att alla ska se det jag har sett.

This day I was up before the alarm went off. Packed my backpack with sandwiches, towel, sunnies, the camera and I was ready. With a coffee in my hand I stepped on the ferry that was gonna take me to the island. The sun rose and slowly gave some warmth to the air.

Excited and full of expectations i picked up my bike and a map. Where do I go, east or west? I'll follow the sun of course. All the impressions that then followed makes it feel unreal now. It's like I know of the biggest secret that ever was. A secret island that nobody has seen before. And I want everyone to see what I've just seen.

It seems I'd picked the perfect day for the event. 27 degrees or something in the air and not much cooler in the water.
This is Twin Rocks.

Little Salmon Bay.
To bike around the island is a fair way to go, about 25 kms or so.

"The rocket" took me to every little corner of the island. I decided I wasn't going to miss a thing!

I want to see what's behind that cape there...

 Good thing I had a map with me. The tourist season is soon over and I hardly met a soul during the whole day. It felt like I had the island to my self, excellent!

The road goes went ever on and on but felt like nothing with the sights it offered.
Hm, maybe I should jump off the bike for a minute and walk through the low bushes to get a better view....

Eeehh, or maybe not!
I met 5 of these darlings on my way. "Dugites" are found on Rottnest,
venomous, but alright as long as you don't pick them up to play with them. Yuk!

There are about 60 beaches and 20 bays on the island. I thought I might stop every time I felt like going for a swim. Which I did all the time!
This was number one, Strickland Bay, and probably the best one too.

So many ships have wrecked within these waters over the years.
The island was seperated from the mainland over 7000 years ago.

This is a nesting site for an "Osprey", also knows as the Sea Hawke. Nearby, one of them was keeping an eye on things from a well positioned outcrop.

A few lizards and skinks crossed the road here and there.

Fish Hook Bay.

Quokkas are found only in Western Australia, and gave Rottnest its name. When it was first observed, in 1658, it was described as "a kind of rat as big as a common cat". Rat's nest was eventually adapted as Rottnest.

This friendly fellow didn't say no to a piece of my lunch!

A well needed break before taking off again.
By the way, Just Kids by Patti Smith, just read it.

The perfect way to end a perfect day. Dolphins playing outside Bathurst Lighthouse.

A little dream of mine came true by seeing these amazing animals.