The Epic Trip: January 2006

Blown away...winds have been pretty strong lately, always using a 7.0 kite, but still fun. Pic taken in front of Penguin Island (yes, there are penguins there.

Australia Day - a day of total madness, I was with a group of friends, and we were in a "zone" where drinking was permitted. What a frenzy, the Ozzies definately know how to enjoy themselves (sometimes a bit too rowdy for my liking). But I had a really good time. Now back to kiting!

Australia Day - fireworks

Sunset on Perth

Australia Day

Australia Day madness

This girl got in a fight with another girl...and was caught on film by the TV crew, and me :)

Safety Bay

Robert and Miriam - Dutch friends of mine I met 5 years ago in Barbados...also kiting. It's a small world.

This was taken by some local dude - Ruben was playing his usual games right when I was getting ready to launch.

Update: Ruben left for Holland yesterday, to take care of his injured foot. He'll stay home until it's 100%, and then head out for another trip, destination TBD. Staying here, watching everyone kite in the awesome conditions and not being able to kite, was just too much for him to handle...good luck bro, see you soon.

As for me, I'm based in Perth (Fremantle) until the beginning of February, and Jonny arrives on the 3rd. After that we'll venture up north, and hit Geraldton, Coronation Bay, Monkey Mia, Gnarloo, Exmouth. Should be hot!

Meantime, I'm having fun with friends here in Perth, kiting, gym, no complaints at all....this is the life!

The check-in. Lucky Ruben...the check-in attendant "noticed" that he was 40kgs. overweight, but told him it was ok and would not charge him (!!), just as long as next time he travels he "watches his luggage weight". Lucky bastard!!

Moment's before Ruben's check-in, a rather nervous time...given the amount of gear (weight) he was planning to take back. We had more gear than when we arrived here in Oz, since Ruben received his Red Bull logo kites (5 of them...) in Perth.

Big Ruben

Oversized bull-dozer, had to take a pic. Some of the trucks here (called "freight trains") are 36.5 metres long!!! Talk about a challenge overtaking on the highway, given the limited speed of the motorhome.

Me and Ash

Hanging out at Ashleigh's house.

Ruben - training for the Mr. Olympia, while his foot heals.

Ruben's trainer, hard at work....What a vacation...kiting and gym practically every day...not one day goes by without some form of excercise.

Fun at Ashleigh's house - she's paranoid of coackgroaches, and so of course when one was crawling around in the backyard, she came out with TWO cans of bug killer.

Woodmans Point awesome kitespot.

Inflatable slider, being carried to the water - it was a bit of a failure, because once the wind cranked up to 30 knots the thing flipped over.

This guy had seriously pierced ears - nasty stuff.

Sponsor shot! Graham's killer SS bus.

Ruben posing with the pelican.

Woodmans Point - awesome kitespot!

The Pelican had enough of our games

Wanted to get closer, but our pelican friend was smarter than that.

Downtown Fremantle - the current basecamp. Cool area, lots of people, cafes, near prime kitespot (Woodmans Point), etc.

ID Card, all smiles until...well that's another story. Ask Ruben.

Passport - spot the difference with the ID card. Nice pic, Ruben.

Hacking into people's open (wireless) internet connections. We've had a good time war-driving across neighborhoods.

Ruben HAD to film the dead kangaroo on the side of the road. In a 420 km trip, we saw 4-5 dead kangaroos, hit by cars...

"Information" concerning our motorhome...

Geraldton

Setting up - Geraldton

Today had an early morning kite session in Geraldton, basically overpowered on a 7m. This afternoon we hit the gym (for Ruben mainly), and then trek back to Perth. Seeking less wind, plus...Ruben will be flying back home next week, to take care of his foot injury. I'll stay in Perth until at least Australia Day on the 26th of January, it's some sort of national event, sort of like 4th of July in the USA. Should be good fun, will hang out with Kat, Ashleigh, and Rosalynd.

Then might venture back up north, or, wait for Jonny, who will arrive in Perth (from Austria) on the 3rd of February. It's great to NOT have a schedule!!

Will post kiteboarding pics soon - provided we find a decent internet connection.

Keep the comments running!