Mandurah

We should have known we were in for a silly day the way it started.

Earlier in the week, John received a call from a fellow who was interested in buying one of his photos. They were settling on price and a place to meet for delivery, how many photos and what size,  and then John found out where he lived, in Mandurah. Instead of meeting somewhere or having the man come here to pick it up, John offered to take it to him, giving me a day of sight seeing a new place I hadn’t been yet.

So, all week we were looking at the website, learning about what was there, finding out that only last month they had their annual CRAB FESTIVAL and my husband didn’t tell his Blue crab loving, Maryland-born WIFE! Trying  not to be bitter about that, I looked for something to do there, but could only see one of their dolphin boat tours as something that might be worthwhile, or perhaps even visiting nearby Peel Zoo.

I guess we were kind of distracted getting the car ready to spend the day away when just a few miles and over an hour’s drive from home, we realized we had forgotten the PHOTOS, the very REASON we were going to Mandurah in the first place! Laughing at ourselves we turned the car around, phoned the man that we would be late, and went all the way back home and picked up the pictures. Back close to Mandurah, I couldn’t help notice the name of the road that was to be our exit…

Yes, that long word at the bottom. I didn’t feel as bad when John seemed to have problems pronouncing it too.

This was to be the first of a few signs that would make me laugh. Once in town, and I didn’t get a photo of it, was a handwritten sign asking for a woman who liked country music, SEX, and list of other things and a number to call.  No idea if it was a serious sign or a prank, but good for a laugh.

If the name Hogs Breath Cafe isn’t enough to make you laugh, their sign was big and clear, they STILL eat kids for free.

Well you know how it is, once you start laughing it builds up and just goes silly.

Nice that they give hookers a place to park. Now in the name of honesty, I do believe this was a law firm or something, but like I said, you just start to go silly.

So, not bitter, I was at least determined as we walked around Mandurah to at least eat some crab at a restaurant or something, but there wasn’t any. I did see this little guy, but I could quickly tell this wasn’t the blue crab that was mentioned in the festival website.

The ONLY blue crab I saw all day was this crow’s lunch and that crow wasn’t sharing. 🙁

We also saw a few pelicans.

And then we saw a dolphin come into the area! In fact there were a few of them circling around and swimming fast to what John told me, to get fish.

John got this photo of one that came in close.

Now by this time, we had already decided that we would opt for the boat tour instead of Peel Zoo, but after not seeing dolphins when we went to Rottnest, or Rotto as Graham says I should call it, seeing these right in in the waterways right by Mandurah made me think this could be our lucky day.

So after finding the information center closed, but quickly spotting the place to book the tour, we went in to sign up and get our tickets.

The girl was more than happy to help, and as I was looking around at souvenirs, I heard her ask John his name. He told her Dolphin.
“How do you spell that?” she asked.
Now, I didn’t giggle out loud but I sure did giggle. Here is a nice girl, working for a DOLPHIN TOUR boat company, and her client’s name is DOLPHIN, and she had to ask how to spell it. Sorry but that was funny.

My poker faced husband didn’t crack as smile until we were way out of earshot, but once a safe distance, we were laughing again.

We saw a Simmo’s Ice Cream place and stopped in there and after enjoying that, went to board our boat.

O.K., maybe now I understand why she couldn’t spell Dolphin. That word is clearly missing a few letters on their tour boat.

It didn’t take long to see the promised “playful dolphins”. What a thrill.

Now a part of the boat tour, I didn’t expect to enjoy to much, I actually did. You see in Mandurah, they have a section of canals where people live. Not big on seeing how the other half lives, I became rather fascinated with these homes whose front door faces the water, and their “driveway” has a boat in it.

The homes were expensive, that was clear, that this was an area for millionaires. We also learned every Christmas this place turns into a contest, a place where they do night cruises with Christmas lights. I think I would like that.

The dolphins were exciting, but I am glad we got to go through here too.

The tour over, we posed for some photos in some sculptures in the area. They made nice frames 🙂

I of course, wanted this pose. Mr and Mrs Dolphin after their dolphin cruise. 🙂

Another pose I wanted. I am practically laughing at myself, such a kissy face I can be!

Ok, so I got the pose I wanted, but John had to be different.
In another sculpture that actually resembled a frame more, he went for this pose, or better said, THESE poses….

Well, that was fun. To each his own I guess, I like the kissy face poses more, but I enjoyed watching him have fun, too!

We stayed a little longer than I think we expected to, but it was a peaceful place and a lovely evening. We watched the sun go down and then headed home.