Kat's 30th Birthday - Kangaroo (& Tick) Adventures

"You have aged! Check out the wrinkles on your face!"
Geez, thanks Kat! That was the first comment she made when we met at Perth train station. We have not seen each other for nearly 2 years, ever since she started sail on board a ship. Nope she's not a pirate or a sailor. She is serving God on board the MV Doulos, a huge cruise liner that holds a homely christian bookstore.

Kat and (wrinkly o') me.

Anyway, I forgave her tactless comment and agreed to take her out on her 30th Birthday still.

Bush walking at Yanchep National Park was our itinerary for the nice spring day. Yanchep National Park is about 51 km north of Perth city and is home to cool caves (bout 600 documented), native Australian flora, wild flowers during spring, as well as (tick infested) kangaroos and koalas.

Mr. Koala with his face stuffed into eucalyptus leaves. Too busy munching to notice us.

Can u spot the sleeping koala dreaming of an eucalyptus paradise?















Wild orchids.


Opps a Daisy!

Kangaroo Paws














Time for something tourisy! We did a tour to one of the limestone caves when we had enough of bush walking.

Ancient limestone architecture (more then 60,000 years old) in Crystal Cave.

Conservations effort are being made to revive dried up streams (above right) and their ancient bacteria.





We then explored the Boomerang gorge which was littered with beautiful limestone boulders! (Ah - hoe, bet you wish you were there!)

Dwerta Mia Trail led us through the Boomerang gorge.


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Pockets Full of Rye (5+)

All that nature is unleashing the jungle spirit!

Cavegals rule!


So there we were, 2 happy bush trotters looking for adventures, chasing kangaroos and exploring caves. Then we discovered some unwelcome... companions hitching a ride on us.

What's that on Kat's socks?


EEEEEwwwww.... a giant tick! About 3 x the size of a regular brown dog tick. Humans tend to be accidental hosts when we go tromping through bushes (that would be Kat and me chasing kangaroos).

Check out the hosts of these 8 - legged bloodsucking critters...

Are they keeping to the pavement to avoid more ticks latching on? Smart one, guys!


Our bush trail - I wonder how many ticks are hiding in there waiting to ambush us.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kat!!! - hope you will never forget your big 30 spent in the bushes with me!

PS: Guess what I found attached to my butt the following day...