Australia day 7

3 July

This is the day we were to say goodbye to our camper. Everything was organized and ready as far as possible for our flight to Alice Springs tomorrow. All we needed to do was find a way to leave this serendipitous safe-haven by the sea at Ledge Point. Leaving Razelle at the caravan park as collateral, I went in search of the petrol station and found it was open as advertised. The tank was topped up, and the camper was once again ready to go. Razelle and I traveled back to Perth and marveled at how much better this road was. I had precise directions this time for the Kosher Food Centre. We followed our own reckoning back to Perth and made the GPS conform to us instead of vice versa. Only at the last did we deign to let the GPS direct us.

In all honesty, the KFC (as the Kosher Food Centre likes to call itself, with a wink and a nod to Colonel Sanders) was just as important a destination for us as any of the other must-see tourist destinations we have on our round the world itinerary. As we patronized this place, we found meat (salami) we can take with us, plus chicken soup bullion cubes and freshly baked bagels! We also found the owners to be endearing. We told them where we'd spent Shabbat. They said it was a pity we didn't spend it with them instead. We'd have found a more vibrant community and a better welcome. We didn't mind the welcome we received where we'd been. Next time we are in Perth (if ever) we will have to try out this other community. Isn't it typical that two Jewish communities will each think the other is the lesser of them? We had to smile at the thought of that.

We next set out to find a place to sleep for the night near Perth's airport and near the camper van rental place. It took a little doing because the first was too Spartan, the second was too full, the third was too costly and the fourth was just right. All of these are within walking distance of the rental agency.

The camper was returned without any problems, and we settled into our hotel room at the Comfort Inn. Down the road is a petrol station with a store attached. I went there to investigate SIM cards for use with the smartphone I already own. The clerk there, a swarthy indigenous man, was very very helpful. He sells SIM cards and has one just like the ones he sells. He put his SIM card in my phone and called the store. The store phone rang. All right! I bought the SIM card on the spot and now I can call any number in Australia for 89 cents a minute (is that even a bargain, I wonder?). So now I can call ahead to speak to potential hosts and hotels and tourist destinations if I need to, and I have a WiFi modem I bought yesterday so I can surf from most every location within Australia without having to resort to McDonald's anymore.

It has been a relaxed afternoon and evening. We've needed a day like this after all our travels. Razelle has arranged for a free shuttle from here to the airport tomorrow. The day after we reach Alice Springs we are scheduled to rent another camper, just like the last one. Should be fun . . . now that I'm getting good at driving one.