Anyone?

Not the easiest stuff to ride on, but the effort was worth it!

Sorry for the awful pun but it’s the best I can do. The pinnacles are a collection of limestone formations in Western Australia.

When I rode through the Kakadu national park, I had to buy a 14 day park pass. It was $25. Even though I was just passing through there were no exceptions. The area was nice, but not really any different to the surrounding areas apart from the lack of traffic. (Probably due to no one wanting to pay for a 14 day pass).

The pinnacles have a $6 charge for motorcycles and I nearly didn’t bother going in. I’m glad I did as it was excellent! I went a bit mad with the photos, but I’ll limit the blog to 3!

There was also a visitor centre where the history and geography are explained in detail. Much like history and geography at school, I didn’t pay any attention. In fact I didn’t even go in. Sorry mum!

Houses for sale here. Anyone??

On the final run in to Perth I took the costal road. The distances are about the same but there are lots of small towns just off the road to investigate. I was very taken with Green Head, lovely place but with an entire row of new properties sitting empty – right on the sea front. Why haven’t they sold I wonder??

I followed a track down to a tiny beach and parked up. I watched the sun go down before hanging the hammock with a sea view. Still warm and not a cloud in the sky, I could get used to this! The last few hundred kms to run will be hard, as I have do much to do when I get to Perth and I don’t want the Australian part of the adventure to end.

I’m no expert, but I’ll wager it’s a lot prettier than the other Northampton I know. The weather is certainly better!

So I put the picture up on Facebook the other day. “Just another day at the office”, I said. I don’t go on FB much, it’s much easier to update the blog. Anyway, it’s had more likes than any other pic I posted. How bizarre?

I got my passport stamped at the government offices of the Principality of the Hutt River. I also picked up some postage stamps for a collector friend and a sticker for the bike. (I’m planning to put the flags of all the countries I pass through on the bike).

Prince Graeme was well into his stride by this point. I was surprised at the number of cordial relations and diplomatic gifts they have in their museum. I also found out that in some crises the Hutt flag has been used to deliver humanitarian aid, because the warring factions viewed the Hutt as being totally neutral.

It seems the initial secession to protect the family had grown into something much bigger and more worthwhile. Of course, the Australian government still doesn’t formally recognise the Principality as a separate nation.

My advice? Tell them bollocks! Good on yer PL!

I called into the Principality of the Hutt River. The area is an independent nation and not part of Australia. I’d heard about it through the Royal Enfield owners club, who the late princess Shirley was the patron of. I was looking forward to meeting Prince Leonard, the eccentric nutcase who stuck two fingers up to the government for a laugh and declared independence. I was slightly disappointed.

There are no eccentric nutcases here. Instead I found Prince Leonard (PL) to be a very intelligent, well spoken 88 year old. Sharp as a tack and very much with it. I had an extended guided tour by prince Graeme, minister for state and education. Prince Graham went through the history of the Principality, which came about because of the government shafting farmers over the wheat quotas. 90% reduction of the principle income without warning and no chance of appeal. Following that, there was a land grab attempt by the same government the following year.

Secession from Australia and the formation of the Principality was the only defence. PL studied law and took the necessary action to protect his family, land and income. It was a bold move but it certainly paid off. What happened next though was far more extraordinary. More on this later. You can read a better (and no doubt more accurate) version of the history on their website.

http://www.principality-hutt-river.com