Fly with me ... across Australia

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by Greg_Nuspel

We have West Jet here where joking is part of the customer service. They are a no frills airline and I can remember once when a new passenger was asking one of the employees if they needed to bring snacks on board. He looked her over and replied; "Yes we don't supply those and by the way where is you lawn chair or are you planning to stand the whole flight".

BTW I think Qantas still has the best safety record of all airlines.

I think that's still correct yes. Although you don't hear about the various mechanical issues they have I guess as we do.
We usually fly Virgin Blue here due to the better pricing but this was a long flight so a bit extra was worth it I guess.

West Jet sound like a load of fun

Cheers also AntZ ... mostly through my wide angle as that's my new toy so I figured I might as well learn to use it.

**Barefoot** · 05-30-2009, 09:01 PM

This is gonna be fun. Some of the best wing shots I've seen.

I can understand the need, but I'm still amazed at the size of the tires on Russel's bike. Must take a lot of energy just to move them on good terrain.

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Barefoot

This is gonna be fun. Some of the best wing shots I've seen.

I can understand the need, but I'm still amazed at the size of the tires on Russel's bike. Must take a lot of energy just to move them on good terrain.

Thanks BF.

Russel is amazing. Accomplished Mountaineer, winner of 24hr mountain bike events, done 'hauling' (I think it's called??) in Alaska where you drag your supplies behind you while you trek through snow, already ridden from Perth to Gold Coast (just south of Brisbane) on a mountain bike for charity. Amazingly nice guy. And single too girls

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 10:12 PM

DAY 2 - Bunbury town and Bird Sanctuary

Before we got into the traveling around we took and easy day to just kick back, do some food shopping and have a look around the town that would be our home for the holiday.

The first three shots here are taken from a lookout very late on Day 1 (on our way from the airport) and the rest are at a bird sanctuary in Bunbury.

Most of the birds are Australian although a few are not. Most of the shots are either from in Averies, or birds freely wandering around the grounds. A few, sadly, are in cages that I felt were too small for some birds.

Anyhow ... enjoy some colourful feathered friends who loved landing on us, picking and pulling at Leanne's ear rings or trying to undo our camera bags.

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 10:16 PM

This is the beautiful Blue Winged Kookaburra. The cage for the 2 birds in here was too small. They could only fly about 2 metres max.

Blue Winged Kookaburra's feathers up close

Duck 1 - "Ahhhh ... You go first man!" Duck -2 "What's stopping you? Your legs painted on??"

more coming ...

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 10:19 PM

more shortly ...

**Mad Aussie** · 05-30-2009, 10:21 PM

Punk Rock Chicken!!

Australian Ringed Neck Parrot ... called '28's' by the locals due to the sound of their call. Every time we drove around this area we saw these parrots in flocks feeding by the roadside. We even hit one at about 110 kph. One less to marvel over I'm afraid.