We arrived in Rockingham to ever darkening skies but the rain held off. Rockingham has important associations for Bob in particular, as an ex-serving member of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), since it's the home on Garden Island of HMAS Stirling, the RAN Fleet Base West, situated on the Indian Ocean. It is Australia's largest naval fleet and submarine base, Garden Island, connected to the mainland by an all-weather causeway (See photos).
HMAS Stirling is named after Admiral Sir James Stirling (28 January 1791 – 23 April 1865). Stirling, a Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator, landed on Garden Island, Western Australia in 1827 and returned as commander of the barque Parmelia in June 1829 to establish and administer the Swan River Colony in Western Australia. He was the first Governor of Western Australia, serving between 1828 and 1838.
Rockingham is a suburb of Perth and is located 47 km south-south-west of the city centre. It has a beachside location at Mangles Bay, the southern extremity of Cockburn Sound an inlet of the Indian Ocean. It extends from the south of the mouth of the Swan River at Fremantle for about 25 kilometres (16 mi) to Point Peron near Rockingham.
If you would like to learn more about Rockingham, HMAS Stirling and the environs then please use the following links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockingham,_Western_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockburn_Sound
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockburn_Sound
Although it was blustery and threatening rain we took a walk out to John Point (See map Screenshot). The view from this point over the Indian Ocean and the craggy rocks below, buffeted by heavy waves that afternoon was spectacular, if a little hard to stand up in the wind!
The walk to John Point provided an opportunity for some bird watching. The first bird I spotted was the small Willy Wagtail, busy catching insects on the beach below for his mate sitting on a nest in the sandy ridge above.
The other bird spotted at this site I have identified from this website: https://www.australiaswonderfulbirds.com.au/pigeons
as a Laughing Turtle Dove (See photo & Screenshot from this link). I should point out that these birds were not doing much laughing in the blustery wind that afternoon!
So, it was back to the car and with a couple of hours to spare before our reservation at The Cray fish restaurant we beat a retreat back to Bob & Lesley's daughter's (Kim) home for a warming coffee and to admire the Pokémon Cake and Cookies she was preparing for her daughter's (Miriam, 7) Pool Birthday Party on Saturday afternoon. Sadly, I didn't take any photos of this amazing cake creation but perhaps I can acquire some in due course to add to this post.
