It’s Leap Day!

Fremantle has been on our original itinerary.  It’s very close to Perth, but we did not have time to go there because we booked a tour in Fremantle that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

We arrived in Fremantle and docked.  Most people disembarked and hopped on the train that was located right at the dock.  It was only a short distance to Perth.

There were only 7 of us booked on the tour (including our friends Al and Denise).  Our guide picked us up and drove around Fremantle to show us the highlights of the city.  We enjoyed the architecture and learned that many of the old buildings had been saved by historic society.  Even if it was not the entire building, they would save the exterior.  Some buildings were interesting because the outside looked very old (well, old for Australia) but as you entered the building, it was a building within a building.  Never seen this done before.

We went up the hill and arrived at the old Fremantle Prison.  It was built in 1850s and sits atop a network of tunnels and passageways that form the astonishing labyrinth. We went inside and met our guides.  We all understood that this tour was not for those afraid of heights or tight places and you had to be in good physical condition.  I was not concerned for us, but was concerned for one woman that was traveling alone.  We’ll see what happens.  The guide provided us with hard hats with headlamps, boots, safety harness and floatation device.  She gave us instructions and then we all took a test.  Interesting, a breathalyzer test to make sure there was no impairment issues.  Good to go and off we went deep into the tunnels of the prison via a locked ladder system.  We began by climbing down the series of ladders (approx 70 feet down).  We reached the bottom and began to follow our guide through a maze of tunnels that ranged from 4 to 5 feet high, so bending over as you walked was part of the test too.  At one point the guide asked everyone to turn off their headlamps and we all stood in complete darkness for her to tell us stories about the history of the prison.  In those days, prisoners would volunteer for this hard labor to reduce their sentence.  The tunnels were dug to locate fresh water that was provided to the entire town.  In previous years, many died from contaminated drinking water so it was necessary to find a fresh water source which they did under the prison.  Our guide said the prisoners used small lanterns for light but if they burned out, finding your way out in darkness was very difficult.

We turned our headlamps back on and made our way deeper into the tunnel system where we found the waterway.  We got into little 2-person boats (replica convict punts) and paddled our way through tunnels.  At some point, it was too narrow to paddle and you just used your hands to grab the jagged rock walls on each side.  Soon we made our way back to the ladder system, locked in and began our ascent.  Now back to the woman traveling alone.  Our concern was valid.  She was unable to climb her way out, so they had to hook a rope to her harness and hoist her up 70 feet.  At least they were prepared and looks like this may be a common problem.  Glad they got her out and she was ok.  We finished our tour of the prison and headed back to the port.  

We had our tour guide drop us off at the port and we walked along the waterway in and out of shops.  Walked back to the ship and boarded.  Today’s tour was a great adventure.  We had a good time and learned about the history of Fremantle. 

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