September 30, 2011

Well, this is Friday.  We've been in Albany since Wednesday.  On the day of our departure from Perth, we may have gotten an "infringement," (ticket) for running a red light.  It's so confusing!  To make a right turn, you have to wait for a green arrow, even when the light says green.  So when we started to turn, someone honked, and I cried out, and Ray panicked, but we didn't get in a wreck, thank goodness!  It shook us up quite a bit, though we got the giggles about it later.  Ray thinks he will get a ticket because they have cameras at all the big intersections.  Also, at random places for speeders.  You can't even go 5 km faster than the limit or you will get an infringement!  The ticket for not wearing your seatbelt in $500.  This way, their policemen can be doing more important things.  I think it's a good idea!  Everyone obeys the laws.  On our way down to Albany, Ray got pulled over for a breath test.  The two officers were very nice to us.

Driving to Albany...People told us it would be long

and boring, with nothing but sheep to look at.  I

thought it was beautiful, and I didn't dare go to

sleep because I was afraid to miss something.  (See

video)

Driving in Albany...I don't even want to learn to drive!  Later maybe.  Now I am completely lost all the time.  Ray is getting better, but we have been lost several times and had to stop and check the map or get out the GPS.  He's trying not to use it so much so that he gets better oriented.  The roads seem narrower (there are no shoulders) and I get nervous when he gets too close to the left side because the trees are close, etc.  Most of the roads are two-lane only, and never never straight, always curvey.  We have no compass, so we usually are going the wrong way.  What an adventure!  The parking spots are horrendous!  We can barely get in our tiny little garage without doing a 3point turn.  We still go to the wrong sides of the car, and have a good laugh when he turns on the windshield wipers every time he wants to make a turn.  It's called the "American Wave."  Blinkers are "indicators" and we don't pass, we "overtake." 

Well, we have to go home and get to bed.  We had to come over to the church tonight to write this because they have Wifi, and we can't get connected at home yet.  I'll try to get him to get over here again tomorrow because I have so much to tell you!