(Clicking on a picture in each set will open all photographs in an easy to navigate album but larger in size)

Saturday 1st March saw an early start as we left our Airbnb at 06:40 for an alleged 24 minute journey to the University of Western Australia parkrun. Although we had attended parkrun when we visited last year, this was going to be the first time I received a 5km participation credit. This event had been selected so that Hilary could get a U towards her parkrun volunteer alphabet.

Whilst I had expected it to happen, without doubt, the star of the show was my v1000 milestone tee shirt.  With only 4 in the world and all of them being in England, this was the first time that the shirt was being seen outside of the UK.

Like an “A lister celebrity” the shirt and subsequently the back of my head, was being photographed from all angles.

Prior to the run I also finally got to meet the lovely Jodi Mazey

who I had been “chatting to” via FB for about a year and her partner Brenden Peel. 

Brenden  and I both have an unofficial parkrun club named after us. The Peel club is claimable by anyone that has completed/volunteered at a parkrun event in each of the 6 Australian States (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia) and 3 internal Territories (Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory and The Northern Territory).  For those that don’t know, the Marriott Club is for volunteering at 100 different events and must include both 5km and junior events.

Hilary and I both attended the First Timers Welcome before I put on my “PARK eROLLER” hi viz

and set off with 160 other participants. On lap 1 I managed to have a conversation with a lady that had been studying at the  University back in the 1980s and on lap 2 I managed to catch-up with a gentleman who happened to be a Pom (from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset) that had emigrated over 20  years.

The course is a 2 lapper around the campus of the University. Of my 136 different locations this was the first on a University campus and it was an absolute stunner. If you are ever in Perth you won’t go wrong completing this one.

I was interviewed at the end of the run by “The parkrun Adventurers” podcasts roving  reporter David Messenger.  I was the tee shirts mouthpiece.

To top it off the post parkrun faffing was excellent and you get a fantastic breakfast at a decent price. 

Somehow or other Hilary and I have a tourism task to complete during the rest of our sabbatical and when we return to the UK. We were joined at the Faffing by Abdul-Raouf Mohamed-Isa – who was presented with a Spiderman cuddly toy with his face on.  We are taking him (The toy obviousl) on tour with us and will be posting on a “ WheresSpiderAbdul?” Facebook page.

After a fab morning at parkrun + parkfaff we made a quick dash to return the car and catch our 13:20 flight – parkrun fresh as we were in a hurry! 😅

Can you believe we’re going to ANOTHER time zone?? 2hrs ahead of Perth!

Goodbye Perth, really enjoyed our visit! ♥️