A bus, two train rides and two flights - all to watch a game of Australian Rules football

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Today is the Grand Final of the Australian Rules Football season. Western Australia now has two teams – the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers. The Dockers haven’t been in the competition very long compared to some of the other teams but today they’re chasing their first-ever premiership. We don’t really follow it much but it’s impossible not get caught up in the hype. Most of Fremantle is decked out in purple; two huge screens are being erected in the main street for the benefit of the home crowds while dozens of fans have spent small fortunes going right across our big country to get to Melbourne where Aussie Rules all began. Extra planes have been added to cope with the demand along with higher fares for the privilege. It’s all systems go. Rafe English is originally from Perth but is studying at Normal, Illinois, over 15,000km from Melbourne as the crow flies. Do you know that saying? And I checked to make sure ‘Normal’ was actually a town. Rafe began his trek with a two-hour train ride to Chicago, then a bus and train for an hour to the airport for a two-and-a half-hour flight to Dallas followed by a 17 ½ hour flight to Melbourne. Now THAT’S dedication. We’ll watch the game at our friends’ house just a short walk up the street. Wish us luck. The photo was taken at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle.