47. Albany

So while at the caravan park I put the heater on – all night – first time ever. It was so nice not to freeze or feel the cold air. Slept like a baby.

The next day we woke up and headed out to Whaling World. Wow! Not knowing that it was actually an old whaling station or what to expect it was definitely value for money. Thoroughly enjoyed it, except the dam weather.  It was freezing! We did the tour and looked at some of the exhibits. The tour of Whaling World gave us a great insight into whaling in the 70s and why and how it was all done.  The Whaling Station is in its original condition, clearly maintained as a museum.  With the rain increasing, the waves smashing on the rocks and the blizzard like winds, we asked if we could return (for free) the next day or when the weather was better.  Sure, not a problem. 

We went into town and grabbed a few groceries and then went and had a free shower before heading to our new camp at Cosy Corner East.  The forecast was for 100km winds, which we were dreading. We parked up, while it drizzled, and had a look around. It was right on the beach and although the weather was terrible and you couldn’t go down the beach, the sounds of the waves smashing were lovely. We were lucky to be in such a sheltered spot we didn’t even feel the wind that night.

We went to bed and watched a movie.

The next day we tried again to finish Whaling World.  The weather was slightly better with rain breaks every 5 minutes and the winds slightly less ferocious.  We finished seeing what we wanted to and left.  We looked at the Salmon Holes and it rained. We tried looking at the Blowholes, got 200m along the tracked and turned back, because of the rain and then tried the Natural Bridge and Gap.  Seeing these two places was actually quite spectacular in such rough and windy weather; a little scary too walking along the rocks.  The waves were getting pounded into the rocks and splashing up onto the carpark and of course us! Anyway a few quick photos and we were back in the car.

We returned to the Blowholes to give it another go after a couple told us they were really good.  We managed to get there and back (1600m return) just as it began to rain again.  Verdict – they were crap.  Nothing like the ones we had previously seen at Kiama or Tassy. You really didn’t get an aerial view of the water coming in just a little splash and a woosh noise. Oh well, the exercise and 78 steps did me well.

We then went into town again and had a nice shower and return to camp.  The skies had cleared a little.

We woke to a beautiful sunny morning so off we went. Our first stop was the hospital, to get Rhys’ itch on his eyebrows looked at. While I waited there Rod and Mitchell went and did the washing.  It felt like such a waste being inside on such a beautiful day.  But after 2 hours we were off.

We headed for Emu Beach, which was just gorgeous. It reminded me a little of The Whitsundays with the gorgeous coloured water and islands.  There were a few trawlers that went through the channel while we were fishing, which was quite a pleasant sight.

We saw a man catch a snapper off the beach/rocks, so decided we should have a fish ourselves. Not that I needed much convincing to go fishing. A few bites but we caught nothing.

We left as the clouds started coming across, had a hot shower, grabbed some hot chippies and headed back to camp.  The weather there was much better and social chit chat began.  There ended up being Louise and Paul, Kym and James (with two boys) and Martin and Amanda (with two boys) all standing around chatting.  It was so lovely seeing all the boys play soccer and to find such a big group of people, in the one spot, with kids.

PHOTOS: Albany

46. Esperance to Albany

The next day we ran into the people who we met in Streaky, the other people who got no sleep from the young people partying all night.  We went to town and got Rhys shoes and went to the chemist to get Rhys’ itch looked at and cream.  I also too the computer in to get looked at.  We returned and go the van and as we were pulling out Jim was parked out the front. 

We got gas, cleaned the van (desperately needing it) and booked the van in for Friday to get serviced.

We headed for Cape Le Grande National Park. Google it. It was amazing. We had to stay at Lucky Beach Campground as Cape Le Grande Beach was full.  When the sun was shining the water and sand were spectacular.  We went for a drive and poked our heads into some of the bays throughout the NP.  Very, very pretty. There were many islands off the coastline too.  That day the wind was quite strong and then at night the clouds came over and it drizzled.

The next morning we took the opportunity, before the winds picked up, to climb Frenchman’s Peak.  It was quite steep and 224m high.  I made it. The sign did say allow 2 hours but we were up it in 25mins, even though I stopped frequently. 

The views from the top were amazing.  Initially we came to a semi amphitheatre like section, which we thought was the top. I walked to the other side to take photos and realised there was more. So we hiked to the very peak contending with the wind.  By now the winds had picked up a lot.  At times I would tell the boys to crouch down on their bums so the wind wouldn’t blow them over.  There were also parts of the peak that were hollow, on a large scale, which you looked through from above.  Really amazing.

On the way down the wind often caught my foot and blew it across, almost ankle tapping myself. Not good. We did it and it was amazing.

We came back and had a snack and then headed up the beach in the car for a fish and a play on the dunes.

The sand dunes were no good for boggy boarding down so while I fished the boys decided to swim. The water was, surprisingly, not that cold. The wind was though.  The boys had a ball while I sat on the waterline, on the camp chair, fishing. Really nice. Would have been better if I had of caught some fish.

We returned back to camp, had lunch and a cuppa and Rod and I headed off to the rocks to have a fish.  No fish. There was too much weed around. It was pretty much all along the coastline.

I had a go at making Leonie’s fudge while Rod slept – it worked out ok.  The closest I have even gotten to making fudge but very sugary. I will work on it.

That night we cooked up crab (that I caught at Streaky), oysters (from Tassie) and squid (from somewhere).  While I was down cooking up the crab the boys decided to make Rod into a porcupine while he slept, pegging pegs all over him.  That night we lied in bed and watched Remember the Titans and fell asleep.

The morning we packed up – we are still getting use to WA time. We are eating at 6.30-7.00, and are asleep by 9.30; remember that is 2 hrs ahead of QLD time. So while we are in bed the neighbours are cooking dinner.

We took the van in to get serviced and the bearings changed. We got Rhys shoes and some groceries. Rod also got beer with three free lures this time. He always scores.  We grabbed some hot chippies and went down the esplanade to eat, even though it was drizzling. We then walked out on Tanker Jetty and saw the resident seal, Sammy! He was such a poser and so very cute. There were these girls feeding him squid and fish and he clung to the pylons with his flippers looking up with his big eyes.

From there we went to visit Jim, Jim, Bev and Christine for a cuppa and chat. Rod picked up the van and we left Esperance quite late in the afternoon with the rain falling.  We stayed at Munglinup Rest Stop, which was quite nice.  Had a warm shower, made dinner and went to bed.

We woke up in the morning and had showers again.  We went back 4km and headed along the dirt road poking our heads in to all the camp grounds along the way – Munglingup Beach, Starvation Boat Harbour and Mason Bay.  We ended up at Cape Richie and the van was all muddy again.

I went for a fish off the rocks. I got a few bites but nothing much.

We bought a wheelbarrow of firewood and made a fire. I whipped up a damper and we put the roast in the fire. A simple dinner as we didn’t have many veges.  We watched I Am Sam, which went for a long time, and ended up going to bed at 11.30pm (QLD time).

Rod discovered the caravan tyre had a big bubble so we drove back to Wellstead in the morning to change it and I noticed they had showers. So while he changed the tyre we all had showers and pushed on to Albany.

We were told about a particular van park so found it first up and pulled up. The weather was not great. Overcast and bitterly cold winds. We just hung out in the van – the boys on their ipod and laptops, Rod pottering and watching tv and me, well I caught up on all my photos and blogs which I haven’t done since Peterborough! Grr.

PHOTOS: Esperance to Albany