Day 14 Esperence to Albany

We have been so lucky with the weather.  It raining on our first night in Esperence but it didn't bother us as it was during the night.  Then when we were leaving this morning it was misty rain but cleared up after we were on the road.  I went for a walk this morning and went the opposite way to yesterday and walked to the jetty and then to the end of the jetty.  It was a lovely morning and a lot of people were about as a fishing competition had started earlier with over 100 boats going out to sea.  There were flares and the helicopter was buzzing around.

The jetty at Esperence

We drove to Albany today via Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup (there are a lot of "ups" around here!) and Wellstead.  On the way in and out of Esperence there is a profusion of wild banksias in full flower on the sides of the road.  Between Esperence and Albany, initially the grazing country is all around and then all of a sudden there are tree farms everywhere - rows and rows, all very straight, of trees.

We stopped at Jerramungup to refuel and paid 159.7 cents a litre.  We also had lunch here at a park.  Along the way we passed a property called "Canberra West" which made us think of home.  One thing we have noticed in WA is that most rural people have their names at the front of their property.  As we got closer to Albany, the tree farms turned into grazing properties with mainly cattle and some sheep. 

On arrival we went straight to the Middleton Beach Holiday Park and set the van up.  Price for the site was $38 (prices are going up!) but as we are Big4 members we got a discount which reduced the price to $34.20.  Then we went to the Tourist Information Centre for some information.  Albany has a population of approximately 30,000 and was Western Australia's first white settlement.  It also boasts one of the best natural harbours in the world and has the state's most temperate climate and most popular tourist destination.  Antartica is several thousand kilometres to the south.   Albany was the embarkation point for Australian troops in the First World War.

Albany is straddled between Mt Clarence and Mt Melville so there are fantastic lookouts, some with 360 degree views of the town, the Southern Ocean,k mountain ranges and the region's waterways.  We took the scenic drive which takes you around town and out to Frenchman's Bay, Whale World, the blowholes and much more.  We also sawy the Brig Amity which is a replica ship built in recognition of the arrival of the first settlers in 1826.

Middleton Bay - our caravan park is right on the beach

This is on Mt Clarence and there are plaques for everyone who was killed in war or as a result of war.

The plaques are under a tree which in some cases was planted by a member of the family

This is the avenue, there is a plaque under each tree

Some of the very old buildings

Whale World with a view of the back end of a whaler

There is a great walk around one of the cliffs here just above Ellen Cove.  I went there for my walk this morning.  There are great lookouts along the way. We could have spent more time here but we will be heading closer to Perth today, possibly Busselton.

We are missing everyone at home.  We talk to Lauren every day but still miss her and the puppies.  We are having a great time thought and it feels like we have been away much longer than two weeks.

Till next time

Pete and Roz