Day 22: 15th Sept 2014

This morning, after breakfast, we wandered across the road and had a quiet coffee sitting on the rocks overlooking the sea. Very pleasant.

Our morning view

 Today’s plan was to visit “The Gap”, “The Natural Bridge”, and the “Blow holes” and when we arrived at the carpark, it was obvious by the number of cars that it’s a very popular spot. The Natural Bridge turned out to be exactly what its name suggests, a huge rock forming an arched bridge over the crashing sea. The Gap I’d describe as a canyon between two rock walls where the sea rolls in and creates a loud, resonating “boom” as it hits the end. There’s a viewing platform that actually steps out over the edge of the wall slightly, so you get a bird-eye view of the waves as they roll in.

A short hop down the road is the carpark where you gain access to the blow holes. There’s about a 15min walk to the actual blow holes and along the way there are plenty of wildflowers, plants and reptiles to photograph and admire. The blow holes themselves aren’t your typical blow hole in that they don’t eject spray as the swells crash in, rather, they blast an extremely high speed jet of air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1st snake for the day.

We moved on a little further to the Discovery Centre at Frenchman’s Bay. This was once the base for the whaling fleet and a restored boat, complete with harpoon gun, sits there high and dry on blocks for everyone to look at and ponder the times when we were less enlightened. This is such a beautiful spot, it's a shame it has such a past.

Making our way back towards Albany, we detoured in to take in the view from the Stoney Hill lookout. Because of its strategic value, during WWI and WWII, the Port of Albany was protected by observation posts perched on top of the massive granite boulder at the peak of Stoney Hill. This was upgraded to a radar installation, complete with an Operations room that was shaped to mimic the surrounding rocks. The view from up there was fantastic and we sat for a while, taking in the sights and tranquillity.

So much serenity

 

Laura's sitting on what's left of the footings for the radar tower

Back down from Stoney Hill and a little closer to Albany is the Wind farm. A short walk up to the first observation point provides an excellent spot to view all of the wind turbines as they stand off into the distance.

"...a reminder of man's ability to generate electricity."

Yet a little further back towards town is the Great Southern Distilling Company. This local company have won awards for their small volume batches of Single Malt Whiskey. Even though I like Scotch, at 61 proof, and up to $350 per bottle, we all opted for coffee and a cake.

Coffee and cake at the distillery

Sharon had been snapping photos of wildflowers all day, here's a selection of what she took:

 

 

 

 

 

2nd snake

3rd snake

 

 

 





Day 21: 14th Sept 2014

 



Walpole's main street

We left Walpole today with the intention of stopping to sample some cider and toffee at “The Toffee Factory”, near Denmark. Yet another place that sells all sorts of tasty things to eat and drink. I bought a mixed 4 pack of apple and pear ciders and a packet of reasonably potent Chilli Cider  Peanuts, whilst Sharon and Laura grabbed several types of toffees.

A courteous young cow escorts us from the Toffee Factory

A bit further on we pulled up at “Bartholomews Meadery” who sell, and allow you to sample, all sorts of pure, unprocessed honeys, and a variety of Meads. We tried the warm, spicy Mead, which is supposed to be ideal for a cold Winter’s night, but found it wasn’t really something we liked. So it was back on the road and in to Denmark to find somewhere for morning coffee.

Even though we didn’t spend much time in Denmark, what we did see looked really nice and would definitely be a location we’d stop-over in next time we’re out this way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main street, Albany

With nothing else to divert our attention we pressed on and arrived in Albany in time to set up camp, have lunch, then sit back and admire the view looking out the front of our sites to Middleton Beach.

The view out the front of our campsite