Albany

Our first rain day. Today (yesterday now) we learned that in Australia, intermittent rain truly means intermittent rain. It was raining when we first got up, so we didn’t rush, but then it looked like it was clearing and our check-out time was approaching so off we went. Just an aside, while I think of it – in the last 2 days I have seen 3 rainbows; 4 if you count the double rainbow as 2.
First stop was the tourist information in Walpole to buy tickets for the tree-top walk. We got more than we came for as the very nice gentleman behind the counter proceeded to give detailed directions with a detour through town first, and then said, “you must take the very scenic drive around the inlet” (having done this last night we knew that he was over-selling it), then “make sure to stop at the toffee factory”, all said as he highlighted on the map. “And the Meadery,” (a winery that produces mead (honey wines)), “and take this road down to the bay where you must go for a swim!” At this comment I pointed out the weather and he said, “What does it matter if it is raining when you’re going to get wet swimming?”… and on he went. I have to say, later that day when we were driving past some of these attractions, it made me smile to think of him, and we did stop at one of his suggestions – Elephant Rock and we were not disappointed. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The tree-top walk is in The Valley of the Giants and is a series of steel trusses (glossy brochure says there are six 60 meter spans) built on steel pylons. To be honest, at first, I was more fascinated with the engineering aspect of the walk. It was very impressive. At the highest point we were 70 meters above the forest floor. As for the weather, it started raining just as we hit the highest point and then, by the time we had crossed the next span, it was blue skies once again.
In the same area is a short boardwalk through the Ancient Empire Forest which is a grove of old red tingle trees. To quote the brochure again, some of the trees have a base that measures up to 20 meters (66 feet) in circumference.
From the forest we headed to the coast with a stop at a tourist point called Elephant Rocks. When we first arrived we were a little disappointed that there were so many other people. They all seemed to stop on top of the rock, but we continued down a side-trail and ended up down on the beach after making our way through a small surge channel. As you’ll see in the photos, Leone didn’t get the timing quite right and got wetter than intended. Things were looking up, people-wise, because everyone left, so, we took some nice photos, but, as the photo of Michael shows, the weather quickly progressed from light drizzle to pouring down the rain, and we got soaked to the bone.
We continued on to Denmark in the rain, and found the chocolate store that had been recommended to us by Therese. (We had enjoyed some chocolate from this place earlier at Paul and Therese’s). It was closed, but said they were open for business today at Albany’s Boat Market. After a visit to a co-op art store, and a coffee from across the street (another great Therese tip), we were on our way again. Not long down the road, we stopped in at a store specializing in fancy art made from Australian wood. Michael was very excited to buy a plain rectangular block of Jarrah wood.
Then, Albany. Michael says Albany reminds him of St John’s, NL, in that it’s a city precariously nestled in the rocks on the edge of the ocean. A nice little port town, it’s known as the place from which Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers left to fight in The Great War, specifically the Gallipoli Campaign which began on April 25th, 1914. The 99th anniversary is being commemorated all across Australia this coming Thursday. ANZAC Day is to Australia what would in Canada be a combined commemoration of both The Battle of Vimy Ridge and Armistice Day.
Turns out our arrival at Albany was poorly timed, as it was 4 minutes after the chocolate store was closed – sorry folks that was going to be our souvenirs to give out on our return. We found our way to the next accommodations, checked in, then made an attempt to check out some local coastal sights, but the rain and fatigue turned us back for a quiet evening in making use of a (finally) decent internet connection.
Monday – another intermittent rain day. On the coast, you could actually see the waves of rain coming so we learned from yesterday and timed our excursions between downpours. First on the agenda was to return to the local coastal sights that we turned away from yesterday, and we’re glad that we did because the waves and the coastline were very impressive. We thought it would be just a quick peek, but we ended up spending all morning and then some. In the afternoon we had hoped to go to Waychinicup National Park but it turns out we overshot it (that will teach us not to venture out without a map). We did enjoy some nice white sandy beaches with beautiful turquoise waves that seemed to go on forever. What a contrast to this morning where the swells were crashing on rocks, and being forced through blow holes and down narrow gaps to spectacular results.
I already posted a link to yesterday's photos so HERE is one to just today’s pictures.