We have now spent a week in Albany. The weather has been a bit drizzly, a bit windy but overall not unpleasant. A visit to the strawberry farm gave us 1 kg of "seconds" for $2.50 and there was not much wrong with them so we keep going back. We have also driven to Two Peoples Bay and on the way back stopped at The Nipper cafe where we bought marron - freshly caught and cooked while we had a coffee. They were sweeter than lobster and very moreish.
Driving around we have visited the Gap, the Bridge, and the blowholes (which you could hear blowing but could not see and the walk down was about 1km and steep). A walk over the Brig Amity made one realise how "cosy" were the sleeping arrangements and Rob says that this was roughly the size of his grandfather's ship "Enigma".
A visit to the old whaling station again made one feel rather insignificant when standing next to the jaw bone of a whale and looking at the skeletons of these leviathans.
We had anticipated getting lots of fresh produce from the Saturday morning markets but by 9am there was very little left so for many things we had to resort to the supermarkets.
May all our readers have a Merry Christmas .
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
On to Albany
Last week was fairly laid back apart from walking on the beach most days. The highlight was our trip to the Valley of the Giants to do the Tree Top Walk on a brilliantly sunny day. Whilst the walk itself is only 400m in length you can walk it as many times as you like. The view over the canopy was brilliant and looking down the ground sure looked a long way away. The site is very well organised with disabled access. As you slowly descend back to the floor of the forest it feels a little unreal. The Empire walk is again about 1/2km with boardwalks around the bases of the Tingle Trees and the insignificance of the human is quite overpowering.
On Friday we left the tall tree country and drove the 120 kms to Albany stopping for a coffee break at the pretty township of Denmark. This has a very "Bowral" feel about it and we may well revisit it during our sojourn in this area.
Albany has a population similar to Queanbeyan's and very spread out shopping areas. Apart from Myers and David Jones all the other chains seem to be represented. The park is 1km from the main shopping area - not that this is of great interest apart from the food side of things. There is a farmer's market on Saturday mornings where local seasonal produce is available. We did enjoy stocking up with fresh veg, stone fruit and berries. There is not pressure to do anything major here so we will play it by ear - but there are more wineries........
On Friday we left the tall tree country and drove the 120 kms to Albany stopping for a coffee break at the pretty township of Denmark. This has a very "Bowral" feel about it and we may well revisit it during our sojourn in this area.
Albany has a population similar to Queanbeyan's and very spread out shopping areas. Apart from Myers and David Jones all the other chains seem to be represented. The park is 1km from the main shopping area - not that this is of great interest apart from the food side of things. There is a farmer's market on Saturday mornings where local seasonal produce is available. We did enjoy stocking up with fresh veg, stone fruit and berries. There is not pressure to do anything major here so we will play it by ear - but there are more wineries........
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Walpole
The rest of the week in Pemberton was spent walking in the karri forest, Rob climbing halfway up the Glouster tree, visiting a rather lovely woodwork gallery and having a lunch of marron. We also took a cruise down the Donnelly River to its mouth into the Southern Ocean. This is a pristine river with very little human access. The surrounding forest is very dense as there has been no burn off and consists of marri trees and paper barks. The beach at the mouth is the roosting place for fairy terns and all you could see for about 100 sq yards were little heads. A very realxing afternoon.
The drive to Walpole on Friday was pleasant if overcast and the road was certainly narrowish in places when you think that it is classkfked as a highway. The Top Tourist park at Coalmine Beach is a delight. The sites are all separated by trees and the view out of our annexe window is of brilliant red bottlebrush which attracts honeyeaters. The beach itself if 50 steps down from the caravan park and is in the Nornalup inlet. The weather here has been rather overcast but we did drive out to the Giant Tingle Tree which was enormous (see photograph). The forest area around it is pretty, the trees are not as tall as the karri but their girth is certainly much wider.
The drive to Walpole on Friday was pleasant if overcast and the road was certainly narrowish in places when you think that it is classkfked as a highway. The Top Tourist park at Coalmine Beach is a delight. The sites are all separated by trees and the view out of our annexe window is of brilliant red bottlebrush which attracts honeyeaters. The beach itself if 50 steps down from the caravan park and is in the Nornalup inlet. The weather here has been rather overcast but we did drive out to the Giant Tingle Tree which was enormous (see photograph). The forest area around it is pretty, the trees are not as tall as the karri but their girth is certainly much wider.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Big tree country-Pemberton
We spent the last week in Margaret River visiting a few more wineries (!) and did see some fairly impressive venues. We also revisited the Venison Farm to pick up some more salami and ham to keep us going for nibbles.
Friday morning dawned sunny but windy. We set off for the short drive to Pemberton (140KM) and fortunately by the time we turned east the wind became a tail wind which virtually disappeared when the big trees appeared. The GPS system kept on losing our location because the trees blocked the signal but we did arrive safely at the Caravan Park which nestles at the foot of a steep hill covered by native karri forest. The local parrots expect to be fed and their confrontations with the local friar bird are entertaining.
Pemberton is a quaint little town with the buildings on the main street all built in the same style of weatherboard. Apparently this is the biggest avocado growing area in Australia.
We took a drive to Manjimup which is quite substantial and visited the Wine and Truffle Company - more wine tasting (Oh dear!) and smelling our first truffles. On the way back we stopped at the Diamond Tree which is one of three trees in the district that can be climbed (see photos) and certainly give you a crick in the neck trying to see the platform at the top. Rob started climbing the tree but can you spot me (coward) at the base of the tree in the second shot.
Our venture forth today was to take a trip on the Pemberton tram through the karri forest stopping at The Cascades and visiting the Tingle tree. The whole atmosphere is very dwarfing but beautiful. More to follow.....
Friday morning dawned sunny but windy. We set off for the short drive to Pemberton (140KM) and fortunately by the time we turned east the wind became a tail wind which virtually disappeared when the big trees appeared. The GPS system kept on losing our location because the trees blocked the signal but we did arrive safely at the Caravan Park which nestles at the foot of a steep hill covered by native karri forest. The local parrots expect to be fed and their confrontations with the local friar bird are entertaining.
Pemberton is a quaint little town with the buildings on the main street all built in the same style of weatherboard. Apparently this is the biggest avocado growing area in Australia.
We took a drive to Manjimup which is quite substantial and visited the Wine and Truffle Company - more wine tasting (Oh dear!) and smelling our first truffles. On the way back we stopped at the Diamond Tree which is one of three trees in the district that can be climbed (see photos) and certainly give you a crick in the neck trying to see the platform at the top. Rob started climbing the tree but can you spot me (coward) at the base of the tree in the second shot.
Our venture forth today was to take a trip on the Pemberton tram through the karri forest stopping at The Cascades and visiting the Tingle tree. The whole atmosphere is very dwarfing but beautiful. More to follow.....
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