Albany 1 (March 2015)

The road between Esperance and Albany is quite narrow and with steep shoulders, which does not provide very relaxed driving. 

The campground we have selected to stay is not big enough for our large motor home, that is: we think we can get in, but we’re afraid we can’t get out.

Luckily enough there is another option at a park with a special area for big rigs, called ‘the overflow’.  We can book in but have to be out of there before the Eater long weekend. While exploring Albany by car we get the impression there is a lot to like. The main road, dipping down towards the port has a nice historic feel to it.

We find all that we are looking for right here. Firstly we get all the brochures from the information center and then do some shopping. On Saturday there is a farmers’ market and we are keen to learn what the local producers grow. It is tucked away in a small area, unpretentious, nice. No rice growers here, but plenty of apples. We’re a bit late for strawberries. On Sunday we check out the boat shed markets, with more nonfood stalls and a good atmosphere. We have to buy honey, because we finished all our own supply before entering WA.

One of the apiarists we talk to tells us his hives have a lot of chalk brood and American foulbrood disease. We are not so convinced the Western Australian beehives are that much more disease free than the rest of Australia. We certainly never had foulbrood in our hives. We checked regularly. Needless to say we did not buy his honey. Anyway.

We fill our time with collecting Woolworth’s dominos, some other shopping, a visit to the new Orana Cinema (Disney’s Cinderella, love the performance by Cate Blanchet) and a visit to the Sandalwood distillery (a bit of a joke, not much of a tour, but many very pricy products).

Highlights are the former Whaling Station, now museum. It boasts the most fantastic view, a fascinating history and very well set up. Good to know that the number of whales is recovering steadily. The other ultimate experience is snorkeling and spearfishing at Mutton Bird Beach. In the local dive shop –where we bought a long wetsuit for Laura, and a new spear for Jolmer, they had provided us with this priceless tip. What an excellent spot for beginner snorkelers. The beach is sheltered from big waves by two islands only hundred meter of the coast and the water is crystal clear. The new long suits are working well, nobody is cold and Jolmer manages to catch a feed. We feel we have landed in paradise.

We like Albany so much that we make an appointment to get shown around one of the local schools, for future orientation.

Surfing off Margaret beach proves to be tricky. We miss the nice long rollers from Surfers Beach in SA and Lucky Bay near Esperance. None of us manages to get up on the board, but that is OK, we experience different waves and surf and break. Let’s try again in Denmark.

We now have 2 boys with a B diploma. Hugo says he also has one. A B-abyploma.