Albany & surrounds

When we arrived in Albany the weather was overcast with some drizzly rain.  After living in the tropics we're not use to the southern weather pattern and it's been difficult dealing with the overcast days which change to sunshine and back to overcast and windy several times during the day.  One thing though, it keeps you fit just layering up with jumpers and coats, then when warm, layering down seems like you do this 4 or 5 times a day!!!

We decided to stay at Emu Point for a couple of nights and take in the markets and sights of Albany before moving to Cosy Corner about 30km west towards West Cape Howe National Park.

Albany Farmers Market, held on Saturday mornings

Saturdays farmers market has lots of local fruit and veg, and we bought a punnet of the biggest strawberries I've ever seen, about the size of an apricot, yummy! Also went to the wharf market on Sunday, lucky this was indoors as had some morning showers.

 

Replica of the Brig Amity

The Brig Amity is a replica of the first sailing ship to bring European settlers to WA.

 



Sam the Seal

Sam the New Zealand Fur Seal trusted & befriended thousands of locals and tourists over the years @ Emu Point was senselessly slaughtered by an unknown person in February 2006. Donations received were put towards a life sized bronze memorial.

 



Little Beach @ Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve

 

Went for a day trip out to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve which is East of Albany - again some lovely bays and picturesque scenery, still a bit too cold for us to take a dip!.

 



Salmon Pools @ Torndirrup National Park

Watched one lone fisherman at Salmon Pools, moved around the beach trying to catch the elusive salmon without any luck.

The Gap @ Torndirrup NP

Quite a spectacular rock feature the Gap and the Natural Bridge.  Of many "natural bridges" you see around the country this was one of the more spectacular and certainly the strongest which looks like it won't get washed away in the next million or so years.

Natural Bridge @ Torndirrup NP

Fisheries Beach @ Vancouver Peninsular

After leaving Albany we moved to Cosy Corner -  this is a great free camp and as you can see we found a cosy spot.  Not that many sites but when we arrived this spot was being vacated, so we waited on the road and had a coffee before we could move in.  Finished up staying for 5 days.

Our cosy camp @ Cosy Courner

Shelley Beach @ West Cape Howe National Park

Our day trip to West Cape Howe was great although Helen is not as keen on the 4WD tracks anymore.  The track to the most southerly point of WA was very overgrown most of the way over many sand dues with rubber conveyer belt for traction.  This in some cases was more of a nuisance than help as it had worn and was a tangled mess in some places.  I'm glad it didn't rain on this morning as the conveyer belt would have been very slippery! 

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Track into most southerly mainland point of WA @ West Cape Howe

"I can see the most southerly point'\"

We made it to the point, the drop down to the ocean below would have been some 50 meters, and quite a spectacular coast line, very different from the many bays we had been visiting.

And this is what I saw, most southerly point,  I think!!

Escarpment at southerly point on West Cape Howe

Cosy Corner Beach

Our neighbours at Cosy Corner, Graham & Julia making us breakfast

On Saturday we had decided to leave Cosy Corner and move to Denham as we wanted to go out for dinner to celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary.  Before we left our neighbours, Graham and Julia offered to treat us to a cooked breakfast.  What a scrumptious breakfast we had - many thanks, a great way to start our special day.

Anniversary dinner at the Denmark Tavern, (good menu, great food) Hels had Chicken Parmigiana and I had North West Barra and a couple of wines.