Denmark & Walpole

From Denmark we did a day trips to the west visiting some beaches and local tourist attractions.  We drove down to Ocean beach and watched the "little nippers" having surfing lessons in a sheltered section of the bay leading into Wilson Inlet which Denmark is situated on.  We could only look at the many beaches and inlets as the weather was faaaar too cold for us to take a dip.  Along this section of coast we visited Greens Pool, Waterfall Beach and had to take a look at Mad Fish Bay, but never saw any mad fish only mad fishermen.

Lights Beach, just toooooo cold for a swim :o(

Waterfall Beach

Elephant Rocks, you count the elephants anywhere between 3 and 8 wins a prize.

Greens Pool, a very sheltered and picturesque bay.

 

Continued along the coast to Parry's Beach, Colin had stayed here for a week and so we thought we would check this out.  Was a nice camp for low vans as has a height restriction of 2.75m due to the trees so we decided to stay in Denmark until we moved to Walpole.  On the way back had to visit the Toffee factory, again on Colin's recommendation, and have an ice cream. The sign on the road said "the biggest cone in WA" how could we go past that!!

This is the Biggest Cone in WA - I just had to have one

I think this guy had "head freeze" from eating his ice cream too fast.

In Walpole we stayed at the Rest Point Caravan Park on the Nornalup Inlet and went touring from here.  The lady at the Walpole information Centre was most helpful and suggested a drive taking in the Giant Tingle Tree, Circular Pool, Swarbrick Art sculptures and valley of the Giants which we did over 2 days.

This is really tall timber country and the tingle trees are only found in this area.

One very big tingle tree

Circular Pool, you'll have to imagine the foam moving in a circular motion.

Swarbrick Art loop - by opening the door we "Discover the diversity of people's relationships with the wilderness area through time."

Wilderness door of perception

Wilderness wall of perception, Hels stood here for ages!!

No perception here, I'm an angel!!



I need to dust before we go.

At the Valley of the Giants we decided to take the Empire Walk, which is around the base of the tingle trees rather than the tree top walk.  We managed to join in on the guided tour which was most informative and gave us a better perspective of the tingle tree.

Got to drive the EK through the tingle tree, he he.

The guide telling us about "Grandma Tingle" tree in background.

The walk is well planned with walkways and signs to explain the different aspects of the tingle tree.

After the Valley of the Giants it was back to the coast and visited Peaceful bay, a small fishing village.  Infact this was a very tidy shack area with what I would consider a real fisherman's paradise.  From Peaceful Bay travelled back towards Walpole stopping at another bay, (the last for a while) Conspicuous Cliffs.

Conspicuous Cliffs

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.