Mt.Barker to Esperance

It seems like forever since I updated the site. We lunched at the Dutch Windmill which was lovely, unfortunately we have heard that the Restaurant is no longer operating . The drive through the Stirling Ranges was beautiful even though it was overcast, made it more mystical. Wildflowers were amazing again. We came back through the Porongup Ranges, the views were great. Albany was our next destination, a really lovely town, built around huge granite rocks, if you cant build around it you build over it. We met up again with Pat and Narelle whom we met ages ago in Barn Hill, we may meet them again in Kalgoorlie. A drive up to Mt.Clarence and Mt.Adelaide afforded us more magical views. We took a walk to the Blowholes, (which werent blowing) it was a long steep walk back up the hill, still not 100% with the knee so taking it easy. Albany is a very nice town, about 30,000 people , the Van park was one of the best we have stayed in, the sites all drive through so a cinch for us beginners.

From Albany we made our way to Bremer Bay which apparently is a lovely place and Im sure it is when it isnt blowing a gale and pouring with rain, we really have copped some awful weather since we left Busselton. After 2 days we had had enough as there was no fishing so headed for Ravensthorpe. This was a nice little town and the park was cheap at $17 a night , once again it was raining. The van park was fairly old but the amenities were in a donger and very clean. We did a day trip out to Hyden and Wave Rock. I did well climbing right over the top of it, we took pictures in the Hippos Mouth a rock with a large gaping mouth like a hippo. From there we drove another 16klm to the Humps and Milkas cave , Milka was an aboriginal who was born cross eyed, and was born to a woman who wed an unsuitable man,. As he couldnt be a hunter he started killing children ( nice type !!!!) he lived and hid in this cave. We walked right to the top and down the other side of the granite mountain, quite a feat for me. It was a big day as I drove all 45oklms, havent done any driving for a while so thought it was about time I pulled my weight.
Thursday 20th December we headed towards Esperance, we were booked in for Saturday. We thought we would spend a couple of days at Stokes Inlet, a spot we had heard a lot about. As we pulled into the side road we read the sign that said that the camping area had been closed for 12 months due to flood then bushfire. We thought that information should have been forthcoming from the many tourist information centres that we have frequented recently. We took pot luck and continued into Esperance and were lucky that the van park was able to take us for the extra 2 days. It is quite a small park and right near the Wharf, therefore near the railway line on which the grain trains travel, however after the first night they havent bothered us too much. It rained and blew the first 2 days but since has got hotter and hotter. Esperance is a lovely town and the beaches are the most pristine white and the water the most brilliant turquiose we have seen anywhere on our travels. There is a fabulous drive called the Great Ocean drive which is a little like the Great Ocean drive in Victoria. The coastline is truly breathtaking, the drive is 35klms and brings you back past the pink salt lake and back into town.
Tony went fishing at the wharf but the only thing around was Sammy the Seal, you can hand feed him, he has very big teeth though. We went out in the boat one day and it was awful and freezing cold, so once again we packed the boat away. We visited the Mermaid Leather shop where they make all kinds of leather goods out of fish and shark skin, it was fascinating.
Xmas Day was a great surprise for us, my Uncle Mac and Aunty Vicki whom we stayed with Perth turned up at another Caravan park so that they could spend Xmas with us. We had a wonderful day, food was great but we didnt eat or drink too much. Of course we missed the kids very much but spoke to them during the day. We hope you all had a great Xmas.
Today we went for a drive out to Cape Le Grand about 6oklms from here, what can I say that I havent said about the coastline already, words fail me. Hopefully the pics show how magnificient it was. Tony climbed all the way up Frenchmans Peak, ( you can see it from Esperance) Im afraid it beat me but I did get a bit over half way and felt that it was too much stress for the knee. It was a sheer walk up a granite face, Tony said his legs felt like jelly when he got down. He was very pleased with himself. We drove onto Lucky Bay and thought a swim would be nice, the water was absolutely freezing so I chickened out but Tony braved and went in. From there we went to Hellfire bay and Thistle cove, the Xmas trees were brilliant orange against the blue ocean a great contrast. It was a wonderful day and I recommend it to anyone who comes over this way, it beats any beaches we have seen on this trip
When we got back to camp Tony asked me if I had the Mobile phone, no not me, we searched and searched. I said that I thought I had heard the beep it makes when a message comes through, but no we stripped the nissan pulled stuff out everywhere, Tony finally went to the office and rang the number to see if anyone had found it and answered the call. He said that there was no way he was walking up that damn mountain again to look for a phone..He ended up ringing Telstra and cancelling the phone and was prepared to go and buy a new phone. In the meantime I started pulling stuff out of the lockers, well you wouldnt believe it there was the phone in my boots under the socks, phew. Still dont know how they got there but dont care now. All in all it was an interesting and fulfilling day. We leave here on Friday and head for Kalgoorlie where I think it is going to be very hot, then back to Norseman and across the Nullabour.