Seymour Big Red Oz Tour: Albany the Oldest Settled Town in WA

On the road again...

A memorial on the side of the road.

A photo just because I see the beauty in it...

Beautiful lush farmland.

Getting closer...

And it was beautiful forest.

Arrived at Pemberton for a cuppa while Phil and I explored the town...It was only small and was full of miller's cottages, each one being used still for other purposes. This picture above was the way they used to move big logs around, lifting the front of the log while resting on a chain (the back side of the photo, you cant see it, sorry) while being dragged by bullock.

It was funny, we heard the train coming and the lights were flashing, thinking "WOW, a train, way out here still" and then saw one passenger carriage was all it was...

Ohhh....the Gloucester (said Glost-u)...Tree!!!

Heart Attach stuff for mothers who chose to stay at the bottom helpless, while their adventurous children climb the 53 metre monster...I needed a valium!!

All they had to aid their climb was those pegs you see, which by the way, moved as they stood on them...yes Phil, I saw them MOVE!!! and all that stood between them and the ground was a measly piece of ring lock fence...

This young lady wanted desperately to follow her older brothers and sister up to the top, but after seeing the gap between each rung and that if she slipped she would fall straight between them...there was NO WAY she was going up!! I didn't even want Benjamin up there but Dad thought it would be fine...I couldn't look!

"Hey Mum!! LOOK, we made it"!!

I heard Benjamin later talking with Casey, saying his legs were a bit wobbly...things a mother just shouldn't know.

"Hey Mum, I'm going up again, OK"!!

Look at that grin! He was so proud of himself. It didn't make up for missing out on the Ayers Rock climb but it came close. This time he made sure he got up real quick, out of my reach, where I couldn't chase him down...there was not way I could even get two metres of the ground.

Although Phil wanted to and tried, there was no way his knee would make it that far, under that much stress.

Very proud children...and one stressed out Mum!

Onto Walpole, where we would rest the night.

The tree top walk, is 40 metres above the ground.

These trees can live quite successfully with a hollowed out trunk for many many years.

Great "classrooms" for learning that you could just browse at your own leisure.

There was a real tree you could park under but after many tourists doing this over an extended period of time, it compounded the ground around the roots and eventually killed the tree.

It cost the family roughly $50 to do the suspended walk, but after doing the free forest floor walk, looking up, Phil was quite happy to part with the cash and have time looking down at these beautiful trees...me on the other hand, could have happily stayed with me feet firmly planted on the ground and the kids knew it...

Benjamin thought it was funny to shake the bridge...

Heading now to Denmark after having lunch in the bus. (Yes that's right, Australia has a town called Denmark)

Just a wonderful way to see Australia.

It was a quick stop in Denmark...we had afternoon tea, bought from a bakery, after strolling down the main street. We even caught up with our fellow traveller Janice.

A beautiful scene just looking down the beach at Albany.

While three kids happily explored the beach for shells.

They had seen a local girl bouncing up and down on this springy branch and decided when she got off they would all have a go. Very funny to watch. If you look at Benjamin's face, it was quite fun to do too!!

Not long after arriving we did our usual "Phil" sticky nose around the town.

This was the port where they were loading wood chips to export.

Mountains of woodchips.

This was actually quite a big dozer on the top of the massive heap.

This side was the "old" side of Albany, but also the pretty side. Nana Mck would have loved the old buildings.

We parked the first night in a large gravel-based carpark at the Mike Biddulph Aths Ground. There were no signs deterring free camping, so it was as good a place as any...

In the morning though, after a very busy road next to us, we decided to move just behind this oval to the back of the Indoor Swimming Pool. It was easy to turn around in and was a lot quieter.

Poor little man, was out 'playing' with an Alsatian (unknown by me at this point), for not very long, when I saw the devastation on his face as he came walking back to the bus. I knew something was wrong, but as he was wearing a long sleeve shirt and jumper I couldn't see what had happened until he calmed down enough and I took a closer look through the ripped shirt. The elderly gentleman followed Benjamin back only long enough for him to say a quick sorry. Mind you I did express my annoyance, reminding him of the sign that clearly states that all dogs should be on a leash. He quickly got into his car and drove off (pleased he picked up after his dog though). I did get his number plate and photo and am still waiting to hear back from the Council.

After a little game of catch we went for a look around town...trying to brighten one little man's day.

We found a tiny farmers' market right in the heart of "old" Albany.

Couldn't go passed the fresh, raw milk, with cream included.

Although quite expensive, they had done well with the packaging. It looked the part.

It was a hit!!

We travelled about 15 minutes out of town, along Frenchman's Road, to visit The Gap and Natural Bridge...SPECTACULAR!!

If you get your magnifying glass out you can see Esther on top of the bridge.

I have very daring kids!

This is looking down into "The Gap".

The sound as it pounds against the rock is actually quite deafening and if you are not expecting it, it can make you jump...or maybe its because I was standing up on a ledge and I don't like heights...

Next onto the blowholes, only 5km down the road

Because of the low tide and no great swells, we didn't actually get to see large spouts of water being pushed out through the rocks, but we did see the sea spray escaping and the noise was like you had a dragon breathing down your neck!..Husbands, you know what that sounds like, I'm sure...

Phil captured this shot just as the blast of the wave and air came through the cracks in the rock, causing an eerie sound.

Exploring the roads further we came to the old Whalers Port.

Benjamin playing around with the camera...

He told me this was his favourite snap...so I'm sharing it with the world...HIS TOES!!

At just one of many lookouts in Albany.

We came back the following day and had an older man practising the bagpipes (Mum you would have loved it). Something about bagpipes by the sea.

The girls and I doing a jig to the music...something I will only show few when we get home.

We learned lots about this Anglican Church and the following day fellowshipped here.

It was a learning experience for all of us. Beautiful people, welcomed us very warmly.

The Padre of this church was the man who "coined the phrase" that we all hear every Anzac Service "As the sun riseth and goeth down we will remember them"

The children now have a new hobby...STAMP COLLECTING!!

They got the bug while "accidently" finding themselves at a stamp exhibition in the Town Hall (behind Benjamin). They were all given a little bag of stamps and when they got home, I taught them how to remove the old envelope from them. They were determined to get back there the following day after Church...when they were given a load more!!

Benjamin can't wait to show Mr Blake his stamps.

Esther enjoying the slide.

The indoor pool was an afternoon (after Church) well spent.

Eliza wasn't game enough to go down the water slide, just happy to practise her swimming.

We had to think of Polly when we found these group of young guys at the top of one lookout hill. They were all waiting to race to the bottom and only too happy to show of their 360's on the way down...