Albany to Bunbury via Pemberton, Augusta, Cape Leeuwin, Margaret River and Dunsborough
Day 30 - Thursday, 29 April 2010
Today, after a visit to the Albany visitors' centre, we drove up to the Old Fort, at King George Sound, where, in November, 1914, 20,000 Australians and 10,000 New Zealanders left by ship for the war at Gallipoli. The scenery around Albany is terrific as you can see from the photos. After an interesting visit to the Old Fort, we then went up to the Anzac Memorial, which still had all the flowers left from the Anzac Day Service.
After the memorial, we decided to go on the tourist drive to Frenchman Bay, checking out yet another wind farm, this time much closer than any we had seen before. They are really overwhelming up close.
On our way back to our motel, we passed a sign saying "Best whisky in the world." So, of course, we had to go in. As it was by then about 4pm, and they closed at 5pm, we had the very posh place all to ourselves, with the very nice young bloke, who happened to originally be from Far North Qld. He then proceeded to pour B. about 4 half glasses of different whiskies, which he told us had received first prizes in the world competition. So, of course, we had to buy the one B. liked the best. It was only $200!! Still, we won't be there again, will we?
Great Southern Distilling Company:
Then, back to our motel, where B. very quickly went to sleep and slept very well all night. BTW, our motel here is called the Dog Rock Motel. Here is the reason:
- J
Day 31 - Friday, 30 April 2010
Today, we decided to take it easy and headed for Pemberton, not very far away at all. The flowers everywhere really turn me on. We took a few really nice photos of some that we saw in the parking lot of The Toffee Factory, which was on the way to Pemberton, which also happened to make the biggest, nicest ice creams I have ever had.
Then, we decided to go on the Tree Top Walk, at the Valley of the Giants http://www.valleyofthegiants.com.au/ which was really great, except it was also exhausting. Supposed to be wheelchair friendly. They lent us one, but B. was worn out after just the first pathway up, so I used it as a walker the rest of the way. It was really worth the effort. There was a really strong wind blowing, so the walkways and platforms were swaying one way, while the huge karri trees were swaying the other way. I can just see Geoff's face going green at the thought.
Finally, yet again worn out, we signed into the Gloucester Motel at Pemberton - another of the Golden Chain motels. As usual, it had everything we could want, but we had to climb up a flight of stairs with all our stuff, because Pemberton is built on the side of hills.
- J
Day 32 - Saturday, 01 May 2010
After another late start (all the climbing and walking is wearing us out), we headed for Augusta and Cape Leeuwin, where, apparently, the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. On the way, we passed the Gloucester Tree:
which can be climbed. As we were getting out of the car, some very friendly and not at all shy parrots flew down and walked around our car where B. took photos of them.
There also was a bloke there looking a bit anxiously at the huge tree with a ladder going up to the top. His two teen-age kids were up at the lookout platform (58m) and and he was telling them to take it easy on the way down. Definitely an understatement. We decided not to try to climb it.
As the motel, Augusta's Georgiana Molloy Motel (http://georgianamolloy.bestwestern.com.au/), a Best Western motel, turned out to be one of the nicest motels we've been in, we decided to stay an extra day and see as much as possible. We actually have a full kitchen. Went to the local bakery for some lunch where they offered a platter of meats, salads and breads for two, which was beaut, but filling.
On a full stomach, we then went to see the lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin, where B. managed to find another of the shirts he discovered in Esperance Visitors Centre. Yet another exhausting climb up to the lighthouse, also worth the climb.
From here we can see both the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean at the same time:
While we were driving out to Cape Leeuwin, we finally saw our first live kangaroo on the side of the road, as he took off into the bush. Since we started, we had only seen dead ones on the roadside, about 18 so far, which is really sad.
Anyway, after the lighthouse, we ended up back at our motel for another early night.
- J
Day 33 - Sunday, 02 May 2010
The reason we decided to stay in Augusta and not go on to Margaret River, was that we figured the motels would be a lot dearer in MR, so today we have decided to check out MR and go see the wineries the bloke in the distillery at Albany recommended. Along the road to MR, Caves Road, of course there were several caves we could go and see. We decided on Mammoth Cave, but, as we were late leaving our room, we were seduced by a sign on the side of the road, advertising the Boranup Cafe and Art Gallery, so decided to stop and have lunch there.
For lunch we had a lovely beef and vegie hotpot, just like one I would have made, followed by a scone, (as good as one Gai would have made) - all homemade. One gets a bit tired of hamburgers and chips, which is always available everywhere. We also bought a scone each for our dinner, then on to the most beautiful gallery/gift shoppe, with a very friendly lady in charge. It had absolutely stunning different types of timber furniture and beautiful blown glass.
After spending more money, we went on to the Mammoth Cave, which I only went into the mouth of, then went back and sat in the car in the warm. I really don't like caves, and it apparently had about 170 steps in it. Bernard finally got back to the car, totally wiped out from all the climbing and walking, so I drove us back to the motel, where we had our beautiful scone and crashed.
- J
Day 34 - Monday, 03 May 2010
Leaving our lovely motel after B. stops snoring, on to Margaret River, which we didn't get to see yesterday. One of the friends we made when we were living in Melbourne, Jan, now lives in WA, and her daughter, Tina, who we only knew as a little 3 year old, lives in Dunsborough, which is further on than MR. Jan and her husband, Jerry, are now overseas, but she has given me Tina's work address and suggested we drop in and see her on our way through.
- J
Well, today we did drive on to Margaret River, but did not indulge in any tastings, as we had decided not to buy any wines, and after a tasting, one feels obliged to buy. So we treated it as a sight-seeing trip, and the scenery is certainly beautiful.
We did visit Tina at Dunsborough, by sheer good luck. We called at her hair-dressing salon, but it was closed (Monday is her day off). Just as we were about to drive away, Tina's daughter (whom we did not know), walked up to the door, and opened it! Her mother followed her, so we had a good conversation, before pushing on to Bunbury, where we found a waterfront motel for the night. Tomorrow, Perth.
- B
