Albany

The word had gotten around within the caravan fraternity that Albany would be pretty full over the weekend. It was unfortunate really because party due to this "mis-information" numbers were down. Having said that, the park owners and other providors really decided the capitalise. Hence, a site in a van park at Middleton Beach would set you back no less than $100/night, yet free camping (not well advertised) was available less than 10k from the city centre. $20 price tags on hamburgers, etc were not uncommon. I payed $22 for mine.. but they were local sardines. On the other hand, all the events on over the weekend were free. These events included concerts, parades, light shows, the sailpast, etc. All were great fun and very well managed. They really showcased Albany as a booming community, and the general vibe from those who attended was really upbeat...

 Middleton Beach

Images projected around town using the buildings as the screens were amazing.

The crowds down "York" street after the march past. 

We got talking to a little old lady in the crowd during the march past to discover that the "older" lady next to her was her mother, who's husband had been in the first march past 100 years ago. Well, she managed to find her way to the front (with a little assistance) pretty quickly. She was a very happy lady.

Rose and I did a mammoth 16k walk to "Bald Head". One of our many training walks in preparation for the Tasmania leg of our journey in February. It took us 5 hours and we we absolutely exhausted by the end of it. We managed to get to the very end of the path. The final 500 were the hardest with about 200m being a steep almost vertical drop. The slide down was OK, but the trip back up took us more than an hour. 

On top of the first hill about 300m from the start of the walk.

At the bottom of the first hill Any opportunity for a break. The photo excuse seemed to work best.

Looking back (north) towards Albany about 4k into the walk. A really great harbour.

We had an oil leak in the power steering fixed in Albany by VW. They did it under warranty. It took us 2 visits for them to get it right. We didn't mind as we were staying a few k's up a dirt road and the car came back spotless, and they'd vacuumed what they could reach on the inside too Needless to say, when the car went in the second time I'd taken out all the gear we were carrying inside the car, and they cleaned it inside and out once again I'd definitely go back, if only for the car wash...

We're off back to Pemberton via Mt Barker in the next day or so. Then we'll make our way back along the south west coast once more a little slower this time.