Hi again. Hope you are all well. We are both well and enjoying ourselves in sunny Albany for about 6 days.

It was a damp, dreary day as we left Esperance but we did have a bright spot when we caught up with our cycling friends, Jenny and Brian, who had left Esperance a couple of hours earlier. It will be interesting to see if we meet them again; although we drive faster than they ride, we stay in different places and for longer periods.

Next stop was 2 nights at Bremer Bay, a small town on an amazing bay and nearby peninsula. Nine beaches with 10 km are stunning, with more beautiful blue water and white sand.

100 km further on we spent a night bush camping at Cape Riche, about 20 km off the highway. There is a small caravan park for about 15 caravans or tents, no power or water for caravans but there was a toilet. Met some other South Australians and enjoyed wines around the campfire.

Cape Range National Park was another 80 km away and we stayed 2 nights in Cape Range Retreat, another bush caravan park. It had power, water and a good ablution block in a bush setting, with a communal fire site. The drive through the park was interesting, great scenery, lots of emus, parrots, kangaroos and wallabies. After parking the car at 400 metres high we climbed another 500 metres almost to the summit of Bluff Knoll. Unfortunately we couldn’t do the final 100 metres because the clouds rolled in and we couldn’t see well enough to continue. Even so we enjoyed the almost 4-hour return trip; it was very steep but we both did it without major after effects.

Albany was only another 80 km drive through green hills, finishing at Kalgan Caravan Park, which is situated on the banks of the Kalgan River. Although about 15 km out of town, we prefer this park because of it’s natural setting and less formal atmosphere. We have a riverbank site with a fire bucket and sufficient wood for 3 or 4 days for $10. It is very pleasant.

Although we planned a 4-night stay the weather forecast has been for storms with lots of rain and very strong winds so we decided to stay an extra couple of days. Albany has plenty to see and some nice restaurants so we have been quite happy here – and yes the cyclists have caught up to us so we had a few hours with them. We hope to leave tomorrow (Monday) morning, as long as the weather has settled.

Love to all from Ted and Jo

Climbing Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range National Park.

Stunning Salmon Holes bay near Albany.

Near the top of the Granite Skywalk in Porongurup National Park.

Made it – she’s an accomplished climber.