7th March 2020
A beautiful day and no wind . Time for a spot of fishing down at the beach . The sand is so white and fine. This beach is only 11 k from the caravan park . It is called Goode Beach .
Margaret and our friend John trying to catch a salmon , the water was very warm great for swimming in. Sadly no luck with catching any fish.
After having no luck fishing at the beach we decided to try our luck at the boat ramp . Yes we caught quite a few Herrings which we will use for bait.
9 th March
We decided to visit the old whale station that is situated just along the coast from the Panorama Caravan Park where we are staying.
A great view driving along the cost . The cost was $35.00 per person and $29.00 for pensioners. We thought this is too expensive so had a look around the information centre there and out to sea. If only tourist attractions realized a lot of people cannot afford these high prices and dropped there prices to maybe $10 to $15 pp they would get a lot more come in and spend more money in the coffee shops or buy souvenirs.
The view over the coast to where the whaling happened
A old whale ship at the information centre.
A lot of steps to go down to get to the salmon beach for fishing. Both John and I said no to the steps but enjoyed the view from the top.
A lot of steps once again to walk down . John did it to see if the blow holes were working with the little wind that was blowing . No sea spray was coming up through the holes. Margs knees were aching today so no steps for her.
This is the view we had walking up and down to the blow holes stunning colours
These signs I spotted on our way to the caravan park in Albany . The possums are protected here in Australia
Margs just finished these two for a shop in York . They seem to very popular .
16th March
We had to take our caravan to Albany Caravan repairs to get a wheel alignment today. We found that a couple of tyres were wearing on one side. Sadly the Queensland roads are where this happened. It took them 3 1/2 hours to do the realignment. We decided to have a look around Denmark and Walpole area whilst they did this as it was a beautiful sunny day .
Cosy Corner beach a very popular place to stay in WA especially as it is a freedom park area and great for fishing .
Free camping spot in this area
The orchid in between the tree branches is the orchid below
The architect that designed this tree top walk way used this plant design in corporating it with structure that holds the walkway above the trees.
These are the small holes in the grass that the Quokkas use to travel throughout the forest .
The photo above shows you how the designer used the plant to design parts of the walkway
John in the distance on the walkway
View of the canopy from the walkway . We had a wonderful 3 hours here just wondering around the ground floor looking at all the different trees and shrubs that were in this area of 6000 hectares, then walking the tree top walkway which was 600 metres long. The height of the walkway is 75 metres high . The cost to go in there was $15.00 for pensioners we both thought it was very well priced for what you saw and experienced. The manager was talking to John about other things we may like to see and mentioned to us about the Bannister Downs Dairy where they do automatic milking. This we are definitely going to have a look at within the next few days. Something John is very interested in with being a dairy farmer.
We had a beautiful pie for lunch here today mine was Lamb and Rosemary and John had Steak tomato and cheese. Very large pieces of meat in each one . Note all the Gold and Silver trophy’s on the shelf’s. Tops in Australia for there pies.
We saw this Meadery . Yes we had to stop . Mead is a beautiful smooth drink . Could not resist buying 3 bottles .
A lovely view over the inlet from where we are staying at Panorama Caravan Park Big Grove Albany
7th April 2020
Sadly this Coronavirus had put a stop to anyone traveling now. We have been in lock down here for 2 weeks . We are managing to get many things completed .I washed all the curtains and seat covers. Especially as our weather has been sunny. Done a lot of crocheting completed 6 rabbits for a shop which they wanted by Easter . John has been sewing a few hose holders and gave one to a friend of ours. We met john and Pauline on the road in Collie. We had a shared tea one night with them before lockdown and that was lovely. There has been no Coronavirus in the park so this is very pleasing .
Our friend John Bambalos trying the hose holder for size as a hat . It sure suits him
Took this off Facebook. The chapton said we are off to New Zealand
We have done a bit of fishing just to take the boredom away . I got 31 herrings and a few other fish don’t know what they were. Most of them were between 8 to 10 inches in length.
John put them in the smoker and very tasty they were. We brought two large kahawai from our local fish suppler straight from the boat at the weekend costing us $20.00 . These also went onto the smoker and John made a lovely white sauce. We got 13 meals for 2 people out of the fish . These are now in the freezer .We have a vacuum sealer and bags so it makes life easier when preparing meals for the freezer.
Pauline Bambalos checking our smoker and the aroma
Fish and white sauce in their bags ready for the freezer
Not far from where we are staying we spotted this lovely display at the entrance to a property . It is self explanatory. I had to put it in our blog.
On the 1st of April the Western Australia government recommended that all over 65 get their flu injections asap. After a ring around to doctors we were told to go to our local chemist and get it. I phoned them gave them our contacts etc as they had not received them . Within 24 hours they had them . A phone call came from them at 6.30 at night asking us to go and get the flu jab which we did in the morning at 9 o’clock. It cost us $10.00 each. What a wonderful service they did . We have both been very lucky neither one of us has had a reaction.
We just have to play the waiting game now until the Coronavirus stops spreading . Then we can continue to travel around this area. We are missing our children in New Zealand very much at this time and friends. Please stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all at Christmas God willing .
Friday 17 th April
We are starting to get cabin fever from the lockdown. Time for a drive out of the caravan park.
John worked on the replacement of 3ply on my side of the caravan. We had a leak a few years ago on the caravan roof. John replaced all the seals but the water damage had happen. Whilst in lockdown it was a good job to repair. When john removed the ply he found 3 small holes .
See the 3 small holes along the bottoms of the vent . The wood had to be replaced along the bottom
John did a awesome job repairing the wall. John also decided to repair the ply by the door that had rotted due to water leak . Photos above . We had to hunt for a joiner to match the ply which was very difficult to find here in Albany.
After lunch we decided to go for a drive to Chainsaw Sculpture Avenue, where there are many sculptures all done by a chainsaw. This guy sure is talented. Below are just a few of the sculptures. There are over 90 sculptures to view.
After looking at the sculptures we went for a drive around a area we had not been before Not far from the caravan park. This sure is a pretty area.
Emu Point
24 th April
We heard on the 20th April that the level 4 in NZ will go down to level 3 on the 27 th April. They are also looking at allowing the boarders to open between Australia and New Zealand for citizens only to travel back home. We hope that when we want to go back at Christmas we don’t have to isolate ourselves for 14 days . Western Australia boarders are still closed but because NZ are going to level 3 next week and here in WA we have had no more cases of the virus they are looking shortly we hope to open the boarders.
I sure am getting cabin fever and need to get my brain working again so I rang Tim the OP Manager at Bunnings Esperance to see if there was still work for me and he said yes . Once the boarders are open we are heading that way .
We went to Centrelink this morning so John could apply for the Aussie Pension as he is 66 on Wednesday and once that is done he is going to apply for the New Zealand one . They sure were very helpful there and a bonus we did not have to wait long to be served. Normally you have a large que to get in there especially with the Coronavirus causing a lot of unemployment etc. Now it is the waiting game to get it sorted out so John can get his pension.
On or way home we decided to have a treat and have fish and chips for lunch from a local store. 3 pieces of snapper and chips $22.00.
After having lunch we went up to Windmill look out for a walk. 18 Windmills along the coast line.
Photos below :
We are flying our Kiwi flag for ANZAC whilst in lockdown at Albany. LEST WE FORGET
Whilst we have been here I have just finished making a butterfly for our granddaughter that is due in June . Love making these doll
