SOUTHERN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

STIRLING  RANGES

After my quick visit to Melbourne, we hitched up the caravan to head south again.

The cool weather was still with us, and at times the wind and rain made it feel like the middle of a Melbourne winter!  We spent a couple of days in a lovely bush setting at the Stirling Ranges Retreat, near Bluff Knoll. 




Despite the cool weather, we were able to enjoy looking at many various wildflowers, and learnt a lot about native orchids at a talk and slideshow given by the owner of the Retreat. 




The following evening, a birdwatcher showed us pictures of many local birds.  We did see some of them, but the biggest bird we saw was the emu who decided to run across the road right in front of our car - fortunately he was an extremely fast runner.  We think we shook his tail feathers!  He certainly got our heart rate up.

ALBANY

We were pleased to have one fine, sunny day in Albany.  We had a good look around the town, with memories of David's time living there.  It's a picturesque place - very hilly, with wonderful views across the ocean, to the islands beyond. 
Despite searching the seas with the binoculars, we were unsuccessful in spotting any whales. 

We climbed up several flights of steep steps, to the top of Mt. Clarence where the first Anzac dawn service was commemorated, and from where we got a great view across the town. 

The next day we were back to wild weather,

which made our view of The Gap and the Natural Bridge at Frenchman's Bay quite spectacular.  The coastline in this area is really rugged and beautiful, and despite the weather we enjoyed our few days here. 

ESPERANCE

More of the spectacular southern coastline!  Lots of islands offshore; rugged rocky shores; clear blue water; white sand; crashing waves.  It's got the lot. 

 We had one day of poor weather, followed by another very pleasant day.  As we'd seen Cape le Grande before, we headed 120kms east of the town to Cape Arid National Park.  We watched some whales closer to shore than we've seen before, but they weren't in "show-off" mode, so no great photos.  Geoff managed to hook a salmon from the rocks while I enjoyed reading a book in the sunshine.

Back in the car, we turned the radio on to hear the last 30 seconds of the Grand Final - a surprise outcome!

One more trip north (to Kalgoorlie) before we head east over the Nullarbor.

PERTH AND  SURROUNDS

We've spent a lovely couple of weeks catching up with friends and family.  Firstly at Toodyay, a picturesque town about 80 kms north of Perth.  Then in various locations in Perth.  And finally just south of Mandurah, about 80 kms south of the city.   During this time, we revisited familiar places, and spent a lot of time chatting with our friends - particularly precious after being just the two of us for so long!!  Unfortunately our timing wasn't too great.  Our planned trip to Rottnest coincided with extremely wet and windy weather.  So that will have to wait for yet another visit in the future.  However, after a few days of this cool spell, the sun broke out again and we continued to enjoy typical Perth weather - clear skies and sunshine.

GREAT  NEWS
We decided to have a look at our old house in Ocean Reef, after which we were sitting by the beach eating our lunch when we received a phone call to let us know that we had a new baby grand-daughter.  We were delighted to hear that Savannah had arrived on the last day of August, safe and sound.   Grandma is off to Melbourne to have her first cuddle, before heading back to Perth to join Grandpa for the last leg of our journey.