Albany

Albany. What a great town and what a lovely stay! So much to enjoy, even though the weather was cool and rainy. We were very kindly hosted Jeananne, the mother of Marina, an old friend from Oxford. Jeananne lives in a gorgeous house not far from the beach in Albany and she graciously welcomed us into her beautiful home.  We enjoyed being in a house again for a few days and out of the camper van - and the chance to catch our breath a bit. 

There was a lot to explore in Albany - including some amazing natural sites.  The Gap and the Natural Bridge (below) were breathtaking, and 'Whale World' - a museum dedicated to Albany's whaling past - was hard to see at times but very interesting all the same (Albany only stopped whaling in 1974 and it was a huge blow to the town). We had some fun seafood down by the harbour and some surfing in the big waves. 

We loved Albany - we think it's one of Australia's best-kept secrets. We would go back anytime.  

On our way to The Gap

My face doesn't show it, but this viewpoint was suspended right over the Gap - crazy vertigo

The Natural Bridge

The Whaling Museum had an unexpected bonus - one private collector's shell collection. Astounding!

A once-working whaler

The surf was BIG

Lunch at the Squid Shack by the harbour - the pelicans were always looking for scraps

With Jeananne

In front of Jeananne's lovely home

Family portrait (we all got our hair cut in Albany)