Wed 8 & Thurs 9 May - Albany

Stormy skies, heavy rain on and off. Thunder. 

Wed:  Glad we’re in the cabin.  Weather OK, but threatening all day. I went for a walk along the coastal boardwalk, and turned back about the 35 min mark when it started to rain.

Fantastic rainbow over the beach behind the park in the afternoon.

Very heavy rain and thunder overnight.

Out walking early morning

Our little cabin, under cloudy skies

More stormy skies



Statue of Baudin, who visited Terra Australis 1800.  On the
walking trail above the cliffs, about 20 mins from our cabin.

More stormy skies plus a rainbow, afternoon.

Thurs: Forecast is looking better about two days out.  Very heavy rain this morning, but bursts of sunshine.  Coolish, very windy.

Very cold on the beach this morning.  These schoolkids were going
bodyboarding!  (Teacher was wearing a wetsuit.  Cruel!)



Further up the beach saw these guys.  No idea why they were
going for a dip fully clothed.  One even had his work boots on. 
What the?  (But, maybe smarter than the kids with no wetsuits?)

Went out for a drive to the Torndirrup NP to The Gap and the Natural Bridge.  Nearly got blown off (which would be a serious worry). The granite cliffs of The Gap are a sheer drop 25m high.  High swell meant we had a good view this morning.  The waves were crashing to the top of those 25m cliffs, and the spray even higher.  We had a brief discussion as to how long we'd last if the ballustrade gave way (not very long)!

Drove further round the coast to Torbay Inlet, looking for a spot Scott has camped in before, then around via 4WD tracks to Shelley Beach in the West Cape Howe NP.  Good fishing spot says Clive and Scott, but not today in cold weather and strong winds.  Outside temp 12 degrees at times.  Probably less with wind chill.

Further south via more 4WD tracks we found and checked out Dunskys Rd.  Took it to the end to see Dunsky Beach.  This is as close as you can get by road to the most southerly point of WA.  No beach – just rather steep drop down granite rocks.  Windy enough to blow you off, but very impressive views of the big waves again.

Will need to figure out in the morning if we move West or stay here yet another day, waiting this weather out. 

Track down to the Blowholes - Clive & Scott

Clive a little too close to the blowholes, and the edge.

Near the blowholes - the sun was out for a while

Torbay Inlet

Shelley Beach

Dunskys Rd 4WD track

On 4WD track

End of the track, Dunskys Rd.  It was VERY windy on those rocks.

Nearly blown off.....