It was almost time to go. The annex had been pulled down and most of the mass of gear which seems to find its way into every nook and cranny of our outside living area had been rediscovered, sorted and stowed (occasionally after having to have a good think about where it actually belonged....it had been a while).
We had arranged to leave our site on Monday morning, and drop the van off at Autospark for the day before returning that evening into a drive-thu site prior to our departure for Bremer Bay. What fun....spending an entire day trying to keep Max in some sort of order and good humour in his cage in the cruiser whilst we await the 'come and get it' phone call. I've heard about taking fractious youngsters for a 'go to sleep' ride, but a cat???
We survived, particularly after his visit to the vet, where the resident moggie insisted on checking out the newcomer. After this and the subsequent treatment he received, Max was ready to crash out no matter where he was.
We survived, particularly after his visit to the vet, where the resident moggie insisted on checking out the newcomer. After this and the subsequent treatment he received, Max was ready to crash out no matter where he was.
But before all this, we did allow ourselves one farewell treat before moving on. 'The Searchers', a Merseybeat band of the same era as the Beatles, Billy J Cramer, Jerry and Pacemakers et al, were in town on 31 January for a concert at the Entertainment Centre. And two of the original members were still on tour. We had to go.
I think I bought some of the first tickets sold, and at $70 a pop, we had fantastic seats in what is a very good auditorium and concert hall, and a wonderful evening's entertainment. I even knew all the words to most of their songs....'Needles and Pins', 'Love Potion No 9', 'When You Walk in the Room'.....etc, etc.
Immediately after the show the band members all sat together and signed the CD's presented to them....what a good trick...another money spinner. For those of a similar vintage to your scribe, the fellow with the white hair is John McNally and beyond him is Frank Allen, the two originals (well, almost...Allen joined the band in 1964). Those at the near end are the 'newcomers', and a very competent duo they are, on the drums and rhythm guitar.
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How their appearance has changed since 1965 (that's McNally at the front and Allen immediately behind him) but they can still perform! This is the second time they have played Albany and on both occasions the shows have been a sell out. It was interesting to note just how much Liz lowered the average age of the audience!!
And the second concert????? A much more local affair. Just as we were hitching to leave
And the second concert????? A much more local affair. Just as we were hitching to leave
The Rose Gardens for the last time, the flock of park magpies surrounded our doorway and carolled away.....it was breakfast time. Why forage when you can con a camper into parting with some fresh brown bread?
These are really tame birds which roam the park as a family of eight. They actually disappeared during the Xmas mayhem, but to my particular delight, returned when things settled (just like the kookaburras).
These are really tame birds which roam the park as a family of eight. They actually disappeared during the Xmas mayhem, but to my particular delight, returned when things settled (just like the kookaburras).
All but two of the younger fledglings happily take food directly from an outstretched hand. The two which are yet to gain that degree of confidence stand back and squwark their heads off until one of the older birds stuffs their open beaks shut with a tasty morsel or two. Their insistent, harsh hunger calls were in distinct contrast to the melodic song of the older birds and I was always glad when they were silenced.
And so it was that the birds of Emu Point farewelled the Mobile Marshies, just as they had welcomed us to the park three months before. It had been a good stay, but, as we pulled out of Albany for the last time, that old sense of anticipation and a keen desire to see what lay over the next hill returned with a rush. Bremer Bay awaits.
Today's was to be a relatively short run.....just over 180 kms. Very sensible. The South Coast Highway took us eastwards through the undulating land east of Albany
where glimpses of the seasonally dry and brown cropping and grazing paddocks of this area occasionally came into view through the roadside scrub.
We passed through the tiny settlement of Wellstead, and, about 110 kms into our trip came to Boxwood Hill,
where we left the main highway and turned south-east towards the coast and our destination, some 70 kms distant.
Our first glimpse....the single wind turbine which delivers power to the small township of Bremer Bay. As we discovered a short time later, this huge windmill actually sits atop the hill immediately behind our chosen caravan park. The eerie, low pitched 'swhoosh' of its revolutions is a common sound on our site when the wind is in the right direction.
We had arrived, almost before we knew it. What a pleasant trip this had been....fine weather, light winds, relatively good roads and little traffic. Just the shot.
Now to settle into our new home for the next few weeks or so. Would Bremer Bay live up to all we had come to expect of it from many travellers' tales and the tourist blurb?
And so it was that the birds of Emu Point farewelled the Mobile Marshies, just as they had welcomed us to the park three months before. It had been a good stay, but, as we pulled out of Albany for the last time, that old sense of anticipation and a keen desire to see what lay over the next hill returned with a rush. Bremer Bay awaits.
Today's was to be a relatively short run.....just over 180 kms. Very sensible. The South Coast Highway took us eastwards through the undulating land east of Albany
where glimpses of the seasonally dry and brown cropping and grazing paddocks of this area occasionally came into view through the roadside scrub.
We passed through the tiny settlement of Wellstead, and, about 110 kms into our trip came to Boxwood Hill,
where we left the main highway and turned south-east towards the coast and our destination, some 70 kms distant.
Our first glimpse....the single wind turbine which delivers power to the small township of Bremer Bay. As we discovered a short time later, this huge windmill actually sits atop the hill immediately behind our chosen caravan park. The eerie, low pitched 'swhoosh' of its revolutions is a common sound on our site when the wind is in the right direction.
We had arrived, almost before we knew it. What a pleasant trip this had been....fine weather, light winds, relatively good roads and little traffic. Just the shot.
Now to settle into our new home for the next few weeks or so. Would Bremer Bay live up to all we had come to expect of it from many travellers' tales and the tourist blurb?
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