Albany 2

Another night without wind and rain so that was great. The dentist visit was painless which was a relief but the tooth will be properly dealt with when we get back. It was lucky Alex could get in to see someone quickly, the first person he phoned didn’t have an appt available for weeks.

We spent the day driving around Albany from the wharf, to the War Memorial and the old Army post with all the gun placements, underground magazine etc. Where possible things have been restored very well but some things were beyond help eg. The stables were gone but the concrete manure bunker was still there! Alex was horrified by the cramped and hazardous interior of the 4.5 inch Naval gun turret where 6 men were contained when it was operating.

30 000 soldiers going to Gallipoli sailed out of Albany. The statue of the Lighthorsemen at the War Memorial on Mt Clarence is very impressive and is framed beautifully by trees as you walk up the steps. Either side of the steps was like a jungle with shrubs, grasses and trees and we saw lots of lizards, similar to Blue Tongues. One sat right beside the path and posed.

We also saw a replica of the ship, “Amity” and the old Convict Gaol but baulked at yet more entrance fees so didn’t go through them. The Amity brought 45 people, including convicts, to what became the first settlement in WA.

Across the bay is Princess Royal Harbour Yacht Club which isn’t in the same league as Hillarys Yacht Club but we didn’t see any “For Sale” signs on boats.

The weather forecast for tomorrow isn’t looking good so we’re hoping to get away ahead of the strong winds and showers. We’re planning on going to Esperance via Jerramungup, where Dad had an option on a Soldier’s Settler block back in about 1962.

War Memorial, Albany

Posing Lizard

Washing Machine in Troops’ Laundry

Tern???

Weather Vane, York St, Albany