South Western Road Trip DAYS 1 & 2
DAY 1
We set off about lunchtime, driving in our shockingly trendy, and likeable Hyundi Accent. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sorry, let me start that again.
We set off about lunchtime in our Hyundi Accent that drives like a shopping trolley. (Has no distinguishing features and I swear pulls to the right.)
We knew we had a long drive ahead of us, as we were heading inland and south to get to Albany. After Albany, the plan was to spend the next few days driving back to Perth round the coast. We passed the time playing 'I Spy Roadkill' (1pt to spot the roadkill, then 3pts if you can guess what it was - Driver is Ref as they should have their eyes on the road at all times) and also Roadtrain Conkers (in Oz they have Juggernaughts which pull up to 5 containers behind them. - "OOh look a 3-er")
After about 3 hours, we stopped at a service station to swap drivers. When I got in the car at Perth, I just chucked my food bag on the back the back shelf. By the time we stopped, this fresh banana and an apple had both been cooked right through! (Note to self - Remember to put more sun cream on)
We got to Albany just before dark. It was a nice little fishing village and we booked into 'The London Hotel' a hotel and backpacker combo place. We had a couple of games of pool and went upstairs where the next few days were being planned. As I didn't know what was around, (I'd just tagged along to have a drive and get out of the hostel) it wasn't really worth me having an input. I figured i'd just go with the flow.
I picked up a Gideon's Bible which was on the shelf and started reading that instead. I've never read the bible, I always get put off when Ezekiel 25:17 isn't the same as in Pulp Fiction. I started reading Genesis, I was suprised to see a lot of it isn't really that different from the aboriginal stuff. Substitute GOD with warrior, snake or giant emu and you've got yourself a creation story.
DAY 2
We were up at 6.30am, to head out on the peninsular just south of Albany. We went to Frenchman's Bay for brekkie. There were free gas BBQs right on the beach so we all had a cooked breakfast.
Tony, Jason and Joe. I love the smell of Bacon in the morning...
The Road Trip Posse. Jason, Tom, Tony, Gareth, Joe, Mark and Me.
We visited a 'blowhole' further up the coast, then went onto 'The Gap' and Natural Bridge. A couple of geological formations right next to each other. You can't see it here but there's a bloody great drop just behind me...
The natural bridge doesn't look much like a bridge here because a huge wave crashed through as I was standing there. We said after about 20 mins of everyone running from the viewing platform to the bridge, we might as well have just sent 1 person with 7 different T-Shirts...
The sun came out as we headed back to Albany and up 'Mt Melville' to look out over the bay and peninsular. I figured i'd try posing in this one rather than just standing there with a gormless cheesy grin on my face.
I'm not sure if it was the best idea though...
Further up the coast we went to Green Pools, one of the most beautiful beaches i've ever seen. It's surrounded by rocks (which calms the sea) that formed when Oz broke away or collided with Antarctica 'x' million years ago. The information board said 'think of the shapes which form in a lava lamp, its the same principle.' Riiiiight.
We all sat on some rocks at one side of the beach. I said to Joe about a theory I've come up with travelling in Oz. *SPLASH* Tom dived in.
Me
"OK, this place is gorgeous right?"
Joe
"Right"
Me
"...and we're in Australia, Right?"
Joe
"Yep"
Me
"So whats going to kill us. This whole country would be paradise otherwise. The Australian Paradox seems to be that wherever theres beauty, theres always a bea..."
"...STINGRAAAAAAY..."
"Nah, its a rock seeaahHWHOA YEAH! LOOK!! STINGRAY!!!"
*SPLASH* Tom dived out the water
Me
"Could that have been any better timed?"
It was easily 4ft across as it swum by us. Also, I think may have been a Manta-ray rather than a Sting-ray whatever that means. Anyway, we didn't see any more for a couple of minutes and bravado kicked in, so we all went swimming in the crystal clear waters. (Obviously everyone was crapping themselves everytime they swum over a rock or some seaweed though)