Packing it in today. Started with a drive out to Emu point where we saw 4 dolphins making their leisurely way through the channel from Princess Royal harbour. Of course by the time we got the camera ready they were gone, but it was a lovely way to start the day.
We moved on from the beach up to the war Memorial up on the mountain behind Albany - it was relocated from its original site in Port Said after it was damaged during the Suez crisis. It commemorates the involvement of Australian soldiers in the Middle East in WWI. It is a beautiful work of plunging horses. Then we went to the Princess Royal Fortresses the remains of which have been converted in restoration to museums. Originally established in the late 1890s to guard against the possible invasions of either the French or the Russians, it also oversaw the departure of the first transportation fleets that took the first AIF to Egypt in 1914, and was part of the defense of Australian waters during WWII. The only shot it ever fired fell short, and in 1956 the place was dismantled with restoration commencing in time for the bicentennial.
The we headed across to the Natural Bridge and The Gap which were spectacular formations in the granite by the southern ocean - and then headed on for the Whaling Works - the main features of which were the Cheynes IV, a preserved whale chaser from the 1970s and a skeleton room, full of whale skeletons, strangely enough. It was interesting that the opinions of the whalers themselves were often sympathetic to the anti-whaling cause, with many feeling that the slaughtering of whales was a pretty awful business. They enjoyed the challenge of the chase but did not really revel in the death of these majestic creatures.
Lunched in the carpark before heading to Denmark and then to the big tree skywalk near Walpole. We only just got there in time to purchase tickets before the final bell! A magical experience walking in the tree tops along a wobbly 600m long walkway, amongst the red tinkle and karri trees. And then on through the Forests to Walpole, where we found the only and very expensive hotel, and had dinner at the Top Deck Cafe, which was delicious and in which we were the only customers.....