We have been driving for most of the day and are now at Walpole on the south coast. We had to detour because the South West Highway was closed because of the fires. So we actually doubled back on ourselves and our car has a very small petrol tank so we have to make sure we keep filling up!
The road is closed beyond Walpole so tomorrow we head back the way we came to Albany.
After booking into a motel we went exploring. Albany is located on an inlet and is surrounded by forest. We went on the Tingle track to see the Tingle trees. Tingle trees are Eucalyptus Jacksonii and sometimes they get burnt leaving a hole through. Mick remembers the original Tingle tree but that one fell down on top of a Pommie! But there is another one. See photo! We had to drive on an unsealed dirt track road to see this which Mick loves but I am not so keen as we only have a very basic car.
We have just returned from the restaurant in the motel which had two other people in it. It was a scrummy meal and a bottle of local wine. Between us not just for me in case you are wondering.
It is a bit like the back of beyond out here.there is a pub, a shop, a motel and not much else. There are a lot of NSW firefighters staying in the motel who are here to help out with the bush fires. But don't worry as long as we go east we will be safe!