Arrived in Esperance after a long bus journey of about 6 hours from Albany to be greeted by...no one. Yep the hostel had forgotten to send someone to pick me up, luckily a local guy who knew the bus driver took me to the hostel since it's a little way out of the town along the esplanade. I think I spent my first night talking to an Irish fella who thinks their house is haunted...I hope he took my laughing at this in good spirits (terrible pun I know).

My first day in Esperance has been a chilled out one, checked email and went walking round the town. I went along the Jetty to see if I could spot Sammy the sea lion...only to discover...he's not real! He's a charity collection box at the start of the Jetty! Although I was presently surprised when I peered over the beach to see a massive live seal just sunbathing itself! I've never seen one that big and had to watch it for a while to check it was real and alive (I know that sounds terrible but he was hardly moving!)

It's a little bit breezy today and whilst it's not raining it's too cold out so I binned my original plan for the day of cycling the Great Ocean Drive, it's about 40km in length and takes in all the local sights including the pink lake. I'll be here till Friday now before travelling on to Kalgoorlie, so I've got some time to do it still. Also hoping to get out to Lucky Bay with a few of the guys from the hostel this week too. Was rather nice of the owner of the hostel to ask a bunch of people I've never met to take me along during the week...so embarrassed! Ho hum *laugh*.

The picture is of the sea lion on the beach just chilling out on the sand in the sun! So cute!