So I have spent many months looking through my Western Australia Lonely Planet, pointing at pictures and saying 'I want to go there.....' well today was that opportunity. A place called Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks. But first to Albany. another coastal town and time for a bit of history.
There are to Mounts in Albany, Mount Adelaide and Mount Clarence. Clarence is home the the war memorial to the many Australian and New Zealand troops who died in the Great War. Stunning location and a really lovely place for a very fitting memorial, there is also an avenue of the mlst amazing trees, each one planted in honour or a fallen soldier.
Then onto Adelaide and this is home to the Princes Royal Fortress which was founded and built in 1893 and thankfully for the Australians has never seen active combat but it was the sight where the flotilla of 40 something ships headed off to war, most of the young men on board never to return. Again, a really moving place with the o,d buildings restored and relics of days gone by housed inside. I didnt plan on staying too long but thislace kept my attention for ages, helped by the lovely guys that keep it so well. They even had a Union Jack flying!
Now I got a bit ahead of myself there and I still havent worked out how you go back on this thing without erasing everything, so let me tell you where I stopped on the way. I had read about a little beach called Frenchmans Bay, and thats what it was! Nice but not worth hanging around for. Same with Cosy Corner which, despite its cute name, wasnt really!
I did, however, spend time at a place called the Natural Bridge and The Gap. They do exactly what they say on the tin! Fantastic ancient rock formations with crashing waves. Fab.
I also decided to follow the guide books advice and visit the Blow Holes, so called as the sea gushes out under pressure from cracks and holes formed in the cliffs. There was the usual warning sign that that they could kill you if you happened to stand over them and that the rocks can be slippery when wet. Also that it was a 700m walk followed by 60 odd steps. Jesus, after all that effort these babies better be blowing!
They werent unfortunately, but they were close, very very close. One wooshed up under the cliff almost where I was and I am not ashamed to say I nearly crapped myself!! How you are not supposed to stand near these things is beyond me, considering you cannot see them or even know what they look like!!
That was enough for me and I hiked back to the safety of Colin and off to my next stop.
Getting back on track and I headed for the place I had been waiting for, and boy it did not disappoint. Greens pool was the most amazing sheltered bay or turquoise blues sea and reefs, surrounded by these huge boulders which made the water perfect for swimming. And swim I did! Well waded in to waist deep and sat down but that is something for me!!
Then it was just a quick hop skip and jump to Elephant Rocks, just next to the pool. It took my breath away (not for long, sorry!!) It was almost not real and I just thought to myself, I am actuallh here! I really hope the pictures do it justice.
It was back round the corner to do my first bit of relaxing for weeks and I spent the afternoon soaking up the sun and the view, and then picked my spot for my tea and sunset. Awesome.
Then back to camp and an early night. I had managed to get another pitch and tonight I went to sleep with the sound of the ocean.........zzzzzzzzzzzzz
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