Exploring near Albany

We initially planned to make ground west and camp somewhere near Bremer Bay, but the weather forecast looked ominous and our planned camp was a 4wd dry weather only option.  We ducked into the Fitzgerald River National Park to check it out as we drove past. The state of the roads with deep ruts in sections indicated that if it did rain, we would become semi permanent residents of the area, so we pushed on.

With Salmon season in full swing, there wasn't much left in any of the camp grounds on the coast, so we bit the bullet, and booked into a caravan park near Albany. We chose one on the southern shores of Princess Royal Harbour, and prepared for the wet - the first real wet in three months we were told.

Albany has so many things to see and do, however all our plans were thrown into disarray when the little helper tripped over on his way back to the camper. He was running at full tilt when he went over, and grazed elbows, hands and knees. A quick inspection revealed all was not well with one knee, so off we went to Albany Hospital.  After cleaning enough gravel out of the knee to pave a new path, and putting in three stitches, we were finally allowed back home.  The Little Fisherman would be out of action for a while - and our plans needed a bit of adjustment.

We decided to have an easy morning, and in the afternoon decided to visit the nearby Whale World.  The sight of Australia's last whaling station, shut down in the 1978, it presents a balanced and sombre reflection on whaling.  Thankfully the week we visited, the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan must immediately stop its whaling program in the Antarctic.  Whilst whaling hasn't stopped worldwide, this is surely a win for these beautiful and magnificent mammals.

The boys stand near the skeleton of a pygmy blue whale that died near Albany