Rose and I have come to Albany again this year for the long weekend. It has been unseasonaly hot this weekend until today when it has been raining, but this has not stopped us getting out.
We are staying at "The Lily" a reproduction of a traditional 16th century Dutch Windmill, but a completely functional one, Pleun (who built it) grinds flour for sale in the mill, and he and Hennie also provide excellent accommodation. He is also a talented musician and Hennie is an exceptional cook, providing a beautiful meal on Saturday night, it is worth coming to Albany just for her cooking!.
Today we travelled to Albany Windfarm, an excellent and very picturesque walk passing underneath the huge wind powered generators (they are quite elegant) the walk offers spectacular views of the coast, and even though it was rather wet and cold today it was well worth the effort.
Yesterday was spent in Mount Barker at the Police Station Museum, a quite extraordinary collection of buildings, machinery, tools and general items from the historic past of the region, it is quite enlightening to see how difficult it was to survive in those days We have it very easy these days!) the worst thing we need to worry about is being out of mobile range!!.
Were we are staying at the Lily is within easy driving distance of thr Stirling Ranges. They rise out of the surrounding, relatively flat, countryside in a very abrupt manner and then dissapear again as you pass through to Albany via the Porongorups (another beautiful Range) Walks abound in these ranges, from quite easy 1-2 hour walks to half day, quite rigourous walks, the area is a mecca for wildflowers in season, but is a beautiful area any time of year.
Last Saturday we left our car at Middleton Beach and walked into Albany via the coastal Boardwalk (approx 3kms) but what is not mentioned is that is the distance to the end of the walk, if you want to go into Albany it is about another 3k,s!! So as the temp. was aroun 28degC that day we quite tired by the end and not looking forward to walking back, but Rose started chatting with a very nice lady who offered to drive us back to Middleton ( a saviour!) We then drove back to Albany and had lunch and visited the new Performing Arts Centre and the Amity.Tomorrow we are back to Perth and back to work on Wednesday, ah well nothing ever lasts forever!!
