Thurs, 9th Feb, 2017 Betty’s Beach Campground, east of Albany, WA (exploring beaches east of Albany)

Overcast morning – weather forecast for heavy rain tomorrow so we decided to head off to see if we can find some King George Whiting according to the fishing guides.

Chatted with Anna about the weather forecast of heavy rain tomorrow. They needed more drinking water so we offered to take a 20 litre drum of theirs to fill up. We had a 10 litre drinking water under the bead that we got before the goldfields so got that out for them as we have heaps. Steve had pumped across the water in the truck to top up the van and we will top up the truck in town too. Headed back to the main road then down a dirt road to Nanarup past Taylor Inlet which is blocked off from the ocean.

Walked out onto the beach though the wind was blowing us backwards and it was freezing. Looking east around to Mt Gardner and Cape Vancouver then Rock Dundar.

Then across to Breaksea Island (you can see the lighthouse) and Islet Point a rocky outcrop at the end of the beach then around to the inlet.

The wind blew us back to the tree sheltered picnic area for a hot cuppa. Won’t be fishing here.

Back up the road then we turned down to Ledge Point. A 4WD track lead off across the Gull Rock National Park and another 4WD track down to Skippy Reef Beach but we skipped that. Out to the point with a view over Skippy Reef Beach and Herald Point.

Straight out across the North Channel was Michaelmas Island.

Then over the point to Flinders Peninsula on the other side of King George Sound.

Walked to the west side of the carpark to look to Mt Adelaide with ships waiting to load up at the wharves.

View down to Ledge Beach with Mt Martin behind.

Drove back a bit then stopped for a walk down stairs to the east end of Ledge Beach. Nice view – a wrecked boiler, hence this spot is called Boiler Bay.

Scanned around. It is nice and calm here but we can’t see any sign of fish. Would be lovely on a hot summer’s day – oh yeah it is summer, shame we are in jeans and jumpers!!

Zoomed in on the entrance into Princess Royal Harbour and Mt Adelaide – you can make out the wind farm on the other side of the harbour.

Drove around to the other road down to the western side of the beach. Looking across to Ledge Point and Michaelmas Island then to Flinders Peninsula over King George Sound.

Gull Rock with Michaelmas behind.

Zoomed in on Whale World in Frenchman’s Bay then Bald Head on the end of Flinders Peninsula.

There is a walk to do over Mt Martin to the other side and Oyster Bay – but we will skip that today!!

Back up along the east side of Oyster Harbour (though there is no access down to it from this side) and across the Kalgan River which flows into Oyster Harbour.

Stopped west side of the King River to top up with water from a tap in the park. I walked down to the river which also flows into Oyster Harbour.

Zoomed down to Mt Martin on left and Emu Point on right with Middleton Beach and its pine trees in the middle.

Then back up the other side of Oyster Harbour.

Lots of birds to look out for.

Steve was helping another chap with his water when I got back.

Headed down to Emu Point. I had marked the map about chainsaw sculptures so we turned onto Mercer Road and found it easily. Another car had just turned in so we followed. Stopped first to take pictures of all the ones at the entrance. Loved the spider – reminded me of the one in Harry Potter.

The sign said ‘Sculpture Drive’ so we continued on then another sign said ‘stay in car – dangerous animals about’ with the truck nearby.

A bit of farm machinery sculpture too.

Then it was just chainsaw carving after another – there were so many that I started being selective – well sort of!!

As we came around to the house there were so many smaller ones and other bits and pieces.

Made a donation as it is amazing.

In the shed next to the house I saw the chap getting ready to start a new sculpture on some more tree trunks.

Still more as we headed back out.

Down to Emu Point which was lovely even though it is overcast, windy and cold. Scanned around Oyster Harbour then down the channel to Middleton Bay.

Zoomed in on the ships in King George Sound.

Then Mt Adelaide and the Convoy Tower in front of the repeater tower.

Zoomed back up Oyster Harbour to Green Island.

Had our lunch with the seagulls on a bench in the park trying to get out of the wind. Steve said we should have had hot chips rather than our cold salad!!

Followed the road along the waterfront around the caravan park – one that is actually down by the water. Saw another chainsaw carving and found out it and the others we saw were done by Darrel Radcliffe, as he didn’t have his name back at his house.

Headed back up and around Oyster Harbour and across to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Passed two lakes, one with big sand dunes. The Reserve is a pay to enter one. There are heaps of carparks and an Info Centre so I went in for a look. It is unmanned but has lots of information and a table full of bits and pieces to touch.

Found the explanation to its unusual name.

As we had read at Norman’s Beach this area is all about saving the Noisy Scrub-bird and Gilbert’s Potoroo. There were buttons to press to hear the bird’s call and people talking about saving them. Very well set up display and free though there is a donation box of course. Back down the road was the research centre.

Drove down to the picnic and boat launch areas.

We are on the other side of the bay from the campground down at East Bay.

Looking across to Mt Manypeaks pass North Point then around to South Point.

Decided it was too cold to think about fishing today. Back to the Info Centre then south to Little Beach on the other side of South Point. What a pretty spot. This is the bright white beach we see on South Point as we climb up the hill from Betty’s Beach.

Walked out onto the big boulders looking across to North Point. Great spot to fish from if we weren’t freezing.

Then over the beach, the hill is Mt Gardner which is also the name of the lake on the other side.

Continued around over the big flat rocks.

Back on the road – stopped for a photo of Gardner Lake with Mt Gardner in the distance.

Tried to follow a shortcut road on our map back to Betty’s Beach but it has been blocked off. These lakes provide drinking water.

Continued back up the hill then I got a shot of Moates Lake and its sand dunes.

Got to the start of the Nature Reserve and Steve found a dirt track to follow – determined to find a short cut back. Well it did cut a little off the drive though it was slower over the sandy bits than on the main dirt road but he had fun.

Back to camp. Stopped at Anna & Jeff’s to drop off the water. She said we missed all the excitement. A police car came down showing a photo of a chap that has been missing for 3 weeks and it turned out to be the other Jeff who is in a tent. Apparently he has separated from his wife and she put in a missing person report as she couldn’t locate him. He had gone into town to the doctors as he had cut his arm and arrived back when the police were here so then he had to go back up and make phone calls!! The police also warned about the heavy rain that is expected to start about midnight.

After a hot cuppa, we put the chairs etc back in the truck to be on the safe side.

Glad we have our van to keep us warm and dry.

Just dozing off and a drizzle of rain started.