Fri 5 February - ALBANY, W.A.

Today we spent in Albany. Being a ‘Last of the Mohicans’ Super Fan, it is hard not to associate the Albany of Australia with the Albany of that esteemed book and film(s).
It is a wonderfully historic town, and we did the guided walking tour with the leaflet we got from the info centre. We also visited the Anglican church there, and was given a tour of that by a lovely lady volunteer, while her husband coughed in the back of the church, poor chap. This church was built by the same person who built the Perth Cathedral. I am sure there is some link between that church and that which my parents and sister were married in, in London. I became more convinced when I looked at the aisle tiles, which reminded me of All Saints in Margaret St, W1. I have to get on the internet before I can check… will add an addendum to this section.
Did you know the first dawn service on an Anzac Day was performed here at Albany? Also that it was here that many of those WW1 troops saw their last bit of Australia mainland as they were taken off in war ships from Albany to fight at Gallipoli. Sad sad times.
The church was wonderful, it had had additions built onto it as the congregation got larger, as the town grew. Good to hear of congregations growing rather than dwindling. There were also coats of arms of the various diocese to which it had belonged throughout the years – Westminster, Portsmouth, Bombay, Perth, Bunbury, all very interesting to this vicar’s daughter.

There were no free camp spots at or near Albany, so after a few hours exploring, then making our lunch at the car outside a café with everyone watching us, we pushed on to Parry Beach Camp Spot.

….Which was like a town! I think we had one of the last spots, furthest from the sea, but also furthest from the sea of people. We tucked ourselves into a tiny spot with bushes all around us at the end of the loop road of sites. When we walked to look at the beach there were people camped every few metres. This is a camp ground that was only $8 a night each, and had showers and toilets – an unheard of bargain in the world of camping, so we understood why it was popular.

So here they were, all the grey nomads, all probably out for a practice run of their camping equipment before the giant migration North in April. It was like a scene out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – no children (have you seen this film? I was freaked out for years). Clearly the terrifying child catcher had got them all and pushed them into school.
Yup, school holidays have ended and the geriatrics are reclaiming the beaches.

(Rounded off a great day by watching Last of the Mohicans. Sigh.)