Albany, Stirling Ranges National Park 06 November

It basically rained all day today. Grey sky and cold air. Bah Humbug! It was so miserable that I was forced to forgo the shorts and put on a pair of jeans for the first time since we hit the Oodnadatta Track all those weeks ago!

First port of call today was Albany for the three staples of travelers the world over - money, food and booze, all of which were running perilously low. While we were there we looked around the 1832 Patrick Taylor Cottage wattle and daub house which is the oldest existing dwelling in WA. Then it was up to the Mt Clarence lookout from where, surprisingly, you could still see the town and bay quite well.

Well not in Albany you can't!

Overnighted in Stirling Ranges National Park which is renowned for it's wild flowers and scenic views. All we could see was rain, rain clouds, and more rain.
The Ranger came around and said he would collect our camp fees later in the afternoon as he had to rush off to an emergency. He didn't make it back until the next morning when he told me he had to assist a hiker down from the mountain after breaking an ankle and then get him to medical attention - who said Rangering was boring? He was back in camp at sparrows next morning though so he could "catch all the German tourists before they bugger off without paying". He also shared the happy news that the rain was supposed to lift lat in the afternoon. He only told me this after confirming that we were moving on to Esperance - cheeky sod ;-)

See the glorious mountains in the background? Neither did we!