I definitely believe that people enter your life for a reason. Constable Jason rescued, comforted and directed us to an amazing couple in Albany…couch surfers Rob and Debbie. Kev and I spent the remainder of our time living with Rob and Debbie, recuperating, researching replacement bike parts, visiting and experiencing beautiful Albany.
"Tonight is Rock 'n' Roll night at the Bowls Club if you would like to join us?", Debbie asks "Sounds like fun" I reply. My only dance shoes available are motorcycle boots, and Kev does not have his boots available to him as they are with the bike, so it looks like he will be dancing in thongs. Flip flops for the yanks…ha ha ha! Debbie is not sure if thongs are acceptable attire at the Club, so we decided to disguise the look with black socks! We made a very interesting couple to say the least! The night was a lot of fun… just what the doctor ordered!
Debbie graciously toured Kev and I around Albany over the week. We enjoyed Torndirrup National Park, located on the Rainbow Coast . This Peninsula shelters Albany from the powerful Great Southern Ocean which has magnificently carved this spectacular coastline. It is definitely an added bonus with Western Australia's wildflowers blooming presenting many Monet moments! Albany's CBD reminded me of a coastal version of Victoria's Warragul. I am amazed at all this township has to offer, a well kept secret by the Albanians!
Our visit to Whale World was a fascinating experience. Whale World is located between Torndirrup National Park and King George Sound and is on the site of the once operational Cheynes Beach Whaling Company. The company had a successful operation for 26 years and had taken approximately 14,600 Sperm Whales during that time. Seven tons of high quality oil could be extracted from a Sperm Whale weighing 40 tons. Before dawn whale chasers like the Cheynes IV headed towards the deep cold waters of the continental shelf where Sperm Whales could be found feeding on giant squid. The harpooned whales were transported back and buoyed by Flat Rock in front of the Whaling Station. The buoyed whales were then ferried by a tow boat up to the Flensing Deck. Here the whales we're winched and stripped of their blubber. The blubber was pushed into holes in the Flensing Deck that lead directly to the boilers that extracted the oil. The entire operation is fascinating and eerily mind boggling.
Over the week the crew at Morgans Motorcycles tore down Kev's bike and began researching the parts needed for the repairs. Parts would need to be ordered from the UK and the repair strategy for Kev's bike is somewhat in place. We reluctantly leave Albany. Our bikes are in good hands at Morgans Motorcycles, but this was not our intended plan!
Our Boogie shoes!
Rock 'n ' Rob and Cat
Rock 'n' Rob & Roll 'n' Deb
The whole Rock'n Group!
Spectacular Southern Ocean pounding the coast
The edge of Antarctica! For more than a billion years Australia and Antarctica were bound together forming the super continent Gondwana. Australia and Antarctica separated about 45 million years ago when the last sections of the super continent broke apart. Today, rock formations on Australia's southern coast can still be matched to identical rocks on the northern coast of Antarctica. This is a natural granite bridge sculpture still in progress!
Debbie & Cat, Albany coast.
Field of roo's, Albany.
Monet Moment! Albany, Western Australia
Whale World
Kev researching his BMW bike parts.
Kev's torn down bike.
Cat's bike comfortably parked at Morgans Motorcycles.