Demark to Albany, WA, 57-58kms
October 18th 2006 05:09
"Don't worry," said the shopowner at Young's Siding. "The rain often doesn't make it over the hills so you may not get wet at all today."
Rain had been threatening over the hills near Wilsons Inlet the whole 19kms from Denmark to the small general store at Young's Sidings where we huddled under the balcony with a cold milk each.
The route to this point had involved a couple of small climbs through the fresh smelling bush before the landscape opened out when we turned off the South Western Hwy and down Torbay Road not far from the store.
A few specks of rain were never going to prevent us from enjoying the views across the West Cape Howe National Park and the beautiful coastline.
After a second stop at Elleker (around 40kms) for another drink, houses started to appear alongside the flat road. With the help of a map of Albany we picked up at the Denmark Tourist Office, we made our way through the outskirts of town to the Industrial port area. Following this to the end, we joined up with the local bike path which followed the coast to Middleton Beach.
The bike path combines windswept views across the ocean with some short climbs which will knock all breath from your body like a blow. We did not like the look of windy, cold, wet, deserted and miserable Middleton Beach (though on a previous occasion we had accidentally slept there on a golf course) so continued on.
The bike path went all the way to Emu Point where we spent the night at a caravan park near the beach with sheltered grassy sites and a camp kitchen for $25/2pax/night. Unfortunately, Emu Point is not close to town and involves a longish cycle back along the path or a bus or taxi. It is however very close to the bike path out of town towards the Stirling Ranges.
Albany is a large town with lots to see. We spent many hours clambering over large rocks by the beach, checking out the whaliing museum and wandering around to look at Albany's colonial buildings.
Rain had been threatening over the hills near Wilsons Inlet the whole 19kms from Denmark to the small general store at Young's Sidings where we huddled under the balcony with a cold milk each.
The route to this point had involved a couple of small climbs through the fresh smelling bush before the landscape opened out when we turned off the South Western Hwy and down Torbay Road not far from the store.
A few specks of rain were never going to prevent us from enjoying the views across the West Cape Howe National Park and the beautiful coastline.
Views from Torbay Road, WA
After a second stop at Elleker (around 40kms) for another drink, houses started to appear alongside the flat road. With the help of a map of Albany we picked up at the Denmark Tourist Office, we made our way through the outskirts of town to the Industrial port area. Following this to the end, we joined up with the local bike path which followed the coast to Middleton Beach.
The bike path combines windswept views across the ocean with some short climbs which will knock all breath from your body like a blow. We did not like the look of windy, cold, wet, deserted and miserable Middleton Beach (though on a previous occasion we had accidentally slept there on a golf course) so continued on.
The bike path went all the way to Emu Point where we spent the night at a caravan park near the beach with sheltered grassy sites and a camp kitchen for $25/2pax/night. Unfortunately, Emu Point is not close to town and involves a longish cycle back along the path or a bus or taxi. It is however very close to the bike path out of town towards the Stirling Ranges.
Albany is a large town with lots to see. We spent many hours clambering over large rocks by the beach, checking out the whaliing museum and wandering around to look at Albany's colonial buildings.
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Comment by Tourist Tony