WOW Walpole!

Well we did it, we drove out of Albany caravan park at 7.30am, not a bad effort, we even did it without any raised voices! On the way to Walpole the kids ask what exactly we are doing this morning. Funnily nobody,in particular Linda who booked us onto the cruise, has any idea except that it is a cruise, assumedly on water somewhere, and that the fellow that takes the cruise is unique. So with that information and an address we keep on driving.

E.C.S

E.C.S. We are re-entering red tingle tree country. Linda is getting extremely excited as this means we are also getting closer to the tree towers.

This is where we take off for our cruise, we are nice and early so we have time to read a little about where we are. The sign tells us that the Walpole Inlet is a small estuary connected through a small channel with the bigger Nornalup Inlet. At least we now know where we are.

The kids are still completely nuts about Harry Potter. This morning whilst packing we had some extra things to pack, the kids wands and their broomsticks!!!! Boaz is pretty excited that he has almost finished the 4th Harry Potter book.  

The fellow with the bald head and the maroon shirt is Gary Muir, the tour operator and pretty much the reason people go on this cruise. Gary is the 8th generation of Muirs who have been living between Walpole and Manjimup and there is even a highway named after his family. He is one of the most animated, charismatic and educated people we think we have ever met ( Robbie excluded!). The tour goes for nearly 3 hours, he talks the entire time, but creates an environment whereby every one is involved, even Boaz and the cool teenagers on board.

He is a gifted raconteur and he was able to connect almost eveything back to Walpole. His favourite line, "You have the South Pole, the North Pole and then you have Walpole, the belly button!" He explained how figures as diverse as Leo Tolstoy, George Bernard Shaw and Alfred Dreyfus had links to Walpole.

The boat moors and we get the opportunity to explore one of the many islands within the inlets. This takes us over to Shelley Beach, a wild ocean, incredibly beautiful to look at but not to swim in. 

Shelley Beach.

Heading back to the boat. While making our way back we chat with Gary's assistant who recommends that when in Pemberton we must go to Yeagerup Dunes. Apparently this is where the Karri forest and the sand dunes collide. Sounds too good to be true!!!

Nature once more catching Robbie's attention. This is the flowering spike from the Black Boy tree. This is not a politically correct term anymore, so rather it is referred to by its botanical name the Xanthorrhoea, Black Boy is so much easier!!

The Black Boy tree.

Looking back over the inlet we had just travelled on. Morning tea was served under the canopies.

None of us wanted to the tour to finish. We were so enamoured that straight after the cruise we headed to the Walpole Visitors Centre, of course, and bought ourselves copies of the book he wrote plus the book written about him and his family. Our only disappointment was we did not get him to sign them.

Boaz with his new friend, Penguino the Penguin.

E.C.S

We are almost in Pemberton. We are now well and truly in timber country. The air is fresh and the smell is amazing. We decide to take the scenic drive on the way to the camp site, well actually to the visitors centre of course!

This is the grounds of Lost Lake Vineyard. We were soon to discover that Pemberton wines were going to win us over. They are reknowned for their Pinot Noir, and the temperature in this region certainly lends itself to a lovely glass of red at wine o'clock.

We finally check into our caravan park, thanks Boaz and Deb for the recommendation and it is absolutely beautiful and our sites are awesome. While we were at the visitors centre we enquired about Yeagerup, and are given a little more information, so with excitement we decide over dinner with Andy and Michelle that we will go off and explore it tomorrow. Hurry up morning! We must say a huge thanks to Doug for the recommendation regarding the WOW tour, now we cannot wait to follow his other suggestions!