Down South (briefly!)

Having spent 2 weeks in Perth getting ourselves equipped (but still waiting for the caravan to be delivered from the east coast), we decided to make a quick escape down south and do a whistlestop tour of the major attractions. (Pete & FionaWe set off yesterday afternoon, once the final bit of gadgetry had been fitted to the car, and took the Albany Highway out of the city. We were very quickly into empty territory with no phone or radio signal. Jack gave us a presentation while we were driving of his research on the best places to go and why. We decided there was too much to do in 1 brief trip so we would do a couple of nights BC (before caravan) and the rest of the circuit with our new gear. So the first night we headed to Manjimub (the home of Pink Lady apples), getting there in time for supper. On the road down, just as it was growing dark, Kate spotted kangaroos - we didn't believe her of course as there were lots of cows and sheep around - but then Jack also saw some - and these ones were hopping over the sheep fences!! Our B&B was great - an original 1870's homestead - with dog to keep Kate amused. An early start this morning and by 9am we were all climbing a 51m fire lookout tree - supported only by a series of huge spikes driven into the trunk in a spiral - the photos don't really show the scale as we were all climbing at the same time - you'll need to see the postcards! We then drove to a point at the top of dramatic ragged cliffs with great views of the Southern Ocean. Gary spotted the first snake of the trip sunning itself on the path - identified by Jack as a Dugit (poisonous), and then Kate spotted a school of dolphins just off the shore - so the wildlife score is clocking up.
We then headed for Mandalay beach, named after a ship which was wrecked there in 1911( no hands lost). Fantastic beach - though not safe for swimming because of rip tides - and we had it entirely to ourselves. The remains of the ship could still be seen in the sand.
Kate here: Then we went to the tree top walk. The tree top walk is a forest of Tingle trees and there is a metal walk way which is raised up between the trees. Tingle trees are very tall and fat and most of them have hollow insides and in some you could live inside. We stopped in Denmark, just in the park the were lots and lots of Kangaroos just by the main road when we tryed to get close the hopped away. Our house we are staying in is axually a farm. We were told that we could feed the lambs in the morning and also the trout. There is a big pond just out side the house and the people who own the house have Highland Cows. This morning we hope to spot some whales at Albany where they have been for the last two weeks.