Esperance

We stopped again briefly in Norseman to replenish the fruit and vegetable supplies. I also wanted to see if there had been any impact from the mine closure, but everything looked the same. It was drizzling rain, quite wintery, but good weather for travelling.


The bush surrounding Norseman is lovely with gimlet, black butt and salmon gums washed clean and sparkling in the rain. There is a back-to anniversary coming up and after reading the local community newsletter things are still happening.



Noted that Patrick Hogan still has business interests in Norseman including the funeral business. He replaced Hector-the funeral director while we were living there. Plenty of larger than life stories about Hector.
 

No deviating off the road to Esperance as it was wet. So no visit to Dundas Rocks or Bromas Dam; places we used to go to when we lived there. We’d tramp lots of miles in the bush exploring and looking for old bottles and relics. Also went out on Greg's motor bike. Lots of fun.

Stopped at Gibson Soak hotel for lunch, a steak sandwich which was delicious but had the thinnest slice of beef...like a wafer. The fire was blazing, it was warm inside and outside rain hammered down.  Cosy so it was difficult to move away from the fire...but it was time to go.



Finally booked into Bathers Paradise caravan park with a steep entry to drag the van up then perch on the top while booking in. I was quite surprised to see friends from Mandurah driving out so jumped out and the only way of getting their attention was banged the back of their vehicle, probably scaring the pants off them.  Turns out they were on their maiden voyage with their new van. Caught up that night, they'd had a nice trip but were driving back to Perth the following morning (that's a big drive!)  

We spent three nights in Esperance. It has grown a lot since we were last there. They are in the middle of a huge foreshore beautification program which looks wonderful.

           








As I've mentioned before returning to places you've spent a lot of time in but haven't seen for years you see it with "different eyes". I have visited a lot of coastline and Esperance has "THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES" in Australia.

The sand is so white, the water so clean and sparkles, shimmers and is translucent in beautiful shades of blue. 
 

     







 We went out west to Twilight Cove, Nine Mile and Eleven Mile beach.

And we went east to the Duke of Orleans Bay and walked along Wharton Beach. All of these places we had to ourselves. Incredible scenery.

       







With Rifter we couldn't go to Cape Le Grand because it is a National Park. But I know there are many wonderful spots there as well.  We missed out on seeing the full size Stone Henge replica made out of granite. That's for another trip. 










I was happy to get the twin tub out and create some clean clothes. It was windy and rainy but with the annex up they dried on the mini rotary line under cover. After a few very long days it was good to stop










We caught up  with friends we haven't seen for years. We dined out at the local pub " Travellers Inn" and ate the special..the $12.00 T bone. It was Fred Flintstone sized, huge, I think we've had our monthly quota of red meat!! It was delicious too. We walked about, window shopped the Main Street, walked the beaches, watched some Commonwealth games and read a West Australian newspaper for the first time in months.










Refreshed and watching the weather forecast closely we decided to make a break for it on Saturday before it got too windy.