So this year over Easter we drove down to Albany here in Western Australia, We had booked ourselves a site in the caravan park at Emu point, I mean being Easter the likelihood of getting a free camp for 4 days was going to be nigh on impossible, way too many people, and if we did the likelihood, after going out for the day, that it would be taken when we got back was high (yes…we know that’s one downfall to driving your home around) So a site we did book.

Arriving after hours we got our key and map showing where we had to go, it was an old concrete pad probably used to be a shack or shed or toilet block or something in a previous life, but now it was just a big level concrete pad. Great thing was we just drove on and turned the engine off and we were done!

Next morning was misty overcast and “atmospheric” so coffee, porridge and a walk was the order for the morning, we wandered along the inlet to the oyster harbour marina, keeping a watchful eye on the sky, we were delighted to see pelicans there, each one on it’s own post, doing what pelicans do…. preening, looking majestic, slightly prehistoric, scratching and looking out for something to eat.

There would have been around 15-20 pelicans around, most of them perched on their poles and they seemed to be waiting for something.

The area was so photogenic (as were the pelicans) that I had to take some photos and videos, all we had was my iphone so that is what was used. As per my norm I tend to imagine what animals think, I like putting words to what they are doing or looking at, so I imagined they were waiting for the boats to return with any fish that might be going spare, there seemed to be two groups on opposing poles so I turned them into competing teams, each trying to beat the other to the fish.

Laughing I remembered a short video that I had seen somewhere of a pelican putting its beak over a small child that came too close, as if to eat it so that became part of the ongoing narrative as well.

So the result of all this babble is that I put together a short video – The Pelicans of Oyster Harbour

This shows my weird sense of humour, and I have no idea why the pelicans are speaking with a Scottish accent, but they are… well at least in my brain.

After sheltering under a verandah, playing throw the ball for someone elses dog, we returned to the bus. We spent the rest of the weekend doing museums, markets, the ANZAC centre and generally enjoying some downtime, the place was busy but every time we came back it was simply park up and relax in little bus, which has become our bubble. It is just so easy.

The other highlight of the weekend was the drone show, telling the story of the land around Albany and its dreamtime story, the event was meant to kick off at 6pm on a slightly overcast drizzly sort of afternoon. We had intended on walking the 4km down to the show but we were out and about when at 3pm Jo had the brilliant idea of why don’t we just park little bus there, in the carpark and then we had a base to retreat to if the weather turned bad, a source of snacks and beverages at our disposal (without having to pay pub/cafe prices (Helen would be so proud)) and if all else failed we could always have a snooze.

So we parked there, the place was pretty much empty but while we wandered across the road to have a sample of the local brewery’s ales – Wilson’s Brewery (which were very nice) it started to fill up. We spent the next few hours relaxing in the warmth while watching the general comings and goings.

Just before 6pm the crowds were building so we wandered down with our rugs and jackets (and a bottle of ‘red cordial’) and sat on the wall waiting, watching some performers practice fire dancing stuff, wondering if this was the actual performance or what? What we hadn’t seen was a program, but we sat back and enjoyed it all the same. When it got darker we noticed some LED lit, colour changing, balls doing the rounds, at first just a few kids playing with them, then everyone seemed to have one “I wants one” says Jo, so off I go trying to find one. I was just thinking about mugging someone to steal one when one rolled to a stop at my feet, it seemed to not belong to anyone so I picked it up, it was unlit but after a squeeze it turned on… bonus so I took it back to Jo.

On the way I found a sign that actually gave the program of events, the drone show wasn’t due to kick off till 7pm!

Around now the fire dancer’s show thingy actually kicked off, it was much better with actual flame and at night.

Then at 7pm after the usual speech from the local bigwigs the drone show commenced, this was the first drone show we had ever seen and it was better than we expected, not sure if we knew what was happening, but with the use of our imagination, it was pretty good. What was almost as entertaining was the traffic grid lock afterwards taking 20 minutes or so for people to get out of the carpark. We just sat back ate chocolate and waited patiently.

Some of the show is shown below (apologies for the quality).

So having little bus there was just fantastic… thanks to Jo.

Anyway time for me to go and do some more video editing, lookout for our next post, probably something to do with the ANZAC centre.

Oh and we are planning a South Australia trip in a couple of weeks, so really looking forward to that!

Cheers

Al & Jo

P.S. If you liked the video of the pelicans let me know, and I’m happy for it to be shared.