Leg 2: Albany - Esperance

With the morning came two revelations. The first, tenting in winter is pretty bloody cold. The second, sleeping without a mattress on rocks is pretty bloody uncomfortable. Getting everything in the car now that Nick had joined us was quite an experience, as was listening to him bitch about stuff we had left behind. I had not died from food poisoning after eating some somewhat dubious sausages the night before and so, after a brief stop to purchase alcoholic beverages for the cold nights ahead – we headed for Esperance.

Most people would probably agree with you if you said Tracey was pretty damn small. Furthermore, most people would probably continue to nod in agreence if you said “she’s tiny, isn’t she – you could almost imagine she wasn’t there”. I don’t know how we got to talking about cost saving measures – but as we drove up to the caravan park for some reason we were talking about paying for 3 people instead of 4, because when you’re as stupid as us saving that extra $2.50 makes all the difference. Who cares if the honest caravan park owners hate you forever. Stupid idea anyway, we’re certainly not going to do it.

“And how many people staying tonight”
“3”
“3?”
“3” (Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck)
“That’s 19.50”

I think my brain takes about 45 minutes too long to work out what is a good idea and what isn’t. Cue spending the rest of the evening pretending Tracey was invisible.

Anyway, the site was right on the beach which, although not particularly impressive, made for a nice view to open the tent to. Esperance faces our onto a real bay of islands, as you can see in the shots below. Would really like to head back some time with a boat and potter around explore them. Esperance also saw our first, and last, foray into the world of tinned spagetti. It was bad as a kid, and it is just as bad now. Imagine eating cold worms doused in tomato sauce and you get the general idea. Bizarre experience #1: Having an old guy wander into the camp kitchen, change the tv to the football and stand totally frozen without moving, talking or breathing for about 30 minutes before promptly walking out again. Bizarre experience #2: Washing the morning dishes while watching midget wwf wrestling on the TV. Words don’t even begin to describe the hilarity. Bizarre experience #3: Nick being stopped on the side of the road by a guy in a ute who insisted that “the boys are meeting down at McGuire’s shed tonight” and wanted Nick’s assurance that he’d be there. Obviously the unshaven look and horrendous beanie lead to him believing that he was obviously a local.

Posted in Travel on Friday July 5, 2002.