Last night we attended a concert in the showroom - 'String Fever', a "music battle of the sexes". The music was mainly classical with some modern thrown in. The chap also did an Elton John act with a few songs through in for good measure. It made for a good evening's worth of entertainment and guests loved them.
We arrived in Albany around noon without any hiccups and there was the usual mad rush as guests went ashore. I joined up with my assigned tour group on the pier and we were soon on the minibus to take us for our walk along part of the Bibbulmun Track - a 1000km walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda, east of Perth, to Albany. According to the website, https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/the-track/history/ , it was Kirup forester Len Talbot who proposed that the Track be named to recognise the early indigenous inhabitants of the southwest, the Bibbulmun. It was known that the Bibbulmun people walked long distances through the forests for ceremonial gatherings, and although those precise travel routes were unknown, the name was adopted as being unique and appropriate for a trail on which it was hoped walkers would adopt the same feeling of oneness with nature of those people of long ago. 
We started our walk in a wind farm, following the track from wind turbine 18 to wind turbine 1 with our guide Lois leading the group and her colleague Bernadette at the back of the group. The final distance was 8km in all. Bernadette was lovely to chat to and she pointed out different plants to those at the back of the group as we walked. Lois, in the meantime, had set a cracking pace. 
We re-grouped at wind turbine 10 and our driver took a few guests back with him, on the bus, to wind turbine 1. I queried with him the rush because he was hurrying the group on. He advised that we were due back at the ship at 4pm, per his schedule. I advised that we were due back at the ship at 5pm, per my schedule. I requested that he ring his office or the ship's shore excursions department to clarify the situation and then ring Lois back (who was at the front of the group) to slow the walkers down if necessary so that we could enjoy the scenery at a more relaxed pace. It didn't happen so I assumed we had to be back at 4pm after all. I enjoyed the walk despite the rush but discovered that guests had missed out on information about plant life because Lois had pressed on ahead and didn't stop to point things out. It was a bit sad because it could have made for a pleasant walk. 
Anyway, we got back to the ship and after the guests had got off the bus Lois had to go after a guest for some reason. I passed her on my way along the pier to the ship and she stopped me to make mention that she felt bad - she had learnt that we were back earlier than we should have been. I asked if the driver had called her during the walk, as I had asked him to, explaining the conversation I had with him. It turned out that he didn't bother to contact his office or the ship's shore excursions department to clarify the time back as I had asked him to. Lois was quite angry to say the least and said that she would 'have a few words with him'. Yes, there were a few complaints about the walk but fortunately I put in a full report back to shore excursions about the shortfalls of the walk prior to the complaints coming through. The department started their queries with the tour company immediately but I'm unaware what any of the outcomes will be. I am sure the tour will be improved though! |
| The Maasdam's route from Albany to Adelaide. |
The Maasdam is just setting off to her next port of call, Adelaide, two days sailing in an easterly direction from Albany.
PHOTOGRAPHS
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