Norman's Beach, a prelude

We paid panance for our three days of relative inactivity at Boat Harbour by having seven days of action packed day tripping from our camp at Norman’s Beach. Norman’s is one of three free camps in the Boulder Hill area, about 50ks east of Albany. Each is highly commended on Wikicamps and all have very few sites. We figured that out of three we’d find one spot. Despite finding a good site at the first camp we couldn’t bear the FOMO of a possibly better spot at one of the remaining two camps. So we checked them all, almost getting stuck in the limited turning space of East Bay. Both East Bay and Betty’s had a disorganised refugee camp feel about them, each with a few make shift shelters tucked up against or behind the dunes. The one site left at Betty’s had nothing on Norman’s, so we’ll pool returned to Norman’s Beach, relieved to find the one site still available. And we weren’t disappointed. It was a beautiful protected little spot on a paperback lined inlet bounded by the Waychinicup National Park on the eastern side. With lots to explore within a 50km radius we decided to take full advantage of the 7 night maximum stay.

It turned out to be a popular spot for both campers and wildlife. Each night the camp was at over capacity with people (including a troupe of about 20 school kids on our first night) camping in the day use area as well as the five designated spots. More to our liking were the friendly campsite visits we got from kangaroos, frongs, giant skinks, goannas, black cockatoos and a mystery marsupial which we have settled on most likely being a Quenda. The greater area we were in had conservation significance for being the last remaining habitat for the Noisy Scrub Bird and Gilbert’s Potoroo, both of which alluded us.

For the sake of full disclosure I will report that it was at this camp we realised we have a mouse which has taken residence in (we believe) the roof space of our car. Is this a direct reflection of our hygiene levels? Surely this has happened to other families with kids. Or are we particularly filthy?! For the last four nights we’ve set traps in the footwell of the car and for the last four nights our little traveling companion has enjoyed a free meal, escaping with the bait, trap untriggered.

UPDATE: We got the blighter! Fifth attempt, two traps and Mr Mouse’s luck ran out.