Nick was awake for most of the night listening to the rainfall, dreading the thought of us all being trapped in the van for the next few days because of wet weather. Without any water to have hot showers after a cold swim made using the beach a bad idea. When we woke up to thunder and lightening at 730am we made a very quick decision to pack up and head to Albany. The kids were fantastic and helped pack everything up so that we managed it in the dry and were on the road by 830am. We had only just got on the highway when the heavens opened so it seemed like the right decision. We stopped in Ravensthorpe for petrol and bought morning tea (coffee and cake) from the IGA then we had another stop in Jerremungup for lunch. We found a great little café that looked very dodgy on the outside but made fantastic salads and sandwiches, which we took to the local park to eat. We eventually made it to Albany around 3pm and it was like returning home! We got a site at our usual caravan park between Emu Point and Middleton Beach and the kids shot off to play while Nick and I set up. While Nick set up the outside of the van I stripped our beds and washed the sheets and towels then cleaned everything from top to toe - no more sandy bed to sleep in!! We went for a walk down to Emu Point and got coffee and ice creams but in the year that we have been away dogs have been totally banned from the Point so we had to head towards the dock and sit there instead. The dog hated being tied up and wouldn't settle so I bought her home and finished off the cleaning while Nick walked the kids back slowly along the beach. For dinner we decided on take away as we couldn't face creating a mess after cleaning everything and the three smaller ones went with Nick to collect it while Katharine and I had a long hot shower - the pleasure of hot running water is amazing!! After dinner Anna, Matty and Jonny got scrubbed from head to foot and then fell fast asleep in bed despite stating they weren't tired! Nick and I spent the evening surfing the net and watching mindless TV!!