22^nd September: Manjimup

The internet is rather diffficult here and the Telstra phone is a bit dodgy. The posts will be late as I will have to do them in Albany on Tuesday night!

When I woke up this morning, it was fine. I put the first load of washing in and the clouds descended and it rained – heavily! Thus, I was in a quandry: do I continue and hope that it was just a passing morning shower? Or do I try to store dirty washing for yet another two days? It stopped raining and so I washed!

We went on the Karri Trail today. They are stunning trees. The Hundred Year Forest is now 140 yrs old. The experts know exactly how old these trees are because the wheat field that was created in 1863 was burnt in 1875 and the Karris germinated in the ash of the fire. They are bigger in girth now and yet to reach their maximum height. It is a lovely area. 

We drove past many areas that are 60 – 80 yr old regrowth forests, tall, straight smooth trees that have grown after the loggers had been through. Fire helpos regenerate these forests.

We visited all three climbing trees, the Gloucester, the Diamond and the Bicentennial trees. Originally, all were part of a network of 8 fire towers used to spot fires by being above the canopy. Glen has climbed the Diamond (once) and the Gloucester (2 ½ times – he forgot his camera and had to come down to get it!) on previous occasions but it was raining today and a bit dangerous. Now there are metal spikes spiralling up the tree and a light wire safety fence of sorts. The first time there were wooden spikes and no fence. I have learnt to differentiate the karri, the marri and the jarrah as we saw examples of all three today.
The Gloucester Tree:

 The Diamond Tree (the one in the middle)

A stump of a felled giant.

Other than these specific trees, we also visited the Beedelup Falls and the Cascades,both were in full power because of the rain in the last few days. Both were rather spectacular as the water was rushing and tumbling noisily over the escarpment.
 The Cascades:

 Beedelup Falls

 Obviously very well developed as was Big Brook Dam, with excellent facilities for day visitors. I am told these feature attract large numbers in summer and I can believe it.

 
 224,000 people have visited the Gloucester Tree and 22,00 have climbed it in the last 12 months! I just love being in these forests.The trees are so majestic and the environment is so calm and so peaceful. I love that despite all that man does, these giants just regenerate and keep growing. Glen saw kangaroos and the birds are everywhere. The business of life, wars and terrorism all seem so far away and so irrelevant in the face of God's creations!

I returned home to find my washing had dried, got wet and was drying again. So the drier went on and I managed to dry everything for $4. A successful day!

Next morning: I managed to post yesterday's blog early this morning. I will try to do this but might add the photos tonight!