Squawk, Screech, Croooochew, translated from Bird language means, good morning campers, it's half past four, we are awake so are you now....... The joys of being back to nature are fading fast on me, first I have fellow campers, I don't want to go there, second I have the toilet blocks, I certainly don't want to go there........ And thirdly even though our clothes are washed in the machines, they never look clean or feel really fresh. We have now began to wear and wash the same clothes over and over, then just leave them behind when we return home, which is a bit of a bugger as every time I walk past a 'Billabong' shop I go in and buy a new pair of shorts, have four new pairs at the mo, waiting to be worn.........
Today we are not sure if it's cloudy or still the smoke from the fire, the fire of course is the main news item on TV and has not improved over night, giving the broadcasters access to some really dramatic footage and photos to broadcast. We though are going to do the Karri Forest Trail drive, waterfalls, Rapids and the Gloucester Tree......
The Gloucester Tree is a fire lookout tree in the middle of the forest, it's 59 meters tall with iron rods banged into the side of it which you use to climb up to the top like a ladder as they circle around the tree as you go higher. Only one of us was demented enough to try it and whilst the legs coped okay my hands have blisters on them from grabbing and holding on so tight. The person at the bottom was however unable to record this feat as she was unable to watch fearing she may have to witness my demise....... Unfortunately having succeeded to reach the top without calling for emergency medical assistance I looked out to see the stunning views over the tops of the Karri trees, the tallest trees in Australia and saw ' Smoke'. What is it with our luck and views in this country?
When I return to Earth, having allowed several people on the way up to pass me, (Scary or what) my legs are somewhat 'Jelly' like and I am glad of the opportunity to sit down next to her of the Fairy Wren Hunting fame, who unsurprisingly has been photographing Fairy Wrens, only different ones from yesterday's......
We eventually then undertake the Karri Forest Explorer drive, which starts off on a sealed road but moves onto a so called gravel road which eventually turns into a Dust road........ It's 48 klm during which we get to see some dried up waterfalls, some Rapids that are dribbling and a yabbie that has been caught within the first two hours of the yabbie hunting season by a group of locals who I would imagine will be too stoned to cook them later tonight.....
So we finish off going back to someone's favourite spot Berry Farm for a repeat of yesterday's photo session and a homemade Blueberry muffin for me, no luck with the Wrens but we see a parrot shoplifting and getting away with it and then, two, have a look at the last photo and see if you can work it out why.........
At the end of the day's activities, I pull into a garage to check the tyre pressures, OMG we look like we have been in some off road rally, the van is filthy, it's now brown, when the air pressure gauge is released from the tyre valve the excess pressure blows a cloud of dust in my face. We are easily the dirtiest vehicle in town and the way the locals keep their cars clean, they are always out washing them, we are going to be an Embarrassment until it rains and the chances of that are zero at the mo.......... I'm not sure how to cope with this but her next to me says don't worry, it'll be okay, it's easy to cope, after all, "I have to do it every day, when I'm out with you".........
2hours into the season and I'm dinner.......
Tree top view of smoke.......
We are not the only visitor to Berry Farm and we make just as much mess....
Why are there Alpaca's on a Berry Farm?
