Really Big Trees

The area around Pemberton is full of forests with the most enormous trees. It was still raining but we figured we had to stop tasting wine eventually so we donned the goretex and headed out to the forests.

Nervous Peta crossing the suspension bridge while Lachy tries to rock it as hard as he can....

Karri Tree Forest. Very beautiful trees but apparently prone to dropping huge branches unexpectedly....

This is me starting to climb the Gloucester Tree. It is 60m tall and you can climb it using those metal pegs. I had been here before in 2004 and chickened out midway so was hoping to brave it to the top today - hence I kitted myself out with some sensible footwear - got to embrace the runners and jeans look.

I was pretty much petrified.....

And very close to crying at the half way platform much to Lachlan's bemusement.

But Coach McKenna got me to the top.

As soon as we got to the bottom Lachlan was off to the next really big tree.... This one was 68m and called the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree.

I used the very clear signage warning not to climb in wet or windy conditions as my excuse to take photographs from the bottom. Lachlan had no such concerns.

He loved it.

That night we stayed at Shannon National Park where they had a woodfired hot water shower block. Lachy managed to get the fire going with the damp wood and we waited for the thermometer to creep up....

The red needle took a really long time to move but eventually about three hours later it was ready to have a shower - bliss!

The park also had two little cabins available for campers.

We got to have a fire and log bunks and be inside... Even more bliss!

Our little pot belly.

More big trees, this time called Tingle Trees.

And another really high walkway. Although this one didn't wobble quite so much.