Pemberton and southern Western Australia
After Margaret River, we drove further south. We paid a short visit to Cape Leeuwin, which is the most south westerly point in Australia. That appears to mean it is not the most southerly point, nor is it the most westerly point, which is a pretty ropey claim to fame really. There was a lighthouse there, and it is the meeting point of the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean.
Next we went to the 62m tall Gloucester Tree, which has the tallest fire lookout tower on any tree in Australia. This meant that some brave soul had plonked a two ton tower at the top of the tree. The way to get to the top was to climb up some metal spikes spiralling round the tree which another brave soul (as the first one probably plunged to his death plonking a two ton tower at the top) had hammered into the trunk of the tree. Being a brave and manly soul myself, I made it as far as the tenth of the metal spikes before my knuckles went white and my hands had to be prised open, and I had to make my way shakily back to earth. Paul and Pie, however, were not willing to let the possibility of certain death get in the way of a good photo and clambered up to the tower.
We also did a treetop walk among the very impressive Karri trees in the 'Valley of the Giants'. My fear of heights meant that I could complete this walk, but only if I clung to both sides of the walkway with both hands.
Pemberton was our home for a couple of nights. It would be overgenerous to call it a 'one-horse town'. We eventually found the one pub in the town, and the food there was actually very good. We later found out that most towns in the area were a similar size, and all had to prove that they were better in some way than the surrounding towns. We passed through a town that was 'the best small town', which presumably meant that it was neither the best town nor the smallest town. Then there was the town with rather disturbing giant figurines made out of straw and metal standing along the highway. Then there was Northcliffe, with its large sign asking 'Where the Heck is Northcliffe?' But my personal favourite was Donnybrook, the 'home of the Granny Smith'. To emphasise this point, the streetlights had large fibreglass apples hanging from them.
Next we went to the 62m tall Gloucester Tree, which has the tallest fire lookout tower on any tree in Australia. This meant that some brave soul had plonked a two ton tower at the top of the tree. The way to get to the top was to climb up some metal spikes spiralling round the tree which another brave soul (as the first one probably plunged to his death plonking a two ton tower at the top) had hammered into the trunk of the tree. Being a brave and manly soul myself, I made it as far as the tenth of the metal spikes before my knuckles went white and my hands had to be prised open, and I had to make my way shakily back to earth. Paul and Pie, however, were not willing to let the possibility of certain death get in the way of a good photo and clambered up to the tower.
We also did a treetop walk among the very impressive Karri trees in the 'Valley of the Giants'. My fear of heights meant that I could complete this walk, but only if I clung to both sides of the walkway with both hands.
Pemberton was our home for a couple of nights. It would be overgenerous to call it a 'one-horse town'. We eventually found the one pub in the town, and the food there was actually very good. We later found out that most towns in the area were a similar size, and all had to prove that they were better in some way than the surrounding towns. We passed through a town that was 'the best small town', which presumably meant that it was neither the best town nor the smallest town. Then there was the town with rather disturbing giant figurines made out of straw and metal standing along the highway. Then there was Northcliffe, with its large sign asking 'Where the Heck is Northcliffe?' But my personal favourite was Donnybrook, the 'home of the Granny Smith'. To emphasise this point, the streetlights had large fibreglass apples hanging from them.
posted by Gaz man at 10:15 am
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