-- From Pemberton to Denmark

Karri, Marri & Jarrah Trees

For timber three varieties of tree populate the forests of the southern Western Australia.
Karri is a Eucalyptus diversicolor of the Family Myrtaceae. It is WA's tallest tree and one of tallest in the world. Gloucester Tree in Pemberton reaches 60 meters high. It is used as observatory to prevent fires of forest. Karri is used as structure in timber constructions.
Marri, most common, is Corymbia calophylla of the Family Myrtaceae. It was forsaken by the forest owners. It is used in the utility construction industries, now it is also employed in the manufacture of furniture.
Jarrah is a Eucalyptus marginata of the Family Myrtaceae. Resisting to termites it was used to pave the streets in London and Berlin beforebitumen.

On January 18, I left in walk to see the famous Gloucester Tree. Its trunk is pricked with iron bars to climb it and reach its top where an observatory of rangers supervising is located fires of forest. It is noticed that the tree reacted to the wound inflicted by the introduction of the iron bar into its body.

A loop makes it possible to admire Karris in their habitat and their perfect straightness. The track is decorated with informative panels on the surrounding plants. It was a real walk vivifying by the eucalyptus' odour which smelt sweet the atmosphere. While strolling it returned in my memory that Pablo Neruda, affected as consul in Batavia –Jakarta– in the Thirties was taken of faintness close to a park where it rested under eucalyptus which gave him tonicity again. This anecdote is reported in his memories, I admit that I lived.

I stayed one day more in Pemberton to have rest and to prepare the continuation of my trip.

The following day on the way to d'Entrecasteaux NP I stopped at Warren NP to climb Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree 75 meters high.

The view from the top overhanging the forest of Karris was exceptional in spite of a covered weather and a Breton drizzle. Moreover these last days the temperature had fallen.

In d'Entrecasteaux NP always under a Breton drizzle I traversed Coastal Survivor's Walk with the search of a Window dug by the bad weather during millennia, look at the Gallery.

 The jagged coast is superb in the wind and the rain, a true Irish landscape. I bivouacked in Windy Harbour.

On Thursday January 21, it was a short driving morning to go to bivouac in Shannon NP. I stopped at Visitor Centre inf Northcliffe for my search of documentation then I traversed during about thirty kilometres an almost rectilinear forest road.

Friday January 22 it was still a small driving morning  to go to climb the Mt Frankland 488 meters high. In spite of an average visibility the bird's eye view above the forest was dramatic. Then on the way towards Walpole I stopped in Swarbrick away from the Hwy without any visitor.

..."Swarbrick provides you with spaces for introspective contemplation of the wilderness. It features forest art exhibits and a giant 39-metre long “Wilderness Wall of Perception” which encourages people to explore perspectives of the forest and the wilderness. Keep an open mind and expect to be challenged!"...

I show some pictures of the site which challenges so much by the exposed objects than by the artists' project. Undoubtedly this site is worth the 100 meter detour from Hwy and the 500 meter walk in the forest.

The following day I visited two wilderness areas. It was initially Hilltop Giant Tingle Tree.

Tingle Trees

There are three types of Tingle Tree, - Red (Eucalyptus jacksonii), Yellow (Eucalyptus guilfoylei) and Spleens (Eucalyptus brevistylis). Red Tingle are a large trunk which can reach 20 meters of circumference and 60 meters high. Yellow Tingle can reach 35 meters high and Rates Tingle 60 meters high. These trees thrive in the area of Walpole between Deep River and Bow River is approximately 6,000 hectares. They can grow during approximately 400 years. Tingle often have hollow bases caused by the usual fires of forest in this environment.

Then a few kilometres away it was the Valley of the Giants – Tree Top Walk & Ancient Empire Boardwalk. These primary forests localized in a restricted perimeter offer to see species of trees visible elsewhere. I strolled on the arranged tracks in eucalyptus' odours. At the beginning of afternoon I establish my bivouac in Peaceful Bay Caravan park.

Walpole Wilderness area

..." Wilderness" describes an area that is substantially unchanged by technological intervention, is sufficiently large and remote to ensure the protection of its biodiversity and natural system, and where ecological processes remain essentially intact"...

The destination on Sunday January 24, was Denmark. On the way I made a detour to see the renowned William Bay and Green Pool. Alas the light did not emphasize the site. At the city it was second-hand trade market and vacuum attic. I went shopping but have regard to the multitude, I continued my road to find a bivouac in edge of sea without bathers. Admittedly the weather was been overcast and threaten.

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