Walking in the Trees

August 23^rd

We stated the morning with a birthday call to dad – who of course wasn’t home so we left a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” on his answering machine. Then it was time to pack up and leave our nice little cabin with a bathroom and solid walls – I think our stop here has made us all long for home a bit.

Considering we didn’t have to pack up the camper trailer it took us a surprisingly long time to pack up – just goes to show it isn’t the camper that takes the time it is all the other crap. Finally we were on the road and heading towards Albany via the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk – a lovely country drive along winding, tree lined roads and then we got the inevitable “I feel sick, I think I’m going to vomit” from Luke and Claire. I should add at this point that when we did our Victoria trip a few years ago we were on a lovely winding country road to get to the Otway Fly (another tree top walk) and when we got there Luke said ‘I think I’m going to vomit’ and promptly did. So when he said it this time we did take it seriously and stopped the car so they could get out for some fresh air and a walk around.

Back on the road and it was a huge 5km before we stopped again at Maninjup for morning tea. Apparently the earlier stop did the trick because both kids managed to scoff down a donut that didn’t even threaten to make a reappearance.

We arrived at the Tree Top Walk – it was a tiny bit windy and overcast but thankfully no rain. I have to say it was pretty but nowhere near as good as the one in Victoria and the signs that said no more than 20 people at a time on each span were a bit disconcerting. As I got to the second last walkway (span) the wind really picked up and that thing moved! It was a bit like walking on a metal trampoline – I really couldn’t get off it fast enough.

Back on terra firma and we did the other part of the walk which in my opinion was heaps better (aside from being on solid ground I just found it far more interesting). We had a chance to see Karri and Jarrah trees and walk through the middle of some of them and the kids got to do all manner of ridiculous things – and as Claire was our chief photographer for today she happily took photos of the boys doing ridiculous things.

Back in the car and off to Albany – I will confess to not knowing there were as many vineyards this way but I think my chances of getting the kids to another one would be about nil. As we were driving along we came to a turn off for Swiss Annie’s Licenced Chocolate Lounge (I wanted to go just so I could ask where the unlicenced ones were because I like to walk on the wild side) but I was crushed to find they were closed until September. We got so used to it being the height of the tourist season up north that we are still coming to grips with everything in the south being closed for winter.

We got to our campsite and set up and I headed into town for some groceries (and an hour of peace) and came back and cooked a delicious Thai Green Curry for dinner that was met with a very lukewarm response and I think everyone was snuggled under doonas by 7.30pm as it is so cold.