Packing up is a breeze when all you have to do is pretty much just hop on the bike! The morning is brilliantly bright and brisk. We begin to wind our way through the countryside, and I am thinking to myself…this is really what it is all about! The area could not be more beautiful. The ocean to our right, farmland and wineries on our left and in between. The area is beginning to remind me of a cross between the U.S., Californian, Monterey/Carmel area, and the Aussie, Victorian, Gippsland area. The wild flowers are blooming and it is beginning to feel like I am riding through a perfume store. We pass by fields scattered with wild daisies, wild freesia's, calla lilies, banksia's, kangaroo paw, lilly of the valley, bottlebrush, clematis, wattles, tree hove, orchids and other fragrant beauties…I inhale deeply and enjoy the mixing of aroma's, I marvel at the exploding bursts of blooming color!
I spotted several huge red kangaroos, large as bears grazing in the trees that lined the bitumen. This is the first time that I have seen this size of kangaroo. I radioed Kev and asked if had seen the "Reds"? He had not, so, I pulled over and he back tracked for another look. He was glad that he had. They were not bothered by the bikes rumble and continued grazing while Kev gazed in awe! "Thanks for that!", radioed Kev!
The trees were becoming larger, their majestic stance, white ghostly trunks and towering canopies blew my mind. I could not help but look up and feel like a dwarf amongst the towering beauties and wonder how high they were. The trees were all so unique Karri's, Jarrah's and Tingles graced this wonderful wilderness. Riding through the National Parks was pure bliss. We took time out to stop at the Gloucester Tree in Pemberton and climb it. This bicentennial lookout is more than 60 meters high, making it the worlds highest treetop lookout. This Karri tree was used as a fire lookout before plane spotters. Traditionally wooden towers were built on higher ground, but in the karri forest it was hard to build towers taller than the trees. Once a suitable tree was chosen, the rungs of a ladder were hammered into the tree trunk and eventually a cabin was built in the top of the tree.