Fri, 20th Jan, 2017 Greens Island, west of Manjimup to Connolly Flat Rest Area, south of Pemberton, WA

7.30am 15 degrees, clear sky. Packed up and headed into Manjimup for some fuel, gas, water and food.

A bit of info in the park about Thomas Muir, 18 year old pioneer of this area and Pink Lady apples.

 I rang Linda for a chat as they finish their house sitting today and might head down to join us somewhere. Checked up on my metal detecting batteries I had returned to Reeds under warranty from Minelab and they are posting me new ones (rechargeable so rather expensive!!) Also got an email from the camera company saying they had received the camera and will advise after it has been inspected. Jon is posting down our new Medicare cards and Low Income cards to Northcliffe.

Headed south to Pemberton and the Gloucester Tree. It is in the Gloucester National Park and there was a ranger there to collect our park fee – our year Park Pass is paying for itself down here. The trees have grown up around this tree so the view up the top isn’t too good now. Watched some people climb the 153 rungs up 53 metres to the lookout. My muscles are still reminding me I did the Bicentennial Tree so I won’t be going up this one. It is like the Diamond where the spikes are in more of a straight ladder position.

A kid went up a fair way – I wouldn’t let mine go up at that age.

More Karri Forest boards.

The tree in 1946.

Through Pemberton – Edward Brockman was its first settler in 1861 with his wife Capel Bussell. He started breeding horses here for the British Indian Army.  Mr Pemberton Walcott, a pioneer who arrived in 1862 gave the town its name. Timber mills were established by 1913 to supply and cut the karri into half a million railway sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway Line. Many of the sleepers were used in the first stage of development of the London Underground and a great many other railway lines in the UK. It is now a grape growing area and has more wine grapes grown here than in the Margaret River area. Avocados are also a popular farming choice.

The Pemberton Tramway we heard yesterday wanders through the forests using a 1907 Fremantle replica tram. There are the usual interesting shops and a museum but we kept going. A lot of the original timber cutter’s homes are still in use today.

Crossed over the Warren River as we headed south.

Camps 7 book said Connolly Flat was a rest area but in Wikicamps it said it was an overnight campground. We pulled in and it is only a narrow area off the highway!! Found enough room for us though and I got to work on catching up on this blog again!! Who takes so many photos!! I love doing it though.

Lots of Kangaroo Paw everywhere.

Rebecca and Clive rang so we had a lovely long chat. Then Daniel rang which was so lovely. He is progressing with his bedroom make-over and is looking into a better air-conditioner for his media room as it is quite muggy there.

Glad to be having a quiet afternoon as my thighs are very sore!! Not too much traffic on the highway. Only two cars and one van drove through but didn’t stay.