Keeping scrolling

It was time for our next weekend getaway. Not sure we picked the best dates. A public holiday on Monday extended it to three days, which would no doubt result in more traffic and potentially difficulty in booking somewhere. Then added to that a pretty big front was due to roll in on Friday, the day we aimed to leave. And could have washed out a fair chunk of our planned two night trip. Indeed we struggled to find available accommodation that was not massively overinflated at the first couple of areas we thought it would be nice to head to:

This led me to suggest heading a little further afield. After all we had the chance to start our journey around lunchtime on Friday. Plus we could return at a leisurely pace and get back a bit later on Sunday, what with Monday in our pocket to clear up and prepare for next week. It was agreed, and we found a lovely place to stay down in Walpole. Three hours to the south, in a landscape that allowed us to experience a few wanders in amongst some big trees. After a great night sleep, without two pesky poodles hogging the bed, we awoke refreshed:

Our first destination was Mount Clare, where we got to see the Red Tingle Tree (Eucalyptus jacksonii). Only found in the higher rainfall areas round Walpole and Denmark, these trees have a huge girth at the base. The one in the first image is 12m, but they have been recorded as double that. The reddish bark is stringy, making it feel spongy and soft and you can almost feel the warmth exuding from it. Having adapted to the wetter climate it is susceptible to climate change, which is a worry with the south west of Australia already drying and warming:

This was my second visit here. The first was five or so years back during a climbing trip when we inadvertently parked on the opposite side of the mount to where we were heading. This adding four to five kilometres to the already fifteen kilometre round trip. It was a monster day already, so we didn’t get to the peak. Not heading that far today we did reach the top of Mount Clare. There the granite lay bare with lush green moss flourishing where the water ran across the depressions. This created an image of islands, and land for creatures to roam:

Lisa laughed when I got excited seeing a Black Keeled Slug (Milax gagates). It wasn’t however good enough to make the cut, being beaten by the above millipede. Despite being quite unique, with a clearly segmented body and orangey brown marks along the side, I cannot identify it. Later on Lisa then excitedly showed me one of her finds, and I think she was jesting. It may however be an endemic Glauert’s Land Snail (Bothriembryon glauerti). Named after a curator of the Western Australian Museum, who used his time studying snails:

Bugs aside we were both very taken by the Red-eared Firetails (Stagonopleura oculata). Small finches that kept a healthy distance, but were playful enough for us to get a really good look at them. Next time I’ll have to bring my SLR to get a good shot. They have intricate patterns and stunning colours. It was a lovely walk. There is something calming about being amongst truly big trees. Made more relaxing as there was not a sole in sight for the entire near five kilometre stroll. Not even another car at the carpark when we returned:

Before heading back for lunch we went to a place I had not been to before, called Circular Pool. It was still in amongst beautiful vegetation but a very different walk. A mere 600m black topped path meandered down from the carpark to an idyllic pool, which we were able to enjoy having the place mostly to ourselves. The tannin stained water cascaded over a rocky descent, and the water below each step filled with foam. In the final pool, as the water slowly swirled as it made its way along, the outer bubbles burst and created patterns:

I’ve found out the foam is a natural phenomenon. A result of something called saponin, a substance found in many plants. It has soap-like properties, and the vigorous splashing and churning of the water as it tumbles over the rocks results in the foam. The foam can then become stained by the tannins that come from the eucalyptus trees. Creating a cappuccino effect, and Circular Pool is well known for this. It is a big draw card for budding photographers. The pool is special for something else too, someone called Lionel Gunson:

Back in 1962 he was the first National Park Ranger in Western Australia, and was very progressive in what he achieved. Living at Coalmine Beach in Walpole, he was concerned about the impact visitors were having at Circular Pool. After a near miss, when a car almost rolled into the pool, he went about establishing a carpark. Then building steps down to the pool to prevent the place being eroded. We eventually wandered out, to yet another carpark in which our car was the only occupant. And drove to Walpole for a spot of lunch:

Managing to have stayed dry all morning, we then looked out of the room and watched the rain as it repeatedly came and went in belts. It was never going to stop us getting out in the afternoon. The weather had been expected, so came prepared. The drive to Mount Frankland was certainly damp. At one point, with rain to the east and sun to the west, it felt like the rainbow was inside the car. A secondary rainbow was fighting hard to be seen, but never getting any clearer than shown in the image:

This place is full of Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginate) and Australia’s tallest tree the mighty Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor). They typically grow thirty to sixty meters high, and can be as tall as ninety meters. Sheer vertical trunks powering out of the ground, making for the perfect ‘fire tree’. Meaning a place to sit on high and watch out for fires. All up there were eight fire trees spread across the south-west forests, which the foresters would climb using pegs driven into their trunks. Then simply sit atop, on a platform, to look for the first signs of smoke:

But that is not why we came here. Mount Frankland is another place I am very familiar with, having come here many a time to climb the huge granite dome and faces. Today it was a tad wet, although I have climbed here in much worse conditions. No today, was about a pleasant stroll round the base. Lisa had not been here before, and swears blind that I suggested there was a nice and even gravel track round the base. I feel there may have been some miscommunication, as I knew full well that was not this case. She ribbed me regardless:

I did however know that is never gets too silly, and was entirely manageable. And indeed it was a wonderful day to be here, we saw a few people at the carpark but no one on the track. As we walked we did as we had on the last two walks, kept an eye out for anything of interest. Winter is upon us, so the not surprisingly there were very few if any flowers to see. But just as I had given up all hope, late in the walk we spotted my first Banded Greenhood Orchid (Pterostylis vittata)of the season. Of which there will no doubt be many more to come:

We also spied a few repeat Bunny Orchid species and sub species. Eventually making it to the end of the natural path and onto the main tarmacked, and shorter, track that takes people from the carpark up to the summit. And this is where it became claggy. The sky darkened, rain fell, and any hope of views disappeared. Lisa’s knees were ailing her a tad, so she declined the offer to climb the final three hundred steps to get to the top. But was happy for me to head up just so I could see nothing of the landscape, it had come in good and proper:

However, on the way back down I spied what some would disregard as just another Bunny Orchid. I however got all excited even though it was not in the best of shape. This was a Granite Bunny Orchid (Eriochilus pulchellus), not found up our way. It is however a relatively common species in these more southern parts of the South West, growing in shallow soils on granite outcrops. The flower has that bit more colour, and yet again a slightly differing leaf shape. It made tackling the three hundred steps in these conditions more than worthwhile:

Back at the start we escaped the rain under the impressive shelter, supping on our still hot brews we had made before driving out. Three wonderful wanders today and only during one did we get wet, or at least our rain jackets did. Watching the birds in the trees and listening to the rain fall onto the roof, it was a lovely way to end our day out in nature. Our car all by itself one more time, it was a little surprising there were not more people out and about on this long weekend. Not that we were complain about having these places to ourselves:

As the light started to fade, and we knew there was no hope of seeing a sunset, we walked back to the car. Here we were both taken by the patterns along the side of our usually white car. A bit like the patterns created by the bubbles that came from the saponin; nature had taken the dust we had kicked up as we drove along, stuck it to the car, and then used water to create an artistic display. Almost like a drone image of the landscape from on high, and something we pondered capturing more often. Touting it as art created by the mud-man:

Back in Walpole we headed out for dinner and a game, before another good night’s sleep without poodles fidgeting about. Our third day arrived, meaning we had to start the journey back. It was a lazy start, and we aimed to head off track to break up the journey with a stop in to see Lane Poole Falls. A five kilometre hike, this time through a Karri and Marri (Corymbia calophylla) forests. Starting at the Boorara Tree, which was one of the eight fire trees. The peg ladder having been removed for the first ten or so meters, to prevent anyone climbing it:

The path was much wider than the other walks we had done, but the location no less beautiful. And as an added bonus the path was littered with a stunning array of fungi. We had seen a couple of good ones on each walk, but this place blew the others out of the water. The five kilometre walk taking a fair bit longer than it should have, as we spied more and more fungi. Eventually making it to the falls, where another fun foamy pattern was on display in the pool below. After soaking up the place, again with no one around, we started back:

Fortunately the walk out was the same path, so we didn’t stop nearly half as much. And nor does the post stop here, although it is where I will leave you. If I were retired and had more time on my hands I would go through the impressive array of fungi we found to try and identify them. Indeed I recognise a few. But it is getting late and my bed is calling me, albeit with poodles in it tonight. There are a couple of sneaky double ups, but not many. So I would encourage you to keep scrolling, and it starts with two that we found at Mount Clare: