Wednesday, September 29, 2010

More Interesting Dinners

Veal Rib Eye Steak on the BBQ
Dad loves his Ice Cream - Cookies & Cream

Chicken Thighs Marinated in Plum Sauce, Garlic Bread and Salad

Lasagna with Salad

More Ice Cream - Triple Choc Chip

Country Style Pork Ribs with Sauerkraut

BBQ T Bone Steak, twice baked potatoes and roasted vegs

Tree Top Walk and Ancient Empire

Before the preservation of the Red Tingle Forest, it was possible to park your car inside the hollow of the trees.  This is a re enactment by Becki and her Dad




One of the 60 metre bridge spans


The canopy of the trees

The root system of the Red Tingle


Dad in one of the many hollows

Looking up the hollow of the red tingle tree


Its hard to believe with so much of the trunk hollowed out there is still a healthy tree

A fallen tree

Karri Oak Tree




A Red Tingle Tree's root system


One of the beautiful wild flowers throughout the Ancient Empire



















A Tree Top walk was first proposed in this area in 1994 to protect the tingle forest. Construction began a year later.  The construction consists of 60 metre lightweight bridge spans on seven pylons.  It reaches a maximum of 40 metres at the highest point.   It is a world most people never see.  The spans were especially designed to sway slightly as you walk to create the sensation of being in the canopy of the forest.  Well it certainly swayed brilliantly today.   The life of a Red Tingle is approx 400 years and they can reach a height of 75 metres.  They are some of most enormous trees in the world and can only be found in this region.  A distinctive feature of the Red Tingle is the large, hollowed out base.  These have been caused over a long period of time by fire, fungal and insect attack.  Most of the plant life is unique to this area and the tingle forest hosts an abundant food source for native animals such as quokkas, bandicoots, possums and the western grey kangaroo.  As most of these animals only come out at night we need to do a Forest by Night Tour.  Here you get to explore the forest by torchlight beneath a blanket of stars.  The Ancient Empire Walk meanders through a grove of veteran trees at ground level and gives another perspective of the magnificent giants

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Australian Military History



Dad took a tour of the Princess Royal Fortress today. The Princess Royal Fortress (The Forts) in Albany is Australia’s first federal fortress and has a range of attractions that kept Dad entertained for hours. A highlight from this historically significant vantage point is the spectacular panoramic views of King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour.

Dad explored the impressive restored 1893 fortress. He discovered how the soldiers kept the enemy out of the port and the types of artillery used. He visited the commanding officers house and was amazed by the anti-submarine weapon system and the torpedoes used by Australian submarines. He even managed to squeeze into one of them.

Dad was in heaven with the impressive museums on offer at the fortress, including HMAS Perth Interpretive Centre, Australian Light Horses Museum and the Australian War Memorial and seeing the link between the Americans and the Aussies.


Becki bought him a badge depicting the Australian flag and the American flag....an addition to his veteran cap.