PEMBERTON, WA DADS BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER 2013

Not being much of a photographer, well maybe it is more the fact that I do not quite feel comfortable enough to carry my camera around with me wherever I go. The below photos do not do Pemberton justice. I only took the camera on a hike to break in my boots and up two of the tall trees that you can climb in the area.

We went down to Pemberton for my fathers birthday. We were heading down with two other families the Moustaka's and the Spivey's. This trip was planned for months, mom had been back in the states for some time taking care of her mom and she was even coming back for it. 

Pemberton is an incredible part of the Margret River region. Located roughly five hours south of Perth and nestled in the tall Karri forests. The Karri trees are some of the largest trees in the world only second to the Sequoias in Northern California. To say the least standing next to these giants is a very humbling experience. 

My parents had made it down to to the Pemberton area before, but were really only driving through. They were so intrigued by the surroundings that they needed to plan a trip to soak it all in. My fathers birthday was the perfect occasion. Each family booked a cabin at the Salitage winery 10km outside of Pemberton. It was "really" nice, don't ask how much it was a night:) 

*SA LI TA GE is the first two letters of each of the owners children. Learned that on our tour, must say until now I have never been partial to any winery, but after the tour we had from the owner at Salitage, I am partial to Salitage wine.

Our Cabin at the Salitage Winery

The Picardy Vinyard
Fun fact, when I got my job at Bankwest
my mother took me out to celebrate and
we had a bottle of the 2010 Pino Noir, it is excellent!

The below photos are from a solo photo bomb. I needed to break in my new hiking boots:)

Most people when they see photos like this
would not believe they are from Perth, Western Australia..but they are

The Picardy estate

Come at me sheep

One day I want to live off a road like this

Just me

Sheep congo line

Cheeky Bull

Kookaburras

This is the first of the tall trees we climbed in Pemberton, the bicentennial tree. It is the tallest of the trees that you are able to climb. Though the one that you hear more press about is the Glouster tree (I climber that one as well) probably because it is closer to downtown Pemberton and well people are lazy. If you look closely you can see a halfway platform and a series of platforms above that. There is a sign that says no more than six people on the tree at one time, but well that suggestion is lightly followed to say the least.

The top of the bicentennial tree

Little about the trees; the pegs and platforms were initially constructed for early fire watchers. The Karri trees, the tallest in the area, offer the best lookouts. Now they are now a common tourist attraction. Not sure if they would be able to get away with this many other places.. no lines, no guards, no rangers, no safety harnesses, no nets to catch you, no ropes etc. Just a series of pegs posted into a tree that spiral upwards to the top. This is not just a couple feet it is a couple hundred feet! One misstep or slip and you go straight to the bottom (SPLAT). That being said I do not believe anyone has ever fallen off the trees. General rule of thumb for climbing the tree as well as for any ladder for that matter is always have three points of contact with the tree. Two arms and a leg, two legs and an arm, get it? Needless to say there were no casualties in our crew.

Gates at the top of the bicentennial tree

The very top, we didn't get up there

Hard to get the perspective, but its a LONG way down
People looked like ants

I wanted to put this photo in to point out that when building a house or cabin that has only one way of heat, particularly a wood fire stove. Do not place a smoke detector directly above. It went off every time we started a fire, my ears are still ringing.

Top of the Glouster Tree! She made it!

Celebration at the top!

Nice iphone case

How does this thing work?

The view from the top aint bad

The final decent!

Success

Again anyone? 

Our trip to Pemberton was incredible! Some of the photos that you missed were the ones of my fathers birthday at a food school, very interesting takes on some dishes. We did manage to spend a lot of time in the actual town of Pemberton which was lovely. I wish I could remember the name of the breakfast spot we went to, it was a gem, there was only two or three in town. Chances are if you go to Pemberton you will eat at it as well. We also got to take advantage of some great hikes along the bibblemen track. The new hiking boots were worth it! Lastly, I got to do some serious mountain biking! I recently brought my bike back from the states, got it all assembled and took it to the hills of Pemberton. The tracks were serious, not sure if I had ever been down such serious terrain. I will be back to visit.

Last fun fact; almost all the avocados consumed in Perth, WA come from Pemberton. They're fields of avocado trees lining the hills.

Next time my trip back to the USA for the Merrit and Watson weddings!!!