Today was about Tingle trees, another form of eucalyptus that is unique to South West Western Australia. There are three forms of this tree, Red Tingle, Yellow Tingle (named after the color of the wood) and Rake Tingle, named after the person who recognized that there was a third form. Like all Eucalypts Tingles are hard wood. The word Tingle is the aboriginal name.

The photos above show one of the characteristic features of Tingle trees. The size (huge) and the hollowed out base. The timber in the Tingle trees is very strong so that the tree can still stand and live even with the core of its base hollowed out by fire.

The Tree Top Walk that winds its way through the canopy of a Tingle forest is a well know tourist attraction in the Southern Forest and indeed it is impressive. I was particular interested in the structure of the walkway which was erected without noticeable impact on the dense forest by using jacks and winches rather than cranes.

You will also notice a few more beaches and the blue Southern Ocean waters. One of the suprising things is that today is the third day of a long weekend at the end of Southern Hemisphere summer and these beaches are almost deserted.

Panorama Camp Ground west of Albany. This is the first camp with a shower and we were certainly ready for that. Very European in style, a single dump station that worked only for cassette toilets. A number of central power polls for electricty that required the use of a very long electrical cable. A common cooking shelter with gas stove, hot water and non-working micro-wave oven.

Also our first wet night. Got a chance to test the awning.