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| The beautiful Busselton Jetty, although it was windy as hell & scattered rain all day |
Saturday 30 June 2012
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| Ngilgi Caves Dunsborough, thanks to Marelins recommendation we loved this cave the most |
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| Eagle Bay Brewery, just chilling & watching the strom come in. (gosh it was so tuff watching this happen while we were tasting beers & having a gourmet burger, sooooo Yum) |
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| Cape Naturaliste light house |
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| the light house walk, another stunning view, all in a days walk ( we find it so difficult some days LOL) |
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| Bush Tucker Canoe Trip down the Margaret River, was so much fun with these 2 guides |
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| this beautiful part of the Margaret river region of Prevelly was ravaged by bushfirers in Nov 2011, burning off gone wrong |
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| Eating all bush tucker for lunch, including, croc, emu, kanga, witcherty grubs & other yum bush foods |
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| this is a cave that they took us into, told us an aboriginal story & then we had to crawl on our stomach to get thru the cave |
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| The town of Prevelly r very angry with the DEC for this bushfire that went wrong & burnt their town |
Friday 29 June 2012
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| Cave Works, Lake Cave 370 steps to get down into the cave entrance Augusta |
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| Lake Cave Augusta |
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| Lake Cave Augusta |
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| While we were having lunch at the berry farm cottage cafe, so were these little critters joining us, Margaret River |
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| Lake Cave, while we were admiring this specticale, a young lad had a panic attack & past out, he had to be helped out of the cave, but he was ok |
Thursday 28 June 2012
May 11 2012 Melted plastic bottles onto battery to try and stop leak seems to hold for now so back in it goes .Drove another 40 km to Isrealite bay same corrugated rough track took half a day another great learning experience .Found a camp area and I spotted a toilet pan in the bush on a concrete slab with a vent so out of curiosity I lifted the lid with my foot only to find it now contained a bee hive .One bee came straight for me so I swatted him and got stung on the little finger .No worries im tough ,walking to beach and fingers starting to burn and my wrist and half way up my forearm is swelling up .Now Im thinking im going to die still 100 km of rough track to nearest town .Will nurse Josie be able to save me .
May 12 Back onto the bitumen and it feels so smooth vehicle damage from rough tracks is lots of scratches on paintwork from narrow tracks some side wall damage on rear tyre and a racing aerial that slopes back at the same angle as the windscreen battle scars for the car .Into Esperance and theres a sea lion sleeping on the beach beside the jetty has no resemblance to a lion more like a big brown poo .
May 13 Cape Le Grande and grand it is white sand beaches clear turquoise water . So where out of camp early and walking to Thistle cove for a snorkel then Boulder bay and last Little Hellfire bay this was a great day of walking and swimming .
May 14 Storm last night and as usual comes in about 2 30 am with hail and heavy rain we were prepared with tarp over tent so I just went back to sleep .Walked Lucky bay to Rossiter bay ranger caught up with us to close track because a fire had been spotted in the area last night .We had to walk back by the road which wasn’t as enjoyable .
May 15 Climbed Frenchmans peak this morning great views of the park , ocean and Esperance .Great ocean drive in Esperance and more great beaches with reefs and clear water and a salt lake that is pink in colour . Heading to Norseman in the dark and where looking for peak Charles after driving for 90 km and not finding it with our crappy map we head back to the main road for the nearest rest area .
May 16 Overcast today we drive to Dundas Lake and town tourist drive takes us the last part of the road into Norseman . We cross lake Cowan visit Disappointment rock and camp at Lake Johnston that happens to be dry and is a salt lake
May 17 Solar battery is leaking again so out it comes and melting more plastic bottles this attempt is less successful than first now im really annoyed at wasting half a day on it expletives flowed out my mouth like the Brisbane river flows in flood . Of to Mcdermid rock and the breakaways with their colourful sand stone .Wave rock Hyden and whilst exploring wave rock we are treated to the sound of jazz music from a French saxophonist at sunset what a bonus .
May 18 Another granite outcrop near Wave rock called the humps and we have Mulka cave with aboriginal art work and evidence of aboriginal occupation .with small water holes carved into the rock . Hyden and im into the hardware store for some silicone to fix that battery .
May 19 Roadside stop near Jerranmungup and I have fixed the battery with silicone what a relief we are discovering our clothes have got holes in them from the battery acid .Gordon inlet and estuary sea birds and lunch on the beach .
May 20 Camped Millers point walked around estuary foreshore with interesting marine growth on rocks . On to the Stirling ranges to climb Bluff knoll for some great views of the surrounding area .
May 21 Camped Moingup springs and climbed mt Toolbrunup early in the morning top of mountain was covered in mist but with Josies pace I knew it would be gone by the time we got there .Climbing up and Josie starts whining so I have to encourage her to do it .So I carefully positioned myself to cover the sign that said you need to be fit and agile to climb any further .Josie slows down shes all tense and stressed as she climbs I don’t see why its so difficult but I do enjoy her suffering . On the way down I show Josie the sign she takes it well .Moving along to Porungurup national park some wine tasting on the way we climb castle rock with its glass and stainless walkway its quite flash . I watch French backpackers rock climbing .May 22 Cheyne beach overcast day and Josie is using computer of car battery and yep now car wont start good thing shes got RACQ so she gives them a call and that gives us plenty of time to watch the sunfish beaching themselves I would like to throw Josie in the sea right now . These are weird fish they don’t appear to have scales and they feel like plastic .Their mouths cant close and their propelled by vertical tail fins .
May 23 Albany wind farm watching the wind turbines and listening to the sound they make Natural arch and the gap which threw up sea spray like rain when big swells came in .Frenchmans bay where we saw more sunfish beaching themselves .The blowhole this one is small and you can stand in it . It has so much pressure it blows your hat of and you get covered in a fine mist of sea water its fun .Although the sign says danger stay away just ignore that rubbish that’s for boring people .
May 24 I go aboard the replica brig Amity and have a great chat with the caretaker then into Albany for shopping that takes the rest of the day .
May 25 Drove to Denmark stopped at chocolate makers and honey farm for some mead tasting didn’t like the taste of mead waste of good honey I thought. On to the Green pools they look magic really nice spot so we go for a snorkel here I have a wetsuit now .Had a look at the elephant shaped rocks and again we are treated with the sounds of jazz from the French saxophonist . Waterfall beach where a spring creates a waterfall all year round and madfish bay .
May 26 Snorkelled Green pools again blue groper and morwong today .Valley of the giants tree top walk and red tingle trees that you can walk through .
May 27 Big red tingle tree circular pool and Coalmine lake named because of low grade coals seams in cliffs . Watched sailing dinghies racing on coalmine lake . Walpole scenic forest drive Swarbrick art and wall of contemplation all about anti logging campaign . Shannon scenic drive through forests of Karri Marri and blackbutt and old Shannon town walk .
May 28 Walked to Shannon dam and completed scenic drive .Boorau fire lookout tree and lane falls . Windy harbour and we walk to Cathedral rock .
May 29 Freezing breeze in windy harbour Pt Dentrecasteaux and Salmon beach lookouts .Climbed the Dave Evans bicentennial tree squeezed ina 10 km walk with a bit of moon light to help us back to the car in the Warren national park.
May 30 Pemberton and we go on a tram ride that only goes half way I feel like it was a bit lame Josie enjoyed it .Laundry and lunch and I climbed the Gloucester tree now that’s more like it .Big brook dam and it’s a short walk with another storm and a run for the car.
May 31 Beedelup falls and dam raining today Karri forest explorer drive and the car is sliding around on dirt roads .Climbed diamond tree and as we were on our way out ,side wall ruptured on tyre that was damaged on Isrealite bay track so I changed that on the side of the road in the rain one of those magic moments I will always remember .
June 1 Green island campsite near Manjimup raining ,saw mill museum ,King jarrah tree for a .lunch break one tree bridge ,glenorans pool and the four aces four karri trees of similar age and size that are spaced evenly apart in a straight line .
June 2 Manjimup raining in to town for new tyres these guys are robbers $270 for a tyre that I pay $209 for in Brisbane must have seen the Qld rego . Heading for Nannup and we detour via Willow Springs for lunch .Continued on to Augusta for the fore shore walk . National park Contos for camping and its really crowded so we book for three nights when the rangers tells us that it’s a long weekend WA foundation day lots of chatter and music in campground it was great . Felt a bit lonely on Tuesday night when they all had gone and it was dead quiet
June 3 Augusta whale festival we have music, food ,variety club auction ,Deb spoons perry [spoon player ]and craft stalls dancers and entertainment had a look at the light house and the calcified water wheel . Skippy rock for lunch cakes jams and relishes bought we eat well I think a family goes hungry for a week every time we shop in a town . Jewel cave for some limestone formations we catch the last tour seems to be our style .Our guide is a very strict old fart no fun or humour at all .
June 4 Lake cave today apparently there about 220 caves in this area much shorter cave than Jewel cave we just get into cave and a young woman starts freaking out so she and her boy friend leave no worries at the back of the cave and Josie asks questions about earthquakes and then guide turns of lights to appreciate the darkness and a young bloke starts freaking out and then faints and craps himself in the process guide and others carry him out what a pussy .After all that excitement its of to redgate winery yum Yahava coffee yum Cookie house yum Berri farm for lunch and wine tasting yum 34 degrees south olive farm for some olive oil tasting yum stomach isnt coping well . Cold tonight and Josie isn’t pulling her weight it seems the heating of the tent is left up to me lucky for us theres plenty of fuel from all that rich food and wine I think Josies trying to be a lady bit late for that .
June 5 Prevelly and this is the site of the disastrous DEC burn off and there are bare sand dunes and blackened trees .Prevelly has set up a memorial for all the burnt houses and to bag the DEC and government Happier things now and we are of on a bush tucker canoe tour with Chris our guide we paddle only about 300 metres and we feed black bream ducky di and ducky do charlotte the crow and look at the historic ruins another victim of the DEC burnoff . Lunch and its witchy grubs croc emu and roo meat with some native pepper and Quandong .We have a friendly canoe race back and we get Hannah a 6ft tall amazon with power to match unfortunately we lose race other team had longer canoe giving better speed and all we did was over power ours and Hannah had plenty of power .
June 6 Nuts and cereals operated by money hungry south African everything he sells you can buy in woollies for half the price would not recommend this one . Silk road to learn about the process of silk manufacture got some mulberry jam and tea yum across the road to dried fruits garlic strawberries and prunes yum Mr chocolate free tasting dumb move I made a pig of myself yum Bettonay wines for wine tasting and nougat yum im really taking a liking to the marageret river region Ashgrove wines bought a carton here Bootleg brewery for lunch a bloke could easily lose his licence here. Raining again camped cape naturalist on sugarloaf road .
June 7 Ngilgi cave and this one we can stay as long as we like just as well because its raining .Eagle bay brewery and a storm passes by while were having lunch . Cape Naturalist lighthouse and headland walks . Had enough rain and we spot a motel $65 no arguments here we take it and watch tv for the first time in 3 months didn’t miss anything .
June 8 Busselton jetty and its showers we get soaked on return from end of jetty its 1840 m long so its hot chips for lunch mmmm.
May 12 Back onto the bitumen and it feels so smooth vehicle damage from rough tracks is lots of scratches on paintwork from narrow tracks some side wall damage on rear tyre and a racing aerial that slopes back at the same angle as the windscreen battle scars for the car .Into Esperance and theres a sea lion sleeping on the beach beside the jetty has no resemblance to a lion more like a big brown poo .
May 13 Cape Le Grande and grand it is white sand beaches clear turquoise water . So where out of camp early and walking to Thistle cove for a snorkel then Boulder bay and last Little Hellfire bay this was a great day of walking and swimming .
May 14 Storm last night and as usual comes in about 2 30 am with hail and heavy rain we were prepared with tarp over tent so I just went back to sleep .Walked Lucky bay to Rossiter bay ranger caught up with us to close track because a fire had been spotted in the area last night .We had to walk back by the road which wasn’t as enjoyable .
May 15 Climbed Frenchmans peak this morning great views of the park , ocean and Esperance .Great ocean drive in Esperance and more great beaches with reefs and clear water and a salt lake that is pink in colour . Heading to Norseman in the dark and where looking for peak Charles after driving for 90 km and not finding it with our crappy map we head back to the main road for the nearest rest area .
May 16 Overcast today we drive to Dundas Lake and town tourist drive takes us the last part of the road into Norseman . We cross lake Cowan visit Disappointment rock and camp at Lake Johnston that happens to be dry and is a salt lake
May 17 Solar battery is leaking again so out it comes and melting more plastic bottles this attempt is less successful than first now im really annoyed at wasting half a day on it expletives flowed out my mouth like the Brisbane river flows in flood . Of to Mcdermid rock and the breakaways with their colourful sand stone .Wave rock Hyden and whilst exploring wave rock we are treated to the sound of jazz music from a French saxophonist at sunset what a bonus .
May 18 Another granite outcrop near Wave rock called the humps and we have Mulka cave with aboriginal art work and evidence of aboriginal occupation .with small water holes carved into the rock . Hyden and im into the hardware store for some silicone to fix that battery .
May 19 Roadside stop near Jerranmungup and I have fixed the battery with silicone what a relief we are discovering our clothes have got holes in them from the battery acid .Gordon inlet and estuary sea birds and lunch on the beach .
May 20 Camped Millers point walked around estuary foreshore with interesting marine growth on rocks . On to the Stirling ranges to climb Bluff knoll for some great views of the surrounding area .
May 21 Camped Moingup springs and climbed mt Toolbrunup early in the morning top of mountain was covered in mist but with Josies pace I knew it would be gone by the time we got there .Climbing up and Josie starts whining so I have to encourage her to do it .So I carefully positioned myself to cover the sign that said you need to be fit and agile to climb any further .Josie slows down shes all tense and stressed as she climbs I don’t see why its so difficult but I do enjoy her suffering . On the way down I show Josie the sign she takes it well .Moving along to Porungurup national park some wine tasting on the way we climb castle rock with its glass and stainless walkway its quite flash . I watch French backpackers rock climbing .May 22 Cheyne beach overcast day and Josie is using computer of car battery and yep now car wont start good thing shes got RACQ so she gives them a call and that gives us plenty of time to watch the sunfish beaching themselves I would like to throw Josie in the sea right now . These are weird fish they don’t appear to have scales and they feel like plastic .Their mouths cant close and their propelled by vertical tail fins .
May 23 Albany wind farm watching the wind turbines and listening to the sound they make Natural arch and the gap which threw up sea spray like rain when big swells came in .Frenchmans bay where we saw more sunfish beaching themselves .The blowhole this one is small and you can stand in it . It has so much pressure it blows your hat of and you get covered in a fine mist of sea water its fun .Although the sign says danger stay away just ignore that rubbish that’s for boring people .
May 24 I go aboard the replica brig Amity and have a great chat with the caretaker then into Albany for shopping that takes the rest of the day .
May 25 Drove to Denmark stopped at chocolate makers and honey farm for some mead tasting didn’t like the taste of mead waste of good honey I thought. On to the Green pools they look magic really nice spot so we go for a snorkel here I have a wetsuit now .Had a look at the elephant shaped rocks and again we are treated with the sounds of jazz from the French saxophonist . Waterfall beach where a spring creates a waterfall all year round and madfish bay .
May 26 Snorkelled Green pools again blue groper and morwong today .Valley of the giants tree top walk and red tingle trees that you can walk through .
May 27 Big red tingle tree circular pool and Coalmine lake named because of low grade coals seams in cliffs . Watched sailing dinghies racing on coalmine lake . Walpole scenic forest drive Swarbrick art and wall of contemplation all about anti logging campaign . Shannon scenic drive through forests of Karri Marri and blackbutt and old Shannon town walk .
May 28 Walked to Shannon dam and completed scenic drive .Boorau fire lookout tree and lane falls . Windy harbour and we walk to Cathedral rock .
May 29 Freezing breeze in windy harbour Pt Dentrecasteaux and Salmon beach lookouts .Climbed the Dave Evans bicentennial tree squeezed ina 10 km walk with a bit of moon light to help us back to the car in the Warren national park.
May 30 Pemberton and we go on a tram ride that only goes half way I feel like it was a bit lame Josie enjoyed it .Laundry and lunch and I climbed the Gloucester tree now that’s more like it .Big brook dam and it’s a short walk with another storm and a run for the car.
May 31 Beedelup falls and dam raining today Karri forest explorer drive and the car is sliding around on dirt roads .Climbed diamond tree and as we were on our way out ,side wall ruptured on tyre that was damaged on Isrealite bay track so I changed that on the side of the road in the rain one of those magic moments I will always remember .
June 1 Green island campsite near Manjimup raining ,saw mill museum ,King jarrah tree for a .lunch break one tree bridge ,glenorans pool and the four aces four karri trees of similar age and size that are spaced evenly apart in a straight line .
June 2 Manjimup raining in to town for new tyres these guys are robbers $270 for a tyre that I pay $209 for in Brisbane must have seen the Qld rego . Heading for Nannup and we detour via Willow Springs for lunch .Continued on to Augusta for the fore shore walk . National park Contos for camping and its really crowded so we book for three nights when the rangers tells us that it’s a long weekend WA foundation day lots of chatter and music in campground it was great . Felt a bit lonely on Tuesday night when they all had gone and it was dead quiet
June 3 Augusta whale festival we have music, food ,variety club auction ,Deb spoons perry [spoon player ]and craft stalls dancers and entertainment had a look at the light house and the calcified water wheel . Skippy rock for lunch cakes jams and relishes bought we eat well I think a family goes hungry for a week every time we shop in a town . Jewel cave for some limestone formations we catch the last tour seems to be our style .Our guide is a very strict old fart no fun or humour at all .
June 4 Lake cave today apparently there about 220 caves in this area much shorter cave than Jewel cave we just get into cave and a young woman starts freaking out so she and her boy friend leave no worries at the back of the cave and Josie asks questions about earthquakes and then guide turns of lights to appreciate the darkness and a young bloke starts freaking out and then faints and craps himself in the process guide and others carry him out what a pussy .After all that excitement its of to redgate winery yum Yahava coffee yum Cookie house yum Berri farm for lunch and wine tasting yum 34 degrees south olive farm for some olive oil tasting yum stomach isnt coping well . Cold tonight and Josie isn’t pulling her weight it seems the heating of the tent is left up to me lucky for us theres plenty of fuel from all that rich food and wine I think Josies trying to be a lady bit late for that .
June 5 Prevelly and this is the site of the disastrous DEC burn off and there are bare sand dunes and blackened trees .Prevelly has set up a memorial for all the burnt houses and to bag the DEC and government Happier things now and we are of on a bush tucker canoe tour with Chris our guide we paddle only about 300 metres and we feed black bream ducky di and ducky do charlotte the crow and look at the historic ruins another victim of the DEC burnoff . Lunch and its witchy grubs croc emu and roo meat with some native pepper and Quandong .We have a friendly canoe race back and we get Hannah a 6ft tall amazon with power to match unfortunately we lose race other team had longer canoe giving better speed and all we did was over power ours and Hannah had plenty of power .
June 6 Nuts and cereals operated by money hungry south African everything he sells you can buy in woollies for half the price would not recommend this one . Silk road to learn about the process of silk manufacture got some mulberry jam and tea yum across the road to dried fruits garlic strawberries and prunes yum Mr chocolate free tasting dumb move I made a pig of myself yum Bettonay wines for wine tasting and nougat yum im really taking a liking to the marageret river region Ashgrove wines bought a carton here Bootleg brewery for lunch a bloke could easily lose his licence here. Raining again camped cape naturalist on sugarloaf road .
June 7 Ngilgi cave and this one we can stay as long as we like just as well because its raining .Eagle bay brewery and a storm passes by while were having lunch . Cape Naturalist lighthouse and headland walks . Had enough rain and we spot a motel $65 no arguments here we take it and watch tv for the first time in 3 months didn’t miss anything .
June 8 Busselton jetty and its showers we get soaked on return from end of jetty its 1840 m long so its hot chips for lunch mmmm.
Tuesday 26 June 2012
24/6/2012 Josie’s update on round Australia’s road trip
Hi Everyone,
Here i sit, 4 mths being on the road, travelling thru parts
of QLD, NSW, VIC, SA Fleurieu, Yorke, Eyre Peninsulas, Flinders Rangers &
across to WA, surviving the camping & the joys of waking up to the sunrise
from our tent, in a different place everyday, a warm cuppa in hand, the smell
of brekky happening, our surrounds filled with mother nature, the g8 outdoors,
wildlife humming, the greeting of a storm, wind, rain, sunshine, freezing cold
air that numbs ur fingers & tips of ur nose, always reflecting on how
wonderful this awesome experience has been & continues to be. Thanks to
Darren’s encouragement, my mind, body & soul has been pushed to its limits,
from snorkelling out in the surf along the rock walls of Lipson Cove, Darren
sightin what he thought may be sharks, to me panicking, waves crashing me
against the rock walls, me bleeding, more panic, frantically trying to swim
thru the sea grasses & safely to shore (aged 10yrs, hair went totally grey,
legs like jelly), to climbing on a freezing, cold, misty morning up the
Stirling Rangers at Mt Porongurap 1050mt mountain climb, full of slippery
boulders, steep muddy trails, ridge edges, with almighty drops that bring the
fear in u when u look down. Darren would take 6 steps, then have to guide &
convince me to climb those 6 steps, while my legs like jelly, fingers frozen to
hang onto rocks, body so tense with fear & physically challenged, then to
vast contrast, swimming with the Sea Lion Seals at Jurien Bay on the Coral
Coast of WA, this was so much fun snorkelling with these inquisitive, curious,
cheeky, puppy dog like seals, what a blast of laughter. The most magical views,
when stopping for lunch, endless hikes, seeking out unusual or interesting
things to see, learn from, observe wildlife in its natural habitat, take in the
views from the top of mountains, deep gorges, dark caves, under the water,
spectacular sunsets, just makes the mind boggle of how different is the makeup
of this land.
This just makes u realise how we all need to take a little
time, to appreciate the simple things in life. Live, experience, enjoy the
beauty of Australia, how it allows u to understand life, be tolerant of people,
listen to peoples journeys & life experiences from all walks of life, relax
with mother nature, whatever she throws at u, glad to be alive & healthy
enough to work towards ur goals & dreams & achieve them, no matter what
they r, be able to be an individual or different & accept people for who
they r, all while ur still not forgetting to be happy & smiling, knowing
how lucky we are.
I look ahead in continuing this fantastic journey & look
forward in having endless yarns & photo sessions, with family & friends
of the tails that we have endured, to which i am sure will incur endless laughter at my expense
& inspirer or encourage others to go
& enjoy life to the fullest.
Missing u all & think of everybody often as ur all in
our thoughts as we travel & faraway from everyone.
See you all on the flip side, Keep Smiling
Lots of Love
Josie
Wednesday 13 June 2012
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| the beautiful Warren River Nat Park, part of our walking trail |
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| Cape D'Entrecasteau Windy Harbour |
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| Dave Evans Bicentenial Tree 75mt tall & yes Darren climbed all the way to the top of the fire lookout, no i didnt, fear set in, way to chicken, (there r just some things i cant do. Oh Well) |
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| Windy Harbour lookout |
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| Darren taken a photo from the top looking down the spiral |
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| So tall u get a neck ache looking up |
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