Holiday in Paradise

No matter how I look at it, it still spells, 'guilt.'  It's just the way we are. We didn't know Huntington's Disease was in the family when we had our children. They were born with their genes; there is nothing we can now change.
I had two weeks; a holiday for Mel and a holiday for me.  I want to make her life right but all I can offer her is; love, support and a three day holiday in a country town.



Mel at the Gloucester Tree

We planned our escape months in advance. Mel wanted to see the prolific wildflowers in the spring and we chose the little timber town of Pemberton, deep in Karri country, south west of Perth. We hear there are also Jarrah and Marri trees growing. They grow according to the soil type but it is mainly the giant lean Karri trees which surround us with awe.  Wildflowers poke up on the side of tracks and dazzle us in clumps of vivid colours throughout the bush.

 We use our free pensioner travel passes for our coach transport. It takes just about all day to reach the town and we are weary from sitting.  I need to walk and I inspire Mel to take a walk to the well-known Gloucester Tree, not so far from our accommodation. It is 4pm already,  we are staying in a renovated old picture theatre of the 1920's.  It is now a selection of self-contained apartments. We have the 'Lounge' suite.  It is weird to think people of yesterday once sat here watching flicks pre and post war.  There are old theatre chairs and photos of old movies to enhance the feel if he place.

Mel and I set off for the Gloucester Tree. I set my Map My Walk app a little after we begin and soon realise the tree is further than we had thought. We soldier on, it has now become an adventure. We reach the Bibbluman Track and enter into a, ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ fairy tale, we watch out for the wicked wolf! The trees tower on each side of us and a sprinkling of purple and orange wildflowers delight us. We inhale the dampness of the forest and I worry about the slight wheeze I can hear from Mel's chest. We laugh at the sign which says 1.5kms and imagine it is wrong. I don't tell Mel otherwise! 

Finally the tack ends in the car park of the Gloucester Tree. A mother is taking photos of her daughter climbing the tree to the lookout high in the branches.  Mel is happy to return the same way we came and we have completed just under 7kms. 

The next day the sun is bright and our expectations high. We spend most of the day in a 4WD on a wildflower tour.  We roar up huge white sand dunes, drive without a care along isolated beaches of the southern ocean and stop frequently to walk and delight in our native wildflowers. 

We marvel at the donkey orchids and much sought after flowers. Our group is mostly older but our day is very enjoyable.

On our final day we join eight others on the Donnelly River cruise. The young man drives an almost all glass boat. Fortunately the windows open enhancing the view and dissipating the building heat. A large bushfire went through the area about three years ago and many dead trees still line the river banks. Tour guide, Sean eagerly pointed out the new growth from regeneration.  The boat took us all the way to the southern ocean.  Only a large sandbank separated us from the roaring ocean.  We stopped at the sandbank for Sean's homemade apple and cinnamon muffins before heading back to the boat ramp.  Another delightful day in paradise.  We treated ourselves to healthy salad rolls for a late lunch at the old fashioned bakery and later country Indian for dinner.

Today we are back on the bus headed for home. Mel and I shared a magic time together.

Native Wildflowers