Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co

Climbing The World’s Tallest Fire-Lookout Tree

Dorothy and I Climbing The World’s Tallest Fire-Lookout Tree, Gloucester National Park, Western Australia (view full size)

According to wikipedia:

The Gloucester Tree is a giant karri tree in the Gloucester National Park of Western Australia. At 72 metres in height, it is the world’s tallest fire-lookout tree, and visitors can climb up to a platform in its upper branches for a spectacular view of the surrounding karri forest. It is owned by the Shire of Manjimup.

Built in 1947, the Gloucester Tree was one of eight karri trees that between 1937 and 1952 were made relatively easy to climb so that they could be used as fire lookout spots. The suitability of the tree as a fire lookout was tested by forester Jack Watson, who climbed the tree using climbing boots and a belt. It took Watson six hours to climb 58 metres, a difficult climb due to the 7.3 metre girth of the tree and the need to negotiate through limbs from 39.6 metres up.

Another forester, George Reynolds, pegged the ladder and lopped branches to facilitate climbing the tree, and a wooden lookout cabin was built 58 metres above the ground. The Governor-General of Australia, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, visited the site during construction, and the tree and national park are named in his honour.
The wooden lookout cabin was demolished in 1973 for safety reasons, and was replaced with a steel and aluminium cabin and visitors’ gallery. Currently the climb is done by stepping on 153 spikes that spiral the tree.

Only 20 percent of visitors climb to the top of the tree; most make it only part of the way before turning back.

More photos of Gloucester Tree Western Australia
Crossing The Nullarbor

The quintessential Outback experience in Australia is crossing the 1100km long Nullarbor Plain. It was hot, extreme, remote, and totally incredible. View full size.

More photos from the Nullarbor Plain.
Raining Sunset

Raining Sunset Melbourne Australia (Full Size) or on Photoshelter
Girl Pulling a Horse Into Water

Girl Pulling a Horse Into Water, Kwinana Beach, Australia.
Man And Massive Wave Exploding On Shore
IMG_9007
Going Surfing

I took this photograph in Torquay Australia just before we drove the Great Ocean Road.

There is something wonderful and playful about the excitement of these young girls running out to go surfing! It was quite a scene at the beach here. The surfers were catching a few last waves as the sun was setting. To top it off a rainbow was forming. It was one of those little magic moments of travel-bliss that you cannot convey to someone who wasn’t there.

Dorothy and I went surfing in Australia and it was very very awesome. It got me to thinking about fear.

Anyway, I have roughly a bazillion photos to process from Australia. I’ll git-r-done soon enough and post them up.

Nothing new to report from Key Largo. We’re just enjoying our little RV and getting some work done.
The Cottage
Starting

Nike’s Just Do It slogan is beyond cliché but I really like that notion. Just doing something implies that it’s simpler than you think. You can stop thinking about it and just do the thing!

I know plenty of people who get stuck and can’t start. I’ve been known to get bogged down myself. It’s an awful place and I’ve been there. Here is a little technique to quell any fear and just begin.

There is something splendid about the process of just starting. No matter how awful it feels or how bad your project is, the process of starting sets things in motion. The act of starting forces your brain into a new state. Your brain transitions into the how can “I make this better” mode instead of the counterproductive anxiety based thinking that can prevent anything from even happening.

When did we become conditioned into being passive consumers? When did we accept that all we can do is buy things and be passive? Stop that and just start.

Been thinking about a new hobby, a new business, a new project? Just freaking start.

Keep this in mind when starting: NOBODY CARES. Nobody cares about your widget or your new project as much as you do. Nobody gives a rats ass about anything. Or rather, that’s a tool to keep in mind to quell the those negative thoughts in your mind that will prevent you from creating or doing.

We tend to overestimate other people’s interest in our stuff. Consider vacation photos. Nobody cares about your vacation photos as much as you do and yet we put on elaborate slideshows thinking people will actually care. To a certain extent they do care, just not as much as you think they do.

Nobody is going to judge you or think badly of you or your creation. If they do let them! They can judge you all they want it doesn’t change the fact that you’ve created something. Also if they’ve never created anything why should you care what they think anyway? If they have created anything they’ll know what that’s all about and probably be super supportive of you.

The point is, don’t get caught up in the minutia of over-thinking and just begin. Begin now.

In Other News:

You can now get updates from this site via email.

Also, our van is for sale. If you’re looking for an awesome van in Australia or know someone who is check this out.
Breaking Free Video

Hows this for serendipity?!

Here is a video that illustrates exactly what I was just talking about. It comes from the Matador network. They often use my creative commons photos in their posts. (1, 2, and 3)

These examples might not be what you want to do with your life at all. That’s not the point though. The point is these people are free and supremely happy doing their own unique thing.

Hat tip to Jon (my brother) for sending this in.