Travellin' Penguin

If you’re looking for news on books then you might turn this off this week. I was on a three person photographic fungi exploration/instruction this week in the southwest wilderness of Tasmania.

Luke O’Brien, https://www.lukeobrien.com.au , a professional photographer, conducted this trip. One other person signed up as well as me as we were the overflow from the same trip a couple of weeks ago. We went to the Styx and Florentine valleys of Tasmania. So beautiful it takes your breath away.

A few years ago the government wanted to log it and protestors chained themselves to the trees. A very big protest with one young woman who set up in one of the tallest trees and stayed there around 300 days from memory. Thank goodness they did this as those trees of old growth forest are still there. I have attended a couple of 1000 person rallies on parliament lawns to stop the destruction of these forests.

However protests continue around the state as Tasmania’s government continues to log old growth trees of hundreds of years old for woodchips to send to China. Hopefully the protests do their job though many get arrested and spend time in jail in the name of the forests. I want to share the phone photos I took as my camera photos, though much better are not ready yet. They need editing.

Although this fell a long time ago you can see its size.

There is such a diversity of fungi that we photographed.

My fellow American/Australien friend I met who lives just down the road from me. We really hit it off.

This tree is called the Twisted Sister. The wind, over the years has shaped it.

Look at the base of this tree, almost my height.

This is the fungi chart we had with us of just the fungi in Tasmania.

I would love to find one of eah of these. What a challenge.

The reverse side of the Fungi Flip chart.

Now the week begins and I need to start reading again. Books other than books about fungi though I do fine them incredibly fascinating. If we didn’t have fungi and the work they do, especially underground, our forest floors would be inpenetrable. They are truly amazing.

Until next week…enjoy going out and doing something this week.

My week list…..pilates class, trainer, barre’ class, meeting in town, vet appointment for dog’s vaccinations, a Fullers book launch, a seniors lunch in historic town of Richmond with friends in the pub, some walking and getting started in my book group’s book. Keep moving people…..