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Well we made it to Perth on rainy day. And my traveling companions from the Land of Sunshine (i.e. England, for the atmospherically challenged) were complaining.
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Farewell to Yesterday's Rain

Tctraynor
2005-11-04 21:46:00

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impressive. I did a tree climb up a 51 meter high tree (167 feet). There were these pegs in the side of the 167-foot tree that took you spiraling up and up the 167-foot tree. Yes, 167-foot tree. I spiraled about up 90 feet of it and the mistake I made was that I looked down. Never look down. I then started having an inner dialogue with myself going something like this:

Todd1: Long way up isn't it?

Todd2: Yes it is. Isn't great?

T1: Well, not if we fall. It is raining a bit and the pegs are a little slippery and look at the last 70 feet!!! It doesn't spiral anymore - it just shoots straight up!

T2: Come on! If we get to the top - we will feel great!! Come on!

T1: OK.... No...wait. You better go without me.

T2: Come on. Please!?

T1: Alright... No... wait. I'll just stay here and wait for you.

T2: Whatever. You are beginning to annoy me. I am going. See these pegs straight up aren't so bad. Oh shit.. Just looked down... Oi... This IS straight up. It is going to be hell coming down. Could slip... I like your idea. I am coming back down.
Well this went on for a few more minutes. Starting then stopping before finally deciding that 90 feet was a good enough accomplishment and heading back down the tree. Fear. Bah! It's back again.

When we got to Augusta it was, yes, raining and the whale watching boat had moved its operations about 50 miles north to Dunsborough the day before.

It rained in Dunsborough too but not hard enough for the whale watching to be cancelled. I did find out about the tragedy in New York and Washington, DC that day on the boat. I was numb for most of the cruise but when I saw the whales I realized that this is the moment I am in and shoved the thoughts of the tragedy away for a while.

Whales are truly magnificent creatures. As a kid, I used to write ...