We continue west travelling through Blackwood National Park along Denny Rd, a dirt track along laterite and sandy country through heavily vegetated woodland.

Many eucalypts secrete organic chemicals from their roots, which stimulate microbes and fungi to produce clay subsoils. Laterites support diverse and colourful wildflowers, particularly the Proteaceae (Banksias, Hakeas, Grevilleas etc) and Casuarinaceae (tammas, sheoaks) families. These plants dominate here because they can extract phosphorus (a vital nutrient), which is unavailable to most plants on these infertile soils. They do this with special cluster roots, which release an organic acid in to the soil in winter.  The acid releases phosphorus from soil particles for the plants to use. Iron that causes the red and brown colours in soil, and aluminium are also released. Soil bacteria then use the remaining acid for food, and in doing so, cause iron and aluminium to become solid again (precipitate) on gravel stones in the topsoil or down plant root channels. If you look inside gravel stones, you will often see rings of deposited iron.

We stop randomly along the way, each stop is a floral suprise. At one place we find a woodland with an understory of Banksia grandis. At another it’s orchids. The laterite in some place is reduced to pebbles and it’s a a bit akin to driving on marbles. The landscape is inundated with recent rain and running springs along hillsides are abundant.

We reach Margaret River and stay with friends, the benefit of local knowledge is again advantageous as we walk with our friends and explore the local area and enjoy the wonderful local bushland, birds and trails that would normally be missed as a typical tourist. We are shown the Fish Ladder at the weir this was very interesting. While nearby we find a small flock of Carnaby Cockatoos.

It’s then north to Perth to stay with more friends preparing to head east and home.