Disaster at Long Gully Bridge..

This was going to be my theme day post before the lure of my mum's gorgeous face changed my mind at the last moment :) P took this shot when he was walking the Bibbulmun Track back in 2010. The track runs from Kalumunda on the outskirts of Perth down to Albany, a distance of nearly 1000kms taking walkers through vistas as beautiful as you would see anywhere, ranking it high up there as a must do for keen track walkers.The historic 'Long Gully Bridge' ageing beautifully since 1949 was built for the WA Government Railways,vital for the moving of timber to the Dwellingup Mill.When the mill burnt down in 1961 the track ceased operation and the bridge became the only viable crossing point for walkers on the track.

Tragedy! Fifty four years later the bridge has suffered the same fate! At the beginning of February during one of many bush fires started by lightning this year, despite the valiant efforts of Park & Wildlife Fire crews the bridge was totally destroyed! The above shot and the below shot showing the aftermath of the fire were taken from the official Bibbulmun Track site. Always a heart-tug when a piece of history is lost but there's no stopping mother nature when she unleashes her fury! Happy new week, take care and stay safe..