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| Selfie at Possum Springs Shelter |
Here we go with the second trip report;
08/10/2013: Tuesday Day 12
Exchanged contact details with Sean; we'll go for a beer in Fremantle, where he lives, when I get back to Perth, and set off at 6:15am. It soon became apparent my fitness could manage a double hut 32km day. The weather was sunny, but soon turned, as forecast, although a little earlier than expected.
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| Leaving Dwellingup |
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| Diversion near Dwellingup |
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| Farming near Dwellingup |
Arrived at Swamp Oak shelter at 10am, far too early to stop, so I pushed on, in the rain, for Murray.
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| A break at Swamp Oak |
A slippery climb up from Swamp Oak Road, and steep descent to the road at Yarragil Form. With hardly a moment to catch a breath, it was a 170 metre ascent out the other side.
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| Footbridge near Allen Road |
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| Downhill |
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| Turnoff to the Murray River |
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| The Murray River |
Once altitude was acheived, it was a steady 10km down into Murray campsite, by about 3:30pm. A long day, well pleased as it now puts me two days ahead of schedule. Nobody joined me tonight, I feel this could be a lonely 5 nights to Collie.
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| Murray River Shelter |
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| Murray from the shelter |
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| Kookaburra |
I settled down with my book about 6:30pm. Darkness drew in and so did the rain.
09/10/2013: Wednesday Day 13
On paper, the walk to Dookanelly Campsite looks a breeze at 17.8km and fairly flat. Throw in a night of persistant rain and some more a couple of hours into the day and you have, in reality, a wet trudge along the Murray River.
Gone at 7:15am, in the mist, I laboured through saturated foliage along overgrown paths and tracks, arriving about midday. I was afforded some sunshine to dry out my gear.
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| Misty start |
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| A wet day |
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| Drying out at Dookanelly |
I have to say, the previous sleepless night of rain and this "simple" leg are the closest I have come to quitting. If I have learnt anything in the last thirteen days it is that I am not the solitary soul I thought; right now I crave the company of others at camp. It is particularly frustrating that at each hut I read the log books and see Dropbear one hut away, sadly the distances are too far for me to consider a double hut leg.
But I'm here now, and the sun is out, and things always seem better when that is the case.
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| Dookanelly Shelter |
The evening came, amongst the bird song there was a low drone of heavy machinery in the distance, that stayed for the night. This was the famous Worsley Conveyor Belt; I had been told that you can hear it two days before you reach it, and two after. Well, last night the rain drowned out everything and I will reach it tomorrow.
10/10/2013 Thursday Day 14
A much better sleep last night and up for the day in a better mood. Away by ten to seven, and first order of business was to tackle some hills they call "The Four Sisters". These lumps were quite a challenge, a roller coaster of a four wheel drive track. The scenery helped the pain, and provided plenty of excuses to stop, as did coming face to face with a kangaroo on the brow of one.
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| A brighter start |
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| Keep out |
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| Grass Tree |
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| The Glenmurray Estate |
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| One of the "Four Sisters" |
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| Large Roo |
By 10am, I was at the Murray River and Long Gully Bridge.
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| Track Access |
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| Long Gully Bridge |
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| Harvey-Quindalup Road |
Across the Harvey-Quindalup Road, by now the conveyor belts constant hum was very prevalent and it only took fifteen minutes before it was in sight. What a feat of engineering, the Worsley Conveyor Belt transports bauxite 52 kilometres from the mine to the refinery in Worsley.
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| The Worsley Conveyor Belt |
Up another hill and down to Bell's Brook; a trickle of water through a flood plain of grass trees and shoots of green starting to appear amongst the mud. The section from Dwellingup hasn't been prolific for wildflowers, the rains have hampered this.
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| Track near Bell Brook |
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| Track near Bell Brook |
I met a walker along Possum Creek, my first human contact for a couple of days. He was skipping the shelter thanks to tales of mice and bushpigs, but I was too tired to do the same, besides, I have a plan to double hut tomorrow.
I arrived at Possum Springs Campsite at midday. I noticed Dropbears comment in the log book about the rats and pigs and put his concerns down to a bit of lonely night paranoia.
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| Possum Springs Shelter |
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| My sleeping system |
Had lunch and laid back chilling on a beautiful sunny afternoon; what a difference a day makes! The evening was not so relaxed. As sun set, the rats came out of their nest behind a piece of hardboard under one of the top bunks. I quickly hung my food up and vacated to my tent for a quieter night!
11/10/2013: Friday Day 15
Not many dramas today apart from a 33km walk and intermittent rain. It was a straightforward route, flat and taxing on my left ankle for some reason.
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| Seventy Seven Road |
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| Waugal |
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| Plonkhole |
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| Wildflowers near Plonkhole |
I crossed a few wet areas, such as "Plonkhole" where the wildflowers were beautiful.
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| Near Plonkhole |
The Wilhusen Road was as boring as it was straight, southbound for nearly 7 kilometres. I was glad to reach the Harris River flood plain, about 9:40am, and crossed with little problem; again, the flowers were stunning!
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| Selfie on Wilhusen Road |
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| Crossing the Harris River Floodplain |
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| Wildflowers on the floodplain |
Yourdamung Campsite is a way off the track, and extra mileage for someone just dropping by to get water. I stopped to eat, while it rained again, and was away in the wet at just gone 11am.
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| Yourdamung Shelter for lunch |
By now, I had given up on a waterproof jacket. A sunny spell soon came along to dry me out, and the temperature was warm enough to negate hypothermia.
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| Wildflowers |
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| Caversham Road |
A long section through barely undulating forest, I reached Caversham Road by 2pm. My legs were spent but the old trick of tick points on the map saw the final 2.9km go quickly and I wandered into Harris Dam Campsite forty minutes later.
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| Harris Dam Shelter |
My biggest day, well chuffed to be over the 300km mark, Collie tomorrow will be a third of the Bibbulmun behind me!
12/10/2013: Saturday Day 16
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| Shadow play |
Sunshine greeted me this morning and it was perfect all day. Some short descent, disturbing a few roos along the way, I was down to the Harris Dam picnic site for a break.
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| Harris Dam |
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| Harris Dam picnic spot |
I was going well and soon ticking of the kilometres!
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| Muja Northern Terminal Powerline |
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| Harris Dam State Forest |
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| Wildflowers |
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| River near Mornington Road North |
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| Track near Monington Road North |
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| Wildflowers |
As I strode on, I found the wildflowers becoming more prolific and beautiful.
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| Wildflowers |
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| Wildflowers on the verge of Mornington Road North |
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| Crossing Mornington Road North |
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| Wildflowers |
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| More Wildflowers |
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| Wasp on a Kangaroo Paw |
I reached the railway that runs through Collie, and I knew the township was almost within reach.
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| Railway crossing near Collie |
Unfortunately, the designers of the route had other plans and took me on a hike around the outskirts to the spur trail. Still, more flowers to see.
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| Wildflowers |
Including this one with two little beetles sitting snugly in the morning sun.
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| Beetles |
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| Wildflowers |
Eventually, I was pleased to see the turn off! A good bed and food other than freeze dried awaited in a couple more kilometres!
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| Collie Townsite turnoff |
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| Collie outskirts |
Booked into the Colliefields Hotel, where I will be staying for three nights as the shops are shut on Sunday.
Spent most of the rest of the day writing up the blog, posting pics, with a side trip for a Big Mac, large fries and strawberry shake; it had to be done and was delicious!
324 kilometres done, and a third of the way!
To be continued..
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