Day 10
It was meant to be another 30+ km day today but to give the blisters a chance to fully heal (they were much better already yesterday) I'll split the day and just single hut. Making it only 14 ish km.
The trail out of town leads you right past the front door of the Blue Wren Cafe, so you would be amiss not to stop on there for breakfast. Bacon, Cheese, Avo Crossiant goes very well, especially with a side of grilled haloumi and a 600ml bottle of sugar, I mean coke.
Another day another detour. This one only adds 900m and follows a pretty good route. The trail heads through a pine forrest and the detour isn't for fire this time but because they're actively logging. All quiet today for the public holiday I guess.
Got into the hut just after 1130am and seriously considered just pushing on. Feet are feeling great with such a short day... but I have the extra food... so I pulled up. I've been feeling some tightness in my Sciatic Nerve so I've joined the many that seem to have a daily stretching routine at camp. At least there was plenty of time to do them.
The spare time also allowed the opportunity to get a good collection of wood for a fire later tonight. It still seems kinda wrong collecting wood from forests/parks to burn but I know there was meant to be a crowd here today and its a good social gathering feature.
13 eventually made it with 4 chosing to tent and 3 more that pushed on for a double day (+1 in the log book that went through before I arrived), that left 6 for the shelter. Putting dried leaves in the fire pit saw it start to smoulder, obviously used last night... Makes it easy to start.
Despite the lazy morning and short day it was still bed time by about 730pm.
Day 11
Camp started stirring by 630am but the site was in a bit of a valley and it was a touch cold so I hid in my bag until closer to 7. By that point I was wide awake so it was time to move. Quick breakfast then out on trail.
Fingers were a bit cold gripping the trekking poles and while it was a slight incline right from camp it wasn't until about 4km in with the first real hill that I properly warmed up. Up and over the hill, with a little 'phone signal' plaque nailed to a tree at the peak.
From there is was a pretty steep down to a creek with a bridge and then straight back up the other side. Past that it was pretty cruisy staying pretty level along the side of a hill until I stopped for lunch. I always take my shoes off for the lunch break to air out the feet.
I eventually reached the bottom of the valley and hit Murry River, not the Murry River but a Murry River. So close you could reach out and touch it, then the track takes an abrupt left turn and you're half was up the hill before heading back down the same side of the same hill to the hut, which is on the water...
I got in just after noon and the sun was out. Shay had already braved the water and didn't hide the fact that it was cold. After that hill I was glad to cool off... but it was quite a bit colder than I imagined... still... very refreshing. Just after I hopped out there was a bright Neon Blue Wren dancing near the shore line.
Time again to collect some wood and there was a deck of cards in the trail log book box which provided some afternoon entertainment. They had recently fixed the water tank here and refilled it with, what we assume, was town water. Tasted weird after 1.5 weeks of drinking rain water. We also saw a mouse hopping about, so more justification for the mouse hang. 5 in the shelter with 2 tenters.
Day 12
Rained pretty heavy over night, at least it drowned out some of the snoring... It had cleared by the morning and there was only white and fluffy clouds left in the sky. Ben had trouble sleeping apparently, turns out a mouse running over your face wakes you up a little...
Another short day, 19 ish km. Starts with a hill right from camp which is the steepest part of the day. You follow, very loosely, the river. Diverting off up a hill, with no view, then back down to the river, with no easy access...
Passed a few people out camping for the WA long weekend. Some nice setups along the river. One crew had bitten off a bit more than they could chew and got stuck in a bog hole. Different people yelling different advice... reminds me of when I got up to that stuff...
The day fell fairly quickly and I actually reached the next camp by 1115am. Again had strong feelings of pushing on but decided that I had carried enough food so I might as well take it easy. Another good fire with a good crew. Only 3 in the shelter tonight, 2 in tents.
Day 13
Were not too far away from a Bauxite transport conveyor here so all through the night you can hear the distant humm of the belt running. In a bit of a valley too so the sun was slow to rise, making it a bit colder in the morning. A little longer today at 22km but pretty easy elevation change ahead.
A lot of today is on 4wd/forestry roads which isn't too exciting but the kms fall fast. About 4k in there's a nice suspension foot bridge to cross. There use to be an old historical log foot bridge but it burned in a big fire years ago.
More 4wd tracks until you're back along the river edge. Popular camping spot here too and school holidays so most of the bank was lined by tents and campers. Perfect spot to offer some trail magic (hint hint for any Perth locals reading) as its just about lunch time from the hut.
None for me today though and just as I was eyeing off a good spot on the river but away from campers it started to drizzle so I pushed on. Another 2k for the rain to stop and I found a tree track side to setup for lunch. Probably should have put up with the rain to enjoy the river view.
Just after lunch was straight into a big hill. You cross under the conveyor belt, which is a bit louder when you're right under it, and continue up a hill. They half process the bauxite here and transport it a massive distance on this belt.
Few more hills before reaching Possum Springs shelter. Its a pretty fancy rammed earth one and much different setup to the others. I saw neither a possum not a water spring... creek about 500m away... but at least the tanks were full. 3 in the shelter tonight and 1 tent. Mary, 79 and going strong, amounst them.
Day 14
Woke up to fog encompassing the shelter. Though it did feel a bit warmer than yesterday. Fingers felt a bit exposed last morning so I hiked out of camp with gloves on. Was only 3km before I was warm enough to take them off. There was a great Green tunnel affect with some encroaching trees early in the day.
Double hut day so I pushed a little further than normal and made it 12km before smoko. Feet are still feeling pretty good. Blisters from the first leg are completely healed and no new ones yet.
18.7km to the first hut for lunch. Kicked off the shoes and had a good rest. Nice hut here with lowlands and paperback trees. Very pretty spot for lunch. Fields of flowers on the approach.
Most of the elevation for the day was in the first half, so the second 14km ish to Harris Dam hut went pretty smoothly.
Saw a Bob-Tailed Blue Tongue Lizard sunning just beside the path just before I got in. Another nice fire at camp, someone else built this time. 4 in the shelter plus 1 camper tonight.
Day 15
22km into town so I got a decent start near 7am and walked pretty fast. 4k in you pass on the down hill side of Harris Dam. Water looked cold.
I took a few breaks but none too long and got into town just before midday. Signed the logbook at the info centre and headed to the accom for the night. Got a twin room at the Colliefields with another hiker. All up $5 more than an unpowered site at the caravan park... free laundry too!
Lunch at a Cafe before shower and laundry then into town for a resupply. Both Woolies and Coles here and a decent camping store so an easy resupply.
Just the one night here, heading out after breakfast in the morning. The plan is for Thai with a few other hikers for dinner, then probably still early to bed...
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