The walkers reached Denmark on Sunday 20 July after departing from the Southern Terminus in Albany on Wednesday 16th July.
Wow - what a send off! Bagpipers, flags, flashing police lights, heaps of people and even the weather held off for the most part. It was great to have several people walk with us for the first 7km. It was even better to be finally out there. When we reached Hidden Valley Campsite we knew we were really on our way!
The first challenge was to cross Torbay Inlet. It was waist deep but not too difficult. It certainly was a bonding experience. Only two days in, and already we were walking around in our underwear!
Relaxing at Cosy Corner - half-an-hour from Torbay campsite
Great weather also meant that we had a pretty good beach walk to Torbay Campsite.
We had our reconnection with nature on the day we walked to the West Cape Howe campsite situated in the National Park. The low that pounded Perth that evening drenched us with rain and strong winds during the day. We all had good wet weather jackets and had waterproofed all gear in our packs so we were reasonably comfortable even though the weather was blowing off the southern ocean with some force.
We got to the campsite and for a while there was a bit of a lull in the wind and rain. We got our tents set up and the stoves fired up to boil some water for a hot drink. Some of the walkers decided to utilise the protection of the shelter and lay their sleeping mats down on the bunk bench and nestled into their sleeping bags. It was a great chance to chat while cooking our meals and tell tall tales about the day's events.
We had all finished our meals and cleaned up by the time it got dark, and most were either curled up in their sleeping bags or thinking of retiring to start reading the book that they had carried with them for that section. When all of a sudden there was a roar and the wind suddenly changed direction and began to pound the camp from the south west. Steve, the Foundation's Lead Guide, and I had set up our tents at the front of the shelter as the best spots in the protected peppermint tree grove at the back of the camp had all gone. Our tent pegs were being torn out of the ground, and the tents were being lifted by the winds howling over the edge of the cliffs. Discretion quickly became the better part of valour and we moved both small one person tents inside the shelter and erected them on the ground to escape the full force of the storm.
I had thought that we'd avoided the worst of the storm during that day, but it had only been delayed.
Throughout the whole night it howled, blew and poured with rain. Jim Freeman, the Mad Axeman, who is on his eleventh, yes eleventh!, End to End, had his tent collapse on him during the night and ended up moving into the shelter. Eventually it passed and the next day dawned grey but the storm had abated.
The walk to Nullaki Camp was only marred by a few small showers and mild winds, almost perfect walking weather really, not too hot.
We are now relaxing in Denmark enjoying cooked breakfasts and coffee and a soft bed. The walkers were welcomed into Denmark with a parade from the river mouth by locals and Foundation Volunteers. Tonight we meet our new group of sectional walkers who will accompany us to Peaceful Bay and I, for one, can't wait to get started.
At the rivermouth, on the way into Denmark
Meet and greet at the Denmark community celebration
Pseudo Solo Steve
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