- Start date: 1 September 2012
- Age When Completed: 54
- Direction Walked: North to South
General Comments
Walking the bib has been something that I have been putting off for a long time; the track didn’t even go all the way to Albany when I first thought of walking it. What with having kids then buying a seven day a week business it just got put off. I would often see the bib signs and think I will do that one day. Well late 2011 I went past a sign thought I will do that one day then got my diary out and wrote “Do the Bibbulmun Sept 1 2012”. Once I had written it down and told people I started to get organised. Half the fun was finding as much about the track as I could and getting my gear together, I started to train five months before starting, Saturday & Sundays started with a 20Km walk with my pack filled with water bottles to get the weight up to about 20 kilos. I called my pack Sue after my misses because she is always on my back too. I am sure all my preparation is why I enjoyed the entire hike with no regrets at all.
I also would like to thank the bib volunteers and DEC staff for all their work in keeping the track to the high standard that it is. I had some pretty bad weather at the top end of the track and saw firsthand the amount of damage a storm can do, I met two ladies with pruning gear busy clearing the sides of the track it was great to be able to thank them for their efforts.
Food/Supplies Comments
I decided to dehydrate all my own food so googled various sites getting information. I ended up using Potato, Pasta, corn, peas and seasoning which I added a tin of chicken to for my main meal. For lunch I had salami, cheese on rye biscuits and four squares of chocolate, Breakfast was porridge or cereal. I also had a sultana / nut mix to nibble on while walking. I vacuum sealed my meals in single portion size so they would not attract rodents. I had four supply boxes that I dropped off the week before I started. They were at Dwellingup, Balingup, Pemberton and Walpole; each box also had Metho, washing powder, soap and hair shampoo, Maps for the next section.
Favourite Section
I really enjoyed the whole walk but if I had to pick a section it would be the south coast Northcliffe to Albany I was fortunate enough to have perfect weather for this section which on the south coast isn’t always the case. The beaches and ocean looked fantastic and the giant tingle trees around Walpole stretched high and strong.
Also at Dwellingup after the disappointment of the pub being shut I was walking sadly head down towards the caravan park when a car pulled up next to me I glanced at the driver and kept walking, a few steps later I looked back at the car it was mine I looked back at the driver it my misses (She wasn’t too happy with my recognising the car before her). She had decided to drive down and surprise me, it made a bad day a lot better we had a great lunch at the local cafe and then I listned to the footy on my radio.
Highlights
Hard to pinpoint again but the people I met on the way that had come from all over Australia and the World would be a highlight also as I did it solo the days that I was by myself in the middle of nowhere enjoying nature at its finest was also very memorable.
The section Northcliffe to Walpole was a highlight because as it was School holidays my youngest son Aden caught the Transwa bus down and joined me for a week I hope this will encourage him to continue and do the rest, maybe he will take me along.
Personal Reactions
I didn’t have any personal reaction to my walk but it has been two weeks since I finished and I am just starting to realise what an achievement it is to walk the entire track solo.
Wildlife
I saw all the usual suspects Roos, Wallabies, Emus, Rabbits, Pigs, Snakes, Long neck turtle and to many varieties of birds to mention. All the way the wild life was in abundance and in good condition especially the snakes.
Your Best Equipment
I kept my pack and its contents to the minimum and all of my gear worked well. There wasn’t anything that I took that I didn’t use.
Your Worst Equipment
As I said all my gear worked well and nothing let me down, but from meeting more experienced hikers on the track I have some good ideas on weight saving gear and foods that I will use next time.
The most disappointing thing that happened was my decision at White Horse Hills to get up early the next morning and walk as close as I could get to Dwellingup so I could have a short walk into Dwellingup go to the caravan park wash my clothes and have a shower then up to the pub for lunch and watch the Eagles play the Roos in the elimination final. So the next morning soon as it was light enough and with a mental picture of a big steak couple of beers and a big screen TV at the pub off I went. I managed to get about eight kilometres from Dwellingup and stopped at an abandoned rail siding (Etmilyn Siding) put my tent up on the old platform had tea and hit the sack. About 9.30pm I woke up to a rumbling sound I thought no it couldn’t be but it was they run the Hotham Valley Tourist train on Friday nights, it pulled up right next to my tent I became the centre of much amusement to the passengers, I could not get out as I only had my thermals on so just waved out the tent door, after about 45 minutes it left. The next morning I was up early had breakfast and off to Dwellingup I went, On arrival in town I thought I will swing past the pup to see how big the big screen TV is and what they have on, as I approached the pub I dropped to my knees at the entrance there was a sign on the door CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS I think with a tear in my eye I yelled NOOOO.
Advice for Others
The best advice I could offer is to make sure you plan well in advance, join the Bib foundation and attend information nights on the various things they run. Shop around for gear and make sure that you really need it don’t buy crap that just fills your pack. Once you have your gear use it, all of it including trying your food, I ate my food for a week to make sure it was enough and that I wouldn’t get sick of it. Train get some miles in your legs it will make the first week far more enjoyable. Take a good camera and use it don’t think I will take a picture of the next one you might not see that plant, animal or view again and it’s great to look back at pictures to bring back memories.