- Start date: 1 January 2005
- Age When Completed: 61
- Direction Walked: North to South
General Comments
I’m really proud to have the Bibbulmun Track in my backyard and thrilled that people had the vision to make this happen in the first place. After all, it is an ambitious undertaking. Thanks to all those who help keep the Track in good shape so that we can take “time out” to benefit from it.
Food/Supplies Comments
I had mixed cereals with powdered mild and sugar for breakfast. Lunch was Vita Weets, peanut paste, cheese, Italian salami, cherry tomatoes, snow peas—these were purchased in towns as I went. Dinner was pretty pathetic (see below).
Favourite Section
I really enjoyed Maringup through to Giants—with the Pingerup Plains (I walked them when they were both wet and dry), the Southern Ocean at last at Mandalay Beach, the coastal scrub around the Nuyts Wilderness, Karri and Tingle trees on Mount Clare and again after Walpole, the Treetop Walk—this section is a delightful mix with some of the best scenery.
Highlights
Walking with friends—Anne and Trish, Graham and Sue, and Johnny H. Meeting new friends and staying in touch with them afterwards. For example, in April 2013 a group of between 21 and 23 strangers made a random and impromptu assembly and walked from DRV to Pemberton. Young and old got on wonderfully to the point that, on arrival at Pemby, a group booking was made for dinner (and drinks) at the pub. We even held a reunion a couple of months later at a restaurant in Perth.
Personal Reactions
I walked with friends for about a third of the Track and I set out alone for the remainder. I enjoyed being in familiar company, but I enjoyed making new friends and I was surprisingly contented to be alone all day on the track and to be alone in the shelters (I had 6 solo nights). I enjoyed the logistics of organising a trip, posting food parcels, planning when to use Transwa buses and trains, when to take the car, when to do a bit of hitch-hiking. I also liked the physical challenge and the reward of achieving something which took a bit of effort. And I loved the variety of nature, the encounters with animals, the amazing scenery and the stunning wildflowers.
Wildlife
I saw wedge-tailed eagles, the beautiful western rosella, blue wrens around the shelters, echidna, snakes, kangaroos, emu—but not as many as I thought I’d see—as well as the more familiar crows, magpies, wagtails, black cockatoos and 28 parrots. I also fleetingly saw a wild pig and later a feral black cat on a southern beach.
Your Best Equipment
My Raichle boots (Which I’m told aren’t made any more), my Spot 2 EPIRB and satellite communication device, my Thermarest sleeping mat (and their pillow, as well), my MSR Hubba 1 lightweight tent.
Your Worst Equipment
My dinners were dull, colourless and boring. I accept full responsibility and resolve to do better next time. A dehydrator is on the wish list.
Advice for Others
Pack light, walk at a gentle pace, take lots of photos (so you can make a photo book later, perhaps) and try to figure out some way to give something back to keep the Track going strong into the future.