Bibb Babes
- Start date: 20 May 2009
- Age When Completed: 64
- Direction Walked: Sectional
- Others in Group:
Tricia van de Beek
General Comments
The angels of the Bibb Track, I am so thankful for. God gave us the most amazing place to live in, the vollies and people in the office who work so tirelessly for us. They are always helpful and nothing is too much trouble for them. Hope one day I can give back something for all the enjoyment I have had.
I would like to acknowledge I walked with ‘The best Walking Babe’ on the Track. Fun, laughter, poetry flowing, singing. Amazing morning and afternoon tea, lunch breaks, sitting in majestic forest, beaches, cliffs, plains, mountains, sitting on bridges, rocks and more. Enjoying every moment, sundowners, campfires. Every time I think of our trip it brings a smile to my face!! Some amazing friends, Merilyn and Andrew Burbidge who picked us up from Denmark, took us to William Bay Road, then picked us up and brought us to their house in Denmark and gave us chicken roast for tea!
Food/Supplies Comments
Because our walk was sectional, my basic diet was generally the same. I dried fruit, corn, peas, carrots, even lamb jerky in the oven to mix with either noodles or Deb potato. Moo cheese cracker. Can of chicken or tuna, great. Of course a port at night for sundowner and of course piece of chocky.
Favourite Section
Pingerup Plains to Lake Maringup, Gregory Brook.
Donnelly to Pemberton. White Horse Hills to Gringer Creek. Views and more. Giants to Rame Head.
Challenges: Moving sand dunes, climbing around rocky headland south Mutton Bird. Climbing rail at Mt Hallowell!!!
Highlights
Giants to Rame Head. The forests, beaches and cliff tops. Track along dunes so amazing. Swim at Conspicuous Beach, Lake Maringup. How soothing the fresh water is in the lake. Frankland River, Tom Road and more. Campfire with great friends that we met. Still in touch with some. Having morning tea or lunch on a bridge, looking down at the water. Having a short siesta and feeling so relaxed and content. We even came to like the large hills that we walked up. We took some long stops some days to enjoy the moment, the tranquility of being ‘out there’. Some places which I will love to return to someday! The welcoming of walkers as you arrived into camp. Having comradeship with some great people. One left sign on the Track for us to show special orchids and even left a waugal made of autumn leaves on a bridge for us. That was so amazing and a great surprise for us. The wildflowers were such a picture from Collie to Grimwade in spring. Such a picture, many photos taken. Getting up to date advice was great and also be able to help others in the same way. Was most interesting hearing other walkers stories. We met a French girl who walked from Walpole to Denmark without carrying a mat, stove, tent, coffee - just peanut paste roll ups and salmon from sachets. Muesli in bed in the morning. She was very content. She enjoyed walking the Track alone. We had some great times with her and joined in a meal in Denmark when she arrived. We still write to each other.
Personal Reactions
At night we always felt great after our wash and sat down to a port, cheese and crackers. Enjoying the outdoors. Always choosing a spot with a view. A company of ducks came to greet us by the Murray River.
After losing a son, who loved life like I do on the Track. He worked and travelled in the wild of Alaska and Canada. So the healing took place for me so I learned to ‘enjoy life’ again out on the Bibb Track. The beauty, peace for the body and soul. I enjoyed walking with a friend who walked with me in the same circumstances after a loss. We just loved to be ‘out there’ and still do.
Wildlife
Not a huge amount. A couple of snakes and few goannas. One possum at White Horse, few mice here and there. Seabirds, couple of emus and not to forget to roos. Talked to a frog at Gregory Brook. A few wrens and other birds passing. Always heard the red and white tailed cockatoos. All the other birds so happy too.
Your Best Equipment
Walking poles, thermos.
Your Worst Equipment
Stove at times.
Advice for Others
You will become addicted! Like I did. Never thought I would ever ‘Walk the Track’.