- Start date: 15 February 2019
- Age When Completed: 65
- Direction Walked: Sectional
- Others in Group:
My wife did all sections with me, except for the last section (Donnelly River to Pemberton), because of injury. We’ll do it again together next year so that she can claim her certificate.
General Comments
Fitted in sections between family priorities and events, a couple of funerals, injury and work contracts.
The pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago bid each other Bon Camino. Can the Bibbulmun Foundation propose a suitable Noongar greeting or phrase that walkers can offer as they meet, greet and bid farewell? It would add to the cameraderie and community feel of the walkers’ experience.
Food/Supplies Comments
We decided to buy a dehydrator and loved our self-made dehydrated fruit and meals.
Favourite Section
Balingup to Pemberton. And the DRY Pingerup Plains in April! Best huts and views: Dog Pool, Waalegh, Frankland and Beedelup.
Highlights
Camping in the tent at Waalegh. Meeting people from other countries. Having toilet paper at many huts. The wonderful work of volunteers. Meeting hikers with different approaches, such as Simone who walked 70kms a day with just porridge in cold water for meals (no cooking equipment).
Personal Reactions
I had planned to walk the track as an E2E on my own, but I’m glad it worked out to be a sectional walk with my wife. It was good for both our souls.
Wildlife
Echidna, bungarras, a couple of snakes, emus, wallabies, kangaroos, red tailed cockatoos. Ticks! March flies!
Your Best Equipment
Aarn packs, the new Sea to Summit Comfort Plus mattress, and Merrill boots, head buffs, gaiters, Fixamul,
Your Worst Equipment
Battery chargers: none seemed to be suitable
Advice for Others
1. Start walking early and take time halfway through the day to take off boots, boil the billy, and have a good rest.
2. Accept that the shortest distance from A to B on the Bibbulmun Track goes A to C to D then to B. (smile)