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Published: November 4th 2020
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Fresh Faced
With a newly healing red nose Day 1... Albany to Mutton Bird via Sandpatch 24.6km
Albany to Sandpatch 12.5 km
Sandpatch to Mutton Bird 12.1km
After a good nights sleep (that's how the sentence should start, but it was actually not a great nights sleep- too much going on in my head- like waking up, last minute nerves, etc) we descended the creaky carpeted wooden stairs of the Albany Foreshore Guesthouse in Albany for breaky. The guesthouse was good, it was quiet, quirky, spacious and somewhere with a sense of history and bonus points for being next to a coffee shop and directly across the road from the Southern Terminus Bibb Track trail head. Very convenient. Rate for 2 in Room 1 (large room with ensuite) including cooked breakfast was advertised at $140 but we were offered a direct booking discount of $25 so paid $115.
www.albanyforeshoreguesthouse.com.au Fully loaded (including 2 complimentary boiled eggs from the guesthouse!!), I picked up one last good coffee and a takeaway patisserie (plus 2 complimentary salted caramel toffee sticks) from Gourmandise and it was down the steps and over to the trailhead for the obligatory pic. Fine and sunny day. Pack feels heavy but I'm ready.
http://gourmandiseandco.com.au/ My first steps on the track started at 08:16 and it was off through a non descript grassy area, past the Amity ship and across the railway line. Some urban walking up and along residential streets and then onto Frenchmans Bay Rd. The 90 minute walk around the bay was very pretty- very calm and sunny. It started to heat up (well I was heating up) as I approached the rest area though and it was good to strip off a layer and have a drink. After walking through the coastal scrub I reached Sandpatch at 11:18. There was a group to greet me- 6 ladies were out on a day walk from the Albany Dragon Boat Club. It was great to get to Sandpatch to see the rebuild after the fires in May 2018. The new Sandpatch is built from a zinc alum type material with limestone paving under the table- I really like it, great colour and looking very clean and fresh. Took an hour for lunch (ham, cheese and pickle roll, but alas no fruit- forgot to get it out of the fridge) before setting off for part 2 of my day.
The
afternoon was more interesting - apart from coastal scrub it meant the onset of ocean views and the wind turbines. Had my first fall- a trip over peppermint roots without any significant damage. So annoying but no witnesses. Several viewpoints and seats along this section as well as exceptional views of dolphin pods surfing. And the colour of the sea- sensational! Got into Mutton Bird just after 15:30. Suitably hot and sweaty. Tired but happy. Slightly sore 2nd toes, small graze and bruise on my knee from the trip but all good. No one else rocked up. Solo night number 1! Pitched my tent as the mossies descended and had a stellar meal of cauliflower and green lentils with rice- it was absolutely delicious. Squashed 2 ticks! I didn't expect winter ticks- hate them! Gazed at the starry black sky before hitting the sack.
Feeling confident, I have got this - feel significantly destressed after 1 day.
It's great to be back.
Snake Count- 0
Tick Count- 2
Fall Count- 1
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