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Published: February 22nd 2018
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Day 29 Donnelly River Village to Tom Rd Shelter
16.2km
There's a turquoise plastic hiker box now located in the DRV general store- it began its useful life as a lego box in my son's bedroom in Mt Lawley in 1995. 21 years later I used it as my resupply box for pick up at DRV, having been advised that, given their rodent problems, it would be advisable to mouse proof the box. As I collected it yesterday and saw all the other resupply boxes (cardboard) and post bags I wondered if any of them had taken a hit. The sisters and I made a significant contribution to the turquoise box as we set out on the DRV to Pemberton section of the BT. My additions- 2 serves of Moroccan Beef, single serve of cereal, 2 serves of trail mix, matches, small soap bar, travel toothpaste tube, pack of wet ones, 3/4 bag of pasta, a book and my gas canister from Collie. My new box contents plus some leftovers from the Balingup box has me up a couple of kg's again- I can really feel it! Or, it may just be the coffee and biscuits consumed before
setting off. This next stretch is 5 days and I am, once again, ready to get walking.
The air is chilly, even at a late departure time of 09:10. I am walking faster than the girls so am pretty much on my own for most of the 16 kms. After an hour and a half of walking through green tunnels there's a puff of warm air and I am not kidding, it smells of sunshine. So fresh and warm. I'm sure there is a name for this phenomenon. The Donnelly River that is to accompany this section is largely hidden by thick undergrowth. The trail is littered with desquamating karri bark (apparently occurs secondary to the tree outgrowing its bark). The walking is pretty easy with only a couple of decent hills and I get into camp at 13:10. It's very early.
Easy afternoon - this camp has the very best body washing spot- the Donnelly River, chilly water but you couldn't find a nicer outlook. Collect kindling and wood ready for a fire. There is a steady arrival of people as the afternoon progresses. Fire space and floor space is at a premium, collectively it's really loud
(this is the busiest hut for my journey with 9 of us all up!).
Impressions of Tom Rd Hut- I love this site, it's superclean and the surfaces in the hut are all clean, smooth and newly varnished. Being on the river it is so picturesque- big granite boulders and stunning reflections. Did I mention how clean it was? Body assessment- fixomull to knees intact but a bit stiff and crusty (eeewwww), damn R calf twinging again (the roc tape comes back out) Birds- plentiful Total people seen for the day -on the track 0 , at camp- the sisters, a couple walking E2E S to N, a family/friends group of 4 walking DRV to Pemberton
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