Day 39 Maringup Shelter to Dog Pool 25.7km Predictably glorious sunrise. Super flat hiking, flat, flat, flat and really wide cleared track- as in Bibbulmun Super Highway wide. It was very nice when the granite outcrops started popping up randomly throughout the terrain (cue coffee break). The surrounding vegetation was fantastic- grassy plains and a lot of mixed vegetation. Next highlight were the really tall grass trees, the third highlight was tadpoles. Yes, tadpoles in the puddles. Pockets of intensive birdlife then long stretches of silence and flatness. Took a lunch break at the 20km mark at an access gate. It became quite balmy at this point so the last 5 flat kms were in short sleeves under an alternating blue and cloudy sky. Got to admit I was ready to see the campsite. Pulled in ... read more

Day 37 Northcliffe to Gardner 15.2 km Couple of items of business to attend to this morning- had an extra week of leave confirmed from my manager, called my friend, Meg, who wants to join me in Walpole to do the Walpole to Albany section- she's still keen, and posted the book that I had finished to Jude, one of the sisters I met on the Balingup to Pemberton leg. So, a later start than anticipated but another relatively short stint today so no big deal. Soooo much weight with the new food package!! I feel about 3kg heavier with all the food I ate yesterday too! Really excited (and re-energised) about this next 7 nights of hiking into Walpole (my last 7 by myself). It is quite an easy morning of sandy flats, very few ... read more

Day 35 Warren Shelter to Schafer Shelter 22.1 km Two chickens walking on the footpath One goes to cross the road The other one says "Don't do it, you will never hear the end of it!" Dot points of my day Slept in! 07:10! Left at 08:40 Moved the 20m branch off the path on the way to the loo- glad it didn't come down on the shelter Walked for 2 hours before a break- legendary apple, nut muesli bar and a coffee Hiking today had the Warren River for company- popping in and out of view as well as a few of the little wooden bridges Speccy bridge of the day- River Road Bridge, the old 150 m long timber carting bridge- a mix of old and new sleepers (this link provides more historical info ... read more

Day 33 Beedelup Shelter to Pemberton 25km For the first time in a week spent with the sisters I leave after them at 07:50. It's not that I slept in (despite a loud multi person snoring night) or that I am suddenly disorganised today, it's more a case of that bittersweet feeling that town days are now giving me. Pemberton is only a 25km walk away and Geoff is meeting me, but with that brings all the news of home and that I have to think about that stuff again, I am very much enjoying my escape from the reality of the day to day of my normal life. So, I dawdle. Enough of that... Leaving camp there is a seriously big hill- where did it mention that one in the guidebook?!!! Not much further on, ... read more

Day 30 Tom Road Shelter to Boarding House Shelter 24.2km in 5 hrs, 50 mins of walking plus 70 mins of breaks Slept well but a noisy hut to start the day, consequently on the trail by 0700 (which is pretty early in winter when it's still dark until later). My mood lifts as the sunshine breaks through the tall trees, much milder temp this morning. Lots of green tunnels to walk through and the Donnelly River ever present even when obliterated by thick bush at times. Lots of bridges, lots of karri bark strips. Pass through One Tree Bridge campsite which is deserted. take advantage of the public loos and rubbish bin as well as a picnic table for an extended morning cuppa. It's a great stretch through to the swing bridge and then the ... read more