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Published: January 16th 2022
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Day 8... Peaceful Bay to Giants via Rame Head
30.1km
Today should have had the asterisk *HARD- I suspect I might have put it on yesterday's line on the spreadsheet instead of today's!
Why was it hard?
Leaving the chalet wasn't hard, I was looking forward to sleeping out again and I left it cleaner than I found it (I was also cleaner in my very fragrant newly washed clothes), the only trace left behind being my now dry free towel and a note to say thanks and that one of the power points kept tripping the fuse box.
It wasn't the dawn start- the light down at the beach was stunning and even ducking the short showers wasn't an issue. The wet vegetation and narrow tracks were easy- gaiters prove themselves again.
It wasn't the ascents, descents, beach walking (all firm and passable) and sublime coastal views on the way to Rame Head- all taken in and appreciated, and I made good progress in 3-5 hours. Enjoyed my coffee and fruitcake at Rame Head. I really like the crushed limestone floor here, it is a clean base (much better than sand or woodchips), the
shelter is like Boat Harbour with the perspex sun room annex.
It certainly wasn't the immensity of Conspicuous Cliffs- really sensational views and a great wild and windy beach walk. The beach here has a nice sign and info board and some picnic table shelters. There was a family of 3 cooking sausages who I joined for a break and downed another instant coffee (would have so loved a sausage but they weren't ready- boohoo!!).
It wasn't the transition from coast to inland scrub and forest, in fact that was super interesting- a lot of native flowers- coral vine, hovea and blue foxtails, as well as the emergence of a lot of varieties of fungi (see photos) and I really love the forest. The great thing about forest is that there is always a great log handy to sit on and have lunch! Didn't even mind the firebreaks and old trails. Didn't mind the swampy plains
UNTIL....
I found myself slipping off the skinny log lying across the large watery puddle and pitching forward with the fully loaded back pack propelling me onto my knees and ungracefully rolling right in the middle of the puddle. Despite
the fact the puddle would have only been about 20cm deep, by the time i maneuvered myself out of it I was very wet. The maneuvering consisted of having to get off my side to a sitting position and from there trying to get upright. Not pretty. As I said, wet, and also now muddy. My fragrant clean clothes were now back to swamp smelling... and dirty. And i still had a good 9km to go.
Actually it wasn't a good 9km's, I was cross with myself.
Seeing the first Tingle trees was a bright point.
I was still annoyed with myself and as it was getting late I was very focused on getting to Giants. But.... not focused enough. The recent high winds made for a difficult last couple of km's and some climbing over and around fallen trees. I was even more annoyed when I completely lost the track forcing me to back track to pick up the trail. Bottom line, I pulled into Giants after at 30 plus km day that took me 10 hours. I took a photo of my unhappy face for your viewing pleasure.
That was what made it a
asterisk *HARD day.
It's funny, after the grumpy spell, that is.... after I had boiled some water and had a hot water wash and got changed... and had several cups of tea... and had dinner... and discovered that it you mix dry couscous with powdered milk and Milo it makes an amazing hot dessert... I looked up into the sky and felt sooooo much better- the moon was so bright and the outline of the tall trees was just sublime. I felt good- I had done a 30km day and I felt good (well my feet were a bit sore) but I felt accomplished.
Other People Today Count- 3 sausage cookers
Other People in the Shelter- 0 (1/8)
Snake Count- 0 (0)
Tick Count- 0 (5)
Fall Count- 1 (3)
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