Blisters?

None of us walkers had blisters on this trip for one. Poor Sybille had them already on the first day but she was a master in taking care of them. Her medical kit was equipped with everything you could think of, I reckon she could amputate a leg with it if necessary! Funny thing is that she was the only one wearing double socks, she had read this would prevent getting blisters... weird coincidence?
The big toe of her left foot got damaged on the rocks while she slipped and cut it open.

Contos Campground Review

We had a great spot at Contos due to Helge & Sybille being there on the 24th as we arrived the day after.
But I have to say that the management of the camping, the rangers, are very unfriendly. We paid ahead for 6 nights as there was a slight plan to move for the last nigth. But we decided to stay at Contos as it will be full everywhere on the 31st.

We left that morning very early for our last part of the hike, 26km from Hamelin Jetty to the light house in Augusta. And when we came back at the campground at around 5pm there was a note on the table that we needed to come to the office a.s.a.p. but we were barely back or the ranger was already there in his idling truck, telling us in unfriendly manners that we had to go the office pronto. Which was the plan of course but he didn't gave us time.

We were all too tired to stay awake until 12 for New Year so we were up early and the tents were already packed and we were having our champagne breakfast with pancakes the next morning when the ranger was there again in his truck, shouthing that we had to be out at ten!
So we said Happy New Year to him while he drove off.

There were several empty spaces at Hamelin Hollow, the loop we were, but there was a big sign at the entrance that said the camping to be full... We couldn't understand why they are so rude to their customers.

I must say, the space was perfect, but they need to work on good manners at this bush camp!

Flies

Although there are always flies in Margaret River around this time of year, apparently this year was particularly bad. There was even a item on the ABC news radio about it this morning. Listen to this podcast:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2784706.htm

We made it!

Start

Finish

Last evening
Rest of photos will follow soon!

Weather forecast for the coming week

It will be pretty warm for the first few days, sunny with clouds, and Monday will be the hottest day of 30 degrees. Tuesday is also hot but they predict rain and Wednesday will cool down and will be windy and rainy. Luckily on these two rain days are the shortest walks planned. We walk straight into camp on Wednesday. Unfortunately I had planned a relaxed afternoon in the hammock that afternoon...

More sad news and a solution for the transport problem

Susann can't make it either due to work. What a pity. So we are walking with six instead of seven for the first day. Still too many for one car but there is a solution for the car problem! We drive up with two cars, leave one at the starting point and when getting picked up by Stijn at the end of the walk Helge drives back up and we come down with two cars again.

Weather forecast for the weekend

We start with half moon and by the end of the trip the moon will be full, that's nice!
Also the weather for the first two days of walking is good, 25-26 degrees in Margaret River is a few degrees less along the coast, say about 23-24 degrees, sunny with a few clouds. Hope it stays like that. Take warm night wear though, as it cools down to 10-12 degrees at night!

Sad news

Sal has hurt her foot, she thought it was broken but it is only severely bruised and as it is her right foot driving long distances will be a problem. And the doctor doesn't think it's a good idea for her to go camping, she needs to give her foot enough rest.

So this leaves us with a TRANSPORT PROBLEM as we won't fit in one car... We are with seven walkers and one chauffeur, so eight in total to be transported.
I know Nathalie is only walking one of the two days she is with us so she might be willing to be a chauffeur for one of the days, this still leaves us with a problem for the other day(s).

Stijn won't be walking as he is surfing and on Sunday afternoon his hockey mate Paul, aka Fimo, comes along to join him.
Helen, Albert, Helge, Sybille, Susann, Nathalie and Wilma will be walking.

We'll have to find a solution for transport...
This tank we saw yesterday along Swanbourne beach during our walk.

Update: We checked the tractor and it is possible to have four people squeezed on the back seat but that still leaves two.
If we empty the car, including the fridge which won't work for as long it's out of the car, and I am not keen to leave it unprotected at the campside, so if we can fit it in one of your cars,(an Engel fridge cost 1300 dollar, even second hand they are still over 1000 dollar so an easy target) we can fit two in the back. I am pretty sure it's illegal and therefore we must realise that if we meet a police car and get fined we are all responsible.

Let me know your ideas or suggestions...

Our practice walk went well

We did the 23km walk from Bold Park along the beach, as it was the hottest at 8.30-9am in the morning on Sunday according the weather site we were pretty hot by the time we arrived at City Beach, and only after a bit more than 5km we plunged into the cooling ocean!

Walking along the ocean was nice with cooling breeze although hard on the calves and bum because of the soft sand, we all walked barefoot. I was testing a scarf on the back of my cap to avoid sunburn in my neck. At reaching Swanbourne we decided to go further on the footpath, a very simple Santa was taking care of the kids. We had a short lunch in Cottesloe and went further to the river and along the river where the path ended in nothing so we played Indiana Jones by searching for a way through the scrub. Halfway Nathalie and Sybille walked through one of the gardens to the road while Helge and I followed our way through the steep river edge overgrown with bush and wood. Luckily we made it without too many scratches and we only waited for about five minutes before the others came. The rest of the way was via some quiet streets of Claremont and Mt Claremont. It was after three when we were back at Bold Park!

Cooking

Already decided was that everyone takes care of his/her own breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks.
And the idea was to cook in turns for the whole group. But not everybody was very keen on this so we've decided that we cook in smaller groups:

- Helge & Sybille are going completely for the dried food for trekkers.
- Sal, Nathalie & Susann are going to share the first few days as Nathalie leaves either on Sunday (27th) afternoon or Monday morning (28th) Susann leaves on Wednesday afternoon (30th) or Thursday morning (31st).
- We cook for the four of us: Helen, Albert, Stijn and Wilma.
Susann is welcome to join us after Nathalie has left and Sal doesn't come anymore.

Overview for Helen and Albert, please let me know if this is alright or if there is anything you really don't like or want to add:

Practice walk

Click on picture for enlargement

Helge and Sybille suggested a practice walk of 20km for coming weekend in John Forrest NP which is a very good idea. But there is no beach, it's an hours drive, you need a park pass to get in and it might be too hot in the bush, so I thought maybe it's an idea to meet in Bold Park and walk from there to City Beach, along the coast to Cottesloe and from there to the river, along the river to Claremont and via Karakattha back up to Bold Park. This makes a nice roundtrip of about 22-23 km. See map above.

What about if we meet Sunday morning (20 Dec) at 8am in Bold Park fully packed as we would do for the Cape to Cape walk?
At an average of 5km/hour with a few short breaks for a snack we should be finished around 1pm and can have a picnic lunch at Bold Park and go home after that for a nap in the hammock ;)

Let me know what you think about it or prefer to go to John Forrest NP, start earlier or later, etc.

Link to map of Bold Park (we follow Zamia trail)

I've added an alternative of 18km along the beach and river:

Sight seeing along the way

At Canal Rocks, in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park , the granitic rocks which jut out into the ocean are separated by a series of canals that have been hollowed out by the sea, we might, with a bit of luck, see humpback and southern right whales. And for sure we will spot some see dolphins along the track.

One of the loveliest spots to visit is the historic homestead at Ellensbrook, which is managed by the National Trust. A walktrail leads to a cave and the delightful Meekadarabee Falls, known to Aboriginal people as the "bathing place of the Moon", which is at its best in winter and spring.

In the right weather conditions there are some enjoyable and safe places to snorkel, such as at Prevelly and Gnarabup. Scattered along this coast are sheltered bays suitable for launching small boats, such as Kilcarnup, Cowaramup Bay and Prevelly. Tracks to the more isolated surfing and fishing spots on the coast are often suitable only for four-wheel-drive, because of the rough limestone that protrudes from the road surfaces.

Boranup Karri Forest, within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, lies between Caves Road and the coast, and creates a powerful contrast with the rest of the coastline. Tall pale-barked karri trees, reaching 60 metres or more high, dominate the hilly slopes and valleys. The Boranup Forest, as you see it today, is about 100 years old. It is a regrowth forest.