Last official walk for 2013

Peter and I have had a few walks since I recorded the last official walks. As the weather has become warmer we haven't completed all the bush walks in the guide boof we have been following.

Last Saturday November 9th we had our last walk around Bibra Lake. It is a really nice walk of 6kms. There is a good path that varies from being shaded to being in the open sun. As the day was intended to be hot, it was a good thing we commenced walking by 7:15pm. It took one hour to complete the walk which was spot on to our estimate of walking at 6 km per hour. I also wore my backpack to help prepare myself for a couple treks later this year and early next year. We are vey fortunate in Perth that we have a number of recreation sites with good facilities.

We were disappointed that our breakfast location was to be at Point Walter, a lovely site by the river!a great location to finish the year off. We left in disgust due to the bad service. We waited 5 minutes to be seated, and then after 10 minutes we still hadn't been asked what we wanted for breakfast. We feel the shortage of staffing is because they take advantage of the location and think customers will put up with the ordinary service. We ended up with an adequate breakfast at the Dome Coffee Cafe in Ardross. No pictures as I didn't have my camera with me.

 

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Walk to Abyssinia Rock

Peter and I didn't make the full distance to the rock today, but it was a pleasant one hour trek along the Bibbulumun Track from where it crosses over the Brockton Hyw. Great that it was not raining. This is the last walk in my book, although there are a couple more to complete over the next month that we have jumped over.

I didn't take any pictures today. Was a little disappointed to see someone had driven their four wheel drive into the busha nd up the track and dumped all their trine pruning a on the track - Philistines!

We finished the walk with a great breakfast at Genesis Cafe Roleystone. Food was very nice and made on the premises. Peter was pleased that it wasn't cheap and it was my turn to fork out. We had two eggs in a tomatoe based mix, supported by sour dough bread and agreat coffee.

As they say - keep walking

 

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60 Foot Falls Martin

This is the first official Saturday walk this month, the rain has been delaying the action. I know Judy at work has been missing the weekly update as she finds these walks so inspiring! What is so amazing is that this walking location is so close to home, you could almost walk there from home. We are so fortunate to have such well preserved beauty spots to walk in the metro area.

Peter and I had a short but invigorating walk this morning. It is quite a steep climb, but as the path is of pretty good quality, with well made steps in sections it helps the process. It was very enjoyable seeing the amount of water flowing over the falls. I had my backpack on so it was a good activity to prepare myself for a two day walk along the Bibbulmun track in a couple weeks time.

The wild flowers were out, so that added to the beauty of the occasion. Although we only had to walk a couple kilometres it was challenging enough to raise the heartbeat a few levels. We will see if the rain holds off next ?Saturday, at this stage it is forecasted to be raining until next Friday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mt Dale Satuday August 31

The last day of winter, but still very wet weather at the moment. I looked at the weather radar and it looked like we were not going to be rained on.

Mt Dale is the furtherest walk from home in my guide book. Mt Dale is approximately 45km east of Perth. We also had about 17km of gravel roads. The Fiesta hasn't been on many gravel roads and handled the rough road quite well. Although it changed its colour to a light brown, requiring a wash down when I arrived home.

Mt Dale is the second highest point on the Darling Scarpe at 546 metres. Mt Cooke further south is a little bit higher. Not a high point as far as mountain tops go, but still an impressive view from the top. Haven't been here before and it was quite beautiful taking in the view across the Jarrah forest.

The walk was around the hill top, only a little over 2 kilometres but extremely pleasant with many wild flowers appearing. It was cool, but not cold, the undergrowth was wet, but nothing too unbearable.

On the way home we intended to have breakfast at Roley on the Ridge in Roleystone. It was closed and I suggested Thornlie Square Cafe, he was not thrilled so we settled for Kent Street Weir Cafe. There is so much water going over the weir that you can see the weir at the moment. It has been raining constantly for the last five days. August rainfall is above average.

 

 

 

 

 

Nice to have a nice toilet block in the middle of the bush!

Sundew plants that feeds off catching insects in its sticky leaves

Kim passed through this way some weeks ago, we walked on a small part of the Bibulman Track

 

 

 

 

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Saturday August 24 Rocky Pool

It has been over a month since embarking on an official walk with Peter. Although I have had unofficial walks in the intervening time period.

Well today was truly a magic period of time to be walking. The walk was not long, around 5km, but it was along side Piesse Brook at the back of Kalamunda. It was cold but not too cold.

Rocky pool was a location we walked past a month ago when Kim commenced his walk along the Bibuluman Track.

 

We visited the Tea and Coffee Merchant in Kalamunda for a delightful breakfast, they do make a nice coffee.

 

 

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Wednesday July 17 and Saturday July 20

Yes this is a bumper walking edition. On Wednesday I joined Kim as he commenced his 61 day walk to Albany. A 964 km hike. The Tuesday had been wet and cold. We were delighted that although Wednesday was cold, the rain ad assed and there was some lovely sunshine.

 

 

There was a good number seeing Kim off. His first day was to walk only 10.5km to Hewitt Hill Hut. This first section was quite hilly and had Kim with his 25kg backpack working quite hard to keep going. I joined him, Steve Higgs, plus Jordan, Toby and Luke Chester.

 

 

We had lunch at his first night stop and then continued onto Mundaring Weir, making our walk between 18 to 20km in length. The second section we walked on was much easier. It was fairly cool as I had on thermal pants and didn't find them too hot.

 

Now this Saturday morning walk was very cold, the fingers even ached some what. We had planned on completing the Mason Bird Tramway walk starting from the other end and meeting up where we completed last weeks walk. The track was not marked very clearly and we ended up at Victoria Dam, which was rebuilt in the early 90s. It was quite note reding, as they left the remainder of the old dam wall below the new dam wall. It is a very beautiful picnic site. For breakfast we called into the Carmel Rosefarm and enjoyed our usual of scrambled eggs or in Peter's case, poached eggs.

 

 

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Saturday July 13 Mason Bird Tram Trail

A cold Saturday morning but my walking buddy is back with me. Left Kathryn in bed. Todays's walk is only 10 minutes from home. In the 1870s there was a tram line built from the hills behind where we live to the Canning River. This transported Jarrah logs to the Canning River. The owners of the Timber Company were called Mason and Bird. Timber exports were one of the early incomes of the colony. All that really remains of this venture is the homestead of Mason on the Canning River, kept in very good condition and a restored wooden bridge that you can see in the photos below. Said to be the oldest existing wooden bridge in Australia, although is doesn't look like too much of it is original! The track we were walking extended 8 kmh in on direction. We decided to walk halfway this week and next week complete the other half by starting at the top end - a good idea from Peter.

 

 

http://pickeringbrookheritagegroup.com/timbermason.html

 

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Saturday July 6 Lake Leschenaultia

The last two Saturdays Peter hasn't been able to join the walks. Last Saturday Kathryn joined me for a walk between Mt Henry Bridge and Canning Bridge, approximately 6km. I wore my backpack and took my hiking poles. The more I do this the stronger my shoulders become.

Today we drove upto Lake Leschenaultia a man made lake east of Perth. Originally developed to supply water for the steam trains after they had ascended the Darling Ranges. Today it a beautiful and popular recreation area.

The walk was not a long one, about 3km. Today with my backpack that's all I was happy to walk. It was quite cold around 4deg, by the end of the 30 minute walk I had quite warmed up. I believe Kathryn also enjoyed the short walk, although her tendons give her problems in her ankle area.

We had breakfast on the way home at the Mundaring Bakery Cafe. As holidays have started I hope to get a few more walks in over the next couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

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Kim Walk Saturday June 22

Peter couldn't make it today as he had pressing business. I have also been walking some Sunday mornings with Kim Whiteside as he prepares to walk the Bibbulmum track. This weekend is the last time he can do the practise walk before he leaves on July 17. The walk is planned to finish on Sept 19, 65 days of hiking.

These practise runs go for about 3.5 hours. We walk about 15 to 18 kilometres from Willetton to Mt Henry Bridge, then onto Canning Bridge. We complete the loop back to Mt Henry Bridge and then back to Willetton. I have complete the walk 4 times carrying 15kg, Kim carries 22kg. The more you do it the easier it gets.

The more you walk with a backpack the easier it gets. Some of the pictures below look like Kim is already in the wilderness, but in reality it is in the middle of suburbia, Bullcreek area.