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.

Saturday June 15 Lions Lookout Walk Lemurdie

We deviated from our bush walk today and completed a walk along the scarp in Lesmurdie. The walk was only 4 km long, but in sections quite steep with dolly gravel. It took us 1.5 hrs to complete, which is not a particularly fast pace. The views are quite nice and the cool weather made the work very enjoyable. Afterwards we enjoyed a very nice breakfast the Kalamunda Dome.

 

 

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Saturday June 8 Lesmurdie Falls

Today walk was shorter than usual, we walked from the base of Lesmurdie Falls to the top. The ascent is approximately 120 metres. This was also an opportunity to try a climb with a back pack, which I did. I found the 15kg on my back to be not too difficult. The views from the top of the falls are quite pleasant across the coastal plane. It is quite interesting how tree covered Perth metro area is.

Peter chose a really nice location for breakfast at the Tea Merchant in Kalamanda. The usual fair was scrambled eggs and coffee. Next week a longer walk is planned at Walunga National Park of about 10km.

 

 

 

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2013 back into the walks: Penguin Island

The weather has now cooled somPeter and I plan in returning to our Saturday walks. I collected Peter at 7:00am Saturday morning and we headed off to Rockingham, a beautiful day. We were so absorbed in our talking that we failed to take the Rockingham exit off the Freeway, and almost drove to Mandurah.

 

The first ferry to Penguin Island is not until 9:00am. We commenced the day with breakfast at Lu Lu's on the Rockingham beachfront. The usual coffee and scrambled eggs.

 

We made it to the ferry on time for our 9:00 am departure to penguin Island, a 5 minute ferry ride. There was a strong offshore breeze blowing, but still very pleasant.

The island is home to ferry penguins and thousands of nesting seagulls. There is also a penguin viewing area for extra cost, we didn't bother. We had a short walk to the north and south of the island. The tide was up, so it was difficult to walk on the beach and not get wet shoes.

It didn't take us long to complete our short walks and we returned to Shoalwater in the 10:00am ferry, purchasing a coffee with a picture of a penguin on the cup to drink on our way home.

Next week I plan to be in Melbourne, the week after that we have a 10km walk at Walanga National Park.

 

 

 

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Saturday December 15 Kent Street Weir

Well we haven't made it to Penguin Island yet. Last weekend I was laid low with my cold, which is still laying me low. Peter was pushed for time today, so we repeated an earlier walk from Kent St Weir along Canning River to Green Street footbridge and then back along the river to have breakfast at the cafe b the weir.

While having breakfast I noticed the chap on another table as being Max Zeller a chap I went to school with. The last time I saw him was about 12 years ago. His middle daughter was working in the cafe.

Maybe another Saturday we will make it to Penguin Island.

Back to Rockingham foreshore Dec 1

We had breakfast at the same location today in Rockingham that we enjoyed last Saturday.

The walk along the foreshore was extremely attractive. As the pictures show looking towards Pt Peron it looks idealic, looking northward along the cove you can see all the heavy industry.

This walk was very convenient as I also dropped off some exam papers to another marker who lived in the area.

Next week we have our first overseas walk at Penguin Island.

 

 

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Saturday November 24 Pt Peron

The weather is much better in Perth than what I have ever experienced in Perth. Today our walk was our furtherest one south of the CBD. Pt Peron (named after a French explorer) is on the southern end of Cockburn sound. This is a beautiful sound, marred by heavy industry, but looking back from a high point on the Point, there is is still many beautiful views. On the Point there is still concrete gun shelters left over from world war 2.

On the way to and from Pt Peron, Peter showed me some of the regional developments he has been involved in around the Kwinana town centre. This is a working class area, established to support the heavy industry, but the ordinary housing is built amongst some quite attractive undulating landscape and with further developments could be quite an attractive area to live in.

Next week we will return to the Rockingham foreshore for a walk along the beachfront. Where we had breakfast this morning it overlooked where we will walk along.

 

 

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