6th Training - 216 km 4 Days Walk

Ezy Dump at Pinjarra RV Friendly town

On our 6th Training from 9 - 14 October, the tentative plan was that Paul will start from Graphite Road, on One Tree Bridge near Manjimup, through Pemberton, Northcliffe, Deeside Coast Road and Mandalay Beach Road, covering approximately 236 km.  We will then spend 2 more days travelling, scouting and acquainting ourselves with the rest of the track till we reach Southern Terminus Albany where the Bibbulmun Track finishes.

Starting From Graphite Road

Info Centre at One Tree Bridge

Paul and Joy left for Pinjarra at 1 pm on Friday to meet up with Garry & Beth in their motor hoIme named 'On Eagles Wings'.  We reloaded the bus with water and removed sewerage waste before we travelled to Graphite Road on One Tree Bridge to park the bus for the night.

Beth is all ready to go!

Day 1.  The next morning, the whole BT team woke up at 4.30 am and Paul finally took off at 5.25 am to reach Stirling Road, our next stop.  Hi, Dave, Paul brought  his ponchio and thanks for reminding him! 

Paul crunched his back before takeoff

Tapping the weaker knee

No Turning Back!

Morning Lily at One Tree Bridge

At 4.30 pm the BT team met Paul at midway at Beedelup Falls and we were awestruck by the sound of many waters and the view before us! 

Beedelup Falls

Spectacular view from Beedelup Falls Swing Bridge

Devils Pin

White Clematis at Beedelup Falls

30m walk trail to Karri Valley Resort

This crossing over Beedelup Falls forms part of the Bibbulmun 

track

Wow, what a spectacular view from here!

Can you spot the kookaburra?

Hello everyone, its good being out here and thanks for watching this blog!

Surrounded by bright yellow flowers and chirping birds

Paul arrived at Stirling Road at 9.30pm, covered 63km and walked at 3.94km/hr.

Day 2.  The Manjimup weather forecast predicted lots of rain and that was what we had.  Paul left at 5.30am and walked into the early hours of the dawn.

On Eagles Wings we soar!

"Paul, you forgot your walking stick!"

Garry & Beth took a scenic drive to Big Brook Dam

Early & quick downloads on the blog

Paul remembered his friend, Uwe's nickname!

This is what 4 wheel drives are made for!

At Wheatley Coast Road, lifting both his legs above heart level is part of Paul's major routine on his prolonged walk to avoid feet swelling.

Never leave without a ponchio!

They come in variety of shapes &colours

Guess what this is!

Beth has a keen eye for God's creation

The time was 7.30pm and we had just arrived at Middleton Road at Northcliffe where we camped that night.  Paul had called to say he should arrive latest 9.00pm.

Paul arrived at 8.35pm, covered 62km at 4.13km/hr which was better than the previous day.  He was in good shape but had blister in betwen his toes and a dip in warm water helped eased both his feet.
 

 Day 3.  The alarm rang this morning at 5.15am but the town of Northcliffe was still sleeping.  We got ready for another day of challenge.  Joy made Paul his high energy morning juice and smoothie for his breakfast in a large paper cup so he could take it and start walking at 6.30am.  Apparently there will be showers today with 1 mm of rain water.  We will meet tonight at cnr of Deeside Coast Road and Dog Pool Road, 53km away. 

   

In the afternoon Garry & Beth met Paul at the Gardener Road which was blocked and Garry had to drive his 4 wheel drive on the river.  Paul also decided we meet him later at Dog Road where the track ends instead.  More flowers awaited Beth on their journey. Earlier Garry found Big Tree Grove some 15km away and had parked the bus.  At 8 pm Paul emerged at Dog road.  He had walked 57km at 4.22km/hr. 

When we look at the varieties and beauty of each flower, it speaks of how Father God looks at each one of us being different but beautiful.  King David in the book of Psalms understood this and said we are all fearfully and wonderfully made!

Cowslip

Native Hibiscus

Boronia

Pipe Lily

Coral Vine

 

 

Grevillea

Leafless orchid

    

Orchid

orchid

Purple enamel orchid

Scaevola

Trigger plant

White Clematis

Grevillea

Dog Road Waugal sign

Training finished at Broke Inlet Road

Day 4.  This morning the 4 of us jumped into the 4 wheel drive and dropped Paul at Dog Road where he continued his journey at 6.25am, and we later met him at Brooke Inlet Road some 38km away at 3.10pm.  He had done 4.47km/hr.  Paul decided to stop his walk here because he felt from the previous training it had taken him too long to recover so this time he wanted to do less so he can recover quicker to give himself the best chance of being in top shape for the record attempt in November.

Paul had found blister blocks very beneficial for his blister management and further tapped his feet up to prevent futher blisters and it has since helped heaps.  You can also see his black toe nails he had since the 1st training.   

More flowers were spotted at Dog Road.  If anyone knows the names of some of the flowers we welcome your feedback.

 This flower by the wayside caught Paul's attention!

Guess what this is?

 

 

Since we still had day light, we parked the bus at Walpole and took the 4 wheel drive to scout the Madalay Beach Road, Long Point Camp and Mt. Chair Camp. By 6.30pm we were back at Walpole for a Kangaroo barbeque dinner prepared by Beth.

Peaceful Bay

Day 5.  We left Walpole to continue our scouting venture at Tree Top Walk, Peaceful Bay, Parry Beach Bay, Denmark River Mouth Bridge, the Nullaki Wilderness, Shelley Beach Road & Torbay Inlet just 30km outside of Albany.

Searching for the Bibbulmun track

Rainbow speaks of God's mercy and His covenant with mankind

 

We were all very hungry and had maron for lunch at Old Kent River

 

Live maron

Willaim Bay

 

 

 

Our last stop was at Torbay Inlet as it was getting dark and we returned to the bus at Walpole at 9.30pm.

Cosy Corner

 

Torbay Inlet

  Day 6.  At 10am On Eagles Wings made its journey back to Pinjarra and we arrived at 6.30pm for a group photo.

The BT1000 team would like to thank you all for your encouragement and support.   We look forward to the BT1000 record attempt in November.  The blogging might be less as we will be more busy but you can track Paul on his record attempt walk on his GPS transmitter on the BT1000 home page! Seeya!

The BT1000 Team