Jules Runs and Walks

31 March: into Dwellingup, about 20km I left Chadoora camp site in light drizzle, but didn’t really care - I was on my way into “town”, namely Dwellingup. According to Wikipedia it has a population of 383.  The walk was a little uninspiring this morning, lots of walking near a railroad track (which is only used twice a week for a historic steam train). The trail was very overgrown, probably because most people just walk on the railroad tracks, which is what I ended up doing as well.   There was so much bird life today though - I saw lots of emu scats (!), a tiny blue wren sitting on a Bibbulmun track sign, a scarlet robin and lots of black cockatoos again.  I got to Dwellingup by mid day and treated myself to a flat white and scones at the Blue Wren Cafe. A funky little place for a small town.  I still haven’t figured out how to turn these photos, I’ll do it when I get access via a computer.  I had booked a walker’s room at the local caravan park - pretty b...

30 March, 31 km and still hot: White Horse Hills to Chadoora via Mt Wells I had an interesting night - I stayed in the shelter without putting up my tent, because I had planned to leave super early to beat the heat for the last climbs. And I thought it might be nice to walk under the very bright full moon, so was aiming for a 4:30am start.  It was so hot that I only used my thin silk sleeping bag liner, and even that was more so nothing would eat, sting or bite me. There was a noisy chorus of cycadas and it just felt like a tropical summer night (I’ve been wearing my fleece 2 days ago...).  Around 1am, it started raining which sounded like hail on the iron roof of the shelter. Then it started thundering. I was nice and safe and dry in the shelter, but when it was still raining a little by 3:30am (and of course I kept waking up because of the sounds), I reconsidered my starting time as the moon was hidden behind the clouds.  I left camp at 5:15am (yes, still early...) whic...

29 March That’s 32km in 37 degree heat. With another few big climbs. I now remember reading the recommendation to start in the south and go North, instead of what I?m doing, I.e. North (Kalamunda) to south (Albany) - for 2 reasons: your legs are more used to walking and the hills will be easier towards the end. And it?s not as hot in the south this time of the year, and will cool down up here by the time you get here. Right... I understand both points now.  It was a long, hot day today. I left Nerang campsite and covered the first 16km to Gringer Creek by lunch time. On the way, I had 2 Brush wallabies follow me - or rather hop away, then stopping to stare at me and as soon as I got closer hopping off ahead again. This went on for quite a while.  An hour later, something similar went on with a couple of red tailed black cockatoos But there’s also not much happening for long stretches. Just bush, the wind in the trees and my footsteps. Lots of time to think. Mostly about food. ...

28 March (Sorry about the upside down and sideways photos, not sure how to turn them :-() The day started with another gorgeous sunset - this time from my tent, everything seemed to glow orange.  I started walking a little later as I had to pack up the tent and talked a little to the other people at the camp site and ended up walking a lot in the heat.  The day started off through more burned forest and then up two hills with lots of granite boulders and outcrops and nice views across to where I was going.  Namely, this one, Mt. Cook.  I keep looking at my shadow and think about how different this is from how most people know me.  There were a few cute little  Ornate crevice lizards around, but most of them were too quick to be photographed. I got this one though:  After a steep downhill and a longish walk along a flat fire trail, I climbed Mt. Cook - and could see the other two hills far back.  I stayed the night at Nerang campsite- after tending...

I’ve been having daily small equipment malfunctions: Day 1: ripped a hole into my $40 merino hiking superundies (and I don’t own much expensive underwear, I’m usually more the “any 3 for $11.99” kind of undie girl... anyway, TMI?!),  Day 2: realised that it?s the back pocket of my hiking pants that causes chafing under my hip belt. Not pretty, but I’ve plastered a dressing over it. Thank god for the blister pack Damian provided :-)  Day 3: hole in my sleeping mat.  Oh well, if that’s as bad as it gets, I’m going to be ok!  Pretty flat start this morning, and a bit of walking under a power line with some highway noises in the background. Given I haven’t seen anyone, it’s surprising how close I am to civilisation.  It was nice to turn back into the bush after crossing the highway.  There seems to be a bit more fauna around, I’ve been seeing more birds and had a few wallabies cross the path and there is more rustling in the undergrowth- snakes? Lizards?  ...

The campsite provided a b eautiful sunset and sunrise:  And today, I found much better spots for my breaks - morning tea with a vanilla latte and online shoe shopping (I realised that my trusted trail running shoes are not going to be suitable to get me + a 15+kg backpack through the next 950km) (online shopping on top of a hill to the rescue - my new Salomon shoes will be waiting for me in Dwellingup!) and a chat with Birger. Who says doing a thru hike means roughing it?? I thought this was pretty sophisticated ?? Lunch at mount dale - long climb, nice views I read that there have been big fires all along the track in 2005. The last bit before lunch looked like it hadnt burned in a while - grass trees were much higher There are a few wild flowers around, but it’s probably too dry and too late in the season for lots of them.  I missed  a turn off after taking a detour off the track to get water - and ended up walking an extra 2km until I noticed that I was back to my lunc...