INTO DWELLINGUP
Bibbulmun Day 7: Wednesday April 11, 2018
Km 163.6 – 198.2. (34.6 km)
Mt Wells Campsite – Dwellingup
Mt Wells hut was super cosy and I had it to myself. The only noise through the night was a gentle hum of the gold mine in the valley below. I had no trouble sleeping. The constant low hum was kind of white noise. When I left the hut just before 6am I could see the lights of the mine illuminating the night sky. I startled a sleeping kangaroo who got up a bit wobbly before taking off.
As I descended off Mt Wells the noise of the mining operation grew to the inescapable sound of the ground being ripped apart. I waited till the sounds of the mine had grown dim before stopping for breakfast. It was easy walking on an open fire trail.
About 2 hrs after leaving the hut I stopped for breakfast. From here it was simply blissful walking in the silence of the forest. Sunlight was streaking through the trees and birds were singing again. The forest looked healthy with lush undergrowth.
I reached Chadora campsite, just after 9am. There was no one there. I stayed for a bit of a rest before moving on to Dwellingup about 20km away. The weather was perfect for hiking.
There was nothing remarkable about the early part of this section. It was easy almost downhill roll through nice open trail. At one point there were half a dozen black cockatoos squawking above me, calling out to each other. They were magnificent when they took off to fly. Their large black frame was decorated by brilliant crimson tail feathers. I was mesmerised watching them fly above me.
The last 8km into town were marked by a large stand of majestic Sydney Blue Gums. The trail followed an old disused rail line and then deviated weaving in an out of narrow single file trail and open firetrail.
The narrow sections of trail were a bit nerve wrecking to pass through. Dense undergrowth and lots of leaf litter and broken branches lined the trail, making it feel a bit snakey. I was relieved to get back onto open fire trail.
Made it to Dwellingup just after 2pm. I had expected a reasonably prosperous looking town considering that there is a mine nearby. But on first impressions, it does not appear so.
I got a room at the caravan park, had a shower, did some laundry and got groceries for the next section. Had a bacon and egg burger from the Blue Wren Cafe. It had no burger in it but it had lots of fresh vegetables. It was nice but I wouldn’t call it a burger. Nice to be clean and everything recharged ready to head back out tomorrow for Stage 2, Dwellingup to Collie.
Very envious Stef! Love hearing about your adventure and wonderful wonderful pics!! Mike B
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Thank you Mike. So happy to make it out west.
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Hi Stef. Your hike is beautiful. Barbara and I love the pictures. Unique plant and wildlife, at least for us here in America. Kangaroos seem approachable. Keep those posts coming. Bill & Barbara.
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Hi Bill and Barbara, so lovely to hear from you. I had a dream about you two a few days ago. In it, you’ve moved to Australia. Any chance?
The kangaroos tend to be a bit flighty here. They take off as soon as they hear you. It’s only the odd one I’ve caught napping.
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Hello Stef. Your hike sounds great and the pictures are wonderful! Flora and Fauna unique for us in America. Are the kangaroos aggressive or like deer here? Keep those posts coming. Thank you. Bill & Barbara.
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Hi Bill and Barbara, the kangaroos close to houses and people on big properties are similiar to deer. It can be a problem. Here they are sparse and stay away from people, generally. The big kangaroos are powerful looking animals I wouldn’t want to get to close to one.
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Hi Corky, when you come to the Marri eucalypt forests expect to see and hear lots of nectar feeding birds like lorikeets and various types of honeyeaters which are attracted to the cream coloured flowers. You may have heard this year’s conditions have produced a rare megabloom. Love your photos of vistas, flora and fauna. Travel well.
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Hi Kay
I may be a little too late for the flowering gums. I’ve not heard about the megabloom. I’ll ask next time I see a ranger. I do know there was a lot of rain in February. I’m glad you like the photos. It is amazing to see how much is still in bloom heading into autumn.
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Hi Stef – you are doing well – photos are great, amazing gum trees and the flowers, just beautiful – we walked to Rose Bay and back yesterday ha, ha – cheers, Maree
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Thank you Maree, I’m surprised by the diversity so far. Rose Bay to Bondi is a pretty good walk 😘.
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I did the same, stayed in a tiny room in the caravan park and ate at the Blue Wren!
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Hi Clare, there wasnt really much choice. There was a school group camped nearby sharing the facilities. Not ideal after 200km. But I’m in Collie now and all is good.
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