This is my forth jaunt onto Australian soil. I was here in 2013 as I cycled up through Tasmania and earlier backpacking 🎒 the mainland in 2000. Tassie may be part of Australia ie. another state, but I’ll keep it as a separate page, as it’s so unlike the mainland. And considering the size of Australia, there’s enough wild camping photos just for Western Australia. Australia offers so much wild camping ⛺ one is spoilt for choice. Not just because…
After my previous outing to the Munda Biddi Trail 🚵 (North to South 2017) I had no expectations or plans to undertake the whole thing again! Why would I? But while back in wet’n’windy Blighty for 10 months and with no other thoughts crossing my mind to cycle anywhere else, in time, it became a no-brainer! 🤯 Solitude and the wilderness … yes please! So without looking for any other routes, I just plumbed for the easiest option, the Munda…
Today‘s final section is Wungong hut to Carinyah hut. Straight line north. I recall last year (north to south) the terrain was fairly arduous, but then it was only the second day of the trail and the weather remained a scorcher. ☀️ This time though, I’m trail fit 💪 and the weather is mild in comparison. Still significantly warm but not the late thirties. The terrain though, felt relatively benign in comparison, but then I’m going in the opposite direction 🔙 There was only one steepio (my made up Aussie word) section and I was trying not…
It’s all very well paying for a room at the Dwellingup Hotel 🛌 but after three weeks sleeping in the bush, it’s all very claustrophobic! But the novelty of a shower 🚿 in the morning and not packing ones camping gear away is well worth it! As ever, I’m packed and ready to go in a nano-second! But that’s still not quick enough compared to others … Pole Pole! Pronounced Polay Polay – means slowly, slowly in Swahili A little diversion today for a visit to a WWII POW camp at Marrinup not too far out of Dwellingup. Yes, a POW camp down in Oz!…
Today‘s cycle is a loop that we missed last year due to taking a short-cut. It didn’t end up been a short-cut! Took half a day to extract ourselves from the said short-cut! Short-cuts are all well and good if you don’t alter plans, which have already changed, as you’ve taken a short-cut! Sticking to the trail this time! 😀 The upcoming, supposed, camping opportunity would be Lake Brockman 🚤 As this is a large commercial camping site … that‘s not happening! And anyway, tiss a bit too far for one day! 👸 Around mid-afternoon the search started for a respectable wild-camping-spot. Only for a narrow bridge to appear, with an excellent creek flowing beneath…
After a restless night at Donnybrook Transit Park (continual heavy traffic through town) 😪 I pack up and head briefly onto the South Western Highway. Unfortunately, for Donnybrook there’s no bypass 🛣️ So the South Western Highway is that, a main highway for heavy haulage right through the centre of town. It doesn’t stop! As with most towns I’ve cycled through in Aus, there’s invariably a respectable skate park. Not as good as Manjimup‘s, but nerveless, good anyhow! Within 15 minutes I’m onto a B road and heading towards Boyanup. This road follows parallel to the South Western Highway. And what a difference! As it’s approaching the festive…