Day 55: Long Point to Mt Clare
We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track
Today brings new landscapes, including the unique giant tingle trees that exist only in a tiny area around Walpole. But the weather forecast is grim and even worse for tomorrow, so we end up doing something unexpected for the very first time.
Use Bibbulmun Track Foundation Map 7 - Walpole
The standard day from Long Point to Mt Clare is still a good day’s walk
We all hesitate to head out in the bucketing rain but there’s nothing for it: we have to go.
And, like a tiny sparkly gift in the drizzle, a new orchid, not in peak condition, but thrilling: the Little Laughing Leek orchid (Prasophyllum gracile)
It rains and rains and rains... I wonder what (who) the orchid was laughing at!
… but oh my, even in the grey, the flowers pop with colour.
Dasypogon bromeliifolius (Pineapple Bush)
Unbelievably, we encounter more wading. Oh well, our boots have not yet had a chance to dry… but oooh, the water is cold!
We’re ducking into and out of forest, and into and out of rain.
When the skies clear, the views open up.
Looking back the way we’ve come.
More rain comes and goes in sweeping squalls.
The Lovely Triggerplant (Stylidium amoenum)
This is another karri spider (Caladenia brownii) but it is huge, almost twice the size of any I’ve seen thus far.
Walking amongst the kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos flavidus)
Many orchids right through this section, including Drakaea thynniphila
… and King in his Carriage (Drakaea glyptodon).
Beautiful paths winding through the forest…
… with bright lime-green moss. It’s delightful.
We are still heading inland. The sign above describes the different vegetation types we will soon see.
Crossing the river…
…followed by a knee-buckling climb up to Mt Clare. There are few photos because it’s just so wet.
We arrive at Mt Clare and, although there are still rain showers, the hut is not inviting.
We take another good look at the map. We know it’s all downhill and only 10km to Walpole, so the map is reassuring. And it’s still early… lunchtime really, and tomorrow’s forecast is even worse than today. Why not keep going, and complete our first proper double-hut? I mean, we’ve done one before, slower-hiker style, ( spending two nights in one hut!) but this seems doable and the lure of a warm bed, pub food and hot showers proves irresistible. We ring our accommodation whilst we have reception and lock in an extra night.
Pat and Helen arrive just as we’re about to leave: you can see they’re as thrilled by the conditions as we were! They also push on into Walpole.
Again, the campsites would be terrific in clear weather, but everything is dripping. We continue onwards!
