Day 61: Giants to Rame Head
We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track
One of the greatest joys of the Bibbulmun is the variety of terrain: on many other tracks, you have to walk for a week to experience what the Bibbulmun offers in 8 hours. And even for the Bibbulmun, today is a highlight with karri, tingle, myrtle, coastal heath, and beaches with terrific views. For orchid and wildflower enthusiasts, it’s a cracker.
Use Bibbulmun Track Foundation Map 7: Walpole
A 17.2 kilometre long day with 530 metre elevation gain
After starting in tingle and karri forest, we descend into casuarina and myrtle. It’s another perfect hiking day.
Every now and then, we climb a little and back into Tingle territory.
As the tree canopy thins, the wildflowers increase. Here vivid blue Goodenia eatoniana.
Although most of the Bibbulmun is single track, I don’t at all mind small vehicle tracks where we can walk side-by-side. The wildflowers are fabulous!
A kilometre or so along the park boundary with lush farmland to the east as we near the coast.
How I love these hiker seats, with raised rests for backpacks!
Oh my, the wildflowers are marvellous! Gompholobium conferta.
Plenty of orchids, such as the Bird Orchid, Pterostylis turfosa
Time for a little rest! My Trail Legs haven’t really eventuated even though I’m the fittest I’ve been in years. A great joy of thru-hiking is that you can eat as much as you want and you’ll still lose weight, even when you hike as slowly as we do!
Just look at those wildflowers!
The Secented Sun Orchid, Thelymitra macrophylla. We’ve had so few warm days on this hike that this is the first time we’ve actually seen dozens and dozens open
And plenty of these tiny Zebra Orchids (Caladenia carnsiana). They are incredibly cryptic, their stripes allowing them to blend into the dappled shade where they are growing here under bushes.
Getting ever closer to the sea, through Western Australia’s classic coastal heath.
And a new sun orchid, the Plain Sun Orchid (Thelymitra paludosa)
And plenty of Mignonette orchids (Microtis media) scattered throughout.
A corner of Conspicuous Beach
But first, lunch at a nice little lookout. There’s also a covered gazebo nearby, where Pat and Helen are stopping.
Down onto the beach, and back up again!
Freshwater soaks and drainage lines collect behind the foredune. These would have been, and still are, invaluable to the Nyoongar People, and no doubt still equally important to wildlife today.
So many snakes! Pretty sure this is a dark-coloured dugite rather than a tiger snake. Dugites eat other snakes! But they aren’t aggressive and won’t attack us unless cornered or trodden on: we are far too big to swallow!
And finally at the stunningly situated Rame Head Hut with Pat and Helen. When you do a thru-hike, you will make firm friends. It’s one of the things we expected least, and value most.
Our Triplex tent tucked amongst the heath. Have we said just how fantastic these campsites are?
Evening light, Rame Head Hut. This is turning out to be one of our favourite sections of track, and we’re only halfway through!
