Day 4 - Bridgewater Lakes to Telegraph Road

16.2km
Temp warm 22°

Awake early, 0530, to finish packing. As I should have expected I couldn't get my case closed so I had to use Clancy, the overflow duffel bag.

Breakfast at 0700 and on the bus at 0800. Visited All Saints Church to see the Mary McKillock stain glass windows; unfortunately the church was closed so we just took photos outside of it.

On the way to the start point the bus had a close up of a couple of large Eastern Grey kangaroos, they came out of the scrub on the left of the road and crossed close in front of us (Daren was on the ball and avoided them both).

Arrived at start, Tarragal Caves, at 0835. After the walk briefing and change of minder for Gus we started walking at about 0850.

Today we are walking inland and leaving the coast behind us. The walk started along the main road then into a paddock and up a hill for about 1.5km. It is a similar situation to the public footpath system used in the UK. The track runs alongside the fence line. There were great views of the lakes before the top of the hill.

There was a couple of stiles on the way to the top of the hill. At approximately the 2km mark the track descend into a native forest. This area is a nature reserve and is renound for it's wildlife, specifically koalas. We were searching the trees for koalas, not taking a lot of notice of our foot steps, and about 2km into the forest we saw a koala not far off the track. 

We met a group of 7 hikers going in the opposite direction to us; they were doing the Great South West Walking track (GSWW). The track came out onto a dirt road at about 4.8km and went for few hundred metres before meeting the sealed road. We walked for short distance along the side of the sealed road and then crossing the road to Tarragal Camp (5.5km mark). We had morning tea at 1045 at the camp area; as usual there was water, a toilet and table there. We spotted one more Koala at camp site.

We headed off again at 1120. The track ran along the edge of the native forest with a pine and blue gum plantation to the other side of track. The track was a bit Sandy through native forest but was not too difficult to walk on. There was very little breeze in this area which raised the humidity and made it a little unpleasant to walk in. The guide, Nick, as usual set a cracking pace but all was ok. We were gradually heading uphill to the summit of Mt Richmond. This area is also renound for Tiger snakes and luckily for us none were seen on or near the track. 

At the 12.2km mark we came out onto a fire access road which went uphill for 1 km. It was a hard slog for most of us but we all got there ok. The track then turned off to the summit which was the lunch location. Darren had set up the chairs and table in a shaded area of the picnic area which was really good to see. We had lunch at 1400 (13.5km mark)

We headed off again at 1510 and walked the last 3km without pack. 3 pilgrims decided not to do this section and helped Darren to clean up the lunch things. From here it was a down hill and sandy track with boardwalks. The scrub was low scrub and grass trees, lovely area.

We finished at 1540 and jumped on the bus for the trip to Nelson. We arrived Nelson at 1625 and checked into our cabins. My bags were already in there which was great. The cabins are self contained and whilst basic they are comfortable, clean and functional. It has free WiFi  and TV (I don't need much more than that as I won't be spending day time here).

 

We went to the shop (Darren's cabin) to get our breakfast and lunch supplied for the next 2 days (we need to make our own but that's ok). We all met at the bus at 1820 and we went to the Nelsol Hotel for dinner. The place was full and a typical country pub. I had a huge meal of butter fish and a couple of beers. It was a good night and we were back before 2100. 

 

Early start and a huge day tomorrow. 

 

 

Day 3 - Bridgewater Bay to Bridgewater Lakes

18.6 km
Great weather for a walk,  fresh breeze and mid 20's temperature

Breakfast at 0730 then onto the bus at 0830 for to today's start. We got to today's start at 0850, had the walk briefing and assigned a new pilgrim to look after Gus today. We started walking just after 0900.

The track went through the location of the old town of Cape Bridgewater and then up for about 1 km to the highest coastal cliffs in Victoria. The track was low grass,  easy to walk and we took a number of breaks. We then started to drop down to the cliff edges,  stopping to view the seal colony (only mainland seal colony in Australia) and we had a close encounter with a swamp wallaby.

We stood on the tip of Cape Breakwater before starting to walk along the cliff top. The track went through an area of low scrub and was easy to walk. We had morning tea on the track at about 1105. Nick (the guide) was carrying 2 thermoses of hot water so I was able to have a cup of tea, nice touch.

The track soon went back to the familiar limestone cliff top walking. We stopped at numerous lookouts and viewing spots to check out the sea pounding in onto the cliffs. There wasn't a lot of wind today but the swell was a good size. Just short of the 9km mark we stopped at the petrified forrest and blow holes near Cape Duquesne, it's an amazing area. The bus was waiting there and we grabbed our lunches and topped up our water before heading off to the lunch spot.

 

The track continued as a limestone track and was a little uneven which made it a little difficult to walk on (but ok). At 1400 (12km mark) we stopped for lunch at the Spring Camp. This is one of the many camp areas on the Great South West Walk (GSWW). It has a shelter, tank water and a toilet. We only took about 30 minutes for lunch and headed off again along the cliff top.

The track headed inland at the 16km mark and changed to an easy sandy track through low shrubs. Nick nearly stepped on an echidna which was on the side of the track. We finished at the Bridgewater Lakes at 1705 (once again Mark and I were the first in) where we met the bus.

We were back in the hotel at 1735 and had to do a quick change so as to be back on the bus by 1815. All of us were on time and we set off to the Cape Nelson lighthouse where we had a great dinner (Moroccan dishes) and a guided tour of the lighthouse. It was a great tour and meal.

We were back at the hotel about 2115. The fun of getting ready for tomorrow started and including packing my suitcase as we are checking out early tomorrow. I have no idea how I managed to get everything into it originally as it is bursting at the seems and was hard to zip up; got there eventually.

Earlier start tomorrow

Day 2 - Cape Nelson Lighthouse to Bridgewater Bay

20.4 km

 
Early start with breakfast at 0730 and then on the bus by 0830. We arrived at the lighthouse and were introduced to the walk mascot, Gus. He has done the walk many times and will be joining us every day of the walk.  We started walking at about 0850.

Today started on the top of limestone cliffs. The path was well marked and a little stony underfoot but it was good going. The view of sea swell smashing in on the cliffs was amazing and we could have stayed there and watched for ages but we had to keep going.

The track went inland for a short distance and we ended up going through thickets of Moona and Soap Mallee trees. Beautiful areas with numerous echidna scratchings. The guide gave us some good info on the trees in the areas (not a lot of MSU*)

The track then followed around the start of a bay and we dropped down a short distance to the car park at Murrells Beach where we met the bus at 1030 and had morning tea. Darren (bus driver) had set up a table and chairs for us. Morning tea had heaps, tea and coffee, fruit, fruit juice, cakes and biscuits - amazing spread. We met a bloke who had been walking his two dogs on the beach, the dogs loved the morning tea spread.

We collected our lunches before moving off again at about 1115. Walked through low shrubs,  full of wallabies, and then dropped down onto the beach (at the 8km mark). I took off with another bloke,  Mark, at a good pace to knock over the beach part as quickly as I could.  The sand was not too soft and the tide had just gone low tide so the walking was not too difficult although it took a fair bit of effort.  After about 2 km we stopped at a stack of 4 sea containers that had been washed up in 2013/2014. They were refridgerated containers lying on their sides,  still connected and naturally enough empty.

The guide gave me a2 easy radio and myself and Matk took off to find the beach exit point, marked by a treated pine pole. We found one false indicator and then at the 3km mark from the containers we found the exit point where we waited for the other pilgrims, they were not to far behind us.
 
The exit was a scramble up a steep, 10m high, sand path. Lots of slipping backwards but we all made it moved on the lunch area. We arrived at the Yrewelka Camp site at 1415 where we had lunch.  The area had seats, toilet and rain water tank. It was a pleasant place to stop for about an hour; my feet were a tad sore by now and we all had to clean some sand out of our boots.

Heading off after lunch we met the bus again about 1km later. A couple of pilgrims decided to end their day here and the rest of us dropped out packs into the bus and headed off for the last section. It started to rain lightly and of course we had left rain jackets on our packs on the bus, it wasn't too bad. THE LAST 2km were on the beach again and this time the tide was in with the sand being softer, a bigger effort. We got to the bus at about 1650; all a bit sore but ok.

Back to the hotel by 1715 to shower and get ready for dinner. We all met in the hotel foyer at 1830 and walked to dinner at Edwards on the Waterfront restaurant. Great meal and a great fun. Got back to hotel at about 2050 and got ready for tomorrow's walk. Big day but all ok for now.

*MSU = Making Stuff Up

Day 1 - Road trip and short walk

7.4km

Early start to be in city at 0700 - Lib drove me in. Traffic was surprisingly busy but I got there on time. The company bus was already there with a few other members of the group.  Left the city on time at 0730 and headed off to Portland. 

 

There are 9 of us on the walk, 4 men and 5 women. They are from Melbourne,  regional Victoria, Sydney, Gold Coast and Townsville.

 

Stopped for a short 10 minute break at the BP service station and Mecca's just outside Corio.

 

Started to rain as we entered Colac but apparently it's clearing.  We had morning tea at 1015 in Camperdown at the 'Snout in the Trough Cafe'. Great coffee and a tasty date scone went down well. 

 

Lunch on Port Fairy at Cobb's Bakery then a wander around the town in the sunshine. Left Port Fairy at about 1315.

 

Got to the start of today's walk at about 1430 and we started the walk through the Enchanted Forest to Cape Nelson lighthouse. A lovely walk through Moona thickets and along the top of the coastal cliff. The guide gave us a good flora and fauna lesson on the way and the pace was quite easy today. 

It was a good wide path with a few well maintained steps and the ground was easy under foot. 

Finished walk at about 1715 and headed off to the hotel (Macs Hotel) to check in and get ready for dinner.  My room is huge and I'll be here for 3 nights, happy with that. Pre dinner snacks were at 1830 followed by dinner and and a couple of drinks. The food was great, the company a lot of laughs. All up a good day. 

 

 
Early start again tomorrow and a full day of walking.