Daughter Renya and partner Luke at the "Cascades" beside "Leofroy Brook". It was good to break the journey for two days and do some sightseeing together around "Pemberton".

Dad and daughter Renya beside the "Cascades", outside "Pemberton". Renya helped me by keeping all my friends in "Perth" up to date with my progress. It was good to catch up in person rather, than by phone calls and emails at towns along the way. I did not carry a mobile phone or "GPS", but I did have an "EPRB" for emergencies, which I never had to use.

Daughter Renya gave me plenty of encouragement and support for my "Bibbulmun Track" training and journey.

Daughter Renya before she went sightseeing around "Pemberton", while I continued my trekking south. I really enjoyed the "Pemberton" train journey through the bush and visiting"Jarrah Jack"s brewery. Stayed at the "YHA" in town and had many steaks for lunch and dinner at the "Pemberton Hotel".

Luke and daughter Renya at the "Cascades". Really enjoyed catching up near the middle of my trekking at Pemberton, where I spent two days resting.

Daughter Renya and partner Luke drove down from "Perth" to celebrate 6 years together and for Ren"to visit her Dad on his trekking journey, while going through "Pemberton".

Jane (met while on the Track) emailed me to say this was Clamatis and not white native Wisteria.

After leaving the "Gloucester Tree" site and heading along "East Brook", I came across hundreds of metres of bush covered in white flower climbing Clamatis. Many areas of the Track have one predominate plant flowering, presumably because of the right soils.

Was about to cross this dirt road when I thought I would check out this Ford crossing. One of a thousand distractions along the way.

Fortunately I did not have to get to the other side of this fast flowing ford crossing. It just demonstrated the amount of rain still around in October - a late spring.

"Warren" campsite 584kms south of "Kalamunda" on 5th October 2007, on a cool and misty morning, with a few other trekkers. Note how you need to hang up your pack to avoid it getting chewed, by local wildlife!

The sun is slowly burning through the early morning mist at "Warren" campsite. Backpacks were hung up at night to protect food from local Possums.

"Collins Road" rail bridge south of "Pemberton", with hiking Mum in the middle, daughter on the right and friend on the left.

My walking pole or stick on the right, as I stop to take a photo of these three hikers on the very long old rail "Warren Bridge".

Zooming in so you can see that backpacks, even for a weeks journey it doesn't get much smaller. Mother and daughter have nearly completed the whole "Bibbulmun Track" in different stages of time.

"Schafer" campsite overlooks a cool refreshing private dam. The buoys and rope show where the owners allow you to swim out to. There were eleven hikers at this hut, with everyone having walked over 500kms at one time or another, along the "Bibbulmun Track". They were a good crowd of interesting people.

The Track runs right passed the private dam as can be seen by the marker post. It was cold water, but very refreshing.

At the end of the day's walk, your clothes are either soaked in perspiration, or wet from the rain showers. With only one spare set, it was important to dry them in the sun and wind on this pegless line, for next day's walking.

I would like to thank the owners for their generosity, in letting "Bibbulmun hikers" swim in their dam.

A good section of this private dam is roped off, so that hikers can go swimming. I cetainly took advantage of it on a warm afternoon. Another skinny dipping spot with initially nobody around.

A truly tranquil and idilic reflective setting, camped beside this damat Schafer, with Yabbies" (minature freshwater crayfish or lobsters) in it.

An old sign like this along the Track always tells the truth. For every descent there is an ascent at the othe end! I now believe that W.A. is not as flat as I first thought!

A dam and slipway just north of "Northcliffe". Note the tannin coloured brown water.

Water eating into dirt vehicle tracks as it flows down the hill. Erosion is a constant event, espcially with some of the heavy rainfalls on the Track in winter and spring.

Going out of "Northcliffe" you follow the old rail track. Note the very old signs in the left hand tree trunk.

You could miss this sign pointing you in the right direction, if you were looking at the scenery. I missed several signs even in trees, when I got distracted by the view instead.

Some hikers just walk right through the middle, or is it that the puddle has grown in size recently? South of "Northcliffe" on 6th October. 620kms walked so far and still going strong, as I double hutted to "Gardner" campsite.

At first I thought the water was polluted, but then realized that it was the tannins from the leaves that caused the brown colouing.

The winding Track goes down another hill. I could swear that many times you feel you are doubling-back on yourself, or taking the hardest route up or down the hill

I got under this bridge to obtain a different shadowed view of another creek.

A "widow-maker" bow from a huge tree above. You never know when your time is up! You tell yourself that it is a one in a million chance, that you will get injured on the Track. That's not to see you can't injure yourself!

There is no doubting that this bridge is not to be used by vehicles, because of it's age. I walked across it with caution, but it was perfectly safe. Heading for "Gardner" campsite.

A separate section of the Track had this road signage.

Noted the yellow triangle sign, as I crouched to go under this tree trunk. (click for close-up, then click again).

I managed to work my way around the edge of this giant deep puddle, while heading for "Lake Maringup" campsite.

The yellow triangle on the right tree in the water tells me I have to get to the other side. (click picture, then click again to see). I took off the boots and two pairs of socks,took off my gaiters, unzipped the bottom section of my trousers and waded through. The flies and mosquitos descended on me at soon as I stopped on both sides. Then I had to dry the feet and get dressed again. Now you can see with this time delay, why I tried to keep my boots on, working my way around puddles by going bush. As soon as I had got dressed and went around the corner, I found another huge puddle!

A two storey dunny (loo or toilet) at "Lake Maringup" was the most hi-tech. It was bio-degradeable through wind action as much as water, because of it's location near the fresh water lake. It looked big enough to be a shelter!

"Lake Maringup" campsite. The first hut of many to myself; initially a bit daunting, but I soon got used to the night bush sounds, rather than other hikers snoring. Some walkers had told dire tales about wading along the Track in kilometre sections up to their waist, advising me to walk along the road as they had one week earlier. Fortunately the waters had receeded.

After reading this sign, I reminded myself that lightening never strikes the same spot twice, sleeping really well that night. Glad I had a mosquito net and a smoking camp fire that night. Someone had left mosquito repellent in the hut, although I carried my own for face and hand use. Every other part of my body was covered.

The destroyed "Bibbulmun Track" by "DEC" is a bit sad in this section. They have put a fire break on either side of what was the Track, so you walk along a very wide cleared area, where everything has been bulldozed. Not a bush or tree survived, but I suppose it allows them to have controlled burn-offs.

Looking from the shelter at "Lake Maringup" down towards the lake itself. Signage for camping and toilets. Not a swimming lake.

Working around the northern edge of "Lake Maringup", I managed to get passed several hundred metre sections of flooding, by balancing on fallen trees and going bush to find higher ground.

This creek was lapping on the underside of the bridge. Sure happy to see the duck boards in the distance.

By cutting this tree lengthways, "DEC" have constructed a slippery but solid very long bridge.

The beauty and assortment of flowers was magnificent throughout the journey. This collection of three caught my eye.

My essential walk stick alongside what (?). My guess was that it had been created by a frog, as I could hear them all around me, although they went quiet as soon as I went looking for them.

Other hikers told me that this sign should read "should not OFTEN exceed 1 metre". Now I know why I brought my "Croc" waterproof shoes.You are crazy if you walk through water in bare feet. The unbuckling the pack is so that you can exit quickly if you fall in the water. If you deviate from the Track take plenty of land-mark bearings first. I didn't take enough and got lost in a swamp for half an hour. Scarey as I could not see my steps to retrace them.

A nice solid rock outcrop between very wet areas. The log provides the signage for the Track you cannot see.

There were dozens of these flowers suspended by 3 or 4 metrs long spider web threads, hanging from branches of trees. They seem to just hang in mid air, and were usually around face height. Never worked out why or how they arrived there!

This tree got hungry and ate the sign! The bark eventually grows over them.

It can only take a few days for the flood waters to arrive or receed. Sometimes it can rain some distance away, surprising me when the water levels increased. These stumps kept someone's feet dry.

Centre top it looks like a "Grass" tree, but I had never seen one much over 3 metres high before. I stopped to stare in disbelief and thought I must be seeing things. I just had to take a photograph, but then around the corner there were dozens!

A small forrest of "Kingia Australis" slender "Grass" trees to 8 metres high, on the right.

The Track can be wide or very narrow at times. I could only just see over the top of the bushes and I am 6ft tall. I croached down for this shot.

Sometimes the Track just seems to disappear, but I waded through the fortunately dry bush, until I got to the other side 200 metres away.

Trying to photograph the huge tadpoles that were very camera shy. The white parts are clouds reflecting on the water. The frog population had tripled because of the wet spring, which meant the "Tiger" snake population also tripled. I came across 50 Tiger snakes on the Track in front of me, but they all slowly (in the cold weather) got out of my way. More scared of me than I was of them.

Lots of these signs around, so I did not hang around.

A view of the "Shannon River" from the 36 metre long footbridge at "Dog Pool".

Looking upstream from the foot bridge at "Dog Pool". The foam is caused by the tannins from the tree leaves - no not tea leaves!

The "Shannon River" runs through this rocky section of valley. Picture taken between rain showers which then continued for much of the night. Flowers and plants grow in the rocky crevices.

Fast flowing foaming water, after going through a rapid on the "Shannon River".

A rapid come waterfall at "Dog Pool". The rocks were very slipery and positioning the tripod and camera were not easy either.

Looking back from the river "Shannon", you can just see the "Dog Pool" hut's roof.

That's all my gear spread out at "Dog Pool" shelter, that I had to myself. A burst of sunshine between clouds allowed this quick photograph. Note the puddle on the barbacue plate. The green moss is covering a large log on the right.

Because you walk along dirt roads in a semi-meditative state, you can easily miss a turn off - but not this one!

Sometimes I felt the signage was over-done. Other times it was very scarce.

This nice dry section of the Track leads to a swamp before the trees. I could tell by the sound of all the frogs in the distance. I learnt all this through experience.

I don't want to take off my gaiters, two pairs of socks and boots to get through this swamp, so I started jumping from mound to mound of high ground. The bushes tend to get a bit flattened in the process. This is where I lost the Track for half an hour and could not re-trace my steps. Relyed on my compass and a bit of luck!

Many hundreds of metres of inundated Track, where I eventually got lost again while trying to keep out of the deep water. My compass, the sun and my map, plus a bit of incredible luck brought me back on-track.

Yes that is the "Bibbulmun Track" where I am meant to be walking on. Instead I have "gone bush".

Have I re-found the Track, or is this just another section of flooded land?

These balls of dirt provided a dry landing spot, although I tried not to destroy too many, as I am sure they were frog homes.

Surrounded by water, I still stubbornly refuse to take off my boots. I had left it too late, as there was no where to put down my backpack anyway - something I had not considered!

Boot prints are a sure sign you are on the Track. I can see high ground in the distance and there is no turning back.

A tree ant nest beside the Track, on a piece of high ground. Nature is very smart and I often took note of how they handle situations. Ants are fascinating to watch.

View from the granite dome at "Mt. Chance". The hut is near the base. I have not seen anyone or even a plane in the sky for days now. Totally by myself day and night for 3 days or 75kms. Loved this part of the Track for that reason alone.

Windy up here on "Mt. Chance", but well worth the climb after a morning and part afternoon of walking. Lunch when I climb down.

My first view of the ocean, which explained the crashing sound like machinery in the distance. It turned out to be the surf!

Looking down on the dead tops of trees below "Mt. Chance". They die from the top down. I often looked at the view and felt amazed that I had crossed such country - I felt like an explorer.

I felt like a speck or an ant, crossing such huge expanses of bush land. You realize that you are so insignificant out here.

It was hard to comprehend that I had walked as far as the eye could see!

The only part I did not like about the southern section of the Track was the banning of camp fires. No where to dry my socks and boots and all of the rest of my wet gear. No sun and no wind and I just had to wait for my body heat to dry my clothes.

It is a 300 metre spur trail from the Track up to "Mt. Chance" campsite. Noted that the water tank outlet was the farthest side away from the hut. Got wet again just going there.

A "Volunteer" has done a fantastic job of cutting back the bush so the Track is clear. It might look overdone, but re-growth happens very quickly. Many thanks.

The "Volunteer" not only has to cut the bush back, but then has to remove the cuttings from the Track. Note the density of the bush in this section.

The water takes the path of least resistance, by following the Track downhill. At times it's like walking in a creek with soft mud and stony sections.

Carefully tipping out handfuls of trial-mix, so that my intake of water is balanced during the walk with some food. I also took "Kangaroo Jerky" or dehydrated strips of marinated meat for addtional protein to chew on while walking. Very tender and tasty, being a better alternative to beef. "Kangaroo" meat contains very little saturated fat relative to other meats and is high in protein, zinc and iron.

Surrounded by wildflowers, like I was the whole journey. I would often chant quite loudly when walking, as it provided a rhythm to my steps and an emotional get-up and go. When a storm was overhead with the thunder and lightening, I yelled at it that I was not afraid, while my ears were ringing with the claps of thunder. Yes I did act like I was mad, and determined not to be beaten by anything!

This middle part of the journey was the most enjoyable. In this shot my backpack is resting on a fallen tree, with my blue water tube just below my camera tripod, managing to get in the picture. It was always interesting but time consuming, trying to balance the tripod and then get back into the picture - a laugh a minute! Lots of green and lots of flowers.

There were so many twigs and sticks on the Track, every now and again I would miss a well camouflaged snake until it moved. One didn't and I nearly trod on it. I even turned around and went back to check that it really was a snake - it then took off.

A "Grass Tree" just right of centre, with the grren top of it having broken off in a bush fire. What I loved was the new growth starting to spring out of it on the right side of the trunk at the top. Even the trees in the distance have all got re-growth after the fire. See the next picture for a close-up.

Green re-growth after a bush fire, even though the trunk has been well blackened by the flames.

Wet and muddy boots and pants, but dry socks inside.

Once the water levels drop, I then had to contend with walking in deep mud.

I heard buzzing and thought it must be flies around a dead animal, but then realised it was a wild bees nest and they were swarming. Several buzzed me as I was too close watching the sea of moving bodies on the tree, while hundreds more were coming in to land from the right side.

The tree bark year by year, slowly engulfs the yellow triangle marking the direction of travel.

These "White Tailed Cockatoos" watched my wading progress through the swamp. The screaming noise almost felt like they were advising me not to go in their direction, as I could not get out the other end. I took their advice as it proved correct.

I heard frogs both day and night the whole journey. Often their calls during the day, announced that I was heading for another swampy area of ground. Well camoflouged just below the middle of this picutre is the head of a frog, one of only two I managed to locate out of thousands along the way. (Double click to blow-up)

I tried to keep my boots on the majority of the walking day. Here I have to jump or take giant strides to get through the water by staying on the higher mounds. Often I would end up crushing a small bush, as they liked the higher ground too.

Perched on a higher piece of land, I find I am surrounded by water. This was another detour off the Track, which had half a metre of water covering it.

My detour caused me to loose the Track, as I strayed too far away to find dry land. In future I spent more time in taking bearings, before going bush and snapping branches and bushes to help me retrace my steps - often my boot prints had vanished in the mud and water, so I could not use them to find my way back.

Dead branches and logs help to start a walkway across this deeper water. I spent over two hours building a twenty metre bridge, so that other walkers could keep their feet dry, like I intended to.

I had walked upstream and downstream, but there was no way across this flooded creek, other than building a walkway. You can see that my boots were wet to the top, as I tried different approaches.

As I had kept my boots on all day, I was determined not to have to take them off for this only section that was not passible. I was only 5 or 6kms from Woolbales campsite and I had the time to return the favours that all the other walkers had done, in dragging branches into the water to allow dry crossing.

I experiment with my first lightweight dead wood to start my crossing.

I could not be fussy about the type or size of wood, as I was dragging it from further and further away, to build up the height of the bridge.

Progress was slow and I was getting very dirty, but it was working out Ok.

Many of these logs were riddled with white ants chewing through the wood, which made them a little lighter but not so strong.

The walkway is on the left though the grass, which gave it some support. Now I had reached the other side, I had access to more wood that did not need to be dragged so far.

"Woolbales" was another campsite that I had to myself all night.

The views were spectacular and worth stopping for. Now I can see the lay of the land in front of me, from up here on "Woolbale Hills".

"Broke Inlet" was my first view of the ocean from "Woolbale Hills". I had heard the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, many times durng the day. It alsmost sounded like mining machinery or a conveyor belt it was that noisey.

This certainly is a high piece of ground with good views at "Woolbale Hills", as I head down towards "Mandalay Beach".

"Broke Inlet".

Breakfast of "Uncle Tobys" temptions porridge with dried fruit, eaten out of the pot to reduce washing up a bowl. It also stays warmer longer.

"Woolbales" campsite looking out to the choice of paths available, but only one has the yellow traingle.

A morning mug of coffee for a change, beside the campsite "Jarrah" trees at "Woolbales" campsite.

I only carried one map book being "A Guide to the Bibbulmun Track". This book showed the sourthenr section, and I was just forwarned me what I was in for, during the first few hours of walking today. I kept it in my trouser leg pocket in a plastic bag.

The lightest items like my clothing, were in the part of the backpack that was farthest away from my body. It looks bulky but the backpack was a good design.

Time to pack up the camera and get going, as one of these pictures should work out Ok.

The book did tell me that this area is prone to flooding, and I am lucky I was not here a week earlier. I can handle the mud, as many others have by the look of it.

There is always one side of a muddy channel or track that is not quite as bad as the other. I had to look into the distance to work out which side was the best.

The boots were only wet on the outside fortunately.

Out of the swampy Track, up on to this smooth rocky ridge.

When there are no trees to nail markers to, I found them glued to rocks. Here is an old marker and a new one. Once you know where to find them, they are easy to spot as you climb the rocks.

After the rocks come the trees again. Good. I had to look into the distance again to fathom out where the Track was entering the trees. I could easily have got it wrong.

For me this is beautiful country. Enough trees to provide occasional shade, lots of different greens and plenty to see either close or far away. A feeling of being exposed and enclosed at the same time. Plenty of bird and animal life.

A non-slip wooden walkway above the water.

The grass gets flattened by the rain, and starts to cover the wooden path.

This boadwalk seems to go for ever over this swampy creek. It is easy to walk on though, and quite interesting as I get a raised view.

Someone has souvenired the sign, but I can see the screw holes and sign outline, so I can tell which way it was pointing!

Back on the sandy Track again with just occasional clumps of small trees.

"Captain J. Ellerston". This is a bust depicting him and telling his story about the wreck of the "Mandalayon" on this beach. Iron barque, 913 tons. Built "Greenock" 1880. Lbd 201 x 32.8 x 19.7 ft. Nowegian owned. Time to take the boots off and do my first of many beach walks.

After reading the comments about the crew finding the going hard, when they tried to walk inland, I understood as most tracks follow the coastline and go nowhere quickly.

A well constructed path for tourists, to take them down to the beach at "Mandalay".

Every now and again, I would turn around on the beach and look back, but there was never anyone behind me. My tracks were part of a total 18kms of beach walking that I completed.

Creeks occasionally crossed the beach, but they were easily crossed.

Just another sand dune to climb as I worked my way off the beach, following the Track signs.

I had to concentrate on where I put my next step down, as there were many roots on the Track to trip over.

Steps going up and then down, all had different heights to them, requiring slow thoughtful passage.

In the middle of the picture I could see some Track in front, as I tried to predict which way it would go next.

A "Great Bowerbird" finds food in these vegetated sand dunes.

The coastal Track twists and turns, sometimes going back on itself, while I viewed the glaring ocean.

At times the Track is overgrown, but fortunately in this section the bushes and grass were dry and therefore upright, otherwise it would have been more difficult to follow the Track.

Confirmation that I am on the right sandy track.

I looked over the limestone cliffs, but could not work out why there was some green material on the rock below.

A fair amount of erosion on this section of cliffs.

There are few tracks down to the beach in this section, as it is not a swimming area.

"Long Point" campsite (another hut to myself) with "Chatham Island" in the background. Went to the dunny (toilet) and met a "Tiger" snake as I approached the door. It was a hot day and it moved out of my way very quickly!

After leaving "Long Point" and heading for "Mt. Clare, I disturbed a small grazing mob of early morning "Kangaroos", surrounded by wildflowers.

I only had a few seconds to focus on this "Roo" and her young "Joey", looking out of the pouch.

Yes the Track I am following is under these bushes.

Looking ahead sometimes helped in confirming I was still on the Track. The "Volunteers" in this area have to drive all the way from Perth to do Track maintenance, so they spend a fortune on petrol and make the trip less frequently. Surely there must be someone more local that could do the job more regularly?

"Deep River" suspension bridge near "Mt. Clare"

Have not seen anyone for days (and nights), but I feel I am getting close to civilization again as I cross this suspension bridge.

Difficult lighting to take pictures in, because there are so many shadows and bright sunlight.

How do you fit these Karri forrest trees in a picture? I tried a diagonall picture.

This is what the bottom part of the "Karri" trees look like, as the Track winds underneath them.

A "Red Tingle" tree sign for tourists, so I stopped and read the dozen signs that were there, while being questioned by tourists about how far I had walked on the Bibbulmun Track - 745kms which blew them all away!

The base of the not so tall "Red Tingle" tree, but it sure looked old.

"Gateway to the Nuyts" signage. You can read the print, if you click the photograph for a close-up picture.

I had the laundry to myself, so I washed everything except my swimmers and jacket. I stayed at "Tingle All Over YHA" and managed to get a share room, but with nobody else in it. There was a huge communial kitchen that was very well equipped.

The early morning mist had almost cleared from Walpole inlet.

Wild rabbits were everywhere. They do a lot of damage to the sand dunes with their digging.

This is like a picture postcard photograph of the "Walpole Inlet". There were many magnificent views like this along the Track. If you click on the point on the mid-right, then click again, you will find a four wheel drive and fisherman. Just when I thought I was the only one around!!