Timelapse
Over the 54 days of our trek, we took a portrait photo each morning before setting off on the day's walk and then each afternoon when we'd reached camp -- often capturing the morning's optimism and then the afternoon's pain of the journey on our faces.

Thanks to Tetra for making Walking available : Walking 5 fitted very well with this project.

After a rigorous 6 months of planning, training and buying we were actually on the ground and in the final count down: it's probably good that we were so busy, because otherwise we'd probably be scared out of our wits :)

We gave ourselves three days to organise our food-drops and deliver them, which in the end was only just enough and probably a little under-estimated as our diary entries indicate.

After public transport to Kalamunda and morning tea we finally hit the track and head off on our journey, our aim on Day 1 is Hewitt's Hill. Today's walk, essentially just to get us actually onto the track, takes us from the bush amongst the suburbs and semi-rural areas of Kalamanda toward the East and Hewitt's Hill.

Day 2 covers 2 Sections from the Guidebook, initially on the well used tracks around Kalamunda and Mundaring Weir, it takes you past some impressive views on it's way to Mundaring Weir where we plan to partake of the Hotel's fine hospitality for morning tea.

Ball Creek campsite is at the end of the first section, after a climb out of Mundaring Weir on more well used tracks, and is where we have lunch.

The second section finally starts to feel like we're leaving civilisation behind, and takes us from the Jarrah / Marri forests around Ball Creek into some Wandoo woodlands around the creeks before climbing out of Mann's Gully through increasingly exposed granite and boulders and eventually reaching the gloriously exposed Helena campsite and its wonderful view.

Day 3 is again covering 2 Sections from the Guidebook. Walking from Helena campsite along the old Driver Road the track winds down to cross Helena River then passes through some more wonderful Wandoo forests (that we fell in love with), a wonderful morning tea stop, and finishes at Waalegh campsite for lunch.

The second section today is more level along the rim of the Darkin River valley, with some wonderful views along the way, and ends up at Beraking campsite, which has a lovely outlook over the Darkin River valley.

Day 4 is yet another "double-hutter" where we cover 2 Sections from the Guidebook. The track continues on Ruen Road before descending to the Darkin River and then climbing up into the Dale Conservation Park, which had some incredibly stunning; the optional walk up to the lookout on Mt Dale, and finally finishing at Mt Dale campsite for lunch.

The second section from Mt Dale campsite passes through much flatter terrain, generally on old vehicle tracks. After turning off Plunket Road the track passes through open country with some naturally treeless areas, shallow watercourses and finishes up at Brookton campsite set amongst open Wandoo woods.

Day 5 is a much easier walk with exceptional optional extras: Starting in Brookton's open Wandoo woods, the track winds through Jarrah / Marri forests, crossing the Brookton Highway in the midst, and passing through a whisper quiet Sheoak grove then onto Abyssinia Rock: we follow the Guidebook's advice and take time on top of the rock, which was a significant time in our walk.

Abyssinia Rock is highly recommended and abounded with flowers and wonderful 360° long views. After Abyssinia Rock the track heads West through swampy flats and Jarrah / Marri / Sheoak forest before arriving at the Canning campsite.

Day 6 starts in a dense Jarrah forest before descending to a broad swampy watercourse and climbing into Monadnocks Conservation Park and an area of Virgin (unlogged) Jarrah forest before descending to the Canning River.

The Canning River was a surprise with a very pretty, swimmable billabong that provided a wonderful stop before the climb up to Monadnocks campsite through a remarkable landscape of grass trees and granite.

The Guidebook promised that Day 7 would be more challenging and spectacular: and it certainly was absolutely spectacular and a delightful wander through a natural flowering rock garden. The track initially winds through another whisper quiet Sheoak wood as it climbs up to Mt Cuthbert, across the saddle, then up Mt Vincent.

The track down Mt Vincent bypasses Sullivan Rock and crosses a broad creek system on an old railway formation (Cooke Road) before heading East to Mt Cooke campsite through some stands of Sheoak, Banksia and Jarrah forest.

After 1 week on the Bibbulmun Track: First steps are comprised of part previous step and part next step. The pre-walk rush continued into the first week, where we had to double-hut a couple of times to ensure getting to Dwellingup and Collie on Saturday. Today is the end of week one -- a little bitter-sweet: one down and only seven to go. We're a little scared how we'll feel when it's seven down and one to go? The last three days have been fantastic and relaxing -- not too long or hard (and the packs are getting lighter).

Day 8 had been part of our thinking and planning for some time, we were intent on getting to Gringer Creek and North Bannister Roadhouse in time to pick up a cooked meal; we also wanted to luxuriate over Mt Cooke with the gorgeous wild flowers -- combining the two meant an early start and determined walking in the afternoon.

After descending from the wonderful panoramas of Mt Cooke, we put our heads down and walked the flat lands between Nerang and Gringer Creek as quickly as we could, and in the process passed some beautiful Wandoo woods, eventually arriving exhausted at Gringer Creek shelter for the walk down to the roadhouse and dinner.

On Day 9 we pass a milestone: we cross Albany Highway: It had more significance in our minds than it did on the map, but it suddenly made us feel we were getting somewhere. The day started gloriously and cold, and after a relaxed morning we headed off through some beautiful country, across Albany Highway and toward Boonering Hill where we'll stop for Morning Tea.

The walk into lunch was through some lovely countryside and along some babbling brooks where we did some washing. The climb up into White Horse Hills was not too steep, but Sandi was having a difficult day that was compounded by a trip and fall whilst climbing over the last hill.

Sandi has been looking forward to Day 10 because the ephemeral pools on White Horse Hills can have frogs. It's a much shorter day today, and we're both interested to finally see what the Mt Wells hut is like for ourselves. Initially though, the Track winds through some very charcoaled bush before climbing granite outcrops on its way up to White Horse Hills.

After getting a little lost on top of White Horse Hills, the Track takes us along mostly old vehicle tracks, through some inclement weather then finally up Mt Wells just in time to get in before a storm, which cleared briefly for an awesome sunset.

After a wild night on Mt Wells we woke on Day 11 to quickly clearing skies, thankfully. Another short day today that begins with a very gentle wander down the Southern spur of Mt Wells, and then off across some Wandoo flats sometimes with Bracken ground cover. The final stretch along the river to Chadoora was through a delightful Banksia enclosed avenue; Chadoora campsite was all atwitter with a myriad of little birds.

Day 12 takes us into Dwellingup; I'm sure there must be a short-cut looking at that map, but our food parcel is waiting for us at Dwellingup Caravan Park. The day starts where it left off yesterday, along Swamp Oak Brook before a stretch along Inglehope Road.

After a brief walk along a disused railway and morning tea, the Track winds toward Etmilyn Siding where we were really blessed to encounter the steam train. After Etmilyn the Track winds past the historic town site of Holyoake before finishing up at Dwellingup Trackhead, where we get to have hot showers, wash clothes, eat fresh food and go to Mass!

Day 13 basically gets us out of Dwellingup and back on the Track proper, not a long day; but after an amazing storm over night we started out in inclement weather and arrived in Swamp Oak just before another storm came through. A difficult day because of the weather and our failing rain jackets, and then a surprise visit from a lost family that put us in a very difficult position.

Day 14 points us directly South again. Initially over a ridge then down to Swamp Oak Brook then up to the ridge of the Yarragil Valley where we have morning tea.

We saw our first Spider Orchid on the track up from Yarragil Brook! The Track then follows another old rail formation before crossing Allen Road then up and over the last hill to camp.

After 2 weeks on the Bibbulmun Track: The first week seemed like an accumulation of days; but the second has moved much more into a timeless period. Leaving Dwellingup was significant -- like the Dawn Treader, we balanced on the edge of a bush painting, then fell into a different world: it was like going home (until the rain revealed that our rain jackets were not waterproof). We're 2 weeks in, with 6 to go -> don't know what that means -- the time is meaningless at the moment; except for the slowly approaching end.

Day 15 takes us from the misty and moist river flats up the side and past a huge array of blooming orchids and on to lunch at the Driver Road crossing.

After lunch it's a short walk over a hill and into camp at Dookanelly.

Day 16 covers a number of small hills on it's way to the Historic Long Gully Bridge over the Murray River, where we had lunch (under the bridge because it was raining).

After crossing the Murray River for the final time we finally crossed the Worsely Alumina Conveyor, which had been impacting our lives for the past days, up a narrow gully then over some recently burnt bush climbing a couple of hills toward Bell Brook and an area of very wet ground before climbing a gentle rise to the campsite.

A disappointing day, Day 17: after rising to a beautiful misty morning and a glorious start to the day along Seventy-Seven Road, we missed a turn and ended up walking along Seventy-Seven Road until the Track rejoined it.

The Track takes Wilshusen Road, which is almost dead straight, for a significant part of the day (it did get a little tiresome, funnily enough) before crossing the Harris River Flats, which were absolutely spectacular and more than made up for the difficult parts of the day!

After a glorious start to Day 18 the Track heads off on today's short walk, initially through open Jarrah forest, that seemed to get taller and denser as we walked through the day. We found both examples of the wooden rails and ended up at Harris Dam campsite, which we were delighted with, for lunch. Harris Dam had a very strong sense of being in the midst of a Jarrah forest.

We didn't plan Day 19 to be like this, but as we needed to get into Collie as early as possible, we decided to try our hand at a bit of night walking and leave camp before dawn and walk down to the Dam and have breakfast at the lookout. The walk down was beautiful, but the lookout turned out to be a non-event because of the fog.

After breakfast we really put our heads down, walking over some pretty country, but getting closer and closer to town, which we entered (after bush-bashing our way into the Caravan Park where we were to stay) and had a cafe lunch, shopping, showers then Mass.

Day 20 is our Rest Day that we've earned through double-hutting into Dwellingup and Collie, and are wonderfully rewarded with a beautiful Vigil Mass at St Brigid's and a great relaxing day, wandering around Collie. Most of the people we told about our rest day in Collie said, "Collie?!?". Absolutely aghast with our choice: we of course didn't know anything about Collie -- but the day turned out beautifully.

Heading off on Day 21 with newly purchased wet weather gear (and weather to suit), we walked pretty well through the morning and take a break at Mungalup Dam for a cool, and quick, lunch.

After Mungalup Dam it's generally easy walking through the Jarrah forests and old roads to Yabberup, though the Guidebook does warn of confusing tracks.

After 3 weeks on the Bibbulmun Track: It's hard to believe that we've been walking for 3 weeks. Even more amazing that we're not sure we know what that means now -- we're just out here living and walking in the bush. Every day seems to have something that pushes us, and some days test us more -- but the days seem to roll on, one after the other, in an endless stream. Each day is marked by evening and morning -- but they seem so small, more like breaths or heartbeats.

The fear of this ending has waned -- it is timeless -- and we're in the midst of beautiful Jarrah forests.

Day 22 takes us from the serene forests of Yabberup down to Glen Mervyn Dam, where we're planning to have morning tea.

The major highlight for today is lunch at Mumby Pub, after which it's a bit of a stiff climb up to tonight's campsite over a diversion past private properties that wasn't very pleasant.

Day 23 takes us along a pleasant track using old vehicle tracks and rail formations, and some virgin Jarrah that we're looking forward to experiencing.

Grimwade campsite is located over a creek on a North slope, which allows long days and beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

Day 24 has a number of great surprises in store, the initial sections of the track along old vehicle tracks before weaving through rural properties.

The afternoon was to be a highlight, walking through the Balingup Brook Valley over the footbridge. Unfortunately the wild storms of a couple of days ago took down some trees and the DEC closed that section of the track. Even though I stood in front of the diversion sign and rang the DEC the track was closed: we called this The Great Disappointment.

But Balingup more than made up for it with the best showers and the best meal of the whole walk.

Some days the Track just gives us a wonderful walk in the bush, and other days are full of expectation and surprises. Day 25 is one of those with lots to look forward to: initially it makes its way through Golden Valley Tree Park (which apparently is unique on the track), then the original cobblestones of Old Padbury Road and for morning tea we have what the Alpaca lady said was the best view of the Track.

After morning tea the track shares the Greenbushes Loop for a while, with an option for a detour into Greenbushes, before heading off toward old South Hampton where we stop for lunch before heading up the stiff climb to the Blackwood campsite and its wonderful views over the Blackwood River Valley.

Many walkers write in the log book that Blackwood was their favourite campsite: and it certainly has a great location perched on the end of a ridge above the Blackwood River Valley; and the sunrise we were given today certainly matched the location!

Day 26 starts by descending off the ridge, down Cardiac Hill. Then wanders along the Blackwood river past the old Southhampton Homestead to the Southhampton Bridge over the river. We have a 'known' diversion at that point along logging roads until it rejoins the Track at Camp Creek Road for the walk into Gregory Brook.

Day 27 starts by climbing out of Gregory Brook, then follows old logging tracks to the Brockman Highway, before descending to Willow Springs Picnic area on old roads and rail formations.

The Track crosses Donnelly River a few times using current roads before the lengthy walk along Snake Road into Donnelly River Village, where hot food and showers are available.

After rejuvenating ourselves with plenty of food and hot water, we start out again on Day 28, initially on the local roads of Donnelly River Village, then old logging roads (to help minimise the spread of dieback).

The walk into the Tom Road campsite follows the Donnelly River: although the guidebook promised 'wonderful views' we found that they'd mostly been over grown by the bush; the campsite was superb as promised. The Tom Road campsite is the only campsite retained from the original track alignment, and overlooks a really beautiful permanent pool in the Donnelly River.

After 4 weeks on the Bibbulmun Track: The days slip into one another with very little to separate them. Remembering where we were just a couple of days ago can be a real problem. If it wasn't for the Itinerary I'd have no idea what day it was. Following the track notes has also become more difficult, in that I just can't seem to remember what's meant to be happening a couple of hundred metres down the track! It's almost like the only moment is now, when I have to put one foot in front of the other, is all that matters; or that little flower, or that orchid we'd not seen before, or that little blue wren...

Day 29 is a delightful wander along the Donnelly River into the Boarding House campsite.

Today's lunch stop was a huge surprise, as the Guidebook didn't hint at it at all, and was an awesome, and thunderous, spot beside the river.

Boarding House campsite is reached by crossing the Boarding House Bridge which was build by the Army reserve: it's these custom, quirky parts of the Track that makes the Bibbulmun so special.

Day 30 encompasses what the Guidebook describes as 'one of the more challenging sections' of the Track. Initially the Track winds up on the Wirraway Formation through stunning Karri forests.

The hills get steeper descending into and ascending out of a couple of river crossings, after which the Track follows the rim of the Donnelly Valley with quite different soils and vegetation.

After another wander beside the Donnelly River, the Track eventually winds around to the really lovely Beavis campsite that has a swim-able wee dam.

Day 31 will finally take us away from the Donnelly River for the last time, which we are not unhappy about: it's been an extended period of moss, rotting stumps and fungi. From the majestic Karri forests around Beavis the Track winds through some smaller communities of Jarrah/Marri forests, and a lovely lunch stop at Carey Brook waterfall.

Karri Valley Resort and its lake and Beedelup Falls are quite stunning, before the short walk into the Beedelup campsite at the end of the day.

Spent quite a bit of time over the last couple of days thinking about the effect of the DEC four-wheeler bikes on the track that I had a rant about here.

After an early start Day 32 takes us from the forests surrounding Beedelup Falls down though the Big Brook Arboretum to the Big Brook Dam.

The walk into Pemberton follows Lefroy Brook, which has some beautiful vegetation and views along the way. Pemberton is a good-sized town where we should get a good cafe afternoon tea and hot showers at the caravan park, where our food parcel is waiting for us.

Day 33 would have been gorgeous if it was sunny, but was cold and wet for the whole day, which we enjoyed for about 90% of the day until we got wet through. The day starts by walking out from Pemberton to Gloucester Tree, where there is an optional diversion down to the Lefroy Cascades.

The afternoon's walk is spent beside the Warren River, deep in the Warren River Valley walking over a multitude of little ascents and descents, until the final short climb up to the campsite on the side of the valley.

Day 34 starts on the wee hill that the Warren campsite is located on, which we climbed the previous day in the rain; but descends back down to the river almost immediately, which it follows for most of the morning.

The short afternoon walk turns South away from the River and passes some pretty farmland before arriving at Schafer, which is sited above a very picturesque dam, which provided some gorgeous sunset and sunrise photographs.

Day 35 is one of our shortest days, we could almost have walked it yesterday but then would have missed the wonderful sunset and sunrise -- a great lesson to stay in the moment!

The Track initially passes through some floriferous bush before traversing a open, swampy area.

Closer to town the Track winds through private properties and along country roads before we drop our packs at the RoundTu-It Holiday Park, and after putting some washing on, head into town to finish the section and sign in at the Information Centre.

After 5 weeks on the Bibbulmun Track: The rhythm of life has swallowed us up. One footstep after the next, one hut after a day's walk, another town after a section. It has become all consuming, and our bodies throb with it, and it carries us along in a timeless continuum. The towns still feel difficult -- but it's now part of the rhythm.

Day 36 started with a wee walk into town to the start of today's section, after which we criss-cross Wheatley Road a number of times before feeling like we were out of town and on the walk proper.

Later in the day the Bibbulmun makes use of the Laws Track on its way to Gardner Shelter.

Day 37 continues along Laws Track through some amazingly beautiful swampy areas interspersed with mature stands of Karri and Jarrah before crossing the Gardner River over the Chesapeake Road Bridge.

The Track into Maringup Lake traverses similar country and eventually uses Lake Road, which can often be inundated, before terminating (somewhat abruptly) at the beautiful Lake Maringup.

Day 38 started with the promised gorgeous sunrise over Lake Maringup and ended with an amazing display by the Shannon River. And in between the Track took us through thick, wet Karri forests and intermittently open heath and swamps, with a fair bit of wading through inundated areas.

The track into Dog Pool wends over stunning open swampy areas and vast grass lands, before terminating at the shelter on the banks of the Shannon River.