Encouraged by the Guidebook that the "Sunrise over Lake Maringup will surely be a memorable experience" we set the alarm to ensure that we were up for the memories. Today is a relatively flat section, which the Guidebook warns and our co-walkers confirmed, will be quite wet. David said last night that we should be able to get through to Chesapeake Road in our boots, so we're planning to have morning tea there and change our footwear.

Woke just after 5am with the alarm to the alarming sound of rain on the tent -- lay for just a little while while wondering if I really should get up and see the dawn before remembering our mantra: "We're only here once". So I hurriedly got up and dressed and left Sandi dozing in her warm little bag and headed down to the Lake edge with my trusty camera.

Perry wrote:

Got up early (with alarm) to catch the sunrise over the lake. Disappointed to hear the rain on the tent, but got dressed and walked down anyway -- the rain was not heavy, only a drizzle by then. Some of the clouds coloured nicely, but soon faded as the sun got above the overcast.

Day 38 Google Earth Track

Maringup Dog Pool

Perry wrote:

Over breakfast there were some very heavy squalls that came through, with lots of wind and rain. Everyone in the hut was not in a hurry to leave. We were last and left with ponchos and wet weather pants, but it was hardly raining at that stage -- and didn't start again (although there were 1 or 2 drops over lunch as some heavy clouds whizzed by).

Sandi wrote:

A delightful surprise, raining this morning and P still able to get a photo of the sunrise, but really raining quite hard in showers. Packed up slowly and everyone else headed off and when we were ready we went in wet weather gear, but it didn't rain again. So wonderful to see the sky gradually opening up. Actually couldn't observe it for ages as the forest was very closed. Glad of the wet weather gear as undergrowth still very wet.

A lot of walking on boardwalks initially, then we saw what we presumed was the effect of fire on a grass tree: it looked like it had melted: crazy feeling walking through a flooded landscape and pass by the effects of fire (surely only in Australia??)

Sandi wrote:

Managed in boots until Chesapeake Road, then very glad of morning tea and into sandals and wet gear off. Walking much easier then, but packs much heavier. So now with sandals all swamps and puddles were easy. Did get some stuff in the toes of the sandals, but not usually too much trouble. Sandals surprisingly easy to walk in, quite comfortable, quite surprising.

Perry wrote:

Very happy with our sandals today -- very comfortable to wear, both in and out of puddles. We put them on at morning tea, also removing wet weather pants. The only disadvantage is that the (heavy) boots go into the pack: which made mine a little too heavy to be comfortable (also the tent was wet). I was very happy to put my boots back on once we got to Dog Pool Road and there was no risk of wading.

The heavy pack was taking its toll and I was more than ready to stop for lunch when we happened across what we presumed were purpose placed timber rounds :) I'm not exactly sure how much heavier it was, but the boots are probably 1.5kg plus the wet tent and pack didn't make it feel very comfortable. Later on I found it easier to carry the boots rather than put them on the pack. Just after lunch we were introduced to the wonderful coastal, swampy, open plains of Western Australia, recently burnt, which were surprising and outstanding and lifted our spirits.

Sandi wrote:

We pressed on and were continually surprised by the amount of forest we walked through, but there were some great sandy swampy open areas as well, including a large open plain burnt: Harry told us 2 years ago. Some Bearded Orchids there and a kangaroo paw, the buds were light olive green, but 1 was open with a grey inside and bright orange "toes". Lovely.

Sandi wrote:

One thing of the last few days has been the lovely bush smells. Not soap or water bush, but some gummy smells, some almost mint bushy. Really nice.

Bird song in the forests still delightful and some great frog sounds, including one like a squeak.

Last part of the walk P clapped out as pack so heavy, so exchanged boots and sandals and found it easier for the dreaded last 3-5 kms, which was all along a road that was almost straight. There were lovely flowers along the shoulders, but frankly, we were too tired to care. Funny how that is.

Perry wrote:

Dog Pool Road was a hard trudge, I was pretty done in, the monotony didn't really help either. Ate plenty of lollies.

And we finally got to the campsite and the amazing Shannon River...

Sandi wrote:

Beautiful campsite on Shannon River, really pretty and lovely. Cool night. Took dressings off toes.

Perry wrote:

Shannon River is amazing -- another tea coloured river that produces piles of froth over the small falls.

We decided to put the tent up just behind the shelter, which isn't really a 'designated' tent site; the path up to the toilet, which was some distance, was extremely slippery, and the actual tent sites were beautiful, but a wee way away. We then headed down to the river bank with the JetBoil to sit on the warm rocks for afternoon tea. The rocks were still relatively warm, but the air cool.

Perry wrote:

The morning had patches of sky and sun, and by the afternoon was clearing fully, and the walk East on Dog Pool road had good sun on our backs (and the FUSE). Not much sun in camp though.

After our dinner lucky-dip we have one of our favourite combinations (just the thing after a hard day). Our co-walkers, good sports as they are, are getting quite used to our eccentricities and almost volunteer their rankings for their dehydrated meals.

Roast Chicken:
   Harry: 3.5
   Marg: 3.5
Spaghetti Bolognaise:
   Rod: 5+

Dog Pool			S	P	A	T
	Soup	Pumpkin & Croutons	4.5	4	4.3	3.9
	Meal	Beef Teriyaki	4.5	4	4.3	4.2

Perry wrote:

Surprised at today's walking speed -- although it was dead flat, the packs were heavy and there were sections of wading and a couple of windfall diversions (not many).

	Distance			Time		Hours			Speed
	Section	Daily	Total	Arrive	Depart	H:M	Daily	Total	Km/h	Daily	Total
Maringup Campsite	0.0				8:08 AM	0:00			0.0
Chesapeake Road	9.4	9.4	711.9	10:26 AM		2:18	2:18	198.6	4.1	4.1	3.6
Deeside Coast Road	8.0	17.4	719.8	1:20 PM		2:54	5:12	201.5	2.8	3.3	3.6
Dog Road	3.8	21.2	723.7	2:30 PM		1:10	6:22	202.7	3.3	3.3	3.6
Dog Pool Campsite	5.0	26.1	728.6	3:37 PM		1:07	7:29	203.8	4.4	3.5	3.6

Perry wrote:

Tomorrow has some more unknown wading sections -- Harry says again we'll get our feet wet; but there was a comment in the book saying "no wading" -- so we'll set off in boots and see what happens.

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