Day 3
Gracetown caravan Park to Boodjidup Bridge 24.88km. Temperature 17 degrees Celsius.
Unfortunately right next to my tent was a car with tent on top that decided to wake up at 5.00am, giggling and chatting and headed off early at 6,00am for a 11km walk. Not happy, as my lift back to Gracetown shop was scheduled for 8.00am so I had time to sleep in. Fortunately Kevin picked me up at 7.50 and took me to Gracetown shop in his VW Amarok which he loved. Picked up a chocolate bar and a GF raspberry wagon wheel then hit the track again.
I followed the dirt road along the coast but at the end of the road is a set of stairs on the left to take up to the bitumen road which I should have taken. There is a memorial where 10 people had died as a result of a cliff fall while watching a primary school surfing competition some years back.
Through the sandhills was a little tricky with limited post markers but continued to walk along in the general direction while looking for footprints helped not get lost.
Shortly you come across Ellensbrook homestead where the sandy track turns into a paved walkway, reminding me of Bali’s concrete paths. Continued following the track along the creek then stopped at Ellensbrook campsite for water at 9.30am. The previously bought chocolate bar and wagon wheel which by now were melting in the heat were easily consumed. Then as the book says, it’s a steep uphill section. , Taller and greater number of trees and less shrubs alongside the dirt roads with the occasional return to a track with bushy shrubs, sea views and rocky sandstone formations.
Before I came to the winter diversion intersection I decided to continue on the dirt 4wd road and cut a few hundred metres off as I wanted to get in some km today to make up time.
Just at the end of the 4wd road that hits the end of a bitumen road, close to Caves Road, a couple of ladies in their AWD car were looking for the Cape to Cape trail, as the Margaret River crossing was closed. I told them exactly where they were in my book and told them to take a photo of it so they would not get lost. While one said to park the car here and walk in, the driver was determined to get her car to the start. I did warn her of the soft sand and low clearance of her vehicle but off they went. I hope they made it.
Other than the two ladies, I hardly ran into any walkers today, other than a couple who stopped for a snake and welcomed me to be in front for some reason.
Following some residential rural roads I had lunch on Shady Glen Road before it hits Caves Road and the Margaret River crossing bridge.
After filling up with water from Margaret River under the bridge the walk along Caves Road was a little scary as the dirt on the right side of the road was narrow in some places and it was easier to walk on the actual road. While there was not much traffic, some cars like to give you a wide berth, others seem to continue in their lane coming oh so close. Walking alongside the road is only about 500m until you come across a path on the right side near the farm’s fence to take you to Wallcliff Road where there is a bitumen bike/walking lane on the left hand side.
With the music blaring in my ears, I missed the turn off to the recommencement of the Cape to Cape trail off Wallcliff Road. I had been taking a video of the yellow posts to follow as part of the alternative route, saw some sand on the path but thought it was just a residential route. I read the Cape Naturaliste National Park sign and continued walking towards the sea being reassured as there was a Cape to Cape post and marker pointing in the right direction. Upon coming to the corner and getting out the Avenza map location on my phone I realised I had missed the turn off and needed to go back about 300m to easily find the path now to my right. It was covered by a bar across a narrow path, overgrown with shrubs at the opening but with a small Cape to Cape post marker. Once your through the narrow entrance it becomes a 4wd track with post markers clearly seen.
I saw a lady walking her black Labrador dog, then saw her again some time up the track, and wondering how did she get in front of me by walking. I hoped and assumed she was running to get in front and there wasn’t a short cut she knew.
I stopped at 3.38pm at the Boodjidup Brook after going down the 365 steps. I was looking for a stop at the back of the dunes ahead of me but could not go past fresh water and the green grass next to the bridge in a perfect location.
Having water at hand is so handy filling up for dinner and then in the morning. Getting to the water was a little tricky though. First, I tried the other side of the bridge with luck prior to dinner then the closest side in the morning which was a little easier, both times desperately trying not to fall in.