Pemberton to Northcliffe
Awoke at 5.00am this morning in the caravan park by 3 kids 50m down the row. Up at 5.30am.
I start to pack up the tent at 5.45am but don't get going till 7.00 ish where I now ride uphill to the Gloucester tree, a very tall tree, not the tallest, tallest believed to be near Donnelly River. I climb some of it just for the cameras becasue , one my legs are tired and heavy, two I would shit myself being up so high.
Then its on a zig zag trail down the valley and across to the main road, which would be an easier option. One section you had to lift the bike over a tree. Then as its going uphill theres a turn off and onto gravel through a blackened forest section.
Some great gravel roads today and then a wooden bridge to cross that cannot be crossed by cars. I stop for morning tea at the bridge where there is one person's tent nearby.
9.30am then Off onto gravel roads through the forest mostly uphill and onto the highest point Kauri Hill where on the left are farms. From here its mostly downhill all the way to Northcliffe. As you get closer the soil changes to sand and the red flowering bush appears for the very first time. Then its across the main road and down some farmers track who has tape across the trail, so under I go and you seem to loose the path until you hit a bridge where you have trouble finding the path to it then its through some big trees on a tourist route into town.
Reached town at 12.00 and stopped off at the IGA and do a lunch shop and find a place to eat then I'm off to the campground a few kilometres down the main road.
I try to see if theres a short cut in but no and head straight into the office area. $20 or so for unpowered and there's only one other van set up. I set up near the camp kitchen and eat some more food in the kitchen and use the electricity to charge up my electronics. I'm frsutrated by my platic knife requires about 20 turns to cut my salami for lunch and really need my pocket knife that I left behind in Darwin. I use my pot for a tea cup.
I decide to walk back into town and see what there is to see and get some more food a tthe shop as I take my backpack as well. Some dinner and breakfast foodstuff. On the way back I check out the Bibbulmun track crosses the main road nearby and decide to take it into town the next day.
There are kanagaroos in the caravan park and a for sale sign as well. I have a long hot shower. In the camp kitchen I can't seem to get the kettle or microwave to work and there are no lights in action.
I wash my top, shorts and buff using some soap and hang them up at the kitchen.
Off to bed early again as there is some drissle rain about and its getting colder but not freezing cold just yet.