Day 33: Blackwood to Gregory Brook
We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track
Another longer day again today but with more elevation gain, including the infamous Cardiac Hill, which SOBO hikers will fortunately descend, followed by a few kilometres along the Blackwood River and long, steep climbs on forestry tracks near Millstream Dam. But, as always, the terrain is new every day and every hour.
Overview map.
Another long day: 18.2 kilometres with an elevation gain of 485 m.
Use Bibbulmun Track Foundation Map 4 Blackwood
The long steep descent down Cardiac Hill almost straight out of camp.
Bossiaea aquifolium: so many different pea flowers!
Trail Magic on private property: only a bit of tired fruit left in the esky but it is nevertheless welcome. What a lovely gesture, with a pictureque spot to sit beside the Blackwood River.
Look at those record flood levels past Geoff’s armpit, just a month or two before today! This section would have had a detour for sure.
That “grass” isn’t grass at all, but a blue-flowering lily, Stypandra glauca.
Stypandra glauca (Blind Grass)
Lovely blue Hovea on the long steep climb up the forestry track towards Millstream Dam.
Patersonia umbrosa, the only yellow-flowered species in its genus. These form big clumps and would be spectacular in peak bloom, even though each flower lasts for just one day.
There are so many different Pterostylis species but it’s simply impossible to ID them when they’re all unfamiliar, and I’d still be back at Dwellingup if I shoot every one that I see!
Cyrtostylis huegleii grows in shady places and the dull green and brown flowers make them even more difficult to spot.
When you walk through so many flowers, a tunnel of yellow, it can be easy to start taking them for granted. But this amount of colour is just extraordinary, and it’s worth stopping every now and then to just soak it all up…
… or as an excuse to have a rest next to the yellow water bush (Bossiaea aquifolium) and another red brown pea.
The vegetation is dense so no distant views today, but every now and then it opens up as in this little patch of tea tree (Leptospermum sp.)
You’ll see plenty of purple Hovea but keep your eyes peeled for the occasional pale pink and white sports.
And here we are at Gregory Brook, right by the, well, brook and its little rock pool. Look at that yellow, bright even on such a dull day. The drizzle stops just long enough to get the tent up.
And then we go into the hut and cheerful company. Spending time with new friends at the end of the day has become so much more of a highlight than either of us ever expected, even though we are boring old farts who retire early to bed!
