Day 29: Noggerup to Grimwade
We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track
More beautiful Xanthorrhoea today
Overview map for Noggerup to Grimwade
Use Bibbulmun Track Foundation Map 4 Blackwood
Today is tough, with a relatively long distance combined with more elevation gain. Geoff’s algorithm ranks this day as 14th in difficulty but fortunately I don’t know this in the morning before we start. My trail legs have run away. Or, more accurately, limped away. We’ve been hiking for more than a month and, although Geoff’s finding the walk a bit of a doddle, my body isn’t cooperating. Every time I think I’m getting stronger, a day like this comes along to shatter my illusions (it’s only months later that I discover that my diet is too low in protein to build muscle). I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself, but today’s experience does come with a bittersweet silver lining.
Caladenia pectinata, a large and beautiful new species: very exciting!
And a lovely cluster of C. longiclavata in the misty morning air.
Delightful and flat at the moment!
Forest art.
It really is terrific walking, but I’m sore and apprehensive.
Caladenia x spectabilis
Some kind person with a chainsaw has made a seat for Princess Helen. I’m smiling but that bloody achilles tendon is playing up. Completing the track is something I wasn’t sure was within my mental capabilities. It hadn’t really occurred to me that something physical might get in the way and, now that the possibility has arisen, I realise just how much I want to finish. Choosing to leave the track and being taken off it are two very different things, with hugely different emotional impacts.
For me to continue, this means zigzagging up steep hills, regular topical and systemic anti-inflammatory drugs, and keeping the hamstring and calf muscles loose with trigger point massage. The pain’s not at all bad, but ignoring it will cause additional permanent damage that impacts future hiking. Geoff suggests altering our schedule, perhaps by splitting some of the upcoming longer days, and this makes me feel a lot better. He also reminds me that we have no deadline, so staying flexible will give us the best chance at success.
Caladenia reptans growing on soil amongst the roots of a fallen tree.
Hovea
Chorizema ilicifolium. But wait there’s more! LOTS more:
… today’s banner moment. The Chorizema is gloriously rampant. Here and there it is threaded with creamy Clematis or purple Hovea or yellow Acacia. Extraordinary.
And finally at Grimwade Hut with our new friends.
It’s a lovely outlook from the hut.
The campsites are good, but it’s very wet so we’re in the hut again.
I write in the hut log book each day, as much for the joy of reading others’ thoughts of their journey as capturing our own. In today’s entry I come across “Ambling Rose’, a sister orchid enthusiast - I wonder if she enjoys my excited writings as much as I do hers?
I have found the day hard but am reassured a little when Geoff tells me he was expecting it to be one the harder ones (of course he has a spreadsheet that tells him this!). And I always feel more positive after a yummy dinner (we pick my favourite Roo Bolognese out of the stash to give me a boost), good company to share each others’ tales of the day, and of course sleep!
