Lib not walking at the start of today as beach walking will not do her knee much good; she will join us at lunchtime.
On the bus and away at 0745 and started walk 0815 from road entrance to Trewalla Camp.
Arrived at the camp site at 0830 before heading to the beach. They were two hikers at the camp packing up their gear; they were doing the three Great South West Walk and have three more days to do.
We were on the beach at 0900 and headed off towards Cape Nelson. The tide was out but the sand was soft which made the walking a tad tough. We stopped for morning tea at containers at about 0945. The two hikers met up with us at the containers and we gave them a bit of chocolate just to help them on their way. Heading off again along the beach the going was not any easier but it wasn't too bad. There was a bit of a headwind that copied us down well but didn't really slow us down.
At 7km mark we started the uphill climb of the beach. It is steep and sandy and hard work. It took me nearly 15 minutes to get to the top - ouch. At the top the track then winds its way around the top of the cliff through areas of low trees and shrubs. Very nice area with some of the trees creating laneways. A couple of Km from the lunch stop the vegetation changes back to low coastal shrubs.
Lunch at 1200 at Murrells Beach car park. Dave and Libby were there with everything set up. A relaxing lunch with time for the legs and feet to cool off. It was quite a busy place with kite surfers and fishermen coming and going.
We set off again at 1300, Libby was worth l with us this time. The track made its way to the top of the cliffs and vegetation started off with a rocket of Soap Marley and then changed numerous times ending up as the rocky, low shrubs coastal area we were used to.
We arrived at Cape Nelson lighthouse at 1440 for afternoon tea but the café was closed. We didn't wait long at the lighthouse before making our way to the Enchanted Forrest. Three members of the group opted to take the bus and miss this part of the walk.
The views of the headlands and the bay are great along here. We stopped at the Mallee Camp for a short rest stop and met the two hikers from the start of the day. The Enchanted Forest is green, cool and a tad damp; a lovely place to be. The climb out of the forest is long and doing it the end of the day hurt. We finished at 1715 and had glasses of bubbles to celebrate. The hard yards are now done.
Went to Point Danger gannet nesting wildlife reserve. We were given a tour of the area and a talk on the gannets. They are very big birds and spend many years at sea in there early years before returning to mate and raise their young. The wind here was fairly strong and really cold; shivered even a fleece and jacket on.
A quick dash back to the hotel to shower and change before dinner T 1930. We walked to the Royal Hotel but it was closed. The tour company had booked and confirmed the booking so the fact it was closed was a surprise. Some quick crisis management and we went to the RSL for dinner. Really good dinner and great service from the RSL to fit is in at the last moment and late.
We were back in the hotel at about 2200 and started packing for the trip home tomorrow
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