It was Maccas Hotcakes for breakfast, we were so keen in fact, arriving 5.27am & having to wait until 5.30 for them to open. Packing up I realised those food bags were way too heavy, something had to give so I took out a couple of dinners & nuts & stuff, leaving them in the box for our trail angels to pick them up. Left close to 7am after Wayne came knocking on our door & asking to borrow $50. So Ambles gave him money & after said, “Hope he doesn’t use that money to buy more grog!” It was about 19 or 20kms today, hard as every gadget & map gives a different distance calculation.

It was great leaving Collie town back out in the bush again! Went pass a couple of people groups free camping off the track, when Ambles went by, one couple were arguing loudly at each other so he quickly walked pass. Met a local guy just out on a morning hike. Rain was forecasted but all we got were slight drizzles of rain. The track followed down to the river which had more lovely camping spots, over the river on a main road where cars have the right of way – yep not arguing with them! Then we sauntered off into the bush up some hills where I left Ambles behind. He was doing well. My backpack wasn’t right today, felt way too heavy & uncomfortable. I thought maybe Ambles had snuck something like wine in my bag?! It was lovely by the Mungalup Dam as I waited for Ambles. But it started to drizzle & I was getting cold so I continued on, then just wanting to get to camp, Roadrunner Rose sped off taking 6 hours walking in total to arrive at camp with  two extra short breaks from my backpack. Mel & Deb were already set up. It took Ambles another half hour or so to get in. Wayne came trotting up to camp before Ambles, apparently had a great walk in started later after 9am too. Passed Ambles while listening to his heavy metal music & playing his ‘air guitar’. Wayne proudly told me he had downloaded the Bibbulmun track on Guthook so now has a map to follow.😊

 

 

Daisyfish was last in & feeling jolly & glad she decided to keep going. So we got a full house, everyone in the shelter except Wayne whom wanted to try out his new tent. And lead Ambles astray to go catch ‘tadpoles’ in the river. 😏 Ambles was showing his new bulky belt & Wayne showed his Kathmandu belt which was miles better so said he will give his belt to Ambles in Balingup to keep in exchange for the $50 Ambles gave him this morning. It’s a cold day alright, rains lightly on & off. This shelter has got to be the most darkest & gloomy of all the Shelters. Ambles & Wayne made a real good go at getting a campfire started. Those two are becoming thick as thieves. They did well without a black boy too, though the rain & winds started to pick up so we all called it a night after 6.30pm only. The plan for us was to do the Wellington Spur Trail, but all I got was negative comments from other hikers about how we don’t have to & why would we. Ambles didn’t back me up agreeing with everyone else that he didn’t want to do a 20km spur trail & jeopardise his chance to get to Albany. It was an unanimous decision to not do the spur trail. I don’t understand why everyone is against doing this Wellington Spur Trail anyway? Only nice response was from Wayne that said, “Oh yeah mate! Go check out the island I lived on for a year!” 😏 I went to bed not feeling happy unfortunately.