kathndes: May 2011

OUR TIME AT SHANNON NAT. PARK

Our month at Shannon National Park has gone really quickly. It has been really pleasurable and we’ve met some lovely people and gained a lot of valuable information of other places we will visit in the future. We’ve also managed to contribute quite a lot to the maintenance of the Park. Des has walked miles doing pruning, drainage and other cleaning jobs. We have rid the campground of some pesty weeds and cut out a lot of bad trees (under guidance). We have also increased the funds to Nat. Parks by making sure most campers pay the fees. The Ranger we have worked under here has been absolutely marvellous, thus making our stay more memorable than ever. He has taken us to places we never would have known existed, far less had the opportunity to see. Wild areas of the coastline and many 4x4 driving tracks mad fishermen use to access the beach. We saw an area where drovers used to take cattle 100 yrs ago and an old hut (partly restored) which has stood since then and lined in pressed tin. (picture shows). It hasn’t all been without adventure though. The first outing we went on to the beach and he was going to drive up to the next access area as he thought the beach was plenty wide enough. WRONG!!! We got seriously bogged (totally bellied out) below the high tide line (with the tide coming in) and with much activity from the three of us, we just managed to get out before the tide got us. A couple of waves managed to make it into the wheel tracks we had made, but someone wonderful was looking after us. All fun when the end result is OK. I was ready to abandon ship so I put my handbag and belongings up above the high tide mark. We also saw a beautiful freshwater lake, now closed to the public, called Maringup Lake. On the shores is a shelter hut for people who walk the Bibbulmun Track (a walking trail running from Perth to Albany, 963klm long. These huts (every 25klms) would be a welcome sight after a day’s walking. On our way home he took us to another old hut in the bush where drovers once sheltered. It is also over 100yrs old and good as the day it was built. The jarrah timber will last forever. Some interesting photos included.

On the coast south of Northcliffe is a small fishing village of Windy Harbour. Lots of fishing shacks and a van park, but nothing else. We took a drive out along the newly built road into the D’Entrecasteaux Nat. Park. (Over $3million worth of facilities). Some fabulous viewing areas built out there to view the rugged coastline.

Easter time here was CRAZY. We had a full campground 3 consecutive nights with many sites housing 2, 3 and 4 tents. The weather started out lovely but by Saturday the showers took over and stayed that way for the next 5 days. Not rain as we know it, just that drizzly stuff that drives you crazy. Rain one hour, then sunny for an hour. Getting clothes dry was a joke. But rain is so badly needed in this corner of the state that we didn’t complain. School holidays tacked on to Easter here so it has been busy most of the time. Friday 29^th we went on a boat trip down the Donnelly River (near Pemberton). It was a glorious day. The river is 2mtrs higher than usual and spreads out to 5klms wide in some places behind the sand dunes, because it is filled from beneath through an natural aquifer system this time of year. This area reminded us very much of the Franklin River in Tasmania. Pure wilderness. The only way into it is by boat. No 4x4 tracks have ever been allowed there. The morning reflections were amazing. A wildfire went through the area in January and much of the wilderness was burnt to the waterline. It even skipped the river in places, such was the intensity of the blaze. (The first wildfire in 40yrs). The Donnelly River is quite unique as the mouth closes naturally several times a year by a sandbar pushed up by the ocean. We saw it at it’s absolute best almost high enough to start to break through. Apparently, when it breaks through, the mouth is 100mtrs wide within 16hrs and the river gushes out so fast it’s like a roller-coaster. Would be an unbelievable sight to see that happen. Downriver there is a little community of shacks - all the building materials, tanks etc have been brought in by boat. Some were close to being flooded when we saw them because of the unusual height of the water. This is a spot really worth seeing.

Shopping access for us for the past month has mostly been at Manjimup. Coles, Woollies and IGA and lots of other facilities, including a lovely bakery. As a break for myself, I have gone to the local swimming pool for a dip. It’s an all-weather facility, completely enclosed. As with other towns we’ve seen, the facilities in Manjimup are incredible. Sporting stadiums, the aquatic centre, gyms, you name it they have it.

We will leave here Monday 9^th and head south to finish off the SW corner before heading back to Perth. Hope you enjoy our photos.

This is the entrance of the Four wheel drive track to the beach. The trees here are huge.

Moores Hut - a 100yr old dwelling used by drovers who once took cattle through the bush leading to this area.

Inside Moores Hut - showing the old pressed tin walls. Ceilings were the same. The fireplace has been updated somewhat, but retains the old look.

This is us seriously bogged on the beach out from Moores Hut. This was the second attempt to dig ourselves out. Bogged to the belly with the tide coming in.

Des standing in the wheel tracks after we dug out of the bog. Wouldn't want to go through this every day.

This is the view walkers would see as they approached the shelter hut along the Bibbulum Track near Lake Maringup.

The raised platform gives walkers a dry sleeping place for their swags. Pretty good service for a 963klm bush walk.

Nat. Parks have built this new platform from jarrah timber about 150m long so walkers don't have to walk through a boggy area on the track. The timber alone would be worth a fortune.

Ranger Sid and Des at another shelter hut (the one on the left) which has been standing 100yrs and was used by the drovers of the day. The other hut is a laundry building from what was Shannon township.