Gillian Groom (GillG)

Completed: 10 September, 2020

Gillian Groom thumbnail — **Gillian Groom**
GillG

Start date: 24 July, 2020
Age When Completed: 55
Direction Walked: Southbound

Track Towns and Supplies

Did you have any issues finding food/supplies? No

Your Story or Advice for Others

General Comments
A desire to E2E "back the other way" after completing a North to South E2E in 2016. The cancellation of my trekking trip to Georgia and Armenia this year allowed me to do it. With 49 days up my sleeve I left sunny Albany full of enthusiasm. I arrived at sunny Kalamunda 49 days later even more enthused.

Your Best Equipment
I like all of my stuff so the best luxury items were- 1. Thermos - one of my favourite moments every single day was a cup of very hot coffee at morning tea time (plus fruit cake, etc). And.. I would always come into camp with 1 cup left to have a hot wash with. 2. Umbrella- saves all that pulling on and off of goretex jackets

Your Worst Equipment
1. It's not my worse piece of equipment, it's an essential, but one of my poles broke but was kindly fixed by the crew at the Mumby Pub. 2. My first expensive umbrella died before Balingup and sliced 2 fingers and my thumb- replaced from the General Store by a generic cheap one so far no personal injuries sustained from it.

Advice for Others
Embrace the experience, be open to changes in plans and keep your eyes on those rogue sticks that try to trip you up.

Trip Details

How you completed the Bibbulmun Track:

All at once

Who did you complete the Track with? Solo (primarily)
Was undertaking your hike the PRIMARY/MAIN purpose of your TRAVEL from where you currently live? No

Your Experience

Favourite Section
Loved the Pingerup Plains and the wading it entailed. It was great to stay at the new style shelters at Gardner and Dog Pool that were under construction back in 2016. Got a chance to climb Woolbales and Mt Chance this time too which I couldn't last time because of cataclysmic weather events! Special mention for the Beraking to Ball Creek section - water flowing everywhere, flowers popping and birds singing- very spectacular.

Highlight of your trip
Pretty much every single day had one, but special mentions for the whales from the West Cape Howe lookout bench, the sunset from the rock behind William Bay, the fungi forest in a crevice at Sappers Bridge, the rainbow on Mt Chance and the vanilla slice in Walpole.