Day One in the Bush (Wednesday 4th March 2009)
Even after my rebirth (the hike) I still had civil duties to see to such as making sure my house was fit for the real estate for me to vacate. This took me two days more then expected. But finally I am officially off grid, living on the ground which we originate and breathing the fresh air of a rewilded spirit.
Tonight is my first 'officially' night on my journey. I would have liked it if my rebirth went straight into my new life but that want the case. Regardless I am here now and I feel the sense that I am doing something special.
Today I handed in the keys to my rental and I drove out to a place near Dwellingup called Nanga Mill which is in Lane Poole Reserve. I found a nice spot in a bend in Nanga Brook which flows all year round with nice clean cold water. Nanga Mill was once an actual mill. Not far away is another campsite call ed Nanga Townsite which was a small town until a huge bush fire destroyed it – along with many other towns – in the 50s.
I think that this site will be my main base as it has all the facilities I need and is located conveniently. It has long drop toilets, a running fresh water stream that flows into the large Murray River not that far away, waist disposal bins, fire pits for once the fire ban is over and nice open camp grounds. It will cost me about $6.50 per night to stay here (saving of $184.50 per week compared to what I was paying when I was renting) which is the average camping fees for campsites in this area.
I explained to my real estate my situation and to my surprise they where very accommodating because the rent that I still owe they are willing to take out of my bond which is very convenient for me as I don't need to come up with that money.
When I was on the hike Keeta when to the dog sitters and they said that she didn't eat her dinner, when I got her back she didn't eat for me either – so it has been a few nights that she hasn't eaten properly. I think I will try her on different food. I noticed that she ate the food that I cooked up for her but not the organic dog food in a can that I buy.
Not far away from my campsite there is a caravan. When I pulled up I recognized the man which was in it. He was the father of one of my previous trainees and fellow scouter. It was good to catch up and very ironic to meet him here. He was spending the night in the bush with his mother who is from the Netherlands.
Its so peaceful here but I have a lot of equipment but I figure as I get more used to this type of living I will be able to get rid of particular things which I do not need and eventually I will have less and less.
Tomorrow I need to go back into Pinjarra and do a few things for this weekends camp which is a Cub Camp. I currently have major transport problems so I hope to sort that out tomorrow.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Hike
The Hike – The Rebirth! (Friday 27th February - Monday 2nd March 2009)
Well I survived the hike. We bid approximately 45km in 22 hours if you added it all up.
The first day we hiked from Harris Dam Picnic Area to Harris Dam Campsite. We got there when it was dark and we had to push ourselves so we would get there before it was too dark to find our way. At one point I thought we where on the wrong trail. Day two we hiked from Harris Dam Campsite to Yourdamup Campsite. This proved to be a very hard day because by lunch time we where exorcised and we didn't have much energy to go on. We stoped at a dry river bed to have lunch which gave us a well earned break. A lot of hikers double hut Yourdamup which means they reach it my lunch and continue on to the next hut. There was no way we could have cone the is. When we finally made it to the campsite we where very very re leaved and spent the rest of the afternoon laying around trying to recover. I guess in some way we went a bit coo coo as everything seemed funny. Late in the afternoon it started to rain big fat raindrops which where very refreshing. I laid out on the table to absorb the rain drops. Near sunset we explored the neat by surroundings and fantasied about starting a secret Shadoran campsite as the area was very clear with nice soil which we could potentially grow come food in.
The third day we hiked from Yourdamup to Possum Springs. We got a very good start in the morning and covered a lot of ground in the rain which refreshing and motivated us to make more ground as this was the day which we needed to walk the most. One section of the track which stood out in my mind was one after a dry river bed which endless tall grass trees which had been recently burned out and the rain drops where heavy and a thick. It was so inspiring as we knew whole heartily that we where in the middle on no where and that nature was the power which was not to be messed with. We saw some very memorable things that day but finally we made it to Possum Springs (after the longest 1.2km in my life)
After Possum Springs we had to make it to our pick up site by 11am. Which we did by perfect timing. Our hike was over and I hope that after the pain had subsided on the other hikers that they left a sense on achievement because what they had done was unique and priceless to them. To walk that far into wilderness and come out the other end as a better person is something which is character building in a way which will help shape an adult to be a well adjusted individual.
Well I survived the hike. We bid approximately 45km in 22 hours if you added it all up.
The first day we hiked from Harris Dam Picnic Area to Harris Dam Campsite. We got there when it was dark and we had to push ourselves so we would get there before it was too dark to find our way. At one point I thought we where on the wrong trail. Day two we hiked from Harris Dam Campsite to Yourdamup Campsite. This proved to be a very hard day because by lunch time we where exorcised and we didn't have much energy to go on. We stoped at a dry river bed to have lunch which gave us a well earned break. A lot of hikers double hut Yourdamup which means they reach it my lunch and continue on to the next hut. There was no way we could have cone the is. When we finally made it to the campsite we where very very re leaved and spent the rest of the afternoon laying around trying to recover. I guess in some way we went a bit coo coo as everything seemed funny. Late in the afternoon it started to rain big fat raindrops which where very refreshing. I laid out on the table to absorb the rain drops. Near sunset we explored the neat by surroundings and fantasied about starting a secret Shadoran campsite as the area was very clear with nice soil which we could potentially grow come food in.
The third day we hiked from Yourdamup to Possum Springs. We got a very good start in the morning and covered a lot of ground in the rain which refreshing and motivated us to make more ground as this was the day which we needed to walk the most. One section of the track which stood out in my mind was one after a dry river bed which endless tall grass trees which had been recently burned out and the rain drops where heavy and a thick. It was so inspiring as we knew whole heartily that we where in the middle on no where and that nature was the power which was not to be messed with. We saw some very memorable things that day but finally we made it to Possum Springs (after the longest 1.2km in my life)
After Possum Springs we had to make it to our pick up site by 11am. Which we did by perfect timing. Our hike was over and I hope that after the pain had subsided on the other hikers that they left a sense on achievement because what they had done was unique and priceless to them. To walk that far into wilderness and come out the other end as a better person is something which is character building in a way which will help shape an adult to be a well adjusted individual.
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