Today we decided to venture further afield for our last day at Bremer Bay.  The Scott’s drove and we were on the road by 830.  We headed to West Mount Barren first up via corrugated roads (Kieran let tyres down and the ride in the back was actually quite comfortable).  This hike was 850m  (1.7km return) with 158m of elevation.  A steep one!

Today, things were not on my side.  Shortly after the start my ‘hanging by a thread’ hiking shoes became unwearable and my ‘not comfortable yet’ new boots that I bought in Geraldton on our way up the coast were sitting back at the van.  Kieran very kindly ran my shoes back to the car and returned with my crocs 🙂 .

On the way again and the hike got steeper and steeper.  Today was pretty warm (28 deg) and I didn’t factor in foot sweat (eew!) in Crocs when rock scrambling and climbing.  Even though I had put them in 4wd mode (ie slings engaged) I was slipping and sliding everywhere.  On multiple occasions I had to remove them and let evaporation do it’s thing….

However the view on the way up was very very good and there were heaps of wildflowers out.  So not all lost.

After 130m (of 158m) climbed and 780m (of 850m) completed I had to pull the pin 🙁 .  First experience this trip that I’ve bailed on.  After 5 years of evading covid I am no longer a super woman and catching it 5 weeks ago is taking some time to fully recover from unfortunately.  Except when exercising things are all good (except maybe an annoying cough for others around me…..).  The views even as far as we got were great though.

The Scott’s enjoyed the summit and spent some time absorbing the view before retreating down the mountain and arriving not long after us.

Next we moved on to Point Ann.  A 30 min drive on corrugated roads.  This location is a humpback and southern right whale nursery as well as the origin of the Rabbit Proof Fence.  We enjoyed lunch overlooking the bay before heading off on a 2km loop walk.  This was one of the best decisions of the day (minus the fly attack)!  We had no idea how rugged and impressive the coastal cliffs would be once we started off. 

And to top it off we saw a mum and calf southern right whale pair just simply loitering in the bay.  I can’t get enough of this!  Kieran and I sent drones out and got our fill before our batteries went flat.  So good!

We headed back to Bremer Bay to the inlet and enjoyed afternoon nibbles out the back of the car.  Then back to the vans before packing for our relocate tomorrow.