Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Monday 8 June 2015

A walk on the Bibbulmun Track with track volunteers

On Saturday we had a fabulous day bushwalking and assisting Bibbulmun Track volunteers on their section of the Bibbulmun Track at Grimwade.

The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth hills, to Albany on the south coast, winding through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia
Please click on the link here to read more Bibbulmun Track


 It has been some time since we had been out on the track, and it was great to revisit it with like minded people who enjoy bushwalking. This time however we were not there to just bushwalk, we went along to find out what my friend Wendy does as a volunteer for the Bibbulmun Track. As you would expect for a track which is nearly 1000km long, volunteers are essential to help maintain the track and campsites to a high standard for those walking the track. 





 The section that Wendy and her friend Pat maintain covers about 9 kilometres either side of the Grimwade campsite.  Four of us joined Wendy and Pat on Saturday for the maintenance day. We split into two groups working either side of the campsite. It was enjoyable work and we had plenty of time to chat. Both Wendy and Pat agree that they get a lot of personal satisfaction and enjoyment from their association with the Bibbulmun Track.  Just being out on the Track is rejuvenating. "It's peaceful, and right back to nature. The peace and tranquility is the best medicine for the soul and recharging your batteries. I've had the most fabulous experiences with friends out walking."


Afterward the work was completed we sat together and had our lunch at the Grimwade campsite.  You can see it in the images below. The campsites are basically three sided wooded huts installed with sleeping platforms that can accommodate 8 to 12 people.  (12 people would be very cosy, but you could do it). Nearby there are tenting sites.  There is a water tank which collects rainwater (needs to be boiled to drink), and a long drop toilet.  

You can see the "loo with a view" below. If you missed my post about "Aussie loos with views" last week - you can read it by clicking here - Aussie loos with views
I'll have to add this one to my list! 



The Bibbulmun Track is marked at regular intervals by yellow triangular markers, image below, depicting the Rainbow Serpent, the Waugal, from the Aboriginal Dreamtime.  The markers indicate the direction to be walked, and are a comforting sight when you are walking the Track as there are many intersecting tracks. 

On their website, the Bibbulmun Track has been split into nine sections, with info on each section by clicking on the links. You can also purchase maps and guide books - essential if you are doing a longer walk. There is information on day walks, guided walks, and other events, track conditions, and how to prepare for a walk on the track. It is a really useful site. Several campsites and bridges were destroyed in the devastating summer fires early in 2015, so please check with the Bibbulmun Track website if you are planning a walk. Here is a link -  Trip Planner


My friend was devastated to see a huge section of bush had been destroyed by bushfires in March only 300-400 metres from the campsite. It looked like bulldozes had been brought in to clear a firebreak around the campsite, and thankfully the campsite was saved. It is heartening to see however that with recent rain the bush is already regenerating.



A clump of fungi



Solidified sap oozing from a tree (amazing colour), a dried flower head (possibly Semaphore Sedge), tiny pink Boronia, one of the Bunny Orchid family (Eriochilus dilatatus), and Hibbertia. I was thrilled to see my first orchid of the season.



(below LHS) Banksia and (RHS) Snottygobble (Persoonia longifolia (known as the Long-leaf Persoonia) Yes, you read correctly, Snottygobble - don't you just love that name!
Unfortunately I have never seen the flower or fruit. I should have looked around the base of these trees.

  The Snottygobble flower in summer and have fruit the size of blueberries which ripens in autumn. The fruit ripens and  falls in June to July.  The fruit is edible and very tasty and was used as bush tucker by the Noongar tribe.  
Info from - Roley Bush Care


There is a lot of work to be done repairing the track and campsites following the January bushfires. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation is fund-raising for these repairs. 

Below is some more info about volunteering and a link, here - Bibbulmun Track - to their page for more info. 

 The Bibbulmun Track is divided into 147 maintenance sections, varying in length from 5-10km. Some sections include a campsite. Volunteers adopt a section of the Track and are trained to look after it. Their role is essential in ensuring that the Track remains well-kept and well-loved. Each section is maintained by a team which may consist of one person working on their own, a group of friends, family or work mates.  Sometimes the responsibility for a section may be shared by more than one team.

Volunteers undertake a range of light maintenance tasks including pruning, clearing debris from the Track, replacing missing trail markers, installing water bars, removing litter and monitoring the campsite. All major maintenance tasks are carried out by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
You can find out more by clicking on the link here - Volunteering



Thank you Wendy for inviting us to go out on the track with you. Stay tuned for the magazine article. I'll let you know when it is published.

And thank you so much dear readers for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this walk along the Bibbulmun Track. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Our World Tuesday

Image-in-ing 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
 Agent Mystery Case
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday


You might also enjoy:
It's time to be out on the Bibbulmun Track 
Photography on the Bibbulmun Track 
Bushwalking at Hoffmans Mill 


29 comments:

  1. Hello Jill, it is a good feeling to volunteer and work on this trail. The campsite looks nice, I am glad it was not too close to the wildfire. The fungi is neat looking and the flowers are pretty. Wonderful series of images and post. Have a happy day and week ahead!

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  2. An interesting trail to hike with lots to see. The solidified sap is unusual and the clump of fungi rather nice looking I think. Haha, another loo with a view! At least this was taken into consideration when the window was put in.
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Jill.

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  3. Good friends of ours did a section of the Bibbulmun Track in 2007 and throroughly enjoyed the experience. We saw sections of the tracks during our around Australia caravan trip but because we had our dog with us we couldn't walk in a lot of places that are protected by National Parks. The South West forests were amazing and I could easily return to do some hikes at a later stage. I would also like to do the Cape to Cape track. Lovely photos Jill.

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    1. We would like to do the Cape to Cape Track too, and some more of the Bibbulmun Track. It is so wonderful to get out into the bush.

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  4. what a beautiful spot to explore, I love bush walks here, they are usually so quiet and peaceful :-)

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    1. absolutely. I need to get out more often.

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  5. What a fascinating hike or bushwalk...love the idea and the maintenance by volunteers....beautiful spot and how cool is the frozen sap.

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  6. The first thing I noticed was the immense size of the trees in the woods compared to the hikers on the trail! Looks ike a wonderful trail ... does the snake sign mean poisonous snakes? We have very few poisonous snakes in my area (for which I'm thankful!). In our provincial parks, kids can participate in trail clean-ups to earn badges. I think it's a great program as the kids learn from an early age not to litter. My kids both worked through the trails during our week-long camping trips in the past. I really enjoyed this post, and all of your photos!
    Wendy

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    1. thanks so much Wendy. No the snake sign doesn't mean poisonous snakes - it is a directional sign. Pointing which way to go. However we do have poisonous snakes in the south west, so best keep to the track. It is great for kids to learn about the great outdoors and cleaning up litter, camping and hikes are a great way to do this.

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  7. Just stopping by to get my little bit of Aussie fix, wonderful photos and walk. Hats of to all the volunteers who maintain the paths for the pleasure of others.
    Wren x

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    1. I am sorry Wren, I wanted to comment on your Paris blog post, but I don't belong to Google +, so I'll comment here - Pain au chocolate for breakfast! yumm!

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  8. What a wonderful series of images Jill - think it might be a tad cold at night trying to sleep in those open sheds! Great images of the fungi and flowers. Thank you for sharing this track.

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    1. yes it can be very very cold, so you need to rug up with thermals, and a liner in your sleeping bag. A beenie helps too and bed socks!

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  9. It is always renewing to get out into nature and feel close to God.

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  10. That's a stunning looking forest.

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  11. What lovely photos. My favorite is the fungi!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  12. Magical place. Thanks for taking us bushwalking with you! I would have been totally happy just to read about the snotty gobble plant! All the rest is just a wonderful beautiful bonus as far as I'm concerned! (And I know it was just one word...my IPad refuses to let me type it that way. ). Thanks for the lovely visit.

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  13. Wow, what a gorgeous place. Now I know where My Guy is going to want to go if we ever make it over there.

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  14. A beautiful track to walk Jill and so good to know there are volunteers willing to give of their time and energy to maintain it for others to enjoy.

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  15. Beautiful photos, Jill.
    Thank you for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/06/in-memoriam-ling.html

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  16. Oh my Jill, I do think that I would quite enjoy this kind of walk. What a gorgeous place and the scenery looks captivating. I loved the name Snottygobble flower, how funny. I will think of that this morning when I prepare my Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries. Happy week to you with hugs~

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    1. now I have read more about them, I will be on the hunt for Snottygobble fruit next time I see them. I'll let you know what they taste like!

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  17. Beautiful! I have done a lot of coastal walks recently but I thing it is time to do some walks among the trees.

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  18. I think I would have enjoyed going along on this walk. We will have to wait until around Oct/Nov before we could start going on hikes around here again. The weather is just TOO hot right now.

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  19. What a great volunteer opportunity, and an interesting and beautiful trail. Good to see that the campsite was saved from the fire, and heartening to see the new plant growth. Thanks for linking up this week, Jill! #TPThursday

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  20. Oh my goodness, what amazing trees!

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  21. I've heard so much about the Bibbulman Track but I've never seen it. Now I wish I was there - so many places to see I despair of getting to all of them!

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