Total km: 1004.1

Last day!
As expected, the weather was awful with lots of rain and wind. Ah well. I had sent out a message last night to the Bibb track hikers Facebook group for a ride around the inlet, with the weather plus the high tide I did not fancy crossing it. Jacko (a trail angel and an absolute legend) was already picking up a couple of hikers at 9:30 and there was space for me. The collection point was at Cosy Corner beach which was only 2.5km away so I did not need to start as early as I was planning.

When the sun rose I got to see the other hikers I’d disturbed with my late arrival last night. There was Harry, Erik the Red, Pete, Heather and Arvin (who were being picked up by Jacko as well). There was a nice bit of banter whilst breakfasting and packing up, with Harry insisting, with a smile, that the inlet would be ankle depth and everything would be fine. Harry is a pretty optimistic dude.

Harry, Erik and Pete set off early as they were crossing the inlet. I left after 8 and flew down the track getting to the pick up point way to early. It gave me time to check out the beach and…it was a mess. I could see Erik and Pete in the distance heading towards the inlet. Crazy buggers. I waited with Heather and Arvin at the toilets, not very glamerous but it was the only cover available. A car arrived not long after we did, but it was not our ride, though the driver did kindly offer us a lift around the inlet. He was out for a practice hike in this awful weather as he’s starting his end to end next month. I explained we already had a ride, he was happy we were not attempting the crossing.

Jacko arrived just before 9:30 and we bundled into the car were we were presented with a muffin and a tangerine. Glorious. He dropped us on Muttonbird road, which was 2.7km to the shelter. I made it in no time at all, and saw Harry leaving the shelter just as I arrived. I was relieved because I was a little worried about him, the beach looked pretty crazy. He said the crossing was up to his chest, but you had to watch for the waves coming through and he admitted it was a bit sketchy. Now Harry seems to be a fairly positive guy, so for him to say sketchy is something else.

Mutton bird shelter did not look the nicest. It was pretty exposed and sections of it were quite wet, with the wind blowing in the rain. I visited the loo (last time on the trail!) then got going. Only 24km to go!

Again the track was quite nice, though the weather wasn’t. I was passing by the wind farm with awesome views of the ocean, thinking how nice this section would be in the sun, when lo and behold, the sun came out! It felt like a nice little goodbye from the trail. The water looked amazing, almost an electric blue near the shore. Utterly glorious.

I reached Sand Patch shelter just before 2pm. Harry was already set up for the night and was enjoying the rarety of a shelter having an Optus signal. He was catching up on the tour de france. I had a quick bite to eat, said my goodbyes to Harry then set out by 2:30. Just over 12km to go!

Erik had mentioned this morning that the trail from Sand Patch was pretty cruisey, and he was not wrong. There was a climb straight out from the hut, but then it was pretty much all downhill. After 5km I hit Frenchman Bay road and I could see Albany in the not too far distance. Walking on bitumen near a busy road was hard on the feet and the ears. Were cars always this loud? As I passed Limeburners Distillery I seriously thought about stopping in for a few drams and calling a cab into town, because f*ck road walking (well technically it was bike path walking). Just f*ck it. But I thought I had come this far I could push a few more ks on the road. Thankfully the track turned back into a nice forest track along the bay. Then before I knew it I was in town.

When I say the end point a huge smile spread across my face. Holy crap, I had bloody well gone and done it hadn’t I. I’m an end to ender!

After calling the wife and kids I had one last look at the end point then headed to my room for the night at 6 Degrees, which was cruelly, up a steep flight of stairs.