- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Oct 27, 2023, 8:06am
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- AustraliaWestern AustraliaAlbanyCentennial ParkAnzac Peace Park35°1’39” S 117°53’12” E
Day 19 and beyond
October 27, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
It’s always beneficial to have a plan especially when it has to do with completing your journey or stages there of.
My original plan upon reaching Albany was to hire a vehicle and dash down to Esperance approximately another 4 hours drive southward. This plan was going to allow me to view the southern coast, experience Esperance and then provide an opportunity to wind my way northward along the coast and perhaps call into towns that I bypassed whilst on the Munda Biddi. It was also to be a means of transporting my bike and gear back to Perth.
Well, that was a failure. Not a single vehicle was available for hire anywhere in Albany. Humph!
So, onto plan B and ditch the Esperance excursion and catch the bus to Perth. Could be done had I booked in advance. There was a bus service. One bus, two bikes allowed in luggage bay and all booked out for days.
Damn!
Plan C - the sibling effect and the C stands for Cameron. Now Cam had already provided great assistance and encouragement. It was Cam who suggested I give the Munda Biddi a go when after my paddle down the Murray I was contemplating my next adventure. It was Cam who dropped me at the trail head township of Mundaring at dawn on day one and picked me up at dusk that same day when bushfires changed my agenda. Likewise, it was Cam who graciously, dropped me off at dawn at Jarrahdale a couple of days later so that I could continue my adventurous endeavour. And it was Cam who selflessly offered to come and pick me up from Albany. Mind you, due to previous commitments and forward planning on his part he wasn’t able to make it down for a couple of days. Absolutely fine by me!
Grateful for his offer, my return to Perth was sorted and I spent the waiting time sightseeing Albany.
Along with Cormac, on our first official rest day I cycled up Mount Clarence to visit the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial, a tribute to the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli in World War One. It stands near the peak of Mount Clarence as a tribute to the soldiers whose last view of Australia would have been of Mount Clarence. It is truly a heartfelt and moving experience. The museum should be a must do when visiting Albany.
Over the next couple days I had time to reflect upon my experiences, and catch over dinner or breakfast with fellow Munda Biddians for whom I am grateful. It is not until we step out of comfort zone, challenge ourselves and summon up the courage to take a risk either physically or emotionally that we realize it’s ok to falter, to reassess our options or even ask for help.
Whilst on this journey there were times when I yelled with glee or screamed in frustration yet always with the goal to complete the Munda Biddi.
It was never my intention to travel with others for I often am concerned that I will be their achilles and perhaps hamper their endeavour and the enjoyment and challenge they seek. Yet it was on this occasion as I have experienced before simply a matter of time that support, encouragement and camaraderie of the challenge takes hold. Friendships evolve.
Yes, I wanted to do it myself and yet if I hadn’t happened upon the following people my journey may not have been as fulfilling and rewarding and downright difficult. I might not have even finished!
Thanks Cormac and Mark - the last couple of days on the trail were great. Thanks too Lisa and Ian with whom I shared a campsite and dinners and breakfasts along the way. Lastly, had it not been for the three wise men - Tim, Roger and Doug and their mechanical nouse my brake my well have remained broken and my journey terminated!Read more