Great South West Walk, Day 10 – Tarragal Camp to The Springs, 13km

I know it’s very important for young folk to get out in the bush,  learn some resilience and perhaps even develop a love of hiking.  But wow! It is so extremely jarring to go from being solo to part of a hive in one foul swoop!

The group takes up both tables, and with insistence, I am allocated a tiny portion at which to sit.  They cook their dinner on Trangias around me.  The talk, such as it is, is constant.  I’ve picked it all up before long.  Mila and Maggie are the “cool girls” and loudest of the group.  Matilda is the most sensible.  Lachlan and Liam are partnered up, for the purposes of the walk, with Mila and Maggie, and therefore Lachlan does the majority of the cooking.  Maggie likes Liam.

And on and on and on it goes.  I stay as long as I can and then retreat to bed.  A koala, situated directly above me, also appears to grumble about the added noise to it’s usually quiet camp. 

I’m lucky enough that my tent is situated right next to Mila and Maggie.  I hear them chat, chat, chatting at full volume as they get ready for bed.  They go up to the toilet together (of course!) and on the way back I hear one of them say “Oh shit! I might have forgotten to close the zips”. They reach the tent, and the next thing I hear…

“ARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH.  Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! There is a possum in the tent!” They flee off towards the boys.  The camp is mayhem whilst the situation is rectified.  I swear I hear the koala chortling. As do I.  Good on you possum!  Someone had to try and teach them some basic campside manners.

I take off early expecting to see all of my new friends at the next camp.  It is both a spectacular day, and a spectacularly disappointing day.  The walk itself is incredible.  One of the best cliff top walks I’ve ever traversed.  But it is absolutely pouring rain, which both dampens and sours the spirits. 

I still enjoy the walk.  How could you not? The Bridgewater Lakes, special perched lakes like those found on K’gari.  The Tarragal caves, limestone which has been carved out by erosion over millenia.  And the cliffs.  Utterly amazing.  The murky blue of the ocean pounding into the rocky coves down below.  Stunted clifftop growth and an unbelievable track which feels like it’s as far to the edge of the cliff as possible.  Cormorants diving into the ocean looking for a feed.  Giant kelp, swaying in clumps offshore.  Salt laden rain slicks down my face.

It was incredible.  But boy did I long for a different scenario.  One in which I could meander, bask in the latent heat of the cliffs, use my camera whenever I wanted, and without my fingers being numb.  Sometimes a perfect walk deserves perfect weather.  And I feel disappointed not to have experienced that today.  Guess I’ll have to come back again hey!

I rally once I get the tent up and dry off inside.  Have a little break. At some point I realise the rain has stopped.  I gear up and head out again.  Tentatively, tentatively the sun starts to shine.

I retrace my steps, rejoicing in the opportunity to enjoy this magical landscape.  It all seems worth it now, in this minute. I prepare to take a photo of the sunlight glistening on the water and see a lithe little body pop up out of the water.  A seal! I watch it frolicking in the waves until it submerges and never reappears. 

I’m enjoying a moment of solitude staring out at the waves when I hear it.  “Oh yes!  We’re here! Finally!” A group of school kids trundling in.  Peace over.

In a moment of inspiration (and potentially to get away from the campsite) I decide to take my dinner down to the sunset view.  It’s cold, windy, but I absolutely love it. This has turned into a very special day indeed. And I’m very thankful for it.