The forecast was for rain all day today. Apart from the occasional light showers we escaped with most of the day dry. We were warned that this first bit of the Bruce was the toughest and we had 21km to do today. It all started out well with the occasional challenging bit with some terrific walking terrain. Once we got to little Cove the fun (not) really started. The track got rockier and rockier, winding up and down gullies. The footing was slippery or very tricky or both. Lari really struggled with some bits with her shorter build, it was tough enough for me but for short arse it was really tough. Thank god it was not raining. We were geographically challenged on two occasions as there were so many cross or counter trails but we also should have paid more attention. Then came the Beach sections, well rocks really, just ranging in size from pebble to full on boulders and millions of the suckers all loose and rolling underfoot. I will never complain about Mazzoletti beach ever again.
We had the trail to ourselves until we're had covered 15km odd where we started to see people out on day walks from the car park at Cyprus lake. When we got the the Grotto it was like Piccadilly Circus with humanity of every persuasion out on/in/under every crevice at the Grotto. I took a couple of photos then bolted.
With still more rock piles, pebble beaches etc. to negotiate we slugged on and then the rain that had been threatening all day decided to cut loose for the last 2km or so. We met a local ranger Dan who was able to check us in to the national park and give us our site number for Stormhaven. So we finally slugged down last bit of goat track to Stormhaven and start getting the tent set up and some hydration into our thoroughly drained bodies. Before we could do that we had go down to the bay and filter enough water for our food, replenish Hydration Baldders and then re-hydrate our bodies after a very draining day. We now appreciate how handy the Rain water tanks are on the Bibbulmun track.
Thoroughly drained and exhausted we collapsed into the tent after Hanging our Food and Toot Paste up on the food pulley system. Lot more complicated then hang our food bags from a roof truss in the Bibbulmun shelters. I doubt it took me 60 seconds took fall asleep once my head hit the pillow.