25th August

Day 16 Yabberup to Noggerup

Another day with showery weather. Today Rone was ahead of me perhaps because the Mumballup tavern beckoned. I decided to deliberately leave after 9 am so I could arrive at the tavern at lunchtime. 

Arriving first at the Glen Mervyn dam where I had morning tea I thought it was rather pleasant to then walk around. At the south end of the dam near the wall there were a few signs which introduced me to Marron fishing. 

At the Mumballup Tavern they didn't open until 12 pm where Rone who was waiting for an hour or two and I met some friendly locals from Collie who shouted us a few drinks and also sponsored me for the Leukaemia Foundation. I found a special liking for Swan Draught and enjoyed many jokes featuring a character known as the big brown bull bear. The works burger was served up on  a plate of potato wedges. The pub was like a cliché of Aussie pubs with a Galah walking up and down the huge jarrah bar slab. The bar maid pulled out a mummified cat. One of the locals gave me chook pellets and tips on marron fishing.

A steep climb up a grassy paddock led towards the next hut and due to the beers and full tummy it was quite a struggle with the pack to get up that hill. When I arrived at the Noggerup hut I was still full so dinner was a light affair with cheese and crackers instead of the usual pasta and fish which I was beginning to get tired of eating every night.

Rone rocked up at the hut after dark after partying at the tavern and by 10 pm his snoring had driven me into my tent 50 m from the hut because even the ear plugs couldn't dim the noise.

Day 17 - Noggerup to Grimwade Campsite