Mt Duckworth to Moses Rock

Mileage: 23.2 km

Cumulative: 33.2 km

It rained on and off most of the night and, despite having a relatively sheltered spot, the wind howled in off the ocean. I woke up around 6 AM before first light and quickly got the stove going for a morning hot chocolate. It was then time to pack up the wet tent and head into Yallingup.

It was a nice walk mostly downhill to Yallingup, a small town and one of the few towns the Cape to Cape passes through. Once there, it was time to head to the nearest cafe for breakfast. Being hikers, it was only right we stuffed our faces given we’d burn it off over the rest of the day.

After a big breakfast, decaf cappuccino and banana chai smoothie, I walked or rather rolled like a barrel back onto the trail. The path gradually left the crowds behind as it led southwards from Yallingup. Once we got a few kilometres outside of Yallingup, the walk got much harder with lots of ups and downs and a tough slog through soft sand on the beach sections.

After another set of ups and downs, we reached a car park with a sign showing how far we’d come. Which was essentially not far at all. Thoroughly depressed, we plodded on through a cliff top section and then down to a beach.

We passed a pair of hikers along the way whilst they were putting on rain jackets. Being quite tough myself, there was no need for rain jackets so we kept going. One of the hikers took exception to this and made it his mission to catch up to us. Over hill and under dale we walked and, every time we looked back, there was this guy charging towards us, trekking poles pacing furiously.

It was time to head off the trail before he mowed us down. We headed up some steps and found a nice spot to sit and have lunch. The hiker behind us, who followed us up the steps, got to the top gasping for breath before standing upright and looking confusedly for the trail 200 metres below him on the beach.

After lunch, it was more 4WD tracks which, to be honest, we didn’t mind as it’s usually possible to find firmer footing than on the beach walks. Speaking of beach walks, the trail was determined to give us one stretch across Quininup Brook and then up an extremely soft sand dune.

The trail then undulated through peppermint groves and sand dunes, past Moses Rock lookout until we reached our campsite.

Tomorrow is an easy 19 km day to Ellenbrook before back to back 30 km days. A 30 km day on this terrain feels like 40 km elsewhere. My tent spot is nice and sheltered and I can hear the waves crashing down on the beach below. Here’s to a good night’s sleep.