Ellensbrook to Prevelly

High above I noticed a bird of prey circling the hills and took some time to observe it. While it was too way away to get a super clear picture, even with my zoom lens at max, it was fun just watching it scour the landscape for potential prey. Another winged presence in the sky was the passing of a light aircraft not too far away. Planes have become something of a novelty in these COVID times so I had a bit of a reflection on that while it slowly passed overhead. Sneaking closer and closer to the coast, the views opened up to reveal some pretty magic scenes. With a light breeze, the afternoon sun, some engaging single track and a pretty good playlist pumping, this was a section where I could pick up the pace while stopping every now and then to admire the beauty. The clouds off the coast were looking very friendly and I was confident that I'd arrive in Prevelly still dry. Once again, the areas was showing signs of a previous bushfire with the white skeletons of larger trees that are no longer alive. While devastating for the tree, the area has recovered well and hopefully another will rise and take it's place in the distant future.

They do provide something interesting to photograph and I love when a sprawling example is perfectly silhouetted against the blue waters of the ocean. Another feature that peaked my interest through here was the sight of some limestone pinnacles rising from the scrub in the distance. Getting closer to them, the track smartly goes right by them so you can view them up close and they provide something of note to this winding section. Looking very similar to the ones found in Nambung National Park, it's a funny curiosity that they are the only examples around. While these structures were easy to find thanks to their size, something much smaller caught my eye not far along and in the shade of the coastal heath was a very late season fungi that was probably coming to the end of its lifecycle given it resembled a burst sausage. I love little trail surprises but kept moving, passing plenty of different types of wildflowers including Old Man's Beard, Native Roses, Buttercups and Cocky's Tongues as the track started to descend towards the beach. 

Reaching the infamous winter diversion notice for this section of the track, I had a good read of it but had already decided to take the regular route. Reports and photos on Facebook showed the Margaret River crossing was no more than just above knee deep and if needed I had dry packs for everything. Hoping a swim across wouldn't be necessary, I continued on and avoided the horrible road walking that taking the diversion would mean. Reaching the edge of the limestone cliffs, the track scoots along the edges before descending down closer to sea level. The white of the rocks through here is another cool element to the day and the views looking across to Cape Mentelle were also a delight. I did eventually find a sprawling example of a skeleton tree and for some reason it always reminds me of a logo you'd see for an eco product or essential oils company. I do enjoy going into every "hippy dippy" store (as Caris calls them) I see in the South West and am a sucker for buying candles and soaps when I find a scent I like. 

Reaching the Kilcarnup Beach car park, you see the sign for Joeys Nose and it isn't long before you are presented with an impressive limestone feature in the distance. While I sort of see the resemblance to a Joey's Nose, I personally would have gone with the Trade Federation Multi Troop Transport from Star Wars but hey, you can't get it right all the time. It's another wow moment in a day that isn't short of them and the sandy 4x4 track leads you right past the bulky limestone structure. Being a 4x4 track, there's a chance you'll come across a vehicle and I was interrupted by one as I made my way to the beach. I hopped out of the way and instead admired Joeys Nose from underneath as it looms large over the track. Happy with the bright blue skies, I thought that this wouldn't have looked very nice in the stormy conditions forecast for the next day when I originally planned to do this section. With a few photos in the bag, I continued on towards the rocky expanse of Kilcarnup Beach and began a moderate but enjoyable section of beach walking towards Cape Mentelle. With fairly flat and compact sand mixed in with lots of interesting rocky shapes at each small headland, this was a fun stretch to walk along.

Out to sea I was getting a great light show with god rays streaming through the incoming weather that would hit later that evening and all throughout the following days. The soft afternoon light was very enjoyable, especially as it bathed the rocks in a warm glow that really highlighted the different textures. From speckled jagged quartz to smoothed boulders containing channels carved over centuries, this was a visual treat as I hopped from headland to headland. The walking through here was very relaxing given the flat gradient, cooler temperatures and plenty of visual stimulus. As I do on every beach section, I was scanning the sand for any little titbits, shells or eye-catching artefacts. Spotting the occasional shell, a big item came up with the carcass of an old tinny resting on the rocks where it had either washed up in a storm or been left there for the elements to claim. Mixed in with all the beach scenes were a number of granite and limestone formations hiding away in the dunes. Showcasing the diversity of geology that makes the Capes a special place to walk through, it was an interesting side-show to watch the different rock types and their appearance as you move only a short distance along the beach.

​

I was joined on the beach by a few birds of the sea, mainly the common Beach Chicken (seagull) but also a Pied Oystercatcher. I enjoy seeing them around as their distinct orange bills and eyes really contrast well with their black heads, plus they tend to stick around long enough for a photo. Seeing the jagged limestone of Cape Mentelle in the distance, I was trying to figure out how the track got to the staircase on the point. As I passed lots of upturned dinghies lying in the dunes, it became obvious thanks to the C2C marker that you exited the beach at the boat ramp. Climbing up into the dunes, the legs were surprisingly okay with the extra effort so late in the day. In my mind this next section was only a quick hop, skip and a jump until arriving at the beach that leads to the river crossing but it is a fairly significant walk at just over a kilometre. Making things better was a chance encounter with a doggo that was ahead of its family who were heading the other way to me. It wasn't quite sure of my presence and didn't want the pats I had on offer. Reaching the cliffs above a protected limestone bay, this was a spot I had to take some time admiring as it very much reminded me of something similar on the Wardan Nara Bidi on Rottnest. Feeling very much like a place the Famous Five would explore, I spent a few moments here photographing the scene in the fading light.