Despite ongoing summer heat and a real need to actually rest, the prospect of a 4-day weekend is just not compatible with staying at home.  By Thursday evening though the food is sorted, we’ve still not done any route planning other than to make a pile of maps pertaining to things south of home (therefore theoretically cooler).  A pretty attractive beach-side option in Boranup Forest is felt to be too short to make proper use of the time available – despite the implied space to hang around and look at the view (maybe next time? – add it to the ‘list’….)

Dinner passes, Bryn and Sarah are away to bed, and my eyes re-wander over the stretches of Munda Biddi we’ve yet to do.  It’s always a ‘good enough’ fall-back, and without accomplices (and their car-shuffle enabling vehicle), I’m then onto ways to avoid an out-and-back.  A few minutes later I realise that there’s a solution.  Hitching – planned hitching, rather than the type that gets you to the nearest mechanic  etc.  The route crosses major roads a number of times, and most particularly the South-west highway from Bunbury to Walpole and the south coast.  Donnybrook and Manjimup are both on the SW Highway, making the hitching a bit more reliable than it sounds.

Route Notes:  Donnybrook to Manjimup is around 150km.  It’s possible to stay in huts all but one night as long as you don’t mind doing a 40km afternoon straight from Donnybrook.  There’re shops in Donnybrook, Nannup and Manjimup and water in these places and at the huts.