Booner Mundak to Jinung Beigabup
Munda Biddi Trail
Start
Booner Mundak Hut
Time
3-6 Hours
Finish
Jinung Beigabup Hut
Date Ridden
8th September 2021
Length
56km
Elevation
898m
Traditional Custodians
Minang People
The Ride - Getting to bed early the previous night thanks to the mozzies at Booner Mundak, my thoughts as I lay in my tent were towards the weather that was forecast the following day. With an incoming cold front that promised to deliver a day and a half of rain, Aron and I had made plans to leave camp as early as possible to get to Jinung Beigabup before the rains hit. In the back of my mind though, I was hatching a plan to cycle all the way into Denmark so we avoided cycling the Jinung Beigabup to Denmark section in what was guaranteed to be a wet day. Getting up at 6am, I found a pleasant sunrise with clear skies and peaceful feeling in the light morning air.
Packing up our gear and enjoying a morning brew, the couple that joined us the previous afternoon were also up and about, hoping to get into Walpole early for some well earned treats. Booner Mundak had been one of the better campsite experiences for me so it was a bit sad to leave it at a tick after 7am. Ahead of us was more of the same riding we experienced yesterday with long stretches of road riding through a variety of terrain ranging from sandy plains to stunted forest. Exiting the single track that leads in and out of the campsite, we turned north and continued along Middle Road. With the morning sun streaming through the trees, the lighting was a challenge to shoot in so the beautiful wildflowers that lined the track turned out a bit blurry in most photos. Pushing on, the early part of the day involved a few small climbs that were made a little harder when the surface turned much sandier than I would have liked. Trying to keep a good pace up, we soldiered on and eventually reached the Boronia Road turn. Now heading east, this would mark the start of some long stretches of road riding that is a theme for this whole section.
I didn't mind as the crisp morning air and sense of adventure that comes from trying to outrun an incoming weather system had me excited. The road surface had also changed to be a friendlier compacted gravel so when the going was flat, the pace was pretty good. I was still taking the time to appreciate the scenery and stopping just as much as I normally would to photograph flowers and anything that took my fancy. Spotting a few Black Cockatoos, they decided to stop in a nearby tree for a clear photo so I obliged. I was really looking out for a Boronia to photograph on Boronia Road and there were a few lining the trail but the photos didn't turn out that well. Reaching the turn at Nornalup Road, you continue heading in an easterly direction along winding and rolling roads with some really nice forest in places. One thing I really enjoyed about the riding either side of Booner Mundak was that it felt like it was in the middle of nowhere, away from logging, mining, development and all the things that take away from the majesty of these natural places.
In previous posts, 9km of riding would probably equal a gallery or two of photos but between Nornalup Road and the turnoff for the Kent River crossing I've only included eleven photos and four of those are of wildflowers. That's not to say that the scenery wasn't enjoyable because it was, it's just that the galleries start to look the same if all the photos are "pleasant view down tree lined road". I love taking those shots, especially the ones where I can zoom in all the way and capture the feeling of distance but it doesn't make for a great layout if that's all I include. With a good mix of taller forest and open plains, there was never a point where I felt like it was a same-same slog. The road signs telling you that the road is going to last for at least the next 5-10 kilometres didn't worry me as my this stage I was starting to really embrace the idea that this was just the first half of the day and we would be cycling into Denmark that afternoon. For now the skies were still a clear blue and that was a good sign that my plan of avoiding most of the rain might bear fruit.
Arriving at the turnoff for the Kent River crossing and not looked at the map for a while, I didn't realise we were so close. Having covered 18km in just under an hour and a half (excellent pace compared to our previous two weeks), I decided that this was a good spot to stop for a break. Waiting for Aron, I spotted some Purple Tinsel Flowers and Rose Coneflowers on the side of the trail and was pleased to see these varieties for the first time on our trip. Aron arrived and suggested we travel a bit further before we took a break. That turned out to be the right decision as we arrived at the Kent River and a pretty special spot given the relative monotony of the mornings road riding. With a lovely suspension bridge, flowing river and granite platform, this idyllic location is essential to making sure the first 40km of this day isn't just a long road slog. Having a wander around, I took plenty of photos of the river from various angles and soaked it all in while we refueled and talked about the day so far.