Denmark to Jinung Beigabup Hut

There are two paths out of Denmark. The most direct path follows the Denmark - Nornalup heritage trail and avoids Mount Hallowell, the other follows the beach and is much prettier, but you'll work for the views.  Totally worth it.

After passing Ocean Beach (I totally regret not packing bathers - a lesson learned) the trail follows the coast along a 'Wonder Ocean Walk' WOW trail,  a twisty turny up and down technical ride throug the saltbush and dunes that is buckets of fun.

The WOW path ends at Lights Beach (another great swimming spot .... more swim regrets) before hitting the William Bay National Park path closures.  The detour via Lights Road and onto the rail trail is sealed, but does involve dealing with that mountain.   The best part of an hour in the late morning sun grinding up that sucker was a challenge. I hope the construction crew have clear days and get the work done quickly,

Early afternoon and another sealed road heading up another hill, anther grind in low gear using the road reflectors as goals as I inch my way up.  Its a good thing there was some shade at the top.  High summer hill climbing is really tough going. 

At the end of the road I found a works crew repairing the unsealed road, so I wasn't the only mad dog out in the midday sun.  They pointed me in the right direction in a spot where the markers got a little ambiguous and soon I was rolling down an unsealed winding down an unsealed road to the one bit of riding on the main road.   I turned into Scotsdale road to see a sign reading 'Wine Cheese 300m'  so of course paid a visit to the Denmark Cheese Farm.  An oversized sandwich, a glass of wine and three litres of refigerated water later and I was feeling almost human again. 

After 2-3km on Scotsdale Road, (which wasn't that busy) the trail turns to access paths into the forest - and then the technical riding starts.   Soft sand,  Steep switchbacks in gravel,  this was the stuff that justifies the extravagance of the fat bike, rather than just putting off road tyres on my touring bike.   That said  - there were bits where I had to get off and push,   I just reckon there would have been more of them If I had taken the tourer.

I arrived at the camp site around 4pm.  There was still plenty of daylight and I could have continued on, but I didn't.  I was spent.  I used tank water to make cups of tea and chocolate and relaxed a lovely spot - aware that yesterday and today's riding was the easy stuff - tomorrow it gets technical.