Day 250 Mondo Yards to Donnellys Weir (Healesville)

 VIC Day 26 (250) Sunday 30th January, 2022 18.5km

5330km

I slept like a log. I can remember falling asleep as I was typing my diary. Wasn't the best entry. It was a fairly comfortable spot as I was not on my mattress. More like spooning my mattress. My right hip is very sore and I don't lie on it at all.

Set up the tent beside the table. Horse Yards over there.

Kookaburras woke me as usual. Time to pack up one more time. It's funny how the mind jumps between excited anticipation and regret it's finishing. The morning is very clear up here. All the cloud is lower under an inversion layer and the top of this Ridge is very clear.

The grassy verge

I walk the road and I was wondering why the edges are grassy and slashed. Then I read a sign that says they are strategic fire breaks.

The Road

I do come across a sign that says the weir is only 6.5 kilometres. But the trail goes around and is another 14 kilometres.

A shortcut?

I decide to finish on the trail and hope for a good view from Mt St Leonard. As it is cool and clear it is a pleasant walk along the road.

The road walk through trees and shadows

I've sent a message to the people that have looked after my car in Healesville to expect me about lunchtime. I get to the road that climbs the mountain and I have to jump the gate to read another sign that tells me the viewing platform is closed. Sigh. I could have taken the shorter route if I'm not going to get a view.

The tower and the viewing platform

Platform shut

I walk up the mountain anyway and have my last trail breakfast. The lookout looks like and old radio tower and the wooden boards are rotten.

I've been reliably informed if the platform was open this would be the view

I have my breakfast and notice a crack in my coffee cup. This looks like it's last journey. I pinched it out of the cupboard about 14 years ago and it's been on every walk since. It's Tupperware travel mug, but they don't make them with handles any more. Looks like we're all getting old.

The end of the cup.

It's while I'm sitting there a man walks up with a bike helmet in his hand. I wondered where the bike was but he's left it down the track where it climbs steeply. We have a chat and in the end walk down to his bike together. His name is Steve and he lives in Healesville. He's interested in my walk and we chat about what I will do next. I tell him about the trip back to Perth and some of the hoops I will have to jump through. I'm booked in for my Covid booster shot in Croydon tomorrow about 45 minutes towards Melbourne and Belinda and I have been searching for a RAT kit that I will need 24 hours before I hit the border. Steve thinks he might have one available and has promised to check when he gets home.

We get to the bottom of the steep bit and we part ways. Him on his bike and myself on the my feet. The trail doesn't give up easy though. With all the steep hills up gone down this last section meanders at barely a decline. And in two spots you climb higher again.

The track down

Some prayer flags??

I send a message to Emma. The mother of Nikki who owns the property, called Elk Camp, where the car is stored. (Sing that to the tune of "The Court of King Caractucus"), that I'm going to be later than I thought. Too much yapping to Steve I suppose. Emma agrees to meet me at the weir.

Finally the last section of track drops away in height and I come around a bend to see a picnic shelter. I hear my name called and walk a little trail to the shed and there is Emma and two other people to greet me at the end. I would have liked family there but having someone I know even for a short time is the next best thing. Emma has told the other people waiting of my impeding arrival so I get a small welcome which I do appreciate. With that it's done.

The start April 2021

A stone marks the end

The aches suddenly become more noticeable and I'm feeling both relieved and a little lost. We take a couple of photos which saved me another problem of trying to do it myself and drive down to Elk Camp. Emma and I sit for a cuppa and biscuits. Then when Emma leaves I sit and contemplate. The big plan in my head was Pepsi, Pizza and Port. I decide to go into town before my shower as I'm thinking I won't want to move after I'm all cleaned up. Pizza shop wasn't open so I got a roast chook and some coleslaw. Still had the Pepsi though. Steve sent a message to say he did have some RAT tests available so I drove to his place and we had more chats and a couple of beers. For those that thought my ending was going to be a bit flat be assured it was enough for me. The trail provided again.

It's done

The information board

I was early to bed that night and so endeth the adventure. I will add a couple of notes after on people that have helped but now my energy will go into doing the things I have to to get home. With the border opening on the 5th and then 14 days quarantine I'm still 3 weeks away before I can cuddle the family.

Day 249 Marysville to Mondo Yards

 VIC Day 25 (249) Saturday 29th January, 2022 29.3km

18.5km remaining!

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. In my head I had a distance of about 26 kilometres so I wasn't interested in moving quickly. I packed up and didn't start walking till after 7.30am. I wandered up town and had a look round.

The path out of Marysville

Marysville was burnt out in the bushfires and everything is newly built. I stopped at the bakery and got a croissant. Then walked past the oval and up to the track that disappears into the Forrest. It was at that point I had a sneaky suspicion I hadn't put my denture in the pack. I have one front tooth missing (knocked out by my vicious son) Over the years I've managed to break 3 so after the last trip I paid a big money for a titanium one. So to lose it would be expensive.

The path

The road

carry it in a little purple case as I don't like to wear it when I'm chewing on muesli or nut bars. Anyway, after going through the pack it wasn't there. I had to walk back to the caravan park to search for it. I found it but now it's getting late and as it turns out the day is more like 36 kilometres and I've just added another 2.

It's cooler today which makes the walking easier. The track meanders up through forests and slowly climbs. I thought I would see more people as it's the weekend. Up to 12:30pm I see no one. I did pass a walking group later. They were going to Mt Dom Dom. Also the afternoon brings on the climb and it just goes on and on. I'm looking at the time and it's getting late.

Up into the clouds

I'm moving up into the clouds and I'm saturated with sweat but now it's getting cold. The track is mainly through forests and is not that stimulating. I go past a bunch of boys having a good time camped by a river. It's not until 7:30pm I get to Monda Yards. Vision is about 50metres in the dense fog. I need to get directions to the water hole, eat dinner, diary entry and go to bed.

The waterhole

I have a table

Last night on the track. I hope for a good sleep.

Day 248 Marysville

 Zero day Marysville

Day 247 Keppels Hut to Marysville

 VIC Day 23 (247) Thursday 27th January, 2022 24.6KM

5182.1 / 49.8km

I started from the hut still dark.

The setup in the hut to keep bugs away

I only got about a kilometre when a thunderclap caused me to look at the radar and I stop and put up the tent fly over the groundsheet. Then I sit for 3 hours as the storm passes over.

A lot of rain so I eat breakfast drink coffee and guide the water around the groundsheet.

After the radar shows the storm had finally passed I start the long walk down the mountain. There is a lot of water and I have to jump a few trees until further down. I didn't hear any fall.

The Radar

Further down near Keppel Falls someone's cut a path through but not for cars. So I assume the road is only closed to cars.

After the storm still showers

That's until you get to the gate that says all personal prohibited. I did pass a family going up on mountain bikes so who knows.

Fallen trees

The after storm run-off

Anyway I walk down. The blackberry vine on this side has been poisoned in spots so I assume the National Parks do a little maintenance. There is a lot of water coming down the hill.

Keppel Falls

Lady Talbot Drive

I eventually got to Marysville about 3.30pm. I've booked a donga style room. Not bad value at $79, as long as other people don't make a lot of noise. 2 more days walking left. 1 zero day Marysville.

Town Entrance

Day 246 Royston River to Keppels Hut

 VIC 22 (246) Wednesday 26th January, 2022 17.5km

5157.5 / 74.4km

Not a long day. Not a happy day.

Packed up Ready to move Royston River

I started off OK and climbed out of the river valley. Sun came out and the flies started. I get up to the main road and at the turn off a notice telling me the track I'm to take is closed ahead.

The road 

The words no access to Keppels Hut, my next camp, or Marysville.

The road eventually came to a locked gate

I'm at a loss there is a long arse detour then a walk down a major road. So I decide to ignore and continue.

Stll Beautiful creeks

I get to the locked gate 4 kilometres later and it says it is closed due to dangerous falling trees. Since I've already walked across a lot of ground with the same tree problem so I continue on.

From what I can see its the difference between the National Park and State Forrest People on how they manage access. Anyway it's not a long day as I climb a 2 wheel 4wd track to Keppels Hut. I know I didn't take too many photos as the opportunities weren't numerous but I'm sure I'm missing a few.

By the time I get to the hut I've had enough of the flies and rush straight in to get some relief. I tried later to walk up the track to talk to Belinda where there was a signal but was chased back very quickly by the March fly swarm. So I collected water at a small stream beside the hut and went inside and stayed.

Day 245 Mount Terrible to Royston River

 VIC 21 (245) Tuesday 25th January, 2022 38.2km

5139.2 / 92.7 km

The day started well. There was a lovely sunrise with a fog down in the valley.

Sunrise

The Goulburn River Valley

The track drops off Mt Terrible down to the Jamieson Eildon Road. According to the book the camp for trekkers is down along there somewhere.

Love the tree

But I get down there by breakfast and decide to keep moving. A short walk up the bitumen and then back up the track to climb again.

Some Blackberries to chew on

My thoughts initially is to get as high as I can so tomorrow's walk is shorter. The March flies are horrendous. I would say I kill a fly every 5 minutes as they latch on somewhere. There's a constant buzz of them around me as I walk. Then there's the little black ones. I put on Aeroguard and that seems to stop them coming under the brim of the hat. The biggest problem is the lack of rest. I just can't sit for too long before the flies make it hard. So moving is best.

Taponga River

The track after breakfast just climbs and climbs and climbs. The day is hot and I'm dribbling sweat. There is water in creeks but getting to it through the blackberry bush is impossible. The consolation is the climb is via a road so is quite civilised. Until it turns into a track then it climbs steeper. I come across another sign saying I'm heading up into a logging area. All I can do is keep walking. I walk through a dead mountain ash forest with a lot of dead trees falling over.

Finally I get to a locked gate.

I'm not going back Down

I bypass it as I'm not going back and it's about 5pm and I get to the log stacking/loading area. Two gentleman are talking and I call out to see if I can bypass. Everyone except these two have gone home. They are a father/son duo and the father offers to give me a lift out of the logging zone down to where he turns off to go home. About 4 kilometres. Something I regret a little as it's the only downhill since breakfast.

He tells me the walk up Mt Bullfight also goes through another logging area so I decide to get past that. I think I've already done about 30kilometres and there's still daylight left. So climb the next hill. This is Mt Bullfight.

Thought I was going to Look

Decided against it

I get past the logging area but the road turns into a wheel track and is muddy but I'm looking for a clear spot to camp anywhere with no overhanging timber but the track just winds it way through BlackBerry vine on both sides.

Blackberry choking the sides

In the end I get down to Royston River to a clear spot beside the bridge. It's been a long day and it's after 8 pm.

I set up have a cup of tea and go to bed. I've covered a few kilometres and dropped a day of the schedule. They need to poison some of these declared weeds. It is out of control. Made me work though. Probably for the best. The public camping areas are busy and I reckon as the weekend comes it looks like it will be busier.