Day 10 Monday 26th April, 2021
I arranged a lift with Trevor out to Mowbray River Road to the Bump Track.
This was the old route into Mossman way back and was also the supposed escape route if the war ever paid a visit.
As I started up the track there were light showers which is ok as it keeps you cool. The climb seems never ending and it looks like it is a popular walkin track for those fit people. I had two of them breeze past me on the way up.
There are signs to stop and read which is good as it a reason to stop.
There is also a chair where you can admire the view.
My first real obstacle for the day, apart from the actual hill is a creek crossing that looks deep, I went up stream a little to where it was cascading over rocks but the rocks were too slippery to climb across . So it was back down to the track and remove the boots and socks and tie them to the pack and wade in. I used the walking poles to prod the bottom ahead of me and feel if its sand or rock then take a step and repeat. In the end it turned ot to be about waist deep at it maximum and I got through ok. Then dry off everything as well as I could, put the boots on and climb again.
The next creek I came across was running swiftly over a causeway and whilst it was about 300mm deep and fast the causeway had a concrete edge about 200 mm high so I balanced my way across them and only got a part of my boots wet.
I was climbing a range when the rain came down in buckets. So much for lighter showers over this side. I had to stop and cover the pack with garbage bags and sit under an umbrella for about a half hour of heavy rain.
After the range I started walking down to a swampy area that my maps mention is a great camp as the lagoon attracts a lot of birds. I was just finding it difficult to walk down the road as water was covering more and more of it and the grass to the side was just a saturated mess.
I eventually splashed my way to a point called Mick Macks Crossing only to see a raging torrent rushing across the track. I had a quick check but the depth was up to the top of my poles on just the road approach.
With the rain continuing I sat down on the highest bit of ground and messaged Belinda and we attempted to see if there was some easy way round it. With the rain I don't think I could have gone back across the creek behind me. The maps showed a road about 1.8 kilometres across country from me. I moved back down the road and the fenceline I needed to follow started on high ground so I decided to give that a go. It meant going through private property but I was going to ask forgiveness at the other side.
Belinda had found a trail angel in Mount Molloy who was willing to come and pick me up if I could get back to a manageable road. In the end I got to the road and was nearly back out on the main road when the property owner pulled up. By his questions and demeanor I don't think he was happy, but then what cane farmer is ever happy.
Peter Brown and his wife picked me up and took me back to their place and gave me dinner, shower and a bed. Now when Belinda wrote that Peter Brown was coming I was confused. I have a Facebook friend, ex army mate, Peter Brown and I was wondering why he was up here and when the car turned up I thought geeze your shorter and rounder from what I remember!
I rang the property manager for the next property I would be going through after Mount Molloy and it turns out the last 2 days rain has put a lot of water across the track. It would mean walking a fair few kilometres in water and mud. More rain due tonight would just make it worse. So Maps 10, 11, and 12 which were temporarily closed anyway are now out of my reach for at least a week of no rain.
I need another plan other than walking the highway from Mount Molloy to Mutchilba.
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