Day 38 - Burdekin Dam

Monday 24th May, 2021 42.4km

Ravenswood Coffee Shop. Not open Mondays or Tuesdays

There was a little discussion last night about the Burdekin Dam. The sign says the road is closed but I really want to visit Ravenswood. It's a 2 day 40 kilometre walk or one day if I got my butt into gear but I'm just not feeling it this morning. Wonder why?

However, I do hit the road at 6.30am and get a couple of hours in when Ivan (who also does the post run) rolls up. He is going all the way to the dam with mail and I am welcome to go along. It will finally answer the question by talking to the man in charge out there.

So we head of first to Ravenswood to drop off and pick up mail. Then head out towards the dam dropping mail at the properties on the way.

The Road I didn't want to take

Ravenswood Post office and general store

I get to meet the Sunwater man and under no circumstances will he take me through the wall (unless I was dying apparently) and since the water is still overflowing the road is out as well. To get that into context the water is 30 millimetres over the wall and the road has three dips in it which looked like they would be no more than ankle deep. But the book says... and he follows the book. Doesn't matter that I forded creeks and rivers up to waist deep to get here. There were people at the dam but I couldn't speak to any boaties that would be around for the next week. It's at least a 3 day walk from Ravenswood. So this path is a bust and the alternate is a 100 kilometre walk to Home Hill and a 200 kilometre walk back.

My plan involves Ivan to dropping me back at Ravenswood and I wander around there for the rest of the day. Then I will spend the next two days walking north back to Mingela. Thursday 8.10am I am booked on the Douglas coach to Townsville where they drop me at Stockland. Then I catch the local bus to get to the city to get the Greyhound to Bowen to arrive at 3.45pm, then in Bowen I jump on a bus leaving at 4.15pm to go to Collinsville. About $90 in fares.

Good plan but I've had many of them turn to dust so far.

The good news is the new boot wobble I experienced last night has disappeared

Mondays are not the best day to visit Ravenswood as it is their weekend but it was a joy to wander around town. The bloke next to the Railway Hotel has a few old Mustangs and a couple of El Camino Ute's. I hope they don't rust away.

Post office and general store

Free camping is either beside the hotel in town if you can find a bit of grass. But there is also free powered sites about 300 metres east of the post office at the showgrounds with showers apparently but I didn't walk down there to find out.

I did some washing, had a good feed and will leave for the walk back to Mingela.

Ivan is due to do his run again Wednesday and I won't say no to a lift back to Mingela that afternoon.

Railway Hotel

The hallway to guest accomodation

Ambulance Station

Dining Room at the Imperial Hotel

The free campsite beside the Railway Hotel

Mustang and Corvette ?

Old Courthouse

A collection of muscle

Behind the Imperial Hotel

Day 38 out to the Dam

The free campsite beside the Railway Hotel