Hiking the National Trail - Australia: Day 39

Tuesday 25th May 2021 (back tracking)

Up early and had a continental breakfast and then wandered up the road. 

The diversion walk that ended on a mine road and a locked gate.

I was following the book out of town, this time from the south and about 3 kilometres in I come to a gate with all the warnings and a locked gate. Checked and rechecked the notes looked around a bit but had to admit defeat and retrace my steps back into Ravenswood. 

A couple of hours later and I'm back to where I started. So onto the main road, a quick stop up the top shop for a ginger beer and a picnic, then the slow plod north. I had to remind myself it was the shorter option. 

Out the front of the top camping area

Miners Hut

A couple of kilometres in and the local Policeman pulls up. He is on 4 week temporary transfer to Ravenswood. He has also done a few walks and was interested in a chat. I accepted the lift of 8 or so kilometres to Kirk River an official camp on the trail. I wanted to check it out for the couple following me. Also I don't get the bus to Townsville till Thursday and getting to Mingela too early won't help. 

Old and New. You can see a mine truck dumping tailings and the dozer.

The farmers here on most large waterways are fencing right to the bridge. Same at Kirk River and I couldn't find water within the road confines. I have been told there would be water east up the river at the abandoned homestead and yards (Didn't check it our though).  I did check the two mentioned dams . 

The first dam, just near Kirk River was very close to a house. May as well go into the house and ask. The second one I didn't see. Further up the road at a turn-off to Silver Valley and Pandanus was a dam down in the paddock but all I got from that was mud and tadpoles. I still tied the dirty water to my pack and kept walking just in case. I finally came to water at Little Oakey Creek where I could see water overflowing a tank in a nice steady waterfall. These yards are part of a horse place. I had to climb the locked gate twice to get the water I wanted.  Filtered 3 litres and carried another 3 litres in the dirty water bag for the evening camp. I walked a couple of kilometres looking for a good camp spot and decided to go up a creek just off the road. A long day over 30 kilometres covered with about 25 walked. 
Beside the road. Penny Silk died in her boyfriend's arms after swerving to avoid a kangaroo. 23 years old just trained as a teacher and working at Ravenswood school.