Day 45 Exmoor

Monday 31st May, 2021 30.9km

1187.1 / 3911.8km

Quiet night. I love the remoter tracks. The roads I have been on aren't the busiest, but no cars is better.

Nine kilometre walk to Exemoor Homestead, and I can tell you cows are not the smartest animals. They see me and eventually run, but not away to the side, in front. I have chased them 100s of metres down the track and if they ran at right angles we would be parted so much sooner.

Drier country here

My morning path

Bowen River again

The walk is quiet and uneventful but I enjoy it, as after the homestead it's back to the road.

When I get to the homestead I talk to a man who doesn't actually live there and he tells me they are up the other property, so I walk out the front gate and am about 100 metres up the road when I hear a lady yelling. "Do I want breakfast or a cuppa?"

I think it would be rude to walk away since I've walked on their property all morning, so I return. Her name is Vicky and she invites me upstairs. I say yes to a coffee and I said I wouldn't mind some toast, not a big breakfast.

The track around to the homestead

The old homestead

I only wanted a coffee and toast, 
but got this instead

I end up with orange juice and water. She has leftovers in the fridge and I reluctantly say yes ok. I ended up with yesterday's scrambled eggs. A mix of steak, kidney and bacon stew, hash brown and roasted tomato. I polished it off and eventually get my coffee and two bits of toast. She makes good coffee so I asked for a second.

I'm thinking I wanted to put in a big day. Then the husband Errol arrives and I sit and talk. Must have been nearly two hours, meaning I don't have many breaks left if I want to get to where I planned.

I take a banana and my leave and set off once more.

The next stop is what they call Alligator Crossing on Little Bowen Creek, where I fill up my water and give my shirt a quick wash. Then it's a 15 kilometre slog down the road to a creek I'm told still has water, which will become my stop for the night.

I arrived just as the sun begins to set but have eaten and had a cuppa before the mosquito's get bad. Then a quick wash and into bed. Big hill climb tomorrow.

Some strange looks but no offeres 
to carry my pack

Little Bowen River crossing, I got water 
from the rock pool

Upsteam. Pond where cattle water and
 pelicans sit

The afternoon road