Day 60 Book 3 Map 19

Wet morning, plenty of water but muddy

Tuesday 15th June, 2021 24.4km

1606.4/3492.5km

The night was rainy but I had a good spot that didn't turn to a mud pit. I can tell as soon as I put my pack on that the legs don't want to play today.  I would have liked to get another 30 or so kilometres in today. 

With the cloud cover the day is warm.  I'm walking through the area the storm passed and by the end of the day I will walk out of the southern edge, so it was a fairly narrow band of about 10k wide. Talking to a cocky later on he said he received 25mm in the gauge but they did have hail that covered the ground. 

When I saw this sign I thought of a BBC crime
drama with David Tennant as lead detective.

Around lunchtime the clouds moved on and then the sun beat down on me.  The temperature is back up and I'm dribbling sweat all afternoon. Another station owner rolls up and offers me some water which I take.  I've decided I'm not trying the 30 kilometres today but will pull up at about the 24 kilometre mark. He offers to drive me the couple of km to the windmill which I accept. We have a bit of a chat and I get his name and number as we do cross his station and he is not on the official list.  He likes talking to trail people and has put a few up . I'm passed his homestead though so I miss out. Bugger.

We talked about a few things and one was that people that have passed through and stayed in contact have said that they enjoyed the Northern Queensland part more than they realised after doing south. Made me think a little as I've only met so far 2 people that I would call grumpy.  

High ground looking South

Also along this whole section whenever I set up camp I deliberately do it in sight of the road.  On other trails in more populated areas I normally try to hide my camping spot from passing eyes. People up here have had a chat, offered me lifts, put me up for nights and fed me without asking anything in return.  I suppose that makes it a much nicer experience. Hopefully it continues and I don't meet that one Mick Taylor (movie reference Wolf Creek)