Day 77 Kroombit Tops 2

Friday 2nd July, 2021 24.7km

Can you see where I've been?

1980.2 / 3118.7km

11 weeks since I started in Cooktown.

Today is a walk across station tracks that is also the southern way into the Kroombit Tops from Monto. I think the major road must come from Calliope as I couldn't imagine those caravans at Griffith Creek coming up this way. 

The creek needs a good flow

The rain comes in patches and I'm a little worried as I haven't been able to get much charge into my electronics in the past couple of days, and a few more days to come apparently.

The walk just meanders across the Plains following Munholme Creek, another creek that hasn't had a flow for a while. 6 years I found out later. 

A Prickly Pear in a stump

I meet the owner of Stony Creek Station, the property I've been going across. It was a difficult conversation as I mumble and he was deaf. He doesn't see too many walkers apparently. I wonder what he would think if it became popular. 

The official campsite is at the back end of the Cannia Dam. I decide to move further up the road which is now an official road and thus a road reserve to play in. 

Stony Creek Station

A family in a Toyota pass me. They had passed me this morning on the way to Kroombit. About 5 minutes up the road the father had stopped and is pumping up the tyres. They had not gone all the way up as it was getting wetter and the hard clay bits on some of the steep slopes was very slippery. I stopped for a chat and we talked about the walk, what I ate etc. Then the wife does the unthinkable and offers me one of hubby's beers. A quick glance at hubby to make sure and I accept. It's a Byron Bay something but I chug it down fairly quick as I don't want to carry the bottle. She offers me a softdrink as well and I take a Sunkist Orange for dinner. I refuse the bread and everything else she offers. Kind people from Bundaberg at Cania Gorge for the wet weekend. Forgot to get their names. But much appreciated. 

Dead Man's Bend

I meet the owner of the property where the official camp is. He doesn't think the water reserve exists any more. Something the National Trail people should follow up as there have been a couple of these reserves that seem to be incorporated into properties and the lack of use might be reinforcing their belief they no longer exist. We talked about the rain due. He was hoping for Creek running rain, I'm not so much.  I ask him to think of me as it rains on his roof tonight. 

We share water. I like it when the valve is exposed
as I don't have to dip into the trough.

A few more km under my belt this afternoon shortens tomorrows walk and I find a spot beside a fence the cows have conveniently flattened for me, kick a few poos aside and all is good. 

I set up the tent in the rain which involves setting the groundsheet and fly up first then putting everything under to do the rest in the relative dry. Putting up this way helps pulling it down in reverse in the morning if it's raining.