Day 83 Gin Gin - Mt Perry Road

Thursday 8th July, 2021

State Forest on the left, National Park on the right

Guava growing beside the road

Supposed camp at Boolbinda School

The Tunnel

My water which I took from the tank

Following track and Sunday Creek

Some yards

Following track and Sunday Creek

Now gravel road but I took his picture
as I liked his colour

I had a day planned that wasn't all that long leaving me a short 8 or 9 k to Mt Perry the following day...... that was the plan.

It started out OK with a continuing walk along the Gaeta Road that moves from the forest area back into cattle station country then as you get closer to the main Gin Gin Mt Perry Road, and smaller blocks.

A walk up the highway found me following the notes down a road for a kilometre only to end up at a fence, gate and a very large padlock and chain. I walked back to the main road and kept going down the hill knowing there was a turnoff further down that will get me to the Boolbinda tunnel.

I turned down a track only to see a BNT sign. So the track has changed, no updates on the website. Now the tree was starting to grow around the sign so it had changed from the notes a long time ago. No excuses for treating us users so shoddily with outdated information that could potentially have us in conflict with property owners. I have climbed lock gates before but I went round today because I knew there was another way and didn't want the hassle.

I got to the designated camp site of the Boolbinda School only to find it's now a cow paddock with a biosecurity sign and numbers to ring, and whilst it has rainwater tanks there are no taps to fill any bottles. So more out of date information. Is it really a campsite?

I decided to move on. Read the notes, but now I have very little confidence in them at all. $30 is what I paid for this book, I should send it back as a product not fit for purpose and get a refund.

At least there was a tunnel around the corner from the school when it came time to turn off the road. I was faced with following the book notes or just following the street signs to Mt Perry. Like a fool I chose the notebook and if it had disappointed me again then we could always say, that doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is madness.

However the walk down the trail through Sunday Creek Road is like a highlight of this section and not to be missed it's about 8 kilometres of following Sunday Creek along , a two wheel track then a cattle pad and back to a track then gravel road. Whilst I was getting tired it was another highlight of this section and the water and camping reserve was exactly where the notes said although not marked on the map.

I was glad the cow cocky had grazed his herd across the reserve as it made it easier to find a clear campsite. There was another group camping here in cars and I shared their fire, hot water and conversations into the evening.

The ups and downs in emotions on this trail are hard to describe. Overall though, I do have the shits with the management of the trail but continue to make my own adventures with what I've got. The phone finally died this night and the following morning Day 84 I walked the 4 kilometres into Mt Perry and got picked up by Belindas father and taken back to Hervey Bay for a break and some maintenance on equipment. Which will include a new battery pack I hope.