Day 122 Emerdale Station

Up the Road

Monday 16th August, 2021 17.6km

2600.2/2498.7km

In some ways I can see by reading the notes over the past couple of days I'm kidding myself. 

Hello my lovelies
I have had enough. I'm sick of waking up in Qld. I'm tired. I'm homesick. I have the spring allergy headache. I wake up with the taste of blood as my sinuses weep all night and congregate at the back of my throat. I miss my children. I miss Belinda. 

I'm looking at NSW and wondering why I would bother crossing the border. If I'm not going to cross the border why keep walking. I'm pretty sure in my head if I stop and go home I won't return to finish the trail. It's too big a commitment to make twice for myself and Belinda.

I don't want to move
I want to finish the trail, I've worked over 5 years to get here. The thoughts about quitting piss me off just as much as the trail does at the moment. Taking a break wasn't the answer. My age is coming into play and I just dont have the recovery of the body that I used to have.  An isolated "Covid " recovery doesn't fix the homesickness. If I pass into NSW then I'm not going to see family till I finish. I can't speed up with NSW, ACT. VICTORIA in bloody lockdown. I got held up with the Qld lockdown. NSW country areas locked down till 22 August now moved to 28th August. I was aiming for the border for the 28th. Not confident that wont change again. To speed up I need a lighter pack weight. Not being able to cross borders means food drops in isolated places can't be done and I'm looking at either carrying 10 to 16 days or find a few more people to be generous.
Emervale

Now I've got all that off my chest I have to get up and move.  Not the biggest day planned at about 18k but there is no cheat code.

Emervale Homestead
The trail starts out on a busy road then turns right down a minor road that slowly becomes less of a road until I pass Clay Gully homestead where it becomes a station track. When it runs out I walk a grassy area which then goes across a boggy paddock then through a gate onto Emervale Station. Then the tracks goes in reverse ie grassy track, two wheeled track, gravel track to homestesd them gravel road to main road again.   It is a privilege to be able to walk these paths. 

The alarm system
At Emervale there is a stone hut on the station they kindly allow National Trail Trekkers to stay at. I'm not always happy in these huts but with the wind howling most the night iI am at least sheltered. 

Another great little section to add to weekend walks. I missed meeting the station owners as they were out when I rolled up at the homestead.  I was told that I missed a couple of great people. 