Day 170 Nundle State Forest

 NSW Day 28 (170) Wednesday 10th November, 2021

3509.8 / 1589.1KM

Heading off down there

The weather forecast was not good. There was 200mm of rain predicted over three days. BOM had a few things wrong in the past but with the country already wet it was a little concerning as to how much I could put up with.

It was 4 days to Nundle where I was planning to resupply. The other option was to divert into Walcha and sit out the bad weather. In the end I tried to go round main roads to shorten the journey to Nundle.

Turn off down to Nundle

I was watching the weather build as I got a lift to an intersection that put me about 60 kilometres out of Nundle. I set off hoping for a lift but I was on a road to Tamworth which is not exactly close to Nundle. In the end I got dressed in my wet weather gear and just hoofed it. I was lucky I seemed to weave between storm centres. Still got fairly wet but I didn't get the full brunt of about 3 thunderstorms. I did have a few bowel loosening moments when lightning and thunder were close. Cows hiding in patches of trees watched me as I plodded past.

The road and the storms

The track turns down the road to Nundle via a state forest. Trucks carting logs were about the only regular traffic I saw and they weren't picking me up. I had walked from about midday and clocked up about 25 kilometres when I started looking for a spot to camp. It needed to be well drained, protected from the wind and in an open patch away from falling tree branches.

More roads

With the rain most of the creeks were running but they were dirty water. I came across a creek running from the forest that was running across grass lined gullies thus was clear so I stopped for water there and filled up the 3litre bladder. It was while I was in the creek the only car went past. Not saying they would have given me a lift but I wasn't on the road to ask.

Someone painted on the tree. I did get
one bar so it was good to know.

So onwards until I saw a track leading off on a rise. I found a spot that met the requirements and set up my tent. I was glad to finally sit out of the showers. I could hear the wind blowing but unless the direction changed I was OK. I dried off best I could and set up. I'm the end I slept in my wet weather gear with minimal stuff out in case I had to move quickly.

There was a lot of rain and thunder but the tent did ok. I was a bit worried about it as even though it's fairly new it has had a few years worth of use on this trip when you think about it. I have gaffer tape on the ground sheet. The tent inner has been chewed by mice and has gaffer tape and fixomul patching holes. The tent fly is still OK with sealing tape still on the joins.

I slept fairly soundly in the end. I have to do over 30 kilometres into Nundle tomorrow with worse weather predicted.