Day 240 Black Soil Gully Track to Shillinglaw Creek

VIC Day 16 (240) Thursday 20th January, 2022 16.8km

5009.7 / 222.2km

As I went a little further than planned today could have been a short day. But first I have to climb a hill then lose all the elevation on the other side. Typical day really.

The track straight up lookout hill

The hill is called Mt Lookout. Unless the track goes to the top I'm not. Halfway up a bloke in a Ute drives up. The road is rough and I can hear his stuff bouncing around from a long way off. He stops for a chat. He has spent a couple of days higher up but the fog hasn't helped him hunt. So he's moving further down to pick up some meat and then will go home.

We talk about some noises I heard this morning . A honking type noise. He said it is deer when they get your scent. As I'm talking to him I notice his left hand shaking and he seemed nervous. Maybe just not good at conversation but the stories about the couple at Wonnangatta and burnt bodies at Grant...as he drives off my mind starts wandering. He obviously has a rifle.

I start walking on the inside edge of each turn as I climb. Looking for an escape path. Should I go down or up the hill. It's the first time my thoughts have gone dark. In the end the climb is to strenuous and I stop caring.

Then back down again

The road does not go up Mt Lookout and I don't bother to take the side road. Once I'm at the top it's time to go down. But I stop and check my map. This can't be right. A road well travelled, in good repair and at a gradient a 2wd car could handle. But yes it is. Victorians do know a little about road building and they have heard of switchbacks . I manage the 8 kilometre descent to Rumffs Flat without falling over or painful knees. But then I hit the camping areas.

The road is civilised in its gradient

A switchback

Shazza and Dazza have been here. Rubbish and excrement not conducive to my mental health so I climb the road out of Rumffs Flat.

Looks Ok as you walk in.

Till you see the rubbish. Ill spare you the toilet

I have a choice, climb over 1000 metres in 7 kilometres with the first 500 in 600 metres or do the same at a gentle 20 kilometres. I choose the long way. All I'm looking for is water and a clean flat spot and 6 kilometres later I come across Shillinglaw Creek crossing the road. Beautiful cool clear water with a shade relatively flat spot under a tree. Ahhh bliss.