VIC Day 26 (250) Sunday 30th January, 2022 18.5km
5330km
I slept like a log. I can remember falling asleep as I was typing my diary. Wasn't the best entry. It was a fairly comfortable spot as I was not on my mattress. More like spooning my mattress. My right hip is very sore and I don't lie on it at all.
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| Set up the tent beside the table. Horse Yards over there. |
Kookaburras woke me as usual. Time to pack up one more time. It's funny how the mind jumps between excited anticipation and regret it's finishing. The morning is very clear up here. All the cloud is lower under an inversion layer and the top of this Ridge is very clear.
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| The grassy verge |
I walk the road and I was wondering why the edges are grassy and slashed. Then I read a sign that says they are strategic fire breaks.
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| The Road |
I do come across a sign that says the weir is only 6.5 kilometres. But the trail goes around and is another 14 kilometres.
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| A shortcut? |
I decide to finish on the trail and hope for a good view from Mt St Leonard. As it is cool and clear it is a pleasant walk along the road.
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| The road walk through trees and shadows |
I've sent a message to the people that have looked after my car in Healesville to expect me about lunchtime. I get to the road that climbs the mountain and I have to jump the gate to read another sign that tells me the viewing platform is closed. Sigh. I could have taken the shorter route if I'm not going to get a view.
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| The tower and the viewing platform |
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| Platform shut |
I walk up the mountain anyway and have my last trail breakfast. The lookout looks like and old radio tower and the wooden boards are rotten.
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| I've been reliably informed if the platform was open this would be the view |
I have my breakfast and notice a crack in my coffee cup. This looks like it's last journey. I pinched it out of the cupboard about 14 years ago and it's been on every walk since. It's Tupperware travel mug, but they don't make them with handles any more. Looks like we're all getting old.
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| The end of the cup. |
It's while I'm sitting there a man walks up with a bike helmet in his hand. I wondered where the bike was but he's left it down the track where it climbs steeply. We have a chat and in the end walk down to his bike together. His name is Steve and he lives in Healesville. He's interested in my walk and we chat about what I will do next. I tell him about the trip back to Perth and some of the hoops I will have to jump through. I'm booked in for my Covid booster shot in Croydon tomorrow about 45 minutes towards Melbourne and Belinda and I have been searching for a RAT kit that I will need 24 hours before I hit the border. Steve thinks he might have one available and has promised to check when he gets home.
We get to the bottom of the steep bit and we part ways. Him on his bike and myself on the my feet. The trail doesn't give up easy though. With all the steep hills up gone down this last section meanders at barely a decline. And in two spots you climb higher again.
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| The track down |
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| Some prayer flags?? |
I send a message to Emma. The mother of Nikki who owns the property, called Elk Camp, where the car is stored. (Sing that to the tune of "The Court of King Caractucus"), that I'm going to be later than I thought. Too much yapping to Steve I suppose. Emma agrees to meet me at the weir.
Finally the last section of track drops away in height and I come around a bend to see a picnic shelter. I hear my name called and walk a little trail to the shed and there is Emma and two other people to greet me at the end. I would have liked family there but having someone I know even for a short time is the next best thing. Emma has told the other people waiting of my impeding arrival so I get a small welcome which I do appreciate. With that it's done.
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| The start April 2021 |
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| A stone marks the end |
The aches suddenly become more noticeable and I'm feeling both relieved and a little lost. We take a couple of photos which saved me another problem of trying to do it myself and drive down to Elk Camp. Emma and I sit for a cuppa and biscuits. Then when Emma leaves I sit and contemplate. The big plan in my head was Pepsi, Pizza and Port. I decide to go into town before my shower as I'm thinking I won't want to move after I'm all cleaned up. Pizza shop wasn't open so I got a roast chook and some coleslaw. Still had the Pepsi though. Steve sent a message to say he did have some RAT tests available so I drove to his place and we had more chats and a couple of beers. For those that thought my ending was going to be a bit flat be assured it was enough for me. The trail provided again.
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| It's done |
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| The information board |
I was early to bed that night and so endeth the adventure. I will add a couple of notes after on people that have helped but now my energy will go into doing the things I have to to get home. With the border opening on the 5th and then 14 days quarantine I'm still 3 weeks away before I can cuddle the family.
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