Day 63 Zero day at Kabra

Friday 18th June, 2021

I started to wash everything in the pack yesterday. The hotel allowed me to wash my clothes and I continued to scrub everything else. Some of my bags holding my gear were grubby and that sand from the camp at the Fitzroy was stuck on everything.

Kabra Hotel

I didn't check if I could bus it to Rockhampton as I had got my food drop pretty right here. I was out of most food which is much better than carrying too much. So it was wash, relax, watch TV and generally laze around. I've got a couple of niggles that appreciate a break even if it's only a day.

Being a Friday night the pub was busy at dinner time. The raffles were on and I gave them $5 worth of pocket change as it's getting quite heavy. Next thing I know I've won and they give two $50 notes. Not a bad exchange. Nearly thought about another zero day but in the end I've planned a pretty slow start so I'll keep moving.

Kabra hotel. Top pub. Good food.

Cleaning the water filter

lots of sand

Keeping the line full

Food for the next leg

winnings!

Day 62 to Kabra

Fitzroy River this morning

Thursday 17th June, 2021 46.7km

1686.4 / 3412.5km

Camp spot. All packed up

The night had a little bit of rain and a few rumbles from passing thunderstorms. Today was a hike to a creek camp beside the main highway. I had checked it out when I dropped the foodboxes and I wasn't a fan. It is very noisy with trucks and coal trains running all night. I had decided I would look for a stealth camp before the highway. Then tomorrow do a 17k walk straight down the highway to the new Kabra hotel which isn't in

Kabra but 1 kilometre further east on the highway.

So first I had to walk from the river back out to the Rosewood road. Then just a plod along that road.

Sunrise

Going over the range I came across an injured bush turkey. I let Belinda know where it was thinking she might ring Wildlife Carers if they were around here. She suggested roast dinner.

On the same range I saw the cooling Towers of the Power Station. I stopped for lunch at a corner where the official trail takes a turn to a scenic route or I could go straight on a more direct route. I had miscounted my days and I had no more breakfast lunch or snacks left in the tucker bag. One of the reasons I was planning a highway march so I could stop at the store in Stanwell.

It became moot when a car stopped and offered me a lift, which I declined but he insisted. The driver was determined to chat to me as he wanted to do a long walk but along the Dingo fence. Once I was in the car I got a lift all the way to the Kabra hotel and we eventually parted. I wonder if he will ever do his walk.

That meant I was in for some pub grub and Kabra does it well. There are three levels of accomodation. I could camp, go to a single man's donga or a motel style room. I opted for the motel. Only 4 rooms and the highway and train noise is still heard all night. Room comes with continental breakfast which is in the room so I ate 2 cereals and my toast for afternoon tea. Scotch fillet for dinner and I am a happy man.

Last of the cereal but I added sugar

Emu Creek I presume

Injured bustard

Can just see the Stanwell smoke stacks

Day 61 Fitzroy River

The start of the day. Blue skies but fog rolling in

Wednesday 16th June, 2021 33.3km

1639.7 / 3459.2km

Rain was predicted for the next 3 days.

Whilst there were storms about I only had showers that just kept me wet and with the fog it is also very warm . I sweat a lot and that means I have a lot water to filter, but with the rain it's all muddy and it's clogging the filter quickly.

The fog rolls in

I move off the trail to look at some modern gold diggings and walked across country towards the mentioned (guidebook) Rosewood cemetery. Along the way I came across a memorial put up on the location of an old hotel. The cemetery wasn't full of headstones but sad to see two children lost to parents.

Modern equipment at Rosewood Diggings.
Didn't play out I suppose.

The trail towards the end of the day was supposed to follow a reserve down to the Fitzroy River. It seemed to start alright with timbered lane way. Then it just finishes in paddocks and I took a gamble and picked a fence. About 5 kilometre later I messaged Belinda. I didn't seem to be getting where I was supposed to be. My map didn't show a road ahead but Belinda assured me I had about 500 metres to reach said road. Then 900 metres more to reach the river. A long day and a muddy wade to get gritty water.

Found this memorial. Private property signs
everywhere but I was coming across country

I only just managed to get everything done before the sun set. Not ideal after a long day. It rained during the night and the sand here is the sticky type, it's fine and gets into everything. Before I came this way I was contemplating going down the road as this way adds about 6 kilometres overall to the walk. Wasn't quite worth the effort in the end. Maybe for horse people but the fences might cause a problem.

Rosewood Cemetary

Headstones children couple of days and
5 months and maybe their mother beside.

More of the family

Homestead on the hill

This is the start of the reserve.
Notice it's been eaten out before
the station paddocks each side.

camp set up on Fitzroy river

Day 60 Book 3 Map 19

Wet morning, plenty of water but muddy

Tuesday 15th June, 2021 24.4km

1606.4/3492.5km

The night was rainy but I had a good spot that didn't turn to a mud pit. I can tell as soon as I put my pack on that the legs don't want to play today. I would have liked to get another 30 or so kilometres in today.

With the cloud cover the day is warm. I'm walking through the area the storm passed and by the end of the day I will walk out of the southern edge, so it was a fairly narrow band of about 10k wide. Talking to a cocky later on he said he received 25mm in the gauge but they did have hail that covered the ground.

When I saw this sign I thought of a BBC crime
drama with David Tennant as lead detective.

Around lunchtime the clouds moved on and then the sun beat down on me. The temperature is back up and I'm dribbling sweat all afternoon. Another station owner rolls up and offers me some water which I take. I've decided I'm not trying the 30 kilometres today but will pull up at about the 24 kilometre mark. He offers to drive me the couple of km to the windmill which I accept. We have a bit of a chat and I get his name and number as we do cross his station and he is not on the official list. He likes talking to trail people and has put a few up . I'm passed his homestead though so I miss out. Bugger.

We talked about a few things and one was that people that have passed through and stayed in contact have said that they enjoyed the Northern Queensland part more than they realised after doing south. Made me think a little as I've only met so far 2 people that I would call grumpy.

High ground looking South

Also along this whole section whenever I set up camp I deliberately do it in sight of the road. On other trails in more populated areas I normally try to hide my camping spot from passing eyes. People up here have had a chat, offered me lifts, put me up for nights and fed me without asking anything in return. I suppose that makes it a much nicer experience. Hopefully it continues and I don't meet that one Mick Taylor (movie reference Wolf Creek)

Going across the valley

Tried a capture but managed to crack the screen protector. Getting a waist that let's my pack slide down my hips

This afternoons camp beside the road about 15m
to the right.Only 2 drivers noticed me out
of 7 vehicles.

Day 59 Glenroy Crossing

A little bit of elevation

Monday 14th June, 2021 30.8km

1582 / 3516.9km

The rain sort of came with drops every now and then.

Belinda sent a message to say a line of thunderstorms was moving mainly south of me. I walked all day listening to the rumble of thunder and the occasional spot of rain.

Foresthome Homestead

After about 17 kilometres I was on a rise watching a storm come across the valley. It was still south of me but I wasn't keen to walk into it. I kept my eye on it as I walked also looking for cover if I needed it. Standing alone on a bare rise in the middle of the road was making me nervous.

I kept walking as I watched it move in front of me. It had that dark green tinge of a hail storm about it. In the end I got a small shower and a little wind but I walked into the area it had passed and it must have dropped a lot of rain and the road was covered in leaf debris, so the wind must have been pretty wild.

The table drains and the creeks had water but it was very muddy of course. I ended up walking all the way through to Glenroy Crossing on the Fitzroy River where I picked up my water and moved up the road to camp. There is still thunder and showers come along frequently. Not heavy just enough to keep the ground muddy.

Lovely faces

I made a quick noodle dinner and got into the tent to listen to the rain. It sounds much more than it is when in the tent but it lulled me asleep. Big day and I was knackered again. Watch tells me I need 3 days to recover. I'm starting to believe it as it seems to get my body battery fairly right. Belinda will be happy with my camp, it's just up from the crocodile warning sign.

I tried to get the colour. This storm
dropped 25mm rain and hail

The cows all hid, I was going to join them

Crocodile warning

Day 58 Marlborough South

Sunday 13th June, 2021 24.2km

Walk out the Sarina Marlborough Rd

1551.2 / 3547.7km

The walk out of Marlborough is on the Old Sarina Road, about a kilometre north of the caravan park. So back on the highway and go north till I then turn west for a couple of kilometres then finally southish.

The country is a lot more timbered

Marlborough Creek. Interesting rock art

I remember Craig saying he was coming out this way to work today but with the later start I thought I had missed him. But about 2 hours into the walk they came down the road and offered me a lift up until the mine turn off a couple of k's down the road. They were working at the nickel mine but you could see the remnants of the old chrysopase mine.

Filled up from flowing creek

This red and green parrot was
following me down the road.

I blinked and missed the old Marlborough townsite. It was moved to the rail line where it is today. I crossed the Marlborough Creek where I filled up with water, it was flowing well but I wasn't that dirty. The area around that creek was heavily timbered so I carried my water up to the next creek which was dry but had grassy open patches much better to camp.

There is cloud cover and it feels like it's going to be a warm night. Rain is predicted.

Day 57 Zero Day at Marlborough

Day 57 Saturday 12th June, 2021

I was able to stay in bed for an extra hour as I needed to go to the shop and try and work lunch out for 6 days. No wraps here at grandma's Cafe. They didn't open till 8 as Grandma, who usually opens at 6.30am was away in Rockie. Her daughter doesn't do early apparently.

I walked to the shop but couldn't come up with a weight friendly solution. I picked up some biscuits and cheese. But wasn't happy. There is a Puma service station on the outskirts and I needed to make a few phone calls on my dying phone. Said goodbye to Craig who will post my book to Perth on Monday and wandered past the shop again. Then onto the Puma. They had muesli bars but at $5 each and 12 required would have been an expensive solution. I did spy a chicko roll and a double expresso and would later regret that purchase.

The solution was to stop and catch up with family and friends for the day. Moved over to the motel/caravan park across the road and stayed still for the day. This proved fortunate as the motel has a little shop and had nice and natural muesli bars at $4 a box. They had other supplies like noodles etc which grandma's was short on. I don't want to cook lunch so a couple of boxes of bars was it.

I used the opportunity to wash and the charger worked as the day warmed up. I Grandma's did have a charger for $30 but I decided to leave it for now. The one thing that Grandma's does is good food. The chicko roll and iced coffee was making me queasy. The walk back into town is about 2 kilometres. But had to make do with the motel restaurant dinner. Which was OK. Finished the day off with a couple of beers and some mindless television. 

An old harverster of some sort

Side of Gypsy wagon

The gypsy wagon used by Craig and
Shirley
on the Trail

Day 56 to Marlborough

Another clear and cold morning

Friday 11th June, 2021 27.1km

1527 / 3571.9km

Another cold night. Apparently a cold front is moving through and I can expect another couple of nights.

Today the plan is to get to Marlborough. It's a 10k walk down this backroad then I can choose to either go out to the highway or continue for a short while along farm tracks next to the rail line. Belinda said maybe someone will offer me a ride? I wish. For a start there has to be traffic and for the first 2 hours nothing comes past.

The road south

In the end I decide to stick with the rail line. I walk slightly slower but I'm not worried about traffic. I enjoy the walk and get a few more toots until it's time to hit the highway. However it's now only 5 kilometres so should only take an hour.

following the rail line

I see my first live snake just as I step off into the grass as a truck passes, I think it was trying to warm up on the bitumen. All I could tell was, it was black.

I get into Marlborough about 2pm and head straight to the post office just to notice a sign on the door saying its closed for show holiday. That's Rockhampton show. However the lady sees me and opens up to give me the parcel and she also takes my excess stuff and posts it on. Very kind and I'm thankful.

I go to the pub as they offer $5 per person camping with a shower. I was just selecting my spot under a tree and talking to Belinda to book me a room at the motel out on the highway. The museum is closed on the weekend which is a bummer as I was looking forward to looking around here, as Marlborough first mined chrysoprase a mineral like Jade and was supposed to be the best in the world.

another toot!

As I was standing there a gentleman rolled up and introduced himself. He is Craig Landy who did the trail with his partner in the early years in a self built Gypsy wagon. He wrote a book, The flight of the Black Cockatoo, which I bought off him and he signed it for me. He offered me a bed and to cook tea so I threw the pack in his ute. Had a couple of beers with him at the pub and chinwagged into the night.

Another generous person on the trail. I was glad for the bed as even in the house it was very cold. Having trouble charging my stuff as the charger doesn't seem to like cold weather. It didn't seem to charge my battery pack at all and said it would take 7 hours to charge my phone. I get better results from my solar panel.

Me and the cows know which way to go

The track out to the highway