Day 38 - Burdekin Dam

Monday 24th May, 2021 42.4km

Ravenswood Coffee Shop. Not open Mondays or Tuesdays

There was a little discussion last night about the Burdekin Dam. The sign says the road is closed but I really want to visit Ravenswood. It's a 2 day 40 kilometre walk or one day if I got my butt into gear but I'm just not feeling it this morning. Wonder why?

However, I do hit the road at 6.30am and get a couple of hours in when Ivan (who also does the post run) rolls up. He is going all the way to the dam with mail and I am welcome to go along. It will finally answer the question by talking to the man in charge out there.

So we head of first to Ravenswood to drop off and pick up mail. Then head out towards the dam dropping mail at the properties on the way.

The Road I didn't want to take

Ravenswood Post office and general store

I get to meet the Sunwater man and under no circumstances will he take me through the wall (unless I was dying apparently) and since the water is still overflowing the road is out as well. To get that into context the water is 30 millimetres over the wall and the road has three dips in it which looked like they would be no more than ankle deep. But the book says... and he follows the book. Doesn't matter that I forded creeks and rivers up to waist deep to get here. There were people at the dam but I couldn't speak to any boaties that would be around for the next week. It's at least a 3 day walk from Ravenswood. So this path is a bust and the alternate is a 100 kilometre walk to Home Hill and a 200 kilometre walk back.

My plan involves Ivan to dropping me back at Ravenswood and I wander around there for the rest of the day. Then I will spend the next two days walking north back to Mingela. Thursday 8.10am I am booked on the Douglas coach to Townsville where they drop me at Stockland. Then I catch the local bus to get to the city to get the Greyhound to Bowen to arrive at 3.45pm, then in Bowen I jump on a bus leaving at 4.15pm to go to Collinsville. About $90 in fares.

Good plan but I've had many of them turn to dust so far.

The good news is the new boot wobble I experienced last night has disappeared

Mondays are not the best day to visit Ravenswood as it is their weekend but it was a joy to wander around town. The bloke next to the Railway Hotel has a few old Mustangs and a couple of El Camino Ute's. I hope they don't rust away.

Post office and general store

Free camping is either beside the hotel in town if you can find a bit of grass. But there is also free powered sites about 300 metres east of the post office at the showgrounds with showers apparently but I didn't walk down there to find out.

I did some washing, had a good feed and will leave for the walk back to Mingela.

Ivan is due to do his run again Wednesday and I won't say no to a lift back to Mingela that afternoon.

Railway Hotel

The hallway to guest accomodation

Ambulance Station

Dining Room at the Imperial Hotel

The free campsite beside the Railway Hotel

Mustang and Corvette ?

Old Courthouse

A collection of muscle

Behind the Imperial Hotel

Day 38 out to the Dam

The free campsite beside the Railway Hotel

Day 37 Mingela

Sunarise bring in the morning.... fluttering her skirts all around

Sunday 23rd May, 2021 28.6km

807.4 / 4291.5km

Another day of walking the Dotswood Road with a goal of getting to Mingela this evening.

Not much has changed, with the walk continuing through the training area. It was a little warmer than yesterday until some cloud cover came over. I knew I was in for a longer day as I have to cover nearly 30 kilometres.

Finally through to the other side of the training ground

I filled up with water at a cattle trough. 5 minutes later a car stops and we have a chat and they offer me some bottled water. I had to say no as I was looking forward to my filtered cow snot water.

Someone had been drinking Pepsi Max and throwing the cans out just to torment me. If any one is driving past I invite them to take a shot at me with a Pepsi Max tin. Just make it full and cold.

This patch of walking is where the discipline to get up and move comes in. You know there is not much interesting to take your mind off things. I let my mind wander and think of conversations I wish I had and conversations I want to have and conversations I should have had. You can beat yourself up a bit but I realise I can not be perfect so mistakes were made. Learning is a big thing. Also wandering alone on outback roads tends to minimise the mistakes I can make.

Too shy to stay in the photo

I shared the cows trough water

I finally get to the Mingela Hotel and meet Ivan and Moana in person. They are Kiwis who bought the pub 21 years ago. Whilst I am there there would only be two other customers.

They agree to make me a parmi dinner. Whilst the parmigiana is out of a box there are a lot of fresh vegetables and I scoff broccoli and cauliflower with a couple of good sized potatoes and the obligatory beans and carrots. Topped with some bread and gravy you may get the impression this was the most exciting thing for the day. Well the four beers I consumed and then Ivan offered me a complimentary shot of his port was the topper of the day.

Instead of making me set-up the tent next to the public toilets across the road. Moanna who had mowed the lawn out back of the pub offered me the grass free of charge. The pack seemed heavy and the new boots a little wobbly as I went out to set up in the dark.

Soundly asleep not much later.

I resisted the temptation to pick it up and see if there was any left in it

Civilisation. If Mingela can be classed as such

Mingela Hotel

Day 36 High range

I was looking out the tent and then noticed the debris up the tree

Saturday 22nd May, 2021 23.2km

778.8 / 4320.1 km

Early start today. There was a lot of traffic movement last night. The road winds it way south between the army training range at High Range. I'm restricted to the road reserve with signs on the fences every 50 metres reminding me.

Some of the findings on the track this morning. The toilet paper was the most needed.

I eat the dust of a few convoys of army vehicles which still seems like a pack up phase.

Sometimes the trail provides and today was one of those days. In the shuffle of my car south, I haven't filled my toilet bag. This consists of soap, baby wipes and toilet paper. I was contemplating what I need to do, when I come across a part roll of toilet paper. There was also an army condiment pack from their ration pack, a long zip tie (which will come in handy), a little bungy cord and a 100 millimetre shifting spanner.

Another convoy coming and some more dust to chew on

The day is cool and overcast with some drizzle occasionally. Not a day for the Solar recharge but not a bad day for walking. Whilst there is not much to see, except for birds, I haven't seen any other animals. I cover a lot of ground quickly and arrive at Fanning River just after lunch. There is no water between here and Mingela so I stop for the day and will tackle that tomorrow. I set up camp in the river bed after checking the weather forecast and have a nice long rest.

More of the same tomorrow.

The view. These signs are on both sides of the road every 50 metres.

Day 35 Dotswood Rd

 Day 35 Friday 21st May, 2021 5km

755.6 / 4343.3km

On the road again

Mal made me a smashed avocado on toast breakfast and kindly loaned me his car. I finally get to see the new boots sent from Wildearth. The sole is glued on the same as the boots that failed but hopefully much better. I now have to go to the post office to send both boots back plus I will need to send a parcel back to Fred with the thongs I wore on the plane. I also need to buy gas as you can't fly with it and pick up milk. Just because I have the car.

Eating a bit of dust from the army movements

Mal and Mary then drive the nearly 100k back up Hervey Range Road to drop me off and start the walk again. The army is up here in abundance playing with all their toys but it looks like it's the tail end of the exercise. When we pull over to drop me off, a Bushmaster pulls in behind us and a head pops out a hole in the top to see if we had broken down. Nope! Just a mad man walking.

Goodbyes over, it's back to the plod down the road.

Not far today to get to Keelbottom Creek, which is still running. I share the creek bed with a couple of local campers with their camper trailer setups. I might see a few more as it's the weekend coming up.

Keelbottom Creek

Admiring the new boots

Chicken curry but I've added toasted almonds to the menu

Days 29 to 34 - Resupply / relocation of car

Saturday 15th May, 2021

Waited for Mal at an old gravel quarry. I only moved about 2 kilometres from where I camped. He picked me up about 10.30 am and then took me back to his place. We got my car out and I went shopping see what. I could get for the next leg, like gas and dehydrated food. I have worked out a different plan and menu so I can carry at least 10 days food. The drops will be at accomodation centres or post offices.

Sunday 17th May, 2021

It was much the same with me visiting more camping shops trying to get the dehydrated food that the plan requires. Mal is looking after me with a bed and food etc so I haven't had to worry about that. I had a look around Townsville and spent some time on The Strand.

Monday 18th May, 2021

Final shop and waiting to see if the 2nd pair of boots get delivered and as no new boots arrived I set off to drop the food boxes. First stop was Ravenswood. Looks like the dam will stay up and it is very iffy on whether I will get across. The alternative is the Bruce highway which is at least 90 kilometres from Ravenswood. I would then probably catch a bus to Collinsville. I slept the night in the car at the comfort stop in Home Hill. Free camp plus hot showers.

Tuesday 19th May, 2021

I drove to Collinsville trying to find someone willing to hold the box and is central to town. I do have to shop for cereal and bread type stuff (wraps) to fill the food bag. Belinda has ordered some freeze dried chicken and vegies from Sea to Summit in Perth and will send to post office in Collinsville. Next stop was Nebo where the store/post office have agreed to hold a box. Belinda will send the freeze dried food here too. I drove down to Rockhampton and stayed at a Lions run camp in Bouldercome for $2.

Wednesday 20th May, 2021

Woke up to find a lady setting up a coffee van just outside the camp area. Good start. I had to travel back into Rockhampton to do a bit of shopping. The Kabra hotel was willing to look after a box as long as it was in a plastic tub due to mice. Bought 3 tubs as I expect every one south of here will be the same. The next stop was Callide Tourist Village . They are a little of trail but I plan a 2 day stopover here. Last spot was Mungungo Pub. On trail and happy to help. Hope the wife of the publican is well when I get there as she is the cook. When she's crook there's no cook.

Then it was a big drive to Hervey Bay where I arrived at Belindas Dad's place about 6.20pm . He cooked a marvellous dinner of marinated ribs and veggies. Full as a goog.

Thursday 21st May, 2021

Bacon and egg breakfast and I'm now fuller than a goog. I had to sort out the car after living in it for a couple of days. Repacking the pack and getting it already to get on a flight back to Townsville. I've managed to lose my cover for the sleeping bag but it looks like I've managed to not lose anything else. Again Mal and Mary have offered to pick me up and put me up for the night. Fred (Belindas Dad) for putting me up and feeding me. Trevor and Debbie in Mossman Peter Brown in Mount Molloy and Helen in Ewan.

I couldn't do it without their generosity 

Day 28 - Laroona Ewan Rd

Friday 14th May, 2021 18.4km

671.1 / 4427.8 km

I had 2 more days to get to Hervey Range Road and get a lift from there into Townsville. Belinda had a few discussions with WildEarth who have agreed to replace the boots at no cost and have expressed post a pair to Mal in Townsville. Found out later it was the wrong pair so they have sent out the second pair but sent them snail mail. The correct boots certainly wont be there Friday so it looks like I will be off track for at least 7 days.

The plan was for a break anyway with a shuffle of the car from Townsville down to Dundowran (Fred's place) and the next break being down Biggenden way although there may be another inbetween when Belinda and Isabelle come across on the next school holidays.

I will rearrange the food drops as now there will be up to 10 days between drops. I'll also have to readjust the diet.

The walk out of Helen's is through Zig Zag station and then once I reach the main road it is 40 kilometres of bitumen to Hervey Range Road. The plan was for me to get there and Mal will pick me up on Saturday Morning.

Didn't go to plan (what has?) as the bitumen and the heat has made the heels on the boots let go. Not as bad as the front as they just drag but annoying to walk all the same. Made 18 kilomtres today to Spinifex creek and decided to sit and wait for Mal on Saturday to pick me up. I found a fresh puddle an camped for the night. Finished my first book on the Kindle this afternoon and had a couple of spoonfuls of peanut butter for dinner. Not happy and hope the walk begins to get better. A 7 day stop is not going to help... or maybe it will. As I have got older it takes longer to recover so maybe I will sort out some stuff and not lose the conditioning that is taking soooo long to come.

The heel let go

Not much left holding it together

My own fresh water hole

Could I ??

Butterflies on a Xanthorea stick

Minor surgery on calve

Spear grass tip removed

Campsite

Day 28

Day 27 - Helen's Place

Long day planned

Thursday 13th May, 2021 22.8km

652.7 / 4446.2 km

On my way to Helen's place. Helen is a former BNT track co-ordinator and now provides advice and knowledge on the track around her with a helping hand and accomodation if required.

As usual I got out of bed early as I had about 18 kilometres to get to Helen's place (Ewan), tied up the boots and headed on down the road.

The view in the hills from a 4 wheeler

About an hour and half in I heard the put-put putting of a 4 wheeler coming down the road. A station hand from Kangaroo Hills pulls up and says do you want a lift to the boundary mate. Quick think and "yeh" I say. I should have asked at first how far the boundary was but after 25 minutes in the 4 wheeler I did say "Where is the boundary?". "Just this side of Oaky Creek" he says. So after 15 kilometres of sitting on my arse he stops at the gate and I've only got about 3 kilometres to go for the day and it's 9.30am.

Oakey Creek

The creek beckons and I sit down for some breakfast and boil the billy for tea. I promptly lay down in the warm sun and had a sleep for an hour then decide to actually get up and move along.

Breakfast at Oakey Creek

Lucky I have big feet

The paracord stopping the soles from dropping and me from tripping 

There is a short walk into the old area of Ewan and Helen's place is a couple of hundred metres down Shrimp Battery Road . I am greeted by a fizzy drink (yeeehah), probably didn't deserve it I've only walked about 6 kilometres total today. Then there is a good sitdown with a coffee, lamington and some gossip.

Helen provides a little room for accomodation with toilet, shower and kitchenette and also cooked me a spaghetti bog for dinner with a couple of beers thrown in. I also found a half dozen pepsi in the fridge in the assigned quarters. Generous lady with a good knowledge of the history in the area. I must admit I was talked out by the end.

In the afternoon Helen took me for a tour through the old Shrimp Battery site where there is some real old working machinery as well as some more modern quarters as the place was worked years later. It would be a shame to see these places fall further into disrepair, and whilst Helen keeps things as best she can my worry is, when a lady like her disappears from the area, who will take up the mantle.

Anyone who does the track in the area should at least take the time to walk down (after making sure she is there of course) and talk to Helen, even if it's only for a short while. I am sure she will appreciate the company and conversation.

So it was with a full belly and a couple of sugary soft drinks I sank into slumber in a bed.

Helen's dog "Kip"

The battery

The stampers

Tools Helen has collected

Slowly decaying

The guest rooms

Helen's Castle