Day 105 Brisbane River

The tent fly was frozen stiff

Friday 30th July, 2021 19.8km

2467.6 / 2631.3km

It was cold as predicted. I wake up about 5.30 am and get out of bed for morning ablutions and when I grab the tent fly it's like cardboard. It's frozen.

even the handles of my poles

I've learnt a few tricks such as doing all my buttons up before getting out of the tent as it's impossible with icy fingers.

The pack up was fast so I can get moving to warm up. It's another simple day of wandering country roads. Today ends up at the watershed of the Brisbane River and then follow the western branch of the river most of the day.

After climbing the hill, turn down a side road

I did about 20 kilometres by lunch but decided to stop at a beautiful spot by the river. I managed to wash and clean and had an afternoon listening to an audio book. These spots need to be savoured when found. I feel relaxed again.

Granite block marking the shire boundary

The trees are covered in old man's whiskers

Don't stand still for too long
in this forest

Brisbane River Western Branch camp

washing up in freezing cold water

Camped for the night

Day 104 Manumbar Station

Came through that farmland

Thursday 29th July, 2021 22.0km

2447.8 / 2651.1km

I was fairly well rested after yesterday's effort. Today was a simple day of walking out to Manumbar Rd past Manumba Station.

This house is mentioned as abandoned in the
old books so that's been at least 30 years.

It was a pleasant enough walk with 3 people stopping to have a chat. A little bit of rain before 10am then sunny for the rest of the day.

I got to the camp fairly early but decided to stay. It's at an old steam wood mill, it looks like an effort has been put in to restore parts but there's a long way to go.

Manumbar Station

There's a chill in the air and it's only early afternoon. I think I will need to rug up tonight.

Manumbar Road. Walked this all day.

The boiler at the saw mill

Saw Mill

Wood chute

Camp for the night

Old truck

Day 103 Wratten National Park

Wednesday 28th July, 2021 24.3km

2425.8 / 2673.1km

Morning view

Mid morning view

Today was a funny day. The trail follows a road across the hills in the Wratten National Park and I know there could be views but there is no where I can actually get a good look.

It's heavily timbered and I really just follow a green corridor.

Afternoon view

turn left

That is until the trail turns down a track to descend a ridge line to the valley below. It started off all right but I lost the ridge line and think I went down one a little bit north. I was fighting my way through Lantana at one stage crawling on hands and knees to push my way through. I paid a blood price and by the time I got down the bottom I just moved back to the correct line and found a flat spot and went to bed. I'd had enough.

Mid afternoon view

I knew there was a view out there somewhere

The track starts down the spur

Blood sacrifice paid

Day 102 Rossmore Rd - Wrattens NP

The marker points to the bar at Rossmore
Caravan Park. Don't know if there's one
showing the way out.

27th July, 2021 19.6km

2401.5 / 2697.4km

Sometimes you see some unexpected things.
They should have been in Birdsville this weekend.

I had to get up early as I was getting a lift with Mal back over to Rossmore Rd where the trail continues. They have another couple of hundred acres that back onto the caravan park.

The pack was very full and heavy and I had a selection of Lesleys slices for smoko.

We said our goodbyes and I was on my way. The trail continues up Rossmore Rd and eventually goes into a dirt road. A good sign initially was water flowing in the creeks and I hoped that would continue.

Rossmore Road

Got excited. This is not just a drain pipe but
clear running water coming out of it.

I was planning to visit some chimneys that are left from an old smelter. It's claim to fame is that it's built with split stone instead of bricks. In my eagerness I turned off the road and started climbing a hill before I realised I missed the turnoff to the chimney. The hill climb was a bugger with a couple of false summits and I wasn't going back down to do it again.

Once on top of the range it was fairly easy going and fine views north. There are rural blocks and plenty of signs telling me it's private property. What is it with people.

I checked out the official camping reserve and it had no water so I had to keep moving past the old shamrock gold mine. There was water in the creeks along here but since they were beside the cyanide pond I decided to leave them. The trail then turns down a road and I enter Wrattens National Park.

I picked up some water from a dam and found a flattish spot next to the road. There were other flat spots but under large trees which I normally give a miss. Being at elevation I'm hoping it is not as cold. -0.8 at Lesleys place this morning.

Looking back towards Kilkivan. I think
Rossmore road follows that valley.

Second jump up. I think I was thinking you've got to be
kidding and then looked up and saw a rare BNT sign
mocking me as if to say yep up this bloody hill you go

My camp spot for the night. Best I could do to
keep away from large trees. A car passed about 4am.
I was thinking after walking it Copperhead Road,
(song reference) especially as it's a back road to Gympie.

Found this stuff at IGA Murgon. 3 different
flavours. Will try it out. 

Day 100 + 101 Kilkivan

My camp

Sunday 25th July and Monday 26th July, 2021

Today was a short walk of 13 kilometres into Kilkivan. A very quiet start to the day as I continue the walk out of the creek into the village of Oakview. There I join up with a single lane bitumen road for a 10 kilometre or so walk to the main highway again.

Morning light

The plan was to meet up with Fred who was on his way to Gympie so I could swap boots and grab book 6. The boots I'm wearing are going to Brisbane to be resoled. The repair we did has worn away but the older boots I'm changing to have cured longer and may last till the other ones come back. These boots are the ones I did the Heysen Trail in.

Moon is still up

So in Kilkivan we did the swaps had a coffee then Fred was on his way. I've arranged to stay at Lesley and Mal's place just outside Kilkivan and have a couple of hours to spare till I get picked up.

I went to the pub which apparently a bloke who used to run the boxing tents runs. I was looking for something to buy as a gift but Kilkivan is short on groceries and bottle shops. I sat at the pub and watched the women's oylmpic hockey team play China. The pub stinks of dog piss and I saw why when a Jack Russell wandered in from the lounge area and peed on the door. He was eyeing off my backpack and I decided to forgoe eating there and went down the road.

Old buildings

Lesley came and picked me up and took me back to their homestead outside of town. Good coffee, good cakes, good dinner and the comfiest bed I've had for a while.

The following day I went for a drive to Murgon with Kevin, Lesley's brother, to pick up some groceries and he introduced me to the Murgon Bakery, good pastie and I had a chocolate eclair for afters. They also had a better bottle shop and I was able to pick up a bottle of Port.

Older buildings

Roast dinner tonight with a steamed syrup pudding followed by a good portion of Port made the day complete. Lesley had washed my grubby clothes and I had put up the tent for some airing. Almost forgot but Lesley darned the hole in my favourite sock as well.

The afternoon was sitting outside a shed listening to a CD of a local artist playing his guitar in front of a firepit talking crap with Kevin and watching the cows in the paddock. I think I need to retire.

I was well looked after, thanks Lesley for inviting me into your home.

Bunya Pine I think. Wonder about
the story when it was planted.

hello girls

The boat is a little ways from the water. Oakview.

Bular Rd 10k to Kilkivan

Kilkivan