Day 122 Emerdale Station

Up the Road

 Monday 16th August, 2021 17.6km

2600.2/2498.7km

In some ways I can see by reading the notes over the past couple of days I'm kidding myself.

Hello my lovelies

I have had enough. I'm sick of waking up in Qld. I'm tired. I'm homesick. I have the spring allergy headache. I wake up with the taste of blood as my sinuses weep all night and congregate at the back of my throat. I miss my children. I miss Belinda.

I'm looking at NSW and wondering why I would bother crossing the border. If I'm not going to cross the border why keep walking. I'm pretty sure in my head if I stop and go home I won't return to finish the trail. It's too big a commitment to make twice for myself and Belinda.

I don't want to move

I want to finish the trail, I've worked over 5 years to get here. The thoughts about quitting piss me off just as much as the trail does at the moment. Taking a break wasn't the answer. My age is coming into play and I just dont have the recovery of the body that I used to have. An isolated "Covid " recovery doesn't fix the homesickness. If I pass into NSW then I'm not going to see family till I finish. I can't speed up with NSW, ACT. VICTORIA in bloody lockdown. I got held up with the Qld lockdown. NSW country areas locked down till 22 August now moved to 28th August. I was aiming for the border for the 28th. Not confident that wont change again. To speed up I need a lighter pack weight. Not being able to cross borders means food drops in isolated places can't be done and I'm looking at either carrying 10 to 16 days or find a few more people to be generous.

Emervale

Now I've got all that off my chest I have to get up and move. Not the biggest day planned at about 18k but there is no cheat code.

Emervale Homestead

The trail starts out on a busy road then turns right down a minor road that slowly becomes less of a road until I pass Clay Gully homestead where it becomes a station track. When it runs out I walk a grassy area which then goes across a boggy paddock then through a gate onto Emervale Station. Then the tracks goes in reverse ie grassy track, two wheeled track, gravel track to homestesd them gravel road to main road again. It is a privilege to be able to walk these paths.

The alarm system

At Emervale there is a stone hut on the station they kindly allow National Trail Trekkers to stay at. I'm not always happy in these huts but with the wind howling most the night iI am at least sheltered.

Another great little section to add to weekend walks. I missed meeting the station owners as they were out when I rolled up at the homestead. I was told that I missed a couple of great people.

I did get to meet their donkey though.

Noisy bloody animal.

The Hut

Shower and Toilet Block

From the verandah

Day 121 Cressbrook Creek

Sunday 15th August, 2021 25.1km

Coming up out of the creek

2582.6 / 2516.3 km

Up early to try and avoid some of the hotter weather later in the afternoon. The climb out of the creek is rewarded with a sunrise through the fog.

I have enjoyed the walk across this area through the station properties. It takes a little of the tedium of walking roads and dodging traffic.

Someone had a good camping spot

The trail goes across a ridge line looking down into Ivory Creek Valley. I slow down and sit a while and enjoy the view.

Sun up

All to soon its back on a fairly busy road for a Sunday. Must be the motor cycle riders pet race track. I'm passed by about 30 as I walk. I then turn right at a place called Noonans corner. I kept walking hoping there was a shop at the corner but it's just a homestead. It's a short stroll up the Esk Crows Nest Road to Cressbrook Creek where I fill up with water and then a short walk to a camp ground beside the road. It looked like it might have been the locals sport field in the day.

Another bloody nose this afternoon with a stinking headache. If I was at home I would use one of those sinus irrigation things. Can only hope it settles.

Slept like a log though.

I hope he ate

cross country again

The camping area on Cressbrook Creek. 
Looked like an old cricket pitch.

Eskdale South

Day 120 Maria Creek

Not much of a view

Saturday 14th August, 2021 19.2KM

2557.5 / 2541.4KM

The trip out of the Gorge is a little steep and I was expecting views when I get to the top. Not so lucky with a fog hiding the valleys.

Getting worse

The walk is pleasant as I traverse the ridge lines passing rural hideaways along the way.

The trail finally turns up a grassed lane way then goes through a couple of properties via the station tracks.

It's a pleasant walk but the temperature is getting a little on the hot side for walking. Hopefully it will cool again soon, even a small breeze would do.

Now I know where that is!

The camp tonight is on Maria Creek and it is just flowing. I dig a bit of a hole and wash my shirt and my water comes from a deeper hole where the creek runs around a granite boulder.

Yep down there

Lovely spot. Clouds are grey but I chance the spot beside the creek. A random blood nose this afternoon from my sinuses being up. I can feel a sinus headache and take a couple of antihistamine. I can't see trees in a lot of flower but there must be some around, not helping the daily mood.

A Bunya Pine and Hoop Pine

track less used

Deer

Moor deer

Washing out at Maria Creek

Day 119 Emu Creek

Friday 13th August, 2021

2538.3 / 2560.6

"blog missing ??"" photos attached

Brisbane Rail Trail South

Roy Emerson

BRT North

Might be famous one day

I just loved the tree

Across the valley

Heading down

Into the Emu Creek gorge

Emu Creek

I set up above the creek

Day 118 Blackbutt

The track back up

Thursday 12th August, 2021 18.1km

2528.4 / 2570.5km

After a relaxing day yesterday I was suprised at how much sleep I got.

But I must move so it's a short climb back out of the gully and then a meander past rural blocks to Blackbutt.

Square and blocky horse

I talked to one old fellow who was chopping trees down, he was happy to sit on his block and watch the world do its thing.

The actual walk into town was not the most inspiring but I had a date with an award winning bakery. So first thing I did when hitting town was up to the shop for a curry pie and Pepsi Max. The pie was OK but I wish they'd wipe their tables better. It's not pleasant to have your arms sticking to the table top.

An oldy

The hardware store had ordered gas bottles for me so I dropped in there to pick that up. $14.99 for 230 grm cannister is not bad for a special order. They had ordered 4, I only needed 1, so I hope they are sold easily to others.

Then it was onto the pub where I had a room booked. A beer was had while I waited, then I had to work out the shopping list for the next leg to Withcott. It is a good shop called SPAR and they had everything I needed except for 500 gm milk powder, only the 1kg bags.

I made sure everything was ready and packed then I could relax for the rest of the afternoon. A quick trip back to the bakery for coffee and cake and more arm sticking to the table. Dinner at the pub was a chicken schnitzel with avocado, bacon and mozzarella cheese. Quite yummy. Another beer and bed. Tomorrow I might have to actually get some kilometres done.

Deer in the hills

What? a warning or something else?

from the pub balcony

Day 117 Yarraman Creek

Leaving Nanango

Wednesday 11th August, 2021 16km

2510.3 / 2588.6km

Yesterday was raining and I didn't get the painting for Fred finished but today he was willing to make the drive back to Nanango. Grateful to him and the people who have helped me out. It is a bit to ask for people to drive a couple of hours.

Back on trail

However, back to Nanango and I had again checked into the Star Motel for the night. Census night. Wonder how the questions would have been answered if I was down the creek in a tent.

Not planning on moving fast, or not as fast as NSW is losing control of the virus, and I've had a week off with no real exercise. The thought was, I would let the body mend and repair but 5 minutes with the pack on bought home to me that maybe a little exercise might have been OK as all the familiar aches and pains returned immediately. Who would have thought in one week I would have lost conditioning. Although, in my defence the boot resole whilst very good also seems to have made them even heavier. I did restock my gaffer tape on my poles but I put the whole roll on and that has made the poles a little heavier and I can feel that in my forearms.

The road out

Looking across the valley

But I left Nanango after breakfast for a fairly short day to Yarraman Creek. I had a couple of people stop and after a walk past the rural outskirts I descend a 4wd track down into a valley. Whilst the sign up top says no motorised vehicles it has a lot of use and when I get down to the creek I can see why. It is a magic waterhole that provides a good campsite. This is of course ruined a little by bad toilet habits and rubbish left behind by these campers and I move further on to another creek and find a spot for my tent. I share this with local wildlife and I don't mind their poo habits at all.

I spend the afternoon watching the birdlife feed around the waterhole. Two kingfishers find a few small fish I spent a lot of time trying to take a good photo of them. Then it was time for a nap. A real good start back on the trail.

The track down

A night listening to music then the sounds of silence rock me to sleep. "Ahh the serenity" (movie reference)

Yarraman Creek

The Kingfishers fishing

The pool

Found my spot

Looking for dinner