Day 126 Toowoomba

 Friday 20th August, 2021 Zero day

Today was a day I needed to have a phone consult with my doctor in Perth. Then go buy the pants I decided on over port, nuts, patty cakes and chocolates. I also managed to have toast vegemite and avocado about 11pm. I know have to clean up the tomato I tried to cut with a blunt knife.

I had arranged to have coffee with John after I had shopped to discuss book 6. It was then another shop for stuff I couldn't get yesterday. Also the pants now rejected needed to be posted back home. I decided then to stay an extra night so I had a day to actually relax.

Dinner was arranged with Chris driving a couple of hours up to Toowoomba. He is a very generous man with his time and has looked after me well with food. Tonight it was a steak dinner at some place out Drayton. I have recollections of not shutting up. Then Chris would have to drive the 2 hours back home. He was walking the next day with a group of walkers that may not have extensive experience but the desire. I was hoping the National Trail people would be interested in similar types of activities. The Bibbulmun, in Perth, and the Heysen in SA have similar mentors who guide groups and in the case of the Heysen complete the 1200 kilometre trail over time, sometime years. Bit harder for a large trail like this but given some thought I'm sure people could get together for walks and car sharing and shuffling. There are some great sections of trail in Qld that could be done over weekends.

Anyway, thank you Chris for the hat, the steak sandwich and Pepsi and the steak dinner and beers. Next one is my shout. Also I should thank you for 500 people that now know about me. No pressure.

Day 125 Into Toowoomba

Thursday 19th August, 2021 0km

I was a little worried about just packing up and leaving. The plan (number 1,235) was I walk the 14 kilometres to Withcott then get picked up by John, the section coordinator.

Lynn was due home about 8 so I waited. When she got here she offered a cooked breakfast, which any long distance hiker would tell you is hard to refuse. So plan 1,236 was hatched.

Breakfast, then I would borrow Lynn's car and go to the shops to shop for my resupply. Then I would return (I filled the fuel tank) and as Lynn had another night out planned she would take me up to Toowoomba to find lodgings.

I've decided to get some new hiking pants so I don't look like a derelict bum when I get to town. Mainly due to the loss of centimetres around the waist so I wanted to visit Anaconda and see what was about.

So 3 o'clock we are up the hill and Lynn drops me off at Anaconda. I spend the obligatory manly 5 minutes checking out what was on offer then buy some dehydrated stuff, go across the road to pick up snacks and retire to a night of television, port and snacks laze about in my underpants which have now been returned from the wash. Missed the 14 kilometres to Withcott in all the rush.

Day 124 Murphy's Creek

A bit of history

 Wednesday 18th August, 2021 25.2km

2643.6 / 2455.3km

I finally was able to talk to Lynn whose property is the next camp at Murphy's Creek.

It's about 23 kilometres away but mostly downhill. She has cooked a chicken curry and some cake. There is also a tavern at Murphy's Creek.

Morning ablutions

Lookout

The initial walk this morning is up to a lookout from the range escarpment. Then the trail follows a clay road adjoining the National Park and comes out on some rural roads that begins the descent off the range. It's a pity that as you walk a lot of the sides of the trail is thick with lantana and there is not much to see.

Not much to say about the descent through open forest, other than its better than going up. At the bottom there is 4 or 5 kilometres of rural bitumen to get into Murphy's Creek. I manage to beat a coal train and get across the railway and drop in at the tavern. I had to search for my face mask as I've moved into an area coming out of 14 days of restrictions after lockdown, it's due to end tomorrow.

I have a chicken sandwich and called up Lynn who came and picked me up to take me to her place.

She has put me up in a bed in the house but will not be staying as she is having a night out with the girls. So I end up with the run of her house for the night. I even got to relax on the bath. She had also made patty cakes and I managed to polish a few off.

I heated the curry and indulged in a glass or two of port. Had a very relaxing evening watching Chinese movies on SBS. Lynn is very generous with her company and house. Thank you.

Me

National Park Road. Lots of Lantana to look at

Comical Cow.  Little head on a big body.

The road down the range

Coming in to Murphy's Creek

The Tavern

Day 123 Ravensbourne

Tuesday 17th August, 2021 18.2km

Tea in the morning

2618.4 / 2480.5km

Do I feel any better?

Across the valley

Not really, nothing's changed. Moving on and should be in Toowoomba in 2 or 3 nights. That was supposed to be one of my major breaks with a car shuffle down to Niall setting out my food drops to at least Aberdeen in NSW then bus back and walk.

A bad nights sleep but out of the wind at least. There is a lot of mouse poo in the hut so I hung my pack with everything in it from the rafters.

The old road

I woke up proper fairly early and made myself a cup of tea.

The donkey gave an early morning bray, not as musical as a Kookaburra, just as effective though.

The trail goes from the hut up the fence line to the main road then up an old lane way called Saughterhouse Rd. The old buildings I pass, I assume is an old abattoir.

The view

The trail then climbs the old road alignment to pick up some side roads up the hill.

Then its a matter of sitting on a trail that runs parallel to the main road through the state forest. It has a few more ups and downs than the main road but is much quieter and picturesque.

Into the forest

When that runs out I looked back at a sign telling me not to enter the forests as harvesting is in progress. I did see signs of activity and heard machinery working bit it was a little way off the trail. One more up and over a quieter road before finally walking the rest of the way dodging traffic on the main road into Ravensbourne.

Hardenbergia and ??

Nice to know before you walk through

The camp spot at Ravensbourne is a 24 hour rest stop with toilets. Not much of a spot for tent people. There is a block of land for horse people. But I found a spot behind the tennis courts down on a lower level where you had to really look to see me, as long as there are no tennis games of course.

I'm having a little trouble with my solar panels, I hope its just a glitch as some of the longer and remoter sections of the trail are coming. The phone battery is only lasting about a a day and a half since the last update.

Granite Marker

Hole for loggers to insert board to stand on

That's the roof of the tennis court building. 
I camped to the right just on the edge of the trees.

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