Day 147 Sandy Hill

The road less upsy downsy

 NSW Day 5 (147) Monday 18th October, 2021 16km

2905.3 / 2193.6km

I had a long sleep last night and decided to shorten my day to 16 kilometres. This gets me to the Bruxner Highway so if something is not right then I can get to Tenterfield.

Watching the clouds

The road yesterday was like a roller coaster with fairly steep climbs out of gullies. Today starts with a climb but the road changes to more gentle roll. The legs are tired but I'm hoping a shortened day and longer rest they won't let me down.

I walked just past Gilgurry homestead and the next property owner stopped for a chat. I knew rain was predicted but he informed me it was due around lunch and was expected to be up to 20mm.

BNT Sign

I had covered 8 kilometres by then so I had a quick breakfast and sent a text to Belinda who confirmed the forecast. I should be OK as it was 9am (6am Perth - Thanks Belinda) I had just over 8 kilometres to go which should take about 2 hours and there is a shed at the campsite.

So I hot footed it which may have not been the best as my right leg is playing up. My hip may be causing the other issues as when I get tired my gait changes and this may be impacting my calves and hamstring.

The creek crossing

But the clouds moved in and I missed a light shower of rain but was at the BNT shed before the thunderstorm hit. I'm glad to be out of the rain and the temperature dropped to about 10 degrees. I've set up my inner tent on the bunk frames in the shed. That will save me from mozzies. I hope I sleep OK. Maybe a big day tomorrow. The rains are a little early I'm told so I hope rivers don't become an issue.

BNT Camp

Inside

The rain came

Set up to keep bugs at bay

Day 146 Boonoo Boonoo River

Harrigan's Lane

NSW Day 4 Sunday 17th October, 2021

Overall Day 146 20.9km

2889.3 km walked / 2209.6km remaining

A near full moon and first light look similar from inside the tent and I fooled myself by starting my morning ritual without looking at my watch. Not a mistake I want to make again as it was only 2.40am and I didn't sleep again after.

These puffballs kept me company for a while

So at real first light I got under way and went back the kilometre to Harrigans Lane. This moves from grazing land to forest areas. I had breakfast at the last high point and still had a bit of phone signal but not enough to send photos.

The lane descends steeply to Boonoo Boonoo River (said Bunoo boonoo or the other way round). I followed the horse trail directions instead of the road. I think it's a much better view even if I had to get my boots wet crossing the river. The path is not quite as per my book and I didn't check for updates but I got back on track.

Bald Rock

Then it's a long climb out. The road is a whitish sandy gravel that reflects the heat and light. My legs weren't playing today and I had a few stops to get up the hill. I wouldn't have thought I had lost conditioning so soon. But as the afternoon wore on there was some steep little climbs out of gullies that knackered me.

Into the forest

I decided to stop and rest. I wasn't feeling that hungry but after a half hour rest and then another few climbs I decided eating maybe a good idea. I had a good hours rest and moved off but I still didn't have the strength. In the end I had to settle on camping about 6 kilometres shorter than where I planned. If I slow down it doesn't look good for my plan to get to the Gwydir Highway, where my bucket is, with the food I have. 10 days food is what I started with and the load was heavy. Whilst I covered 24 kilometres today I wanted the extra 6 to get me past a closed campsite tomorrow.

Before the climb down

The body is not feeling it. Maybe it's the hills but I'm blowing like a steam train. Oh well I will continue on and see how it goes. There are plenty of outs so it's not like I'm heading further into trouble.

Towards the Boonoo Boonoo River

Boonoo Boonoo River

A pool in the river

I felt like this tree after walking up the hill

Rolling hills. Good for poetry and motorised vehicles.
Crap on legs.

Day 155 Newton Boyd

Morning sunrise

 NSW Day 13 (155) Tuesday 16th October, 2021 23.3km

3066.9 / 2032km

Up at the crack of dawn. I want to get to the National Park at least today. The day is mostly road pounding so I can zone out again.

I am trying to get as much done in the cool hours of the morning. Then I can pick and choose after lunch how far I want to go in the warmer parts of the day. I have to be ready for bed just after sundown as the nights are getting shorter and I need to give myself a chance at a good sleep.

I was going to find the name of the range. Forgot.

The morning walk through rural properties provides a good backdrop . I get to a telephone exchange and get just enough signal to receive a text message. So still can't upload photos. Looks like i won't get signal now till I climb back out of the Guy Fawkes National Park.

I pass an old war memorial. The book says the building was a hall but now it looks like it's been converted to a house and the people have a little hobby farm.

Down to Henry River

A few more hours walk bring me 1 kilometre from the Newton Boyd rodeo grounds, the official campsite. I turn off down the track to the National Park. I want to do a couple of river crossings today. The level of water at those will determine how wet I'm going to get further up. As long as it doesn't rain of course.

As I'm wandering down the track I get an urge for chocolate cake and milk. Not just a piece but a whole cake or maybe I can eat half the batter before baking. Some of Belinda's cakes have looked a little sad when she's taken her eye off the mix before she gets it into the oven. Surprising how much one finger can lift out. The other thing is a deep drink of Pepsi Max. You know the guzzle that burns your throat and makes your eyes water. Followed by the guttural belch that clears the pipes. Or a cold cherry ripe. Not fussy really.

War memorial

I finally get to the first river crossing. At this point it's the Boyd River. I take off my boots and it's about mid shin deep. I walk the couple of hundred metres in my Adidas slip ons. That depth is a little deeper just below the knee. I pass some shacks above the river crossing, lots of mess and old cars. They have a beautiful spot but mar it with human ugliness.

Road turns to gravel

Countryside

About another kilometre I'm through the gates into the National Park. My intention is to get to some grassy flats beside the river and camp. As I'm walking down the hill there are those piles of horse poo that show a lot of horses are in here. When I get to the flats I disturb about 10 or 12 Brumby's. They take off as they see me but in the middle of the night there was a lot of stamping of hooves and snorting keeping me awake. I got my head torch out and shone it at them and they galloped off and left me alone for the rest of the night.

The track leaves the road through a property.

I thought I would hear the water bubbling away but the wind blew and the swish it makes as it goes through the sheoaks was all I got to hear. It rained a little.

First of many river crossings

Beautiful outlook. Pity it was messy.

The track becomes harder to follow

Postcard perfect. Just me and the Brumbys.

Day 145 Back on the National Trail

Better pecs than me!

 NSW Day 3

National Trail back on track continuation Day 145 16.9km

2868.4 km walked / 2154.1 remaining

I read a bit last night but had a very restless sleep. It was a relief to finally hear a bird call and start packing up. It was a chilly morning and I was walking before 6am.

This is why I get paranoid about wind and trees

Not much to do today. I have planned a few short days to get back into the rhythm and as the pack is at its fullest it seemed silly to bust a gut early.

So 17 kilometres to a TSR with a dam. The walk is unspectacular leaving the park and walking up Mt Lindsay Rd.

The lavender farm was too far away

I hit a corner where the trail heads south and I will have to walk back the 1.5 kilometres to here tomorrow.

With a minor detour down a wrong track I finally get it right and get to the dam on Jenner Creek, which is fenced off with no gate so I have to climb hoping I don't tear my new pants.

It's only 11:40 am but I need to find a spot out of the wind so I filter the water and walk back towards the road and find a nice grassy spot far enough in the trees to cut the wind down.

The closed sign hasn't moved for a while

I spend the afternoon listening to music and reading. I picked up a new solar charger in Toowoomba the other day and set it up. It's working well. It's the same one I had before but I couldn't work out what went wrong. I did get it wet a couple of times and the only thing I can think of is the printed circuit board. Apart from that the rest of the panel is fairly simple.

The road where I get back to the official trail

Bigger day tomorrow, so I hope I get a good sleep. There is plenty of water about, so no need to carry more than a litre and half.

The dam on Jenner Creek. Fenced off so I had
to jump the fence without tearing my new pants.

The grass was soft and less wind here.

NSW Day 2 Bald Rock National Park

 NSW Day 2 Friday 15th October, 2021

The day started with thunder, lightning and rain. The initial forecast had it clearing by 7am but the morning forecast had pushed it out to 11am.

So I repacked, had some breakfast, Michael had work to do so we decided to leave at 11am.

I sat on Michael's verandah watching the storm clouds come over and basking in the sunshine when it came. The wind was cold but on the eastern verandah it was blocked by the house. I'm sure I dozed for a while.

At 11 we jumped in my car and headed out to Bald Rock National Park. Belinda had booked me a campsite for the night. Normally on the drive in you don't see the rock but a bushfire has thinned the canopy and you get glimpses on the way in.

Spot away from most trees

There were plenty of campsites all large enough for me and my tent. But with the wind blowing at gale force I was wary of the sites that had trees overhanging. In the end I moved to a large site and set up in the middle of the parking area.

It's funny watching someone you only met yesterday driving away in your car. I suppose it's funny offering a bed and meal to strange hobos as well. I'm very grateful to the people who work the trail.

It was a pleasant camp spot that was protected from the major wind gusts by the rock. I spent the afternoon climbing up and walking some of the other trails. Didn't stay long at the very top as the wind was to strong. Mapped a path back to Queensland from here if I need it.

Going up the rock

I used the BBQ to heat my tuna wraps I had for afternoon tea.

In the end there were 4 sites taken for the night. I spoke to no one and went to bed on dark. It was cold and the sleeping bag was the best spot.

Looking across the summit

I couldn't kick it down

Path down

Mind your head

I hope it stays up for a few more seconds

Hot wraps are better than cold ones

Ready to tackle NSW after Borders open

The Bluff

 Thursday 14th October, 2021

I woke up this morning feeling a little nervous. Today was the day I head into NSW and once I make the crossing any return is a long road.

On the drive towards the border I was still mulling it over and gave Belinda a call. I said fond farewells to Belinda and Isabelle as I now won't see them until December ? and then took the plunge.

It's strange thinking this way. I made my first drive across the country from Townsville to Perth in 1977 and I was nervous for a whole load of different reasons on that trip but now, many years land after 20 or so country crossings later this is the first time I've felt Australia divided.

The day involved driving down to Glen Innes and then finding a spot near the trail to drop a resupply bucket. The walk to Ebor will take between 14 to 17 days and I don't have the capacity in the pack to carry enough supplies. I could probably do it with the Hyperlite pack but as the walk in the NT showed it is not comfortable at all above the 14 kg mark. I think with 10 days on board and water I will be pushing 19 kg at the start, dropping about 800 grams a day as I chew through the food.

Morning Tenterfield

So bucket hidden I drive back to Tenterfield to stay with a trail coordinator for the night. If the bucket gets raided by humans, animals or insects I will have a 36 kilometre walk into Glen Innes.

Horses backed up to the tree out of the rain

There is a weather front moving through the area and it's producing thunderstorms but supposed to clear in the morning. I have decided to not go all the way back to the border as it is just road walking, but to get dropped off at Bald Rock National Park which is about 20 kilometres south off the trail. Hopefully I get a chance with the weather to look around.

The following day I will walk North back to the trail. I have called this plan NSW 1...

My car's home until I can get back, probably 
from Aberdeen

Section co-ordinator, Michael's house near Tenterfield