Day 231 Omeo to Birregun Road

 VIC Day 7 (Day 231) Tuesday 11th January, 2022 15.8km

4793.5 / 419.9km

Got out of bed keen to go. Not a big day and maybe a breakfast on the way out. Then I look out the window, it's pouring rain.

The Day Looks wet

The pub puts on a continental breakfast so I go down and have a coffee, cereal and toast and just look out the window. I was thinking of calling the day off but looking at the radar there was a break due around 11am.

My view from breakfast

I decided to walk downtown and get a coffee and see what happens. After an hour I need to either buy more stuff or just suck it up and move. In the end I leave Omeo in drizzling rain. At least it's not heavy and likely to cause massive creek rises like a week ago. You could see the Livingstone Creek level at about a metre and a bit higher and machines were down repairing the damage in the riverside park.

Livingstone Creek. You can see the flood level.

I was at least heading for the hills again. When I get to turn off the bitumen road into Upper Livingstone Road there's a road closed sign.

A few quick messages via Belinda and the council just says there's been some washaways but walking through is OK.

I was given the OK

One floodway to negotiate then a simple walk to the camp site. However on this corner there's another road closed sign saying the road I've been asked to detour down further up to bypass trying to cross a flooded Dargo River is also closed due to a landslide.

No Access to Dargo??

I took a photo of the detour

More messaging and it appears walkers, horses and motorbikes can still get through. So a wet set up and another short day planned as I climb the range.

An old wreck

Day 229 + 230 Omeo

 Vic Day 5 and 6 (229 & 230) Sunday 9th and Monday 10th January, 2022 Zero Days

4796.5 / 416.9km

This is my last stop before a 3 week walk to the next town of Marysville. I need to make sure I got everything ready. The next walk goes close to the Dargo Pub and I plan a diversion for some Pub grub. Then I get the message the Dargo has closed due to a close contact Covid case. At this stage its closed till the 14th January. I can wangle getting there on that date. Disappointing as the next section to Howitt Hut is 7 or 8 days and the Dargo was a break in there.

It means I have to pack as if I don't get a meal. Omeo has good food and cafes so I enjoy the break before the final push.

Omeo also has a laundromat. I go down to wash and meet Monica. We all need a Monica in our life(Mambo No 5). Feisty 80 year old. Little bit saucy as well. There's only one machine working and Monica hooks me up with Jeffo, a bus driver from Sydney on two week holiday camping in the Alps and visiting friends.

We become undie brothers where our filthy undies mingle in the washing machine and dryer. They smell a lot better with a dash of Dynamo from Monica. We all have a good talk and a laugh.

Laundromats are a good place to talk as are campsites. I've had dinners in both pubs and will pick up a breakfast in a Cafe before leaving tomorrow. Some damage down by the river and its a shame to see the caravan park shut. One of my dinners was planned down at the Red van in the park. I think I'm ready for the final push. Next stop Marysville 3 weeks away then hopefully a 1 day walk over the hill to Healesville. Just the steep hills in the way. I expect to whinge a bit yet.

The Hotel

Getting the chocolate stash

The road into town

Day 228 Native Cat track to Omeo

 VIC Day 4 (228) Saturday 8th January, 2022 50.2km

24.7 walking

The night is restless and the spot I've setup isn't ideal. I think I've got an animal living close and I worry most of the night it may chew its way in. Light showers over night and I'm ready to put in a big day if I can.

The Morning Road

I get a message to say the Omeo Caravan Park has closed permanently as they have suffered their 4th flood. and Tambo River has a flood watch. As I'm walking I'm trying to work out a route. The plan is to try and get down to Bindi Station which is on the Tambo River. There are two ways. One is 25 kilometres across a fairly steep track the other is 12 kilometres longer.

Tambo River South

I don't decide until I get to the turnoff down Garron Point Track which is the shorter steeper route. I do have to cross Tambo River South. I see a couple of cars have come up so I go the short steep way.

The track down to the river is very steep and slippery. I hope I can get across the river. It's going to be a bugger going back up. I can hear the river when I get close and I get a little worried. But when I see it I think it's definitely doable. As long as the depth is OK. I check both sides of the actual track crossing and there are a couple of spots upstream and downstream that look OK. But I decide to wade across the track crossing. The poles check the depth and help me brace the current. The depth is mostly just above knee height but there was a hole just before the exit at ball deep that I slipped into. Didn't really worry me and I stopped and had breakfast before moving on.

One of the drop offs. I was hoping it would be the last

I get to an intersection of the Marble Gully Track and get a message to say don't go to Bindi as they are flooded in with Bindi Creek and Tambo River flooding. Bit late as I'm only 12 kilometres away. To now turn back would involve getting back to a road and going round the Tambo River to Omeo. However once Penny and Fraser from Bindi Station hear where I am they say to keep coming and as long as I can get across the creeks to the homestead then they will give me a lift into Omeo.

Looking down on Bindi Station

So I continue on up and down some steep hills to the back end of Bindi Station. Then it's a walk across their paddocks and a long jump across one creek.

A diversion around a large bull then a boots off wade across Bindi Creek. It started raining as I was crossing the paddocks. No photos in the rain, then I met Penny and Fraser who loaded me in the Ute and drive me into Omeo. Penny drops me off at the Hilltop Hotel the only spot in town with room available. It's raining. Do I attract the rain. From the day I started it seems everyone is having their wettest periods. I'm in Omeo a day early so I intend to stay 3 nights. Hopefully some of the creeks and rivers go down.

A memorial to men killed in 1868. John Jones 32,William Dale 35, Thomas Morley a Shepherd

 aged 35. "These men have no known relatives. They came from the British Isles in search of a better life in a new country.".

Day 227 Native Cat track

 VIC Day 3 (227) Friday 7th January, 2022 19.3

The morning was clear but more rain predicted. Belinda sent a message to say rivers were flooding down Omeo way. More rain predicted today.

Sun Rise 

Fairly Clear

It started clear and I took off early. The walk continues along Native Cat Track until it meets Nunniong Road.

What A good name

Weather coming in

As I'm walking down the road the weather moves back in. I continue walking in my wet weather gear but it's not working all that well. The Outdoor Research jacket doesn't keep out more than a light shower now. The rain gets heavier and when the thunder and lightning move overhead I find a spot just off the road and set up the tent fly to at least keep the rain off. It continues into the afternoon and I decide to stop and stay right where I am.

The initial setup with just groundsheet and fly to keep me out of the rain.

As the rain set in I added the tent inner and stayed.

Day 225 +226 Cowombat Flat to Native Cat Track

 VIC Days 1 & 2 (225&226) Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th January, 2022 22.7km

4501.1 / 597.8 km

I went to sleep fairly early. When it started raining I went into the tent to set up the bed and promptly went to sleep. I felt a bit bad when I woke up again about nine thirty and all was quiet. I didn't socialise with people that had given me cheese and an apple. But I managed to fall asleep again.

The neighbours

In the morning the ladies were up and I was able to say my thanks and be on my way. It's a fairly simple climb back up the Cowombat Track to Limestone Creek Road. The AAWT turns off before the Junction and my bucket is a couple of hundred metres past the AAWT turn off.

The track Out

Some Water

I get to the carpark and there are six cars here. I know of four couples so wonder who the others belong to. Further on I come to the AAWT turnoff and there are a couple camped here with clothes hanging out. I have a chat and they have been doing the AAWT from Walhalla in mid November. This was there resupply points and they tell me an animal has chewed through and their clothes have been damaged and waterlogged. I panic a bit but it turns out their food that was in a plastic bucket was OK. They wrapped their clothes in separate plastic bags and wrapped that in gaffer tape. Still the animals chewed through and wrecked his socks. I've learnt to wrap all smelly things away including soaps as any different smell the animals look for. I've made a mistake of leaving my chewies in my shirt pocket only to find rodents keenly interested.

The Carpark

My resupply bucket

The area they were camped was the best of a very damp area so I decide to fill with water and go get my bucket. It turned out OK and untouched. I was looking forward to the fruitcake and I thought my other treat was some Daryl Lee chocolate but it turned out to be a pack of Sour Patch Kids. Isabelle put me on to these. I like shoving a handful in my mouth and going through the contortions as the sourness and flavour fight with each other. The pack didn't last long.

A clearing beside the wet track

So the next decision was how far to go. The next camp spot is about 23 kilometres away and a large rain band is moving in. On the end I walk but keeping an eye out for a suitable camp spot that's level and not under trees. Hopefully before the rain hits. When I get to Limestone Creek Road there are another 4 cars parked up. In the end I did about 8 or 9 kilometres before I found a good spot. I set up and climbed in the tent as the rain started.

Set up for a rainy day

And it didn't stop. I ended up cooking in the tent and at 5 am it was still raining so I decided to take the day off. I didn't have a good forecast and signal on the phone wasn't helping but the last forecast had the rains easing Saturday. So I was hoping this was the main band and give it a day I will walk through the last of it on Friday. I had to wait till Belinda got out of bed and she gave me the good news that it was a lot of rain and there are flood warnings for creeks and rivers in my area. I will cross the Tambo River now on Sunday. They expect the peak Thursday night. So hopefully a zero day here will help.

The wet track

Problem though is I've lost all my downloaded books on Kindle. Don't know how or why. I've been reading all trip so unless my nipples have played up again who knows. Although Kindle is Amazon so they might have a thing that makes you go back. I haven't been online or in signal range since Thredbo so I can only put it down to me. Although I wouldn't have thought it would be that easy to inadvertently delete 10 or 15 books from the phone.

Anyway nothing to read. Did get a couple of hours sunshine before a new batch of rain moved in. Very relaxing day. Should be able to do 30k tomorrow. Omeo is 5 days away.

Day 224 Tin Mine Hut to Cowombat Flat

 NSW Day 82 Tuesday 4th January, 2022 16.5km

4478.4 / 620.5km

Rain persisted till about 8.30pm. Looks like a fair bit is due for rest of the week.

Low cloud but fairly warm. Much the same as yesterday. Wandering through forests the track gradually climbs all day. Not much viewing to be had when wandering through these forests.

Misty Mornings

I meet the track junction of Cowombat track and Snow gums track.

The Fire Damaged Trees

I wonder where Cowombat came from. The AAWT heads down SnowGums and as I'm sitting there a young man walks by. We have a chat for a while. He is cleaning up some of the Alpine Areas he missed. It's easy to do as you can follow many different paths and it's hard to pick up everything. I think I could spend the whole 8 months wandering around here. It would change so dramatically over the seasons. The snow/ice patches I walked through is my sole experience with the white stuff. Belinda and I have promised ourselves a snow holiday one year.

The trail

The trail then winds down to the Cowombat flat and the Murray River. I meet some ladies coming up. They are doing a section walk. It's getting warm and the thunderheads are forming.

I get to the Murray River and remove my 3 litres. Hope that doesn't cause the farmers downstream any trouble. Then it's a step across the water and I'm in Victoria.

A Step Across the Murray River

Just a short walk to go.

I climb up the flat buy looking at the sky decide to prop here for the night. About 3 o'clock the thunder starts and we start to have showers. I only just get my tent up and am sitting inside when a group of 3 walk in. We decide to share the patch of ground I'm on. I'm glad I did as Neville had some army ration cheese he offered me and Nadia offered me an apple. Both welcome.

Plane Remains A DC3

They are camping for two nights and visiting the head of the Murray River and visiting the Black/Allan cairn which marks the survey line from the head of the Murray to Cape Howe. The straight bit of the NSW/VICTORIA border.

On my desk at home is the beginnings of a plan to follow the Murray as one of my adventures. The visiting of the cairn is on that plan with a kayak down all the navigable Murray. Might be something Belinda could do with me.

The afternoon Storms moving in.

There's another tent already here and they roll up later. They have been up The Pilot ( a mountain). Another couple walk past about 6pm. They camp down by the Murray. Apparently people park at a car park 10k up the track and walk in.

My resupply bucket will have to wait till tomorrow. It's got my woollies single serve fruitcake. It's surprising I have short days but I feel I could sleep a lot more. Maybe it's for the best considering the terrain coming.

Day 223 Cascade Hut to Tin Mine Hut

 NSW Day 81 (223) 14.4km

Cascade Hut to Tin Mine Hut

4461.9 / 637km

Cascade Hut

It got cold really quickly after the sun went down and I'm a bit lazy getting out of bed as I know it's a short day. But as the sun comes up I can feel the heat building quickly.

I pack up and say some goodbyes to my camp mates then move off.

The Cascade Trail Continues

Not much to report today. I'm following The Cascade trail and it just winds it way through a sad looking Mountain Ash forest.

I think fire has killed the mature trees and now it will take many years to regenerate.

I get to the turn-off to Tin Mine Huts at midday.

I hesitate but the heat is building so in the end I call it a day and find a tree to laze the afternoon away.

Tin Mine Hut

Storms build up and I just get the tent up and pegged down when a thunderstorm comes across and drops a bit of rain. It's due to clear this evening and come again. Tomorrow. I want to get to my supply bucket tomorrow afternoon. This will mean crossing the border into Victoria some time tomorrow.

A longer day hope its cooler.