There are plenty of people out there that would say that the effort so far has been an alright effort but nothing super athletic or amazing. I agree. I probably agree more now that I have been home for 7 months. Although I trained hard for this for 2 years, I then didn't train at all for the year before my departure. So for me, at the time, I was deep in the well and pushing hard. Now I only wish I had trained for that year prior to my departure and had made a faster journey.
My mind is tired. I swear i just heard my phone ring. I check it even though I took the battery out earlier today. Hep, the battery hasn't magically found its way back into the phone! I hope it isn't one of those things where its a sign I should call home cause something bad has happened. I finally get to sleep.
Morning has come November 24th. My routine is flawless now. I'm calm. Today will be light and uneventful. I leave my boots off this morning and just chuck on my water crossing shoes. Instead of zig zagging across Black River, I decide to walk straight down the middle. Before the trail had been cleared this was the best way to get along the river, so why not add my name to the list of those that have walked the leach infested Black River.
As I leave the river the sun is shining through the trees. With all the moisture around from yesterdays showers, the humidity makes trudging out of Black River a real drain. Its all 4x4 trails really so its not that exciting no matter how I look at it. Tim & I never took this route in the past as it was closed with tree fall.
Now I'm sure plenty of people would tell you that I often must hear crickets in my head, as there must not be a lot going on between my ears; this morning I would have to agree with them. I am at piece with what I've done and what I'm doing. I really am just wandering, thinking of very little.
As I get to Champion Spur junction I see an unfamiliar looking branch on the road. On closer inspection I discover that it is in fact a Samba deer antler. I'm not a hunter and don't enjoy guns, so finding an animal trophy to take home is pretty cool for me. I strap it off to the pack and keep on going.
In the distance I am sure I can hear engines. At times they are to my right, then my left, its like they are invisible and driving around me. The trail through this area is better than 4x4 trails. I would consider them pour quality country roads. As I pass Mt Singleton there are a couple off-road track to my right with fresh tire tracks. I'm thinking today is Sunday although I really haven't be keeping track of the days. Sure enough, 1,2,3..... they just keep coming. In groups of 2 and 3 I count about 15 or more serious off road 4x4's. Not one of them even come close to stopping to see if I'm alright. Thats cool. As I near Fiddler Green I see a massive Aussie Disposals flag and these off-roaders that had shot passed me all parked of the side. I have a chat to them and find it's an off-road orienteering course.....no wonder they didn't stop. they are being timed. Scored another free soda!
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| Apparently they changed out the axle on this 67 Willy Jeep the night before to stay in the race! |
The walk along these wet and lonely roads is some of the more boring hours I have hiked. As I leave the road and head down Victor Spur track I stop and have a feed in the rain. I cooked up some hot soup, using the gate as a table to hold all my cooking gear. I follow Victor Spur track to the AAWT trail entry. I am excited to get amongst the trees again but lose the trail within 100m of leaving the road. Once I get on track again the trail becomes really easy to follow with almost too many trail markers. When you arrive beside a marker, you can almost always see the next marker off ahead.
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| 3 years ago this cemetery sign would have been shorter than the scrub |
Red Jacket has had a lot of clearing done and I am amazed that the scrub where Tim and I camped near last time through the area is in fact located directly opposite the cemetery. Parks Victoria have done a great job to restore this area. I am disappointed to see the no camping sign at Red Jacket and decide to press onto Blue Jacket even though I remember Allan Gamble telling me that Blue Jacket is bug infested. I now realise that Red Jacket would have been fine to stay at as Parks Victoria allows AAWT hikers to stay.
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| Had to do it! |
I set up camp and read the historical boards installed at Blue Jacket. The bugs are crazy. I haven't seen this may bugs ever. I am losing my mind. I am getting really pissed off with all the bugs so I decide to just pack up and keep moving. Within 100m of leaving Blue Jacket the bugs are gone! What is up with that place. I follow Violet town track to Casper Creek track. Holy! Now that is a climb. Photos can't describe how long and consistently steep this track is.
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| What you see here is probably 1/10th of the incline, there had to be 10 false summits! |
It is now about 5pm and I am tired. The humidity of the whole day has really been draining and I had turned down my mental armour so this climb hits me like a tonne of bricks. This whole section is ugly. It has been cleared and turned over by large machinery. The trail is not really that easy to follow and I take a couple wrong turns which really piss me off at this time in the evening. None the less I make make camp at the bottom of Mt Little Easton, just beside the Thomson River. The bugs here are as bad as Blue Jacket but I can't go any more. Its about 8:30pm when I clean up my dinner bowl and get to bed. I last photo first.
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| What do my eyes say? After 24 days! |
