Day 560 | River Track, Gunbower State Forest: near Wee Wee Rup Track
43 km | zzOz total: 18,219 km
Early on the track started to become more obscure.
Not being sure of what to expect and having, finally, a highly detailed map that indicated that yes, I was heading in the right direction, I plunged on.
Usually the wheels of passing 4WDs churn up a couple of furrows to follow, these started to become overgrown, just enough every 100 m or two to let you know that you are on the right path.
I’ve been on vague tracks in the past, the most obscure to date has probably been the Cape Grenville Track north of Cooktown but today it went on for 3km. Then the track just completely dispersed, vague motorcycle routes completely overgrown in a few random directions, except straight ahead.
I’m the first down here since the winter floods, maybe for a long while, and now I see why.
A fearsome washout, now imitating a lagoon, but I could skirt that and through the shrubbery do a cross country onto a more travelled path, just having to take the high path when coming on the track dug up by exuberant 4WDers starting their fun too soon after the floods, they’ve almost destroyed the track, it’s like the WW1 frontline with the trenches deep in the substrate.
Generally the track improves as I treadle towards a lunchtime stop at Koondrook, although my search for Christmas lunch takes me back into NSW where the locality is called Barham, the portly local baker dispensing a delicious pie and pastie which I munch while charging batteries. An otherwise desolate town, not even a roaming dog.
The afternoon pedalling through the Gunbower State Forest is less exciting, the track good once I get past the chunky gravel section but my heart really isn’t into cycling today. Instead I set up camp, once more by the river, there’s plenty of campers availing themselves of the numerous free campsites here, unregulated, just first come gets the spot, just like the old days.
I turn my back and my tent caught by the wind disappears.
Lucky.
It had rolled into the river the next gust would have required me to start swimming.
Not a bad cloud free day at all.