Twenty steps out from under the cottage veranda where we were staying and hiker’s reality sets in as windy showers start to buffet me and wet my outer clothing. I stop only 100 metres into the walk and pull on my rain skirt (rain kilt to those whose masculinity is insecure!). I’m feeling a bid sad, having just said goodbye to Lisa. I won’t see her again until I finish the trail in a bit over four weeks. The good news is Lisa, and perhaps our son Drew, will be at Parachilna Gorge to pick me up at the end. From experience, I try to just focus on one day at a time. Once I leave Burra’s paved roads, the farm roads are wet and muddy. Mud clumps to my shoes so I try walking on the grassy verge which soaks my feet almost immediately. Oh well, take what the trail gives you. Before too long, I finally leave the farm roads and start the long cross-country section of fence following. There are steep to insanely steep climbs and descents as the trail just follows the fence for many many kilometres, straight up and straight down. The redeeming feature last year was the incredible views and watching how the light changed as the clouds moved across the sky. This year, the Burra Hills are mostly shrouded in mist as steady showers and a strong wind that keeps me on the edge of cold. I am actually glad to be climbing steep hills as it keeps me from becoming hypothermic. I take a break at the bottom of one particularly steep hill and the rain almost feels like sleet. My hands quickly start to ache with cold and I make a mental note that I must keep moving in these conditions to stay warm. The rain starts to ease as I reach the end of the Burra hills. Soon, I even get sun and patches of blue sky. I reach Wandallah Creek Shelter just after 11am and took a short break in this pretty campsite. I see in the logbook that Geert arrived here safely yesterday arvo so I’ll see him at the next hut or catch him on the trail if he is lollygagging along. The walk reruns to up and down steep hills as I continue to follow a straight fence line. I’m doing okay but tiring of hills. The footing becomes very rocky, adding to the physical challenge. At least the threat of rain goes away and I strip off my rain jacket and rain skirt. Finally, 8kms from the hut, I leave the hills behind and walk along a track in a pretty dry forest. I see many huge wombat burrows under the road. I wish I could see a wombat but I understand they are nocturnal. At last, and quite footsore, I arrive at the new Black Jack hut, which was installed after I passed through here last year. Geert is already inside spreading out over the bunks and tables. I discover the loo walls and roof have blown away leaving the toilet seat in the open with the toilet lid held down by a big rock! Should be interesting doing my morning ablutions tomorrow! It’s nice to catch up with Geert and once again I’m surprised but grateful that I was able to find friendship on such a lonely and empty trail. I’ve really enjoyed his company over the past week. Tonight I enjoyed watching him sketch and paint a gum tree in the fading light as he taught me more about art. Check out his art at 😎instagram: geertvk. The stars are amazingly bright tonight, some of the best I’ve seen, attesting to how dark the skies are here. Tomorrow, I’ll have to say farewell to Geert early as it’s another challenging long distance day to Mt Bryan schoolhouse. Carl / Pilgrim —————— Weather: morning was cold, wet and windy with afternoon improving to partly sunny. Calories burnt: 3655

Hiking/Backpacking

Heysen Trail, South Australia

The Regional Council of Goyder, South Australia, Australia

time : Jul 11, 2020 7:17 AM

duration : 8h 15m 6s

distance : 31.3 km

total_ascent : 876 m

highest_point : 726 m

avg_speed : 4.1 km/h

user_id : gstreet

user_firstname : Carl

user_lastname : Greenstreet

Twenty steps out from under the cottage veranda where we were staying and hiker’s reality sets in as windy showers start to buffet me and wet my outer clothing. I stop only 100 metres into the walk and pull on my rain skirt (rain kilt to those whose masculinity is insecure!). I’m feeling a bid sad, having just said goodbye to Lisa. I won’t see her again until I finish the trail in a bit over four weeks. The good news is Lisa, and perhaps our son Drew, will be at Parachilna Gorge to pick me up at the end. From experience, I try to just focus on one day at a time. Once I leave Burra’s paved roads, the farm roads are wet and muddy. Mud clumps to my shoes so I try walking on the grassy verge which soaks my feet almost immediately. Oh well, take what the trail gives you. Before too long, I finally leave the farm roads and start the long cross-country section of fence following. There are steep to insanely steep climbs and descents as the trail just follows the fence for many many kilometres, straight up and straight down. The redeeming feature last year was the incredible views and watching how the light changed as the clouds moved across the sky. This year, the Burra Hills are mostly shrouded in mist as steady showers and a strong wind that keeps me on the edge of cold. I am actually glad to be climbing steep hills as it keeps me from becoming hypothermic. I take a break at the bottom of one particularly steep hill and the rain almost feels like sleet. My hands quickly start to ache with cold and I make a mental note that I must keep moving in these conditions to stay warm. The rain starts to ease as I reach the end of the Burra hills. Soon, I even get sun and patches of blue sky. I reach Wandallah Creek Shelter just after 11am and took a short break in this pretty campsite. I see in the logbook that Geert arrived here safely yesterday arvo so I’ll see him at the next hut or catch him on the trail if he is lollygagging along. The walk reruns to up and down steep hills as I continue to follow a straight fence line. I’m doing okay but tiring of hills. The footing becomes very rocky, adding to the physical challenge. At least the threat of rain goes away and I strip off my rain jacket and rain skirt. Finally, 8kms from the hut, I leave the hills behind and walk along a track in a pretty dry forest. I see many huge wombat burrows under the road. I wish I could see a wombat but I understand they are nocturnal. At last, and quite footsore, I arrive at the new Black Jack hut, which was installed after I passed through here last year. Geert is already inside spreading out over the bunks and tables. I discover the loo walls and roof have blown away leaving the toilet seat in the open with the toilet lid held down by a big rock! Should be interesting doing my morning ablutions tomorrow! It’s nice to catch up with Geert and once again I’m surprised but grateful that I was able to find friendship on such a lonely and empty trail. I’ve really enjoyed his company over the past week. Tonight I enjoyed watching him sketch and paint a gum tree in the fading light as he taught me more about art. Check out his art at 😎instagram: geertvk. The stars are amazingly bright tonight, some of the best I’ve seen, attesting to how dark the skies are here. Tomorrow, I’ll have to say farewell to Geert early as it’s another challenging long distance day to Mt Bryan schoolhouse. Carl / Pilgrim —————— Weather: morning was cold, wet and windy with afternoon improving to partly sunny. Calories burnt: 3655