Paradza Musings: Great North Walk

The quest to conquer GNW continued. having done dry run one dayer's. time to do big sleep out.
Attempts to recruit partner failed. Not that i was expecting company. Was quite happy to charge off on my noggin. Nigel no friends.
Initial plan was to do P2P. Patonga to Paxton. Logistics of getting ferry to Patonga dictated change in plan. Practicality of it. Much easier to catch train. A request stop at Wondabyne on the other side of Hawkesbury. not before caffine hit at hornsby cafe, and quite good one it was too.

Damn that pack felt heavy. Ultralight backpacker reading didn't bare fruit.
Section through hawkesbury fantastic. Wet. Rain held off, not. Made good progress on the flats. Breaking into jog. More like a shuffle, still kept the pace up.

After tea break to munch my Walnut Apple Scroll rain threatened, so donned on my rain gear.

Note rain 'skirt'. A bin bag with tie wrap. only problem with said apparel, too narrow so nearly tumbled with longer step. so abandoned that idea. it became the leave mattress.a cunning plan for a good nights sleep this leave mattress idea. yet to be proven.

Some spectacular views which deserved thumbs up.

All good and making fast work of trails. Arriving at Somersby Store 4:15, just before 4:30 close time for pie and water restock. 30k to that point.

Somersby primary school just across the road looked like an inviting sleep over for me and my Gondee tent. If spotted by the local constabulary could well be seen as a Ivan Millat v2, so pressed on, in hope of making campsite. Had noted campsites along the way, what we really talking about is clearings. some with a fire pit. that's it. So ended up walking through Palm Grove Gully with head light. finally tent site spotted 6:30ish. Quickly erected tent, leaves unfortunately sparse so leave mattress proved useless. Cup a soup and dosing by 7:30. Sweet. Aching hip and shoulders were noted for remedial action the next night.

So day one. Wondabyne to Palm Grove 35k. left at 8 arrived at 6:30. Hero.

Started off in the dark. Popping out of a gravel road through 'Hidden Valley'. Horsey territory. in the mist of the morning, very picturesque.

time to locate a suitable breakfast spot and sample carefully prepared instant oats. Well blow me down, this 'Round Yard Canteen' looks like just the spot. thank you Hidden Valley Co-Operative...

and gas with kettle to boot. And that's not all, after a hearty breakfast and carefully brewed coffee one needs to perform daily rituals. Leave shovel in bag, not required.

Well Hidden valley had some hidden treasures for a merry GNW trail blazer. Note orange cup at door, indicating the urgency of facilities usage. Hikers Gross weight reduced. with new skip in the step.

Day two. target is Yarramalong 25ish:

The great North Walk as i discovered is a series of purpose built trails that connect up existing fire trails in national parks or state forests, or along farm roads. a little is over private land to get to the next state land. So the trails are down into the ravines, gorges and up the other side to the fire trail. All good. As you see, many selfies. with great use of timer. 10sec. place camera, race up the road, click. opps too far in this case. not going back for take two.

Forged with much purpose to yarramalong.
the next campsite proved to be a veritable 5 star luxury resort. A well locate couch, shower cubicle with no water, hook for BYO. Alas, for me a quick rest as it was only 11:30.

Now the map had some very important references for Yarramalong, that became particularly enticing. the Orange one in especially.

A shop equals some good grub. and as it turned out the 'works burger' was outstanding. most things of this nature are outstanding on the trial. Also at the shop was a notice for a B&B. Yes i had my beloved tent, I'm no zealot. And Charlie's B&B was open for my business. A 150year old cottage 3k up the road. And i had cunningly befriended a retired couple on a day out with their Dalmatian, so after swapping Dally stories, they offered me a ride up the road. and it was in the right direction of next days travels. And a fine little establishment Charlies was.
I made myself comfortable. Knocked up some risotto (Burger didnt touch sides),

Charlies B&B

So day two 20k odd.

Late start next day. hey why not good sleep in. breakfast, eggs bacon. Muesli.

Long 10k walk through the Yarramalong valley to Track Head. Broken into jog that clocked the ks away.

All very well sign posted along the way with Track Head signage at main entry points. 10.5k down, 16k odd to go. the next 16k turned out to be quite tough, up and down through gorges and ravines.

With all this hard drudgery a few moments to freshen up. And what a looverly pool to take a dip, freeze your buttocks and pick up a few leaches on the way.

didnt find the next campsite. So any old clearing will do. this time tent site selection was more rigorous. Nice n sandy. leaves for bedding. Using little used shovel churned up ground, contoured for hip and shoulder placement and build from there. And it worked a treat.

Having been snug as a bug by 7:30, woke up at 5 for another early start. No round yard canteen here so breakfast would have to be bush. A bitterly cold wind swept up the mountain side.

Flat rock point proved to be a good spot.
Another cunning weight saving idea was to have multi-use thingies. Like my Cheesecloth scarf. Also served as towel and coffee strainer. Towel after coffee straining not such a good idea. Didnt think that through. Anyway, left it at the canteen. So night sock served as coffee filtering device. Another distinctive aroma was added to the coffee taste. A note for future. Save weight in other areas.