Day 1: Tharwa to Honeysuckle Creek 28/11/19

After a restless night spent thinking about all the things that could go wrong (why didn’t I test the solar charger before now, l need to send people the map before l go, what if l bought the wrong length gaiters, what if brumbies stampede my tent while I’m sleeping – lucky my research told me l didn’t need to worry about dying from funnel web spider bite otherwise that would have been on the list too no doubt), l set off from Tharwa at 10am along a lovely undulating bush track. Right near the beginning some people had left a collection of snake sticks for which l would quickly become extremely grateful.

The gently undulating path did not last long. It soon turned to a fairly steep rocky steps ascent which seemed to go for a very long time – up about 500m. Maybe it was the heat or the steepness or maybe it was just day one but before long, l felt buggered! Nothing a vegan anzac bikkie (copyright Chef Jublé) couldn’t fix though.

It took awhile to get into my groove. My hat kept rubbing my backpack making a super irritating noise, the solar charger on my phone kept going on and off although that was soon fixed when the connector broke rendering it unusable – no need to worry about it turning itself off anymore! But after awhile l settled into it and it’s amazing. I met a couple of lovely women who were doing the climb to Mt Tennent. They were super supportive of my mission and it reminded me how great girl power is! I suspect they may be some of the few people I’ll meet (other than Jub!) before Thredbo. After rounding Mt Tennent, the track opened onto a fire trail in an open valley. Kangaroos hopped away lazily, probably irritated I’d disturbed them on such a hot day. There are no people sounds out here except for my own foot falls. What a truly lovely thing to be doing – spending a month wandering through the bush alone. Gratitude.

I came across the perfect lunch spot complete with wooden seats and even had some company from a grand daddy skink. He checked me out from few angles before plonking himself on my solar charger next to me on the bench! In the second photo below if you look closely you can see his little head over the left hand top of the chair and in the third photo you can see his head poking around the left side of the chair lower down right near my backpack.

The afternoon was really lovely, meandering along a leaf littered bush path. And the end of the afternoon was the loveliest – arriving in Honeysuckle Creek campground to find a pitched tent and a hammock swinging between two trees and Jubble not far away.

Chef Jublé made a super delicious dinner with tofu, fresh cauliflower and broccoli on rice. Next time I’ll be sure to get a photo so you can see the difference between his dinners and the ones I prepare on the trail myself!

There was an elderly lady waiting for her daughter and granddaughter to arrive for a night’s camping. She looked pretty nervous. Apparently her granddaughter, who was tiny – maybe 2 or 3 years old – calls her laughing grandma and she was hoping the name would still stick after their first night together in a tent! The report the next morning was that they’d had a great deep and meaningful at 3am and the trip was considered a success!

Jubbie also earned himself another crown today by having a bush shower set up ready to go and he helped me wash my hair!