Day 3: Cotter Flats to Pockets Hut 30/11/19

I didn’t sleep much last night. I’m not sure why, but l was aware of being awake alot. I was slow to get organised and didn’t leave til 9. Breakie was pretty dirty – oats soaked in cold water. After the gormand Chef Jublé porridge I’m used to, this was pretty hard to take!

My hair still didn’t feel too terrible after a day hiking and a night out.

Sitting here now at the end of the day, it’s hard to remember it all – the days start to blend together. I do remember slogging my way up the hill to Murrays Gap and at times asking myself why I’m doing this and do I really think I can do it for another month! It was super steep and drizzling (at least not hot like the last two days). Then, just like all the other super steep hills, all of a sudden it finished and it came out into gorgeous. Wildflowers everywhere.

At one point I was walking along under my umbrella feeling a bit chilly with a massive smile on my face. At that point, I couldn’t have been happier. Murray’s Gap is stunning. It’s in the Bimberi wilderness and is the section where you cross from ACT to NSW.

I do remember thinking while I was going up the hill towards the gap that the bloody Von Trapps made the crossing of borders through the mountains much easier looking than this! But at the top, it all faded away.

I met a couple along the way. It had started raining and the guy was scrambling to put up a tarp for them to have lunch under. They had a little kid with them and were spending a month wandering along AAWT. They had a trolley with them and later on the trail after I’d stopped for lunch, I saw them walking back towards me with him pushing the kid in the trolley. Nice way to travel. Lunch was fantastic today after a couple of cold meals and no cups of tea. I had an instant cup of lentils and rice, hot tea and some dried mango. I stopped under a tree almost out of the wind.

For the first time this trip I needed my wind jacket. The section along Murrays Trail around the border might be one of my favourite parts so far. Open with low plants and shrubs, loads of flowers but all really understated.

Oldfields Hut was my first hut on the trail. It’s really pretty and makes you feel nostalgic. It would have been a great place to stay but if I’d stopped there it would have made tomorrow a long day to get to Paul.

From Oldfields Hut to Pockets Hut was a long stretch of flats. It’s amazing how this country changes so dramatically in the course of one day’s walk. The flats was my first evidence of brumbies which I’ve been looking forward to seeing. Loads of poo and another creature poo mystery. Why do they always poo in the same places? The trail was marked by big piles of poo, as though for some reason they all need to go in the same place. It’s right up there with the mystery of why wombats and wallabies always poo on rocks and logs.

I felt really isolated for the first time when I arrived at Pockets Hut. It’s a beautiful, although windy, location and l feel so far away from everyone.I think I still feel a bit disappointed about not seeing Jub tonight. This morning l realised looking at the book that if l walked a bit further l could meet him at an off track camping ground and we could spend tomorrow adventuring around there together. But he messaged me back to say there’s a brumby cull on in that area and he can’t get to the campground. Boo. At this hut there’s really no protected side. I really debated about keeping on going and looking for somewhere else, but not sure what I’ll find before dark. So I decided to stay and set my tent up on the verandah out of the wind and sleep alongside my new friend the skull! I had an early dinner of brown rice, black beans, rehydrated mushrooms, spinach and coriander in stock. Super tasty for a backpack meal. It’s a Chef Jublé inspired creation which will surely go on the list of must have backpacking meals. Also makes me thankful we dehydrated all those mushies! I had a hut sponge bath which I must say is easier than a tent sponge bath! Then lay in my nest with the fly open listening to the birds and watching the sun go down. How lucky am I. Looking forward to spending tomorrow night with Jubble again.