|
Day: |
010 |
|
Date: |
Wednesday, 17 November 2004 |
|
Start: |
Dargo |
|
Finish: |
Lost Plain |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
80 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
1144 |
|
Weather: |
|
|
Accommodation: |
Tent |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Full English breakfast
Lunch: Bread and peanut butter
Dinner: Bread and
peanut butter |
|
Aches: |
|
|
Animals Seen: |
|
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
|
|
Journal: |
I had a nice big breakfast and left at
7:30am. The motel owner was concerned about my plans to get to
Licola and wanted a number there to call to check I was OK. I
explained that I had a tent and food and would be fine. For
the first couple of hours I followed a reasonable quality road
upstream through the beautiful Wonnangatta Valley. It was a
lovely day and very peaceful.
Around 10:00am I reached the
Billy Goat Bluff Track turn-off and began to ascend the
locally-famous track. It ascended 1,200m in 7km and was
extraordinarily tough. In some places I could barely make
forward progress and the bike occasionally threatened to tip over
backwards, the track was so steep. It was also very warm and
sunny and the flies were bothersome. It was demoralising
rounding each corner and seeing the track winding steeply ever
upwards. I had lunch on the first false summit, feeling very
tired. I gradually got more exhausted and found the loose
rocky surface almost impossible to get traction on. I wanted it to
be over but had no alternative but to keep going. To top it
off, my water began to run out and I was getting dehydrated. I
also got a puncture. I was passed by a small 4WD tag-along
tour group nearer the top and they were mightily impressed by my
effort.
Finally, around 3:00pm, I reached the top and had a
slow gradual rough descent a short way to the Moroka Valley. I
found a small stream along the way and replenished my water and
drank my fill. Then the road followed the Moroka River
gradually upstream. Again it was peaceful and beautiful.
I managed to maintain a reasonable pace but had given up on trying
to get to Licola. The track followed a ridge further up with
great views to the north across the mountains, some of which still
had snow on them. Near the top I found a possible campsite but
then moved on when I decided I could do better. I passed
Arbuckle Junction and a few kilometres later found a great spot to
camp at Lost Plain, a high alpine meadow, at about 7:30pm. I
set up camp and ate as the sun set and was in bed soon after 9:00pm.
Still having nightmares about the Billy Goat Bluff Track. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track
(2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|
