|
Day: |
000 |
|
Date: |
Thursday, 27 July 2006 |
|
Summary |
Spent some time helping set up Dad’s new
broadband and e-mail account (it took longer than expected) and then
drove with Dad down to Tidal River on Wilsons Promontory, a distance
of 250km from Melbourne |
|
Start: |
Melbourne |
|
Finish: |
Tidal River |
|
Daily
Kilometres: |
0 |
|
Total
Kilometres: |
0 |
|
Weather: |
Mild and partly sunny. |
|
Accommodation: |
A cabin at Tidal River in Wilsons
Promontory National Park . |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: ?
Lunch: Nice
pies and a milkshake at Kelly’s Bakery in Korumburra
Dinner:
A “blokes” dinner of canned tomato soup, canned stew on toast and
canned fruit and ice-cream. |
|
Encounters: |
Met a wombat nonchalantly grazing on grass
in the Tidal River campground when we went for a late afternoon
walk. |
|
Highlights: |
A very pleasant solo one-hour walk at
sunset across from Tidal River to Squeaky Beach and return. There
was scarcely a breath of wind and the sunset turned the huge granite
mountains around Tidal River red which was then reflected in the
perfectly still dark (tannin-stained) waters of Tidal River . I had
Squeaky Beach to myself and enjoyed a quiet stroll by the surf
contemplating the journey I’m about to embark on, and worrying a
little about the hike to South Point tomorrow. Am I fit enough for
such a long walk? |
|
Lowlights: |
Finding out the Tidal River café stops
serving meals at 2:30pm in winter, meaning that Dad and I had to
fend for ourselves for dinner. |
|
Journal: |
Jean decided not to join Dad and me for the
trip down to Wilsons Promontory, and my start point, because of my
step-brother Bob’s ill health. We didn’t actually get away until
nearly 11:30am but, as it turned out, it was a fast trip down and we
were at Tidal River soon after 3:00pm.
After checking in and
chatting to the very helpful young (female) rangers about credit
card fraud and the track to South Point, Dad and I went for a short
walk along the very beautiful and peaceful Tidal River . It’s been
more than 20 years since I have visited “the Prom” and you can
forget how spectacular the place is. The vegetation looks almost
alpine with moor-like lowlands bounded by grey and pink granite
mountains partially covered by low heath-like scrub and scraggly
trees. Juxtaposed against this are brilliant white sandy beaches
bordered by rocky headlands and pounded by a uniform surf. The
place looks better cared for than in years gone by. Barb and I have
many happy memories of running camps on “the Prom” and I’m nostalgic
for those days when I was running 200km a week on trails around here
and not even thinking about it.
I found time for a walk to
Squeaky Beach before Dad and I cooked a pretty basic dinner and then
we had a very quiet evening (no TV or radio) before a relatively
early night. Big day tomorrow for me! |
|
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)
|
