Thursday 14 Feb 2019

A very different day. It started out a little drizzly and quite windy so I was seriously contemplating staying another day in the cozy camp kitchen. But the drizzle stopped, the wind became less, I was starting to feel under accomplished, and so I got going after all. Colin and Carrol left just before 10 and I just after 10.

It was thoroughly overcast and the temperature pretty well was stuck at 16º with just a brief period that it rose to 20º and back down. It was still quite windy and I wore my sweater and wind breaker the whole time which I’ve never done before.

Just before I got to the Nundle turnoff I was riding in fog or low hanging clouds and the temperature dropped to 15 and then 14º. Hmmmm, this is summer? Topdale Road is at 1300m but still.

The TSR we only a few clicks down the road.

With lots of deadfall to camp beside and sit on.

Tons of delicious ripe blackberries

Numerous large holes which I reckon are made by wombats.

And even a trickle of a creek to wash up in. All in all not a bad place to camp. But it remained foggy and the temperature dropped to 13º, so I had a quick cup of soup and couscous with peas and cheese. Then crawled into my tent and sleeping bag long before it got dark but quickly fell asleep anyway.

Total 50k 4:05 625m+ 395m-