Friday, 7 Dec 2018

Just 46 kms today along gravel roads. Came through an 11 km long stretch that had recently burnt.

There were still some smoldering tree stumps. I had been told this fire happened about two weeks ago. Found a pretty decent camping site along 6 Mile Creek. It isn’t flowing but the water holes are clean looking and there are some water lily like plants growing in it.

It was spitting on and off again all afternoon, but less rainy than yesterday. Still, you can get soaked and it wasn’t too warm, so I took shelter under my poncho a couple of times.

Just like yesterday, by late afternoon there were a whole slew of vehicles go by, from the looks most of them mining related. The driver who lifted me to Nebo had explained that around here is one of the richest coal deposits in the world. And it is easy to get to, so cheap to mine. This one mine he was talking about is apparently 70 kilometers long! I don’t remember any vehicle traffic on these roads 15 years ago, although the big mine had been going for decades already.

Tomorrow the big push over the Conners Range, about 65 kms to St Lawrence.