July 11th

Days km: 42.8 km (Actually walked about 27 to 30km due to the diversion)

Total km: 711.3

My morning got off to a great start when my coffee drained out of my cup from numerous new holes that had appeared in it overnight. Some critter had gone to town on my silicon mug. So I made another coffee, this time in my titanium pot. After that I made some porridge, then realised I had picked up plain oats by mistake and I had nothing to flavour them with. I tried my best to force them down but only got a few spoonfuls before I gave up. So much for breakfast.

Not much to report on the walking sides of things. The track to Lake Maringup was closed and there was a diversion in place, which meant it was pretty much just road walking for the whole way. Normally doube hutting to Dog Pool would be 41km, but with the diversions in place it ended up being just under 30. Also, when I say road, I mean firetrails. It was blessedly flat, most of the roads had a good covering of sand which made it nice on the feet, and the sun was out so my clothes actually dried. There was not much in the way of scenery, it was one of those days were you cranked the music and just got to walking.

The weather is supposed to turn bad again tomorrow, as in storms and tons of rain, so I enjoyed the sun while it lasted.

Like Gardner, Dog Pool is a nice shelter right on the river, though here the river is wider and noisier. Rob, a northbounder, was already in the hut. He was excited as this was the first hut he had come across with a firepit. Which means it’s the last hut I’ll have a firepit.

We had a pleasent evening, chatting around the fire, and listening to the river roar.