Day 79 - You, me and the turkey

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Yarraman - Bunya Mountains NP (Dandabah Campground) 57km

We couldn't have packed more into this day if we tried. I know, 57km sounds pretty harmless but a destination ending in 'Mountains' implies a little something for the lower gear range. Not that I ever doubted that we wouldn't make it to the lofty heights in the National Park, but I had hoped it to be a bit more straightforward.

The puzzle starts as soon as we pull out of the caravan park's driveway, onto the D'Aguilar Highway, trying to find the turnoff into Yarraman State Forest. State forests are a bit of a trap for the travelling cyclist. They are inviting because they lead you away from the traffic and lure you with tranquility and pretty gravel roads. But missing road signs and a lack of accuracy on Google Maps, often due to poor GPS signal, can turn them into a maze. So when we eventually head into the forest, I feel a slight "Hänsel und Gretel" sensation. 

Where the roads have no name

Over the next two hours we wiggle our way through this treeful labyrinth, spending a lot of time hunched over a smartphone screen trying to figure out where we are. There is a lot of bush bashing and freestyle orienteering going on. I think we even surprise the brush turkeys with our down to earth approach to conquer this terrain.

Bush bashing.

Deeper into the woods

When we reach the tiny locality of Maidenwell, decorated with a few new scratches and insect bites, we still have the big climb ahead of us. 28km to the campground up in Dandabah and ten of those are going take us to the limit. But we don't know this yet. Looking at Louise I see worry written all over her face. And I mentally prepare for all eventualities but mainly I pray that this National Park is really worth the effort. 

Any kind of distraction is welcome at this stage. Like another turtle rescue

Our pacesetter

Or a bit of singing in German (chatting to my mum on the phone inspired this strategy). "Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht, aber unsere Liebe nicht, alles, alles geht vorbei..." Anything that delivers a smile on Louise's face will do. And then we reach this sign, the first of many:

It's getting serious

Just to be clear: this is a warning for motorists! Even praying won't help now, it's pushing. Fortunately there is hardly any traffic and we have the road to ourselves. Well, there is the occasional turkey and... a carpet python! Of course, I walk straight passed it, but Louise spots it and is able to describe it in great detail. 

We reach the highest point of the Bunya Mountains just before 5pm, when the clouds start closing in. 

Hard earned view

Camp is set up in silence and in record time and dinner is cooked in the dark. When we slip into our sleeping bags we are absolutely spent and so tired that we can't even be bothered to close the day with the obligatory sip of whiskey before lights out.  

But I wonder whether kissing that frog outside the campground bathrooms would have helped to turn this visit into a fairytale experience? 

Should I have kissed him?






Comments

  1. FrancieApril 30, 2022 at 2:41 PM

    Wow I can feel that climb. Glad you can sing to Christel who would be looked after and warm away from the elements a world away. He He Went with two friends and 30 others on a local Cemetery Tour last night. While walking to and during the Tour, the most torrential rain and wind came down on us. Cleverly done - they had put out tall, orange glass battery operated candles around the cemetery on the graves we were to stop at. Eerie in the dark. We each had to have a torch but most had umbrellas too. All were soaked but the interesting tales and history made it worthwhile. Not till I got home and Joe was saying "Stay on the mat, you're dripping, that I realised I was soaked. Would do again, on a warm, calm night.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 7, 2022 at 4:56 PM

    Oh, wow … that DOES sound VERY ugly, guys. All of it - unclear direction, bush bashing with bikes, very steep climbs. Ugh! Reading on to see if the NP was indeed worth it!

    ReplyDelete

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