Macallister Springs

At Macallister Springs

An absolutely perfect morning at Macallister Springs campsite. Pit toilet here an unexpected luxury - with view! I slept reasonably well but was a little cold - I’ll have to organise my sleeping bag a little better tonight. The walk in yesterday was through snowgum forest.

I have to be honest - I’ve been feeling a bit anxious about this walk - no specific reason, just a general feeling. In hindsight, this is a big jump up from zero wilderness over the past few years, with only a couple of nights at the very tame Prom a couple of weeks ago as warm-up. I’m just going to take it very slowly and carefully. I do want to “connect” to my surroundings whilst here, though - I hope I can, in spite of feeling a bit on edge.

I had a lovely half hour or so sitting with Nadia in the sunshine in our backyard before I left - I miss her now , and our lovely warm home full of togetherness.

A young New Zealand couple, living in Melbourne, are here too and are planning the Crosscut Saw return walk today - as I did all those years ago! It’s actually been nice to have some company, especially such nice people.

My body and mind are on high alert for the days ahead, even though they don’t need to be!

It’s so quiet here! Just a few buzzing flies, a cicada, an occasional bird call. No wind at the moment.

I tried to leave my details at Heyfield Police Station on the way here but there was no one there and their call button didn’t work! And my car navigation tried to send me on dirt road before I even got to Heyfield or Licola so I ended up ignoring it. The drive from Licola to Howitt Plains was no problem - a few nasty potholes but nothing more. The drop-offs on the side of the road were unnerving at times - I solved it by hugging the hillside on the other side of the road.

The sunshine this morning is lovely and warming. There’s a large crow plodding around my campsite, keeping me company.

The Crosscut Saw - where I'm heading!

OK, time to get things going!