Day 21: Koetong Creek to Wises Creek

We went on another lengthy hike today, and Cy and I ended up in a huge argument. I believe the fatigue is affecting us both. In his frustration, Cy even broke the loop on his hiking sticks. It might seem minor, but these loops are essential for resting your hands while hiking, and without them, you can't use the hiking sticks to your advantage. Our goal was to reach Wymar Ferry because the map promised a caravan park with showers, and we were so looking forward to getting clean and washing our clothes. It was scorching hot, and when we finally arrived, we were told the campground had closed years ago and that there were no formal campsites anywhere nearby.

We were completely worn out and so disheartened. Neither of us wanted to drag ourselves through another two days of walking to Hume Dam, so we bit the sour apple and decided to push on so we could reach it by tomorrow.

The campsite we found was actually beautiful, covered in rocks and shells, with really spectacular scenery.

I always feel vulnerable camping near main roads, and that feeling hasn’t faded even after all this time. But we found a decent spot, managed to freshen up some clothes in the river, and our spirits lifted once we realised we would be at Hume Dam by tomorrow evening. Comfort, showers, real food. We felt like kids, silly and giddy with anticipation, and it struck me that despite all the challenges, I felt incredibly alive and content.

The evening itself was uneventful. Cy had collected a huge pile of rocks, which he forgot about in the morning, but we managed to pick them up later when we took Tim and Ariadne on a little tour to show them our last campsite. One more day to Hume Dam, ready to switch our boots with boats!