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The CrossingThrough Bulahdelah

Into The Six Hundreds

My first day back after Sydney brought great weather, beautiful country, a roadside chat with Mick and Jensen in Bulahdelah, and a Brisbane road sign reading 693 km.

Date31 August 2015
Journey dayDay 108
View Day 108 on the map
Gary smiling beside a Pacific Highway distance sign showing Brisbane 693 kilometres away.
Brisbane was down to 693 kilometres. For the first time, the remaining distance began with a six.

After two days in Sydney, it was time to get back to work.

We had driven back to 12 Mile Creek on Sunday evening, and I was back at Friday’s finish point west of Karuah just before 5 am. The target was 55 kilometres.

It turned into a really good day. The weather was great, the country was lovely, and there was plenty to look at as I crossed the waterways around Karuah and continued north.

By the afternoon I was walking through Bulahdelah. Mick Healey stopped with his son Jensen. He had seen me near Raymond Terrace on Friday and wanted to know where I was heading.

“Brisbane” impressed him. “From Perth” was not the follow-up he expected lol

Mick said he would make a donation and might even walk to the shop the next day. Thanks for the chat, Mick and Jensen :)

Ben and Ols had found us a great camping spot at Alum Mount Caravan Park. I stopped there briefly, then kept going. My finish point for the day was further north-east, near Boolambayte.

About 4 kilometres before I finished, a road sign gave me the important number: Brisbane 693.

We were into the 600s.

The target had been 55 kilometres. Apple Maps put my actual route progress at 56.1 kilometres, while the five Strava sessions added up to 58.8 kilometres once things like crossing the road to take photos were included. For progress to Brisbane, the Apple Maps number was the one that mattered.

August was done. The next morning it would be September, which meant we would get to Brisbane “this month”.

Those numbers on the signs were going to come down quickly.

Images From The Day

Early light over the water and trees near Karuah on Day 108.
The first session began in darkness, with the light arriving beside the water near Karuah.
A tree-lined waterway seen from the route north of Karuah.
One of the waterways on a beautiful morning north of Karuah.
Purple roadside flowers with open country and hills beyond.
Great weather and beautiful country made the first day back a good one.
Gary smiling over a mug of coffee during a morning break.
Coffee during a morning break, with a long afternoon still to come.
Road sign pointing along Bulahdelah Way and back toward Newcastle.
Walking into Bulahdelah during the fourth session of the day.
Gary taking a roadside selfie with Mick Healey and his son Jensen in Bulahdelah.
Mick Healey and his son Jensen stopped for a chat after Mick recognised me from near Raymond Terrace.
The HAA campervan set up among trees and cabins at Alum Mount Caravan Park.
A great camping spot waiting at Alum Mount Caravan Park.
The Pacific Highway passing through a rock cutting in the evening light north of Bulahdelah.
The final kilometres continued north-east from Bulahdelah toward Boolambayte.

View the full day gallery