Start: Lakes Entrance
Finish: Nowa Nowa
Distance: 14
Total: 216
Today got off to a surprising start. Last night when I went to bed, the forecast was no chance of rain. At 6:00 this morning I was awoken by big claps of thunder. I looked at the radar and a huge thunderstorm was about to hit Lakes Entrance. I jumped up, got packed up and covered up with my rain gear and beat-feet to a bakery before it started flooding. I figured at least I could get breakfast over with and assess the situation while I ate. I made it to the bakery without getting too wet or hit by lightning and waited out the downpour. It looked like it might clear out after the storm, but of course I would have the road spray to deal with until the roads dried up. This was all complicated by the fact that I couldn’t wait too long because I needed to get to my destination of Nowa Nowa by 12:59 to catch the bus to my motel town on down the road.
Finally the rain stopped and I calculated I could walk my 14 miles with about 30 minutes to spare. The route has become much more hilly, just like the locals had been telling me it would. There are huge eucalyptus trees here and they shed their bark and branches all over the roads. I’m keeping my eyes pealed for koalas. I know they’re out there but I haven’t seen one yet.
I got to Nowa Nowa in time to grab a quick lunch at the General Store, which by the way is all there is in Nowa Nowa, then took the 30 minute bus ride ahead on my route to Orbost where I’ll spend the next two nights.
While sitting outside my room at the motel I met Jack and Lyn Morrell from Melbourne. They are on a beach holiday and stopped in Orbost for the night. They invited me to join them for dinner at the Orbost Club Hotel. We had a great meal and some even better conversation.
Tomorrow the Morrell’s have offered to drop me off back in Nowa Nowa on their way home to Melbourne. I’ll have a full day’s walk back here to Orbost. At least I’ll be slack-packing.
Have a great weekend everyone! GO COWBOYS! JB
