22/6/2009

Dropped into Laura at 10:30am. Cute German bargirls at pub. Beer, make sign, loose pen, chat to people at next table who eventually take me to entrance to National Park c. 12:30. Very quiet. Little traffic, 2nd car, approx 1 hour later takes me right to 1st intended camp sight, Laura river crossing. Beautiful. Checked out old station, paid for night at little selfserve kiosk by road, set up camp, get h2o from river in full croc paranoia mode, boiled for drinking water. Fire, walked up and down mostly dry river bed, other couple camping arrive and set up right down by river!!! Bit less paranoid now, but still very cautious. Back to camp as dusk settles. Remove last camping tag from tent. 'Kuringai Chase - booked 'Shepherd'. Gone now. Better. Scrounge some more firewood, cook dinner. Tasmanian meal totally yum. Water now cool enough to decant into plastic carrying bottle. Cool! Still - after dinner etc... 750mls less than started with. But there's water everywhere here and boiling is easy. Cool. Might schlep a little less tomorrow - pack EXTREMELY heavy - set out with 9.5l.

Thanked traditional owners and spirits of the land, felt good. Practiced meditation 4 a little. Some small success. Dark. Fire. Cattle lowing in Valley. Fire burns down. Bed approx 9pm.

==== NIGHT SCARE ====

Hideous Wild Braying sounds coming up from river. Slowly approach and eventually to within 10m of tent. Terrifying. Lasts for more than an hour. Mortal terror - assume is feral wild bull. Eventually the sound wanders off again then fades into distance. Desperate relief. Somehow return to sleep.

--- Longest night. Dark moon. But not visible.

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