Day 14 Jay Creek to Simpsons Gap 24.4km Overcast with mist.Difficulty Medium. 13.3-18.3 degrees.290m down 170m up
5.45am wake up as the school group got woken up but went back to sleep and got up when the sun rose at 7.07am.
Went to bed at 7.30pm last night but woke up at 8.30pm coughing for half an hour.
More rain on the tent overnight and so was wet when I packed up.
Today was meant to be pretty flat and with overcast skies and an easy day even though it will be long and maximum kilometres for the trip.
My left hamstring was a little tight today and just needed to keep stretching it. I started with a beanie, gloves, rain jacket and my ears were getting cold but like usual as you walk you start to get warmer plus the sun was finally appearing through the clouds.
Everyone had left the campsite when I left. I caught up to 2 hikers who camped near me at Jay Creek and left half an hour before me just before Spring Gap. As they day went on my right shoulder became sore , both shoulders actually with the weight and lack of comfort of the pack. With the day being a little cold I was getting a sniffly nose but could have been pollen in the air as well.
I put the tripod that I normally carry attached to the camera away in the backpack pocket today and carry just 2 litres of water as Mulga campsite has water which is only 1/3 into the trek.
I had morning tea of chips and a meusli bar at Mulga camp and saw the 2 hikers walk past the turnoff and keep going. After lunch I catch up to them again and overtake them and only see them again at Simpsons Gap. There they finished their walk and were catching a taxi into Alice Springs.
At 1.00 ish I arrive at Bonds Gap after going past a snake at the first creek crossing. Someone else talked about a snake there and sure enough it was still visiting guests. I fly the drone there and had lunch on a large flat rock near the waters edge. I carry only 1 litre of water for the next 9km which easily does the trick.
As you head towards the Gap the helicopters come buzzing past and the planes overhead appear flying into the airport.
A 4.00pm arrival at Simpsons Gap shelter where there is no USB charging. The flies are out and there are 2 people already set up in front of the shelter.
As my tent and mattress still a bit wet I dry them all out near the shelter then set up my tent inner on the platform. A usual dinner at 5.00pm and a couple of trips to the flushing toplets and rubbish bins to emty my accumulated rubbish.
Thern when its dark and im in bed 4 ladies decide to come up to the shelter and make their dinner under torchlite. The kept me up till 8.45pm and I tried not to get upset or angry about it. One had a Z pack tent which I noticed how she put it up and packed it up.