Day 9 Wirrabara to Curnow's Hut, 65.89 km, 4.43 hours, 14km/h average, 648m ascent, 473m descent, Max speed 43.44km/h 11.1 degrees with a 9kmh wind form the SW. Time of departure 8.54am.
I wake up early cold in the double bed and decide to put on the electric blanket but then it gets too hot. I wake up again at 7.20am and off to the bakery for breakfast at 8.00am.
It was breakfast at the bakery for scrambled eggs and bacon then off along the railway line until i hit the main road. Unfortunately after 2km on the trail I realised I left my backpack with my wallet and drone at the bakery so had to go back. It was there in the same plac eI left it and no one noticed. Off again to repeat. Once I hit the main road the railway trail kept going only this time on the left hand sid eof th ehighway. Off I went cruising along thinking it was going to meet the Stony Hut to Laura line but it suddenly stops befor ea creek with no signage telling me otherwise. Back track 50m and onto the main road it is until Stony Hut. I see the trail line again on the right again and take it, only for it to stop at a road crossing. Back on the main road again then I see it again and commence the journey. By this time I've hit the Mawson Trail again but find this part a long and boring straight part except for the millipedes or something that are all over the trail making their way left and right.
Its morning tea at Laura, famous for its Dairy North icecream which I have to taste. PS no different to any other, sorry. Out of town I head east at a slow uphill section. Along the way I fill up a water bottle at a stream only to find it tastes like salt water again. THis is when I realise I have not cleaned out the filter from last time I used it so the second filter time is all clean drinking water.
Shortly after I come across some cyclists going NOBO and ask about the bindi's all clear but they tell me about the long Bundaleer section which seems like 12 KM takes you 3km in distance along.
I stop at the old Monarto School ruins for lunch at 12.30pm. Beautiful spot surrounded by wheat fields , view of the valley and a windmill. then see a car with 2 horses on the back and someone in a sulky and horse. Is it trotting, no Pacers. Pacers have the same leg stride while trotting is opposite legs. Pacers go faster. Learn something everyday. PS I had to google up what a pacer horse is.
I ride downhill so fast near Jamestown Golf Course and the GPS goes burserk, once again missed the turnoff to the right. Back uphill again a short distance to the Bundaleer trail. Through more gates and more gates, each one different set up to open and close as the last the trail turns into a single track then no track. Up a huge hill only to walk it through more gates you then come out nea rthe Surveyors Hut. There's a detour so you dont have to go on the main road. On this part I saw 2 walkers out for some exercise, I must be close to the oval. Plus a tree over the trail which I have to walk around.
A party is happening, perhaps a wedding in the thick forest on th eleft as I go past the showgrounds. I cant see anyone other than 2 cars and a couple of well dressed men.
Along the road I am on the lookout for the tracks to the right and into the forest to get to Curnow's Hut. By now I'm exhaisted again, sore and needing more breaks. I find the turn off and throw the 2 water bottles under the locked gate and heave the bike over on the second attempt.
A short ride to the hut set further in the forest. There I come across a Heysen Trail walker who has just finished a late lunch. He leaves soon after to get some more KM in on the day.
I have the hut to myself and settle in. There's a fireplace so I collect wood to warm up the hut on sunset.
Curnows Hut- There's a code for the door which the Heysen TRail walker didnt have but as I had the Mawson Trail app I could get in.
The hut is a renovated old stone hut with a common room with a table , chairs, seats and a pot belly fireplace. a seperate room has wooden sleeping platforms as bunks which could fit about 10 people. THere's another open fireplace where I get going in another room. There's one or two water tanks plus an outdoor dunny and an area where you could have a fire. The hut is free. The hut is maintained by Friends of the Heysen Trail volunteers and reserved for Mawson and Heysen trails users. Its on private property. It was built originally in 1890s , was the original residence of the first nursery worker, William Curnow, who worked on the Bundaleer Forest Reserve, the first forest -man made in South Australia.
Dinner and bed, it was still cold as the heat from the fire generally stayed in the "lounge Room".