A stick with a bit of a fork on the end lol.
And that one was half the size of the one by the trail on the ride home. Silly bugger saw/heard me coming and took off the direction I was going before darting off into the bushes while I came screeching up behind it!
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I usually carry a 3m selfie stick in my pack.
I know one day it will come in useful.
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Whatās the bike? Looks like you have nice fat 45mm? tyres and some excellent add ons
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Itās a Giant Revolt gravel bike (the model 1 above their entry level but before all the even more expensive composites).
Upgraded straight away to Pirelli 45mm (although inflated on the bike they measure at 49mm so clearance is tight in the back on the shorter wheelbase setting) gravel tires (the āhardā model which is perfect for all the gravel trails around me and still pretty quick on roads). Theyāre tubeless and I ended up using something like 20psi in the front and 25psi in the back on the return trip to handle some of the rockier sections near Tostaree.
The panniers I just got off Ali Express as wasnāt sure exactly what I needed/wanted so went a cheap route. I think on this trip I used 6 out of the 7 I bought so happy with my guesstimate of what Iād need haha.
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Also did some actual hiking (well, more like trail walking) around Conran and caught glimpse of a seal fishing near Salmon Rock.
The bar tender at Marlo pub is a keen surfer and was saying some fisherman spotted a seal get taken by a 3m great white not far from Salmon Rock boat ramp (itās not an the map but thereās another exposed rock a bit further out where the cross is and the attack is reported to have occurred. Circled area is where the guys surf).
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Have a mate on a farm near there. The left hander into the beach where your seal was breaks ok - rarely. When it does itās better than the Beachies at east cape. We went in October 23 and it was pretty decent. Unfortunately I was hopelessly unfit, as well as generally rubbish at the best of times - and couldnāt catch a wave! Mates did ok though. Good feed and view at the Marlo pub. Plus they did a courtesy busā¦
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Ps re this thread my son is up at Crosscut Saw today. Single night at Camp Creek, then back over to Howitt Car Park and drive home tomorrow nightā¦
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Iām not a surfer but nothing in East Gippsland strikes me as a āmust visitā on a surfers list (and my cousin who IS a surfer agrees haha).
On another note, the carbon pole for my tent comes with a little rubber cap/stopper so it doesnāt dig into the ground (when not set up with the inner). Lost it somewhere on the ride home, emailed Mont, and theyāre going to send me out one as a freebie!
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Near lake Tyers. Rare conditions. Outta my league!
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Continue to keep an eye out for Snakes. Iām still wearing gaiters, as itās really dry and hot still.
On Wilsonās prom. I went over night hiking through there in June last year, and there was snakes still out laying in the sun.
I was absolutely staggered, as snakes were the last thing I was expecting in the middle of winter.
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Iāve actually been thinking of just getting some thicker boots that go to mid-shin anyway.
Aussie Disposals carry some TAS boots that have good reviews for their price eg you could churn through a couple of pairs for the cost of something from Paddy Pallin and the like.
Whereabouts is that?
I was up at Jervis Bay and found the going a hit tough.
Didnāt realise theyād put out a warning for hazardous surf conditions along basically all of NSW 
Walkerville
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Anyone had some experience with using higher cut boots in lieu of āregularā boots and gaiters?
My leather red backs are taking a painfully long time to break in (I also have a sneaky suspicion I went a size too big) so I was looking at picking up another pair (potentially something like the Ridgeline Mallee or TAS Centurion).
Iām used to heavy steel caps so weight isnāt an issue and I would prefer to prioritise durability & snake protection over weight & comfort given Iām walking (relatively) short distances and maybe 2-3 nights tops.
An old vid from Boxing Day 2023.
This really is a majestic place in the Blue Mountains, made all the more rewarding because you need to cross this Gap in order to access the Ledge (in the video)ā¦
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Yeah, Nah.
I doubled up and attached Paracord to the nearest tree as an Insurance Policy.
This was my jump back off the Hanging Rockā¦
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Im not scared of heights, but making that job would scare the ā ā ā ā out of me.
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Using paracord in lieu of climbing rope is a bad idea. Climbing ropes are designed to take a huge dynamic load, and to resist cut when under load and in contact with rock. Using paracord likely more dangerous than using nothing, because it almost certainly would not stop a fall and might be distracting enough to make one more likely. If you donāt have a harness, what are you attaching the āropeā to?
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