Wow!! We are just past half way, and another little bit of information that might interest you, a group of my friends from Footprints for Peace are walking in America opposing  Mountain Top Removal.  Hi to Jon and co walkers, from your fellow walkers here in Queensland Australia.

The first hour or so I walked in the rain but it soon cleared. After breakfast, while Derec caught up on much needed sleep in the passengers seat, (he drove from Brisbane arriving a 2am the first night then got washed out the next night) Potts drove ahead and set up our tents and hung clothes to dry.  I carried, one at a time, our Thermarests hung over the trolley catching the breeze, as I didn’t mind walking in the rain but really wanted a dry bed.  Reaching the camp at 11am the three of us ate a whole delicious rock melon then Derec headed off to Gladstone for his meetings and Potts myself and Bindi settled into camp and prepared for Potts’ friend Nomes from Brisbane to arrive later that night. Thankfully no more rain.

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Derec and Potts drove out to meet me and cook breakfast at 8.30am and then stayed within site for the rest of the days distance, then we all drove back to the camp site stopping off at the local café for a very welcome thickshake and a chat with a few locals.  After lunch Derec caught up with his work phone calls, Potts posted on Facebook and I had a welcomed snooze along with Bindi. Adam suggested if we had time to visit Murphy’s Lake, a short drive out of Toroom.  What a wonderful treat, we eventually found it just before sunset and spent a pleasant hour watching the black swans and white pelicans on the lake and sat on fallen trees absorbing the quiet peaceful atmosphere .

After a peaceful night I was up and away by 4.30 and walked at a good pace that enabled me to be in Taroom 2 hours before the organised time of 11am. A car stopped at 8am saying I was early, they were planning to be part of the welcoming group. They said they would call and see Adam (organizer) and let him know I was ok. As I was so early and I had seen a sign saying there was a motel only 3klms away, I decided not to stop and cook breakfast but to call in at the motel for eggs and coffee.

Once again a great nights sleep in a bed, thanks John and Terese,  our walk started a little late 5am, its hard to get away when you are with such great people.  As the morning wore on Potts shin splints became unbearable so we sat down (in the shade of course) and discussed the options. I had felt for a few days that rest was the only solution and today Potts came to the same conclusion.

A good nights rest at the Bushlanders Motel, thanks so much to the owners, This morning Dave from Brisbane joined us and we set off at a great pace. Dave was enthralled at the beauty of the dawn and at our first stop  Potts adjusted his backpack which made the rest of the day much easier. Bindi wasn’t too eager but as she warmed up trotted along at her usual pace.

It was a very, very hot walk into Wondoan. Bindy was lucky enough to score another walk free day and Potts a backpack free day. I shouted myself scrambled eggs bacon and tomato, it was sooo good. The local policeman stopped to talk, he was very laidback and friendly and we heard that he was told to keep check on the event and to write a report on it!!! About 20 people turned up, including Michelle from Tweed Heads and Annette from Brisbane, Derec and Dave from FoE , Lilly and Waie (friends of Derec’s).  After an enjoyable sausage sizzle Lyn and Leo took us back to their farm at Guluguba to look at the pipe line being laid on their property and heard of the stress and difficulties they have had over the last few years. We also saw the beautiful Guluguba school, that will have to be removed because of the coal mine. Then it was back to the Bushlander motel, who had donated a room for us, This unexpected generosity was a real gift to us.

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Hi wonderful people, after a good nights sleep we said farewell to Paul and Jenny and at 5am  headed towards Wondoan. As usual it was so good to be walking as the dawn came. Bindi had new shoes and after the initial strange walk was trotting along at a good pace. Today saw me struggling a little up two rather big inclines, and my shins began to give me a little trouble, It was extremely hot by 8.30 am and Bindi started to slow down again, her little legs struggling to keep up. Potts made her a cute little carrying pouch out on a flag he found along the road  and gave her a spell on and off during the morning.  We crossed over the great dividing range then downhill and out into the open where there were no trees for shade for about 5 klms. We eventually came across one tree, and stopped for a late breakfast. Not a lot further on our host for the night Dale caught up with us and took Bindi and Potts’ pack for the last few klms. When we arrived at Dales home his wife Lyn had a great baked dinner waiting for us. After a rest Dale then took us to see the pipe line being constructed on his property. There has been almost no work done since before Christmas due to problems with the welding on the pipes, they are waiting for new welding gear to come from US. Some farmers have had many problems with the hold up as the pipline is still above the ground and it has dived their herds and hampered there ability to keep the cattle together. The pipe should have been underground in 2 to 3 weeks and it is now almost 3 months, It was early to bed after another great meal.  

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Today was an even earlier start, Potts was awake at 3.30 so we were packed up and away by 4am. We were in Miles before 5am and we called into two 24 hour truck stops to find neither of them have real coffee (only instant) , but we did get fresh water, our water had spent too much time in the sun and didn’t taste the best.  Both Potts and myself were suffering from mild shin splints, Potts made worse by the extra weight of his backpack. After a couple of hours we decided to put the pack onto Roxy and Potts made a sling out of the peace flag to carry Bindi on his back, she looked so cute and very happy. At about 9am Paul (who was putting us up for the night) came along with his neighbor Phil to see how we were going. Bindi and the back pack went in the ute and Phil (68 yrs) walked with us. There were road works we had to negotiate and a one stage had to wait on the side of the road for 15 mins. A few klms on Paul joined us and much to Phil annoyance made him drive the ute, Phil said he was only just getting warmed up.  What a lovely place to spend the night.Paul and Jenny have a grape farm. ”Kurrajong” and set us up in their workers cabin. Other neighbors will be over this evening to share a meal and stories.

Between us we made Bindi’s 2nd pair of shoes as the make do ones kept falling off. Paul produced and old pair of work gloves, the thumbs just fitted Bindi’s front paws and the large finger fitted the back paws. Almost instantly Bindi was running everywhere.

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Early start 4.20am (no packing up a dew wet tent wow!) we started walking in the lovely pre dawn morning, it was going to be a long day 32 klms to Miles. We had decided to stop a couple of klms this side of Miles and tag that klms onto the next day that was only 20 klms.  As dawn came so did  the traffic, and we were thrilled at the positive response from most people. The day was pretty uneventful,though it was the first day Potts walked with his back pack and this did slow us down a little but no great deal also Bindi had her first ride in the Red Rocket (Roxy) which she thoroughly enjoyed  We stopped at 10am and set up camp until 4pm walking until 7pm, We had a visit from our friendly cops Scott and  Justin.  from Dalby who chatted with us for about 40 mins.  I think the highlight of the day was when Angela from Aspen Medical ( a medical program to look after workers in CSG; I believe they also help local people when needed) stopped to give us iced water and 2 pkts of M and Ms I think it is in CSG companies best interest to see that Potts and I come to no harm.!!!! Potts also made some temporary shoes for Bindi as her paws are still tender. Hopefully we can make something better when we get to Paul and Jenny’s place.

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Our rest day was spent in comfort in a cabin in Condamine Caravan Park generously provided by Lee McNicol. It was a leisurely start and while Potts played with his computer downloading photos and movies I did a little hand washing and talk with two lovely women who lived in the caravan Park. Dot’s home was completely flooded just 12 months ago and she told me about that experience and her excitement at moving back into her completely refurbished home in two weeks. Ack then drove us into Miles so I could pick up from the PO an extra battery and car charger for my phone that a friend had kindly posted to me. In the evening we went across to the local pub for a ginger beer hoping to chat with some locals. The pub was very busy mostly with CSG workers and we were unable to connect with them.

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