Cruised out of Arlie for points south and a mysterious national park on the west side of the highway. I liked what i was seeing: lots of big mountains! It took a little while to find the place, but eventually I was set straight by a local shop and told it was much cooler up there in Eugella National Park. Just what I wanted to hear! After another series of switchback inclines, i found myself up top. My notes said another 600m hike was in order, but when i got to the information centre I discovered that I actually had three to choose from. The 600m in version was in a nice rainforest area near a creek with a fabled platypus, but i was a bit put off by a giant black snake sunning himself across the road on my way in. I decided to check out the other two campsites down the road. One was not super exciting – along a road next to an old dilapidated one room school house – but with quite good facilities (new toilets, covered picnic tables, fresh rainwater, and a bbq). I decided it was good enough for the night, but was curious about the 3rd site that was 33kms away up a 4wd track. I made it most of the way there but had to turn back when i came across some big logs down over the road which appeared to have fallen as a result of a bush fire some 6-12 months ago. Oh well, it was a beautiful drive, anyway. I settled back in to camp site 2 next to the school and am looking forward to a nice cool nights sleep for a change. Might mtb down a side road in the morning that looks pretty doable. For the first time i was actually checked up on by a park official, although this happened to be a local farmer.
Higher Ground
