An interlude in Central Queensland

Carnarvon Gorge was my goal destination for this whole trip and eventually I realised I was getting close. I took a few days getting there from the coast. I did a couple of hikes at Cania Gorge National Park near Monto as it had easy 2WD access. 

On the first day I did a short 5.6 kms hike in the gorge to a little pool which was special for having ferns growing profusely down one side and a single fern tree sprouting up on top. I continued through the dry forest to a lookout over the gorge with a lot of forest to see and bare sandstone cliffs. There was a lot of ant activity on the trail and lizards rustling among the leaves.

The following day I set out before 8am, when the temperature was 5.5 degrees, for a long walk of 22.6 kms (return) to Castle Rock lookout. Some of the best views were at the start of the walk: high sandstone cliffs amid dense forest. The walk crossed completely dry Cania Creek several times then climbed to a lookout over the gorge. I startled a couple of kangaroos.

From here I had almost 10 kms of good wide trail through the forest to the next feature. The first few kms were marred by there having been a recent fuel reduction burn but luckily the birdlife had returned. 

At the end of the trail was a lookout and I was quite surprised that the view was over a lake, Cania Lake, rather than over the gorge. The lake was deep in forest and I was also surprised to see such untouched forested hill panorama in this region. There was an extensive safety barrier but I had to climb over it to get the best view of nearby sandstone cliffs as a tree was rather thoughtlessly blocking the view from the lookout.

The next day I went for a run in Biloela. I'm trying to fit in a run once a week; this infrequency means the running feels hard.

What was not expected to be anything special turned out to be a really nice  12.7 kms run. I ran northwest to the edge of the town and followed a quiet bike path around the edge of the town, then turned back into the urban part. Along here I turned off into the bush and followed firstly a rough undulating track leading to farmland and then a makeshift trail made by previous walkers/runners who had flattened the long grass. 

Back at the paved road I detoured into a newish housing development and did a loop through streets with names like Panorama and Highland; usually such streets have lost all views they might have had when they were named, but this time I had distant views over various mountains, some table topped and some conical. I also had a view of a power station. 

After this I followed the highway back to town but elected to climb through the trees above the cutting the road went through. This was a steep climb for a non runner and I had to stop for a rest at the top, and to enjoy the view in the other direction. It was a relief to get into the town and sights I recognised.

I did not know then that this would be my last run for a long time, and in the same way that I'm glad my final marathon (Orange) was a good experience I am pleased this run left me with a good feeling.