Monday 28th September 2026

Camp to Annascaul

Being far from the madding crowd meant a very peaceful nights sleep and only just beat the alarm. Breakfast room had a marvellous view over the bay, but we were not early enough to beat the Yanks and get a prime viewing spot.

Thought I would go for a light breakfast and take the home made porridge and fruit. Well a bowl arrived with enough for me Goldilocks and the 3 bears and it was delicious. Jane’s eggs and smoked salmon hit the spot with her.

Bade farewell to mine host , who was just as loud this morning, and the guard dog to head off on a walk just shy of 19 kms without diversions.

Retread the steps from last night only this time uphill to rejoin the trail and head for the other side of the peninsular. The path was like carpet n comparison to yesterday on a country lane and then farm trails, often grass, running between the sheep paddocks.

The sea view started to disappear and it was daunting mountains on both sides. Thankfully we were walking through the saddle. The sheep with their coloured markings were scattered from down on the flat to high upon the hills, with one particular bloke perched on a fence like a lookout sentinel.

The tracks had some pretty steep ups and downs and a couple of tricky stream crossing on mossy stepping stones- thank God for the guide ropes.Also water levels were down meaning us avoiding long diversions.

Again not too many walkers on the trail , only the occasional farmer on his rounds. Thankfully all the stiles from yesterday all but disappeared and it was gate and kissing gate access through paddocks.

Made good progress to finally grab a glimpse of the sea and Inch Beach which is famous for a few things, surfing, windsurfing on wheels and of course the filming of Ryan’s Daughter. We took a break on a chair high above the beach to take it all in on a day where the sea was pretty benign but the wind was ok pushing along the windsurfers on the sand. The beach had plenty of people and cars dotted along it.

Resumed the walk and after 200 metres got a call from a walker from behind ‘ did anyone leave a green phone on the chair’. A quick feel of the picket gave the answer and it was a hurried retreat to pick it up. Got the expected tea and sympathy ‘ silly old man’ response and headed off steeply down hill off the track to visit the beach or at least a seat outside the pub.

Watched the action for a while then it was back up the road to tread the trail mostly uphill through more sheep and cows. Had a lovely chat with a local farmer who was feeding the sheep and weighing the cows. It was a conversation that will linger for a long time. Seems lamb and beef sales are on the wane and his view was ‘ it’s all those xxxxxx vegetarians eating avocados and drinking coffee who are the problem-‘Tis a bit hard growing fruit and beans here in this weather so we will just have to carry on and hope’. His daughter added a bit of balance, to his chagrin, by say ‘but these sheep and cows are vegetarians as well’. We thought it the right time to bade farewell and ponder.

Reached the top of the hills chased by a farmer in a tractor before a long downhill run into town on a road with seemingly no end. Town was very quiet and with check in at 400 it was a long wait sitting on cake and hot chocolate chatting to the locals at the only shop open in town.

It seems 400 was the bewitching hour and pub doors opened , as did our accommodation. Room was not as big as last night, but was comfortable with a view- actually everybody who walked past waved as they looked in.

Not much to see in town so headed to another Aussie hosted hotel- this time s Taswrgian- and enjoyed a drink and local fare before hobbling home to read tomorrow’s track notes and weather forecast with the latter a bit foreboding

10mm of rain and wind gusts up to 60kph. Can only hope the BOM guys get it wrong over here like ours.