So rather impetuously the day before yesterday we checked out the weather chose to ignore the forecast and packed our bags and headed for the hills. Given that both Sean and Jenn are somewhat unfit (due to aforementioned foot injuries) we decided to do 'tramping light' and selected a nice little 3 hour walk out on a leg of the Mount Somers track to Woolshed Creek Hut.
As usual we had to stop on the way out for supplies (go nowhere without food) and didn't arrive at the car park until lunch time. Munching our sandwiches as we all booted up - still at least it saved us having to carry it - the car park was looking worryingly full. The huts operate on a first come first served basis. We quickly came up with a plan B - we walk home again in the evening. Simple.
It was a scorching afternoon and a blistering Nor'wester was blowing up. The 2 litres of water we had taken with us didn't last long - Jenn wondered why males can't pace themselves or make sure that everyone else has had some. The track was easy to follow and climbed and climbed and climbed in the relentlessly roasting hot wind. We stopped for a break at an old coal mine and waited until the sweating stopped. Giving up after about 10 minutes we continued. Any way the views were, as ever, spectacular.
Eventually we got to the top and could finally see where we were going - a lovely homey looking hut at the bottom of the valley by the creek. 
The hut was packed. But we managed to nab the last four beds - ow we thought to ourselves rather smuggly how lucky were we! Little did we know as we pulled off our boots and got our feet into the cool crystal clear water of the creek. 
The huts are quite basic but serviceable. You have to take all your own kit as there is no power but there is a wood burning stove for heat if you need it. There were two bunk rooms and a kind of kitchen/living area with stainless steel areas for cooking and tables and benches. The 'beds' are single platforms with mattresses on and you have to get up close and personal with whomever just so happens to be beside you. No gender separation just find a matt and claim it with your sleeping bag.
So we had our various tins of beans/meatballs/ravioli and tea and biscuits - love camp food. And settled in for an evening of visiting the local highlights - the very wobbly indiana jones chasm foot bridge (Jenn only got as far as the middle before she had to turn back)
, playing cards, making dams in the creek
, breaking rocks in the creek and reading books. As the light went down we took to our bags and got ready for a nights 'sleep'. and then the trouble started. Who remembered to bring earplugs? There was snoring to the left, snoring to the right, snoring up above and from the next bunk room as well. People getting up at all hours to go to the loo. But mostly it was the snoring. Out of the 20 or so people in our bunk room about half of them snored. The Swines!Sean and the boys were up early (we debated at great length on the walk home whether you could actually get up early if you technically hadn't been to sleep the night before) but Jenn managed to get up late. Sean got fed up and got a cob on because he didn't want to wake Jenn up (too scared) and she wouldn't wake up on her own. But we were up and out by 8am - which is pretty amazing for us. The weather was cloudy and cool and the walk down hill mostly. We were back at the car and off on our way for a cafe breakfast by 10.30. Breakfasting at the Alford Forest Coffee shop.
Jack got the best deal with a small full english breakfast. Poor Barney felt very let down by his choice of a bacon sandwich once he'd had a gander at Jacks bountiful plate of glistening bacon, sausage egg, bean, hash browns and toast. But he managed to hold it together as the tears nudged his eyes ' I didn't know I could have had that'. Bless him. Its a lovely little cafe and well worth a stop off it your passing and in need of sustenance.
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