Pushed up the distance today and walked 35 kilometres (21.75 Miles) along the High Country Rail Trail from our Hume reservoir campsite at Ludlows Reserve to Tallangatta, old Tallangatta and on to Bullioh. The trail is undulating to Bullioh with some moderate gradients for trains but quite flat for hikers.
A magnificent walking day. 20C sunny and great scenery following the edge of Lake Hume.
From Huon to Tallangatta the trail is a wide smooth gravel surface and easy walking. Sandy Creek Inlet Bridge which was officially opened in October 2012. Having been re-constructed on the foundations of the former railway bridge, the new structure incorporates a series of undulating red poles along its 600 metre length which have been designed to symbolically replicate the trail of smoke left behind by the steam trains of a by-gone era.
The 600m long Sandy Creek bridge with its distinctive “red sticks” is a highlight of the walk. Building such a long bridge just for the convenience of Cyclists and Hikers is amazing.
The bridge offers a viewing platform at the Tallangatta end where people can stop to take in the breath-taking panoramic views of the Hume Lake as it lies nestled between the gently-undulating surrounding hills, typical of the North East Victorian countryside. There is some arial video of the bridge when the reservoir was full. Click HERE.
Met Trish at the 20k mark in the small town of Tallangatta for lunch. From Tallangatta to Old Tallangatta is 8km and the trail is sealed all the way to the Mitta bridge, which is also quite an impressive structure, then up the valley to Old Tallangatta. The town of Tallangatta was moved as part of the creation of lake Hume. Some remnant structures can be seen when water levels are low.
Then 15k onto Bullioh Hamlet where Trish picked me up. After 44,000 steps my muscles are very sore and not keen to move at all this evening. But in a good way. All critical joints a little stressed but serviceable .
From Old Tallangatta to Bullioh the trail is basically flat as it continues to wind up the valley and is still a little rough in places.
Snacks Provided Apple Tree by Track