Melrose 0km

Felt like a breather today. A couple of reasons: my legs felt a bit heavy this morning, lots of rain overnight so sticky trails. Plus I'd never climbed Mt Remarkable before. So that's what I did...my "rest" day was a 12km walk up a 960m hill.

It was well worth it. Fantastic views across the Willochra plain, across scree slopes (apparently resulting from the breakdown of rock started from a crack). Passed a plane wreckage from 1980 that slammed into the side of the hill in low cloud (no survivors) and having to bolt over some really aggressive ant colonies. These ant colonies have a biomass equivalent to the size of 1/2 a sheep. I wonder why the brochure writers decided that half a sheep was a good measure for comparison?

Was back down the hill by about 3ish in the afternoon. Had a bit of a snooze (was a rest day after all) before heading to the North Star Hotel. Looks like a good menu, but most of the locals seem to be in the unrenovated pub a few hundred meters down the road.

The pub has been done up well. Good use of rough hewn timbers for beams and veranda posts, old weathered corrugated iron roofing contrasting with new steel roof beams and windows, all overlooking the base of Mt Remarkable. Part of the roof was lined with material from wool bales. Had a dining room with lots of space between tables and couches in the corners. A good place to drink beer and write. And the food was great.

Eating alone, I reckon I was getting as much conversation as the old couple next to me.

Had a bit of a wander around some of the back streets following a local history guide brochure. Loads of great old buildings and cottages.