Day 9: Tom Groggin Food Drop

The morning greeted us with a much-needed respite from the cold. After a warmer night at 800 meters, we packed up quickly, Cy and I have become quite efficient packing up.

We were conscious of our limited water supply—so tight, in fact, that brushing our teeth and washing ourselves had to be skipped. The reality of hiking life left me feeling grubby, but we pressed on.

Descending towards Buckwong campsite, it took us only 1.5 hours to reach a beautifully large flowing river. We waited patiently as a group of 4WD people  packed up their camp. Finally and as Cy was looking for rocks, I found an isolated spot and indulged, in a bath in the freezing water. Nothing compares to the bliss of feeling clean amidst the wilderness.

Cy followed through washing up and taking a large amount of rocks with him because after all, Beverley could take them home!

With our water bottles topped up and a quick snack, we felt recharged for the day ahead.

A miscalculation in my tracking added a silver lining to the day—Tom Groggin turned out to be much closer than anticipated!

Spirits were high as we crossed the Murray River and arrived at the Tom Groggin campground at 1 PM. The sight of kangaroos bouncing around near the flowing Murray was a such a great welcome, though adjusting to the bustling campsite and presence of fellow campers took some getting used to. The smell of a nearby barbecue stirred thoughts of comfort and companionship.

Once camp was set, Cy dove into the river with gusto, returning with an impressive and ever growing rock collection.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but feel the pull to connect, aching to chat with Ariadne and Tim. However, the lack of reception at Tom Groggin made it impossible.

The emotional highlight of the day came at 3 PM with the arrival of Beverley and Linda. Seeing Beverley’s smile and receiving a warm hug from Linda and Beverley was heart warming, lifting my spirits after days of rugged solitude.

Beverley and Linda brought a bounty of supplies—food, clothing, toilet paper, and other hiking fit essentials—that was nothing short of overwhelming generosity.

Linda, an adventurer at heart, shared invaluable tips about collecting water in emergencies and it was inspiring to see Linda in action. We know so little about people we casually socialise with and seeing their pragmatism and generosity was so refreshing. Given a different context, people shift into different gears and one sees new sides and traits that would have otherwise laid dormant. We know so little of those we surround ourselves by.

Beverley and Linda prepared a feast fit for kings: barbecued steak, corn, pumpkin, and fresh salad—a massive departure from the monotony of porridge and dehydrated meals.

The afternoon unfolded in sharing stories, laughter, and even a swim in the Murray. Borrowing Linda’s swimsuit, I embraced the cool water while Cy joined in undeterred, wading in his undies with Beverley capturing the moments.

A neighboring South African family extended their kindness, offering a hot shower that felt like the ultimate luxury. Washing my hair with warm water was a small miracle in itself, and I marveled at their glamping setup—a world away from our rugged trek.

By 8:30 PM, Beverley and Linda bid us farewell, their departure tugging at my emotions. The sight of them driving away made me homesick, longing to hop in the car and return to Tim and Ariadne and my comforts and Cy felt the same.

Still, we went to sleep that night at 9:30, feeling full, clean, and immensely satisfied. It was a day of kindness and connection.