In the distance, the slight silhouette of a hut catches my eye, home for an evening. Motivated by the thought of a hot meal, my exhausted body pushes on with newfound energy. Guided by the lines of the open plains, a short walk with my grumbling stomach; step-by-step. Soon to be arriving at the little weathered house, nestled between gum trees that border the grasslands.

Dropping my pack onto the porch of the hut, instant relief from the weight and an end to a big day on the trail. Reaching immediately for my Sigma Cookset by Sea to Summit, my essential on all solo adventures, I start the process of making dinner in the evening sun. My home-made dehydrated bolognese goes into the Delta-light bowl to begin the rehydration process, while I begin to boil water on the pot for a cup of tea. A moment of pure relaxation as steam creeps through the vents in the lid, patiently waiting for that it to ‘jump’, a climax of every boil, a sign the water is piping hot. Pouring it into the insulated Insul Mug, a sigh and smile of liberation after a long days hiking, reflected upon in this gentle moment. Relaxing onto the weatherboards, I breathe in deep and inhale my surrounds; Red Robin’s jump from branch to branch watching my every move with curiosity, whilst a wild pig slowly shuffles its way on the other side of the creek. Pausing, as I sip, just hoping the enticing smell of dinner won’t attract him. The simplicity of a cooked meal and a cup of tea in this mountain oasis is my idea of time spent well.

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