by skibug » Sun 01 Nov, 2020 3:21 pm
When doing longer hikes, one must be flexible and opportunistic at times. If you look at the American through hiking media, there is a lot of "going in to town" for food, accommodation, showers, laundry, buying replacement shoes, collecting mail, accessing wifi etc.
Thornleigh has an Also, but also a small mall with Woolworths, cafes, and bathrooms. There is another cafe directly across from the station on the western side. Further on, just before the Fishponds, you could stash your pack and walk to Hornsby in about 40 minutes - it has most mall stuff, including Kathmandu, Kmart for cheap gas etc. An hour or so past Crossland, you can divert to Berowra - cafes, servos, bakery, motel - or about an hour after Berowra waters divert to Berowra mall ( cafes and Coles). As well as the marina store and cafe, Brooklyn has other take -aways, meals at the pub, B&B's, and the post office doubles as a surprisingly good small grocery store - including a broad range of Indian packet meals. Further on at the Piles Creek crossing, there is a diversion to Kariong (see Open Maps for a GPS trail) - small supermarket, cafes, servo.
Furthermore, at Thornleigh, Berowra and Brooklyn you could jump on a train to Hornsby or Woy Woy, resupply etc then return to continue your hike.
I'm not familiar with the rest of the hike north of Somersby, but imagine the last few days coming into Newcastle you could divert to shops using local busses.
Some will argue that what I'm suggesting is not in the true spirit of Australian bushwalking, others may delight in the added flexibility. I won't judge you either way. ;>}
Skibug.