Wednesday 27 April 2016
Photos by Mary T
A group of six walkers were led by Ian H for the midweek club walk. We had been invited to enjoy this beautiful, working property on the Buckenbowra River by its owner, Jane. Our walk started near the main homestead and then across large fenced, grassy paddocks, the site of many tall gum trees, with a backdrop of the distant mountains. Jane pointed out the damage deer are causing to the bark of the trees. We stopped along the way to read the inscription on a monument to Browne’s Hut and Stockyard. This is the first known habitation in the Shire of Eurobodalla. The track took us past an unknown grave and on down to the Buckenbowra River. This was the start of our fence ‘hopping’ or rather crawling!
Ian had a delightful spot picked out for morning tea complete with a table and benches. The majority of the group declined the comfort of these facilities to sit in the shade on nature’s own chairs, hard rocks. Reluctantly the break was over and we had to leave this peaceful setting. Fortunately we were continuing along the riverbank for some distance, so were able to enjoy the river with dappled sunlight and perfect reflections until the homestead came into view again. This was not the end of our walk. We passed the property manager’s home and set out up and across paddocks with yet more fences to be negotiated. Our leader found the exact place needed to scale the last fence and meet up with a 4-wheel drive track that took us up to the top of the ridge, the boundary for the property. From there it was downhill back to our cars safely parked out of harm’s way from two curious horses.
Lunch was on the way out at another lovely, shady river location on the Quart Pot Road. Three sleek, black cows grazed amongst the ferns on the other side of the river. They too must have appreciated this cool spot on what was a very warm day for the end of April.
Thank you Ian for leading us on a delightful walk in a beautiful part of our Shire. Especial thanks to Jane for generously permitting the members of the Batemans Bay Bushwalkers to walk on her property.
Mary T