Lockdown Reminiscences

Sunday 29 August 2021

While, with another 2 weeks of lockdown we are all missing the club’s scheduled walks, at least we can be thankful that we live in a beautiful part of the world, not far from a beach, headland, or bush trail where we can go for a solitary walk as part of our ‘permitted’ exercise. But, yes, nothing does beat a good group walk- catching up with friends and likeminded souls, nattering along to each other as we stride through nature, and occasionally trip over it. So, for those suffering the ‘missing walks blues’, thanks to Karen trawling through some old classics, here are some memories from past walks showing the fun of walking in a group, and of course its unique advantages.  Hope to see you out there soon.

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Peter

 

 

Blackfellows Point and Piccaninny Beach

Saturday 14 August 2021

Photos courtesy of Mary, Karen, Karen and Donna

Walkers took advantage of the sunny winter day on Saturday to explore Eurobodalla National Park between Potato Point and Tuross Lake. This was a 9km Easy/Medium walk which went through the forest to a small beach on the coast. We stopped there for a break and to admire the carefully stacked towers of pebbles along the rock perimeter.

We then skirted to the main beach which runs north to the mouth of Tuross Lake, cut across the sand spit and followed tracks beside the lake. There we found native rats tail orchids flowering on casuarinas along the water’s edge. We paused again by the lake for lunch, enjoying the views of Tuross and the sea eagle wheeling overhead.

Following forest tracks back to the walk start, we stumbled across a number of early Spring wildflowers, and an unexpected red belly black snake warming itself in a patch of sunlight.

Karen

Congo to Meringo on the Dreaming Track

Wednesday 11 August 2021

Photos courtesy of Mary 

A lovely sunny day saw some of our members walking through fresh green bushland on the nice little track through the ironbark trees to the Meringo headland.

The good coastal views of windswept beaches and a choppy ocean made it hard to spot any whales though. However, at our Meringo morning tea stop there was one southern-right whale “blow” further out wide. Also spotted was one solitary fishing boat slowly making his way south in the north-easterly chop.

On the return trip to the cars, a couple of other walkers reported seeing two echidnas and a brown snake, but they were well hidden by the time we passed by.

Overall a very pleasant walk on a warm sunny day.

Pat

 

Mines Road

Sunday 8 August 2021

Photos courtesy of Rob, Amanda, Karen and Peter

Seven Club walkers enjoyed a great hike to the gold mine workings on the appropriately named “Mines Road” in the Currowan State Forest. The mines visible from the road have been fenced off but the 2020 bushfires revealed a number of other mines downslope that were not protected with fences. These made for some interesting photos as we leaned over as far as we could to see the bottom.

The hike back to the cars took in a long slow climb up to a ridge top then a very pleasant hike down an old abandoned logging road, suitably overgrown but passable, to make you really feel like you were in the bush. A couple of creek crossing rounded out a very interesting walk.

Rob

Mummaga Lake Paddle

Friday 6 August 2021

Photos courtesy of Mary and Gay

Four paddlers launched at the boat ramp for a circuit paddle around Mummaga Lake. One lone seal was basking in the morning sunlight as it drifted back towards the sea outlet.

The day was clear and sunny with only a light breeze. Once again the lake had its share of jelly fish moving effortlessly through the clear water. A Sea Eagle soared circled overhead, tried for a pick up in the lake but I think we were too close to its prey and aborted the idea, flying further across the lake.

We enjoyed morning tea on a sunny bank halfway around and then back to the boat ramp just as the breeze freshened bringing with it cooler air.

Another lovely day for a small but enthusiastic group of club members.

Mary

Burrill Lake Giriwa Walking Track

Thursday 5 August 2021

Photos courtesy of Donna and Karen

Ten Batemans Bay bushwalkers and walk leader, Sharon met at Romney Road just south of Burrill Lake for a walk on forest tracks and roads. In these times it felt good to be out in nature with a group of other walkers, sharing a mild winter’s day.

The bushfires have thinned the tree canopy allowing ground cover plants, benefiting from extra sunlight to flower in profusion. Species commonly seen were Heath Kunzea, Kennedia Rubicunda and several of the smaller wattle varieties. Birds were not so numerous but Lyre Birds were heard, and flocks of Pied Currawongs seen.

After reaching the lake side, the group were led for about 2 kilometres along a narrow, sandy and very soggy strip of bank. The trick for walkers was to navigate over logs and around dead trees, whilst not getting your feet wet or falling in the water. Not all of us managed the former but, fortunately we all managed the latter.

Morning tea and the lunch breaks were enjoyed at the lake side where the beauty of the area is much more apparent than can be guessed at if just driving through on the highway.

Walkers kept up a brisk pace for the majority of the 13.5-kilometre circuit with just one member surging ahead, to flaunt her fitness on a hill in the final 2 kilometres.

What a great walk it was, and roundly enjoyed. Thank you to our walk leader.

Denise

Burrewarra Point Guerilla Bay

Saturday 31 July 2021

Photos courtesy of Karen, Mary, Elizabeth and Peter

The weekend walk took Batemans Bay Bushwalkers through some atypical south coast vegetation. Not a spotted gum or burrawang in sight – instead huge sawtooth banksia trees, southern mahogany gums, and casuarinas were features of this walk. Walkers stopped at a lookout platform to enjoy the antics of seals on the rocks below, and to admire the view north, all the way to the Budawangs. The trail on Burrewarra Point wound its way to a second seal-spotting point where we saw the resident male sunning himself on top of a rock. By this time, we were facing south and enjoying views past Tomakin and Broulee Island to Montague Island and Gulaga.

Our destination for a mid-walk break was Frank’s Beach, a deserted sandy cove accessible only by foot or boat. Retracing our steps, we made our way to Guerilla Bay Beach, and back to the cars via another clifftop track. This was a 6km morning walk finishing before lunch, but some walkers stayed on to take lunch at the beach and admire the peaceful Guerilla Bay inlet.

Karen

Illawong Sanctuary Reserve

Thursday 22 July 2021

Photos courtesy of Tom, Gay, Helen, Elizabeth, Meredith and Peter

In the last few weeks, the Batemans Bay Bushwalking Club had suspended its planned walks noting the current Covid health restrictions. However, on 22 July, a small group ventured out on one of the scheduled walks meeting Covid conditions  – complete with QR code check in, social distancing and walkers wearing face masks. That made for a strange sight indeed.  Whilst a face mask is not the friendliest of bushwalking equipment to wear, the 14 walkers (divided into two groups of 7) saw it as a small inconvenience to enjoy a pleasant bush walk on a sunny winter’s morning.

Despite the dawn temperature being zero, the sun came out in a cloudless sky to make the weather perfect for this short 3 km walk through the bush lands of the Bower Retreat and into the Illawong Nature Reserve, west of Broulee.  Thanks go to the Bowers’ owners, Sue and Mark Berry, in allowing access through their land.

The two groups, skilfully guided by Tom and Gay, were directed to the sights on offer. On the right a weathered granite ridge – and for those into geology-  a remnant of neo tectonic movements after the mid-Oligocene era that had diverted the Clyde River, then many kilometres wide, which had then run into the sea at Broulee. In present day, there on what is left of the ridge, were the strategically placed luxury retreats of the Bower offering secluded accommodation for their guests.

Once in the Reserve the track meandered through bush that had well and truly regenerated after the fires. The track passed the impressive, and on this morning almost rainbow-coloured, Illawong Wetlands.   Although no water birds were to be seen, for those with keen eyes, in the treetops, were rosellas and lorikeets and the odd grey fantail finch.  Both groups stopped for a photo opportunity at an ancient spotted gum, whose girth was too wide for even the most enthusiastic tree hugger, before moving on following the fence line back to the start.

Although not a walk to bring up a sweat, it was a pleasant way to spend a sunny winter’s morning. There were many vistas, even if for those of us wearing glasses had to see them at times through misty lenses.

Peter