Wednesday 19 July 2017
Photos by Donna and Brian
The day started well, with the sparkling Tuross River and the rolling hills along Eurobodalla Road providing some of the best scenic driving in the area.
Initially, the walk took us through knee-high undergrowth with just occasional glimpses of where a track once existed but soon we arrived at Reedy Creek, an attractive stream with sand bars and crystal clear water.
Near here, we marvelled at some impressive stands of trees, which included the Blue Box. This eucalypt is unique to the South Coast and not often seen on our walks. It is characterised by small, almost fully circular leaves. Other trees which towered above us included bark-decorated Stringybarks, Woolybutts and River Peppermints. Picking our way through increasingly open forest, we began a long, slow climb up a spur, which took us to the Tuross River Road before turning left down another spur for our descent. After lunch, the track became increasingly less distinct as the young Casuarinas became thicker and more challenging to negotiate, but we found our way back to Reedy Creek for a group photo before returning to the cars.
This was a very enjoyable walk, made more enjoyable by the light-hearted banter between the ten participants and also by the company of a local dog, who joined us near the start and stayed throughout.
This jet-black Kelpie, which some of us named “Blackie”, was very much like a modern-day incarnation of Henry Lawson’s “The Loaded Dog”. Like the canine from the story, she was good-natured and fearless, with boundless energy and a keen sense of fun. Even more than this, she turned out to be an excellent and reliable navigator, racing in advance of the group to recce the territory ahead, then returning with a wagging tail and a look in her eye that said, “Follow me! I know the way!”
Indeed, Blackie was quickly given due respect as Assistant Walk Leader. One minute, she would be in the lead and seconds later be snapping at the heels of any stragglers at the rear. How many walk leaders do we have with the ability to be Leader and be Tail-end Charlie simultaneously?
Now I’m not saying that the human Walk Leader was superfluous. That would not be fair… Thanks Rob, for your organisation and co-leadership.
This walk is a great addition to the club’s program.
Brian