Saturday 21 July 2018

Looks like a narrow way around the rocks.

Perfect day for the beach.

Walkers on a rock platform.

Karen, Bev and Karen

Jimmies Island from the track.

Photos by Karen and Lesley

Brilliant south coast winter morning for our walk exploring tracks & trails around Rosedale.

As we started our walk along Rosedale  Beach the rocky outcrop that is  Jimmies Island looked amazing against the blue sky and calm blue sea. The cameras came out and photos were taken. Heading north along the coastline we discovered a sea cavern and a great variety of rocky outcrops and quartz pipes, time to keep watching ones footing. A white heron was spotted stalking a meal in the distance. Our leader, who is very familiar with this area took us on tracks, trails  and steps only known by locals, giving us glimpses of some very unique architecture and interesting gardens.

Morning tea was taken while sitting  in the sun and watching holiday makers enjoying our beautiful beach. Then off again along the tracks up and down over the hills and through the bush to finish our walk back at our cars.

Thank you Ian for leading us on this lovely 5km easy scenic walk.

Karen

Wednesday 18 July 2018

Karen and Donna walking over boulders and rocks.

Looking down on a mine site.

The fascination of a hole in the ground.

Lunch in a sunny spot off the track.

Martin examines the safety grill at one of many mine entrances.

Karen and Helen at a mine entrance.

Leader Mark in pensive mood.

Cicada shells.

Photos by Helen and Mary

I went for a very nice walk yesterday in the Mogo State Forest with 12 other bushwalking friends. The walk had a bit of everything – forest roads, narrow winding trails, offtrack bushbashing beside a creek, rock scrambling, mine shafts – and best of all, we had the place to ourselves.

There are a myriad of large granite rocky outcrops in this part of the forest – too many to stop and explore, although we did take a break on a large flat outcrop beside the creek and admired the rock orchids and an unusual stand of Bottlebrush (Callistemon rigida) rarely found in these parts.

We also found a burnt out tree covered in old shells of cicadas from last season – some with their own cobwebs to show just how long they had been hanging on.

The GPS Club was there in force – I think we had at least five tracking our progress, and in the process brushing up on our bush navigation skills.

Thanks Mark – good fun as usual.

Karen

Sunday 15 July 2018

Walkers starting out on the track.

Barry ‘scales’ Big Rock.

Leader Donna at Big Rock.

Morning tea next to ‘The Rock’.

Water on the track but leader Donna had Plan B in hand.

Fortunately Donna was not relying on road signage!

Walkers bathed in winter sunshine.

Photos by Denise, Helen and Mary

Ten brave souls were up for the challenge of joining Donna on her inaugural walk as leader.  After being implored not to tread on sleeping snakes or break bones, the group set off on Big Rock Road Circuit.

Surprisingly Big Rock Road Circuit is so named because there is a big rock on the walk.  It is a new walk located in the Bodalla State Forest. Other than the ‘Big Rock’ the walk leader could not offer any whales or expansive vistas of the coastline, primarily due to the fact that the walk was inland. However, participants were advised of the possibly of sighting a Yowie riding a unicycle.  Unfortunately these creatures are very shy, particularly whist riding unicycles, so none were spotted on this occasion.  However, a couple of horse riders leading another horse were met on the track.  Following a Mexican standoff with neither party willing to give ground a solution to the impasse was reached and we all walked past each other.

Upon completion of the walk, the walk leader was ecstatic to discover that we returned with the same amount of walkers as when we left!  So that’s one down and 165 walks to catch up with ‘Queen of the Bush’ Val.  Thanks to Karen, Mary and Karen for exploring the walk, attending the reccie and assisting me on the day.

Donna

Thursday 12 July 2018

Karen, Ken and Val.

Val and Karen.

Carol with Spotted Gum.

Photos by Carol

The group of 4 started out with a larger group of walkers to ascend Durras Mountain before splitting off to continue a shorter walk. This was a special occasion as leader Val has decided after leading about 166 club walks and numerous back packs over many years that it was time in the future to follow rather than lead. Thank you Val for the happy and interesting walks you have led for our club.

Mary

Thursday 12 July 2018

Combined group of walkers before dividing into two groups at the top of Durras Mountain.

The view from the top.

Two leaders Val and Bob.

Pink Lilli Pilli.

Chatting in the sun.

Mark and Rob

Bob, Bruce, Glen, Chris, Mark, Betty, Rob, Donna and Dave.

Giant Stranger Fig with Staghorns.

Walking through the high grass.

Photos by Denise, Brian and Mary

The destination today was the Giant Strangler Fig Tree. The walk took 14 members and guests to the top of Durras Mountain on good track. The view at the top of Durras Mountain was spectacular, brilliant sunshine enhanced an abundant crop of Lilli Pilli both white and pink on the side of the track.

The terrain changed as Bob led us off the main track down an increasingly obscure track to a dry creek bed where we went bush to locate this local marvel.  On the way Bob took his usual licence with an explanation of a rock wall, always entertaining if not especially factual!

The fig is thought to be at least 100 years old and for an ‘old fellow’ looking in remarkably fine health unlike the host tree. Large, lush Staghorns adorn the roots of the fig all the way up to the top. Cameras popped as we sat on the bank to admire this magnificent example of local flora.

Climbing out of the gully was made a little more challenging with care needing to be taken stepping over branches, fallen trees and a lot of waist high, bright green grasses.

We returned to the Bay under darkened skies in time to experience a thunderstorm with heavy rain and hail stones.

Mary