Wednesday 30 August 2017

Joe and Simeon

Photo Bob M

Instead of a bushwalk this week, 30 of us turned up at Malua Bay Bowling Club for lunch in the restaurant followed by an afternoon of Trivia.

Lunch at the Club is always good value with a wide choice of Asian and western meals, lunch specials or a la carte.  We then adjourned to the back room to be welcomed by new Social Convenor Joe, Trivia Queen Lyn, Assistant Elizabeth and Scorers Lesley and Bev.

I sat at a table with two of our most long-standing members, Meriel and Grant and two of our newest members Kay and Barry.  Great to see several other new members amongst the crowd.

Karen C won the day for her team by earning a bonus 10 points for knowing the latitude and longitude of Batemans Bay (35 degrees south, 150 degrees east).

Thanks to everyone for the jokes, the chocolate and the good natured competition.

Karen M

Sunday 27 August 2017

Entering the little known Bimberamala National Park

Visitors Tom and Gay on the lunch log with Mark and Rob

Photos by Amanda & Denise

Prior to starting out along the fire trails, the leader Mark read to us the following precis of the mine’s history, supplied by Val: “The Bimberamala Mines were worked between 1890 and 1915 from shafts and adits up to 100 m long.  The veins were of various strikes.  Approximately 2000 tonnes of ore were raised, and if all of it were crushed, yielded 93.595 kg of gold, average yield 0.046 kg/ tonne.”

After investigating several smaller mines along the way and at exactly 9.98 kms (thanks Rob) into the walk, we arrived at the Bimbermala Mine, at the same time as the drizzle. The idea of sheltering in the mine was short-lived on discovering that its floor was under water. Further exploration of the vicinity revealed numerous decaying remnants of the mining process.

All those who had believed the weather forecast, took the opportunity to don waterproof gear, the rest had to endure increasing dampness as the rain intensified.

Needless to say, the lunch break was a brief affair and the 5.8 km walk back to the cars was achieved in record time, though the conversations didn’t flag.

The bedraggled five members and four visitors thanked Mark for the interesting walk into a fascinating area, before scrambling into the cars for some warmth.

Mark and Rob earned further merit points by safely navigating the, now very slippery, roads to the highway and delivering us back to the coast.

Amanda

Thursday 24 August 2017

Euphemistically called a track

Old bridge timbers

Lyons Creek

First gorge

Trickling cascades

Betty and hanging birdsnest fern

Huge blue gum with Rob-size hollow

Steep climb out

Bushwalkers to the rescue

Photos by Philip and Karen

After turning onto Lyons Road, off the Kings Highway, we drove about three kilometres and crossed Currowan Creek at a shallow ford. Just after crossing the creek we parked the cars and our group of nine set off up Lyons Road for a short distance before turning onto an old overgrown track.

The old forest track, which generally followed the meandering course of Lyons Creek, had not been used for many years and was barely visible. It is little more than a distant memory slowly fading into the landscape. We followed the rough, but flat, route of the old track for four kilometres then made our way down to the creek.

We then followed the shallow creek upstream, over smooth rocks with their delicate layered patterns revealed by centuries of water flow. We rock-hopped from one bank to the other as we made our way past the ferns, palms, mosses and logs along the way. There were a few large pools and at one point a series of gently flowing cascades.

After walking about three kilometres up the creek we came to a rugged rock outcrop with a clear pool at the base of a steep cliff. At this point we returned downstream along the way we had come, stopping after some distance for lunch beside the creek. We then left the creek and made our way back up to the old forest track.

We continued for a short section on the old track before turning onto a very steep track and climbing straight uphill for about one kilometre to a clearing on the hilltop. From the clearing we joined Lyons Road and walked three and a half kilometres downhill to where the cars were parked.

When we reached our cars we saw that a vehicle had become bogged whilst attempting to ford Currowan Creek, and was blocking the way. Rob only had a light rope but luckily, doubled over a few times, this was good enough to pull the vehicle out so that we could return to the Kings Highway.

Saturday 19 August 2017

No details received

Wednesday 16 August 2017

Dreaming forest tracks

Mary & Stan and the Dreaming Coast

Dreaming deserted beaches

Photos by Carol and Phillip

Though dark clouds were threatening rain at our meeting point in Batemans Bay, by the time we reached the start of our walk at Congo, blue skies prevailed.  From here, fifteen walkers set off from the northern end of the “Bingi Dreaming Track” heading toward Mullimburra Point for lunch.

Traditionally these “Dreaming Tracks” or ” Link Lines”  joined places visited by local Aboriginal people whether to access campsites, trade sites, freshwater and coastal food sources.  These were often extended to connect other places utilised by neighbouring clans.

The  walk wanders through coastal habitat including, heathland, forests and lake shores.   Meringo headland offers an  excellent vantage point, not only for  views both up and down the coast, but also whale watching.  Though walkers were hoping for a whale sighting, the strong winds had whipped up a sea of “white caps” making sightings difficult.

After a pleasant 5km walk we arrived at Mullimburra point, from here we headed down to Honeymoon Bay for lunch, before retracing our steps back to the cars.   The Bingi Dreaming Track is a well signposted track and offers much for visitors to our region.

Mary

Sunday 13 August 2017

Bengello Beach

Bushwalkers outnumbered by surfing dolphins

Photos by Phillip

On a beautiful winter’s day 13 walkers set off from Broulee for a walk along Bengello Beach to Moruya Airport and back.

Travelling down along the beach we were accompanied for three kilometres by a large pod of active dolphins surfing companionably the calm conditions of the beach as we enjoyed the winter’s sunshine. Conditions couldn’t have been more perfect for realising the beauty and charm of nature we are so fortunate to have in the Eurobodalla and its pristine environment.

Reaching the wind sock at Moruya Airport we turned inland to walk through the Bangalay Eucalyptus Sand Forest along the flat shaded track back to Broulee.

We were especially fortunate on this walk to have the pleasure and privilege of the company of one of our long time members Bev Paris who first pioneered and led this walk over twenty years ago.

Phillip

Thursday 10 August 2017

Boyne Trig on Termeil Mountain

Historic Old Coach Road

Ian waiting for group to catch up

Stan and a barely there Blackbutt

About to enter the Turpentine forest

Photos by Denise & Karen M

Despite most of us being aware of Ian’s reluctance to over-rate the grade and difficulty of his walks (note – forked tongue in both cheeks), 15 presented at the meeting place to offer ourselves as lab rats and join him for the event, half expecting that we would, as usual, end it exhausted but happy.

Whether out of curiosity to experience his new walk, or to what level of exertion we could put our bodies, there was an air of expectation, because it was unlike Ian to be leading what appeared to be a walk of less intensity than his usual.   Scepticism of the grade was almost unanimous.

On setting out up the Old Coach Road, it became apparent that he was leading at a relatively relaxed pace, pausing often to provide extensive and interesting information about the particular trees in the area, and forests generally.  Giant Blue and Spotted Gum, rare Red Mahogany and later, Turpentine were features.

The views widened as we climbed, eventually achieving the top of Boyne Trig, now sharing its elevated position with a transmission tower.  Although partially obscured by trees, there were dramatic views of the coast eastwards and the mountains westwards.

More in keeping with his style, we then plunged down the side of the mountain, where as had been wagered, he remarked on the need for a hazard-reduction fire.   The worst part of the heavy litter was the chance of slips, trips and falls, but nothing serious occurred.

As we wound our way through lower forest and gullies, with Ian providing fascinating insights into the identification of species, ecology and management of forests, it became clear that this was another of his very interesting and enjoyable walks, greatly enhanced by his wide and deep knowledge of our forests, and his much appreciated generous sharing of that.   As usual, well worth the effort.   Thank you Ian.

Bob T

Here is a link to a presentation Rob L made to our January Quarterly Meeting about Topographic Maps.

Paper and Digital Topographic Maps

The link will also appear in the Mapped Walks Section of this website – password needed.

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Tracking the wildlife at Dolphin Beach

South Head forest track

Bev dwarfed by a joint burrawang and birds nest fern

Val, every bit the elegant bushwalker

Heinz’s Paper Road

Bob at Heinzs Road

Photos by Carol, Shirley & Bob M

27 bushwalkers assembled on South Head Road in the fresh rain-washed morning air to start an interesting and varied 10 km walk led by Bob T.

First stop was Dolphin Beach where Bob pointed out the many tracks left in the sand by numerous birds and animals. Morning tea was taken on a sandhill with a view of the vivid  blue ocean bordered by crashing white surf.

The group then entered park like open forest with sheoaks, swamp mahoganys, banksias and spotted gum amongst the many trees on show. Lunch at Newstead Pond was preceded by a couple of stiff climbs out of the forest to whet our appetites. Thanks Bob for an inspired bit of leading.

Bob M

Sunday 30 July 2017

McCardys Road

Carol and a big ex tree

The Leader says this is the last big hill

Wreck of the Blitz – some sort of timber hauling machinery

Photos by Denise, Carol & Bob M

On a beautiful winter’s day, 19 walkers set out on this energetic 10 km walk through the Currowan State Forest. We had the pleasant company of 4 new walkers who joined us to try out the Bay Bushwalkers on our visitor’s option.

Starting off down Blitz Road we checked out the wreck of the post war vehicle that gave the road its name, when it hauled timber up to Black Flat Road. We continued our downward ramble all the way to McCardy’s Creek where we shared another story about a dark past. Then we all walked up and up McCardy’s Creek Road and as we went higher and higher became ever less confident that our walk leader was being completely honest with us, telling us the climb we were on was “the last big hill”.

All the effort was worth it though for the views from the road all the way back to the coast and patches of the Clyde River. At one point we also found a rare spot from where it was possible to see both Gulaga and Didthul (Pigeon House).

Finally after a short drive to Nelligen we stopped for a pleasant lunch by the river and passed around lots of suggestions for future walks.

Phillip