Sunday 22 October 2017
Photos by Amanda and Mary T
David led 5 club members to the site of the Bumbo No 2 mine in an area near Nerrigundah in the Deua National Park. A little rain early in the morning soon cleared up into an overcast day and mild temperatures. The descent down to the first mine site was steep and slippery due to loose stones and forest debris. Near the end of this old track David found an exploded incendiary pellet perhaps dropped from a helicopter in a back burning exercise? Soon after the relatively good track disappeared and then followed some serious bush bashing down through a dry landscape ending up in a beautiful rain forest with tall tree ferns.
The first mine entrance, hidden between the side of a hill and what we decided were rocks excavated from the mine, was rather wet preventing deep exploration. We were pleased for the morning tea break taken near by in a dry creek bed.
As we explored further towards the site of Bumbo No 2 we passed relics of those mining days, metal wheels, rods, metal ‘bricks’ and cable guides imprinted with the marks of cables. There was much conjecture as to what had been pulled and where and the use of this equipment. The steepness of the terrain would have required some mechanical help with moving material as even oxen and horses would have found the area difficult to work in.
Nature had taken over the abandoned pieces of metal providing ideal homes for miniature ferns and fungi to grow and thrive.
A short climb took us to Bumbo No 2. As the mine was dry exploration was possible and several members of the group took off into the dark. On emerging they reported they had ventured about 40 metres in and the tallest member of the group, Rob L had been able to stand up most of the way with the occasional stoop.
David, beating the bush before us, led us down into a tributary creek bed that contained an intermittant flow of water and we bashed our way along under tall tree ferns, over fallen trunks passing rocks and trunks covered with miniature fern gardens, so pretty with the dappled sunlight reflected in the trickling water of the creek.
Eventually we reached the Bumbo Creek where we had lunch accompanied by a few leeches. All too soon David stirred and we knew the respite was over and it was time to start the steep climb back up to the cars passing the site of a stamping battery. Thankfully the overcast skies persisted for the 400+metre climb.
Thank you David for a great day which ticked all the boxes, beautiful country, interesting destinations, a very good work out with an excellent leader.
Mary T