Sunday 17 November 2019

Lucy, Dave, Gay, MaryAnn, Toby, Rob and Robert at the abandoned turquoise mine

Birds nest over the track

Visitors Toby, Lucy, Robert and MaryAnn at morning tea

Rob explaining the geology around the gold cutting

Walkers surprised by the size of the gold cutting

MaryAnn and Tony in the corridor of trees

Walking the shady flat section back to the cars

Photos by Tony

Threatening rain did not deter 3 Batemans Bay Bushwalkers and 5 Visitors from venturing out to complete the Mitchells Turquoise Ridge walk on Sunday. It is unusual to have more visitors than members on a walk, and one could be forgiven for thinking that it was the rain that deterred members? However, it’s probably more likely that a lot of members are presently on a club camp at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria!

This walk is a forest walk on tracks off Mitchells Ridge Road taking in an old abandoned turquoise mine and gold diggings. The earlier morning rain had washed the dust from the trees and ferns, the smell of eucalyptus permeated the forest and the air was fresh and clean.

The turquoise mine is pretty much destroyed but some structure could still be seen plus parts of an old shaft. The gold digging was much more impressive and surprised the walkers by its size of about 10 metres long and 4 to 5 metres deep.

After crossing a few hills and bush bashing to find tracks covered over by logging, the final three kilometres of the walk, followed Lawlers Creek to the back of the timber mill at Dalmeny. The visitors thought this flat section was very pretty and shady and a pleasant way to finish the 10km walk, commenting that they are keen to join the Club on future walks.

Gay