Thursday 9 May 2024
Photos courtesy of Helen and Peter. Walk Report courtesy of Walk Leader Peter.
With this walk having to be cancelled last quarter due to high temperatures, it seemed it would have a similar fate but this time, due to inclement weather. The past rains with continued forecast rain certainly put a dampener on members’ enthusiasm to venture out.
However this was not the case for the four intrepid souls who joined me on the walk. Despite the weather forecast, there they were, all rearing to go! And they were rewarded with, amazingly, a completely rain free walk. This was a circuit walk of near enough to 9km, taking us through the spectacular forest country in that part of the Eurobodalla National Park at the very southern end of Moruya South Heads.
The first 2km of beach walking was surprisingly enjoyable. The cloud cover overhead and the roaring seas to our left distracted us on our march along the sand. There was not a soul to be seen. That is if you do not count the many waterbirds scuttling out of our way.
We turned west to head into the trees next to Congo Creek, stopping for morning tea at a creek meander. We then followed the track before diverting down an old National Parks side path. This headed further inland and around the ‘invitingly’ named ‘Pedro Swamp’. This section of the track was also surprisingly quite dry given the conditions. From there it was a pleasant stroll amongst the spotted gums and burrawangs, many in seed.
It would be wrong to say we did not get wet feet. This last part of the track had us dodging, not too successfully, pools of water as we followed what must have been the natural water course after rain!
We opted not to stop for lunch, not wanting to be out when the heavens opened. We were finished before midday anyway.
This turned out to be a very enjoyable (and rain free) walk. It was flat walking, on tracks of various descriptions that took us through three separate forests of Bangalay, Blackbutt, and Spotted gum.
I thank those that challenged the weather forecast to join me, and who, from their comments afterwards, seemed to have enjoyed the walk.