18 May - Regular Walk: Bouddi NP - Box Head/Lobster Beach/Pretty Beach/Hardy's Bay

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2018 05 18 Reg Don lion island panorama                        Broken Bay - the view from Box Head

The weather gods smiled, and 21 happy people set off from the track head, after one of the leaders had remembered to count himself to make the number of heads equal to the number of signatures. A steep early climb was rewarded with lovely views of The Rip Bridge and Brisbane Waters .

 2018 05 18 Reg Christine rip bridge                                2018 05 18 Reg Pete Brisbane Water P1040189

Looking to our left, there was the blue Pacific Ocean, separated from us by the sands of Tallow Beach; and glimpses of Box Head.. 

2018 05 18 Reg Pete Ocean and tallow beach P1040190    2018 05 18 Reg Don Box Head

At Box Head it was quite crowded, but there was a good view of Lion Island and people took photos.

2018 05 18 Reg Pete crowded at box head P1040228 2018 05 18 Reg Pete Lion Is P1040218 2018 05 18 Reg Anne Don capturing a photo of Lion IslandP1180548

From Box Head we returned along the ridge, leaving behind a resting butterfly and wondering about the sanity of a group of rockfishers.

2018 05 18 Reg Anne Butterfly on Box HeadP1180548                 2018 05 18 Reg Don rock fishinga

We then walked on through some most attractive forest, where some ladies and a rock-supported angophora kindly posed for photos

2018 05 18 Reg Pete Anne Annette P1040200     2018 05 18 Reg Pete ida and lydia P1040234 2018 05 18 Reg Anne Tree supportP1180548

We posed for a group photo while stopped for a viewing of the shoals and channels near the entrance to Brisbane Waters.

2018 05 18 Reg Pete group P1040237

 All this lovely forest walking was cut short by the short, sharp climb over the sand dune (95 up and 195 down) to Lobster Beach for lunch - and we have photos to prove that we did it!

         2018 05 18 Reg Christine lunch at lobster beach 20180518 124525                 2018 05 18 Reg Anne The 115 steps up from Lobster BeachP1180548

Lobster Beach was a real treat, however, with ideal conditions and well worth the climb. After climbing back over the sand dune, we walked around the shores of Brisbane Waters in gentle afternoon autumn sunshine, to a welcome coffee at the Fat Goose. This fine establishment is adjacent to our traditional venue, which we left available for the Plus walkers who arrived almost at the same time. There was general agreement that it had been a very satisfactory day.

2018 05 18 Reg Anne The home stretch to Wagstaff P1180548 Copy 6

Annette and David, and Don Wo led 18 walkers - Ros & John, Jan & Steve, Bella and Pete, Lydia and Tim, Chris McA, Barrie, Anne R, Bill S, Ida, Mike, Nick, Marilyn,  Margaret and Claude.

Photos: Pete (3,4,6,7,11,12,14); Anne R (8,9,13,16,17); Chris McA (2,15); Don Wo 1,5,10)