Jill and Rhondda led ten walkers on this long walk from Somerville Road Hornsby Heights to Clarinda Street. After a short car shuffle the walkers descended steeply along a seldom walked narrow and rough in places track with views over Berowra Creek to join the Great North Walk to Crosslands Reserve and morning tea. After initially descending for over an hour the walk continued from Crosslands ascending and descending along bush tracks traversing the deep gorge over rocky ridges to Galston Gorge and the McDonald Truss Bridge where we stopped
for a short break. The steep climb from the creek to the ridge over rock ledges, overhangs and through crevices including negotiating a steel rung ladder was challenging considering the unseasonably hot weather. There was a short respite from all the climbing through the shady open forest along the firetrail to the Tunks Ridge rest area and a very welcome lunch break. The
prominent flowering shrub on both sides of the firetrail was the Hakea Gibbosa.
After lunch this time descending steeply to the historic ‘Steele’ military bridge we stopped for a few minutes and discussed the necessity of the closure of the Great North Walk Track between the bridge and Rosemead Road Hornsby and the rerouting of this section up to Clarinda Street followed by extensive street walking to rejoin the track further along because the rifle range is now subject to more stringent safety standards which results in the area no longer being safe for walkers.
After the bridge we started the ascent to Clarinda Street passing the waterfall at the
rocky creek crossing and climbing steeply up the bush track in the hot afternoon sun around fallen trees and through the Casuarina forest to the firetrail and a final uphill climb through the Clarinda Street wetlands accompanied by a few groans to the cars. After the drivers retrieved the cars we had a very welcome coffee at the cafe on the corner of Somerville Road and Galston Road.
For this ascent there were steps in the rock, and shade ......
.......... but it was hot. Kas at least was well-prepared
And the group, bar the photographer, at the bridge.
For the record the walkers were Sue B, Ros G, Kas, Mary, Lyn, Bert, Kurt, Anne G, Jill (leader), Rhondda (leader), Pragati and John B.
Words by Jill.
Photos by John B.