Both the Plus and Regular programmed walks for 22 March were cancelled. In their place, it was decided to proceed with the cancelled 22 February walk.
Thirty-eight people figured all this out and turned up to walk.Most parked their cars at Avalon, chatted, signed on and then caught a bus to track-head - Palm Beach.
Seven walkers elected to take advantage of the proffered extension - a there and back walk to Barrenjoey headland. The remaining thirty-one immediately set off for the core walk - Palm Beach to Avalon.
At left: Avalon, and Deidre handles the paper work while Steve tells a tall (wide?) tale.
At Palm Beach, the leaders tried something not often done in HVB-forming a circle with the first walker saying their name and 'Number 1' and so on.
We have to learn to shape a circle, and Martin, patrolling the outskirts, may have duplicated a number; but all was resolved and the first set of steps tackled.
.. In truth, one lasting impression of this walk will be climbing up,and up some more.Above ,leaving Palm Beach and later acsending Bangally Head.
'Little Head' is between Palm Beach and Bangally Head. A good spot for Pete to line everyone up for our first posed portrait.
And Bangally Head is worth the climb ...
Don Wo looked north to Broken Bay ...
Drina looked out to sea, and the cloud formations ...
... and Pete looked south
Between panoramas, a spider at work from Don,
and a snake doing not much from Pete.
Lilian snapped the first three down from Bangally Head, and then the fourth. They waited in comfort for the rest. The seven extension walkers arrived on the Head for lunch as the last of the Regulars left.
On the last leg of the walk it was decided unanimously to take the fastest route to coffee - straight across Des Creagh Reserve to Barrenjoey Road, IE, no beach walking at Avalon ....
...Drina could command armies. On the reserve, no-one was allowed to walk on (two escaped somehow), and all had to smile, for the last group photo.
On her way back to her car, Susan took our last view - Avalon Beach.
Special mentions
Many thanks to Ros. Earlier this week Ros walked the rough Carrol Creek Track (with leeches galore) and the Lyrebird track and then retraced her steps, all the while staying her usual social, good humoured self. This was the recce that determined that without the Casuarina Track, the scheduled 22 March walk could not go ahead.
Welcome to Hazel, now a member of HVB and to Linda, who will be next Friday. It's great you wanted to join us.
For the record:
Bert led the extension walkers: Kurt, John D'C, John M, Hazel, Clive and Don B.
Helen A, Martin and Deidre led Ida, Nick, Sue B, Susan and Maurice, Tim, Sue F, Anne G, Mary, Aileen, Lilian,Diana L, Christine McA, Dawn, Jan and Steve, Elizabeth P, Wendy P, Bella and Pete, Barbara, Anne R, Bill S, Jenny, Drina, Don Wo, Linda (3rd time visitor) and Denise (visitor).
FA officers were Sue B and Don Wo. Pete was tail-end Charlie.
Words by Helen A.
Photos: Pete (1,4,5,8,10), Susan (2,14,16, 17), Drina (3,7,15), Don Wo(6, 9), Lilian(11,12,13), Hazel (18,19)
And pictured at left is Barbara, enjoying the walk.
AND THERE'S MORE ....!!
