Contemplating far horizons...
The weather gods turned on a perfect day for this beautiful walk – sunshine, blue skies and a temperature maximum of 23.8° at 3pm (at the BOM’s Mangrove Mountain weather site).
After the slightly revised meeting arrangements, 21 walkers duly met up at the intersection bus stop on Wisemans Ferry Rd. and proceeded in convoy to the start of the walk. Unusually (compared to previous years), only one 4WD vehicle turned up and there was a brief flurry of 4WD driving as some walkers hitched a ride to the trackhead – and some walked! After calm returned there was a welcome briefing at the park entrance gate and then we were off walking (…and talking, of course, this is Hill View after all! “Promoting health and pleasure through walking as a group”).
Gathering at the bus stop for concoy to trackhead 
Addressing the troops 
Heading off into the forest
After much rain recently – and in the four years since HVB last did this walk – the bush in this section of North Popran NP was in excellent condition – the only downside of walking in autumn being very few wildflowers out: At the right time of the year there are abundant Waratahs flowering on some sections of this walk.
Morning tea was had at the end of the 248 track on extensive rock shelves where the view opens out to the green valley of the Mangrove Creek and wider afield to distant mountains (Mount Yengo, in Yengo Nat. Park being one familiar to the leaders.
Group gathered at track fork
Back stalls group at 248 
The track was badly washed out in places
A return to the main track and then a carefully taken descent of the badly-eroded track and we were at Hominy Creek and shortly after, Emerald Pool – looking truly emerald in the midday sun. Midday? Of course – it must be lunch time! Convenient rocks for lunch seats were a bit spread out, so walkers lunched up and down the creek bank – some inspected the Aboriginal grinding grooves and the engraving – what was it? Maybe a fish? One leader tried leading the walkers into having a swim in the Emerald Pool – but alas (even though she was a lass) – she swam alone.
Water Nymph..
Lunch at Emerald Pool 
Grinding grooves Emerald Pool 
Thinking about i
Lunch 
Not looking at the view at lookout 248
So, lunch over, it was onwards and upwards for the return journey over track and then fire trail. Some of the ups were seriously up in the warm afternoon sun, but all arrived safely back to the cars and then on to the newly discovered coffee stop: The Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club & Golf Course, with fabulous views across the golf course, the surrounding bushland – and even a distant view of the Pacific Ocean! The club did us proud for our pre-arranged visit with a table for 21 set up for us and the young, hard-working, female barista churning out our coffees and other drinks just as fast as she could!
Thanks to Louis as tail-end Charlie and Ros as first aider – for which purpose – happily, she was not needed.
Well earned coffee
Walkers: Helen A, Ida, Susan C, Tim, Elaine, Sue & Michael, Mary, Dawn, Chris McA, Bert, Margaret P, Wendy, Kurt, Christine S, Lyn, Louis, Don Wo. Visitor Camelia.
Leaders: Ros and John. A total of 21
Photos: Don Wo, Louis, Chris McA
Emerald Pool route 
Secretarial reflections crossing the creek at Emerald Pool