What a perfect day for walking with crisp autumn air, a clear blue sky and a cheerful band of twenty three walkers.
Our route took us from Hornsby Station, past the Dural Lane murals to Dural Street and Quarry Road where we passed the entrance to Old Mans Valley. It was here that the Higgins family, the original Hornsby settlers, and their descendants lived until the late 1960s. This was also the site of a blue metal quarry worked from 1902 until 2003.
From Quarry Road we took a track to the 340 “Depression Steps”, built in the early 1930s to create employment & to establish access to Hornsby for Old Man Valley shanty dwellers. The steps were restored by the Council in 2011 and are a special part of Hornsby’s heritage.

2023 05 19 Reg Don Wo a few of the 354 Depression Steps    2023 05 19 Reg BarbaraR Descending the Depression Steps 1232323 427                                                                                             A few of the 354 Depression Steps                                                                                 Descending the Depression Steps


From the bottom of the steps, Rosemead & Valley Roads were followed to Ginger Meggs Park, named in 1997 in honour of Australia’s longest running comic strip & its creator, Jimmy Bancks, who spent time in the area in his childhood.

2023 05 19 Reg Don Wo Ginger Meggs Cafe  2023 05 19 Reg Don Wo Ginger Meggs Park                                                                                   Ginger Meggs Cafe                                                                         Ginger Meggs Park
From here we took the Blue Gum Track and enjoyed the majestic Blue Gum High Forest, a critically endangered ecological community.

                           2023 05 19 Reg BarbaraR P1232323 429  2023 05 19 Reg BarbaraR P1232323 407                                                                                                                  Blue Gum forest in Waitara Creek Valley                         Cleona at the Berowra Creek crossing

The track took us from the Waitara Creek Valley up the eastern side of the Westleigh ridge to the junction with the Great North Walk where we had morning tea.

                    2023 05 19 Reg BarbaraR MT near the junction of the Blue Gum Walk the Great North WalkP1232323 432 3 2nd go         2023 05 19 Reg HelenA 1002 Bananas for MT landscape                                                                                                        Morning tea near the junction of the Blue Gum Walk & the Great North Walk                    Bananas for morning tea  


The Great North Walk was then followed south on a constantly undulating and sometimes challenging track to its crossing of Berowra Creek where we happily rested at lunch time. The assistance of Dave, Cliff and others at two difficult spots was much appreciated.

                                                2023 05 19 Reg Pauline 1   2023 05 19 Reg HelenA 1138 The path was rocky                                                                                                                                                                                            The path was rocky

                                                                         
The last few kilometres of the track were magical as we followed Zig Zag Creek through the forest illuminated by the afternoon sun and on to Morgan Street, Thornleigh. The climb up Wells Street was rewarded by coffee at a shop opposite Thornleigh Station.

                                                             2023_05_19-Reg-BarbaraR-P1232323-434.jpg     2023 05 19 Reg Pauline IMG 8318                                                                                                                    On the Great North Walk                                                               The forest illuminated by the afternoon sun

2023 05 19 Reg BarbaraR On the ascent from Berowra Creek P1232323 436                                                                                                         The group on the ascent from Berowra Creek

                                              2023 05 19 Reg Pauline Margaret    2023 05 19 Reg ChristineC Hornsby Thornleigh 2                                                                                                                                                                      Margaret                                                         The leaders, Cleona and Barbara

                                                           
It was a thoroughly enjoyable walk with its variety of vegetation, historical interest, lots of laughter and considerable exercise.
The walkers were: Helen A, Ann D, Elaine, Anne G, Mary G, Phyllis, Martin, Dawn, Robyn, Chris McA, Bill, Margaret P, Wendy P, Pragati, David S, Pauline, Theresa and Don W with visitors Dave B, Cliff and Wendy R. They were led by Barbara R & Cleona. A special thanks to David S for being tail end Charlie.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Words: Barbara                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Photos: Don W (1,3,4), Barbara R (2,5,6,7,11,13), Christine C (), Helen A (8,10,16), Pauline (9,12,14,15)

2023 05 19 Reg HelenA 1800 Cooking dinner after the walk                                                                                                          Apparently Helen had difficulty cooking dinner after the walk