Hello everyone,
Here is my report.
The weather was not very promising, but three brave walkers gathered at the Conservation Hut at Valley of the Waters: Helen A, Robyn M and Barrie. We began with a cup of coffee at the cafe and then set off on the Overcliff track, in misty conditions. We walked through the large hanging swamp to Lyre Bird Lookout, then to Breakfast Point Lookout and on to Den Fenella. At that point we had completed the Overcliff track and it was starting to rain, so we took the track up to the picnic area at Wentworth Falls and then the shortcut track back to the cars. For lunch and coffee we went to Rex and Robyn's home at Wentworth Falls, where we enjoyed the warmth of the fire and shelter from the rain outside.
Coffee in the Conservation Hut before setting off.
Photographer Helen: "We've got two leaders and a tail-end Charlie." Robyn: "All we need is the peloton."
Hopefully Ultra runners like rain ... maybe not, we didn't see any on the track.
On the track: Looking back - easy; coming away from a hanging swamp - medium; and coping with serious erosion - hard.
Checking out the lookouts: the Lyrebird Lookout and the Breakfast Point Lookout
We couldn't use the lookouts for their designated purpose, but the bush was looking pretty good.
On the left, it seemed as though an old track had closed because of fallen trees (find the large tree in the rear of the picture) but an angophora at the side of the current track shone through the mist.
Robyn, not taking advantage of a seat with a view.
There is a lot of new work on all the tracks and the new signage is excellent. But some memorabilia has been preserved from the past. Robyn reckons that the old shelter shed, still standing at the rear of the Picnic Area, dates from the 1920s.
... and the best Banksia spinulosa we saw is in the front garden of Robyn and Rex's Wentworth Falls home.
Words by Robyn M, photos by Robyn and Helen A