After a very efficient AGM at Bobbin Head (which included a fond farewell as President to Bert & warm welcome back as President to Kurt), twenty four walkers headed across the Cockle Creek bridge and up the Gibberagong Track in absolutely perfect walking conditions: a crisp, sunny winter's day with glass like creek reflections.
The beautiful ascent up the valley was enhanced by Guenter's spotting of a diamond python and the arrival of a flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos near our morning tea spot.
After passing large rock shelters used by indigenous people and viewing the Gibberagong water hole, we braved the steep ascent on the Murrua Link Track to North Turramurra. On the short street walk to the Sphinx picnic area, there was a brief stop to view the Du Faur Street Sandakan Memorial which was a local council initiative:
“dedicated on 2nd September, 1989 to the memory of the 1800 Australian and 738 British members of the armed forces who died whilst prisoners of the Japanese at Sandakan in British North Borneo during World War Two. Only six survived the infamous Sandakan death March.”
More history was encountered at our lunch stop at the Sphinx war memorial, created 1926 – 28 by Private Shirley in honour of his WW1 AIF “fallen comrades”.
The descent to Cowan Creek and the Warrimoo Track was thoroughly enjoyed and safely negotiated. We continued to appreciate the changing environments of the almost four kilometre undulating walk beside Cowan Creek to Bobbin Head: grass trees, ferns & boronias; sandstone walls, caves & overhangs; mangroves, minor tributary creek crossings, salt marsh, rainforest & mossy gullies; angophoras, casuarina & tall wooded forests as well as pleasant creek views, including a view of the1850s Duffy's wharf site (a previous walk's destination), on the other side of Cowan Creek.
A very satisfactory coffee experience at the Bobbin Head Marina cafe topped off the perfect day.
" ... twenty four walkers headed across the Cockle Creek bridge and up the Gibberagong Track"
Cockle Creek morning tea spot before the walkers' invasion ...
... And Cockle Creek during morning tea
Rocks: Rock overhang near the Gibberagong waterholes and high hole in the rock on the Gibberagong Track
Water:The Gibberagong waterhole
People: Kas and John M lead the charge to The Sphinx and lunch. After lunch, Nick at the junction of the Sphinx and Warrimoo Tracks
Fauna and flora: The snake (spotted by Guenter) early on the Gibberagong Track, flora seen on the Murrua Link Track and the Warimoo Track
Eriostemon australasius ... Sleeping Diamond Python Morelia Spilota ... Early flowering Phebalium squamulosum
Memorials: The Sandakan Memorial and The Sphinx
The first memorial is "... dedicated to the memory of the 1800 Australian and 738 British members of the armed forces who died whilst prisoners of the Japanese at Sandakan in British North Borneo during World War Two. Only six survived the infamous Sandakan death March.”
And the second to "To my glorious comrades of the A.I.F, by the late W. Shirley, No 5756 Pte. 13th Battalion, died 27th August 1928
For the record:
Leaders Barbara and Kas wish to thank the gentlemen who assisted (basically pulled up) those women whose legs can't stretch up tall rocks and Don B whose walk wasn't altogether quiet as Tail-end Charlie.
The walkers: Helen A, Nick, Clive, Chris B, Don B, Ross, Wendy C, Maurice, Susan, Elaine E, Anne G, Ros G, John G, Cherry, Peter, John M, Bert, Claude, Guenter, Bill S, Sue S and Vreni.
Words by Barbara.
Photos by Wendy C (1, 11, 14), Barbara (2-5, 7-9, 13), Sue S (6, 10, 12, 15). Captions for 'Fauna and flora' by Sue S.