Advised that the train consisted of eight carriages, the leaders carefully organised the group to move to the rear carriages after leaving Gosford as Lisarow only accommodates four carriages.
The guard appeared to be shaken as we tried to push through her box. She remained locked behind her door despite our frustrations and pressure. Finally we looked through the back window. “Someone” had forgotten to attach the last four carriages. Was this Fake News or a deliberate cost cutting by the NSW Government?
It was a great sunny day as we climbed Mount Elliot along a tarred road to St. John’s lookout which has pleasant views across a wooded valley towards Holgate. At Erina Trig Point which was halfway, we entered the real bush. This is a tricky section since there are only occasional arrows and a wide choice of tracks. We went past a sculpture of John Eyre and had lunch at Yaruga Lookout with fine views over the water to Spike Milligan’s bridge. After a lunch enlivened by eager Kookaburras, we strolled down landscaped paths and steps courtesy of Sarah Lee cakes and Gosford Council to a haven for coffee addicts.
Our thanks to Clive and Merrill for accompanying us on the recce and to Martin for finding the only written directions that read from Lisarow to Gosford. We suggest that HVB start an electronic library of such information.
The Leader Briefing at Lisarow Station
Don't Eat the Bait
St John Lookout Leaders Conferring
MT at St John Lookout A Tree Defying the Odds
MT in the Bush Bella Climbing Under the Fence
Nick and Bella with Edward Eyre An Agile Goanna
Enjoying the View Over Gosford at Yaruga Lookout
Lunch at Yaruga Lookout
Between the Trees and Ferns Orange Fungi
Tail End Charlie Checking the Time The UFO Over Gosford
Pleasant Coffee in Gosford
Leaders: Nick and Vreni
Walkers: John B, Maurice, Elaine, Annette, Anne G, Mary, Kas, Steve, Bella and Pete, Barbara, Guenter, Lyn, Drina
Photos by: Barbara (6,7,8,12,24), Drina (2,4,5,9,10,16,18,20,22,23,25), Pete (1,3,11,13,14,15,17,19,21)
Words by: Nick