An excellent day for walking saw 8 walkers set out on this 2 part walk. Part one was along a fire trail through bush dominated by smooth silver-barked scribbly gums and boronia in full floral display. The group negotiated the steep eroded portions of the track without mishap and explored the ruins of Fretus Hotel where we enjoyed morning tea over-looking Calabash Bay. On the return journey, we found some aboriginal rock engravings of kangaroos (we think).
After returning to the cars, we moved to part two. We traversed more steep downhill sections, climbed to a high, secluded point for lunch and then continued the downhill trend, on to a narrow heritage trail down to a cave with a midden and then the shores of Calabash Bay. The tide was low, which allowed a couple of walkers to cavort in the middle of the waterway.
As is often the case, the trudge back up hill seemed longer than the downhill walk, so a coffee at the Cat’s Pyjamas was enjoyed to restore energy levels.
| Walkers assemble to descend the rubbly fire trail to Calabash Bay
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The track to Calabash Point and morning tea at Calabash Point
The ruins of old Fretus Hotel abandoned in the 1920's, complete with graffiti now referred to as"Historical Artifacts", proved a popular photographic subject for the walkers, as they explored the site as the pictures below demonstrate:
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Setting off along Dusthole Ridge, Reflections in occasional pools and the Flower filled track
Lunch on a cleverly located rock outcrop Calabash shoreline looking back to Calabash Point
Pink Swamp Heath - Sprengelia incarnata, Scaly Phebalium Phebalium squamulosum, Wax Flower Eriostemon australasius
Boronia, Banksia on Dusthole Range Phebalium
Cave above the waters of Calabash Bay
Kangaroo etching and leaf litter and vegetation
Old Scribbly Gum (left), Firewood at a home at the end of Calabash Rd
.Walkers: Wendy C and Hazel led Barbara C,Clive, Guenter, Steve, Deidre (first aid) and Sue S.
Photos: Barbara C.(4,23), Hazel (1,5,6,19), Deidre (2,3,8,24,25), Sue S (7,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17), Wendy (9,18,20,21,22)
Words: Wendy C