21 August - Regular Walk: Strickland State Forest Circuit

Down, down into the rainforest descended the 21 walkers, entranced by the magnificence of the majestic turpentines, tall cabbage tree palms, and giant hoop and bunya pines. The most recently added walk in Strickland State Forest constructed by volunteers with enviable skills in building rock walls and creating easy walking tracks spanning multiple creek crossings was the first of many loops we followed in this Central Coast gem. For morning tea we perched where we could around the Stoney Creek Car Park before setting off on the Arboretum loop, crossing the suspension bridge and taking in the many hundred-year-old trees. Bellbird loop followed before our return to the Banksia Picnic Area where we had our lunch. Only when we stepped out of our cars for our Peats Ridge post-walk coffee into the southerly gale did we fully appreciate how fortunate we had been to have walked in perfect conditions, tucked down out of the wind, amongst the trees in the rainforest. Many thanks to Rhondda for stepping in as co-leader, Bill S. who assisted with the reccie, tail-ender Deidre, and first-aid volunteer Lyndy.

2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040308 Small                                                                                                                       Ros briefs the walkers
   2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040354 Small 2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040336 Small2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040330 Small                                                                                                                                             Off into the forest
 2020 08 21 RegularWalk Deidre MorningTea 110349 Small2020 08 21 RegularWalk Deidre MorningTea 110522 2                                                                                              At Morning Tea with Pete and Bella socially distancing (easy)whilst John M looks on                   

   2020 08 21 Reg Lilian A   2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040313 Small2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040319 Small                                                                                       Socially distancing on a creek crossing(hard), Gymea Lilly stands out and Tree Hugger Leader
2020 08 21 Reg Lyndy Small2020 08 21 Reg Barbara R P1232299 845 1 Small2020 08 21 Reg Lyndy 0425b85d85fc Small                                                                                Lyndy's "Big Tree"-too big to photograph as one trunk and the Bellbird Trail crossing Stony Creek (right
2020 08 21 Reg Barbara RP1232299 837 Small2020 08 21 Reg Barbara RP1232299 837 Small2020 08 21 Reg Barbara R P1232299 844 1 Small                                                                                                          The descent on the Ridge Rainforest Track (left and centre) and the Bellbird Trail view of Narara Creek
                                                                                                             2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040358 Small
                                                     Crystal clear waters in a pristine forest setting
2020 08 21 RegularWalk Deidre ArboretumLoop 115212 22020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040391 Small                                                                                                              Creek crossings- assisted by nature and unassisted


2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040365 Small 2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040355 Small                                                                                                                          Reflections
                                                                  Arborial Gallery- Just a sample of some of the trees seen on the track
2020 08 21 RegularWalk Deidre Tallowwood 1150352020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040392 Small2020 08 21 Reg Pete P1040317 Small                                                                                            Sydney Blue Gum shows its socks, Tallowood(Eucalyptus microcorys) and Maritime Pine
         2020 08 21 Plus Drina 5. Barbara A alongside a Hoop Pine Small2020 08 21 Plus Drina 6. Red Cedar bark Small                                                                         Barbara alongside a Hoop Pine                               Red Cedar

                                                                                                     

 

2020 08 21 Plus Drina 11. Climbing over obstacles Small2020 08 21 Plus Drina 12. Lunch Small                                                                                                                       Climbing over obstacles                                                                          Lunch

  

Walkers: Ros and Rhondda led nineteen others: Helen A, Browyn,  Elaine E, Anne G, Judy, Lilian, Lyndy (first aid), Kas, John M, Elizabeth P, Pete and Bella, David R, Barbara R, Vreni,                     Deidre(Tail end) Drina and Don Wa and a visitor

Photos: Lyndy 10,11 Lilian 7 Pete 1,2,3,4,8,9,16,18,19,20,21,23, Deidre.5,6,14,17,22 Barbara R 12,13,14,15 Drina 24,25,26,27

Words: Ros