It was a perfect day for a walk!
Barbara & Steve led the eager walkers past the marina & along the Warrimoo Track, beside Cowan Creek, for just over three & a half kilometres to its junction with the Sphinx Track.
Three men under the rocks Waiting at the start of the Sphinx Track
Then began the aerobic two kilometre climb up a tributary creek valley to the Sphinx & the Bobbin Head Trail on the ridge.
Morning tea in the sun
Eriostemum at the Jacobs Creek lunch spot Wax flower Eriostemum australasius Grey Spider Flower Grevillea buxifolia
Red Spider Flower Grevillea speciosa Scaley Phebalium Phebalium squamulosum ssp squamilosum Dotted Sun Orchid Thelymitra ixioides
A couple of walkers who hadn’t visited the Sphinx before, took the opportunity to see the AIF memorial constructed by Private William Shirley in the late 1920s when he was a patient at the Lady Davidson Convalescent Hospital.
The Sphinx Cowan Creek seen from the Warrimoo Track
We followed the ridge trail for about a kilometre before taking Jacombs Track (on the right) to a lunch spot overlooking the valley we had ascended. There we enjoyed eriostemon splendour & views to Duffys Forest & the Bahai Temple.
Wide lunch views
The return was then made to the Bobbin Head Trail which was the original road providing access to Bobbin Head and is now used as a fire trail. The walk continued through mixed eucalypt forest and included a detour to an Aboriginal engraving site and masses of wildflowers.
More stunning displays, especially of eriostemon, were enjoyed on the western side of the ridge before we descended the zig zag trail and then stone steps to the marina.
Preparing for the steep descent Anne G and Vreni on descent to the marina
Looking down to Bobbin Head marina Scrambling down through the rocks
Socially distanced coffee etc & (surprise!) more chatting occurred at Bobbin Head.
Leaders : Barbara R and Steve.
The walkers: Nick B, Bronwyn, Barb C, Jenny, Elaine, Anne G, Mary, Celia, Kas, Hazel, Steve, Claude, Pragati, David R, Guenter, Vreni, Nick S, Deidre, Sue S, Drina & Peter.
Words: Barbara R
Photos: Barbara C (15,16), Barbara R (4,14,17), Deidre (3,9), Drina (1,2,13), Hazel (7,10,11), Sue S (5,6,8,12).