tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2616947969214141722024-03-28T13:35:53.102+11:00SteventureStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-84325260063764838262024-03-22T16:51:00.003+11:002024-03-22T18:54:30.322+11:00Strickland Falls, Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek Tracks<p><b><i>This walk takes place on Darkinyung Country</i></b></p><p><a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2024/03/girrakool-and-piles-creek-loop-tracks.html" target="_blank">Read Blog Part 1 </a><a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2024/03/girrakool-and-piles-creek-loop-tracks.html" target="_blank">- 'Girrakool and Piles Creek Loop Tracks'</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Part 1 - The Funeral</b></p><p>I awoke the following morning, feeling like I had done the longest walk of my life. I walked to my small Ibis bathroom attempting to fill my stainless-steel drink bottle from the sink, having difficulty fitting it in I eventually filled it on an angle, and instantly sculled down that water. I sighed at myself and began having to awkwardly fill it up again.</p><p>I got dressed and headed down to my paid breakfast. There were some yoghurts out (but having eaten flavoured tub yoghurt <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">during my time in hospital</a>, the thought of them turned my stomach), so I put a piece of toast on, helping myself to the coffee pod machine and a glass of apple juice. I spread some butter and vegemite on my toast, noting that it wasn't even 8am yet, and my time of checkout was 10am, and the funeral didn't start until 12. I wondered what I would do with the time, not able to do any walks beforehand because I didn't want to get all sweaty for my Nan's funeral. <br />I made a second coffee while I sat staring out the window at all the people making their way through the McDonald's drive-thru and sat doing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html" target="_blank">Wordle</a>, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/games/quordle/#/" target="_blank">Quordle</a> (including Sequence), and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/games/connections" target="_blank">Connections</a>.</p><p>I decided to get my money's worth and put a second piece of toast on. After beating all my morning 'brain puzzles' I loaded up the game '<a href="https://jurassicworldalive.com/" target="_blank">Jurassic World Alive</a>' which my friend got me addicted to while I was stuck in hospital. </p><p>People around me finished and left, and more people replaced them for breakfast, including one lady who couldn't work out the toaster, and was fiddling around with it, adjusting my setting on my slice of toast and causing it to only toast on one side. I gave her stinky side eye when I collected it, sitting down to have some more vegemite on toast and pouring myself a glass of orange juice now, trying to rehydrate a little from the previous day. My throat was very dry from blasting the air-conditioning all night which made me have the thought: 'I hope I don't catch covid at the funeral'.</p><p>I finished eating and was about ready to head back to my room for a vigorous shave (figuring it wouldn't be respectful to wear a hat or my beanie at a funeral) and a shower. However, before I could and older couple sat at the table across from me, struggling to work out how to use the coffee machine (they were running it without placing pods inside). I explained to them how to do t, feeling a little sad and bemused by it, and headed back up to my room to get myself in order. I decided to use the shaving cream I had brought up with me as a bath soap, not wanting to smell as I had gotten incredibly sweaty the previous day.</p><p>I got changed into jeans and my button up shirt. I looked at the time, I still had one hour until checkout. <br />I sat and looked up Palmdale Lawn Cemetary on Google Maps. I sat around charging my phone, flicking through the TV waiting until 1 minute before 10am before leaving the room, filling a little sad actually that I was going to be heading home later that day. I was excited to be out and alone, exploring somewhere new where nobody knew me.</p><p>I moved my bags of clothing, into the boot of my car, (making sure I grabbed my two stout cans to later deposit them in a return-and-earn machine. I set up my phone in the bracket of my car, setting my music and google maps and began to drive to the lawn cemetery. I got really frustrated with Google Maps at one stage of this drive, I approached a roundabout and it told me to take the third exit, which I did, however what it had wanted me to do was take the FOURTH exit, doing a loop back around the roundabout and heading the way I had come. Instead, I had to drive a 20-minute detour to get back to the spot I was at. <br />Along the way I kept seeing signs for 'Heatherbrae's Pies'.<br />'Hmm, I do like a good pie.' I thought.<br />I eventually came to it along the way to the cemetery, pulling in and deciding if they sold a chilli pie, I would get one to eat (I love a chilli pie, and I had been wanting to come to the Central Coast for years to take on the <a href="https://www.bremenpatisserie.com.au/the-flaming-ron" target="_blank">Flaming Ron spicy pie challenge</a> with my friend Tristan).<br />However, they didn't have one listed for sale and I left disappointed.</p><p>The literal next turn took me to Palmdale Lawn Cemetary, and I arrived just before 11am. I thought the area looked beautiful and as I pulled up I could feel the intense heat of the sun, so put some sunscreen on and went for a walk around, finding a sign saying that my Nana Betty's funeral would be held in the rose chapel. I crossed a bridge over a creek to the chapel, while walking around the lawn looking at plaques hoping to find my Aunt Corinne's (who had passed during her own leukemia treatment) as I believed it was the same cemetery. Soon I gave up, figuring I wouldn't find it so sat down at a bench feeling my stomach rumble. 'Maybe I should have grabbed any pie.' I thought.</p><p>I loaded up Pokémon Go on my phone for something to do when I heard voices approaching. I looked up to see my Uncle Mark, Aunt Chunling and Cousin Adam walking towards the chapel.</p><p>"Hi Mark." I called to him.<br />He was looking at me and approaching with seeming no idea who I was.<br />"It's Steven." I said, and finally he recognised me. I reassured him it has been a while since he had seen me, and he probably didn't recognise me outside of my trademark Green Beanie.</p><p>He informed me that my Dad and stepmum were at the cafe back across the bridge. I finally felt awkward. I hadn't seen my Dad since before my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/11/trip-to-iceland.html" target="_blank">Trip to Iceland</a>, just at the start of his cancer treatment (I had tried to call him a bunch of times after returning home and recovering from covid, he had never answered, or called back even after I called my stepmum to make sure he was ok, I eventually gave up, getting the shits, figuring if he didn't want to make the effort to speak to me I wouldn't bother with him).</p><p>As I crossed the bridge, I noticed them collecting some things out of the boot of their car. I approached and had an awkward greeting, 'Hello stranger' my Dad said to me. His voice was scratchy and harsh, his vocals hurt by the harshness of his radiation treatment.</p><p>It was confronting to see him; his age was showing and his was drinking a sustagen meal supplement drink. My stepmum began telling me that he was still struggling eating solid foods and that a lot of his taste had gone, and things tasted awful to him. We made our way over to the cafe and I sat down with some other family members who were related to me through my Nana Betty, including her sisters' children. I spoke with them a little, mentioning how I had extensively investigated my family tree, and we spoke about some shared ancestors. It was weird to be talking to family who I didn't really know, to me they were strangers, yet here we were, a family.<br /><br />As more and more people rocked up to the funeral, we made our way over to the chapel. I followed my Dad and stepmum in, with my Uncle Mark, his Wife Chunling, my cousin Adam, and his sister Angela, who had now turned up, sitting in the row behind us. I told him he should up the front with my Dad (knowing he was going to speak, and I swapped spots, sitting in the second row with my cousins who I had only met a few times in my life and had not seen for years.</p><p>The funeral started and various people got up to talk about the life of my Nana Betty. Afterwards we all went back to private room behind the cafe for refreshments. I stayed for a few hours, having some awkward conversations here and there with family, but I could feel my social anxiety getting the better of me. The tension of trying to have conversations. The whole thing was strangely surreal.<br />I began looking up walks on my phone on Google Maps that were nearby, thinking I could do one short walk, before the long drive home, when I noticed walks at Strickland State Forest, deciding that is where I would head to. </p><p>A lady came to speak to my Uncle about us wrapping up, and I said quick goodbyes to everyone, telling Mark that we would all need to catch up at some point soon.</p><p>I headed to my car, setting up my directions and began the drive, eager to get away, get out on a trail and decompress. I felt bad, I wondered if it was wrong off me to be heading out on a bushwalks straight after my Nan's funeral. But then I thought, life was to live. If there's anything a funeral reminds you, it's that life is finite, short, and could end at any point so you better get out and live it. I thought it was the right mentality for me to have as I turned down a gravel road, driving until pulling up at Banskia Picnic Area in Strickland State Forest.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Part 2 - Strickland Falls</b></p><p>As I arrived at the carpark, there was one car parked, but no one in sight, I stripped out of my jeans and funeral button up into a normal T-Shirt and shorts, swapping out my shoes and reapplied some sunscreen, with the bottle feeling very warm from sitting in my car the entire time I was at my Nan's funeral. I headed over to the signpost that listed three walks from this area.</p><p>'<i><b>Strickland Falls Track</b><br />1.7km loop, 40 minutes return<br />Medium grade, some steep sections and steps<br />This track was proudly completed by the "Friends of Strickland" in 2003.<br />Follow the signs from Banksia Picnic Area to experience spectacular cliffs, mossy rocks, ferns pals, wildflowers, tall eucalypts and lush rainforest.<br />The Gymea Lily is a feature of the walk.</i>'</p><p>'<i><b>Ridge to Rainforest Track</b><br />2.1km one way, 45 minutes to Stoney Creek car park<br />If creeks are flooded do not cross.<br />Medium grade with creek crossings.<br />This track starts near the entry to Banksia Picnic Area. It gradually descends through dry forest types along the ridge into tall, moist forest and gully rainforest along the creek.<br />Mossy rocks, statuesque trees and a planted grove of Hoop Pine are featured along the track. The track was hand built, over a 10 year period, by the Friends of Strickland.</i>'</p><p>'<i><b>Cabbage Tree Track</b><br />1.7km loop, 30 minutes return<br />Medium grade<br />Follow the signs from Banksia Picnic Area and head downhill through rock outcrops and a large grove of Cabbage Palms. As you head back you will encounter Stoney Creek Track which gives you the option to descend to Stoney Creek, and more walking tracks, or return to Banksia Picnic Area.</i>'</p><p>I decided I would start with the Strickland Falls track, always keen to see a waterfall, and see how much time I had left afterwards. I looked in the bottom left corner of the sign to read some information about the Traditional Custodians.<br /><br />'<i><b>Traditional Custodians</b><br />Forestry Corporation of NSW acknowledges the Darkinyung & Guringai people as the Traditional Custodians of this Land. For tens of thousands of years Aboriginal people have taken care of Country.<br />Spiritual beliefs and values are expressed in the form of stories, song, dance and art.<br />Cultural sites may be marked my rock art, scar trees, shell middens and stone arrangements. Mythological sites, reflecting thousands of years of spiritual belief, are a powerful presence in the landscape.<br />For Aboriginal people the Land provided for all their needs and bore the signs of their beliefs.</i>'</p><p>(I did not include Guringai in my opening acknowledgement after coming across this post by the Aboriginal Heritage Office: <a href="https://www.aboriginalheritage.org/history/filling-a-void-history-of-word-guringai/">Filling a Void: history of word 'Guringai' - Aboriginal Heritage Office</a>)</p><p>I was about to begin the walk, when I felt a sudden urge to wee. I thought about doing the typical male 'behind a push' but thought that, as there was a toilet block here, I would use it rather than risk being stumbled upon mid-stream. As I entered, I saw your typical 'hole-in-the-ground' bush loo. I held my breath, as the stench was pretty foul as I watched flies zipping through the air, and I didn't fancy the thought of the flies that had been down crawling all over the poo and filth flying out and landing on me. I finished and went to leave, noticing someone had drawn an image of two Echidna's on the back of the toilet door.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhw_htbs2sVKhHmip_cKrFNbKvdSgHFYtFbbeYCzD74cyvmtEPdm8bYEk2_K7I3BHeD38f1bgfzpCHls5ZF2VdHUABVf4dvXQTZgiKY4NfgZ4nYEsFz61D2tguGrP3-4_SB7-eIndY6pHNpdO_SD35TyUwNCR4s7UNS5ED-aYoKEKPljtBuHcSi3p/s4032/20240308_144719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhw_htbs2sVKhHmip_cKrFNbKvdSgHFYtFbbeYCzD74cyvmtEPdm8bYEk2_K7I3BHeD38f1bgfzpCHls5ZF2VdHUABVf4dvXQTZgiKY4NfgZ4nYEsFz61D2tguGrP3-4_SB7-eIndY6pHNpdO_SD35TyUwNCR4s7UNS5ED-aYoKEKPljtBuHcSi3p/w400-h300/20240308_144719.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I set off to begin the walk, still holding a lot of the built-up tension from the funeral, which I was eager to burn off through some cardio in some beautiful nature. As I reached the beginning, I found both the Strickland Falls Loop and Cabbage Tree track began at the same place, with a sign saying that the Cabbage Tree would begin in 100m.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBoKyeb1ikpyrZAMuXPe9XkcQcjFBNi_AV-XP1yNmGLaGXyjbts1b9q2pMup5zyfUxoO8N_ranKqOAvVlHuqzOPhBbXuooUyBLX7geTPsS_PUGCosbbrm184C1osH_Sj8SBuZHMHcWHeEC35GG5AhnpQ705sP8kDTL0g9m5wV3MW0IromZR8XvvAZ/s4032/20240308_144917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBoKyeb1ikpyrZAMuXPe9XkcQcjFBNi_AV-XP1yNmGLaGXyjbts1b9q2pMup5zyfUxoO8N_ranKqOAvVlHuqzOPhBbXuooUyBLX7geTPsS_PUGCosbbrm184C1osH_Sj8SBuZHMHcWHeEC35GG5AhnpQ705sP8kDTL0g9m5wV3MW0IromZR8XvvAZ/w480-h640/20240308_144917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jyB1mJQTMiA1vhr6OxYqRaWZl_dC2o3CFiWeISClvsgiK-aVwtEUthkJFe-OzYd4-UXGvzf2aloV1AUiF-dyf33GH87EZYvu6RTNRQkm7wAmvUdjhJPDMX22a0NR2Izn0vFF5cQggj9ja6WxuLXbzjbZ1a3QRZ_dGsRsbg7_TirQUXkRSpouMdmt/s4032/20240308_145005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jyB1mJQTMiA1vhr6OxYqRaWZl_dC2o3CFiWeISClvsgiK-aVwtEUthkJFe-OzYd4-UXGvzf2aloV1AUiF-dyf33GH87EZYvu6RTNRQkm7wAmvUdjhJPDMX22a0NR2Izn0vFF5cQggj9ja6WxuLXbzjbZ1a3QRZ_dGsRsbg7_TirQUXkRSpouMdmt/w480-h640/20240308_145005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Immediately the walk began heading downwards, into the valley.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifg7_EPVUa304zwXhqFoFBEAN-u5sDRdJiaqO7x0iaHw9sNSLTMS6CnAXv1bpbU-1qjmkhFJJ_o5d1v3OVQ49xuoRMy626C4v1b4tJYJtcKN68cImF-XgRK2G6mJxW_A_25XuFk4J7bYSduWcJ6klCATdfpb4-PHuHLzKvFer_2C76tIXRGC4yjqQ7/s4032/20240308_145039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifg7_EPVUa304zwXhqFoFBEAN-u5sDRdJiaqO7x0iaHw9sNSLTMS6CnAXv1bpbU-1qjmkhFJJ_o5d1v3OVQ49xuoRMy626C4v1b4tJYJtcKN68cImF-XgRK2G6mJxW_A_25XuFk4J7bYSduWcJ6klCATdfpb4-PHuHLzKvFer_2C76tIXRGC4yjqQ7/w480-h640/20240308_145039.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkk3C0E117BtyqfMEWcoKEJkG5eF8e2zahCJaBi49_tcpgIbGqaNuVicI_dJhpcNjyX4CCMsiN4ZJwtbUNRYyhyphenhyphen-_RDbXsZ4U0YaK5Zc2cRkJ4Fhcri8fmNGTQk2iYaJ79bmE0sngRVsqXsBCqCOrWD9KLhFfUmSgZXaywqsEFZKURkVwCLLfO-mHm/s4032/20240308_145104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkk3C0E117BtyqfMEWcoKEJkG5eF8e2zahCJaBi49_tcpgIbGqaNuVicI_dJhpcNjyX4CCMsiN4ZJwtbUNRYyhyphenhyphen-_RDbXsZ4U0YaK5Zc2cRkJ4Fhcri8fmNGTQk2iYaJ79bmE0sngRVsqXsBCqCOrWD9KLhFfUmSgZXaywqsEFZKURkVwCLLfO-mHm/w480-h640/20240308_145104.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRQf7kcC1lQxaiAJ0XbPHdPdnpRPxvQ_hC46W2J1uirJUGJHf19TemJtlNxI6d4a3zUeWN52HcJ7m8XlkKiNnp1zxjDM15JzjgZY3B6G-L0veJdRZHKZ_dY0WOZrQWh2-XnsGxkSyHlpqWjLNyN8wLt-0evRU82JRKoNZK-gSEwoCsniJ1nT3erj0/s4032/20240308_145205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRQf7kcC1lQxaiAJ0XbPHdPdnpRPxvQ_hC46W2J1uirJUGJHf19TemJtlNxI6d4a3zUeWN52HcJ7m8XlkKiNnp1zxjDM15JzjgZY3B6G-L0veJdRZHKZ_dY0WOZrQWh2-XnsGxkSyHlpqWjLNyN8wLt-0evRU82JRKoNZK-gSEwoCsniJ1nT3erj0/w400-h300/20240308_145205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I breathed the fresh air, taking in the sun and scenery, the beautiful verdant greens of the ferns, I had walked the 100m and came upon the turn off to both Cabbage Tree Track and Stoney Creek Track, but continued along towards Strickland Falls (which was apparently in 800m).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMHZYdCXAHAuy8TPnSkxj-4_Rfnku6lSMaYZsewrHovgfdiL5SilyjcOG66XPftGSzUn6B7CSCFi6HKg4yH26cy96-hUQx-pgIV9eCuNaKKnTjSm2QOHfVWj0CcmI9h9l_r9sb_83M88Mt3UyX4n9n42pmrvuMI8PLfAFib_3l716eOrN0T3eZmoG/s4032/20240308_145230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMHZYdCXAHAuy8TPnSkxj-4_Rfnku6lSMaYZsewrHovgfdiL5SilyjcOG66XPftGSzUn6B7CSCFi6HKg4yH26cy96-hUQx-pgIV9eCuNaKKnTjSm2QOHfVWj0CcmI9h9l_r9sb_83M88Mt3UyX4n9n42pmrvuMI8PLfAFib_3l716eOrN0T3eZmoG/w480-h640/20240308_145230.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I was strolling with a smile on my face, dry dusting soil lightly flying up with each step, and all of a sudden there was a great shake amongst the ferns in front of me. I froze, out of instinct, looking ahead. At first, I thought it was a snake, then, I realised it was a lizard. It sort of looked like a 'Blue Tongue Lizard' but it was larger, and I knew it was a completely different lizard that I didn't recognise.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhi33ql9Fp1605OLm-z5brqKDU_Ce-VdKeE7POthf8PybuzMjU5IHp1gprS8y1yLkmn_5WUet6pdVQ6QButw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe3QT1Kvl-AYZpnCeL5xy7MBrvD3zDEFZebaiuyp5Ab5VEPDkDPo-fyCLk5EHMjynRcK_gB40kXKe9bZzjM7b-1eddR7j6CBCgCN29QJ6s50HRULIcR-wy9DauNkWhN3na7jocPqKXq7V1yH6aH_unLzCt5a8sioiTt4u4Wz9Dk_6casabMLqJnnf/s4032/20240308_145417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRe3QT1Kvl-AYZpnCeL5xy7MBrvD3zDEFZebaiuyp5Ab5VEPDkDPo-fyCLk5EHMjynRcK_gB40kXKe9bZzjM7b-1eddR7j6CBCgCN29QJ6s50HRULIcR-wy9DauNkWhN3na7jocPqKXq7V1yH6aH_unLzCt5a8sioiTt4u4Wz9Dk_6casabMLqJnnf/w480-h640/20240308_145417.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I later uploaded the picture to an app I use, called 'iNaturalist' where someone was able to identify it as a 'Land Mullet' or '<i>Bellatorias major</i>'. I continued along, trying not to disturb him too much, wondering what other creatures I might encounter on my walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JqXlE2vdfrRvLN_UgE3z_faxebepl9UUVcevBqLZDAjqJmBMzWg6WvusDCHqbi3xxd8TrZbQs_eSqgfkjvSK9PrS9fDoZ8_usWYCvh_VvJ_cxht3hVVB8xMwFTyGu8M6O86-I2nDY3peAaa-SwOISkebLBakBq69rGC2mu64_HsBSQili6_3w4ld/s4000/20240308_145513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JqXlE2vdfrRvLN_UgE3z_faxebepl9UUVcevBqLZDAjqJmBMzWg6WvusDCHqbi3xxd8TrZbQs_eSqgfkjvSK9PrS9fDoZ8_usWYCvh_VvJ_cxht3hVVB8xMwFTyGu8M6O86-I2nDY3peAaa-SwOISkebLBakBq69rGC2mu64_HsBSQili6_3w4ld/w480-h640/20240308_145513.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nZRWP1g51MWu9o_1IUcWTxs-w9RrMtKjjdVXunrjOvLgeL98R5TJAyPZ_7JyymMlmIs7JKD3nwKg5zfuP78dgzu9p8Stsr-YijqKZxgkLPBB0Q_wpdNDpHZYGuvhoSPuwvVX3pKcpgpcbNYc0w6MuQrlFLR5b0ClfrTvXtx63KN8zQw7mzsHrLTU/s4032/20240308_145719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nZRWP1g51MWu9o_1IUcWTxs-w9RrMtKjjdVXunrjOvLgeL98R5TJAyPZ_7JyymMlmIs7JKD3nwKg5zfuP78dgzu9p8Stsr-YijqKZxgkLPBB0Q_wpdNDpHZYGuvhoSPuwvVX3pKcpgpcbNYc0w6MuQrlFLR5b0ClfrTvXtx63KN8zQw7mzsHrLTU/w480-h640/20240308_145719.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGR26_FutA49-cNFjiE6j0-4x8X54ehth6BFu-f8YKKA_UYzU9_iJPIVQuOY_p7G4_ZRD-c59CwMphht2TTJEnPEtv1ALqIJF35lT80uuhmerzkPPeWIGxQeVdTl4Pr9b-8FvbbV1GB3RHcOc_BW5fswSR5cCxTFmlE_o5nr1SFva2PAp-_AjAEJS/s4032/20240308_145842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGR26_FutA49-cNFjiE6j0-4x8X54ehth6BFu-f8YKKA_UYzU9_iJPIVQuOY_p7G4_ZRD-c59CwMphht2TTJEnPEtv1ALqIJF35lT80uuhmerzkPPeWIGxQeVdTl4Pr9b-8FvbbV1GB3RHcOc_BW5fswSR5cCxTFmlE_o5nr1SFva2PAp-_AjAEJS/w480-h640/20240308_145842.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I thought about how beautiful this area was.</p><p>'You don't often think about State Forests in regard to going for a walk' I thought 'You usually think of looking for a national park first, it's like State Forests are National Parks underappreciated brother.' </p><p>I took note of the sun glistening on every moss-covered boulder, watching out for every mushroom popping out from the side of the trail, the pattens of light through the leaves along the trunks of the large eucalyptus trees, and how sometimes, with a tree on either side of the trail, it almost looked like a doorway, beckoning you to walk through it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsQKE3NCj8e9YQinIlFIkxuc5WeN3_uYBWZhgbUeTgVx58KTSZHPdAjxz0UDigB1dVSia9MMCQK7eiYyZg_cNIxF1lILKy5x7Fq7Se5RDylIqC9qRXVPFEPS8j0JHjXfpE9gEU6JU-REUELnn9mZZGignC-BhAU5jwPs-bxFjKOrd2pkq4ndCtegz/s4032/20240308_150006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsQKE3NCj8e9YQinIlFIkxuc5WeN3_uYBWZhgbUeTgVx58KTSZHPdAjxz0UDigB1dVSia9MMCQK7eiYyZg_cNIxF1lILKy5x7Fq7Se5RDylIqC9qRXVPFEPS8j0JHjXfpE9gEU6JU-REUELnn9mZZGignC-BhAU5jwPs-bxFjKOrd2pkq4ndCtegz/w480-h640/20240308_150006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRu0J5eRzz-vlRQyprT6zA_R1f3lKGAhUbXYAUhdv8-xcoHmcmVGLGjBLNOS-cUSG4d0AoCgDpk8C53Q5U7tZ-USVcTZL3qg3rlbfPlSL9VyNyhOJKRsStOkCNtTiFWPufkL9aim0IoZxgWSEpZp2Gs307K_m4-Rf8YzPBV6z8YAU5iuOyiJLf_By/s4032/20240308_150046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRu0J5eRzz-vlRQyprT6zA_R1f3lKGAhUbXYAUhdv8-xcoHmcmVGLGjBLNOS-cUSG4d0AoCgDpk8C53Q5U7tZ-USVcTZL3qg3rlbfPlSL9VyNyhOJKRsStOkCNtTiFWPufkL9aim0IoZxgWSEpZp2Gs307K_m4-Rf8YzPBV6z8YAU5iuOyiJLf_By/w480-h640/20240308_150046.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURrlSpkSC2yxbpn9xrlPbk5o7dYln4n7AMPWCyUZoNPry4RZw9QHXNi8orvu2oqCjgyhqjPFcE-vnErJaM09p1X3y5MvL-4y0N-ZT3n-a9v9euuuo-yHNzXOH3M3tUqRHXBnX_Cyi7BDXWX7jGGDNRbjk0UAZPzXka4qpSKVnzmjuHDE5ZbDaWh2f/s4032/20240308_150122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURrlSpkSC2yxbpn9xrlPbk5o7dYln4n7AMPWCyUZoNPry4RZw9QHXNi8orvu2oqCjgyhqjPFcE-vnErJaM09p1X3y5MvL-4y0N-ZT3n-a9v9euuuo-yHNzXOH3M3tUqRHXBnX_Cyi7BDXWX7jGGDNRbjk0UAZPzXka4qpSKVnzmjuHDE5ZbDaWh2f/w480-h640/20240308_150122.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr7vpP6IwTewGyHkCeyWs4uSiEjRlnQV_c3A56Gv-vfx0qPWUmyY5AJ1WzcA3CSQLy3-x7CB21Q5UuHxSPeE6RUIuup2xMCpAfptk_A2PZErNgiDpk5K7owLvFhlsd_Pd4cRO8AynvwYsPUOMVZY5eYqpTamVLCBVd5LD_GMv1y40ZDFltc324WaQ/s4032/20240308_150204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr7vpP6IwTewGyHkCeyWs4uSiEjRlnQV_c3A56Gv-vfx0qPWUmyY5AJ1WzcA3CSQLy3-x7CB21Q5UuHxSPeE6RUIuup2xMCpAfptk_A2PZErNgiDpk5K7owLvFhlsd_Pd4cRO8AynvwYsPUOMVZY5eYqpTamVLCBVd5LD_GMv1y40ZDFltc324WaQ/w480-h640/20240308_150204.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Walking over the decaying debris of fallen leaves, I based through a section past vibrant green ferns, with the cabbage palms almost glowed bright green from the sun, basing around a corner to where the light was less bright, and the vibrancy of the scenery was lacking, while still beautiful in its own right, it just didn't dazzle in the sun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIw5DW6guqrmzgJ45rq9Ut5Z8szVWCH2iAZzjX1cZinYxFSOFHX3cJnhggcaHFlCyA-z1ZYXz8cIoC7ajVYnYcFg45gSvWzyoTQhmDL9nTu9a4Jw6zAw553hfUca-59TXwNqu1mfdbut3Xnzq6Swh-Qr7kmBm4eK1dEy-tfgt6yxM_PIEA1mtfm34/s4032/20240308_150543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIw5DW6guqrmzgJ45rq9Ut5Z8szVWCH2iAZzjX1cZinYxFSOFHX3cJnhggcaHFlCyA-z1ZYXz8cIoC7ajVYnYcFg45gSvWzyoTQhmDL9nTu9a4Jw6zAw553hfUca-59TXwNqu1mfdbut3Xnzq6Swh-Qr7kmBm4eK1dEy-tfgt6yxM_PIEA1mtfm34/w480-h640/20240308_150543.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaf3DkvlUiO2ilB5hu3DXyK34TnSvlc-bA-7ZWN5GWX26YPsKBdHJZMmRx7WhZdKFVFGxh3Mi-dVQW4am5bDm5wJqYNu4PSXTheHuNfDWyl74IiwgSzzaSyQNhVLv7qcYNjUjK3WMyveP3KmlCszUMd2hcfgpE9CNc8fwWHMRvJJPxmOPKtk7lRQ8/s4000/20240308_150623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaf3DkvlUiO2ilB5hu3DXyK34TnSvlc-bA-7ZWN5GWX26YPsKBdHJZMmRx7WhZdKFVFGxh3Mi-dVQW4am5bDm5wJqYNu4PSXTheHuNfDWyl74IiwgSzzaSyQNhVLv7qcYNjUjK3WMyveP3KmlCszUMd2hcfgpE9CNc8fwWHMRvJJPxmOPKtk7lRQ8/w400-h300/20240308_150623.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitupMMxV6IV_mh3OUZUYF_KGMztvnPjVZbkn5_uJ8a2QzOI6I7GkT7U9aNbpMuhlMe8wQZnZzfRH5iSzKn14IlDlj55oXEJ-nZdAiLpivzHmZGX3soOlcKQeVrW3B9n-yXt54eT86KNmp1lR0MIM3JrdH_NWbyyqQjsY4_fG_l6gml9pklZX5eILDC/s4032/20240308_150705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitupMMxV6IV_mh3OUZUYF_KGMztvnPjVZbkn5_uJ8a2QzOI6I7GkT7U9aNbpMuhlMe8wQZnZzfRH5iSzKn14IlDlj55oXEJ-nZdAiLpivzHmZGX3soOlcKQeVrW3B9n-yXt54eT86KNmp1lR0MIM3JrdH_NWbyyqQjsY4_fG_l6gml9pklZX5eILDC/w480-h640/20240308_150705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I hopped over nature's skipping rope, basing another area where the green didn't quote glow as brightly, other than two bird's nest ferns.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCc6Di-FMesiAeyCKMJXa1VrzK43wJD0Aa02F4F7eQSuJov7B9ahwndKFP9DKl9p62_XnC-4K29GIYS-gILaFKV9nN2msPM5v6qYuMruKxyx1yX7bnfvK9hnl1u114anbg7B1O2afNxsWS9ftRynMcBWUBMUCmITYwpVcZkABvg0Cy4itkCxrh_Sx/s4032/20240308_150745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCc6Di-FMesiAeyCKMJXa1VrzK43wJD0Aa02F4F7eQSuJov7B9ahwndKFP9DKl9p62_XnC-4K29GIYS-gILaFKV9nN2msPM5v6qYuMruKxyx1yX7bnfvK9hnl1u114anbg7B1O2afNxsWS9ftRynMcBWUBMUCmITYwpVcZkABvg0Cy4itkCxrh_Sx/w480-h640/20240308_150745.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Coming around the corner, the scenery in front was once more in the right area, and the sun shone through the leaves, overwhelming my eyes with the sensation of green.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaOwXohquYbJwzxTMRm7JxEMPXulabgidDQODR6DDmr0hHIAA29roKFkpSlwad2kXK-cGDw66f1BoHZEGDibjwq-tPEaU3fhLmCIsAZGPV2VHGR_MgDyGvOj53UdioUTF5mTJs5rWIHchYv14EPpt_AQouPmmRyojAmWjmuRhg2PswCJnVjEl4UP3/s4032/20240308_150836.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaOwXohquYbJwzxTMRm7JxEMPXulabgidDQODR6DDmr0hHIAA29roKFkpSlwad2kXK-cGDw66f1BoHZEGDibjwq-tPEaU3fhLmCIsAZGPV2VHGR_MgDyGvOj53UdioUTF5mTJs5rWIHchYv14EPpt_AQouPmmRyojAmWjmuRhg2PswCJnVjEl4UP3/w480-h640/20240308_150836.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>(Also, I note here, I refuse to touch up photos. I don't edit them. I feel that it is cheating even if sometimes a photo doesn't do justice to what I will see with my own eyes).</p><p>I saw a pole-sign and as I approached it, it pointed in each direction, saying 900m to the Banksia Picnic area both ways. There was also a trail leading up from the signpost, back uphill and heading the direction I had come from. While also stating that the area ahead of me was Strickland Falls.<br /><br />I noticed the area was not easy at all to access and had to cross a pretty sketchy section of either fallen, or cut down trees to make my way across.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ5_gQ1Ll9suo1wsukcOL2TsIRRFvHqf7H03NZHgXtGsVj-BnC0aHGYqYc2ylV9QMKg2NurpXKKb1o0qeDxa0jtZtq2_1qJ_lTAo-0IrZ6chR9lGSiUQyxU0VyB0R7YC6QIdRwS4MkS2caqO8JiHESUqOdu06h308NbQIcf0dfI7TR5uyOftsf43N/s4000/20240308_151047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ5_gQ1Ll9suo1wsukcOL2TsIRRFvHqf7H03NZHgXtGsVj-BnC0aHGYqYc2ylV9QMKg2NurpXKKb1o0qeDxa0jtZtq2_1qJ_lTAo-0IrZ6chR9lGSiUQyxU0VyB0R7YC6QIdRwS4MkS2caqO8JiHESUqOdu06h308NbQIcf0dfI7TR5uyOftsf43N/w480-h640/20240308_151047.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>About halfway, I stopped to get a clearer picture of the 'falls' which at my time of visiting them, weren't really flowing, and really just looked like the damp edge of a cliff face, slowly dripping throw moss that the down the side of it like wet dripping hair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74r9lVCKhhgnNebpk_A1DE-7hTGOFVCNtYheYustyFnCcy0FvyHB2cT27A7DY_rHELOL4ogekXjrEQQEXZ23Zd7bff8JKn0UANnR6v2Iss04ChG8hvCg3JCIjPGZGFwQD5S1LIpYRonbo__wO_EgMa0HW4rcHYzFMf7UF47SAYx8HEqAdd-8Krs-J/s4000/20240308_151059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74r9lVCKhhgnNebpk_A1DE-7hTGOFVCNtYheYustyFnCcy0FvyHB2cT27A7DY_rHELOL4ogekXjrEQQEXZ23Zd7bff8JKn0UANnR6v2Iss04ChG8hvCg3JCIjPGZGFwQD5S1LIpYRonbo__wO_EgMa0HW4rcHYzFMf7UF47SAYx8HEqAdd-8Krs-J/w400-h300/20240308_151059.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As I climbed over the wet boulders my feet would slip and slide like I was walking on ice. I looked down to notice it was covered in that dark moss/algae (not sure what is actually is), making the process of getting underneath very slow going.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHfWoqWyrltvqLonaIpq-wpXz8Meg5_1mvb5Jy_uYowi5Pa5URwTqM7c6A30KIzhLvblLgve0Sby9bKDPNVHhuMg5wYUgcq35qWNrqXy2Uy3Z7_fbDbc2n3gMIS1qi3Fo8-gOc6Auce1ma018R2Lale8fFggaAhmhlb3wGSvV6yXj6xHMd86mii_o/s2944/20240308_151323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHfWoqWyrltvqLonaIpq-wpXz8Meg5_1mvb5Jy_uYowi5Pa5URwTqM7c6A30KIzhLvblLgve0Sby9bKDPNVHhuMg5wYUgcq35qWNrqXy2Uy3Z7_fbDbc2n3gMIS1qi3Fo8-gOc6Auce1ma018R2Lale8fFggaAhmhlb3wGSvV6yXj6xHMd86mii_o/w480-h640/20240308_151323.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I wondered if the trail maybe continued this way, as I saw what looked like a trail continuing on. However, very shortly I realised that this was not the case, and so had to make my way back across the base of the falls, to reach the path where I noticed someone had attempted to paint a strawberry (maybe?), on the back of a large rock.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSbgiz76CRO8D45TracY7jUYloivQhBXqoOlT9IDdBMaNLtwmoNigFUwinaQHF92zRzJ6t83jWcb60hK7WGE1Kh2IrvPdB_wYvmnBBjvl6673ALOwQXWqLbSWlFr3hrhO-cybNGnnNty6frtbKvV5jz0ECFFJYM1oLgV0oEUMRjpTzAlqA4RNsuFo/s4032/20240308_151623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSbgiz76CRO8D45TracY7jUYloivQhBXqoOlT9IDdBMaNLtwmoNigFUwinaQHF92zRzJ6t83jWcb60hK7WGE1Kh2IrvPdB_wYvmnBBjvl6673ALOwQXWqLbSWlFr3hrhO-cybNGnnNty6frtbKvV5jz0ECFFJYM1oLgV0oEUMRjpTzAlqA4RNsuFo/w480-h640/20240308_151623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br />I soon realised that returning to the trail was even harder as the direction I was going, all the slippery rocks, were facing down with plenty of large drops underneath where it would be very easy to fall and hurt myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5rIhsaExGN32-Ay0sNExUNcSLaZCeo3OBYVl0uFa_QT4cq8UGrDuJL3dq5VVA2TuRCzj5ZrQvJ-VBG5GjfA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Once I reached the path again, I stopped for a little rest, noticing a baby dragon (either water or bearded), resting in the sun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiqDrVPFuEXlgrNIsT3KY0k0LeniqszNyPSCXBcfOCgkquTIjkanjXP763Z8-unxJBe0VlgXvHVIsj9GSAiIeHLBAWkllj-j823QD5-MEWTg6ieDFNpjo4UBuaz6Bcs1S7xvIobUOFaf0vOvs-hmkiSiGevqsz_DSe3XM_z4qc0Zc3DuOpiPnF916/s4032/20240308_151911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiqDrVPFuEXlgrNIsT3KY0k0LeniqszNyPSCXBcfOCgkquTIjkanjXP763Z8-unxJBe0VlgXvHVIsj9GSAiIeHLBAWkllj-j823QD5-MEWTg6ieDFNpjo4UBuaz6Bcs1S7xvIobUOFaf0vOvs-hmkiSiGevqsz_DSe3XM_z4qc0Zc3DuOpiPnF916/w480-h640/20240308_151911.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I started up the trail, coming towards a boulder jutting out of the hillside, in my head calling it 'Pride Rock' as it looked like Pride Rock from 'The Lion King'. I walked up on top of it, thinking to myself that I hoped it wouldn't collapse underneath me, and took a photo, looking out over the forest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQhBgMxG0uvpYlfsUOtVRK6NRWKsVjaYjV3sDR4FxEfioFN4H6lR6fVP0rxKDQ1p_40_l2WkwidWPbW5kfPFzMFRvufrztKgkNFHfHLWs2Rp-jKt16LwY47umLk8WWvjnH59SlnfRPi85-z5XR-bTHOg_Vp6HCLn4McBeDSSlQQC9J9w_pCl3YU1l/s4032/20240308_151946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQhBgMxG0uvpYlfsUOtVRK6NRWKsVjaYjV3sDR4FxEfioFN4H6lR6fVP0rxKDQ1p_40_l2WkwidWPbW5kfPFzMFRvufrztKgkNFHfHLWs2Rp-jKt16LwY47umLk8WWvjnH59SlnfRPi85-z5XR-bTHOg_Vp6HCLn4McBeDSSlQQC9J9w_pCl3YU1l/w480-h640/20240308_151946.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYvd0HMgyoA40IfQyRCbO7eBjG_YaTLY0ezdnY4EBTMEDqSQeIh0ReipVSHizJPMPNy7FBZhlniPqIBYSDqHpCVV2ptQ-mhKLfpZWsGUVw5Cf2K_URmcetgFYO2FAGk5YbaT4hhGUc0yJoHa-UQCa-zmJCvkDALRHoKNX1tQ7QsB5SPl8IeRq2Qk/s4032/20240308_152031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTYvd0HMgyoA40IfQyRCbO7eBjG_YaTLY0ezdnY4EBTMEDqSQeIh0ReipVSHizJPMPNy7FBZhlniPqIBYSDqHpCVV2ptQ-mhKLfpZWsGUVw5Cf2K_URmcetgFYO2FAGk5YbaT4hhGUc0yJoHa-UQCa-zmJCvkDALRHoKNX1tQ7QsB5SPl8IeRq2Qk/w400-h300/20240308_152031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The path continued past a small rock overhang, and up some stone stairs, leading to a section of flat dirt trail that continued on for a while through ferns and different species of banksia, that was a nice calming walk.</p><p>I stopped at one point just to look at nature's art, and the patterns of the squiggles on a scribbly gum tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI0OzDBibLHrRNRk9ECPr0C35vozbHjdBjJjwX1pei7G452IA3lz_Q9xhwtU4-aFilHdqGr5r_zSoHeQSGMAO2OaKdh3Af253Lp7PiEpcyX31V0wFTc6RrO48MLCvHPtO1TvytEk17_J7I3oOqcCPkzweNi8hdliGQ9VlkNoCHmdoZny09CjHsxjb/s4032/20240308_152451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjI0OzDBibLHrRNRk9ECPr0C35vozbHjdBjJjwX1pei7G452IA3lz_Q9xhwtU4-aFilHdqGr5r_zSoHeQSGMAO2OaKdh3Af253Lp7PiEpcyX31V0wFTc6RrO48MLCvHPtO1TvytEk17_J7I3oOqcCPkzweNi8hdliGQ9VlkNoCHmdoZny09CjHsxjb/w480-h640/20240308_152451.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarJRNW0fFf_fFOg6w8fz2mlEzkzvLHzoqaF_GFYjxhff8GsgIftcpyjR_ScfXFejfjmQ42Ox2OewmkMWVRcYjI_PHfMSVtTgXYxmyPsDzgdn_hK2Ml3O92L3yo-cEmYLFpkoK39xue2sp7i5W1uNJFurbaf4ZwUkwyCrhka0aGH-oDtbK5KTN7UDy/s4000/20240308_152535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarJRNW0fFf_fFOg6w8fz2mlEzkzvLHzoqaF_GFYjxhff8GsgIftcpyjR_ScfXFejfjmQ42Ox2OewmkMWVRcYjI_PHfMSVtTgXYxmyPsDzgdn_hK2Ml3O92L3yo-cEmYLFpkoK39xue2sp7i5W1uNJFurbaf4ZwUkwyCrhka0aGH-oDtbK5KTN7UDy/w480-h640/20240308_152535.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Continuing on, enjoying the beautiful bush scenery, I stopped to look up at a beautiful '<i>Angophora costata</i>' or 'Sydney Red Gum', with its tangle of branches contrasting against the clear blue sky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnwBMMkq9Ad4XGEe0rc3QJN-M8pMnYWCHeOuQkkK7BQSUr_ZMkng_dE6RJ4t7_GyU5dXRF92jHcMYRGiJHNjUYJCl5II64xoaO2jlziGbWX1EXMJeIbjX6h70kvQyfUNsktJwuSNfhz8gvr7eryHYdsHi2naskqsVpkjZvQZ2Npr1vCKXnSiUpnOI/s4032/20240308_152750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnwBMMkq9Ad4XGEe0rc3QJN-M8pMnYWCHeOuQkkK7BQSUr_ZMkng_dE6RJ4t7_GyU5dXRF92jHcMYRGiJHNjUYJCl5II64xoaO2jlziGbWX1EXMJeIbjX6h70kvQyfUNsktJwuSNfhz8gvr7eryHYdsHi2naskqsVpkjZvQZ2Npr1vCKXnSiUpnOI/w480-h640/20240308_152750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I rounded a large boulder, coming around it where you could look at its beehive-esque insides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAqehya9TR0gZtlTskQAOzJdDRR0y0o56Ed1llto6BYUb0_VHjGlUBd7uwsJ7vyfikRi0Jh0AWI2Hr4An6WRjFA-CQYD60nvW16vQ7j6Vo0jnwFZMUy92BRTd_Ebjn7a3bLSasxxb3qviRKoUThzPA7ms_KvSsAppJ4WVfoYpMV5dDLYsjVr0JyoT/s4032/20240308_152837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAqehya9TR0gZtlTskQAOzJdDRR0y0o56Ed1llto6BYUb0_VHjGlUBd7uwsJ7vyfikRi0Jh0AWI2Hr4An6WRjFA-CQYD60nvW16vQ7j6Vo0jnwFZMUy92BRTd_Ebjn7a3bLSasxxb3qviRKoUThzPA7ms_KvSsAppJ4WVfoYpMV5dDLYsjVr0JyoT/w480-h640/20240308_152837.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I could see that I had almost reached the top of the gully now, knowing it was only a matter of time until I finished the walk, as I was prepping to reach the ending I was once more startled by a violent shaking of some nearby bushes. My eyes automatically focused on them, and I felt my heart race as I thought I saw a snake, however it was yet another Land Mullet just hanging out amongst the lomandra (mat rushes) and ferns.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavzZw-QGEyqLKKz2XPML6DPkuJZBUrt-h5HC2_rcvUtIi98OvM9qgZnFX4SdgY76E9wsqgr2GEKL_OgAhAycMOArBu1Fm8Ahlxo3tkj2uaJRe20a4Q14hICJETTwnWEakgzBPL_xbm2sF1_8V3HWPi51AbTAN3-NVJSdd-Ip6zgG3EvE1hRw9O0wf/s4032/20240308_153609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavzZw-QGEyqLKKz2XPML6DPkuJZBUrt-h5HC2_rcvUtIi98OvM9qgZnFX4SdgY76E9wsqgr2GEKL_OgAhAycMOArBu1Fm8Ahlxo3tkj2uaJRe20a4Q14hICJETTwnWEakgzBPL_xbm2sF1_8V3HWPi51AbTAN3-NVJSdd-Ip6zgG3EvE1hRw9O0wf/w480-h640/20240308_153609.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Just after this the trail exited slightly up the road from where I had parked, and I walked down the road towards to my car, finishing my three-quarter full bottle of water (and wishing I'd had the forethought to have filled both my bottles before beginning walking). I passed one lone man sitting in his car a bit up the road and my mind turned instantly suspicious of him wondering if he was out here for something suspect (having worked in remote areas doing bush regeneration work, we had people coming to these areas to partake in the act of 'Dogging' which you can look up yourself if you want).</p><p>As I reached the actual carpark there where two vans pulled up, one had put up a line with clothes on it. I could smell the smoke before I saw it so I knew they had a campfire going. <br />As I passed the van two young men, looked at me, I think with a little shock not expecting to see anyone (and maybe in fear of getting in trouble?), I simply nodded a greeting (noticing they had a large pot over the fire), continuing back to the start of the trail to now begin the Cabbage Tree track.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Part 3 - Cabbage Tree Track</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW5km2lnkMR-rwNv4lspkGm92UkKz6mEaRql6Cvw9eI1bjoIaRxaDKE8ZiS5rtV3H-izuSfHL8YQ8rKB_DFXNyayqDY3YTNMUkL6lZ0RZjnQqkKW0PWOfvdNzP0nu-IAiXfKebNUp1HalmvQPyOtiggN5tYhY0hJLS8nFgU6mrBYWOAHWBE_Z466Q/s4032/20240308_154136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghW5km2lnkMR-rwNv4lspkGm92UkKz6mEaRql6Cvw9eI1bjoIaRxaDKE8ZiS5rtV3H-izuSfHL8YQ8rKB_DFXNyayqDY3YTNMUkL6lZ0RZjnQqkKW0PWOfvdNzP0nu-IAiXfKebNUp1HalmvQPyOtiggN5tYhY0hJLS8nFgU6mrBYWOAHWBE_Z466Q/w480-h640/20240308_154136.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Although I was roughly in the same location, the sort of plants growing down this trail were different than the Strickland Falls tail that instantly headed down into the gully, I noticed casurina's (which species I didn't have the knowledge to identify).</p><p>As I continued the slightly downward walk, I passed some large cabbage tree palms, and there was a slope heading down into another gully to the left of me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho34PcN4KM-MuIM00izTv8hDjRkmtKYc-DZeiUxQ7GMTaMMWXWLCP3LzJRI6qja9n90AWPfe_uxevY2M2kN0FmrtA4UaUE8Yeo4PNW8NQuZeRbPcya_9QRu8g2W7_9oIyC0Yx0wD5ufzrHsityCE2EC1qqFHn152-9teGW92aT7yNDyvSS0j7DZ9Rj/s4032/20240308_154344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho34PcN4KM-MuIM00izTv8hDjRkmtKYc-DZeiUxQ7GMTaMMWXWLCP3LzJRI6qja9n90AWPfe_uxevY2M2kN0FmrtA4UaUE8Yeo4PNW8NQuZeRbPcya_9QRu8g2W7_9oIyC0Yx0wD5ufzrHsityCE2EC1qqFHn152-9teGW92aT7yNDyvSS0j7DZ9Rj/w480-h640/20240308_154344.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Every time I walked past a plant I would see if I could remember the identity of them, playing a game to see how much I could remember, I passed some 'Orange Thorn', a small shrub with spikes and an orange/yellow berry that grew on them. I called it orange thorn in my head, (not remembering it's scientific name at the time), but even questioned if it was called orange thorn (it is), verifying this with Google while writing this post.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJinoTEk11gK5jJlR5wOU14cARvuNxSLRA0DeCqZVoMfETEwHNUjh4hPI2ChFXxvPK2Sa7eH6vSyU-4VrhpcbEXWhCGDSOfXj1ofF9gdGpY_3-XQZAsW41dcyIBzLGNmkv7CeXbbNbQ82sqVpInDV2ooJS6A4orzrBEp5oXdRQde_4PteKJT2ZrvI7/s4032/20240308_154622.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJinoTEk11gK5jJlR5wOU14cARvuNxSLRA0DeCqZVoMfETEwHNUjh4hPI2ChFXxvPK2Sa7eH6vSyU-4VrhpcbEXWhCGDSOfXj1ofF9gdGpY_3-XQZAsW41dcyIBzLGNmkv7CeXbbNbQ82sqVpInDV2ooJS6A4orzrBEp5oXdRQde_4PteKJT2ZrvI7/w480-h640/20240308_154622.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'<i>Pittosporum multiflorum</i>' or 'Orange Thorn'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A cool and gentle breeze was lightly blowing, and I was happy that it wasn't as scorching a day given my intense dehydration and severe leg cramps the day prior. I passed a tree stump, and the fantasy nerd in me couldn't help but think how lovely it would be to sit there in gentle autumn wind and play an Ocarina or a <a href="https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Flute_Boy" target="_blank">Flute</a>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiAn296wXvKHzJw1sZbpVCE5mXh9NFHe-R-Eii2KuhrR5Xy66w_TUwG4bVb8i8wndSjT5q5mo1IQMKony9_TOLOARXVpPxwlEkOZPEVAcPhKtzEWvXYfDfdfGq73KnZtHcnxaNp4iKuS2ekmO9lXz1tTqDGPiVWMgL3JBbIMoinadaNhEjnjPUGJA/s4032/20240308_154905.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiAn296wXvKHzJw1sZbpVCE5mXh9NFHe-R-Eii2KuhrR5Xy66w_TUwG4bVb8i8wndSjT5q5mo1IQMKony9_TOLOARXVpPxwlEkOZPEVAcPhKtzEWvXYfDfdfGq73KnZtHcnxaNp4iKuS2ekmO9lXz1tTqDGPiVWMgL3JBbIMoinadaNhEjnjPUGJA/w480-h640/20240308_154905.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what Zelda fans read hiking blogs but, <a href="https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Haunted_Grove" target="_blank">Haunted Grove</a> anyone?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_DLYOzYpaVeXWt5HY_KXpTdhiH0k_kHJxpw68TYfo8jBh1wWUF5IcHjJkQRDVVKwHes_7A2TFGdqF8XAxGGIsZumOLcpa7uhxZ8Lw7ghnt-4HkAiWfiRr4iUNyxXqnZeRTJ1muvrFTIeoL0ihkLTX7lGvws2Op4Ve2EuURoEzWa99cZyPpmmQ7AG/s4032/20240308_155116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_DLYOzYpaVeXWt5HY_KXpTdhiH0k_kHJxpw68TYfo8jBh1wWUF5IcHjJkQRDVVKwHes_7A2TFGdqF8XAxGGIsZumOLcpa7uhxZ8Lw7ghnt-4HkAiWfiRr4iUNyxXqnZeRTJ1muvrFTIeoL0ihkLTX7lGvws2Op4Ve2EuURoEzWa99cZyPpmmQ7AG/w480-h640/20240308_155116.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU6TcxmdTLdBOoeMcdsgG-kVOpXfFGWgQOpxjyPRWbo6eC380d8NqPeVGqDN1EieirJ5wilVKKWSTMm1BYqsQij9ZNeK7X9Ks9iEKptfrJCVPgFm07shTsVHXjpx9p-Ooe916w1IVKc-yq-j-xsSxx_Z-t0bQ8xsEi6FTUIb3iMcjHMtzIW02xgcx/s4032/20240308_155221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU6TcxmdTLdBOoeMcdsgG-kVOpXfFGWgQOpxjyPRWbo6eC380d8NqPeVGqDN1EieirJ5wilVKKWSTMm1BYqsQij9ZNeK7X9Ks9iEKptfrJCVPgFm07shTsVHXjpx9p-Ooe916w1IVKc-yq-j-xsSxx_Z-t0bQ8xsEi6FTUIb3iMcjHMtzIW02xgcx/w480-h640/20240308_155221.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyixF_pxqR58hYjksD0U88vsNr3VcMUKdYQbIAZehc8uiZ97BW6YiN3eQY6pjcWwXTk2YSEXP3MjnyWMjbtft2ZxwVPDfvSbBYFxPMpH8bjehX8oyFzwH3oaf_JbB8ijjVkMri_eoJDvSsQixo_gu6JdaxXQKO5bB99OGkq5BmOlcnVF1EndkTRZy/s4032/20240308_155252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyixF_pxqR58hYjksD0U88vsNr3VcMUKdYQbIAZehc8uiZ97BW6YiN3eQY6pjcWwXTk2YSEXP3MjnyWMjbtft2ZxwVPDfvSbBYFxPMpH8bjehX8oyFzwH3oaf_JbB8ijjVkMri_eoJDvSsQixo_gu6JdaxXQKO5bB99OGkq5BmOlcnVF1EndkTRZy/w480-h640/20240308_155252.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAvtDkoKgqNPrgDeh4Gpu0vtpuCXW6Zg3BBQDlbdfpPB-qnCF5ykHTaI07yF5A_35NfJbv00YdboZE9Q8uvreAflgJlt31DtSxrFU4SVm827C9N-cFH29UkGX5m02F8YjC32-OIppbaN2tdPthcN4IKXJV_iD0fl46LHSV5ZGAt8O5N3sGzhYPsAN/s4032/20240308_155338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAvtDkoKgqNPrgDeh4Gpu0vtpuCXW6Zg3BBQDlbdfpPB-qnCF5ykHTaI07yF5A_35NfJbv00YdboZE9Q8uvreAflgJlt31DtSxrFU4SVm827C9N-cFH29UkGX5m02F8YjC32-OIppbaN2tdPthcN4IKXJV_iD0fl46LHSV5ZGAt8O5N3sGzhYPsAN/w480-h640/20240308_155338.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I was finding this walk very therapeutic, and compared to the previous day where I wasn't able to shut down my brain from thoughts, I walked with my mind silent, feeling a great calm and pleasantness and one of the biggest times in my life on a walk I've felt like I was '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_therapy" target="_blank">forest bathing</a>.'</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf09UBQ87KjzXn-436bdSSsBaidTw1QM4di2tmWWc0RQJAfcFhqbZq8j_I8lXnV3K9Gr_8q-v7pbp-GrppW8npeoVApcgiTQ3mkfk7e2dEhPwcBqLnIDesm4CE-IBlqkoqCKiDoCutvVYaLWTYiuAbBmRm9nIrCSdhKBl05gkUzqb0c6P-0Ty2XK2c/s2944/20240308_155345.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf09UBQ87KjzXn-436bdSSsBaidTw1QM4di2tmWWc0RQJAfcFhqbZq8j_I8lXnV3K9Gr_8q-v7pbp-GrppW8npeoVApcgiTQ3mkfk7e2dEhPwcBqLnIDesm4CE-IBlqkoqCKiDoCutvVYaLWTYiuAbBmRm9nIrCSdhKBl05gkUzqb0c6P-0Ty2XK2c/w480-h640/20240308_155345.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe I'll just live under this rock, away from people</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6Qa9b7sj4-G0uN2mtAU1jB4CItjAg62JNjpnqtaKhKETbl-CWVtsgYIVZt_l4qHofHnzXqjU7NkYUFwOrtXlL-bvA7aOH6bx2hxgNSXNoznycrppjblOI0MtKE7_bNv9tAoMmGe24l-88vuPtDTeyk-qScV3QjRtDjiW07svIlxzMv-gRbz-Ezfw/s4032/20240308_155434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6Qa9b7sj4-G0uN2mtAU1jB4CItjAg62JNjpnqtaKhKETbl-CWVtsgYIVZt_l4qHofHnzXqjU7NkYUFwOrtXlL-bvA7aOH6bx2hxgNSXNoznycrppjblOI0MtKE7_bNv9tAoMmGe24l-88vuPtDTeyk-qScV3QjRtDjiW07svIlxzMv-gRbz-Ezfw/w480-h640/20240308_155434.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I was too relaxed on this walk, that I was shocked back into reality when I was a big lizard on the track ahead. I thought it was another Land Mullet, and I went to get my camera out to record it, but he ran away too fast for me to catch him. As I slid my phone back into my pocket, I thought to myself, 'that was far too big for a land mullet' and realised what I had seen, and missed getting any footage of, was a Goanna, running off the path into the bush.</div><div>Shortly after the location where I had seen the Goanna, I came to a split in the track. I could continue on straight, and complete the Cabbage Tree track, or I could turn off left, along the Stoney Creek track, which apparently had the Stoney Creek carpark in 1.1km. I went to just complete the cabbage tree walk, not overdoing (as I had no water left), but then I had that part of me saying I might not be back here, and I'm here now so I might as well do it. <br />'It's only and extra 2.2km' I told myself. 'Really that's not that far.'.<br />I stood at the crossroad, eventually my desire to explore getting the better of me, and I began down the Stoney Creek Track.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_A0cLIwgtpXLNVBDlAP3nX5VEs9DRa2l0hTYXCq8hGz9_oaEhPRlhaHI_-7pDkQyVuWVhCzUOMh9fD5Nv9NiQNpK3hDvN6Q4Igd2PjmKG-Jc9QLR2jZtr_9qLnKW4Hej4xB3QS6xqhvzK6hxFwVZmDMPiWDhHfo5c1x-dPXbXOB6exVotuxvswmc/s4032/20240308_160030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_A0cLIwgtpXLNVBDlAP3nX5VEs9DRa2l0hTYXCq8hGz9_oaEhPRlhaHI_-7pDkQyVuWVhCzUOMh9fD5Nv9NiQNpK3hDvN6Q4Igd2PjmKG-Jc9QLR2jZtr_9qLnKW4Hej4xB3QS6xqhvzK6hxFwVZmDMPiWDhHfo5c1x-dPXbXOB6exVotuxvswmc/w480-h640/20240308_160030.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Part 4 - Stoney Creek Track</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>The moment I began down the trail, I instantly felt thirsty, like my brain was making me feel bad for setting off down another trail without adequate preparation. <br />I shrugged it off. 'I'll get a myself an electrolyte drink from a servo before my drive home', I told myself, fearing a repeat of the intense leg cramps, especially while driving.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZUy9jCVDcWBiG1ddvVuTVoHalClJyvpQWZ8rJPuAnzmBznhJ1F1LcEutk_-Xl2cHNGfvykw7Pa4EFkhC0uq6Mos7227KxCpe3wJaZR0eU8-CIrz3O8bNZAOCIJpjW8tuHM6L4pwBUqqozCWZUap8G_TcUsOgEITcGpf6ENqe-V5Mm93F3-euCcKP/s4032/20240308_160230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZUy9jCVDcWBiG1ddvVuTVoHalClJyvpQWZ8rJPuAnzmBznhJ1F1LcEutk_-Xl2cHNGfvykw7Pa4EFkhC0uq6Mos7227KxCpe3wJaZR0eU8-CIrz3O8bNZAOCIJpjW8tuHM6L4pwBUqqozCWZUap8G_TcUsOgEITcGpf6ENqe-V5Mm93F3-euCcKP/w480-h640/20240308_160230.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I had not long begun down the trail, when I was startled by a spider laying in the middle of the track in front of me, laying upside down on it its back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGl7TVM-kNU-7SqrEqhw3S2Yua34oaJUqaPWFGb_Sn2zbXkj3rJ4ClmDVda87m9P24QaEK7QXupUZsMBf0S6s4Afa-zeCtMqduF3OQfD_pOGvt8Hd9o-7ys-xEQR_Jn5-fhwfa2bmTfBgY12pG8R2HIX2GVDQQ1GRgfoocQTD9fubENPQmaxm4H4r/s4032/20240308_160328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGl7TVM-kNU-7SqrEqhw3S2Yua34oaJUqaPWFGb_Sn2zbXkj3rJ4ClmDVda87m9P24QaEK7QXupUZsMBf0S6s4Afa-zeCtMqduF3OQfD_pOGvt8Hd9o-7ys-xEQR_Jn5-fhwfa2bmTfBgY12pG8R2HIX2GVDQQ1GRgfoocQTD9fubENPQmaxm4H4r/w480-h640/20240308_160328.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I thought that it sort of looked like a Tarantula, though much smaller. I found a little stick nearby, flipping it the right way up, verifying that it was dead. I snapped a photo of it right-side-up and continued down the path for about a minute, before looking at the photo I had taken of the spider on my phone and realising it was blurry.</div><div><br /></div><div>I quickly walked back to the spider, trying my best to get a photo with my camera, unsure if the blurriness came from my phone being in my pocket, causing to get sweat over the lens, or if it was just the fact that I now require reading glasses.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAanh6e4ikcisfImDUMweBZTQX2MgCsZjfky_lvZPm4M_H9FAPj5MJOeZ8hanhZhc9v9ckm7GgQE9W1dBh6LtJCNiE7qWMTe5NiZ6jJSFlC_9UjCG_QxFeID2UXU9m_XrQBGsht5_guZudITd7oHMRgoShVV-v5P6ylhxaIfsaDMxAvz-LDc7hptcu/s4032/20240308_160447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAanh6e4ikcisfImDUMweBZTQX2MgCsZjfky_lvZPm4M_H9FAPj5MJOeZ8hanhZhc9v9ckm7GgQE9W1dBh6LtJCNiE7qWMTe5NiZ6jJSFlC_9UjCG_QxFeID2UXU9m_XrQBGsht5_guZudITd7oHMRgoShVV-v5P6ylhxaIfsaDMxAvz-LDc7hptcu/w480-h640/20240308_160447.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvqql0mnZ_KW34IWKxq77RuVA5nHpLqoYJX_fadNdPIeQXLRsQBVV0Nm-UyIDY-ci7zON7kSthVap7va8h_zk60sdMT_18Gj9jLu60Rm6fkBmNgzsK8gH3sjzekKpdc3G7gR-srev1w_2eAnc1b2YquU9KXbRs_nN__tBLOenNKYHNj_m91oS2l-3/s4032/20240308_160512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvqql0mnZ_KW34IWKxq77RuVA5nHpLqoYJX_fadNdPIeQXLRsQBVV0Nm-UyIDY-ci7zON7kSthVap7va8h_zk60sdMT_18Gj9jLu60Rm6fkBmNgzsK8gH3sjzekKpdc3G7gR-srev1w_2eAnc1b2YquU9KXbRs_nN__tBLOenNKYHNj_m91oS2l-3/w480-h640/20240308_160512.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>("You encountered a funnel-web!?" My Wife asked me, horrified, later that night.<br />"Oh, is that what it was?" I answered, nonchalantly. <br />She just starred at me in disbelief.<br />"Don't worry it was dead." I reassured her, watching her instantly relax.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQQvm6sITZA_JOOS_1uX1aKlhKT8638tk4Ep98xY3zQ1qvNOgB7j0D6cSds1W1SrJWDr0bAi2EBR-gE-QuJ-RIuu-9KTl2xUAAH3zsb0E27XCkEwWrV0Q1hADd-8x-tzpbmdWrDRmQZz6piMNyYOCCz6nfn1i7OHGvCDwmeMIi5EVtjSh_b02005e/s4032/20240308_160618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQQvm6sITZA_JOOS_1uX1aKlhKT8638tk4Ep98xY3zQ1qvNOgB7j0D6cSds1W1SrJWDr0bAi2EBR-gE-QuJ-RIuu-9KTl2xUAAH3zsb0E27XCkEwWrV0Q1hADd-8x-tzpbmdWrDRmQZz6piMNyYOCCz6nfn1i7OHGvCDwmeMIi5EVtjSh_b02005e/w480-h640/20240308_160618.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The trail continued down further into the gully, winding along. The further down I went the less airflow there was, and so the hotter and more humid it felt and the more I began to sweat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRylDkgTeZXwHT93fF3WfdQFgqM0n7mGGwogSa0plACzcK6Qlt_OpUiPVPcn06-N0m-V1xzjZzF9WxR9BB7nQIOT_ua0UOzpjOATrfmM0ciMklODF_MK8AbB0RKEdU6D5HU2hZ93AuOkKpBl9islPqbnLoKooULRwad5ZHmTwCatS4BxWU9g4sYSp/s4032/20240308_160707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRylDkgTeZXwHT93fF3WfdQFgqM0n7mGGwogSa0plACzcK6Qlt_OpUiPVPcn06-N0m-V1xzjZzF9WxR9BB7nQIOT_ua0UOzpjOATrfmM0ciMklODF_MK8AbB0RKEdU6D5HU2hZ93AuOkKpBl9islPqbnLoKooULRwad5ZHmTwCatS4BxWU9g4sYSp/w480-h640/20240308_160707.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I continued along there was another large shaking in the bush ahead of me on my right, and I witnessed the large body quickly running through the underbrush. 'Another Goanna' I thought, taking my phone out to record a video along the side, but there was no movement as I passed, with it potentially staying still in order to hide.</div><div><br /></div><div>The trail bend around again, the uphill on my left and down into the gully now on my right. I approached some fallen trees over the path climbing over them to continue on.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENYocwkWj2PBPtPtHJfxVeb9Fx8n9woe7UmQoANf-f-AnMYbD3lj_e5z3B_04KSlSkfZKd13dXROQ0zsAFDDBD8yfc8fPnkdRHvdJprPMsUPpPNhdZkS5XluVIybdkloYp6tvD9yk72CwalcfuH5CRKZQLk5dJ2pMOAfShAp9hyphenhyphen8ycEKk2EUc3Ogc/s4032/20240308_160929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENYocwkWj2PBPtPtHJfxVeb9Fx8n9woe7UmQoANf-f-AnMYbD3lj_e5z3B_04KSlSkfZKd13dXROQ0zsAFDDBD8yfc8fPnkdRHvdJprPMsUPpPNhdZkS5XluVIybdkloYp6tvD9yk72CwalcfuH5CRKZQLk5dJ2pMOAfShAp9hyphenhyphen8ycEKk2EUc3Ogc/w480-h640/20240308_160929.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Suddenly I heard a noise. Not an animal noise, but the noise of a young girl laughing. It was faint, and I wasn't sure if I was genuinely hearing that, or a sound that sounded reminiscent of it.<br />Alone in the bush and hearing the sound of a young girl laughing, was strangely eerie. It made me think of the horror genre of 'folk-horror' and thought how a folk-horror movie in the Australian bush would make a unique film. I had come up with the idea of an actual folk-horror Australian film myself in a daydream once, so if you're an Australian filmmaker and want to make a folk-horror hit me up!</div><div><br /></div><div>I passed a small palm bush and had the instantaneous thought that it looked like a banana tree. (Although leaf wise it looked nothing like it, but my brain just made the connection as that palm stood out to me).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9KrVcdAILyMCwAW1siEv6fD5q5VrEb7cz8CHo0OA_uBcVHqVDmKLs5BMDhyphenhyphenRSlTl9fyxZHLisajbkzIPqqvC21JNJFfQINhLwuM9tk-ZxXhmVrpBwSbHk41wU7L6B3paeSSBsHIV5Sp08_c3niDAMqU8PZmG7kHpC_mf2GSGEu24GkC7YBob4mKm/s4000/20240308_161137.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9KrVcdAILyMCwAW1siEv6fD5q5VrEb7cz8CHo0OA_uBcVHqVDmKLs5BMDhyphenhyphenRSlTl9fyxZHLisajbkzIPqqvC21JNJFfQINhLwuM9tk-ZxXhmVrpBwSbHk41wU7L6B3paeSSBsHIV5Sp08_c3niDAMqU8PZmG7kHpC_mf2GSGEu24GkC7YBob4mKm/w480-h640/20240308_161137.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Not a banana tree'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvwomZYUBkIqkBH17CIiwI4hGi3LL-6Yx_o9d6zxnMl5OK7Nr8pPIYU51l83yPYE1ppMrr02BWSe5W7wGVMYarhhE3G5_RWI0JsDIHkdoBvzBKNESQLI7KnzK2G3eL8KK6MRioXxFzUd2k49YrsfVJeRi6jZUjE88P-qjLrXEwC4OCqBkWbxd3FJI/s4032/20240308_161449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvwomZYUBkIqkBH17CIiwI4hGi3LL-6Yx_o9d6zxnMl5OK7Nr8pPIYU51l83yPYE1ppMrr02BWSe5W7wGVMYarhhE3G5_RWI0JsDIHkdoBvzBKNESQLI7KnzK2G3eL8KK6MRioXxFzUd2k49YrsfVJeRi6jZUjE88P-qjLrXEwC4OCqBkWbxd3FJI/w480-h640/20240308_161449.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I passed this fallen tree that was used to line the side of the trail I could now see through the trees on my right, down to the gully floor, which I assumed was 'Stoney Creek', especially after a bit of rain, but at the time was mostly dry, with pockets of water still held within hole in the stone creek bed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyOif7HybhSQKT4ZwuL6o9n1K-7OKt93aMXYRw5F8IG1YdgKpnyKtUWFSemKQvG4l0rPv7CKDWalUlLASaFTqA0sD9DJohq0o9FswGp3Xx5BcR6UWOujrFpHOT0XIO9xlGTdh0TisTAr9HFRdNv3xUA1kSiDxdPVvjNNzP8USL9dIoQoxp8h72_pX/s4032/20240308_161511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyOif7HybhSQKT4ZwuL6o9n1K-7OKt93aMXYRw5F8IG1YdgKpnyKtUWFSemKQvG4l0rPv7CKDWalUlLASaFTqA0sD9DJohq0o9FswGp3Xx5BcR6UWOujrFpHOT0XIO9xlGTdh0TisTAr9HFRdNv3xUA1kSiDxdPVvjNNzP8USL9dIoQoxp8h72_pX/w400-h300/20240308_161511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>While I was walking, at a distance ahead of me I watched a Goanna, speed down the side of a tree, hearing it running along the ground until there was no sound by the time I arrived at the location.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon after that I also witnessed a Lyrebrid run across the path in front of me, heading up amongst the thicket so I was not able to get a picture of it either,</div><div><br /></div><div>After a short while I could hear the sound of two young boys talking.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Mum says if you need to go toilet, you need to go on the other side." I overheard one of the boys say. As I was now much closer to the creek floor, I could see the two of them, walking up along the side of the creek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMGo98rfDR8bkJlyi6nKZmkE8aCKA7aUw9xS-f9dvlR2E-5G9TWEIuffMQiNNLUvjTS7-_lEWpXYa3EM5DDIEis0t7vzr9azVKQSo_pnobPZnMP2T5cSEVG_XgNWm5mgD78heqYeT9h4H9sxQFnLLkBr48hZCKPLUuC4IU8qYts_AGhNz_N6fpAgg/s4032/20240308_161939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMGo98rfDR8bkJlyi6nKZmkE8aCKA7aUw9xS-f9dvlR2E-5G9TWEIuffMQiNNLUvjTS7-_lEWpXYa3EM5DDIEis0t7vzr9azVKQSo_pnobPZnMP2T5cSEVG_XgNWm5mgD78heqYeT9h4H9sxQFnLLkBr48hZCKPLUuC4IU8qYts_AGhNz_N6fpAgg/w480-h640/20240308_161939.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The area reminded me of <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/10/macquarie-pass-jump-rock-and-clover.html" target="_blank">Macquarie Pass, particular the walk to 'Jump Rock'</a>, which I would visit frequently with my Father as a child, and again through my teenage years. Making my way to the waterfall there both on the trail and along the creek a multitude of times over many years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I once more spotted a Lyrebird, this time I was ready, and got my camera out to film him as I approached. (Though as you'll see it was very quick to run away).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyjRLIWtzQ4N80-q7UDTCicgpO-FLpomICbxH1JvRBJk8reNPVK7AN1V4bT19CRpC6oBS3-8kuogbCZRQiNSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>I soon passed the mother of the two boys, who was walking along the creek with her young daughter (the culprit behind the eerie child's laughter).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSuy7C8kidlxFFmoeaMZ9wEVs-RioyK7O54o5eb57prihgUhEK1RvJEr6P5rysMnneotP76cHLGt36HqCmw_yPcpDJnJvt9ZFhyphenhyphen5S3ZOMblhFTPIae1szvspQ7vIosTfWJue6MKyuATSpxhfBXRvAkakc3ON7oSS219-JteMGI2Wk0yK35QJ4vCjs/s4032/20240308_162322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSuy7C8kidlxFFmoeaMZ9wEVs-RioyK7O54o5eb57prihgUhEK1RvJEr6P5rysMnneotP76cHLGt36HqCmw_yPcpDJnJvt9ZFhyphenhyphen5S3ZOMblhFTPIae1szvspQ7vIosTfWJue6MKyuATSpxhfBXRvAkakc3ON7oSS219-JteMGI2Wk0yK35QJ4vCjs/w400-h300/20240308_162322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I reached a crossing in the river, with a path on my left leading up to a carpark (the Stoney Creek carpark), with a sign pointing across the creek, informing me that the continuing trail was the 'Bellbird' walking trail.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH9YOlBsPk0P0TES6yErn_QWjaRqtJ0JaRArdJO1K1QSQvGjTTspap3Mafyxz2cwtEtvOK7izwwmlx5tgs3bbJhvrylybd65IUUCLJwyt_OR4MoCxHCLQ9itmCAO5-cMJ_EXRJVvsrGB8uZWokUYXyNq0xRWJ1OLQRUYgCNbw_PtHjnCS50RcmESE/s4032/20240308_162412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH9YOlBsPk0P0TES6yErn_QWjaRqtJ0JaRArdJO1K1QSQvGjTTspap3Mafyxz2cwtEtvOK7izwwmlx5tgs3bbJhvrylybd65IUUCLJwyt_OR4MoCxHCLQ9itmCAO5-cMJ_EXRJVvsrGB8uZWokUYXyNq0xRWJ1OLQRUYgCNbw_PtHjnCS50RcmESE/w400-h300/20240308_162412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I crossed the creek out of curiosity, to see what I could see down the track. On the other side was another smaller signpost, which instead told me it was the 'Arboretum Track' to 'Bellbird Track'.</div><div><br /></div><div>I crossed the creek again, to make my way up to the carpark, which I considered 'the end' of the Stoney Creek track.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcuzTHmrbhF7vMBCSQwwrk2POoIwjPl3o739gk5lzudvZg02gU3L9h0kNMiPudoahIy_Rc6a_enJYlZ-xpSjk3HhUWr_NSTQP0u90LoX_7Bfy81LHBk9RH0gUToY8YVxDm3iJHu1zjInRLEMVpKSwEVk6ZRLbb5BvxJPhV54aHzG2fDS0VdB_4R3x/s4032/20240308_162406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcuzTHmrbhF7vMBCSQwwrk2POoIwjPl3o739gk5lzudvZg02gU3L9h0kNMiPudoahIy_Rc6a_enJYlZ-xpSjk3HhUWr_NSTQP0u90LoX_7Bfy81LHBk9RH0gUToY8YVxDm3iJHu1zjInRLEMVpKSwEVk6ZRLbb5BvxJPhV54aHzG2fDS0VdB_4R3x/w480-h640/20240308_162406.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I made my way to the carpark there was another newer sign that you would see if you were walking down this path from the carpark. It informed me that the Arboretum track was 2.6km return, and the Bellbird track was 3.0km return. I contemplated doing them, but it was now about 4.30 in the afternoon, and I still had about a 2-1/2 - 3-hour drive home afterwards. I decided the carpark would end my walk, and reaching the carpark there was another sign here providing information on these walks. I made a note to myself that if I was to come back up to Gosford or the Central Coast I would come to this carpark and do these other walks.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHrFA7lExZxCKi2EYptx3uYIUjoBvz2JDS_5TOmF4YADtFTYbsiXqFA6qEBbBkkYiUIWtFNKGkV3FkEtwwxb7S5RaQEctQtP327V3V_kjnAkvJVA9xdFop0HcF1WRrvx18zA9DeV0AMjmqvcBqAcenFLAGQqKbOT-GSVt6Q7Y4s6lOrifV7jqyXTk/s2944/20240308_162812.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHrFA7lExZxCKi2EYptx3uYIUjoBvz2JDS_5TOmF4YADtFTYbsiXqFA6qEBbBkkYiUIWtFNKGkV3FkEtwwxb7S5RaQEctQtP327V3V_kjnAkvJVA9xdFop0HcF1WRrvx18zA9DeV0AMjmqvcBqAcenFLAGQqKbOT-GSVt6Q7Y4s6lOrifV7jqyXTk/w480-h640/20240308_162812.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mother's car in the background</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I began my walk back to continue along the Cabbage Tree walk, I noticed a cute little mushroom growing underneath a dead tree and knelt down into the dirt to take a photo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TxDNJdsFHuggIXTc5a9ws5YodG1duuhU8Wcqz1l9t0hMVg7B4J1DlWQlBi-RgTOw9ML7-DZgnIFbm_anxPS9YXcceV5yV1p3vwteKw7plx_dP4iHOhUc_kYZvxQB9V_QqibjEsiURZYV1xFXYjh60m32BTxK8ijQYD0DYYfa5QQo3lr4HeRsa6e2/s4032/20240308_163009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TxDNJdsFHuggIXTc5a9ws5YodG1duuhU8Wcqz1l9t0hMVg7B4J1DlWQlBi-RgTOw9ML7-DZgnIFbm_anxPS9YXcceV5yV1p3vwteKw7plx_dP4iHOhUc_kYZvxQB9V_QqibjEsiURZYV1xFXYjh60m32BTxK8ijQYD0DYYfa5QQo3lr4HeRsa6e2/w480-h640/20240308_163009.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I made it just past the 'banana tree', I noticed another cute little mushroom, getting down low to the ground again to take a picture, and wondering if I had picked up any ticks or leeches along the way (I hadn't).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIreC08dfQdHdOqcvqj40705FfHzugU3ipIQgJUdhes27nvbY4CSfqJrFiJRGUyaeIwRPQYKfGtrswHhAvonhPqOhEPbMhzJwy9X8Qx1zElwJfMV_kRMi9vRScPwxHGq_DaudXpTHk7DPkrOnVgjQpHdgFbu-ld7Nie9vg9gTKiuBZtR1X-DgSKz4V/s4032/20240308_163337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIreC08dfQdHdOqcvqj40705FfHzugU3ipIQgJUdhes27nvbY4CSfqJrFiJRGUyaeIwRPQYKfGtrswHhAvonhPqOhEPbMhzJwy9X8Qx1zElwJfMV_kRMi9vRScPwxHGq_DaudXpTHk7DPkrOnVgjQpHdgFbu-ld7Nie9vg9gTKiuBZtR1X-DgSKz4V/w480-h640/20240308_163337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>It was a relatively short walk once I had made it back onto the Cabbage Tree track, and I was feeling my stomach rumble from hunger too. 'I'll have to grab something to eat when I pick up the drink' I thought, looking up at a mossy log with the beautiful Cabbage Tree Palms hanging above it, my last photo on the walk before coming out down from the guys who were having the fire. I walked past them again, giving them a polite nod, and swapping back into my converse shoes and setting up Google Maps on my phone (noting it was just after 5pm) to lead me to the nearest 711 to get a drink and something to eat, hoping I would miss the awful 'knock-off' traffic through Sydney on my way home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pulling in at the closest 711, I saw a tiny sausage roll for $5 and decided against getting food there, figuring I'd be able to find more affordable and more filling food on my drive home, however I did buy a 1litre bottle of blue Maximus (Gatorade's cheap cousin), which made sure I had no cramps. </div><div><br /></div><div>The drive home was quite painful, as I ended up getting stuck in bumper-to-bumper Sydney traffic, and I never ended up stopping in for food, arriving home just after 8pm at night. Although I was happy to be home, greeted by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/" target="_blank">my very enthusiastic Dog</a>, I felt a tinge of sadness, as weirdly, over two days I had had a good time venturing out on my own, even if it was under the tragic circumstances of my Nan's death. It left me with a feeling of dwindling time, between that and seeing my own Father for the first time since his own cancer treatment, I think it brought up a lot of repressed trauma from <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">my own cancer battle</a> and gave me an even stronger desire to live life to the fullest.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/">follow me on Instagram</a>.<br /><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven<br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGr4KDqvD8ZTyA3ejJ2XUR9a81hzDX76hddxBOsAR95ft0jgDeIJONLBzLVSbHvdCYnzoc5XBVHmSetikvkBk0jSROFe69vjDdA8yTtn2k6C32hTDKqZ7zHzBviSUXxdJabnh4m7YBcTKDqEgTnTGl_z1HINua-t8-WDsyWYcd3HBPGLQGpV9K4LD/s4096/Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="4096" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGr4KDqvD8ZTyA3ejJ2XUR9a81hzDX76hddxBOsAR95ft0jgDeIJONLBzLVSbHvdCYnzoc5XBVHmSetikvkBk0jSROFe69vjDdA8yTtn2k6C32hTDKqZ7zHzBviSUXxdJabnh4m7YBcTKDqEgTnTGl_z1HINua-t8-WDsyWYcd3HBPGLQGpV9K4LD/w400-h170/Logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>You reached the bottom. Congratulations. Fun fact: This is my 50th published blog post. Woo!</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Strickland State Forest, Strickland Forest Rd, Somersby NSW 2250, Australia-33.3764785 151.323088-61.686712336178843 116.16683800000001 -5.066244663821152 -173.52066200000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-16107335971421938992024-03-15T14:26:00.006+11:002024-03-22T16:52:35.914+11:00Girrakool and Piles Creek Loop Tracks<p><b><i>This walk takes place on Darkinyung Country</i></b></p><p> </p><p>On the 28th February 2024, my Nana Betty passed away.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierdkV6ciIHFPxUymU2mNUvJrjwxptZ41mmM5U2WAU-TTlIjwTDt6v-GzB4zGV8s-R-xqY5Q0ZD4vAkyu-Ki9ELjUJkhr7Z-3N7vq0QkL3zTFNlcIVIrI53k6b5HSW-Hh-3d-XmiyFI0MKtXlz1v4xd6LKayK0ZT7dKt3tHjY40VMAKn_WWJJPNXcb/s945/nana%20betty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierdkV6ciIHFPxUymU2mNUvJrjwxptZ41mmM5U2WAU-TTlIjwTDt6v-GzB4zGV8s-R-xqY5Q0ZD4vAkyu-Ki9ELjUJkhr7Z-3N7vq0QkL3zTFNlcIVIrI53k6b5HSW-Hh-3d-XmiyFI0MKtXlz1v4xd6LKayK0ZT7dKt3tHjY40VMAKn_WWJJPNXcb/w400-h400/nana%20betty.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As she was living up in the central coast, I took leave from work for the Thursday and Friday to go stay up in Gosford to attend the funeral.</p><p>I booked in to stay at the Ibis Budget Hotel, given I really only needed a room for the night. I left Thursday morning, heading up towards Sydney, always happy for a little road trip I set up Google Maps and turned on my <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1xghD7Zp1yy5GL8H1IzDVr?si=4feb5ff95b364d39" target="_blank">Road Trip Playlist on Spotify</a>. As I crossed the Hawkesbury river, I was in awe of the destination, wishing I could get a boat and go off exploring along the river, in particular the large island jutting out of the river on my right called 'Spectacle Island'.</p><p>I arrived at my accommodation just after 12. Checking in I transferred my clothing into my room, and set of for a quick walk down the road to buy some lunch, deciding to buy the KFC Mega Fill Up Meal for $10. As I walked to KFC I crossed Narara Creek, stopping to take in the view.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi0zIHoTNzAq3CNQ9bddvO_Qr2TSeLWzwQ0OKwUfTCua_Fwn6zYx1VEmSabDlTqv3tD_AxA-nE-Z_IKte6zqscZUZ9RVPZUsWQV1PQKPt4-yPZUa3oCdM2jXO6iE6rneK3TYVVrw5xu096vpi6WULWkv_Y9wy5b6zb3BrRfQkYsTJRwCuwHI5NRdz/s4032/20240307_125221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi0zIHoTNzAq3CNQ9bddvO_Qr2TSeLWzwQ0OKwUfTCua_Fwn6zYx1VEmSabDlTqv3tD_AxA-nE-Z_IKte6zqscZUZ9RVPZUsWQV1PQKPt4-yPZUa3oCdM2jXO6iE6rneK3TYVVrw5xu096vpi6WULWkv_Y9wy5b6zb3BrRfQkYsTJRwCuwHI5NRdz/w480-h640/20240307_125221.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued on to get my overly large, relatively cheap and greasy meal. I sat alone in KFC, scoffing down my lunch, filling up less than halfway through but forcing myself to keep eating, I thought about what I would do to fill in the time as I had a whole day in front of me. Wiping my greasy fingers off with a wet wipe I opened up Google Maps to see where abouts I was, and to see if there was any bushwalk nearby. I was surprised to see that right nearby was Brisbane Water National Park. I made my way back to my accommodation, heavy and bloated from lunch. I swapped my converse over to a pair of sketchers I had recently purchased just for more support (when walking around Sydney to do escape rooms.) However, in a rush, eager to get out and explore I quickly swapped into these shoes but didn't change into a more comfortable pair of socks, still wearing my small converse socks.<br /><br /></p><p><b>Part 1- The Girrakool Loop Track</b></p><p>As I head towards the national park, the road (Debenham road) was blocked by roadworkers, saying the road was closed and giving no directions for a detour. Frustrated I pulled up and had to actually google how to swap the route on Google Maps, having never actually done it before. I finally figured that out and began back on the road, taking me right across from the Australian Reptile Park (which we had often gone to as kids while visiting the central coast to see my Nana, and Aunt Corrine (who I mentioned in <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">my post about my leukemia treatment</a> had passed during her own treatment).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_kCl0Hq4fhxi87uj09aM2mS0vJcRqVJtYOTynJbPyoIdxMYTKof1X78HRaEdOSEYj0Vbff96BwxWgzF7C94VdTwL33qetUi3h6-Uj0mKsUYddpfnj700IZFnaZ3mv325a8RmUatI8d7qMgCXDqUVNsJ_JoJ3IImdnbE9qQJYmm3p8mwIsd_3p69Y/s4032/20240307_134352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_kCl0Hq4fhxi87uj09aM2mS0vJcRqVJtYOTynJbPyoIdxMYTKof1X78HRaEdOSEYj0Vbff96BwxWgzF7C94VdTwL33qetUi3h6-Uj0mKsUYddpfnj700IZFnaZ3mv325a8RmUatI8d7qMgCXDqUVNsJ_JoJ3IImdnbE9qQJYmm3p8mwIsd_3p69Y/w480-h640/20240307_134352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>A lot of walks had appeared in the national park website when I had sat in KFC looking the park up after finding it, but I decided to head to where I could go the Girrakool walk, as it had an Aboriginal rock engraving site. As I turned down the road towards the Girrakoop picnic area (where the carpark was), I slowed down and watched a Goanna crossing the road.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyWpPL7EWk5K7VHvCbNDKgqB1wehAAa6M4j6wHKzBBLWSmxf1DRARK2TM458IV7eXg4ilRvA-btvhoVR9n5Gw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As I pulled up in the carpark, I did a quick walk around at the two places you could begin walked from, right where I parked was the start of the Girrakool Loop track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Mdxefg0bNR9xSou_qrdLhTCfGdrCg8a9svAZ2wjeGF9EeXpsstOt4GC5ionNwQeeyrSl-hByJtkBh-yndczj9UitqD7PxHntxYEDSkkw8uqHGHkr_-1OcCJPd-4vBxIFHFFAYlEkrGJr8s9HR5_COqueT1b0638vAiROX8j9FLXCpk15W-FP58B/s4032/20240307_134723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Mdxefg0bNR9xSou_qrdLhTCfGdrCg8a9svAZ2wjeGF9EeXpsstOt4GC5ionNwQeeyrSl-hByJtkBh-yndczj9UitqD7PxHntxYEDSkkw8uqHGHkr_-1OcCJPd-4vBxIFHFFAYlEkrGJr8s9HR5_COqueT1b0638vAiROX8j9FLXCpk15W-FP58B/w400-h300/20240307_134723.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I walked over to the notice board (also intending to purchase a parking ticket as it is paid parking), there was a sign up on the machine letting me know it was out for order, so I didn't need to buy a ticket. I smiled at my good luck, and continued to read the board learning about the area, the walks and having a look at the map.</p><p><i>"<b>Girrakool -place of waters</b><br />Brisbane Water National Park was originally established in 1959 when an area of 6,000 hectares was dedicated for public recreation, the park is now more than 12,000ha in size.<br />Girrakool picnic area was established soon after the appointment of the first ranger, Mr Jack Higgs, in 1961.<br />The establishment of a picnic area and development of walking trails at Girrakool was carefully planned to provide access to the beautiful waterfalls and abundant native flora. Girrakool was officially opened on 11 September 1965.<br />This beautiful reserve takes its name from nearby Brisbane Water which can be seen from a number of places within the park. The park is a combination of rugged bushland, beautiful wildflowers and spectacular waterfalls and creeks.<br />Aboriginal people have used the area for centuries and there are Aboriginal engravings on many of the sandstone outcrops.<br />The importance of the area for Aboriginal people is reflected in the two Aboriginal places in the park, Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place and Kariong Sacred Land Aboriginal Place."</i></p><p>Just down from here was another picnic area, and a toilet but also the start of the Piles Creek Loop. I returned to the start of the Girrakool loop nearby my car and set off down the track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48zrwV6ltfNd4XQNDatfE5zUxzgopGtkca_ypfGaC8DBE9z04nAZUG6-F1zsSXqjLDXaIk2yCS7hM_6SHzonMgbMTSmOk1QhJsZ4PAoHkoMWzgTI8wS3W_BT1T93u5IqpZntkcExzt11J-U-70AAAVSSe_z_oUsDbocn0iV36Y54Y4T8gGHpgOccg/s4032/20240307_134942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48zrwV6ltfNd4XQNDatfE5zUxzgopGtkca_ypfGaC8DBE9z04nAZUG6-F1zsSXqjLDXaIk2yCS7hM_6SHzonMgbMTSmOk1QhJsZ4PAoHkoMWzgTI8wS3W_BT1T93u5IqpZntkcExzt11J-U-70AAAVSSe_z_oUsDbocn0iV36Y54Y4T8gGHpgOccg/w480-h640/20240307_134942.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I began to walk, the dirt from the ground flicking up with every step. I could feel the burn from the sun on my skin with the intense heat of the middle of the day and was grateful for every little flicker of shade.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRhWe0Bl_ojjDIjeFdAUu2xLzGw0MI2NJoExcsjTAEODCwUhEnKe2Nv1pLgNqS7AS4bSg64QTC4h9P32m_e0XvweH-0MoGpEB4ew2BwHsLimn9E3HW5QXBsHbJazRANfljN_5aUGC7RAy1TKTQy8txFElldMx8wz2rF3GC-715Ii477YWOpEt_wz_/s4032/20240307_135115.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRhWe0Bl_ojjDIjeFdAUu2xLzGw0MI2NJoExcsjTAEODCwUhEnKe2Nv1pLgNqS7AS4bSg64QTC4h9P32m_e0XvweH-0MoGpEB4ew2BwHsLimn9E3HW5QXBsHbJazRANfljN_5aUGC7RAy1TKTQy8txFElldMx8wz2rF3GC-715Ii477YWOpEt_wz_/w480-h640/20240307_135115.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>In no time at all I approached a rocky outcrop and could see a wooden pole on its side bearing a sign as I approached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWC8yd3Bz5Zdo5RPFecOTg-MkeC-3vheHhXTf8hmf05seMPLL_cW0Nd-nz-CE5NHOFh0NFy5hnNiLfajmNUcceRG7P7hdbPJ6IusNzN5Mu4ok7rXQ6pzAKyZAx5JrSF5muYpAC36yf6HobGVj7Zi1oEZVHTL0QQGvmotsq_X17yp5RO2bQ1pLevfQ/s4000/20240307_135129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWC8yd3Bz5Zdo5RPFecOTg-MkeC-3vheHhXTf8hmf05seMPLL_cW0Nd-nz-CE5NHOFh0NFy5hnNiLfajmNUcceRG7P7hdbPJ6IusNzN5Mu4ok7rXQ6pzAKyZAx5JrSF5muYpAC36yf6HobGVj7Zi1oEZVHTL0QQGvmotsq_X17yp5RO2bQ1pLevfQ/w480-h640/20240307_135129.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The sign informed me, that beyond this post was the Aboriginal Rock Engravings.<br /><br /><i>"Rock engraving provide valuable information about Aboriginal material, culture and social life. Engravings on rocks are an important part of Aboriginal songs, stories and customs that connect people with the land. Many of these sites are regarded as being of a sacred or ceremonial significance to Aboriginal people and they should not be interfered with."</i></p><p>Also asking not to walk, touch, or interfere with the site in anyway as well as stating it was an offence and the fines and potential imprisonment if you were to harm or desecrate it.</p><p>I walked back and forth along the boundary, but could not clearly make out any engravings, guessing they were pretty faded. I could see what looked like lines in the stone but could not make out any shapes or anything.<br />I looked to my left for the trail to continue, but noticed it cut down past the rock engravings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4eEQgYXzZSLkoA6hzvmINQSxHKF6SIEraaw8NanorxW2abPcs-6Of3GCUPGp94c_JvwySRKbN02bzR0W-hAPnYFHa6Wq32hzw55SAjDetmD1ufUNO_pu1hnHxKqQQf0V7M2hU_jhaljDWBUbqNRLQJCNavSvmgAlcEyQrI5YBn0k4lxZGvTOIrdB/s4032/20240307_135316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4eEQgYXzZSLkoA6hzvmINQSxHKF6SIEraaw8NanorxW2abPcs-6Of3GCUPGp94c_JvwySRKbN02bzR0W-hAPnYFHa6Wq32hzw55SAjDetmD1ufUNO_pu1hnHxKqQQf0V7M2hU_jhaljDWBUbqNRLQJCNavSvmgAlcEyQrI5YBn0k4lxZGvTOIrdB/w480-h640/20240307_135316.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued down coming to a section of steppingstones that had a little trail heading off to the left at the start of them, which with ample time on my hands, I decided to head down first instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKeZcX9nSSguL68eEUnurLZoG4FGkELCWownZhMde4sN4jNqSDin0mL8i9164p_g1OpWvWk_yux0ti2xV4rfubj0ua03s2Sx1ywoP1-49fMtODBnfG79hmsB0qUA-koCqWEeo9dFPDhircrNbPcKLDi-hJ2yDodsCDeGIW0yXcT6VRWXg97K8azdU/s4032/20240307_135411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKeZcX9nSSguL68eEUnurLZoG4FGkELCWownZhMde4sN4jNqSDin0mL8i9164p_g1OpWvWk_yux0ti2xV4rfubj0ua03s2Sx1ywoP1-49fMtODBnfG79hmsB0qUA-koCqWEeo9dFPDhircrNbPcKLDi-hJ2yDodsCDeGIW0yXcT6VRWXg97K8azdU/w480-h640/20240307_135411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lDAdR9w3H1l_2FpXuTTcHsPlM4hd4Af20BFvZfkQXM8gHmXXS0zXgjUT3qTX4yYVLgRAvxQALqmm7rOM-4nXBsk6fOwJ_ZwjCgNE-08nRtmSK0wjyEnrdZTa8wrhn4kC9bf32g24ykgzuroB3hjAIigX5H4Ecg0YyBzHxFnvmSl-YFwfDILsK0Kc/s4032/20240307_135414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1lDAdR9w3H1l_2FpXuTTcHsPlM4hd4Af20BFvZfkQXM8gHmXXS0zXgjUT3qTX4yYVLgRAvxQALqmm7rOM-4nXBsk6fOwJ_ZwjCgNE-08nRtmSK0wjyEnrdZTa8wrhn4kC9bf32g24ykgzuroB3hjAIigX5H4Ecg0YyBzHxFnvmSl-YFwfDILsK0Kc/w480-h640/20240307_135414.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Following this trail I soon came upon a water source, which I assumed was 'Brisbane Water'.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfh7B_rhePEa2_ZhUVx4KetnInKGWwvjEkEXBN6jALvc_M2CVygpkyiBoTZZvnJa1qSJYVMwnyXE5EErtFwf486RhgWC3-Po9J1WHLLRQgDUUizRAD2jJ-Zi4-B49-J_MJQOrJOaSWSxbFhE1vvzVDJAV-EUnyiCq59BYLrFVadb2Di7Ocqy6jd8r/s4032/20240307_135516.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfh7B_rhePEa2_ZhUVx4KetnInKGWwvjEkEXBN6jALvc_M2CVygpkyiBoTZZvnJa1qSJYVMwnyXE5EErtFwf486RhgWC3-Po9J1WHLLRQgDUUizRAD2jJ-Zi4-B49-J_MJQOrJOaSWSxbFhE1vvzVDJAV-EUnyiCq59BYLrFVadb2Di7Ocqy6jd8r/w480-h640/20240307_135516.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstream</td></tr></tbody></table><p>To the right of me was a little set of falls, so I made my way over and down them for a picture looking up at them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4IkMIDqieE9JRd7m42VAhUoEoaOmECo9d0oBxX4mb6TfC5ns-NcBTgFpj39AfbByk6RDwlq7b0aWozak7XtnhGohM4WNzfTjFwpXioyPm41sAbkaWa_YfDWnR9JN4-XkGp1jtj0eWCQHONuDh7gLv1F7DYsIhOeMNFsNfJUSboi7SYN3IGjGxAKm/s4032/20240307_135539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4IkMIDqieE9JRd7m42VAhUoEoaOmECo9d0oBxX4mb6TfC5ns-NcBTgFpj39AfbByk6RDwlq7b0aWozak7XtnhGohM4WNzfTjFwpXioyPm41sAbkaWa_YfDWnR9JN4-XkGp1jtj0eWCQHONuDh7gLv1F7DYsIhOeMNFsNfJUSboi7SYN3IGjGxAKm/w480-h640/20240307_135539.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75mjPVYjvnV9qmKmnDCNm7QqaSzlkbt3F8CPIhly_3IWq4Cq4nQfYvQ51GaeVP-H5sxKrMBpVLPkRBGHAYY-SxNxzgf1VU8BblUPyBlaLhrUt06v7ANKXknyUJE710ye4el7F_A5MJMHVLB6NHBCf4qT08N-XCByI_3peRVqQBkkhKT1djP5BhGYQ/s4032/20240307_135548.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75mjPVYjvnV9qmKmnDCNm7QqaSzlkbt3F8CPIhly_3IWq4Cq4nQfYvQ51GaeVP-H5sxKrMBpVLPkRBGHAYY-SxNxzgf1VU8BblUPyBlaLhrUt06v7ANKXknyUJE710ye4el7F_A5MJMHVLB6NHBCf4qT08N-XCByI_3peRVqQBkkhKT1djP5BhGYQ/w480-h640/20240307_135548.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downstream from the falls</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was no clear path, but I could see what was either a partial track, sometimes used, or an animal trail that was on the opposite side of the creek, so I crossed over it and followed it through the scrub, keeping a wary eye out for snakes. As the bush grew thicker and it was obvious there was no clear path. Now I could see an opening on the other side of the scrub, I climbed up on the end of a fallen down tree that led through the bush to the opening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzeJ6lgdVB81YA_GkauQebXPCtq5b2_G-YdpSJ8bMSYT33fLhzF6Mtk_xiNhXkfB7XQZ6YKTDC7iLpTL03V98WpH0W-0f0KC9q-j11oDgpjBvfUxaQo08zc4_QDLbi5hgPqqm16a9-SXT82PmBweXHKgmMS_4qUK_PpblkLeXtlqr310Q1VyJG-Kd/s4000/20240307_135947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzeJ6lgdVB81YA_GkauQebXPCtq5b2_G-YdpSJ8bMSYT33fLhzF6Mtk_xiNhXkfB7XQZ6YKTDC7iLpTL03V98WpH0W-0f0KC9q-j11oDgpjBvfUxaQo08zc4_QDLbi5hgPqqm16a9-SXT82PmBweXHKgmMS_4qUK_PpblkLeXtlqr310Q1VyJG-Kd/w400-h300/20240307_135947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I balanced and walked down to the end of the fallen tree, hoping down for a little look around, and I thought I could hear people somewhere off in the distance. I climbed back onto the fallen tree, back through the scrub, up and over the creek and back to the steppingstones to continue along the path.</p><p>After getting to the end of the stones and following the sandy dirt-path along a short while I could see a clearway down to the creek, and I could see across the river the clearing I had just been at. As I walked, I heard the squawking of birds, which I thought I recognised as the sound of an Eagle or Hawk, I stopped to look around, hoping to see them. I could see nothing so continued walking once more until it started again. I stopped to look up, when overheard flew some Black Cockatoos, the ones who were clearly making the sound and suddenly it clicked, that that was where I recognised the sound from.</p><p>I soon came to another rocky outcrop, covered with leaf litter and one random metal pole, standing alone in the centre.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX0qVb1pQpiII9zTyIOhBch6mww1-RMl5KPG67cCALIu-DtrYtNOwfttEqeqdoiU66D8SHEd-FIdwiGbWM5WUppJBTQCor14BTo2qZs1uVD-tgxezaNTFy9qlX93EuBZPV3NNie-U-ZpQDE60CKJvhS9UvwMv-YJDP7AhBwIGjqhGpNZPA5QKlrim/s4000/20240307_140804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX0qVb1pQpiII9zTyIOhBch6mww1-RMl5KPG67cCALIu-DtrYtNOwfttEqeqdoiU66D8SHEd-FIdwiGbWM5WUppJBTQCor14BTo2qZs1uVD-tgxezaNTFy9qlX93EuBZPV3NNie-U-ZpQDE60CKJvhS9UvwMv-YJDP7AhBwIGjqhGpNZPA5QKlrim/w400-h300/20240307_140804.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I looked around, wondering why this pole was there, wondering if it was maybe a marker? Wondering if maybe there were hidden Aboriginal engravings in the stone, hidden underneath the leaf litter. I did a little walk around, but there was nothing noticeable, but then I couldn't distinguish anything at the place location either. I continued on, stopping when I noticed a random mushroom inside was looked like a burnt-out tree stump (although it could have just been rot or sooty mould)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18jlTH8zDO-0l4PBFEiAbNth8ml3QNaw3OCvplGAOBA6wylGSd4hJjlY_vjQT-4KfOygXUd2f9GfSpF4VdBK4BGLEgWEvkC9ykOYweX9fEOqfIphyphenhyphenChK1KicH5FdBw3suFWUTYzMU7PiEWiJ36PmPtRL132piE6zpFrbMXylJNRAHllaExS39noHq/s4000/20240307_140847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18jlTH8zDO-0l4PBFEiAbNth8ml3QNaw3OCvplGAOBA6wylGSd4hJjlY_vjQT-4KfOygXUd2f9GfSpF4VdBK4BGLEgWEvkC9ykOYweX9fEOqfIphyphenhyphenChK1KicH5FdBw3suFWUTYzMU7PiEWiJ36PmPtRL132piE6zpFrbMXylJNRAHllaExS39noHq/w480-h640/20240307_140847.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The path bended left here, down some uneven surfaces and past a bunch of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfzPyTJ5dCMOzyJ-CMMYwVkwfPrQTq8OcJg4450a4_hnCdgnmiafenwcGLpEltKUnJEHInKSVjxqSNw2YZzs1HwJR28EgeLDbvSldaTwpDTgMRDT7MNOBmjsEhOOG-W149xWY0KTJR7qcK6wQ5SLNX-zXPz-KNhdfrMQvHlLsrP_x14K_lPLBrYYx/s4032/20240307_140926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfzPyTJ5dCMOzyJ-CMMYwVkwfPrQTq8OcJg4450a4_hnCdgnmiafenwcGLpEltKUnJEHInKSVjxqSNw2YZzs1HwJR28EgeLDbvSldaTwpDTgMRDT7MNOBmjsEhOOG-W149xWY0KTJR7qcK6wQ5SLNX-zXPz-KNhdfrMQvHlLsrP_x14K_lPLBrYYx/w400-h300/20240307_140926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I reached the bottom the bush once more opened up to the flowing creek and a series of small falls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ZH2Ul4Ye4aNvJBmwy8CWUGR9k8ZvWaer9OrP_8Crv8n9QG_jik5Ue_Sv2gGxGLZTIHNOOLHvKqnU1yxsWqaFMXooFr-q8NHg4GYAgWvwk-GaVw8FfIAfLLqkn8MNpLUqpJn-ijlMQ3yAiHoSCHpKSy_8JmAlenCkYjoDHKW6mZ5wyL0c4RT04p7/s4000/20240307_141050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ZH2Ul4Ye4aNvJBmwy8CWUGR9k8ZvWaer9OrP_8Crv8n9QG_jik5Ue_Sv2gGxGLZTIHNOOLHvKqnU1yxsWqaFMXooFr-q8NHg4GYAgWvwk-GaVw8FfIAfLLqkn8MNpLUqpJn-ijlMQ3yAiHoSCHpKSy_8JmAlenCkYjoDHKW6mZ5wyL0c4RT04p7/w400-h300/20240307_141050.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR5Fz0TYf8oUrb6u_PFFVEiCKI_Na_hZqzViG61DTJSDijVisJx7MwDhyNET81gXu5kXU6WFyYmBMEcRoiVY0fYTMBpY-bRyIcOLUbhBuJeE1ptbuDCZRHh7bMVhclsEG9SyvtAJiw8c5q2Bwio3r4VQSz0ktSQG1EFIOEGjLP18iO4MJrHLex_ze/s4000/20240307_141116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR5Fz0TYf8oUrb6u_PFFVEiCKI_Na_hZqzViG61DTJSDijVisJx7MwDhyNET81gXu5kXU6WFyYmBMEcRoiVY0fYTMBpY-bRyIcOLUbhBuJeE1ptbuDCZRHh7bMVhclsEG9SyvtAJiw8c5q2Bwio3r4VQSz0ktSQG1EFIOEGjLP18iO4MJrHLex_ze/w400-h300/20240307_141116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I wandered around unable to find any clear path across from where I had exited, but at I followed the creek along on the opposite side to me I stumbled upon what I believed was the path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_ypiDjOhE1vAYbJsIQb565GUO65exY1h9av5z_lrPYkY2xKjntmbNvp1P8wpoS6wlAdSn0Z0p2FXFUOUu0X2ZZQ43UAQwJbet1UxXRyKDfwvVRgY55ZRgCNzbMI__565X5xDKxWEqgW-3POfJ9kmn4n0GS5BDpyO1e9Pr8RHh6sBMk5zuizQV1Oh/s4032/20240307_141210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_ypiDjOhE1vAYbJsIQb565GUO65exY1h9av5z_lrPYkY2xKjntmbNvp1P8wpoS6wlAdSn0Z0p2FXFUOUu0X2ZZQ43UAQwJbet1UxXRyKDfwvVRgY55ZRgCNzbMI__565X5xDKxWEqgW-3POfJ9kmn4n0GS5BDpyO1e9Pr8RHh6sBMk5zuizQV1Oh/w480-h640/20240307_141210.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I followed the wet and slippery path along for a while until my path opened up once more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTapQ5-BcZPLQ7Rfv69d0aTtaGE7V2FAonWiCNH1H87wMmyfUIY6TeoWowrO6EuETUArwKs2Bw5LLgVKLCjpynI095SdJPfuhej-1u5nOoNNMforLCOdTdBcX6Kxje4dEFACN1J0KTzT393KpQPYAuZbSv0Yulu9P_9L6ii6wxgo_V_NbVpOugryGl/s4000/20240307_141354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTapQ5-BcZPLQ7Rfv69d0aTtaGE7V2FAonWiCNH1H87wMmyfUIY6TeoWowrO6EuETUArwKs2Bw5LLgVKLCjpynI095SdJPfuhej-1u5nOoNNMforLCOdTdBcX6Kxje4dEFACN1J0KTzT393KpQPYAuZbSv0Yulu9P_9L6ii6wxgo_V_NbVpOugryGl/w400-h300/20240307_141354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>This opening was high up over a body of water, and there was a higher waterfall here, but the view of it was mostly obscured by plant growth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2BquZteNv8N_c0vJm0uR3PiFSSPoAPn9NxT6E1rkcOLkVHLgBUKXWgPJiGO8lVVYMRJMMCZZ-9tOh3PollOFTciT_YIMvzW_VmaIOKfVcDaGphaPTx4izprLCHwYtlSpr1oMkHKP1KxV10XN-CrHsRpJzfzRGGcWoz48zMTs29Yz0ZSiu6lW_YB0/s4032/20240307_141434.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2BquZteNv8N_c0vJm0uR3PiFSSPoAPn9NxT6E1rkcOLkVHLgBUKXWgPJiGO8lVVYMRJMMCZZ-9tOh3PollOFTciT_YIMvzW_VmaIOKfVcDaGphaPTx4izprLCHwYtlSpr1oMkHKP1KxV10XN-CrHsRpJzfzRGGcWoz48zMTs29Yz0ZSiu6lW_YB0/w400-h300/20240307_141434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pUKW4-_pWmJJ6YbSaIBhzvYw-TNti8LeOfo4SQiEm505T2Qcc8I9DGaHA9BsgWjlmrB2fCfqooIJ7De-CQ6Jv5xxpFRwLbzsUqcfkX-A3UcVB6CyrwO_vJpuaING1GPeDUt2Xq0bxg03F0IdBsaJq1xwQ_4ZqQvK0vRJIrrace3M_GEMvq32x4j-/s4032/20240307_141451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pUKW4-_pWmJJ6YbSaIBhzvYw-TNti8LeOfo4SQiEm505T2Qcc8I9DGaHA9BsgWjlmrB2fCfqooIJ7De-CQ6Jv5xxpFRwLbzsUqcfkX-A3UcVB6CyrwO_vJpuaING1GPeDUt2Xq0bxg03F0IdBsaJq1xwQ_4ZqQvK0vRJIrrace3M_GEMvq32x4j-/w400-h300/20240307_141451.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There was another section of large round steppingstones, crossing the creek, but there was also a trail heading through the bush in the other direction.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCWRKvDWZV9V8zI7nX5_O7ey_p7H9VhJ59LgV5vHY5Js54gDnLV6OEAshggEsoXkVppOLgxyjGXIaOMe7bDE8LvTnvLNF38Eye1j8XePz2UN1lZQM6gtntAXD1CZx_2F15W8dv8DrZaYppgKhPlvPsfALDinBoxcLnDliI_cGO-nxwNbSH7aEXElV/s4000/20240307_141401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCWRKvDWZV9V8zI7nX5_O7ey_p7H9VhJ59LgV5vHY5Js54gDnLV6OEAshggEsoXkVppOLgxyjGXIaOMe7bDE8LvTnvLNF38Eye1j8XePz2UN1lZQM6gtntAXD1CZx_2F15W8dv8DrZaYppgKhPlvPsfALDinBoxcLnDliI_cGO-nxwNbSH7aEXElV/w480-h640/20240307_141401.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I decided to explore down the other trail, but after 5 minutes of walking, heading away from the carpark I assumed it was part of one of the other walks, and so made my way back to the creek, and crossed the steppingstones.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXUChrlbtzSKMbmBo7cNGI_Baa3BXqoNYB06OeCblOI6zCiJe0yz1rKNYmIVUYkccLACan7jkc8AqlVuTx-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As I reached the other side, there was a set of steps that I followed up, with sweat dripping from my brow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybsoe71mXK8NmQGsAE-3n1oABn5ad7LUCjxR4nIiCuGGe0QZYgITZHBWfLoxBCx_ddK0J5VCvHkGXKKI7eGmZh5s3nsgA7SHqapXPTysHrjcs7sa5h5Yrwn_sj5wCJ4FKqJt5gQg6XpWH2RqMIZ-ugW8bPHhZ8aiyyaOJi-vI8D8K2YmAE6kIJveS/s4032/20240307_142054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybsoe71mXK8NmQGsAE-3n1oABn5ad7LUCjxR4nIiCuGGe0QZYgITZHBWfLoxBCx_ddK0J5VCvHkGXKKI7eGmZh5s3nsgA7SHqapXPTysHrjcs7sa5h5Yrwn_sj5wCJ4FKqJt5gQg6XpWH2RqMIZ-ugW8bPHhZ8aiyyaOJi-vI8D8K2YmAE6kIJveS/w480-h640/20240307_142054.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>At the top was a sign, informing me I was on the Girrakool Loop saying it was 2km. I thought to myself that the whole loop was meant to be 2km so surely it didn't mean from where I was standing. The sign also pointed in both directions for the Piles Creek Loop, and so I nodded to myself that the random path I had followed for 5 minutes was part of the Piles Creek Loop track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhFPZhZAmCLWEF_ad_tKorLFNvcEDcOvJDuVvvB34dS3Rc15d-4OusiBjWmnPTmuWdnh_KdsS2Adg29b6PutgvbHN53_CXRxYcqjarWw1A-q0VPkOLM1wrlksmhP3Rd5OkdgrW-h8g4OsHpgtZDaBgs9fFUod2AEsQt35eJQKvaSd4TGbkyvME6Ey/s4032/20240307_142141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhFPZhZAmCLWEF_ad_tKorLFNvcEDcOvJDuVvvB34dS3Rc15d-4OusiBjWmnPTmuWdnh_KdsS2Adg29b6PutgvbHN53_CXRxYcqjarWw1A-q0VPkOLM1wrlksmhP3Rd5OkdgrW-h8g4OsHpgtZDaBgs9fFUod2AEsQt35eJQKvaSd4TGbkyvME6Ey/w480-h640/20240307_142141.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As I walked only a few more steps away there was another sign, pointing giving similar information, but also pointing back the way I had come for the 'Great North Walk', and just after this sign the path split in two the sign informing me that the way I was heading feature the 'Bundilla Lookout' and the Girrakool Loop. With the Bundilla Lookout apparently in 200m. I assumed the lookout would be straight along, and that the Girrakool loop would be the track that headed up to my right (which I assumed returned to the carpark, and so I followed the path straight along a short while, which ended up leading me to 'Illoura Lookout' instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpKdVIFyVVFHnOv08vsTqcDxwhaZFzWyT2VrMK2ZGSixmJMcIy2PjbfbMi2ccBFzPdReewzSG3iXEz7JfPfK4yXSDgJzVgx4SxGRDxb4CJVO7U5hzV0dXTjbs6ajgH5uehEiDOduVfFCIw3GMwD-uy-t-BAqsUPnTxpIX6UnE17M507T770YPrZgx/s4032/20240307_142200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpKdVIFyVVFHnOv08vsTqcDxwhaZFzWyT2VrMK2ZGSixmJMcIy2PjbfbMi2ccBFzPdReewzSG3iXEz7JfPfK4yXSDgJzVgx4SxGRDxb4CJVO7U5hzV0dXTjbs6ajgH5uehEiDOduVfFCIw3GMwD-uy-t-BAqsUPnTxpIX6UnE17M507T770YPrZgx/w480-h640/20240307_142200.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I stopped at the lookout, taking in the view over the creek. A light breeze had picked up and was a welcome relief to the intensely hot and humid weather. I had a swig of water from my bottles which I had forgotten to fill up before I began the walk, so I tried to savour it, and not drink it all in one go. I was so hot and thirsty that my brain didn't even register that Illoura Lookout was not the one listed on the sign beforehand. I continued on, curious to see what was ahead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0-3Ac4Yop89PD3U8kYbG1av_cm4expQ5e5yQVzrvSBfxOPNOAsOPLlQ9EaKyJGaHuwXE2nt8Wy4a2GOTg5ojQgD0ImhwMghzeyu9e5blNvFiV-3mKmqOdUGg5Z9Dfov6_TYkqfRFdOS_x3hpvUShd2Lzn_8bP0iSOuHVe8XRT3M9Df2jxgIiPAHc/s4032/20240307_142224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0-3Ac4Yop89PD3U8kYbG1av_cm4expQ5e5yQVzrvSBfxOPNOAsOPLlQ9EaKyJGaHuwXE2nt8Wy4a2GOTg5ojQgD0ImhwMghzeyu9e5blNvFiV-3mKmqOdUGg5Z9Dfov6_TYkqfRFdOS_x3hpvUShd2Lzn_8bP0iSOuHVe8XRT3M9Df2jxgIiPAHc/w480-h640/20240307_142224.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwpQKJ_rVxc6n5Up4ZdAj0eZs8WIWmaRAyyKl7M3y8tjJUDTFK1a0W-7LVDiHVJaL58A9UyRIZpIgol04d5XcivswdHIUXZTBfjlQrTAVrGrKKTkdj8jq_HTKx8X6pNl_k2MA9HrP2RUb0znY7JXs0EyLQ9J25H0LJG1XMUcq-IJ-kFv51J5XobfE/s4032/20240307_142318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwpQKJ_rVxc6n5Up4ZdAj0eZs8WIWmaRAyyKl7M3y8tjJUDTFK1a0W-7LVDiHVJaL58A9UyRIZpIgol04d5XcivswdHIUXZTBfjlQrTAVrGrKKTkdj8jq_HTKx8X6pNl_k2MA9HrP2RUb0znY7JXs0EyLQ9J25H0LJG1XMUcq-IJ-kFv51J5XobfE/w480-h640/20240307_142318.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I read the sign and was confused, as this was the Girrakool loop. So once, more I backtracked, noticing a little track through the scrub on my right down to below the Illoura Lookout. I continued past it, back to the fork, and headed up the stairs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_nwxvdJcOdhSjPfSQ-QJX_FyeYosVv7zwo6SMzxHCgy2x7iHKIrvSW_QzLuKEz8yZqToYZFXIvr8Zg5V-mM0vMx3r5wvDfvFlYBVLQdVDnLKlLAR2DCZSa0PZkawD6DKgNQa0AOjhCRVLha9pDF8-m1-tuLqzmzDKW4p8ENx1_bInPOfi93h-ayN/s4032/20240307_142411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_nwxvdJcOdhSjPfSQ-QJX_FyeYosVv7zwo6SMzxHCgy2x7iHKIrvSW_QzLuKEz8yZqToYZFXIvr8Zg5V-mM0vMx3r5wvDfvFlYBVLQdVDnLKlLAR2DCZSa0PZkawD6DKgNQa0AOjhCRVLha9pDF8-m1-tuLqzmzDKW4p8ENx1_bInPOfi93h-ayN/w480-h640/20240307_142411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I trudged up hill, sweating and really wishing I had had the forethought to pack more water.<br />'I should have ducked into the creek for a swim' I thought to myself. But then got in my head about PFAS and contaminates flowing down the river from an external source, overly paranoid about these things from my cancer treatment. I soon reached a small marker, pointing right for the Girrakool loop (and straight to a picnic area), which confused me, as the path I had been following before said it was the Girrakool loop.</p><p>"What the-" I said out loud, gazing down at it. I followed the path to my right, which took me to the 'Broula Lookout'.<br />'This must have been the lookout it said on the sign.' I thought to myself (it wasn't, that was Bundilla).</p><p>You couldn't see much from the lookout, as all the trees had grown blocking the view that probably once showed the waterfall.</p><p>I noticed another track that continued on from here, still leading right which I followed for a time, before turning around, and assuming that it probably someone linked back onto the Girrakool loop at a different point. I returned to the sign and continued up hill, until I reached the picnic area, which I thought I recognised as the area down from the toilet block, at the start of the Piles Creek walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu_qhiBUlpBj3LO1-RYMWq5t_0y3V9WfydvtTDvhzb_00hsDBiSRrxPlfygNvsm6DF7AiBexbu-usMi7H4d9TMietXpMOKUFiBZfGPCUqYAWmbpRBPiNz8hRNtWPa62giYmVa5R7v8Hjin9N7HUukkGEM1uFCgZTXzmEWZBOMrblFeXaNpiec2VxH/s4032/20240307_143141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu_qhiBUlpBj3LO1-RYMWq5t_0y3V9WfydvtTDvhzb_00hsDBiSRrxPlfygNvsm6DF7AiBexbu-usMi7H4d9TMietXpMOKUFiBZfGPCUqYAWmbpRBPiNz8hRNtWPa62giYmVa5R7v8Hjin9N7HUukkGEM1uFCgZTXzmEWZBOMrblFeXaNpiec2VxH/w400-h300/20240307_143141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued up past it, just to make sure I was right about where I was, a little annoyed that I would have to walk back down to continue the Girrakool loop, when I once more spotted a Goanna along the path to the toilet block (confirming I was where I thought I was).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtn1TcuVlLrctTBhZC69uh1PmhWUQZtfsU-o3lYwe7EklqLhY1dDeHiQI_B0YYjKkOgeJyGCBQTPqQm1LMUA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>I turned around after reaching the toilets, questioning myself about whether or not I needed to go, and deciding I didn't as I was far too dehydrated. As I began the walk back, I passed a sign about root rot. Informing me that 'Phytophthoria dieback' was present in parts of the reserve, and so to make sure to clean the bottom of your shoes/boots before walking in other areas to help reduce spread, as there was no treatment, so infestation is permanent.</p><p>After making my way back down to the main path I decided to take the little unmarked trail down to the base of the lookout I mentioned where I came upon a beautiful little waterfall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9kpo2Ui8tkVpCK6-f3RRCeDIdiw8QKMpA1ujt1BMar9G6ilJ5DQx7VToFK28nhiW5nv-aJwbsowKDKRErWHa5xHsddeZLGkoZlV50r5-0tD4LQYqb7ps3r8_K0XoSvyQLvOiLKa7gZoX97bpZhniGHObLY3w3xOU9yhOLzlb6IbwHwEVhWXBgb_W/s4000/20240307_143823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9kpo2Ui8tkVpCK6-f3RRCeDIdiw8QKMpA1ujt1BMar9G6ilJ5DQx7VToFK28nhiW5nv-aJwbsowKDKRErWHa5xHsddeZLGkoZlV50r5-0tD4LQYqb7ps3r8_K0XoSvyQLvOiLKa7gZoX97bpZhniGHObLY3w3xOU9yhOLzlb6IbwHwEVhWXBgb_W/w480-h640/20240307_143823.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiVnglLjX-PPojeyq1NKLQvJg2BHg3HxiyHDEO3AZvTiebdvITckecQ-19VyFXW0sGjcvMU8w9JVt0bxZhoSWkZPJlJocDSitUSFk5y89hj0XxLCN-8NdH1cS8dTaSLI8RqIiXipkyMgC5K2O2B6MnlIcR4keXj_54usGMsHDNUUtrT97CMWuWf3d/s4032/20240307_143932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiVnglLjX-PPojeyq1NKLQvJg2BHg3HxiyHDEO3AZvTiebdvITckecQ-19VyFXW0sGjcvMU8w9JVt0bxZhoSWkZPJlJocDSitUSFk5y89hj0XxLCN-8NdH1cS8dTaSLI8RqIiXipkyMgC5K2O2B6MnlIcR4keXj_54usGMsHDNUUtrT97CMWuWf3d/w480-h640/20240307_143932.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKZgIiBcRYBWHEvV2L_SOiidSbADcqQgcM3hxf6FnMjo6Ux8Lt58VYBTZhenj_FsJvqqRUjLdB0L-zMtinN552sMH4RCwk5ioxaIcO6uPANiv5K2yGvKYm0u4gfjcstMuco_nv9xyBU0HEJqM8m9xmSR2nN8bDQfiGcdoQbIL1fr-QqH38IEPaPPS/s4000/20240307_144130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKZgIiBcRYBWHEvV2L_SOiidSbADcqQgcM3hxf6FnMjo6Ux8Lt58VYBTZhenj_FsJvqqRUjLdB0L-zMtinN552sMH4RCwk5ioxaIcO6uPANiv5K2yGvKYm0u4gfjcstMuco_nv9xyBU0HEJqM8m9xmSR2nN8bDQfiGcdoQbIL1fr-QqH38IEPaPPS/w480-h640/20240307_144130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I sat for a bit, thinking about the short distance of this walk and how long it had taken me so far with all the alternate routes, but I looked at the time and started thing about the Piles Creek track. I looked back on the picture on my phone letting me know that it was 4km.<br />'I can do that too' I thought and began the climb back up to the trail to continue along past where the Piles Creek and Girrakool tracks diverged, following along the Girrakool track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefTWyu08yyER0TSUcKqZYK5H04FSt8RPfRQbnOsj8oc25NzL6JsxT322FEtubwx2bwsjwl6ESOBDKCvHlzyS6lNq_vOPk8uB06DT239UlLvCJdX2qoKM8jTuPnrrH3Zvcr9J3HHKolqOqiITEmr3loDzYhsBA84eCHt2O73WmeGibXx8Q-fbAX1Kb/s4032/20240307_144319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefTWyu08yyER0TSUcKqZYK5H04FSt8RPfRQbnOsj8oc25NzL6JsxT322FEtubwx2bwsjwl6ESOBDKCvHlzyS6lNq_vOPk8uB06DT239UlLvCJdX2qoKM8jTuPnrrH3Zvcr9J3HHKolqOqiITEmr3loDzYhsBA84eCHt2O73WmeGibXx8Q-fbAX1Kb/w480-h640/20240307_144319.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>While walking along I kept looking at all the different species of Banksias and noticing little ones growing up along the side of the trail, as the trail began to incline, I passed a section of ferns, which only stood out to me as it was so contrast to the rest of the landscape of the walk I had been exposed to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVStqVMfy3h_V1RwPrePDIaywnSD96srW3PB1hLGHLiDZIKXrB3f5xDLuLzMvu1qmtVcmP4RBYtgm1C0hixu6Ng4A6ejih819yk4X2n7dNHJLqsIt2SjRcZ5irkLVqgO8gigWd30aD4TbEThkcf_8w84nWcIMq6pQRJr8YEX8JHK1oHq_R90yWEoN/s4032/20240307_144611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVStqVMfy3h_V1RwPrePDIaywnSD96srW3PB1hLGHLiDZIKXrB3f5xDLuLzMvu1qmtVcmP4RBYtgm1C0hixu6Ng4A6ejih819yk4X2n7dNHJLqsIt2SjRcZ5irkLVqgO8gigWd30aD4TbEThkcf_8w84nWcIMq6pQRJr8YEX8JHK1oHq_R90yWEoN/w400-h300/20240307_144611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>'This feels longer than 2km' I thought to myself, though I was never good with distance, (though I sometimes question the accuracy of walking trail distances, some longer ones feeling shorter than others, where or not this is a perception thing, or has to do with elevation but I have never really focused on elevation gains or distances, more just enjoying and exploring the world around me).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88gln5RhfKVcb7AGcVOC7BWIJmTCmmEmeGLxmHZUm0pmW06lURa7ky1qZWRMrL0Dpa6xlYTI9vLGgZGmcDG6CtiSPtmKb7sh2Ay8rzRMfX8gzAQ-5-WQxLi_PFyF_BlsULkDp-W-73D5d_0bPFRt0CQNWpJqIoMdCUytFaDKE4Gy-XkbIasFISX9x/s4032/20240307_144638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88gln5RhfKVcb7AGcVOC7BWIJmTCmmEmeGLxmHZUm0pmW06lURa7ky1qZWRMrL0Dpa6xlYTI9vLGgZGmcDG6CtiSPtmKb7sh2Ay8rzRMfX8gzAQ-5-WQxLi_PFyF_BlsULkDp-W-73D5d_0bPFRt0CQNWpJqIoMdCUytFaDKE4Gy-XkbIasFISX9x/w480-h640/20240307_144638.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I passed through this area, I began to hear what sounded like cars running, and I suddenly got paranoid about my car being broken into. (Though there was nothing of value in there). I tried to shake the thought from my head, wondering why I always bothered thinking negative thought about this. I thought 'there's nothing I can do' and focused on enjoying the and looking out and the natural beauty surrounding me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NxFm3qy2rysGmjtDb815IDPxu-OmufMXeEwLcaBXgLn-05lzy1l4Raey3NeLLNKC9EsjRnpRXgr1uBjeW3mv43pf5AlxZKQ2fkRI5zvb47rkA91t9LgpK_JL22IazWUwpyH7l_-DI_hZSZFUJltYe6l0WqAmTrhHyUZZp6l0rB00ut8zTFOxvjyf/s4032/20240307_144831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NxFm3qy2rysGmjtDb815IDPxu-OmufMXeEwLcaBXgLn-05lzy1l4Raey3NeLLNKC9EsjRnpRXgr1uBjeW3mv43pf5AlxZKQ2fkRI5zvb47rkA91t9LgpK_JL22IazWUwpyH7l_-DI_hZSZFUJltYe6l0WqAmTrhHyUZZp6l0rB00ut8zTFOxvjyf/w480-h640/20240307_144831.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUMEarpXbJZLeae0IJa_W5SAI1tHXnki7ZPPAid2peLSNoTnlkCzWv_lu00DbE-MmwXM1gZ-tQ8y9Dbiu_BNyhd8ycMtBzwFO3dWtLZPKkXwTBK_BfchePpuI3TZ8aHr9uUU4aC9ZzFboiqkNKMxKRw5-xuLnmu8FT9poUKR2tgQ7278PpbeXVlVs/s4032/20240307_145011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUMEarpXbJZLeae0IJa_W5SAI1tHXnki7ZPPAid2peLSNoTnlkCzWv_lu00DbE-MmwXM1gZ-tQ8y9Dbiu_BNyhd8ycMtBzwFO3dWtLZPKkXwTBK_BfchePpuI3TZ8aHr9uUU4aC9ZzFboiqkNKMxKRw5-xuLnmu8FT9poUKR2tgQ7278PpbeXVlVs/w480-h640/20240307_145011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78ZGKoXBGrw3WFZ49fp4BV4Xv3n-y5tIYax0SXlvHDtDYjFB9vNmPoVEiAi-UF8VcC6kObohBrNd-yWX9mMTpaTMLr9WYohSbRogyM9gzs55MTwmnApu8YiiczlCf_OjhtNuq7-7Q9i5FGSZIlVJG4nmQi_yeSF5hXYMow3yGvnBfVYUEHNPj0_fa/s2944/20240307_145023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78ZGKoXBGrw3WFZ49fp4BV4Xv3n-y5tIYax0SXlvHDtDYjFB9vNmPoVEiAi-UF8VcC6kObohBrNd-yWX9mMTpaTMLr9WYohSbRogyM9gzs55MTwmnApu8YiiczlCf_OjhtNuq7-7Q9i5FGSZIlVJG4nmQi_yeSF5hXYMow3yGvnBfVYUEHNPj0_fa/w480-h640/20240307_145023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I crossed a little wooden bridge, and followed the trail along for a few more minutes before reaching another built-up lookout point, the Andamira Lookout (still not Bundilla). As I walked up the stairs to this lookout I could see a waterfall down below, mostly obscured once again, while the Girrakool trail continued up, bending around back the direction I had come from. I decided to go off the track and make my way down to a better view of the waterfall, which I assumed was called 'Andamira'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7lRKt5U1Xphld7fX09WEZCPVNZuB_Ae6L5ggErP1z3vidogYAQfzUSRVmmA3vgv-U4hDsc-GrwI4W3zFgWp9vqM9QCtI4mKQ_fEQnBhFG02CgrVI3-C67zYrH8OcZnBO6ZRaU8HeloHjoirzFfg2Gj27n1TEUAmhvJgCt-caCDIjYCXPNWNY9u90/s4000/20240307_145222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7lRKt5U1Xphld7fX09WEZCPVNZuB_Ae6L5ggErP1z3vidogYAQfzUSRVmmA3vgv-U4hDsc-GrwI4W3zFgWp9vqM9QCtI4mKQ_fEQnBhFG02CgrVI3-C67zYrH8OcZnBO6ZRaU8HeloHjoirzFfg2Gj27n1TEUAmhvJgCt-caCDIjYCXPNWNY9u90/w480-h640/20240307_145222.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I sat down at this beautiful spot, finishing the last of my very limited water, taking my backpack off and trying to cool down my very sweaty back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4nt46-NYP-gqKlMvEfaxz_-doF_Gq-FunZa_9gwPNsAE3eBKtSntza3oLJUv0ChlS_KObhStNDINWNp-6jzWOf_UQPjjOcYqCsI37kfl4LbUVkeQVQxEhvcOcJs0oKlbC5_mS_0dzOcpz-2z-XmGA_TQicbbLxNVQNIM7gcZbM57egPNOQ539CIu/s4000/20240307_145253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4nt46-NYP-gqKlMvEfaxz_-doF_Gq-FunZa_9gwPNsAE3eBKtSntza3oLJUv0ChlS_KObhStNDINWNp-6jzWOf_UQPjjOcYqCsI37kfl4LbUVkeQVQxEhvcOcJs0oKlbC5_mS_0dzOcpz-2z-XmGA_TQicbbLxNVQNIM7gcZbM57egPNOQ539CIu/w480-h640/20240307_145253.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I tried not to rest to long, as I thought to myself that I had very limited time up here, visiting for my Nan's funeral, and although the temperatures were scorching, and I had now finished my water I was determined to also do the Piles Creek loop trail too.</p><p>I marched myself up the remainder of the walk, popping out at a picnic and barbecue area, which I passed through to get back on to the road that led back down to the parking area.<br />As I arrived there was a Mum and her daughter standing around their open car and I wondered if they had just done the same walk, and if they were the voices I had heard at the start of the Girrakool loop (although it is possible they were just about to start a walk), also parked up was a large truck with a man sitting inside with the truck still running, eating some food. <br />'See' I told myself. 'The noise was nothing to get paranoid about'. I settled my nerves, heading to the start of the Piles Creek track.<br /> </p><p><b>Part 2- Piles Loop Track</b></p><p>I headed to the bathroom, tempted to fill my water bottles from a tap inside. However, as I walked in a foul smell hit me, and I instantly got paranoid again that the hand tap water wasn't 'drinking water' as often in places in Australia it isn't drinking quality and can be boar water or untreated. However, there was no signage saying anything like that, but I decided against filling up my bottles and set off once more down the trail, back onto the Girrakool loop which I followed until I reached the Piles Creek turn off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiGE-sMxDSo6XO6xOj10IReSRtNb6La6g8RPNXk5HAaijMrWRI9Qh1ktz07JqVEXh2W9i43A5VnyYSFWw6hvS-13A8KBbUogYISvqlePauQnVAcGu3whBzm65uivq_zyHXtvx6l3khJzh1_COl_BHkfO-K5c3LLztDJNXXTQyzQGm62YGkwTnC5YB/s4032/20240307_150918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxiGE-sMxDSo6XO6xOj10IReSRtNb6La6g8RPNXk5HAaijMrWRI9Qh1ktz07JqVEXh2W9i43A5VnyYSFWw6hvS-13A8KBbUogYISvqlePauQnVAcGu3whBzm65uivq_zyHXtvx6l3khJzh1_COl_BHkfO-K5c3LLztDJNXXTQyzQGm62YGkwTnC5YB/w480-h640/20240307_150918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q2OifQPcUmkTbacwWMIsSBZDBl0hz9KRfgdi-mVuWj5Y4Q_Ff6hq8kkVVVjOTrqJlCS3fkSZK4HZ8c2saZ86ZN8k0x-gswy5SGayPw5hZnRtBMVH7oKnrOYXekwS9vCCtxrdjEyncqpyLmiLpFujNeOcEli4dfcpbPZeJLcf9aUfn1hIVz9vaTkP/s4032/20240307_150934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q2OifQPcUmkTbacwWMIsSBZDBl0hz9KRfgdi-mVuWj5Y4Q_Ff6hq8kkVVVjOTrqJlCS3fkSZK4HZ8c2saZ86ZN8k0x-gswy5SGayPw5hZnRtBMVH7oKnrOYXekwS9vCCtxrdjEyncqpyLmiLpFujNeOcEli4dfcpbPZeJLcf9aUfn1hIVz9vaTkP/w480-h640/20240307_150934.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflJXsL2h55gHzQXpuxZ0H-Uby2e3GRVdOIPUKKG6Lst22tv-uR9E_YzF9HhlpT0lxoKty8F3W3PpKFX7Yagh-3maIRVFzNBE9BMx577TdGj6wK7IHEql2CFWca1RYcXIP-25OZubwv-VjIr8gOmYQXlyozW2FN0utEhKFb7FT0D4IpPsKzFEGDgxe/s4032/20240307_150941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflJXsL2h55gHzQXpuxZ0H-Uby2e3GRVdOIPUKKG6Lst22tv-uR9E_YzF9HhlpT0lxoKty8F3W3PpKFX7Yagh-3maIRVFzNBE9BMx577TdGj6wK7IHEql2CFWca1RYcXIP-25OZubwv-VjIr8gOmYQXlyozW2FN0utEhKFb7FT0D4IpPsKzFEGDgxe/w480-h640/20240307_150941.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I could feel the dehydration now. That feeling like a constriction upon your brain, a tightness and a headache with the slight dizzy feeling. 'I'm totally one of those dickheads that heads off unprepared, without informing anyone where they're going in case of an accident'. I shook my head at myself, realising my own arrogance and self-assuredness that nothing would occur to me.</p><p>Suddenly I came about the turn off finally, to Bundilla Lookout. (Bundilla being the waterfall near the steppingstones and end trail of the Piles Creek track I had followed for a short while).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpDviQJmnTuZxPC4PG5Hpch027RIqUCiY4lLTXxchyphenhyphenOKr_5fqGrT3AbKsx9VKabqUPsDSbJ5cx8UPXwH2FVbzrPuf2l8oN0w-g3lyc5RbupM5DHGuJ-o14f3GWbmIYsSOi_j_IuoBqgPwtJnyGbI-7IwD0a1A4PxQMM6M5hTJdPe0dxqVD-SPhDnF/s4032/20240307_151230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpDviQJmnTuZxPC4PG5Hpch027RIqUCiY4lLTXxchyphenhyphenOKr_5fqGrT3AbKsx9VKabqUPsDSbJ5cx8UPXwH2FVbzrPuf2l8oN0w-g3lyc5RbupM5DHGuJ-o14f3GWbmIYsSOi_j_IuoBqgPwtJnyGbI-7IwD0a1A4PxQMM6M5hTJdPe0dxqVD-SPhDnF/w480-h640/20240307_151230.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4N88crISLLTZPU0Yn3Zn_T4QzEC6vEI3Xr4-rvk_WRt69JTjMvYbH1EdwIorbUj69ODVh-zKUQmc1BRRVW0wBruZcZ9HwY6PnM_OEjHlANaLoILFsvlhb45VLthmynhhDT9xGBI1v1FJwQyaUs8T5yXK5GV0sZgQ6KUVsDU1J0giaIZtHaSenqSY/s4032/20240307_151255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4N88crISLLTZPU0Yn3Zn_T4QzEC6vEI3Xr4-rvk_WRt69JTjMvYbH1EdwIorbUj69ODVh-zKUQmc1BRRVW0wBruZcZ9HwY6PnM_OEjHlANaLoILFsvlhb45VLthmynhhDT9xGBI1v1FJwQyaUs8T5yXK5GV0sZgQ6KUVsDU1J0giaIZtHaSenqSY/w480-h640/20240307_151255.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the steppingstones.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I turned to continue on the walk, but noticed something, a splatter of blood, I turned and there beside me was a dead body-</p><p>Just kidding. Unreliable narrator, sorry. (Just trying to keep you on your toes.) No, the blood splatter, was just the dripping of sap, on fallen leaves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7LRXkGJXmrtphKebji-ZicDtzr5IAFpbkvo6cZcqmEwx1QtTNh8sHXqRTetzx3wOgU6FZ6OXVbvdktoJ1sNCshy5RfRTeLn7gNZPv68FxiewdnBNABOo1ruw-DIATic0xhacb7iB6_MM5QBOVtjNX_EQYG3zpiG3ADu2dNpmRZm_2yC6s6eBZfbC/s4032/20240307_151428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7LRXkGJXmrtphKebji-ZicDtzr5IAFpbkvo6cZcqmEwx1QtTNh8sHXqRTetzx3wOgU6FZ6OXVbvdktoJ1sNCshy5RfRTeLn7gNZPv68FxiewdnBNABOo1ruw-DIATic0xhacb7iB6_MM5QBOVtjNX_EQYG3zpiG3ADu2dNpmRZm_2yC6s6eBZfbC/w480-h640/20240307_151428.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued walking while I actually thought in my head about writing that trick about stumbling upon a body, and I found myself doing it often as I continued along the Piles Creek walk. Writing blog post narration in my head, even trying to take my head and stop myself from doing it and just focusing on the walk (in all honesty the narration I thought while walking was probably better than what I end up writing, more visceral, as everything was there and in front of me and not the recollections of someone with bad memory ever since their chemotherapy).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf72d69UmQIH0VZmVH1CXGU49xOwvgHksnxGYD_1h81WgflY_zJ6NAYC4le0ABtTSRlIFYJFBYan0QVccAbZTrirN3dq2hKKUG0h0WTmSgR9haDHaNvyMSCXOLDOw3s0BLDrKCW_J-jSJFeXxG5WmIE4C0xVseiihU_NELT94LE_mYYuhC1DGFmdLy/s4032/20240307_151524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf72d69UmQIH0VZmVH1CXGU49xOwvgHksnxGYD_1h81WgflY_zJ6NAYC4le0ABtTSRlIFYJFBYan0QVccAbZTrirN3dq2hKKUG0h0WTmSgR9haDHaNvyMSCXOLDOw3s0BLDrKCW_J-jSJFeXxG5WmIE4C0xVseiihU_NELT94LE_mYYuhC1DGFmdLy/w480-h640/20240307_151524.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsN9nSn_GdbyJovnmh2jwiqrJQ8XJmHru2c7MunlvYXPoDQY81FSwNLvinfKtUkuhS_cuLViofG6VOt5HO2NFTpeNm92coPS0hyphenhyphen-e_JlV0p4fMbTEqIT0PatA7EDPFWImlTQFjPaUFSlus9dVmINbP-fu0Z_538XZ4HfzcbYNQQgV0v9PZjwNBReq/s4032/20240307_151624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsN9nSn_GdbyJovnmh2jwiqrJQ8XJmHru2c7MunlvYXPoDQY81FSwNLvinfKtUkuhS_cuLViofG6VOt5HO2NFTpeNm92coPS0hyphenhyphen-e_JlV0p4fMbTEqIT0PatA7EDPFWImlTQFjPaUFSlus9dVmINbP-fu0Z_538XZ4HfzcbYNQQgV0v9PZjwNBReq/w480-h640/20240307_151624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The track was a lot more uneven and undulating, with more ups-and-downs frequently, and a less stable surface. I thought back on the sign that had said Girrakool was graded easy, and this was graded as moderate-hard. 'Who grades these things' I wondered.</p><p>Soon a little dirt trail branched off on my left and I followed it down to a view over a wider section of the creek.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEbZTsB3j0jCkd2CFIusOwvBYkAGw4cRbZj2f78Y5oAIrLq-threnaJFw-FHRZlnsmlYvfk8GNk6uWRpck2-B6xhyJmjAatdpJoY0Fmw89DhwYEmBM8PMzHG6iHesFsJ6jlIx1OnPLRa7zJSK4kWkqd5s-DNzxpsogKxj9pNu8XulghfYxIvlN73q/s4000/20240307_151905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEbZTsB3j0jCkd2CFIusOwvBYkAGw4cRbZj2f78Y5oAIrLq-threnaJFw-FHRZlnsmlYvfk8GNk6uWRpck2-B6xhyJmjAatdpJoY0Fmw89DhwYEmBM8PMzHG6iHesFsJ6jlIx1OnPLRa7zJSK4kWkqd5s-DNzxpsogKxj9pNu8XulghfYxIvlN73q/w400-h300/20240307_151905.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSYdpLFkfsY6xK08B6eS7okxgjgGAvnw-HoK-t9o40OhvCNsqgL17cnErLK8GFLQ_2TsriyWk4HMv8IFoUbzfBRg5dZOREOp2RhuKj737Z4zX3hymIK8MdgflQV-2v1bJao-5JFRT-m6tccR_ynGpKIf7I-vh6RwTjbKB9k07Zel5KbORxBI_-Wtk/s4000/20240307_151849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSYdpLFkfsY6xK08B6eS7okxgjgGAvnw-HoK-t9o40OhvCNsqgL17cnErLK8GFLQ_2TsriyWk4HMv8IFoUbzfBRg5dZOREOp2RhuKj737Z4zX3hymIK8MdgflQV-2v1bJao-5JFRT-m6tccR_ynGpKIf7I-vh6RwTjbKB9k07Zel5KbORxBI_-Wtk/w480-h640/20240307_151849.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>There were water Dragons all over the place here, but such a distance away, that when I zoomed in on my phone the pictures were just blurring and not worth taking. 'I need a good camera' I thought' but knew it would be a hassle to carry around on walks. I was about to leave when one of the Dragons jumped off a tree branch that was jutting out of the water and began swimming, so I took my phone out to try and film it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyd8tr5JojFciqSbW96DKh7zIp7YDq0Pe03ZzQYMJjyXrDxWoPj1kxYS2otevUK7BiNxq5UkvGzLQk1FgpzEg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>I made my way back up, and just as I stepped out onto the track, I jolted out of surprise, as there was a girl walking on her own in the opposite direction. I hadn't expected to see anyone, but I nodded a polite acknowledgement, while she said hello. </p><p>I felt a bit of awkwardness at not having said hi back and wondered if she had felt that shock that I had, being a woman walking alone on a track and coming across a man. I wondered if that would have freaked her out (with recent case all over the media about Smantha Murphy.) Then again, she might not have even thought about it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRSe7YAQPSabJz11YacZTlAAPTmIkarng44h54tsht2HlQuw4FgZRrOf0rVYuF0J0jFgNs0O482BwBACooCTO3WDHiVvRoSyx-QjFWXzxnoTJBdPs4JI10bBUjYiBfVUBTiqKiW-cmLbQiHJ_-WLZEjpLxvgYdFJT19xkxBMMf5kN7KJcK5WTx_Hg/s4032/20240307_152139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRSe7YAQPSabJz11YacZTlAAPTmIkarng44h54tsht2HlQuw4FgZRrOf0rVYuF0J0jFgNs0O482BwBACooCTO3WDHiVvRoSyx-QjFWXzxnoTJBdPs4JI10bBUjYiBfVUBTiqKiW-cmLbQiHJ_-WLZEjpLxvgYdFJT19xkxBMMf5kN7KJcK5WTx_Hg/w480-h640/20240307_152139.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaULCjHdzsjX6Z9JjnzsWqurX056ifPHkmT6vZAzL7X_d5JksqUEalG36fvuB__xughUqqSae9vFnjvjtvCh-dsSTEO7CRyqDA7m-8y855TucN3kaiSN5xDkY6VtuWRVj0Zu-arLRCmCNqRrruCy7OhIrr2Rtl7DuQ2WHKdGSAyRXubrMi668039Q1/s4032/20240307_152206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaULCjHdzsjX6Z9JjnzsWqurX056ifPHkmT6vZAzL7X_d5JksqUEalG36fvuB__xughUqqSae9vFnjvjtvCh-dsSTEO7CRyqDA7m-8y855TucN3kaiSN5xDkY6VtuWRVj0Zu-arLRCmCNqRrruCy7OhIrr2Rtl7DuQ2WHKdGSAyRXubrMi668039Q1/w480-h640/20240307_152206.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlFibbvYkeolA5DKf5WiOxQRL4FBJeFiRhTK21GplZG9mQE65meWxGtSTH5V_k8b6ddvrKA88jFnT25GlCDZeTi2u5dwcowkgPXHFKQMWODrkkq8c9tzSlDbpU4EtkEEV3PEWzQLGV30o2iRklz9Byzl3HUzgMQh_im9yCYIzAnGwhyKBr1RVQpDK/s4032/20240307_152315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlFibbvYkeolA5DKf5WiOxQRL4FBJeFiRhTK21GplZG9mQE65meWxGtSTH5V_k8b6ddvrKA88jFnT25GlCDZeTi2u5dwcowkgPXHFKQMWODrkkq8c9tzSlDbpU4EtkEEV3PEWzQLGV30o2iRklz9Byzl3HUzgMQh_im9yCYIzAnGwhyKBr1RVQpDK/w480-h640/20240307_152315.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVnb4But7X4ZYPYJnpJ_Aas9rDcJUeivjCTtpWml09NJtPW_55cAnU1wJquIoRq-0zgMFFb4CHXgDDXdr7OEBG9BlrRhYFuGoOFa7HUaEy8dNtgvRGk0ZiBAGPwxmisZm_vnsX5rHNOs7lohMx2S7sMqvVcse13HNKjPUOYHWAaCDHF9IlbZ7zxLw/s4032/20240307_152343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVnb4But7X4ZYPYJnpJ_Aas9rDcJUeivjCTtpWml09NJtPW_55cAnU1wJquIoRq-0zgMFFb4CHXgDDXdr7OEBG9BlrRhYFuGoOFa7HUaEy8dNtgvRGk0ZiBAGPwxmisZm_vnsX5rHNOs7lohMx2S7sMqvVcse13HNKjPUOYHWAaCDHF9IlbZ7zxLw/w480-h640/20240307_152343.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The narration in my head continued, documenting my thoughts and feelings that occurred about not only the scenery, but how I was feeling at the time (which by now I have of course forgotten). I kept trying to get my brain to stop doing it, but it seemed compelled to do so. Meanwhile I continued dripping with sweat, the dizziness, and headache growing and I could feel a fuzziness in my vision.</p><p>'Maybe KFC wasn't the best idea'. I thought to myself, feeling the lethargy of such a heavy lunch now.</p><p>The trail had led up along the side walls of the valley, and continued along the face of this, and began winding downwards, with large portions of stone jutting out above me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyRqyUFHZMgggvWV4TNBrR4A88P_N7mBx3_fSCKFBS1hnzLX5RNoMu8qp72h3BXMorRfZQheQMBOkcsjCczLKyYRK0qA5Laq8LSM1AScZqU8Jtx0x8ccr_sI0AhMAUTcwsRR2aZdO9Gg0mVygveqdzQSbY2nNw-xEdvAkWQM6RGbrGeZioef7Bzms/s4032/20240307_152438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyRqyUFHZMgggvWV4TNBrR4A88P_N7mBx3_fSCKFBS1hnzLX5RNoMu8qp72h3BXMorRfZQheQMBOkcsjCczLKyYRK0qA5Laq8LSM1AScZqU8Jtx0x8ccr_sI0AhMAUTcwsRR2aZdO9Gg0mVygveqdzQSbY2nNw-xEdvAkWQM6RGbrGeZioef7Bzms/w480-h640/20240307_152438.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaxYNbOIr9zOfChntWMf5jpwsWVD0KIEKV0VEc6MRB_Ff6OrhG0NdTkWyb0qNOwE1TvvVe9V-692sRwD32NUlLDc_DsvJNSY2kJmAT09ZhMucZfuim-1MPXxgPlaGO6p-WcIavVvvI6yNjmoGUzuRZ8mKgBteKMo2S43d1QPZOPPlBOqQ9zc_jWzL/s2944/20240307_152852.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaxYNbOIr9zOfChntWMf5jpwsWVD0KIEKV0VEc6MRB_Ff6OrhG0NdTkWyb0qNOwE1TvvVe9V-692sRwD32NUlLDc_DsvJNSY2kJmAT09ZhMucZfuim-1MPXxgPlaGO6p-WcIavVvvI6yNjmoGUzuRZ8mKgBteKMo2S43d1QPZOPPlBOqQ9zc_jWzL/w480-h640/20240307_152852.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6vWxJrX40diUmzT5Vu8gm7KzooiqAt7VpLsA6efPr__fPOmQ4OrOWBCiUN4f_MjgtgcO0Mf6CfYkSDiQVvYbFyei_xQ3Q3eT9q7_Tb7hXIvpPxvtRPABjSVwUiacG9Q1L5kWyNKT4ptmBrx3CQKAW5qq__haEBfQT8cwNGILAnLgLhqNMFO3MbdM/s4032/20240307_153202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6vWxJrX40diUmzT5Vu8gm7KzooiqAt7VpLsA6efPr__fPOmQ4OrOWBCiUN4f_MjgtgcO0Mf6CfYkSDiQVvYbFyei_xQ3Q3eT9q7_Tb7hXIvpPxvtRPABjSVwUiacG9Q1L5kWyNKT4ptmBrx3CQKAW5qq__haEBfQT8cwNGILAnLgLhqNMFO3MbdM/w480-h640/20240307_153202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XM4wseaTd0dmswOMFysmpsNu2A9KKl0bUM1Ge7IC9OZZ4q1do1LgKtDzYWj67WFi7L98eGtdCP1P7AJHyPiLViT5ZcTd-_b-kmJ-zipjJGYo50Ca8Bl2istAadVl5oIlSSWQKiZrx_8REDYQaE35TK93RKnbFS6rLYN0XOVPM3-A6ZRbbnSHO0Qw/s4032/20240307_153307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XM4wseaTd0dmswOMFysmpsNu2A9KKl0bUM1Ge7IC9OZZ4q1do1LgKtDzYWj67WFi7L98eGtdCP1P7AJHyPiLViT5ZcTd-_b-kmJ-zipjJGYo50Ca8Bl2istAadVl5oIlSSWQKiZrx_8REDYQaE35TK93RKnbFS6rLYN0XOVPM3-A6ZRbbnSHO0Qw/w480-h640/20240307_153307.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I found this portion of the track a lot more wet along the track, and wondered if I would encounter any leeches or find any ticks on me (I didn't).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtES0sxc81xfU0dJRwz-kUBVPtwPDg0oTg1WdIoaK3bk-RnAADZ2sSN1kIvkkkgHOTBfhoOq1JJvcKt-KcdcVVhxDkh5sc40hTPC637rUx979cBl21CzTWx32aLXtJM0WaQxEZ5MYd8a3RnXjxqQrQ3d-GXVjlDAlQzjt97Omoyvv1qoFSd7BPVWzh/s4032/20240307_153519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtES0sxc81xfU0dJRwz-kUBVPtwPDg0oTg1WdIoaK3bk-RnAADZ2sSN1kIvkkkgHOTBfhoOq1JJvcKt-KcdcVVhxDkh5sc40hTPC637rUx979cBl21CzTWx32aLXtJM0WaQxEZ5MYd8a3RnXjxqQrQ3d-GXVjlDAlQzjt97Omoyvv1qoFSd7BPVWzh/w480-h640/20240307_153519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVUCIGP1B7Vx9FpNwffwn46qoSvUL0vAwHPPNyxabql1o0tSJZTBZTad1Uw1jGfYpSzUtvyOdnDLEW4thhyDzjzD5ZZ7Kvs8JWx2oaw0TzvLKBfzpPvN2n8K6V7iHCsH7EaEyVKVg-UcyOmnskXY1YkGT2W1MA9HrL2h7F6-cd_T2WBmH7J4bwuJE/s4032/20240307_153708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVUCIGP1B7Vx9FpNwffwn46qoSvUL0vAwHPPNyxabql1o0tSJZTBZTad1Uw1jGfYpSzUtvyOdnDLEW4thhyDzjzD5ZZ7Kvs8JWx2oaw0TzvLKBfzpPvN2n8K6V7iHCsH7EaEyVKVg-UcyOmnskXY1YkGT2W1MA9HrL2h7F6-cd_T2WBmH7J4bwuJE/w480-h640/20240307_153708.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA7k46gtKCy7I5eokRTkeCD26BJeLZoX2dTipsuQ3c0GPGPSiR5ue0FBSUb7i1Wpmblka_uAgOpysO7_ntXbE9VpSYgVKrztYDE7i73UuPtdT9BrGaAHlEetjcaevpODgkVNGWaH0cibthTtunpnJbzJI7VgrAiVD9GH_SODgR2a8ubNCABDl36hB/s4032/20240307_153750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNA7k46gtKCy7I5eokRTkeCD26BJeLZoX2dTipsuQ3c0GPGPSiR5ue0FBSUb7i1Wpmblka_uAgOpysO7_ntXbE9VpSYgVKrztYDE7i73UuPtdT9BrGaAHlEetjcaevpODgkVNGWaH0cibthTtunpnJbzJI7VgrAiVD9GH_SODgR2a8ubNCABDl36hB/w480-h640/20240307_153750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGmk8FtLlmNNQFZZAb3ugU9BreHEG1UoUq2q5NpVMSDKgSi86Q3mXYMdVFBzBM7MSolzbofivb6XkZkVuEOg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Wandering through this section I dried to stick to drier sections (which I would have done anyway), but I was trying to stop mud gathering on my shoes, not wanting to spread any of the root-rot fungus. Passing through the wetter section I noticed a blob of orange/caramel covered slime building up in a pile of water and I wondered what it was.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was beginning a notice a change in the landscape around me. It wasn't huge but ever so slightly different trees began to appear around me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came upon another fork in the path. One heading straight, and one heading up the valley wall more.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXgWP1ut2E56yL2mBTfJrjU27dy6GfIr_wXUEkUWJKl1P4mFoGPfeF4dq-18OnNVzz8H6urslhx9NJevZF2uGASTppnAq6GSmHSpqaRlE63VuUTRfAg6nE7ga2e3aKtOfKZTfBYdnteSVtAeazGhN7H2Us9WBWiHxWyVDjtbIL35egvJCY7DuxwcZ/s4032/20240307_154501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXgWP1ut2E56yL2mBTfJrjU27dy6GfIr_wXUEkUWJKl1P4mFoGPfeF4dq-18OnNVzz8H6urslhx9NJevZF2uGASTppnAq6GSmHSpqaRlE63VuUTRfAg6nE7ga2e3aKtOfKZTfBYdnteSVtAeazGhN7H2Us9WBWiHxWyVDjtbIL35egvJCY7DuxwcZ/w400-h300/20240307_154501.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>'Well, I have to see what's up there!' I thought to myself, and quickly turned off the track to follow the other trail up. As it bended left it opened up to a large cut in the cliff that was pretty magnificent to look at.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToy0TXm4R4dR1KGN6CXqWOxn0qEWUqmXCmkK0W2JeJfIJN2pYxtnx6fDFvCiR9c7N3dPGFI1Z51ImrmAAtOnvmnOfTW_i2bAZEIB6YiawYzo3_N7H0uSOTitveVJ_C0GVaPKe9yASIKW06DyK-6mt0BMDaGquEeEMG-zvePSqXjTxbb1X5Mxn5iUe/s4032/20240307_154532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToy0TXm4R4dR1KGN6CXqWOxn0qEWUqmXCmkK0W2JeJfIJN2pYxtnx6fDFvCiR9c7N3dPGFI1Z51ImrmAAtOnvmnOfTW_i2bAZEIB6YiawYzo3_N7H0uSOTitveVJ_C0GVaPKe9yASIKW06DyK-6mt0BMDaGquEeEMG-zvePSqXjTxbb1X5Mxn5iUe/w400-h300/20240307_154532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I followed the cliff along and found that it had a trail that eventually linked up with the main track anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>I began to question how far in I was, as I felt like I had walked further then 2km and I thought the walk was 4km, so I assumed it would have to cross Piles Creek and head back the other way soon, however the trail just seemed to keep on going, however I noticed a trend downwards which I assumed would be leading to a crossing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mFaMd3DtTcJk0ydaUnCeZl3-MzmBhRXVCFVrsxWXezPwnxDTVidFne35fjSrCMJHjTtN7zVhjYP-DoS_CulTAzxiJMMmPlNJkdZMGywCl8pfxUtokcHD8Ce32KaB-7hmiX3JF9XqwlLkbUAN4M1vyh13cvRxbzLCET89Iy5Zb7w-DR5cjB56meA6/s4032/20240307_154819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mFaMd3DtTcJk0ydaUnCeZl3-MzmBhRXVCFVrsxWXezPwnxDTVidFne35fjSrCMJHjTtN7zVhjYP-DoS_CulTAzxiJMMmPlNJkdZMGywCl8pfxUtokcHD8Ce32KaB-7hmiX3JF9XqwlLkbUAN4M1vyh13cvRxbzLCET89Iy5Zb7w-DR5cjB56meA6/w480-h640/20240307_154819.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I walked on, brain caught in the continual cycle of self-narration and wondering when the track would cross the creek and turn back. My thought was broken by the sound of trees above me rubbing loudly together with the wind, which had now picked up, and I hoped that I wouldn't need to worry about any falling. Just as I thought this, I turned a corner and found a fallen tree pressed against the cliff wall for me to walk underneath.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-sP3N9nFv7XKX82CJj-PN9fUfiG1XejJXN-tZpqOtHosAv9KN3TMvoM-hMaxpDFHfX76lbJzbHa769raas259YmGGx6bvh7eZhXVaWf3-lf3_JJLl-6X7zXVgRkjEv69gd2b6ZCJRY2cBYbdn-Gx3QnO7LIn-cf8oXmizOsRmPtQyh1jXw8iaCsv/s4032/20240307_154954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-sP3N9nFv7XKX82CJj-PN9fUfiG1XejJXN-tZpqOtHosAv9KN3TMvoM-hMaxpDFHfX76lbJzbHa769raas259YmGGx6bvh7eZhXVaWf3-lf3_JJLl-6X7zXVgRkjEv69gd2b6ZCJRY2cBYbdn-Gx3QnO7LIn-cf8oXmizOsRmPtQyh1jXw8iaCsv/w480-h640/20240307_154954.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I passed another large grass tree that looked like it had been hedged, showing that the trail was maintained (you'd hope so with a park rangers station build along the road on the way into the carpark).</div><div><br /></div><div>I noticed through the bush and up the wall on the opposite side to me a built lookout, giving me assurance that I was getting close to the crossing. I then came along two more fallen trees to walk under, but I was too happy with the breeze cooling me down ever so slightly to stress about it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJR65t9r_g2cmUGkQy4dnwWq_SL9QeetTU262WkGUGQ_u62FeOgIL6xOanYLUAR9K1Jm4B6gEppUiNlZQzJuWy55_Ns28rK5aVyEpqcjXQJ9ujyb41nGEzvICNniKbwimP7CtKSSGKfOBY2HZj1bjR0X99iHlfdIUcP9ulJLR64hNvn45G9aJ1UFV2/s4032/20240307_155235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJR65t9r_g2cmUGkQy4dnwWq_SL9QeetTU262WkGUGQ_u62FeOgIL6xOanYLUAR9K1Jm4B6gEppUiNlZQzJuWy55_Ns28rK5aVyEpqcjXQJ9ujyb41nGEzvICNniKbwimP7CtKSSGKfOBY2HZj1bjR0X99iHlfdIUcP9ulJLR64hNvn45G9aJ1UFV2/w480-h640/20240307_155235.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The trail began to head downhill pretty substantially now. Which to me signified that I was going to have to head uphill again once I crossed the creek to get to the lookout I had seen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwAnAP0wg-kXsm2DkzikT_OJzrSH-BRJiNYvTuP8TSRbWHU7kyLxMy-k1TO93gwGlhx4XIGDmmU0K9_4Z0sLTVVFLihjqeDHDD6s0-Ab8SsT9KiTH-I3I258YeMNw524AhoJKpXgRbspAIws3zOaQjDAiDpuSs62q8Tk9whnon9bI0yaxs-O9XOyN/s4032/20240307_155314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwAnAP0wg-kXsm2DkzikT_OJzrSH-BRJiNYvTuP8TSRbWHU7kyLxMy-k1TO93gwGlhx4XIGDmmU0K9_4Z0sLTVVFLihjqeDHDD6s0-Ab8SsT9KiTH-I3I258YeMNw524AhoJKpXgRbspAIws3zOaQjDAiDpuSs62q8Tk9whnon9bI0yaxs-O9XOyN/w480-h640/20240307_155314.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1cebD9L83qNfSmpDGfIhQN2gTXb1DauhzKIoJEWei6IFCdxP8-8nf5ebQTftw72WSTrAo1XyFfGLEcXF0g8gf55dfvU21nRwGOwPCaKrdNFGU_i6muzq6U51cMoLykkorJinVPoLctycDyZut9EZSWQC6iWRER2bSSTwG0_NjCZL-YxPUOKlGcOj/s4032/20240307_155345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1cebD9L83qNfSmpDGfIhQN2gTXb1DauhzKIoJEWei6IFCdxP8-8nf5ebQTftw72WSTrAo1XyFfGLEcXF0g8gf55dfvU21nRwGOwPCaKrdNFGU_i6muzq6U51cMoLykkorJinVPoLctycDyZut9EZSWQC6iWRER2bSSTwG0_NjCZL-YxPUOKlGcOj/w480-h640/20240307_155345.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGXJs06JSbof8ojmkkUmYrfeFplEhe_nv1B0CvHAZKtFWRkFtBPx91-FCxOOkTfUsfqKeomHhTb3pbjobDU9RSe21ZCWWuR9x7z_a2_wVnh7PcinHiNcDhMeWdtHXGADKvn0bTOXV8gi05IO3NmLlJi5xp9iCv1Enms7G8d7IjEg832Yfi8whi5YX/s4032/20240307_155519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGXJs06JSbof8ojmkkUmYrfeFplEhe_nv1B0CvHAZKtFWRkFtBPx91-FCxOOkTfUsfqKeomHhTb3pbjobDU9RSe21ZCWWuR9x7z_a2_wVnh7PcinHiNcDhMeWdtHXGADKvn0bTOXV8gi05IO3NmLlJi5xp9iCv1Enms7G8d7IjEg832Yfi8whi5YX/w480-h640/20240307_155519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As soon as the trail leveled out, it was back uphill once more.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4EE53khQamsgSB-q8gqAp5YtxlyZHEPbYXbPvr0haM-U-eW8ijm7Cgz628LCGqB6HcNO1cGHjzk6_f0hP-RaqRK7EABS0i06M3Un57M8g9spZnH95yvxaMr9PRbRIp-qRVT6XYx5rsA1ENPcvg_bYloyn2Gl6TIwdA16eLG-aIaNVhjwkb-KgU0R/s4032/20240307_155545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4EE53khQamsgSB-q8gqAp5YtxlyZHEPbYXbPvr0haM-U-eW8ijm7Cgz628LCGqB6HcNO1cGHjzk6_f0hP-RaqRK7EABS0i06M3Un57M8g9spZnH95yvxaMr9PRbRIp-qRVT6XYx5rsA1ENPcvg_bYloyn2Gl6TIwdA16eLG-aIaNVhjwkb-KgU0R/w400-h300/20240307_155545.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89AGqKbX2d3qyxwf0rY0AbwM9FpXfRgrVwKRFRwYMXaMDYKrhyQC5k7OK0GpOF4aOEgOEf8FhqEowDVQ8eGp7PyORvxNPEoVFpGvbiSF361vBh85MBN7qHfDUQgTozHegh0PAkOTwmlv_hzJQdYl6h5P5LfJ2fUiK5esKX91oVVmG_jqqGfgSFRQj/s4032/20240307_155705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89AGqKbX2d3qyxwf0rY0AbwM9FpXfRgrVwKRFRwYMXaMDYKrhyQC5k7OK0GpOF4aOEgOEf8FhqEowDVQ8eGp7PyORvxNPEoVFpGvbiSF361vBh85MBN7qHfDUQgTozHegh0PAkOTwmlv_hzJQdYl6h5P5LfJ2fUiK5esKX91oVVmG_jqqGfgSFRQj/w480-h640/20240307_155705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHRdN5rZiPz-jNRl3SW3SCJRm8qI3xZ4rS9DRWNa1Rjk_77mkwXTzkczUGnyvxox3aPKygE3E4tgyADnyXq0L-5r6mk3U6AUTAjxGQjtG9_9VZg42eDumA1C1e6yk43jfWaSC1bAcmsqbOdGI534FgzepWhyphenhyphenF8xgP9FaKGfDklLkY_OQanf16H92M/s4032/20240307_155819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHRdN5rZiPz-jNRl3SW3SCJRm8qI3xZ4rS9DRWNa1Rjk_77mkwXTzkczUGnyvxox3aPKygE3E4tgyADnyXq0L-5r6mk3U6AUTAjxGQjtG9_9VZg42eDumA1C1e6yk43jfWaSC1bAcmsqbOdGI534FgzepWhyphenhyphenF8xgP9FaKGfDklLkY_OQanf16H92M/w480-h640/20240307_155819.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As soon as I reached the top I was heading back downhill. My heart sank as every time the track had begun downhill, I had thought I was about to reach a crossing. I paused, wiping away sweat and taking in a breath. My headache was awful now, and every time I quickly pulled out my phone to snap a photo, I felt like looking at the screen made my headache so much worse.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnOCibokeY1ykV1SXsvkUYtSG9AHC9cV1iytNXZIZ9hyoai0bV99VGNc6w7rjDXCgwlBuYQJOZXx0uATILQlLF4JAfrwRUhBW0eplZnkw5dTI5fplfUDzgyOqERUZxb77IONbZPdOrjO9XJ_E9YZsFxRI2pk-amIqzlvltUJAxg8dktDE6iAmZE6P/s4032/20240307_155847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnOCibokeY1ykV1SXsvkUYtSG9AHC9cV1iytNXZIZ9hyoai0bV99VGNc6w7rjDXCgwlBuYQJOZXx0uATILQlLF4JAfrwRUhBW0eplZnkw5dTI5fplfUDzgyOqERUZxb77IONbZPdOrjO9XJ_E9YZsFxRI2pk-amIqzlvltUJAxg8dktDE6iAmZE6P/w400-h300/20240307_155847.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH6lkztGAcyV1Hd5Zh8aytJTgmPkAlBMNyAh1RLU7dXAkgZefja2w8sKZtTaRl4yoxXRhXqy8YeE9tm-Q_QW_NTP4V-EZ036H_ZXF0Mg99W2BDaptBJehbp2mwa_pdLaZF5wFSAxUI_uTvqKDXrD1KAwPPSOsUPR8EARhjYSIVNOE-cnqENej-cKi/s4032/20240307_160126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH6lkztGAcyV1Hd5Zh8aytJTgmPkAlBMNyAh1RLU7dXAkgZefja2w8sKZtTaRl4yoxXRhXqy8YeE9tm-Q_QW_NTP4V-EZ036H_ZXF0Mg99W2BDaptBJehbp2mwa_pdLaZF5wFSAxUI_uTvqKDXrD1KAwPPSOsUPR8EARhjYSIVNOE-cnqENej-cKi/w480-h640/20240307_160126.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If a tree falls in the woods and there's no one there to take a photo did I even blog?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I finally reached the creek which I could see through the trees, and I thought I could see some stairs, however I followed the path along past those stairs, and soon saw a large set of stairs leading up to a big bridge in front of me.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgch8WwHP5bXPvzfgdrpiQZuxliuV5W9lkGMFdWPU2lqNR9W4o_ocYT-cnw6prxl8CF0xtgsLj5F9YsmvBqiJgrUK3toDzEGAwuK_q6suQfAkkk2J83wFvqAuobKpkd-rrclH0OBz88zcRuZtKXOL1-dy0zqqS56Jm2Htv6ENuLCcJu1yNeQu48TfVP/s4000/20240307_160422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgch8WwHP5bXPvzfgdrpiQZuxliuV5W9lkGMFdWPU2lqNR9W4o_ocYT-cnw6prxl8CF0xtgsLj5F9YsmvBqiJgrUK3toDzEGAwuK_q6suQfAkkk2J83wFvqAuobKpkd-rrclH0OBz88zcRuZtKXOL1-dy0zqqS56Jm2Htv6ENuLCcJu1yNeQu48TfVP/w480-h640/20240307_160422.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The little signpost pointed left over the bridge for the Piles Creek walk, while heading straight for the Great North Walk (which in the carpark had a sign saying sections of that were closed at the time).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1evpkm61Q6ZWyMa63G-dSS2DWS5cKDRvlOnMN9z30rKK1Gxmb11hc736eFweXnU16xUtNrZSYi0pF5uEYQ7RnrGtykEdI29bzXnMNd85v_C4pLg6vAVhaAFII9cYvPzLY9cWxx2vKdrvs7dJ0bUjifqCyBmnNxxG5eerD5akTAQpbS7fh32dR4wy/s4000/20240307_160450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1evpkm61Q6ZWyMa63G-dSS2DWS5cKDRvlOnMN9z30rKK1Gxmb11hc736eFweXnU16xUtNrZSYi0pF5uEYQ7RnrGtykEdI29bzXnMNd85v_C4pLg6vAVhaAFII9cYvPzLY9cWxx2vKdrvs7dJ0bUjifqCyBmnNxxG5eerD5akTAQpbS7fh32dR4wy/w480-h640/20240307_160450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpXxZmf2ZQM9ZAUx-r2tDuNFJK_D6sQ-QfHqqVk7J5-rYq2aWXrejZYlNuluGLcs9wIvA8L7HUNlUWnTBb3g8jzfkaJX8uONfsKrU_C26BEp9nZ3SBxCZ6mt2ZHecxuVrnf4WBgarP-Q2vnrqJ_FhwMpvZucj5H6prknGoO1xe2oe-NmmkC1JtppA/s2944/20240307_160637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpXxZmf2ZQM9ZAUx-r2tDuNFJK_D6sQ-QfHqqVk7J5-rYq2aWXrejZYlNuluGLcs9wIvA8L7HUNlUWnTBb3g8jzfkaJX8uONfsKrU_C26BEp9nZ3SBxCZ6mt2ZHecxuVrnf4WBgarP-Q2vnrqJ_FhwMpvZucj5H6prknGoO1xe2oe-NmmkC1JtppA/w480-h640/20240307_160637.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I looked left over the bridge, I could see the old, faded stair I had seen through the bushes, the remnants of an old bridge that probably crossed over the creek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8mx34iy1hh4DY5NSj-fQwY_9-OH6x0PQfJgxct46WGz2fg2-Bfxi475G5IqM3Qbfzxf30mbJpCp9hzJXWE_U4s3z3MjQp83o7LmSsvts0HrCTRiObCGFi_-UOg_u-ya0A5kr4GFSmYalIBiEU9YaOg5SA_4azPWCoja-2WPkpWd0dgbzD2yWs9P8/s4032/20240307_160656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8mx34iy1hh4DY5NSj-fQwY_9-OH6x0PQfJgxct46WGz2fg2-Bfxi475G5IqM3Qbfzxf30mbJpCp9hzJXWE_U4s3z3MjQp83o7LmSsvts0HrCTRiObCGFi_-UOg_u-ya0A5kr4GFSmYalIBiEU9YaOg5SA_4azPWCoja-2WPkpWd0dgbzD2yWs9P8/w480-h640/20240307_160656.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2Mb3lmNTxJseU8sHNxZxb4cMMMLOEbK1PtijeQcFqhFyL8QiuS1upus_al9M6wJOCfqEH8lcUoNff-nU5XWmbXJdSgrFkSaQC3IEgSmeTtGSc-i7tRm7LaJ7Y9SJ1BibvESVkZ8gk6VZmucQo9Hz71T2hqi0yIPpW0H2xxmwLtz9lmD-5s7La764/s4000/20240307_160700.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2Mb3lmNTxJseU8sHNxZxb4cMMMLOEbK1PtijeQcFqhFyL8QiuS1upus_al9M6wJOCfqEH8lcUoNff-nU5XWmbXJdSgrFkSaQC3IEgSmeTtGSc-i7tRm7LaJ7Y9SJ1BibvESVkZ8gk6VZmucQo9Hz71T2hqi0yIPpW0H2xxmwLtz9lmD-5s7La764/w480-h640/20240307_160700.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking left, upstream</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGZHB2i3RblnovGoVOe3Kr_UcZc4e7xalgvoNm5JHzu7oIilQAMeRBSJJoKAkLvvt1e4wnEFghtOgKDWOEgN8394X19lh_haK7rzqJT8gPFIg4JMJvnHaYsKhrI4KFafW2MkegaaTN7X0NyKdquteILIb7GYmXgEKL1hMSDTDLOuTyTs0QAXRO9Z9/s4000/20240307_160712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGZHB2i3RblnovGoVOe3Kr_UcZc4e7xalgvoNm5JHzu7oIilQAMeRBSJJoKAkLvvt1e4wnEFghtOgKDWOEgN8394X19lh_haK7rzqJT8gPFIg4JMJvnHaYsKhrI4KFafW2MkegaaTN7X0NyKdquteILIb7GYmXgEKL1hMSDTDLOuTyTs0QAXRO9Z9/w480-h640/20240307_160712.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking right, downstream</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was suddenly filled with renewed enthusiasm for the walk, as anyone who'd some of my posts before (literally no one), would know I love a good bridge crossing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rD_rGTbnE-BVTYUq10-QBgIkPOIvZWGJSW9CaQ8DYarcPAk0U3Pavp0zHLg2uMnaNXVSN41v1dDSXBXXHyOu9a1Mp5Tb_L62mOc3VKn-GEbKGXTCrwehQpiH9yzYYDZivNGOUVF2HnrYeNPCLEM0FxdCyZxHNEgFfn40VeHBtVImCkzxXeog1F-Q/s4032/20240307_160928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rD_rGTbnE-BVTYUq10-QBgIkPOIvZWGJSW9CaQ8DYarcPAk0U3Pavp0zHLg2uMnaNXVSN41v1dDSXBXXHyOu9a1Mp5Tb_L62mOc3VKn-GEbKGXTCrwehQpiH9yzYYDZivNGOUVF2HnrYeNPCLEM0FxdCyZxHNEgFfn40VeHBtVImCkzxXeog1F-Q/w480-h640/20240307_160928.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJxUPHvb8zYOyYU3OwAe3PHRapLfoEK8SlGLcSppBL5ERLI0QOW6VwIfHLQdhgWAjyjPqTQqeMNvNxOIWHNi__81Oh9ecm9CkLE90oNfluZx1mya-LF_I9tHu3reHN5GQN35PKmD_Q0rZNwUIBAmX9rzmVxcCa9KqdjprLwbaUVl9Tdc794RcAL3T/s4032/20240307_160954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJxUPHvb8zYOyYU3OwAe3PHRapLfoEK8SlGLcSppBL5ERLI0QOW6VwIfHLQdhgWAjyjPqTQqeMNvNxOIWHNi__81Oh9ecm9CkLE90oNfluZx1mya-LF_I9tHu3reHN5GQN35PKmD_Q0rZNwUIBAmX9rzmVxcCa9KqdjprLwbaUVl9Tdc794RcAL3T/w480-h640/20240307_160954.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I predicted the path instantly began uphill heading back, finally on the opposite side of the creek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzwOfbjahFrwfBvFivxV4JphmP4eNJe1TQBhEO7Qzp92k7oiT2nqXCNwXKkFaCE31DzI-1A7fHoRolXS0wM8XGZDB-Tn4fkttBxHv6Y1W3JcGZkL0mrv9kY5Oeef1HnnJ-FVGxQpapG2_4izOqTPQVuUKb2blzqz63mDWdOke-9E1OaXfxMJA77ar/s4032/20240307_161349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzwOfbjahFrwfBvFivxV4JphmP4eNJe1TQBhEO7Qzp92k7oiT2nqXCNwXKkFaCE31DzI-1A7fHoRolXS0wM8XGZDB-Tn4fkttBxHv6Y1W3JcGZkL0mrv9kY5Oeef1HnnJ-FVGxQpapG2_4izOqTPQVuUKb2blzqz63mDWdOke-9E1OaXfxMJA77ar/w480-h640/20240307_161349.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I came to a cut in the path where rainwater would flow down, with a sign with distance markers for the Great North Walk (which I will have to do one day).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3EoYnil3AWtbzFQHQv1Yh3buiOM2C1NxHAbMCNRRsQ-M1VlU_2LPMVlL2sfanrb375pYq3c7FM6jCgAEGHD6v-6aowBqK9OH55kkc2q4OAb8OuTrAPDPgLMIdFUFfRhIXrMUx46zMFcwBzS8MpyLXk4swRgPzd3XdI9_rSVquQjOBHw1HE-B69h/s4032/20240307_161549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip3EoYnil3AWtbzFQHQv1Yh3buiOM2C1NxHAbMCNRRsQ-M1VlU_2LPMVlL2sfanrb375pYq3c7FM6jCgAEGHD6v-6aowBqK9OH55kkc2q4OAb8OuTrAPDPgLMIdFUFfRhIXrMUx46zMFcwBzS8MpyLXk4swRgPzd3XdI9_rSVquQjOBHw1HE-B69h/w400-h300/20240307_161549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I continued on past a newer built sign with a map, past another smaller wooden post pointing me towards Girrakool.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi42ith-6OeQRHI2THD88-LEB_QU6hVgdJfmPwDTSmAzy6c8OVVP6jN8NOvRWjuNOXSTsb2fhLkndWARHZKZBrDaoH5yOQ646LyBBV__ZGyQ6pLPWhCHivZxiIegwPVkNS3k_l6nI6jnQfsS0aLHcue5jGlHXAVVEfbCfqmdzTBLN7qjESYgPe6F_l/s4032/20240307_161601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi42ith-6OeQRHI2THD88-LEB_QU6hVgdJfmPwDTSmAzy6c8OVVP6jN8NOvRWjuNOXSTsb2fhLkndWARHZKZBrDaoH5yOQ646LyBBV__ZGyQ6pLPWhCHivZxiIegwPVkNS3k_l6nI6jnQfsS0aLHcue5jGlHXAVVEfbCfqmdzTBLN7qjESYgPe6F_l/w480-h640/20240307_161601.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-ZReQIYjuCKRunsVb4dXA0cEba7P-amnEeMdf5Pg_P53C0BR_6FlXFTb-ZzOf66KqLG5-zrhMekN0KoVVuu8HJh93hE6Vvmnz7y_uix6R1CDmH5eEo9mg-vjeh2WYU13wRxPCJ97MAeE6fRNnlm7mK7Xm90mMVLWr8RscqXaGTnySXIiV9J3gKor/s4032/20240307_161616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-ZReQIYjuCKRunsVb4dXA0cEba7P-amnEeMdf5Pg_P53C0BR_6FlXFTb-ZzOf66KqLG5-zrhMekN0KoVVuu8HJh93hE6Vvmnz7y_uix6R1CDmH5eEo9mg-vjeh2WYU13wRxPCJ97MAeE6fRNnlm7mK7Xm90mMVLWr8RscqXaGTnySXIiV9J3gKor/w480-h640/20240307_161616.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The natural scenery around me rapidly changed as I progressed along.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQuJV-RehR0ccFF8wW6K11qWDpwDb-5qNISndLCewR9oIFqfvydr6D-x5DvpmXY_XxfL0vgvGV3Ty7KC9OYJoz7dnXL_zXUGg6rDS7FDsogWKJsOnm-U8RT3FCYg1SOlXLjGpmdlFeWSqxsq88Oi2rlfmzjEKp15Uvw-adhk-0n_RkvAFNCFbuMtK/s4032/20240307_161757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQuJV-RehR0ccFF8wW6K11qWDpwDb-5qNISndLCewR9oIFqfvydr6D-x5DvpmXY_XxfL0vgvGV3Ty7KC9OYJoz7dnXL_zXUGg6rDS7FDsogWKJsOnm-U8RT3FCYg1SOlXLjGpmdlFeWSqxsq88Oi2rlfmzjEKp15Uvw-adhk-0n_RkvAFNCFbuMtK/w480-h640/20240307_161757.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7nHTs2yhfYAahDRvxRVNni_raI-4SEGgksDaWwRbCKw7I91r9LPPmw7OpAFjPSXkxnTXK96QQrncPWDdSphWEXia3ZI2Y5u7BnzeCAcARjMMrIS3iBAfGLwAB5evNulvcAVj64d0llgHE7Nut9vt8y_XdTF0sk2fLuiwax00Ac7K0wHm5KR32uro/s4032/20240307_162146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7nHTs2yhfYAahDRvxRVNni_raI-4SEGgksDaWwRbCKw7I91r9LPPmw7OpAFjPSXkxnTXK96QQrncPWDdSphWEXia3ZI2Y5u7BnzeCAcARjMMrIS3iBAfGLwAB5evNulvcAVj64d0llgHE7Nut9vt8y_XdTF0sk2fLuiwax00Ac7K0wHm5KR32uro/w480-h640/20240307_162146.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I ducked underneath another fallen tree while walking before coming across a large section of boulders you needed to cross where someone had carved out steps to show you the path to take to cross over them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMImRGBKyw-lzcJOgItvGsVgeAxI47eag5m_TLrfZ2yqUpveXaMOnjVyvZhI5N5vnCXZQJQtlgRtoKd_MbgO3ZypecdCeici_AaO9nXHZqtvGUv6yKQIRj7nutBA-roINuj6ncoK4Sq169QzDDSpJJMV3HTRf5vpeV5VQEZuHTKNidieuehyphenhyphenwjZPo/s4032/20240307_162309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMImRGBKyw-lzcJOgItvGsVgeAxI47eag5m_TLrfZ2yqUpveXaMOnjVyvZhI5N5vnCXZQJQtlgRtoKd_MbgO3ZypecdCeici_AaO9nXHZqtvGUv6yKQIRj7nutBA-roINuj6ncoK4Sq169QzDDSpJJMV3HTRf5vpeV5VQEZuHTKNidieuehyphenhyphenwjZPo/w480-h640/20240307_162309.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>This track bent left and then right and then left again, leading up and up the higher and higher.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJwXMbGAM9LZoUXCQlW4Bj_PxipJVLLQ-TjKmhZMrXuegi3E0RKgxdWOsbeLd9yt_DPD_sTJmon5wZOu3BcVaMhr71PvXImukh4djhOmYe96b3eVuNkzOeOLWNgow63_Mk5qrv2nPmXFoGXWXq0HgD0aJCwJATYduJ5t4ZhpEFhryWipQ9SZl9TN0/s4032/20240307_162429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJwXMbGAM9LZoUXCQlW4Bj_PxipJVLLQ-TjKmhZMrXuegi3E0RKgxdWOsbeLd9yt_DPD_sTJmon5wZOu3BcVaMhr71PvXImukh4djhOmYe96b3eVuNkzOeOLWNgow63_Mk5qrv2nPmXFoGXWXq0HgD0aJCwJATYduJ5t4ZhpEFhryWipQ9SZl9TN0/w480-h640/20240307_162429.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkBSCxV2sKxm6cvuaVMopKPhtx6T7uR4Bdyst5rYm2roD0w6qRDCHa61sGkWfVR_BPoHmSSlHWiKBsSE59vMYsG5y9-WdZidA1fx34Fhi5OwXLGe6Ipe0dBsf5Txt-dtpD8XYrjnWYQInUoDqU2sF95w25T9EAJlIm-MUc08d5Bb6ZsynDwVi9_B0/s4032/20240307_162450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkBSCxV2sKxm6cvuaVMopKPhtx6T7uR4Bdyst5rYm2roD0w6qRDCHa61sGkWfVR_BPoHmSSlHWiKBsSE59vMYsG5y9-WdZidA1fx34Fhi5OwXLGe6Ipe0dBsf5Txt-dtpD8XYrjnWYQInUoDqU2sF95w25T9EAJlIm-MUc08d5Bb6ZsynDwVi9_B0/w480-h640/20240307_162450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBenNgyLZNVSQbuxT6xLn7Z-otHtq7hf2jkeUjrAuqfmXwBrts1rXDdndsuF_X-mn_VLgTdcjKszuC4x5j02aI9qWBKnOoiXmhYZ1tEXhtRdGMUb_6TJR00w22KdmI2_-ERztADeA9SRZWhZK4uG8SHJ7-jFi9k4a1L6vpKq6AqvZOi6sM7phTvNw-/s4032/20240307_163153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBenNgyLZNVSQbuxT6xLn7Z-otHtq7hf2jkeUjrAuqfmXwBrts1rXDdndsuF_X-mn_VLgTdcjKszuC4x5j02aI9qWBKnOoiXmhYZ1tEXhtRdGMUb_6TJR00w22KdmI2_-ERztADeA9SRZWhZK4uG8SHJ7-jFi9k4a1L6vpKq6AqvZOi6sM7phTvNw-/w480-h640/20240307_163153.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I passed a large boulder on my right before coming across another on my left a short while on, as I continued past it, rounding the bend I saw the slice in the side of it revealing it's beautiful honeycomb like inside.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhpy73PdEuXBwVtRAyFCrs2WboqCaAfJGLQBUcwpfaqgxALC3RFVusAIEFuQtfnNH28ZmJ_z3bA_9cm4Lu07zHLZhvlmmnjpbz5ptx6QXsf3lQ5og_kxc3WMrMElv3lfLmFGyVGYxItv1epFwWkM1MfaPqQPkEqe3TYJHpXcVP-OId6Bz15TSzbWj/s4032/20240307_163418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhpy73PdEuXBwVtRAyFCrs2WboqCaAfJGLQBUcwpfaqgxALC3RFVusAIEFuQtfnNH28ZmJ_z3bA_9cm4Lu07zHLZhvlmmnjpbz5ptx6QXsf3lQ5og_kxc3WMrMElv3lfLmFGyVGYxItv1epFwWkM1MfaPqQPkEqe3TYJHpXcVP-OId6Bz15TSzbWj/w400-h300/20240307_163418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Passing through a little walkway between two boulders, the trail now became a more open sandy path, I followed this along, noticing a set of stairs in front of me, with a little trail off to the left that led to the lookout I had seen from the opposite side of the creek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJx8DXYj0nBBMDLGF1CG7GH3FLimIx0cCg_TtGH4XVC0G_vXdbkqjVcXHK15yzmNqGS5VbsjbqXfF9idVmuBJTfKXz_XfpfZOnPX1uQ7F1giBiNVMlmCJEPspJc1wMOi-UV40T8mCxYeCuB52IkzXbvzBToOAu-Mg9F_KaIOjJmGjcF3ZazOvquq/s4032/20240307_163613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJx8DXYj0nBBMDLGF1CG7GH3FLimIx0cCg_TtGH4XVC0G_vXdbkqjVcXHK15yzmNqGS5VbsjbqXfF9idVmuBJTfKXz_XfpfZOnPX1uQ7F1giBiNVMlmCJEPspJc1wMOi-UV40T8mCxYeCuB52IkzXbvzBToOAu-Mg9F_KaIOjJmGjcF3ZazOvquq/w480-h640/20240307_163613.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gwLUNnWViiTZNWJdv3nxC3k6AtayS0VZ_JHe_pwApcvlzmzb0JiHBQL0whZLQK1WOCcnH6xOT4XPu1F0yKLJU6ToEVYujpDPLQJwD5tMrYJlqjKybDkAirJ663XcgrKpZ6LH6bI1Htxbyx1xDn5daadACoLaKLEa0TqT9BjF5Ud5pKxfIxOOZMG4/s4032/20240307_163822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gwLUNnWViiTZNWJdv3nxC3k6AtayS0VZ_JHe_pwApcvlzmzb0JiHBQL0whZLQK1WOCcnH6xOT4XPu1F0yKLJU6ToEVYujpDPLQJwD5tMrYJlqjKybDkAirJ663XcgrKpZ6LH6bI1Htxbyx1xDn5daadACoLaKLEa0TqT9BjF5Ud5pKxfIxOOZMG4/w480-h640/20240307_163822.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1o2jwIk5mgVDhLgFHW7PzT2T8jQuCD0jwaYCUlKHDKsGEPBo5DmeT4yvMLwyF4x5tT5lcy7qa1pmVtzGcsBXvxHHR6-BVUrF8URM5U4jGddidxisiPIHWTSu56jP7lJ-Ax3sAmbayI5LmO8plABqocdbDt83EikHK6_3PY7rqZre6QUEhDmOiNM_e/s4032/20240307_163839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1o2jwIk5mgVDhLgFHW7PzT2T8jQuCD0jwaYCUlKHDKsGEPBo5DmeT4yvMLwyF4x5tT5lcy7qa1pmVtzGcsBXvxHHR6-BVUrF8URM5U4jGddidxisiPIHWTSu56jP7lJ-Ax3sAmbayI5LmO8plABqocdbDt83EikHK6_3PY7rqZre6QUEhDmOiNM_e/w480-h640/20240307_163839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiJ0DhwPzHCa9E6Feuz_TxkXrlITUBhN8GAQtXhmD3a-xqptDmxLiXh3CafMywPbT0KRabPWpNG3U0xoFIECtM6D7-1CUyb6_zdrjeeu83tsaHi_UTO9241KOT7OpyAq3nV-1Yk15puVDNmPVATdzcn5pL3zvgFsq3iOgnOFeJKh5qw5lTxJyd2bj/s4000/20240307_163909.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiJ0DhwPzHCa9E6Feuz_TxkXrlITUBhN8GAQtXhmD3a-xqptDmxLiXh3CafMywPbT0KRabPWpNG3U0xoFIECtM6D7-1CUyb6_zdrjeeu83tsaHi_UTO9241KOT7OpyAq3nV-1Yk15puVDNmPVATdzcn5pL3zvgFsq3iOgnOFeJKh5qw5lTxJyd2bj/w400-h300/20240307_163909.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The scenery now was beginning to remind me of the track I had walked down near the Bundilla waterfall.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-kLPntGQThyiZ-DAcQEgL82XQuPyiXYFdvrC1mZcsNWNeWQUKrNuE_VrovNreaN-_A4RH1gJowiEINP_1HaFiNOObHqFxGQztMUe7p9AJk2UOU_IeRerB19Uw4dn3ZIEqdZBOr1wYaIFCqqSvUfaxmmVjqouUrAsA246g0zUKuQQ6tFO8vXr-Bg8/s4032/20240307_164023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-kLPntGQThyiZ-DAcQEgL82XQuPyiXYFdvrC1mZcsNWNeWQUKrNuE_VrovNreaN-_A4RH1gJowiEINP_1HaFiNOObHqFxGQztMUe7p9AJk2UOU_IeRerB19Uw4dn3ZIEqdZBOr1wYaIFCqqSvUfaxmmVjqouUrAsA246g0zUKuQQ6tFO8vXr-Bg8/w480-h640/20240307_164023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I felt like I had sweat out every last bit of moisture in my body and was feeling emotionally weary from taking photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>'Do I even need this many photos?' I thought to myself. 'Does anyone need this much detail in a blog about a walk.' </div><div><br /></div><div>I thought about a comment someone had posted on <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/11/trip-to-iceland.html" target="_blank">my Iceland blog</a>, saying that it should have been posted as multiple shortform blog posts. I had mentioned this to my friend Tristan who had agreed with that criticism. I thought the rise of short form media, TikTok, and thought that if someone wanted to read a blog post then they could, that making Steventure in this format, compared to edited videos on some other host like YouTube or TikTok was not what I wanted to do. It wasn't about getting views, or popularity. It was a good way for myself to recollect my adventures, help grain them into my memory and to look back on what I was doing, where I was in life and what my mental state was like, though I had to admit it could sometimes be emotionally taxing when writing, yet at other times, completely emotionally rewarding.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came across the turn off to Kariong Scout Camp, and no part of me was interested in traversing up that trail, I was just eager now to have a drink and cool off.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN13VQIL8OJbXMdXzhq4HmVVAMIqgnkg01RMFMI9tbFZ7WiJQ7g9k5OT0BREvS0foIUaFmD7h0ey0v1M-BAng6XRnni4s0nACS5qJGm9TnEX4bVGFgGZKRvqnW4b_4Dut3M-ZFQVNq5V9CcRxv6kk-vk0g6Hsbi6LapIPcoukIaRw5tTz4veZTiZx/s4032/20240307_164621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKN13VQIL8OJbXMdXzhq4HmVVAMIqgnkg01RMFMI9tbFZ7WiJQ7g9k5OT0BREvS0foIUaFmD7h0ey0v1M-BAng6XRnni4s0nACS5qJGm9TnEX4bVGFgGZKRvqnW4b_4Dut3M-ZFQVNq5V9CcRxv6kk-vk0g6Hsbi6LapIPcoukIaRw5tTz4veZTiZx/w480-h640/20240307_164621.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQzZHxT0qS700JFfQabnySzSx8PC4mo3vU_YJYdrGWenNYL4_zNJM6ZYbjjCfD76EqnNfIMWOa81owKFJn1LIB0338qKYKVfyDEVP0_toB6WKix1lXH6oPGiHhnQOyDTG7dAq3by7duCIpDXNmbP5O7SrhB_5XGztW5gDUPFR4yqoe-1yaY4flyI/s4032/20240307_164902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQzZHxT0qS700JFfQabnySzSx8PC4mo3vU_YJYdrGWenNYL4_zNJM6ZYbjjCfD76EqnNfIMWOa81owKFJn1LIB0338qKYKVfyDEVP0_toB6WKix1lXH6oPGiHhnQOyDTG7dAq3by7duCIpDXNmbP5O7SrhB_5XGztW5gDUPFR4yqoe-1yaY4flyI/w480-h640/20240307_164902.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj004n0lMTQFQz3yUyvKLh2ohqp0lDLD2FKTpzyk7JkzspZBoQ6hWLBy0op70KyQORMDiNZIJ63DW2mkpiq9Ap0jHXwLBbHVE1BLegD2EwWcm9atRnfu-lrmDZNcEuidYeswT1vFnAn9PXCTYoYpAkZmSNTOyat2YtJTDGYGLSTumri5iBvitCA-JvG/s4032/20240307_165209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj004n0lMTQFQz3yUyvKLh2ohqp0lDLD2FKTpzyk7JkzspZBoQ6hWLBy0op70KyQORMDiNZIJ63DW2mkpiq9Ap0jHXwLBbHVE1BLegD2EwWcm9atRnfu-lrmDZNcEuidYeswT1vFnAn9PXCTYoYpAkZmSNTOyat2YtJTDGYGLSTumri5iBvitCA-JvG/w480-h640/20240307_165209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsXLR1NnSNpvkGhSaLLi1lArn15akSYExeibd-35-TWMswNbfCkUIze_OaEd91W99R4vEtxhNlGwx0FhyiDuZIEtSRP-TvLsHiyRSSBeWzjc8Mamt6yLhQvugxvBR4dZYNu0t4oCiwM865dBPsXLxd0wBDX_QmrTBhUwkhyphenhyphen1e0ModPKbryv2qhDod/s4000/20240307_165329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsXLR1NnSNpvkGhSaLLi1lArn15akSYExeibd-35-TWMswNbfCkUIze_OaEd91W99R4vEtxhNlGwx0FhyiDuZIEtSRP-TvLsHiyRSSBeWzjc8Mamt6yLhQvugxvBR4dZYNu0t4oCiwM865dBPsXLxd0wBDX_QmrTBhUwkhyphenhyphen1e0ModPKbryv2qhDod/w480-h640/20240307_165329.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The trail led to one of the cliff overhangs, very close to the ground that I had to walk through, so low that I had to walk through hunched to not knock my head, swiping away spiderwebs as I passed through.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B58-e4oWiJcpJr8jnJ2n4uA6rs6G64q5baAe1P5JF6c8ETh2d2MJn_uBddwStTnVyfT2kCi9QuIUviHJGVBVRo8QhOie73VOlZjBfLoV4R0gjjBFILUox4D1VPQIFavP8x5ZXwOaCh9U6YPqDAmLXPiX1CMQ5KIisgC-LcIqps2WLfQQgJrgv8iF/s4000/20240307_165357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B58-e4oWiJcpJr8jnJ2n4uA6rs6G64q5baAe1P5JF6c8ETh2d2MJn_uBddwStTnVyfT2kCi9QuIUviHJGVBVRo8QhOie73VOlZjBfLoV4R0gjjBFILUox4D1VPQIFavP8x5ZXwOaCh9U6YPqDAmLXPiX1CMQ5KIisgC-LcIqps2WLfQQgJrgv8iF/w480-h640/20240307_165357.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTskNcw4mi-6ppVJ-du85KSuD3n5qj6hqKcsMdubs7Aj0A68eSVq-xNbhPK-9dqbXXWJwX5Mqr-8lhZCvpOhsDbuyVfrgjwlTearKYrxJ4qPVPntdZOscPlX9-YDU5xR2EzhH4Cefjv7ENGE-oXXutWo1ck8LV8wNmvfb71qNYLvhPdOZtvUz4QCW/s4032/20240307_165435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTskNcw4mi-6ppVJ-du85KSuD3n5qj6hqKcsMdubs7Aj0A68eSVq-xNbhPK-9dqbXXWJwX5Mqr-8lhZCvpOhsDbuyVfrgjwlTearKYrxJ4qPVPntdZOscPlX9-YDU5xR2EzhH4Cefjv7ENGE-oXXutWo1ck8LV8wNmvfb71qNYLvhPdOZtvUz4QCW/w480-h640/20240307_165435.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>At the end I came to another set of stone stairs leading down and back up and I could feel the muscles in my thighs straining.</div><div><br /></div><div>I passed a tree on my right dropping off all its bark, and dripping with sap, which I've always sort of thought of as tree blood.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sQPX4mENOyvPCDWHGrhA4xOlcXk2aoG4jGFQwB4w_6R3Ef73FZw4zMqzfgT70tM9YKHcZDyYiEWRTr9kpUMvmLJVUXPaTv-_cHqYur9W6VLq4T_Pf0vrbiQoiNyNWghSJj-fcQ7qUIFOm-XXGC0-4yfbdMTR_Mo0mHbs8shRkRvok7OHZ-eR4tdX/s4032/20240307_171202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sQPX4mENOyvPCDWHGrhA4xOlcXk2aoG4jGFQwB4w_6R3Ef73FZw4zMqzfgT70tM9YKHcZDyYiEWRTr9kpUMvmLJVUXPaTv-_cHqYur9W6VLq4T_Pf0vrbiQoiNyNWghSJj-fcQ7qUIFOm-XXGC0-4yfbdMTR_Mo0mHbs8shRkRvok7OHZ-eR4tdX/w480-h640/20240307_171202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I thought I would recognise the spot I had stopped walking, when I had headed this way from Bundilla, as was waiting to reach that location, however without noticing I burst into a clearing and realised I was back at Bundilla. I sort of did that stunned blink, and then crossed the steppingstones, and headed back to the carpark. I reached my car, throwing off my backpack, grateful to let my back breath. I looked at the time and it was about half past 5pm.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was about to head back to the Ibis hotel but thought that I would like an alcoholic drink for the night. I looked up on Google Maps where 'Oldfields Cellar' was located (discovering it many years ago, when I travelled up to visit my Nana Betty, and stopping in every time I was up here as they had a great variety of interesting and unique craft beers, especially stouts). <br />I saw that it wasn't very car from the Ibis, so set my GPS back to my hotel, where I pulled up, and went for a walk to the cellar and bought myself a Milk Stout and a 'Lamington' Brown Ale. I headed back, eager for a shower to wash of my sweat, but instead of doing the right thing, and hydrating with water, I cracked open the milk stout, drinking it while I rinsed off (realising there was no soup or shampoo within this ibis bathroom), and it instantly went to my head.</div><div>I shrugged it off, figuring a wash with water would do. By now it was getting late, and I wanted to be in the unit for 7.30 as the new episode of Survivor Season 46 (huge Survivor fan, but US series only, not the Australian version) was going to be on. I quickly searched for dinner, driving to a place nearby called 'KCKN CHKN'. As I went inside to order, I realised I was still full from my KFC and didn't really feel like chicken after having so much for lunch. But I was there, and in a hurry, so quickly grabbed a Spicy Korean Burger (which tasted really good even if I didn't feel like it).</div><div><br /></div><div>I took it back and laid down on the bed, reluctantly eating the tasty burger and cracking open the Lamington Brown Ale. I caught the last of a repeat episode of 'The Nanny' before Survivor began.<br /><br />Soon the cramps started. Intense leg cramps causing me excruciating pain (hydration matter folks), I got up trying to stretch out the agonising pain that made me want to scream. Finally, it went away. Survivor finished and I had planned to continue reading 'The Wind in the Willows', the book I was currently reading. However, too tipsy from the alcohol, I made myself drink some water, and tucked into bed, blasting the aircon on cold, and went to bed, thinking about what the funeral would hold the following day.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2024/03/strickland-falls-cabbage-tree-and.html" target="_blank">Continued on 'Strickland Falls, Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek Tracks' post</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV77ME4UF7VywyQzZeihj_acSIk2QBncj321WDy-nHKayL3jYTxkdxtrTOoE_wUbJAxNeBsq9UTf7GeAG_lU7oFvmhrjETmLk_Gn60tZ5fWjYGiVh-Ihm7CTRTWRn3R5C9-c9_HVnLKulXwo_Qrk9btGTCTxDL0KPLw0RGjtP3FDuNkft0taIBFTDi/s4096/Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="4096" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV77ME4UF7VywyQzZeihj_acSIk2QBncj321WDy-nHKayL3jYTxkdxtrTOoE_wUbJAxNeBsq9UTf7GeAG_lU7oFvmhrjETmLk_Gn60tZ5fWjYGiVh-Ihm7CTRTWRn3R5C9-c9_HVnLKulXwo_Qrk9btGTCTxDL0KPLw0RGjtP3FDuNkft0taIBFTDi/w400-h170/Logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com2Brisbane Water, New South Wales, Australia-33.482426662453022 151.33560709176919-61.792660498631868 116.17935709176919 -5.172192826274177 -173.50814290823081tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-65590560396518374792024-02-06T15:40:00.008+11:002024-02-08T15:31:57.885+11:00Thirlmere Lakes<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Gandangarra and Dharawal Country</i></b></p><p>After returning home from <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/11/trip-to-iceland.html" target="_blank">Iceland</a>, and going through the process of recovering from Covid-19, I tried to focus on trying to improve my career opportunities by trying to focus on doing my Certificate IV in Business Admin with TAFE NSW, however I found the whole thing monotonous, convoluted, and disorganised. Between that and feeling incredibly exhausted and burnt out from work (and feeling a real struggle after covid, maybe due to <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">my pre-existing health conditions</a>).<br /><br />I tried once to organise a walk with my friend Tristan, which was locked in, however a relative of mine passed away and her funeral was held on the date we had planned. Time passed and I thought about organising it, however found myself incredibly fatigued with work, and I began to wonder whether it was long-covid, or just because of my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">cancer treatment</a>. After weeks of neglecting my TAFE, I began to feel a decline in my mental health, and deep depression began to take hold. I thought about trying to organise the walk with Tristan again, but as it was a mountain I began to get in my head about my feeling of intense fatigue and whether I would struggle.<br /><br />Soon my Wife suggested the idea of a day out at a nearby Apple Orchard across from <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/maddens-falls.html" target="_blank">Madden's Falls.</a> Looking into the pricing and the way it was run we decided against going there and my Wife started looking into other orchards that may have more agreeable rules and prices, before finding a strawberry picking place in the town of Thirlmere. I got excited as she suggested it, as I had never been to Thirlmere and my brother Scott had been there before and suggested I go. I had looked into the town after he suggested it learning about its heritage of being successfully developed by Estonian Immigrants. <br /></p><p>I suggested to my Wife that way make a full day of it, and do a nearby bushwalk after visiting the Strawberry Farm. After quick Google Search I suggested the Thirlmere Lakes walking track, a 6km loop track (apparently a Grade 4, though I've never in my life paid attention to grading systems). She was aggregable to this on the condition that the weather be good and 'not too hot', a hard ask in Australia, so I waited for the time to be right with eager anticipation to break up the monotony that I had felt since returning from overseas.</p><p>The week leading up to it, my Wife then asked if I even wanted to pick Strawberries, saying it wasn't the experience, like walking through an Apple Orchard would be, and we could just buy Strawberries for the same price.<br />I asked if she was still ok to go to Thirlmere, which was my main draw and she said she was, so the excitement remained. I also had a guy reach out to me from ABC Illawarra wanted to talk to me in regard to a Facebook page I run about the '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BullIsland" target="_blank">Bull of Bull Island</a>' and I agreed to speak to him on Monday, after the weekend, feeling a churn in my stomach of nervousness as I had been on the news before and found that I get anxious and tend to ramble.</p><p>Saturday morning came, and we packed some food for the day, including some <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hudsons_harvest" target="_blank">homegrown cucumbers</a> with hummus, and set out to Thirlmere. Driving through Picton, a place I had also never gone before I commented that it wasn't like what I thought it would be like (in my head picturing Liverpool or other areas of Western Sydney).<br />"It's giving me Jamberoo vibes." I said, and as we progressed into a busier section of the town, I said it now reminded me of Bowral.</p><p>We turned off the road towards the lakes and ended up following a dirt road downhill. As we reached the base of the hill there was a sign. I stopped on the road to look up which was the best way to begin our walk. The NSW National Park website said to begin at the Couridjah picnic area, and so we turned left and in 10 seconds we pulled up to our right at a picnic area overlooking a lake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXgE3siDAT60fXSNjtHAdN2jPRvPCxFqHIFayUGqnsd2SVhPLq5QGOjTzKeG4Wu7CmzurGGsekGeVcz38HbpGl3bTm5up-X28Qf8FyFOAVpzOBFW1u_8VaMdKRdHMRgrxWgLc2cZXZopgLE1Rmr4_r9nxQZo2NisqZlry5WyUErmZgJH5hGpKevkr/s4000/20240203_114324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXgE3siDAT60fXSNjtHAdN2jPRvPCxFqHIFayUGqnsd2SVhPLq5QGOjTzKeG4Wu7CmzurGGsekGeVcz38HbpGl3bTm5up-X28Qf8FyFOAVpzOBFW1u_8VaMdKRdHMRgrxWgLc2cZXZopgLE1Rmr4_r9nxQZo2NisqZlry5WyUErmZgJH5hGpKevkr/w400-h300/20240203_114324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSJjmLcFcKDOFXWcVjijC_sS_Xutaj1nPRMrOK_cR9nYDdOrJrSiKLpiuRLui-9XtHK-N0_7vLjzHCPR6vPfaKW6IangoMDJxerGrm5Z3LkAQxocYQ5t3AJxPp2_AnE5y7rQUPF59lKRBOD5ogCOjFhHB7rwlz8pHhXRfrM83Ayn9ObOMAKF7l3C9/s4000/20240203_114341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSJjmLcFcKDOFXWcVjijC_sS_Xutaj1nPRMrOK_cR9nYDdOrJrSiKLpiuRLui-9XtHK-N0_7vLjzHCPR6vPfaKW6IangoMDJxerGrm5Z3LkAQxocYQ5t3AJxPp2_AnE5y7rQUPF59lKRBOD5ogCOjFhHB7rwlz8pHhXRfrM83Ayn9ObOMAKF7l3C9/w400-h300/20240203_114341.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>"This is a nice spot." I said as we both applied some sunscreen. My Wife has started feeling ill with vertigo on the drive up and I double checked that she was still ok to do the walk and she assured me she was.</p><p>I walked up to the information board at the picnic area to learn a little about the lake. With my Wife pointing out that there were two missing Dogs with signs stuck to the board making us sad. "Although you're not meant to bring Dogs into national parks" I commented.<br />"Maybe they escape from a nearby home?" My Wife commented.<br />Either way we felt sad for the lost Dogs.<br /><br /><br /><i>"<b>People and the Lakes</b><br />The Dharawal and Gundungurra have lived around Thirlmere lakes for many thousands of years, leaving grinding grooves, rock engravings, artwork, and other evidence of occupation.<br /></i><i>The local Aboriginal people were some of the first to feel the impact of European settlement, suffering from new diseases, violence and occupation of their lands. <br /></i><i>They called the area Couridjah, which is believed to mean honey and refer to the nectar of the abundant banksia flowers.<br /></i><i>Europeans officially found the lakes in 1798, and they have been popular with visitors since at least the 1860's.<br /></i><i>In 1867 a pumphouse, which still stand beside Lake Couridjah, was built to supply water to steam engines plying the new southern railway.<br /></i><i>Today the park is a significant conservation reserve ideal for quiet public enjoyment."</i></p><p>"Are there any toilets around here?" My Wife asked.<br />"I'm not sure." I replied. Before spotting one a short distance away through the bush along the trail, before finishing reading the second half of the board.<br /></p><p><i>"<b>Birds of the Water</b><br />More than 140 different birds use Thirlmere Lakes, including many waterfowl. The threatened Australasian bittern needs to dense shoreline vegetation for nesting and foraging. It is hard to see because it is mainly active at night.<br />Endangered Japanese snipes fly 9,000 kilometres from their breeding grounds in Japan to feed in Australia every summer. They are sometimes seen wading around these muddy shores. The snipe is protected by a special agreement between the two countries."</i></p><p>"I hope we see a Snipe." I said.<br />"We say them in <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/11/trip-to-iceland.html" target="_blank">Iceland</a>." My Wife replied.<br />"I know, and they're super cute."</p><p>(There was more information on the board about the vegetation, geology and lake animals and I will share systematically throughout the post.)</p><p>As I went to walk down the path to the toilet, my Wife pointed out a built path to the toilet up further, so we walked up to that and along to the toilets which also had stairs leading down to the walking track. As we looked to see which toilet to enter, we were amused, as there was a male toilet, but the female toilet was duel male/female toilet. <br /><br />"This is just the patriarchy all over, we get to use both toilets." I teased my Wife.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE0-I6aextR9qCf1yGdDyQRJrg81gbn9NouIXo70k7eBOCmsXOw20uv3G-gdG8XQ0hLzBcmvOD6tjODlvbdx1vDcd0WFmKTpVLtyRqFFEvqN8qn7ZqIc6nFWzofG2Lgop_VLMOsNpssS79z0dWDKPKf-YQv5fzFS4umqP_atLMPlhduA2KmmZVmDe/s4032/20240203_113914.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE0-I6aextR9qCf1yGdDyQRJrg81gbn9NouIXo70k7eBOCmsXOw20uv3G-gdG8XQ0hLzBcmvOD6tjODlvbdx1vDcd0WFmKTpVLtyRqFFEvqN8qn7ZqIc6nFWzofG2Lgop_VLMOsNpssS79z0dWDKPKf-YQv5fzFS4umqP_atLMPlhduA2KmmZVmDe/w480-h640/20240203_113914.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would upset J.K. Rowling</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiancaj_5OnAazlJm3rwVCoa4cqiQsY6fPMb9AcsrLEBChr0pKG3IQ9t2sUe9JJnx_BR0XsEclJi2CtNlDGb51HRDVn4m8xVkRnGDym-P0ekuN6hrkjfmzzuVs4ys0NUzA9woRyYDzoTajRbk_cuWEaKiLJAB7zV2hfsbe8By9f7rmaKTL5H6uIp-vY/s4032/20240203_113916.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiancaj_5OnAazlJm3rwVCoa4cqiQsY6fPMb9AcsrLEBChr0pKG3IQ9t2sUe9JJnx_BR0XsEclJi2CtNlDGb51HRDVn4m8xVkRnGDym-P0ekuN6hrkjfmzzuVs4ys0NUzA9woRyYDzoTajRbk_cuWEaKiLJAB7zV2hfsbe8By9f7rmaKTL5H6uIp-vY/w480-h640/20240203_113916.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The toilet was one of those old school hole-in-the-ground bush toilets, and as soon as I entered, I was instantly swarmed, and my ankles were attacked by mosquitoes. We walked back to the start of the walk to have a look at a map. It appeared to show two walks, with one going straight, but the one doing a loop going off to the left and not going around the lake.</p><p>"I thought the loop track went around the lake." I told my Wife, and she said she should just do the loop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v-OqPLItaUrQOP_59CcawCiwqurwCkmdp_h_6d46eLHY4YS2iPRM1Jj9rIT8LlkIXRmCIoabu1NRuXxAShEVkC0tzq0fkx_dIaSmQYb7P8LSRen5mFVb7j2eVEATKQ3HoKN-8XIs7fKX-ZE5rADQyLn5dEFx-ZS1g1yj4RwI28DXoo4ZSTeOkUCU/s4032/20240203_114535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2v-OqPLItaUrQOP_59CcawCiwqurwCkmdp_h_6d46eLHY4YS2iPRM1Jj9rIT8LlkIXRmCIoabu1NRuXxAShEVkC0tzq0fkx_dIaSmQYb7P8LSRen5mFVb7j2eVEATKQ3HoKN-8XIs7fKX-ZE5rADQyLn5dEFx-ZS1g1yj4RwI28DXoo4ZSTeOkUCU/w400-h300/20240203_114535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdZKcXpe095ZvkDZpFg6dpuuyyfH-uOWIjHagNzfvZo7rhtKBcojVZnPL1-ZNdovXQ8HroUbpKBI4P1OAXvDFOAYQbZF36Fx9h_AR_phrFH1jqXMS-geqSwvr8NufJF916T2dVR7QE48RMKR0HmZT4XJ9GN6-jLxmUdBQvfdUyxmSz0cWdJ6tZXGr/s4032/20240203_114841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdZKcXpe095ZvkDZpFg6dpuuyyfH-uOWIjHagNzfvZo7rhtKBcojVZnPL1-ZNdovXQ8HroUbpKBI4P1OAXvDFOAYQbZF36Fx9h_AR_phrFH1jqXMS-geqSwvr8NufJF916T2dVR7QE48RMKR0HmZT4XJ9GN6-jLxmUdBQvfdUyxmSz0cWdJ6tZXGr/w480-h640/20240203_114841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We began down the path, and after a short walk there was a little trail down to the water once more, for another view of the lake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnLkp6haeNpMhHMcTw51gYn81ZwwRtPJb8gMJB5Oy-NmP1-n94Ja_ZrgEJnEL1cOQ4nRIkRNp9FJMrhx_oJx7RCH-wpgShY0ITfU8IogDqgPjITKLoEM0ZVjzhcyOd1cGcyy6URoTeK8o9h2gtokJNVR6HzrTqwO52_ggtmNwBIuc51HVOTEA6q5J/s4032/20240203_114923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnLkp6haeNpMhHMcTw51gYn81ZwwRtPJb8gMJB5Oy-NmP1-n94Ja_ZrgEJnEL1cOQ4nRIkRNp9FJMrhx_oJx7RCH-wpgShY0ITfU8IogDqgPjITKLoEM0ZVjzhcyOd1cGcyy6URoTeK8o9h2gtokJNVR6HzrTqwO52_ggtmNwBIuc51HVOTEA6q5J/w400-h300/20240203_114923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i>"<b>Waves of Vegetation</b><br />Have you noticed the bands of different sedges fringing the lakeshore?<br />Some species can handle constant wetness while others prefer to be 'high and dry' when the water level falls.<br />Above the shoreline grows a wave of moisture-loving paperbarks and, in a few places, the locally rare river peppermint.<br />The paperbarks merge upslope into the open woodlands featuring rough-barked apples, Sydney peppermints and red and yellow bloodwoods"</i></p><p>After a short while we came to a fork in the road, and I wondered if we suppose to turn left here. However, we noticed an arrow carved into the tree and decided to follow it to our right instead.</p><p>"Hopefully it's not just someone trying to trick us into going the wrong way." My ever-suspicious Wife commented.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X3bV1XNL1TK775YpOPtki7QfiXfUYpKRmopVbWZ-wa_b-A5iL7Re57RfXx2xry3GxFNenJwLIWLxs2PkxQrIDDp9e5NRckZdVq6oOaIYK0oPHdGhkpzF_QnHZBymYzfzN5ItB1TfB08rjK7hBNvIIfEbilqzUMIEfuC_VuPMeXj8n1wP4qm6LuKL/s4032/20240203_115127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0X3bV1XNL1TK775YpOPtki7QfiXfUYpKRmopVbWZ-wa_b-A5iL7Re57RfXx2xry3GxFNenJwLIWLxs2PkxQrIDDp9e5NRckZdVq6oOaIYK0oPHdGhkpzF_QnHZBymYzfzN5ItB1TfB08rjK7hBNvIIfEbilqzUMIEfuC_VuPMeXj8n1wP4qm6LuKL/w400-h300/20240203_115127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"God my ankle is itchy." I said, giving it a quick scratch that instantly drew blood. "Damn mosquitoes."</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VayUX_dOGFu3gFjSNH258xqqiHT-f2hz5DYkjeK5hvRXnSKVZrwJr1ICvqfj0UCdgAZxIZwSVkkMDVW2CFI_4WPrAaZ6cbm5ojjROKzXXOcsIg2G0YFjECsO37F_Ldf92_U06W9lTBF9nuv_JXyWJO5YqDGwIfoT0_c_jZRMDmav8jSHQ-JDe7cn/s4032/20240203_115215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VayUX_dOGFu3gFjSNH258xqqiHT-f2hz5DYkjeK5hvRXnSKVZrwJr1ICvqfj0UCdgAZxIZwSVkkMDVW2CFI_4WPrAaZ6cbm5ojjROKzXXOcsIg2G0YFjECsO37F_Ldf92_U06W9lTBF9nuv_JXyWJO5YqDGwIfoT0_c_jZRMDmav8jSHQ-JDe7cn/w480-h640/20240203_115215.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizxANmAJX6kvRsiREX57HCAC3LHt7DKennIhrIpsNVS_0RjcgjSqKhzVuqj_-Q5vLs1Nr43B8mtlf91xyTNGgVDw98K98ftcgf7vxIe5WDpaffSH6v8WbSWJC7rJe_84qhGs73OF3FBa0KMTPyobuw5kUTbGnL9xgw7nbyrz0nKWrd5PZmCApBk6M/s3648/20240203_115230.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizxANmAJX6kvRsiREX57HCAC3LHt7DKennIhrIpsNVS_0RjcgjSqKhzVuqj_-Q5vLs1Nr43B8mtlf91xyTNGgVDw98K98ftcgf7vxIe5WDpaffSH6v8WbSWJC7rJe_84qhGs73OF3FBa0KMTPyobuw5kUTbGnL9xgw7nbyrz0nKWrd5PZmCApBk6M/w480-h640/20240203_115230.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You couldn't take a photo of me looking less sick?" My Wife commented</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw1l5lYKGpkh0NcqVhLfY2jV-gvT2P9Ul6sYFTRDR1wbL0-4HHrsxICq-5rz_x3PnRmCdloSzFqCdnSAZ8siRfv5YuG2tSNTy15fZH49DMv9NuyRq_TT0fqeU1Rx-qkJZenWNj7Wi3aK80wLoV2ifYejF34e9fPxzdp19ukuKKAIhSBJZIzgHSRFs/s4032/20240203_115416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLw1l5lYKGpkh0NcqVhLfY2jV-gvT2P9Ul6sYFTRDR1wbL0-4HHrsxICq-5rz_x3PnRmCdloSzFqCdnSAZ8siRfv5YuG2tSNTy15fZH49DMv9NuyRq_TT0fqeU1Rx-qkJZenWNj7Wi3aK80wLoV2ifYejF34e9fPxzdp19ukuKKAIhSBJZIzgHSRFs/w480-h640/20240203_115416.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><i>"<b>When the Earth Moves</b><br />The meandering valley where these waters now rest was formed by an ancient stream flowing downhill, gradually cutting into the land.<br />But about 15 million years ago the valley was tilted up by earth movements. Water that could no longer drain away pooled in the valley floor.<br />In the vast sweep of geological time, lakes don't usually last long. They're filled in quickly by sediment washed from the surrounding slopes - perhaps in just a few million years.<br /></i><i>Thirlmere lakes are certainly shallower than they used to be amongst the oldest of all lakes. Why have the been so stable for so long?<br /></i><i>Maybe the small catchment has something to do with it, but no one knows for sure."</i></p><p>After a short walk we came to another split but this time there was a metal marker telling us that the walking track was the track on our right, which continued along the lake.</p><p>"That's the problem with bushwalks in Australia, there are so many alternate trails, and you're don't know if they're just people walking off and creating them, if it's people doing bush regeneration work." I complained.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA54voGAff8FABvKz2OdHcIVXg-CMqm9znqZzb-tmD-K0l1Ctrw4OKvfdLXoK0Qo0NgWWBGAmyB8eQboXAUjozls5YFm5VQVFo9-2YKkiUsRxxMPgFf04Wg9VHu123wfAx3AxbiqCWede-n9NN39W5jinQvI6dbg00elp0uPvq8St2dw2T1H8CGST/s4032/20240203_115516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA54voGAff8FABvKz2OdHcIVXg-CMqm9znqZzb-tmD-K0l1Ctrw4OKvfdLXoK0Qo0NgWWBGAmyB8eQboXAUjozls5YFm5VQVFo9-2YKkiUsRxxMPgFf04Wg9VHu123wfAx3AxbiqCWede-n9NN39W5jinQvI6dbg00elp0uPvq8St2dw2T1H8CGST/w480-h640/20240203_115516.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we continued along, I pointed to a plant growing in the trees. The way it grew it looked like a plant net that had washed up and been caught high up in the tree by flooding, though I knew that was probably not the case, it was the story my mind made up by looking at it. (Which is probably some insight into human psychology and where stories and mythologies throughout history have come from.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzImoN18Eb7yBSARm1yBmrNH7AYMu8DAPlK7o7GU_fGFumGNfYHkcrUgN_43bF247E1bMsRpT_7DHI8jjC655Gzp3R965yGoGXV09RTvTtdH1vribW_jM7lKLqHfasKZiNRaqtynFOCbGlLW3AHLF6L1GsG_DjPUoacWPEGa3RZLfO2y6wlxBz7NX/s4032/20240203_115631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzImoN18Eb7yBSARm1yBmrNH7AYMu8DAPlK7o7GU_fGFumGNfYHkcrUgN_43bF247E1bMsRpT_7DHI8jjC655Gzp3R965yGoGXV09RTvTtdH1vribW_jM7lKLqHfasKZiNRaqtynFOCbGlLW3AHLF6L1GsG_DjPUoacWPEGa3RZLfO2y6wlxBz7NX/w480-h640/20240203_115631.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>(<i>Aetiological</i>: serving to explain something by giving a cause or reason for it, often in historical or mythical terms)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils24gfh7LOBDGp98b-jlj51bmPNUq6sWJnrz_XVAFYOESqYhG4VHOCRUk3L6jhYuF0CdiV1nOz9fCqszaX9iudKM0gjHUfmXbxbm0F_sFQSuY6tPTl1cHliTorKWXVx1LLuRtkXuAevoCb4QMqNj7peOLvTC7y-XKdObhPLFOOUH3NbXfr6ynDA3D/s4032/20240203_115705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils24gfh7LOBDGp98b-jlj51bmPNUq6sWJnrz_XVAFYOESqYhG4VHOCRUk3L6jhYuF0CdiV1nOz9fCqszaX9iudKM0gjHUfmXbxbm0F_sFQSuY6tPTl1cHliTorKWXVx1LLuRtkXuAevoCb4QMqNj7peOLvTC7y-XKdObhPLFOOUH3NbXfr6ynDA3D/w480-h640/20240203_115705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The weather was nice, and not too hot. I had been non-stop checking the BOM weather app for rain, and the car was receiving spitting rain on the drive-up Mount Ousley before the turn of towards Picton. But now that we were here, it was sunny, and not too hot, and as we wandered along the path surrounded by trees. I already felt my mental health improving. I wondered to myself if my fatigue was long-covid, or even cancer related, or if it was simply depression. I wondered if my solution to tiredness was to actually be active. I had been putting of walks because of how I had been feeling, but maybe they were just what I needed.</p><p>I took a deep breath of air and it felt clean, I wasn't struggling to breath at all. Then the doubt set in. "What if I'm just having a good day?" I questioned. Suddenly another burst of childish joy and enthusiam.<br />"Mushrooms!" I knelt down to photograph them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1dPqJrZq0w3Rg7WzWgoxLhpFvobVeCLu7u_suAGarUjZws1Q511xHmNKuCBJw939COzShhoJRyIvIXWnn5EMFXEoyrk7nT-HurOwN2_iOumHUF-2MAPYtBkupQiUoCUx98DuANyQjQLtshyphenhyphenXkSp5goajnkUDbFfXwPfl1OwzLBhHgJYCAADyIywj/s4032/20240203_115747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1dPqJrZq0w3Rg7WzWgoxLhpFvobVeCLu7u_suAGarUjZws1Q511xHmNKuCBJw939COzShhoJRyIvIXWnn5EMFXEoyrk7nT-HurOwN2_iOumHUF-2MAPYtBkupQiUoCUx98DuANyQjQLtshyphenhyphenXkSp5goajnkUDbFfXwPfl1OwzLBhHgJYCAADyIywj/w480-h640/20240203_115747.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Continuing along this relaxing walk, my Wife and I talked and just connected. Occasionally with me interrupting to point out pretty wildflowers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d2ZPKOaZ3eG4fZsCG8xe-TPyz7bFS7x1cNRUiwYObbdEhTQe0TIApOTAORPHNBfikMpmervIRRZO1C9F23t-xliU3syqPpU6RsDs4AgXGJVShaUNEOnHtQkM-ABZ32BXcpJS_MDybZQzv2nCR-cTMR0nJSUeAfrgTTaIvDY0h5NWBgCQ3jJmnBfu/s4032/20240203_115915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d2ZPKOaZ3eG4fZsCG8xe-TPyz7bFS7x1cNRUiwYObbdEhTQe0TIApOTAORPHNBfikMpmervIRRZO1C9F23t-xliU3syqPpU6RsDs4AgXGJVShaUNEOnHtQkM-ABZ32BXcpJS_MDybZQzv2nCR-cTMR0nJSUeAfrgTTaIvDY0h5NWBgCQ3jJmnBfu/w480-h640/20240203_115915.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We approached a wider section of the track, passing some horse poo.<br />"If I knew there was going to be horse poo, I would have brought a bag to collect it." My Wife said, thinking about using it to fertilize <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hudsons_harvest" target="_blank">our garden</a>.</p><p>This wider section had a fallen log you could step over on the left side of the track, with a tree and some ferns and lomandra in the middle splitting the path so you had to choose a route to take. I didn't particularly think about it but walked to the right, not paying attention.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIEcTrlaXy3DaiBgGEd-4yamsxMFTeykRff3cyHoOjhd8NJQP51pWfUKKWqr0X83KOa-1dnDhsIhb-nWpk6KuKVocRoniTfiYXrrPXCA3eaxszWy3CjEKPVtf2CpuX6D3RCoQWwNWzL9pr7g5t6kGOhggBKHL43j5a3g1jLgbqUHQ-7S_9ebOZQxf/s4032/20240203_121248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIEcTrlaXy3DaiBgGEd-4yamsxMFTeykRff3cyHoOjhd8NJQP51pWfUKKWqr0X83KOa-1dnDhsIhb-nWpk6KuKVocRoniTfiYXrrPXCA3eaxszWy3CjEKPVtf2CpuX6D3RCoQWwNWzL9pr7g5t6kGOhggBKHL43j5a3g1jLgbqUHQ-7S_9ebOZQxf/w400-h300/20240203_121248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I walked around, in the lead ahead of my Wife, just passing the log, I instantly froze and threw up a head to stop my Wife. Just ahead, very closing to walking right into it, was a large Red Belly Black Snake. I took out my phone to take a photo, but it slithered away into the bush before I was able to.</p><p>My heart was racing.<br />"That was unexpected." I commented.<br />We then began discussing that although Red Belly Black Snakes are venomous, they are passive. They are not aggressive creates at all and will usually slither off at any sign of humans, and attacks, although they do happen, are usually the result of them being messed with, or accidentally stepped on.<br /><br />My Wife told me it was the first she had seen in years, maybe in 10 plus years, with me commenting that the last time I saw them was on a bush walk with my friend Tristan when we went to <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/kellys-falls.html" target="_blank">Kelly's Falls</a>.</p><p>As we were discussing this, I was again not paying attention, and I had not even been expecting to see the first Snake, so when I almost walked upon the second also out soaking in the sun on the dirt track I vocalised "Shit!" I exclaimed.</p><p>This Snake also quickly slithered away into the bush, but I was able to snap a quick photo before it disappeared.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVtpWuqJNd9MxMZCklFMa20sgdmPklR6PQRfYEwXvgPht0ypfYzONJSS0VevCgOYKOZsBwJXKcMt7QYFnswJ4FIq2_b5XjjTQgj_5_MFIBVrOHDLhNMHOvhzmiGtJBpRBqXK_o_xOWqubhi_TTPdwbDWeGm0tEMSxEr8XNjvMom4Ml3_gaiVLE0Cw/s4032/20240203_121807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVtpWuqJNd9MxMZCklFMa20sgdmPklR6PQRfYEwXvgPht0ypfYzONJSS0VevCgOYKOZsBwJXKcMt7QYFnswJ4FIq2_b5XjjTQgj_5_MFIBVrOHDLhNMHOvhzmiGtJBpRBqXK_o_xOWqubhi_TTPdwbDWeGm0tEMSxEr8XNjvMom4Ml3_gaiVLE0Cw/w480-h640/20240203_121807.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I was focused now, and keeping an eye on our trail, wary. Not because I worried about getting attacked, but because I didn't want to accidentally step on one and get bitten. My Wife was slightly nervous now in case there were other snakes, like brown snakes or tiger snakes, which are more aggressive and dangerous.<br />"If we came across any of those snakes and they didn't immediately slither off I wouldn't try and get closer by stomping to even scare them, I'd just turn around and go home." I commented, and began telling her about all the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/04/road-trip-2009.html" target="_blank">Brown snakes my Dad encountered at a quarry at Glen Davis when we went on our road trip out west</a>.<br />"That was back in 2009, in like late November, early December, and it was crazy hot." I said.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHFKw9eto-yqZGT4LXyQXaRM8cpyL4kDbDjIQdtMTdL43Ic7tmk-9dssBFzBt66C97R6ym3x1AEI3rfkm4-l5-n9rogAL8dn50pQasT52xTLi0qaKAEofM6Lt2zhRMvwAzdgOinQ0nup84wdLzbvw9oPCgMUnbwP9sLlmiL3unFD1TBKysDyr6Ypb/s4032/20240203_121958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHFKw9eto-yqZGT4LXyQXaRM8cpyL4kDbDjIQdtMTdL43Ic7tmk-9dssBFzBt66C97R6ym3x1AEI3rfkm4-l5-n9rogAL8dn50pQasT52xTLi0qaKAEofM6Lt2zhRMvwAzdgOinQ0nup84wdLzbvw9oPCgMUnbwP9sLlmiL3unFD1TBKysDyr6Ypb/w480-h640/20240203_121958.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We approached a log, and I went slowly over it first, cautious in case of a Snake underneath or on the other side. I then proceeded to help my Wife up onto and down off it as she is not use to the outdoors.<br />"How do I get down?" She asked once up on there.<br />"You have to just step down with one leg until it touches the ground and then down with the other."<br />I held her as she managed to do it.<br />"See, that's like my whole leg length though, she said, referring to her height."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiD6fK18R2_tJRMCWNHfqIPB44iG0ygd3-D3vECLWlHNLgi5P5SbQKoUFbTRffpafTxDfKuNC3AndI2ENPNgwKgn8Tiuukyr4k6RgWQIvaFMmOEH-GNSUQVJHGp3CKjZAA1ittCd3B57wdmrHFzRpaynOVGoUZocCs5p-Ofs8__XSYlxwpGTMghVS/s4032/20240203_122134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiD6fK18R2_tJRMCWNHfqIPB44iG0ygd3-D3vECLWlHNLgi5P5SbQKoUFbTRffpafTxDfKuNC3AndI2ENPNgwKgn8Tiuukyr4k6RgWQIvaFMmOEH-GNSUQVJHGp3CKjZAA1ittCd3B57wdmrHFzRpaynOVGoUZocCs5p-Ofs8__XSYlxwpGTMghVS/w480-h640/20240203_122134.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I began telling my Wife about my bedroom as a child. That when I was a really young child this was a part of the carpet at the entrance of my room, and at night there was a line of it that appeared darker than the rest, and that it would terrify me. That I always thought it was a Snake. I knew it wasn't, but my mind always saw it that way and would fill my young child mind with fear.<br />She commented that it was probably and evolutionary trait, from cavemen, needing to spot things in and amongst the trees and snow looking for predators to keep us safe, the same was probably true with Snakes.</p><p>The path then wound back and we could see a clearer view of the lake once more.<br />"I thought it said we weren't going around the lake?" I asked once more, referring to the map, even though the walk online had said it would.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAl8eS4c_SayLnFzJgsctJ5hQyDXhZBwRwseGQLN3H9YfGG9P5yh9dlWQxdnUGi3_ENdAH25QfxYhzRyrBUL3VZLG7luj_2JQZPdUsE8hB7iVreVtZfXWASNG6hBquoen2i5PR3tNdiogMRYNz3baKeiejtQil2mmJ9I4jPRU1toGcItk1qQhMwG/s4032/20240203_122331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzzAl8eS4c_SayLnFzJgsctJ5hQyDXhZBwRwseGQLN3H9YfGG9P5yh9dlWQxdnUGi3_ENdAH25QfxYhzRyrBUL3VZLG7luj_2JQZPdUsE8hB7iVreVtZfXWASNG6hBquoen2i5PR3tNdiogMRYNz3baKeiejtQil2mmJ9I4jPRU1toGcItk1qQhMwG/w400-h300/20240203_122331.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMVvIQQzaZgGyGxeu3sqvrhsNTvtxx0pKQqnV3e3wd4BH8uHTeCwiUEpgUIYYm7tlm2YAEJ73A4UGnsLyuNHNIUKjIwJOrBME9ClfAtQrK4DFSmAaY4nzoz1yUHOpUpaOyG4PU-0g7_-8zaMUeSUqQV0Pyyi9BvdimAEAyMFxfCGEW0JLKDkR-HTM/s4032/20240203_122343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMVvIQQzaZgGyGxeu3sqvrhsNTvtxx0pKQqnV3e3wd4BH8uHTeCwiUEpgUIYYm7tlm2YAEJ73A4UGnsLyuNHNIUKjIwJOrBME9ClfAtQrK4DFSmAaY4nzoz1yUHOpUpaOyG4PU-0g7_-8zaMUeSUqQV0Pyyi9BvdimAEAyMFxfCGEW0JLKDkR-HTM/w400-h300/20240203_122343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><i>"<b>Stange Creatures of the Deep</b><br />Lurking in the waters of Thirlmere Lakes is a remarkable sponge. All other Australian freshwater sponges are able to reproduce asexually by sending off bits of themselves - rather like a plant cutting.<br />This ability, called gemmulation, is useful for dealing with the changing conditions of ageing lakes. But 'Radiospongilla sceptroides' can't gemmulate, a fact which seems to confirm the great age and stability of these lakes.<br />Other strange and significant animals have evolved in Thirlmere Lakes in isolation from other water bodies. A mussel, some worms and various microscopic organisms are mostly restricted to this one lake system."</i></p><p>We could hear people now from across the lake. It sounded like kids playing, they're always irrationally loud.<br />"I think they're at the other carpark, the one we could have turned right to go to." I said to my Wife.</p><p>I passed another big mushroom, kneeling quickly to take a photo, that ended up blurry, which is a good reason to segue into the fact that about two weeks before this I had an eye-test at Specsavers, because I was having headaches while reading 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. Turns out I am farsighted and need reading glasses. (That novel had ultra small writing though!), though, that not being an excuse for my blurry image, which probably had more to do with rushing to not be kneeling down in the bush that had already had more Snakes on it than I'd seen in years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxAzLt1LXfPsDjPfTw2N5YqkDNlOE6IqK6sn-3tVNKCWdkyPL7xRMkGRKZbE0JZd38T4v2ZYMmnkjuqQmBMXZPsvLZ8vd8ViHmDp4KYvRFZtR116v6gk0M-K78awlZ4U6qXO2eJQiTKVXFOzI6PGu5L83XMBjjhB3ELOVOX9Nh3tzzArBpQfaKugm/s4032/20240203_122502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxAzLt1LXfPsDjPfTw2N5YqkDNlOE6IqK6sn-3tVNKCWdkyPL7xRMkGRKZbE0JZd38T4v2ZYMmnkjuqQmBMXZPsvLZ8vd8ViHmDp4KYvRFZtR116v6gk0M-K78awlZ4U6qXO2eJQiTKVXFOzI6PGu5L83XMBjjhB3ELOVOX9Nh3tzzArBpQfaKugm/w400-h300/20240203_122502.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The wind began to gently blow, and you could hear the sounds of it gently blowing the tree leaves.<br />"Can you hear that?" I asked my Wife, making her stop and listen.<br />"Yes, it freaks me out." She responded.<br />"What?!" I said, perplexed. "That sound is beautiful!"<br /></p><p>I made us stop to feel the wind slightly cool us. A gentle flutter of leaves all at once began to fall from the trees and slowly spin towards the ground. We stood there in the silence, watching them lightly fall around us, and it felt like be in a fantasy forest realm in a movie or a video game.<br />"That was beautiful." I said when it had finished. My Wife agreed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5SqFyVn44aHMvoaFN_xZJehRX0GoHLpsR4up9cwnm9ZSqfrCBBlFoV1JJZ3XP3CImMbFkc8QIFTNOTBkvXxUU8JMy1RFBOjgwiBuG-2eARhD97uHLWiutaem4DUpLROP8DkigiPRxr86r95TPdRf_fAe7ovtF6ZQCDgJ-0OGQ9OfLe1rYDaU21NF/s4032/20240203_123227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5SqFyVn44aHMvoaFN_xZJehRX0GoHLpsR4up9cwnm9ZSqfrCBBlFoV1JJZ3XP3CImMbFkc8QIFTNOTBkvXxUU8JMy1RFBOjgwiBuG-2eARhD97uHLWiutaem4DUpLROP8DkigiPRxr86r95TPdRf_fAe7ovtF6ZQCDgJ-0OGQ9OfLe1rYDaU21NF/w400-h300/20240203_123227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In reference to my Wife finding the wind creepy, she began trying to say there was something about the Australian bush that 'creeped her out.' but she couldn't quite but her finger on why. (Her Mum is from England and her Dad's family German immigrants, so maybe she doesn't have the cultural heritage of the land in her yet?)<br />"I know why it is." I confidently told her. "It's because we grew up watching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy_(BBC_TV_series)" target="_blank">Jeopardy.</a>" I told her, referring to the BBC found footage style show about Aliens filmed int he Australian Bush, not the quiz game show which is also excellent.</p><p>"Christ!" I yelled. Once more startled by a Red Belly Black Snake. This one at least was a distance away, and just to the right side of the path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiW2pbTivADISGFt7p3hOVaCRb9ARSQeXjRs4-hqu_zf7pkXdA608fd2ENQpnm_J6kVknxjEm7O8JPWUL8kzAiRhVwWE5AVhVnWjpyEW887f1DsOeUdUL1qR5ophqJUPDKwXpSm8HQQh9ePiArLUVIWDVhrk996-B55NuhyWNSZ3k_LC0ucsjeJ6B/s4032/20240203_123300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiW2pbTivADISGFt7p3hOVaCRb9ARSQeXjRs4-hqu_zf7pkXdA608fd2ENQpnm_J6kVknxjEm7O8JPWUL8kzAiRhVwWE5AVhVnWjpyEW887f1DsOeUdUL1qR5ophqJUPDKwXpSm8HQQh9ePiArLUVIWDVhrk996-B55NuhyWNSZ3k_LC0ucsjeJ6B/w480-h640/20240203_123300.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I walked towards it, having more distance between it and the others and more time to get it to slither off. I stomped my feet as I approached, but it did not want to move. I threw a few sticks near it hoping that was frighten it enough (keeping them landing far enough away as to not hit it, I'm not cruel.) However the Snake did not want to move.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1Y4ZYF-V1P5RbMbyTqdizhBXGLvdlO5ks8V7QTJTtZvXn0ZTJaK5eNMxp9WJAqJda1dEIyo1MTtwSlLgrcSV98UaQP7p4UMuX_IjkwEDSgeQqXUX5EhtFfcaNTPSienAulqQO1qnPZ6a010-fSGQGBoAheNI-Nkjl0lq-eedRToCz0kWVWYg6tKb/s4032/20240203_123303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1Y4ZYF-V1P5RbMbyTqdizhBXGLvdlO5ks8V7QTJTtZvXn0ZTJaK5eNMxp9WJAqJda1dEIyo1MTtwSlLgrcSV98UaQP7p4UMuX_IjkwEDSgeQqXUX5EhtFfcaNTPSienAulqQO1qnPZ6a010-fSGQGBoAheNI-Nkjl0lq-eedRToCz0kWVWYg6tKb/w480-h640/20240203_123303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxoUxdAp1BXgyUnGsatv6ZrOEtGuwkvEYUkk2GJJgOQpuHGtj3nKSVHuYiEEbH1cj8vyqgAC01PyPUMPsREw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>"Want me to just walk past it?" My Wife offered.<br />"No, don't." If it's not moving it might be being territorial, I just don't want it to turn around and bite you all the way out here. If he doesn't want to move, we'll just cut through the bush."<br /><br />I pointed to our left, we would cut through the grass, and the trailed after the Snake turned left so it wouldn't be too long a walk through to make it back onto the path.<br />"What about other snakes?" She asked.<br />"I'll keep an eye out. Just follow behind me." I said, and began into the grass, keeping a careful eye out. About a metre and a half in, the Black Snake slithered off further away to the right, and we walked back onto the path and past it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KDxZk2q0BE0feq7t_xZ9lH96b36W12IJLDZUBNJKFIhb9ELDNiG2DEj2PTmK9J-BYWZ6XBGWNM3eGjM89LOGSB2MF4A1_x_u5e67KVOQajFtt-qCMdoKH2yxC9FEGDcL-antBcDyA7t1tkGRF14s5BcBRtujpWsdRD1wsAMP1KvK0-r25tjBbNy9/s4000/20240203_123625.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KDxZk2q0BE0feq7t_xZ9lH96b36W12IJLDZUBNJKFIhb9ELDNiG2DEj2PTmK9J-BYWZ6XBGWNM3eGjM89LOGSB2MF4A1_x_u5e67KVOQajFtt-qCMdoKH2yxC9FEGDcL-antBcDyA7t1tkGRF14s5BcBRtujpWsdRD1wsAMP1KvK0-r25tjBbNy9/w400-h300/20240203_123625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGH9t44fzDeLpe74eq9wwmVl5d-HGhz2CJq_2Dfzrgo8lxMDnAMGPGq_WvFMTLndUMJ4cDdvHdTbXOJAg98R0ZOxBqgxi7s4lXxVsbutltL0F4DnnvcwhIT-TGvhqytfu3FIKPOeKlXrOB0cBR6NTWMCJf1YNSkSsa81EaGMTSyFX6dXNnOVNc0jj/s4000/20240203_123630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGH9t44fzDeLpe74eq9wwmVl5d-HGhz2CJq_2Dfzrgo8lxMDnAMGPGq_WvFMTLndUMJ4cDdvHdTbXOJAg98R0ZOxBqgxi7s4lXxVsbutltL0F4DnnvcwhIT-TGvhqytfu3FIKPOeKlXrOB0cBR6NTWMCJf1YNSkSsa81EaGMTSyFX6dXNnOVNc0jj/w480-h640/20240203_123630.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"God I'm really on edge now." I said, my heart beating quick every time I saw a fallen piece of black bark to the side of the path, now hyper vigilant for snakes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJJhjXCEKEU7tixlwIcsktVwbMsJ7xr-1fvP7qM68cltZtqtQUSqpTGGiXu0jOuuAVpnzSOoucH3H-lPhBwMTiaMPEEAi370KNnZovpShEm8Fa1EvJnENO_M8tuLCg7GgpNcEL8oRKxw7JpD1o2uBrVbXbw99MKcQ7brV9_OBjXiYYMgeV6z1tsUY/s4032/20240203_123704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJJhjXCEKEU7tixlwIcsktVwbMsJ7xr-1fvP7qM68cltZtqtQUSqpTGGiXu0jOuuAVpnzSOoucH3H-lPhBwMTiaMPEEAi370KNnZovpShEm8Fa1EvJnENO_M8tuLCg7GgpNcEL8oRKxw7JpD1o2uBrVbXbw99MKcQ7brV9_OBjXiYYMgeV6z1tsUY/w400-h300/20240203_123704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we continued along my Wife began noticing all the holes around.<br />"Are they Wombat holes or...?" She asked.<br />"Yeah." I responded.<br />"Why couldn't we see them instead of all the Snakes."<br />"You see them out more at night."<br />"God that's scary." Said my Wife, pointing as we turned a corner to a fallen down tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH26Gall_h14ciwMnC32K0E0uh0BaK8DX4xbpu_4_LqpHh_HE2CXwwZAXsnmgOMxpQA6qvrejnOacG2dwtkPKCrRsKVDBfyPdTbDBtIrr-3l0_f9aKia9KAp6g5vqYEhEk-IkvCw6k9SUj15qtXClsDUfd-zIQvnwEwmmRHyE0DfieZeR-A5SewxjQ/s4000/20240203_123853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH26Gall_h14ciwMnC32K0E0uh0BaK8DX4xbpu_4_LqpHh_HE2CXwwZAXsnmgOMxpQA6qvrejnOacG2dwtkPKCrRsKVDBfyPdTbDBtIrr-3l0_f9aKia9KAp6g5vqYEhEk-IkvCw6k9SUj15qtXClsDUfd-zIQvnwEwmmRHyE0DfieZeR-A5SewxjQ/w480-h640/20240203_123853.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I assumed she meant because Snakes could be leaving underneath it, but she just meant how big it was and the thought of if it fell on you.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgwUJdoEZa6pVfhIxkD8oI9eVL5yznJar7PL99HJy6EjglxaUeeDJZxdID-0v4jHm0zuX3N1u9JlaCzwwkJUuBDG-5DG2YIOzIhWZoYqwJdnTThZ9f-enfWnBP2EZl5pbk_phzS0tj-CjHtsngAns4yPPgLmAjzXFDCPw4MG2FzqcjsO8orhJXFtH/s4032/20240203_123942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgwUJdoEZa6pVfhIxkD8oI9eVL5yznJar7PL99HJy6EjglxaUeeDJZxdID-0v4jHm0zuX3N1u9JlaCzwwkJUuBDG-5DG2YIOzIhWZoYqwJdnTThZ9f-enfWnBP2EZl5pbk_phzS0tj-CjHtsngAns4yPPgLmAjzXFDCPw4MG2FzqcjsO8orhJXFtH/w400-h300/20240203_123942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Continuing along any sort of breeze had disappeared, and it was now well and truly warm, and we were starting to sweat. I put my sunglasses on to dim the brightness out, but as they were polarized, I found it harder to keep an eye out for snakes, so ended up resting them on the brim of my hat.</p><p>We continued along the trail, I pointed out big boulders out in the bush every now and again, wondering if they were the places that featured the Aboriginal rock engraving and artwork. As a history buff, living on Aboriginal land I couldn't help but think about how little I was ever taught about the Indigenous culture here. I'm only 32 (still young according to people older than me, but feeling old now), and even I was brought up calling Uluru 'Ayer's Rock', and with the latest voice to parliament result I couldn't help but think there was still a long way for our country to go. I pictured in my head what life was like for them all those years ago. Living around this water source. Wondering how they dealt with the Snakes, which in the <a href="https://www.dharawalwords.com.au/" target="_blank">Dharawal/Tharawal language</a> is '<a href="https://www.dharawalwords.com.au/animals" target="_blank">Munda Gari</a>'.<br /></p><p>After walking in silence for a while, sweating and keeping an eye out for Snakes, we saw the path open up onto a dirt road.</p><p>"I guess we took the other track." I said. Saying that the loop track must have including the dirt roads that my Wife didn't want to walk on in case of 'speeding cars'.<br /></p><p>A lady on horseback was coming up the road towards us. I greeted her and asked if she had seen any snakes, informing her of the three we had encountered along the trail. I then double checked with her that the way she'd came led back to the car park and she said it did. I thanked her and we began along the dirt road in the heat, now with less shade back towards the carpark.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi342_fJ8Mddb2RC8Xd6VruEsQTHdVbC8BAjx3W90mvnl7301sWq5SdKInWYhlTm21keIqIDU3tY3W_I9w59CXTOLsKdfdihdzXiVd1ffLCpLC8vDToDxUEfIUJ_rwjQLKufxHs-OHiiwHrZ0NTfkSkn3S_hHf487gkE3W0ojGlr_s9t2N5ptx_I7h2/s4032/20240203_125324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi342_fJ8Mddb2RC8Xd6VruEsQTHdVbC8BAjx3W90mvnl7301sWq5SdKInWYhlTm21keIqIDU3tY3W_I9w59CXTOLsKdfdihdzXiVd1ffLCpLC8vDToDxUEfIUJ_rwjQLKufxHs-OHiiwHrZ0NTfkSkn3S_hHf487gkE3W0ojGlr_s9t2N5ptx_I7h2/w480-h640/20240203_125324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"You're becoming your Dad." My Wife told me, mentioning the fact that I started up a conversation with a random. <br />"Ah well. We're out on an adventure, got to talk to folk." I replied. "Usually when we're out it's Tristan who does it."<br />"Really?"<br />"Yeah, he loves a good chat." I said as we continued along the road.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwatti5P-GF-smD8FZE6syYYbi0dKUwFhY25Xcu8S9wAZYt9Bvbdo4y2FwV827B_fB6TQ62fFCFQoxQajWfnknHTvhNQvdMFoir1wVzvRAT0HuFPfqrzixULXU1R15rYusu-YpQ2v73vsQYJGPRXAVLZ66a_y7mUOEwTHHLqDhWe8xLBBirthoooV/s4032/20240203_125830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwatti5P-GF-smD8FZE6syYYbi0dKUwFhY25Xcu8S9wAZYt9Bvbdo4y2FwV827B_fB6TQ62fFCFQoxQajWfnknHTvhNQvdMFoir1wVzvRAT0HuFPfqrzixULXU1R15rYusu-YpQ2v73vsQYJGPRXAVLZ66a_y7mUOEwTHHLqDhWe8xLBBirthoooV/w480-h640/20240203_125830.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This dirt road led to another dirt road with a gate blocking off car access. it pointed us right towards the Lake Werri Berri carpark and picnic area, which was about 1 kilometre out from the Lake Couridjah picnic area where we had parked.</p><p>After a decent walk along the road with two passing cars, discussing our recently bought shoes we arrived at the bustling picnic area, and I walked to the information board to see if there was any difference. The information provided appeared to be the same, but the map seemed to more accurately show the loop trail we had just done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_awBHO5g6wLzlGtZSaYait8xWYCXqeup_eJMSiIGWRXiu63InVM_7Z_i6Pje6jVBpT3WNt39BE5IVBA9ETNwBu1D69gVmqZHoRi94mkPKYMQ5a92r1d1qZz8ZrhrXEb859B50UeDTPxBudoluxMtIXk8Q3s-cVpAAuljnC-Mr9gHwfKKCmxhF-Z4O/s4032/20240203_131204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_awBHO5g6wLzlGtZSaYait8xWYCXqeup_eJMSiIGWRXiu63InVM_7Z_i6Pje6jVBpT3WNt39BE5IVBA9ETNwBu1D69gVmqZHoRi94mkPKYMQ5a92r1d1qZz8ZrhrXEb859B50UeDTPxBudoluxMtIXk8Q3s-cVpAAuljnC-Mr9gHwfKKCmxhF-Z4O/w400-h300/20240203_131204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We continued along the dirt road.</p><p>"We'll know when we're almost there once we reach the pump house." I said, having seen it less than a minute away from the picnic area as we drove in.<br />In less than no time we arrived at the pumphouse, built in 1867.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm11iVeFEq7Ws7Ap__Diu7VJbs1suHx3_qQMcuEf6nzgHb5nEWX4INnYF_8jL0IbC7QwZ-iLGdtn6lj07qb8MgrXaPHc2h6eFDZHvgydh8wyvKUUfk14TeOurRBZvdUIC1GVxggHaJue3oYZun_ZPd4sV7ld-2_43yRPnCwKGwsnWpQ5g7NGILBkk/s4032/20240203_132652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJm11iVeFEq7Ws7Ap__Diu7VJbs1suHx3_qQMcuEf6nzgHb5nEWX4INnYF_8jL0IbC7QwZ-iLGdtn6lj07qb8MgrXaPHc2h6eFDZHvgydh8wyvKUUfk14TeOurRBZvdUIC1GVxggHaJue3oYZun_ZPd4sV7ld-2_43yRPnCwKGwsnWpQ5g7NGILBkk/w480-h640/20240203_132652.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>"<i><b>The Couridjah Pumphouse</b><br />This building was once the pumphouse that supplied water for steam trains using the southern railway line.<br />Built when the line was extended to Mittagong in 1867, the pump house once contained a boiler and steam-powered pump capable of delivering 27,000 litres of water an hour to the nearby Couridjah Railway Station.<br />Demand for the water from the pumphouse dropped dramatically in 1919 once an alternative rail line between Picton and Mittagong commenced operation.<br />Pumping operations continued here until 1964 when the boiler and pump were removed.<br />Today the site is recognised and conserved as an important historic place within Thirlmere Lakes National Park.</i>"</div><div><br /></div>You couldn't enter inside but could peer in through the barred door.<br />"Creepy." I commented.<br /><p>"<i><b>Servants of Steam</b><br />Both this pumphouse and the locomotives it provided for had one crucial thing in common - they were driven by steam engines.<br />Steam was the critical element that powered up the industrial revolution which in turned changed the world forever.<br />The key difference between steam power and the modern internal combustion engine is that with steam, all the real action happens before the steam enters the cylinder chamber.<br />The heart of the steam engine is the boiler where water is boiled as it passes around a coal fire via a system of internal metal tubes.<br />Pressure thus builds up to around 150 lbs/sq inch before a safety value cuts in to "let off steam" and prevent the boiler exploding.<br />With a "full head of steam up", the boiler is then ready to do some work. A regulator (throttle) releases the steam into the cylinder where it forces the piston downwards thus turning the crankshaft and hence the flywheel. Most steam engines have two cylinders.<br />Having done its work in the cylinders, the steam is then blown out through the chimney. A fair bit of power goes with it as you could tell if you heard the noise made by the exhaust.<br />Owing to limitations on space, weight and wasted heat, steam locomotives were very inefficient energy users. Of every 100 units of heat produced by fuel on the fire grate, only 6 or 7 were turned into useful work in normal running conditions.</i>" </p><p>A few metres up the road we were back and Couridjah Lake picnic area, and we sat at a little table in the shade looking out at the water while we ate our homegrown cucumbers with hummus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_bkg-zKV2RTaik1vywdg97KMsaR820dqJfK_gbWtrmCfRemGz-5_fHzaPu8GJt1jebAvFHnEa59JmPDAXnG-oVKxWWZz_kt1qNsZhF9W0WBC8BXEt2vel-qCsK7mZjSvpKCG1x3C9irn2U-SGhJmNx6pSAXEAe4QWEY6VMWyimhOUiBjReG5B4KI/s4032/20240203_133715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_bkg-zKV2RTaik1vywdg97KMsaR820dqJfK_gbWtrmCfRemGz-5_fHzaPu8GJt1jebAvFHnEa59JmPDAXnG-oVKxWWZz_kt1qNsZhF9W0WBC8BXEt2vel-qCsK7mZjSvpKCG1x3C9irn2U-SGhJmNx6pSAXEAe4QWEY6VMWyimhOUiBjReG5B4KI/w400-h300/20240203_133715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>"Would you like to go into Thirlmere after this?" I asked my Wife. I was happy out, exploring somewhere new. I wasn't ready to go home yet.<br />"Nah there's nothing there." She said dismissing it.<br />"We could go into town? Maybe find a bakery? Try a pie. I love trying a local pie." I said, hoping she'd relent.</p><p>She was soon on Google Maps, where she found both a local bakery that looked good (Loop-Line Pies), and a cake shop she thought looked good (DeliciousLeigh Cakes).<br />"Sounds good to me." I replied as I had been down by the water while she was looking them up.</p><p>As we drove into town, we passed the NSW Rail Museum. I enquired if she was interested in going. She gave me a look that said, 'Do you even need to ask?' and she directed me to a spot to pull up near the bakery for a pie. As we crossed through the town, I couldn't notice anything particular 'Estonian' about it, but not having been to Estonia, and really not knowing too much about it as a place I probably wouldn't have noticed if there was.<br /><br />"I like the name of the Inn." My Wife said, point out it was called 'the Welcome Inn' as in, welcome in.</p><p>As we entered, I was devastated to see they were sold out of my favourite; chilli pies.<br />"Do you want one?" My Wife asked.<br />"Can we check and see if the other bakery has them?"<br />"The other one only sells cakes." She answered.<br /><br />I decided upon a Beef Curry pie and my Wife got a sausage roll. She said it was the best sausage roll she'd had in years and my pie was excellent too. Like a full on slow cooked beef curry put inside a large pie casing. I was so full after eating it.<br />We walked down to the cake shop which wasn't too far away and ended up indulging a lot, buying a large Orea slice, Turkish Delight Slice, Blueberry frosted cupcake and a large caramel donut. (All of which we ate later at home on separate days, and they were delicious). I also got a medium sized honeycomb milkshakes and my Wife a lime flavoured one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGFtWIeFJ3jAouYSxktd1XyaF29ViRtyP1YcZvXdIbL2kd6l1GWyCJpv7U3Cx1EouaTi-l9aCiU2ZSfWv4YIJ6MOxGC1OHaNjWJE7_8HXEMFa-8Xct4vnvCzvoVQO25gRCey86FTOjAjiHnKogPHMBZw_kY9yJjWAMs6908BipK6Zx9cZ4-NxBymP/s2016/pie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGFtWIeFJ3jAouYSxktd1XyaF29ViRtyP1YcZvXdIbL2kd6l1GWyCJpv7U3Cx1EouaTi-l9aCiU2ZSfWv4YIJ6MOxGC1OHaNjWJE7_8HXEMFa-8Xct4vnvCzvoVQO25gRCey86FTOjAjiHnKogPHMBZw_kY9yJjWAMs6908BipK6Zx9cZ4-NxBymP/w480-h640/pie.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS_OacbFsDWwRsnvg5hFW4o72QaMcqrXL8-TUct5hx4tRIKULwDt_Yw8Gp1YBZbukiISZ6REz-VMdz_uIglY9e0jFpBE4LV8AsDyx-f-WJ5MyLnyX4ji_MmN0hEeTA4c5fMgsxKdpQ9VmbTfuEMi3Bk7umC3-8WdKRnXqI8oNhswMIELOrmBxs8IY/s2016/cakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLS_OacbFsDWwRsnvg5hFW4o72QaMcqrXL8-TUct5hx4tRIKULwDt_Yw8Gp1YBZbukiISZ6REz-VMdz_uIglY9e0jFpBE4LV8AsDyx-f-WJ5MyLnyX4ji_MmN0hEeTA4c5fMgsxKdpQ9VmbTfuEMi3Bk7umC3-8WdKRnXqI8oNhswMIELOrmBxs8IY/w480-h640/cakes.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we drank them on the drive home, I commented that I was 'so full from that pie' and that it was nice to get out somewhere different for the day. I also said because that pie was so good I was even more upset that I didn't get to try the chili pie.<br />"Maybe we can come back one day." My Wife said.<br />My mood lifted once more. <br />"Yeah, I should have a look for other walks around nearby, and maybe we can stop in first to get a pie, before they sell out."<br />I would have been straight on my phone researching walks had I not been the one behind the wheel.</p><p><br /></p><p>After the weekend and back into the grind of work I had my interview with ABC Illawarra about the history of the Bull of Bull Island. It was a recording which made me panic slightly, and I felt like I rambled incoherently the whole time, wishing the interview had been written, my preferred style of communication as I feel like I can stop, think and articulate my thoughts in a much more coherent manner. It played on the ABC Illawarra radio just after 10:30am on Tuesday morning and I had my friends Stuart and Megan listen as I had told them about my perceived 'ramblings'. They were quick to assure me that I 'did good' and that it didn't come across as ramblings. (You can listen to it <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/illawarra-mornings/illawarra-mornings/103412086" target="_blank">HERE</a> and it starts at about the 2 hours and 2 minutes mark, though I can't guarantee that in a few years time when this post is still here that that link will work). However, I think if I were to do interviews again, I would still prefer them to be written (the same reason I tell my friend Tristan that Steventure will remain a blog, and not a TikTok or YouTube style thing. I like my style, though not popular (TLDR, people might say), this is how it will stay.</p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgyd0A_BN_5n42-fAwE1WQ3c3iAEcC53hPD4Mep-92u5_EVKVF2_Z2u57t_axKkaoyyV53xNMEfc2CeUilld_YM5QAmCO2ZQZrKw3EmdIHrQ6i_Oyoz7aig0Rxpxrb2uDusTUNzMEt1p24lgdSmRYm7u8vvDwCu8xdTJxjTPH6ouTWYMzEr3XpfVX/s4096/Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="4096" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgyd0A_BN_5n42-fAwE1WQ3c3iAEcC53hPD4Mep-92u5_EVKVF2_Z2u57t_axKkaoyyV53xNMEfc2CeUilld_YM5QAmCO2ZQZrKw3EmdIHrQ6i_Oyoz7aig0Rxpxrb2uDusTUNzMEt1p24lgdSmRYm7u8vvDwCu8xdTJxjTPH6ouTWYMzEr3XpfVX/w400-h170/Logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com7QGCV+R7 Thirlmere Lakes National Park, Thirlmere NSW 2572, Australia-34.2278837 150.5432378-62.538117536178845 115.38698780000001 -5.9176498638211541 -174.30051219999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-34706439507719094512023-11-24T14:15:00.004+11:002023-11-25T11:38:25.478+11:00Trip to Iceland<p>Prior to the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">start of the Covid-19 pandemic</a>, my Wife and I had a trip to Japan booked. Tickets bought. An overseas holiday after years. Of course, covid brought that crashing down. </p><p><a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/07/berrima-river-walk-and-stone-quarry-walk.html" target="_blank">Once the pandemic lifted</a>, the thought of booking our trip returned. However, it was at this point when I got my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">Leukemia diagnosis.</a> After receiving treatment, and having a successful <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>, I reached the 2 year post cancer, with my chance of recurrence dropping from 20% to 2%.<br /><br />We once more resumed talks of overseas travel. However, with receiving lung damage from the stem cell transplant (or the chemo), I was worried still about catching Covid. So, my Wife had a thought about it, and as Japan is densely populated, we were worried that it would be too risky to travel there, so she threw out another suggestion of a country we were interested in: Iceland.<br /><br />We began looking into it, deciding to do 'Icelandic Full Circle at Leisure' through Nordic visitor, which organised our car rental, accommodation, and airports transfers as well as giving us a lot of itinerary options of things to see and do along our road trip to Iceland so we could plan a lot before we went over. We also decided to have a stopover in Denmark, staying in Copenhagen on our way to Iceland, and upon our return home.</p><p><br /><br /><b>Prologue - Copenhagen</b></p><p>With lots of planning, and going through details, working out mathematically distance between places and what things we wanting to do, booking into activities, and getting everything ready for months leading up, the day finally arrived, and we headed to the airport, bags packed, with the dread of a very long flight to look forward to. We lined up in a long line at the airport, before realising that was the wrong flight, and then lined up in another super long one.... which was also wrong. Finally, we found the right line, checked our baggage, and made our way in where we grabbed some quick lunch and waited for our flight with Singapore Airlines.</p><p>We made our way onto the plane, where I was eager for some free beers and to sit down and just binge watch some movies (you gotta try and enjoy yourself right?). After we took off, I chose my first film, the Super Marios Bros movie. I was shocked at how bad the sound quality of the headphones was, and I sort of wish I had just downloaded some films onto my tablet and brought my own headphones. I moved on to watching Shazam 2 followed by Black Adam. I started to feel pretty tired and started to watch the reality TV series 'The Climb' hosted by climbing legend Chris Sharma. We arrived at Singapore, where we had a bit of a wait until our connecting flight to Copenhagen, we found a spot to sit and sat to remove our hiking boots (which we had worn onto the plane because my Wife was paranoid about the weight of our checked baggage, which was way under the limit anyway), and let our feet breathe. As we wandered around, we noticed a machine at the airport which created tea or coffee for you, and you could watch the robot make it, which I guess was the niche thing. It offered an iced pandan latte which sounded pretty good for us, so we got one of those, which tasted good though there was too much ice in it, making the actual drink rather small.</p><p>We got back on the plane and my Wife who had been watching very different sort of films to me had finished the new Spielberg film 'The Fabelmans' which I had wanted to watch anyway, and said it was really good. I said I would watch it, but I first tried to get some sleep, which I had been severely unable to do on <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">our last flight to Europe.</a> This time I was able to nod on and off so actually got some sleep before putting on that final movie (which was the best of the four I watched). After this my eyes were just to burnt out from looking at the small bright screen, so I nodded off again before just spending the rest of the flight watching the little flight map as we slowly got closer and closer to Denmark.</p><p>Finally we arrived and had the long wait of getting off the plane because everyone stands up at once, taking down all their luggage, and taking ages to do it, which was annoying because we only had backpacks so could have literally just walked off the plane. After getting over our frustration and eager to breathe fresh air, we exited and made our way to customs. As we waited in line, I was eager to remove my face mask (that I had worn for the entire flight to avoid catching covid) and could feel the aching pain of the straps on my ears and just pined for fresh air. I noticed that the person stamping passports in our line didn't look as friendly as some of the others, and hoped we wouldn't have any issues. </p><p>"How long are you visiting Denmark?" He enquired as we arrived at him.<br />"Just two nights."<br />"Two nights and back to Australia?"<br />"No then to Iceland for two weeks, then back here" I responded.<br />He stamped our passport and finally through we went in search of our checked luggage.</p><p>Finally finding it, we found a seat where we could swap our boots over into normal shoes (oh the unpleasant odor of boot foot after 23 hours!), and made our way through the airport, where fortunately the train service was connected in a very convenient manner. We worked out the train tickets at a nearby ATM style ticket purchasing machine that allowed us to swap the language to English and got a ticket to København Hovedbanegård, which was nearby our accommodation at the Andersen Hotel. We took the escalator down to the train station where we tried to work out if we were on the right platform. A young man saw us looking and asked, "Is this train going into the city?'<br /><br />We explained we were trying to work it out, while waiting for the new sim I had placed in my phone to allow roaming and overseas mobile data to take effect to have the help if the good old internet and google maps.<br /><br />"Are you from Australia?" He asked.</p><p>We told him we were, and he said he was from Lebanon and he was going into the city to visit his sister who was there before going off to University in Canada. He asked if there were a lot of Lebanese people in Australia and we said there were, finally, the train arrived and we got on, while I unfolded a map of the city I had grabbed from the train/plane terminal. I looked at things to do while also looking out the window at the scenery. I struggled to refold the map, and I could see the man's amusement as I simply shoved it into my backpack. We arrived at our destination, hopping off the train with no mobile data and no idea where to go. We headed to an escalator while I fiddled with my phone trying to get the mobile data to activate. Finally, we worked it out and made our way towards the street 'Reventlowsgade', where our very first impression of Denmark wasn't very good. There was a bar right outside, and it was 7am in the morning, and there was a group of seedy looking drunk people standing in front of it. <br /><br />"Oh god," I thought "Where have we come to." As my Wife informed Me, she had found out after booking that our hotel was apparently in the 'red light district', and we began to worry about what was in store. We made our way down 'Istedgad' street and into our hotel where check-in wasn't until 2pm, but we had asked ahead of time about storing our suitcases and going out to explore the city until check in was available. We were greeted by friendly staff who explained about their wine our, where at 5pm you could come down and try a free wine, and we thought the hotel looked really lovely. We placed our suitcases and decided to set out to find a coffee and a pastry, as my Wife had looked into a particular pastry shop prior to our leaving Australia. However, she had not saved the location or name and so as we wandered and explored we ended up just going to one that looked nice for a coffee and a berry flavoured pastry, passing a building with a ringing bell and a fountain out the front.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyX9ZsWEPzGdORSVFfe4UmsKe9KzddjfDPm7aTrYXVYn57fYWgJ1yoJsm2Lg3BvHTWLt-6yMSbfAyKi2wC8lptMjGCka5EBL5pEIxTSVWxknEDfm0P8SppLSTp36n1bou4_l3J2zWPyAdy5YXqgTV6CsqISdCiSjy6mdI9DjjRyBl0Y2S_LtlhKy/s3648/20230903_083512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOyX9ZsWEPzGdORSVFfe4UmsKe9KzddjfDPm7aTrYXVYn57fYWgJ1yoJsm2Lg3BvHTWLt-6yMSbfAyKi2wC8lptMjGCka5EBL5pEIxTSVWxknEDfm0P8SppLSTp36n1bou4_l3J2zWPyAdy5YXqgTV6CsqISdCiSjy6mdI9DjjRyBl0Y2S_LtlhKy/w480-h640/20230903_083512.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiftCsEXvbpkl9LvoY74pW6Usrsb8qVkljckXI1Ze5U_-XJi0nr0ku9h0tGgAageVX9FE1zTHGJ2IHIFJet0QfGkJJV9CDSHHAlyi_DOQsd6Fgrr5BjBKxKLTN0nK6yCSo0AajdDEUO2ZcbLycziJeI33zUcmfhcF0FCkMaCkQs6tdhNfewH0Ukkr/s4032/20230903_085643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiftCsEXvbpkl9LvoY74pW6Usrsb8qVkljckXI1Ze5U_-XJi0nr0ku9h0tGgAageVX9FE1zTHGJ2IHIFJet0QfGkJJV9CDSHHAlyi_DOQsd6Fgrr5BjBKxKLTN0nK6yCSo0AajdDEUO2ZcbLycziJeI33zUcmfhcF0FCkMaCkQs6tdhNfewH0Ukkr/w480-h640/20230903_085643.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhkHI7jUdaEd9ainBryOOnm_zSsjM1cImrGzTeA5JqJemJ2-8KOh8bo1lw-PhUJ2Cb1BbsTInXx038-W1VZA4o-UXiicQgkPVRAhfPJCh41qq4z4CEooqSIFtSenB1y4k1vkYlc18-v5aOD0aM266HAN5RL9mm1OSskcuCCQfs8x3qoEVGL9SejiL/s4032/20230903_090035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhkHI7jUdaEd9ainBryOOnm_zSsjM1cImrGzTeA5JqJemJ2-8KOh8bo1lw-PhUJ2Cb1BbsTInXx038-W1VZA4o-UXiicQgkPVRAhfPJCh41qq4z4CEooqSIFtSenB1y4k1vkYlc18-v5aOD0aM266HAN5RL9mm1OSskcuCCQfs8x3qoEVGL9SejiL/w480-h640/20230903_090035.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We were pretty cluelessly wandering through the city before finding a bench to stop and eat out pastry and drink our coffee. From here, I looked up directions and we began making out way to the botanical garden to spend some time. By the time we had the reached the front of the gardens the city was really starting to come alive and seem a much more friendly and inviting place. We entered the garden, in no hurry and slowly made our way through, looking at the plants, enjoying the fresh air, especially after enduring a 23 hour flight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuc-kdp7GqlRgX8rNkHtFwEzNTEy4Sk-PKf9fF8o4a1MTFS0qHysFoFKyS8adftpojKTKUfVpX0ptLabYC1GQTHdfkLB0lvqv0wXqaPcL75eyI8D8aFd_1BtFbqv6IEH7c8K9rUKTEWwfVN5hwG97WVI7GFazztJpjTW702_qRRmytoFVMZBSdaHy/s4032/20230903_103935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuc-kdp7GqlRgX8rNkHtFwEzNTEy4Sk-PKf9fF8o4a1MTFS0qHysFoFKyS8adftpojKTKUfVpX0ptLabYC1GQTHdfkLB0lvqv0wXqaPcL75eyI8D8aFd_1BtFbqv6IEH7c8K9rUKTEWwfVN5hwG97WVI7GFazztJpjTW702_qRRmytoFVMZBSdaHy/w400-h300/20230903_103935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We made our way through to a section called the 'palm house' which was a section that required paid entry. We weren't too keen on seeing palm trees, living in Australia and having them growing in our yard, so we continued through the entirety of the gardens before making our way to the nearby Museum of Natural History, which requires us to leave through the gates we entered through and walk around the outskirts to the far side of the gardens to get to the museum.</p><p>At the entrance to the museum was a giant meteorite that I couldn't help but touch.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyf8J8UKlP_ONO1k0JTLxE3gbYTReS-YeGVScznrWH2bW960u7sD6lkZcvdMMBLq-EOBLPJyWEou0HCMKYO0Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>When we entered and paid, we were told it also included entry into the 'palm house' we had just walked away from. We entered the museum which was presenting a special exhibition on Primates and the opening was older species, including those of human ancestors which was right up our alley and was very cool to see.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4JvvNlBGOqM9enzHc05CrksXByu_O5ckkd7390HkZRx8pXBoI0ojmCXYMuIwNXSsfyS4MHMSI8ZnE3ZuLzNnvp1m6LLnb0uMS0kbWMsN0PrkW23V-Mpjib9KgjZBHWdkRnD85zcEWynsRVe9V9cjYKM0u5qYOuZqfcYs5baY_-wlAh_6R15fRL1W/s4032/20230903_105932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4JvvNlBGOqM9enzHc05CrksXByu_O5ckkd7390HkZRx8pXBoI0ojmCXYMuIwNXSsfyS4MHMSI8ZnE3ZuLzNnvp1m6LLnb0uMS0kbWMsN0PrkW23V-Mpjib9KgjZBHWdkRnD85zcEWynsRVe9V9cjYKM0u5qYOuZqfcYs5baY_-wlAh_6R15fRL1W/w480-h640/20230903_105932.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJAswpdBMqbdtsySqn8YInNqVnT1FMo4wSERnlutfJBRjYXdfr_Pq6ajamFTzUrprmQsopHNglZuMVaqy2Cn7_iz6MNioDfubm_sRuIHBmuLdokb22Wqog1fAKqdukJuXHgh8OR3_siTRVA_w9lgkv6ancTuymOqkAYGG2iv-WmvOzfgwHFWxZTC7/s4032/20230903_110028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJAswpdBMqbdtsySqn8YInNqVnT1FMo4wSERnlutfJBRjYXdfr_Pq6ajamFTzUrprmQsopHNglZuMVaqy2Cn7_iz6MNioDfubm_sRuIHBmuLdokb22Wqog1fAKqdukJuXHgh8OR3_siTRVA_w9lgkv6ancTuymOqkAYGG2iv-WmvOzfgwHFWxZTC7/w400-h300/20230903_110028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0Ji4-Gd9aQRMVGhGFO667gVp03vfZN2lDXmLXLmUnIewrVdRS_vj5C68VGP5YIJTsATGEK3Dml65ln3HevCCHSf7t7FAdnZe4Vyh8n_siB3oBudNY-joeV17Rew42rnEEUEjb67_vSaz2cb7KogN5o8hWygZLWEovJkUlY4g5fK1W_Sk1R56LlU/s4032/20230903_110035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEike0Ji4-Gd9aQRMVGhGFO667gVp03vfZN2lDXmLXLmUnIewrVdRS_vj5C68VGP5YIJTsATGEK3Dml65ln3HevCCHSf7t7FAdnZe4Vyh8n_siB3oBudNY-joeV17Rew42rnEEUEjb67_vSaz2cb7KogN5o8hWygZLWEovJkUlY4g5fK1W_Sk1R56LlU/w480-h640/20230903_110035.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ3jA1Yo9cu1ar-xCadrewcEukW1qfd28aulcusqz6hGaooInxvpn1JglkbP-fvDh6KZ7UTdeiAv5yLFNaOH5ju1r66EbkiToBHxZgndFiIUH_7JpUE2DAn8RkfONsccNI-P4eA8LLGusor8pOFFFj-awRZ4pKDojfvfIJJusi4E22OTSIhd9ww1K/s4032/20230903_110429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ3jA1Yo9cu1ar-xCadrewcEukW1qfd28aulcusqz6hGaooInxvpn1JglkbP-fvDh6KZ7UTdeiAv5yLFNaOH5ju1r66EbkiToBHxZgndFiIUH_7JpUE2DAn8RkfONsccNI-P4eA8LLGusor8pOFFFj-awRZ4pKDojfvfIJJusi4E22OTSIhd9ww1K/w400-h300/20230903_110429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We finished exploring that exhibit and continued upstairs, where there was a display of minerals, rocks, and gems which were cool to look at (and confirmed we're old souls enjoying looking at rocks in a museum).</p><p>We decided to make our way back to explore the palm house, seeing as we had paid for it. We stopped in at a nearby Netto (grocery store), that was outside the start of the gardens just to grab something to eat. We entered the garden finding a shady spot by a pond to have some snacks before continuing on and in to the Palm House, which ended up being really interesting and filled with far more than just palms. One of the first things we noticed (besides the humidity) was the cool brightly coloured frogs, hopping around.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzXeg-u9xb17jSywEdwOvCu_xL7FO3lJ4MnY77sNL0QO39R2hWRn0Sl-Ttgand1X2fg1QPdi_vgEbUtgmHiIg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As we made our way through each section, we investigated all the plants around us, learning what they were and where they were from (luckily, we're botanically inclined). We passed through Aquatic and Mangrove plants, warm subtropics, dry tropics and the Mediterranean house. In one section we were able to walk upstairs, high above the canopy of the thick jungle trees (though my Wife's fear of heights kept her firmly on the ground).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXZfEDVWEJBNAYHXHA3gE1fjZ1PglHY4f6RNnV1SlpftXfjLfOyKOl_UL5eW9YEagefOXZlmffrDyS3wcsh004XJOy8cUmQEOkcm9QAEPhcQPHA60r97nDyiRnDFs1MQ7ppBs28nNe4igtUyQEGuZpFFhcsfNQxQ40YUQ8tl_046KVMolCakXgRjZ/s4032/20230903_125536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXZfEDVWEJBNAYHXHA3gE1fjZ1PglHY4f6RNnV1SlpftXfjLfOyKOl_UL5eW9YEagefOXZlmffrDyS3wcsh004XJOy8cUmQEOkcm9QAEPhcQPHA60r97nDyiRnDFs1MQ7ppBs28nNe4igtUyQEGuZpFFhcsfNQxQ40YUQ8tl_046KVMolCakXgRjZ/w480-h640/20230903_125536.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After walking through we were ready to make our way back to the accommodation, until we saw people entering another door that had a guard, only allowing a few people to enter at a time, we realised that it was a Butterfly House that was included and so lined up and walked through enjoying all the butterflies. It was in here we overheard one of the workers explain to someone that the brightly coloured Frogs we had been seeing were poison dart frogs, however, that the poison came from the ingestion of a particular food source, which they didn't have access to here and so they were nontoxic.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp8U3wxuPB9AYF2oN_yyCBo22pQpzIJqQ2jR0wReS4PxCXUHZ1NeteR0m7LyCjrvSGg2-EhJQH8ry50aDr9wss_fvnaS4GrSUoru5rPA5KwImtB6D9GcRG6BRQuxoy1FfUxGs6t7WnMCwCxVc4TxvXCP20i_K8GZK_Qft04lGjuC5syyOpDsP-Lqv/s4032/20230903_133935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp8U3wxuPB9AYF2oN_yyCBo22pQpzIJqQ2jR0wReS4PxCXUHZ1NeteR0m7LyCjrvSGg2-EhJQH8ry50aDr9wss_fvnaS4GrSUoru5rPA5KwImtB6D9GcRG6BRQuxoy1FfUxGs6t7WnMCwCxVc4TxvXCP20i_K8GZK_Qft04lGjuC5syyOpDsP-Lqv/w480-h640/20230903_133935.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LJgxaqYnmk1KjXRwjsPqyFr7UP9tXwjqnd5o4vvM8xwUlk4ryvn6dfgj2dzMjha-6fb24AzJ9jeDCBQiSEqX62Ta01C5iCKR3MKtP7q-PSlroz1dL-CJzg0pPdwtHOD2JlZ8Rxu1uyiidGaLwZhYeLtudgpHIj1vM-gyaDFP1R3HDBAC8qiWZa9E/s4032/20230903_134119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LJgxaqYnmk1KjXRwjsPqyFr7UP9tXwjqnd5o4vvM8xwUlk4ryvn6dfgj2dzMjha-6fb24AzJ9jeDCBQiSEqX62Ta01C5iCKR3MKtP7q-PSlroz1dL-CJzg0pPdwtHOD2JlZ8Rxu1uyiidGaLwZhYeLtudgpHIj1vM-gyaDFP1R3HDBAC8qiWZa9E/w480-h640/20230903_134119.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzAZDvcmUUgstpEMLE_kBq-_6giKkTVBpMglVS4vvlxm1igH8uzazpJbJHxOnR7_XbEyhY9TwdaBgxdzmoQHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>We took our time enjoying the butterflies darting about all around us, slowly making our way through. As we exited, we stopped to once more snack, and put our sunglasses on as the weather was overcast, but also bright and glary (and quite warm and humid). It lightly rained before stopping shortly, and we decided to now make our way back to our accommodation to check in. We passed through Ørstedsparken, a local park that reminded me of the parks in and around London. There were people here playing Finska. I noticed a sign nearby mentioning escape, and I pointed to my Wife saying there might be an escape room there we could do (as lovers of escape rooms). She mentioned we might be able to on our return to Copenhagen after our Iceland trip. (We didn't end up getting to do it, which you'll find out about if you read on).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_grpQIz6qIv9UcerA1rYIUuTfYt2Yq6Gd2e0wzzUnLAL4pZD5vKM57DaVDNrCQrRyT0vYdA9CoxaDJ4-2QwP933wo-3qFwEdcFUke9eWwIcY3niiNI7-ZIfsSMVWitKmaSgB2vuHQGDxzFQb0Xrf1BL_bCNik78FzNr8YbemKyNgHVE8swARA0h3/s4032/20230903_140525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_grpQIz6qIv9UcerA1rYIUuTfYt2Yq6Gd2e0wzzUnLAL4pZD5vKM57DaVDNrCQrRyT0vYdA9CoxaDJ4-2QwP933wo-3qFwEdcFUke9eWwIcY3niiNI7-ZIfsSMVWitKmaSgB2vuHQGDxzFQb0Xrf1BL_bCNik78FzNr8YbemKyNgHVE8swARA0h3/w400-h300/20230903_140525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkWxhF01vzNmfyUbPfE76z2hSwrydGhpEt4Nx0yIIpztXa8u0N_U6NlgeHidIc680lOPzTx0HL27ThWjQ5bnJsJdxmsUeSk6-LHN0P_QtE1oqu60eJHvP8c0p-EPR7ajhcUQEWSiA2AHDb236_H7F-gUzCdlpWvTYizqM9lV74yDdBAYZpFVLwu7a/s4032/20230903_141100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkWxhF01vzNmfyUbPfE76z2hSwrydGhpEt4Nx0yIIpztXa8u0N_U6NlgeHidIc680lOPzTx0HL27ThWjQ5bnJsJdxmsUeSk6-LHN0P_QtE1oqu60eJHvP8c0p-EPR7ajhcUQEWSiA2AHDb236_H7F-gUzCdlpWvTYizqM9lV74yDdBAYZpFVLwu7a/w400-h300/20230903_141100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We returned to our accommodation, and the city was well and truly alive now and our destination didn't seem at all dingy, but a beautiful vibrant city. We picked up our suitcase from the storage and went to our room, where we had been given a free upgrade because of my Wife's Booking.com membership level. Our room was beautiful, and my Wife started sharing photos to her Nan of the room. We had a little rest a lie down, before we decided to head out to explore the location we needed to be at tomorrow as we had booked a Canal tour. We set off towards Ved Stranden and the canal, passing a massive museum, the National Museum of Denmark, which I suggested as an option to go to after our canal trip the next day. We then passed through Christiansborg Palace, the seat of Danish parliament, where the Prime Minister's Office was, and where the Danish Monarchy also frequent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03hwl_JyTfuOLY-taD0CYwOS3E0Gh39v7ZRVE9ggfJp44cZnA1ztxvPT_jtd5eGtVzixzYo-mfqH81K6Hj6oBOm94kGiWK0Kt_6a1vj5Kw-MLa0Sq4W21Uey-H-IbmcK93DcHwaYomt1250W0FW-ByigTbIILoub0RzuUEzfKM-GMVQUZ3Q91-dO2/s4032/20230904_100408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03hwl_JyTfuOLY-taD0CYwOS3E0Gh39v7ZRVE9ggfJp44cZnA1ztxvPT_jtd5eGtVzixzYo-mfqH81K6Hj6oBOm94kGiWK0Kt_6a1vj5Kw-MLa0Sq4W21Uey-H-IbmcK93DcHwaYomt1250W0FW-ByigTbIILoub0RzuUEzfKM-GMVQUZ3Q91-dO2/w400-h300/20230904_100408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrjrbWL41Ze-EXoeQHr5y63DfwLsCKpPTQhqU9O-xc8WgGwUSaPN4qQCRhvB7P424x-G8Jx6A8xgswaPhRoHqph0NDpkGV2geg3R6PGhcMwwLK_oOkCyIyKbawWmXAj7-YfRIvcUmbxzk17-JPwDrrZLKpDy4_hG553J0cCPqZwZioXWq3CQGaYag/s4000/20230904_101329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrjrbWL41Ze-EXoeQHr5y63DfwLsCKpPTQhqU9O-xc8WgGwUSaPN4qQCRhvB7P424x-G8Jx6A8xgswaPhRoHqph0NDpkGV2geg3R6PGhcMwwLK_oOkCyIyKbawWmXAj7-YfRIvcUmbxzk17-JPwDrrZLKpDy4_hG553J0cCPqZwZioXWq3CQGaYag/w400-h300/20230904_101329.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We found the location we believed our tour would leave from but continued for a walk along the canal as the humid glary cloud cover cleared and we found ourselves in Scandinavia with intense sun and heat beating down over us. We walked up to Havnegade Basketball Court, using a public toilet there and giving my Wife a rest as her feet were beginning to swell and get sore from both the walking and the heat. We made our way back where we decided to have a proper look in a grocery store for any unique or interesting food items where we bought 'Peberbolcher' a hard form of salted licorice that also had chilli spice, a can of Faxe Kondi which seemed to be Denmark's soft drink of choice (which really just tasted like lemonade), and we bought a mixed fruit drink in a carton that ended up being a concentrate and needed to be mixed with water, which was very strong and not enjoyable. I also purchased a <a href="https://leffe.com/en/beer?name=leffe-brune" target="_blank">Leffe Brune beer</a>, which is a beer brand made at a Belgian Abbey. I had tried the Blonde as home, but as a beer drinker I always lean more towards stouts/porters so was excited for a brown beer. We placed them in a our minifridge to get cold while I once more took out the map of Copenhagen I had grabbed, and we tried to work out what to have for dinner that night. Looking at nearby restaurants and prices and reviews we decided to walk down the street to Isted Grill, for their roast pork sandwich, which was delicious and very affordable considering the nearby prices (and the crackling was fantastic). We headed back to our accommodation to finally crash out, alarm set for the next morning.</p><p>The following morning, we awoke and headed downstairs to enjoy our breakfast buffet where we were able to make open sandwiches with meats, cheeses and salads (I also hit up, the bacon, sausages and eggs) I made a few coffees and enjoyed the fruit juices of which they offered elderflower juice, which I assumed was more likely a cordial but enjoyed drinking it anyway. We took our time, relaxing before heading back upstairs to get ready for our tour at 11:30. We made our way across the city towards the canal, and we were beginning to get our bearings of where things within the city were situated. We lined up at the wharf, the first people there and began waiting in the hot sun. We watched a few canal boat tours go by and noticed some of them had roofs, which we thought would impact our view and we began discussing were we should sit if that was the case. People began to line up at the nearby service desk for 'Stomma' (the company we had booked the tour with) and my Wife thought we might have needed to line up there too. I said we had already prebooked out tickets online which I had saved on my phone, and I didn't want to move as we had already been standing and waiting in the hot sun for so long. So people began to come and stand near us, and a boat arrived full of people. A lady who was standing nearby started telling the people on the boat to cheer or say something and began taking photos of them. I assumed this lady was going to be on our tour with us, however after taking the photo's she walked away. Once everyone on that boat had exited, we were able to board, and we took a seat up the front right. (The row had three seats). My Wife asked if we should sit there as we were just two, and if we shouldn't move further back to a four-person row in case there was a group of three. I said there would be one single person who would sit there, and sure enough a blonde lady came and sat down next to me. While we were waiting for the tour to start, she began talking to us, letting us know she was an American, from Washington D.C.<br />"Ah, the capital." I responded. <br />She told us she was here on the way to watch her son compete in an Ironman competition and began telling us about her morning. Soon the tour got underway, and the lady informed us she would be doing it in English and another language. </p><p>We set off down the canal along the same way we had walked the following day, while the lady pointed out things and informing us on the history of them (as usually occurs on a tour!), such as the Christiansborg Palace, Børsen, the Little Mermaid, the majestic Amalienborg Castle – home of the royal family, and the old Stock Exchange building (not necessarily in that order).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Hgm2FnVpjhRUaKOCFr8Gv4Ih6WyPZoTMisA6cKLFX_T5KKJAQDcu1u8XHfqw8-NemVEPkVT1cv6t7PYE1JXM7bskHlnLn9O9rgr096LgGRHd4e0I5YSA9sxuXG27MqzqwzJAS7t5NitYUF77PXHQ0FAEkubCjHHJIgv7gplWO9myBWhlj25TUp-S/s4032/20230904_115452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Hgm2FnVpjhRUaKOCFr8Gv4Ih6WyPZoTMisA6cKLFX_T5KKJAQDcu1u8XHfqw8-NemVEPkVT1cv6t7PYE1JXM7bskHlnLn9O9rgr096LgGRHd4e0I5YSA9sxuXG27MqzqwzJAS7t5NitYUF77PXHQ0FAEkubCjHHJIgv7gplWO9myBWhlj25TUp-S/w400-h300/20230904_115452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvUc0cwS4HAQdlZjvljxTVD84-QyMNEBdZYe4rt96Zs_OsS0CNNhq4DzIpPqrA79x0TET6Dyy_KjPjcA2nqHZtPiMGjipEDc469g4qki0KR3jITutGBQka8fm2X4WeuOKgH5iJL9ZMNB7dsXHJPp1gQiI1E9MKQx1nYWX9tpKBUSCIGoMnnK1BTUd/s4032/20230904_113802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvUc0cwS4HAQdlZjvljxTVD84-QyMNEBdZYe4rt96Zs_OsS0CNNhq4DzIpPqrA79x0TET6Dyy_KjPjcA2nqHZtPiMGjipEDc469g4qki0KR3jITutGBQka8fm2X4WeuOKgH5iJL9ZMNB7dsXHJPp1gQiI1E9MKQx1nYWX9tpKBUSCIGoMnnK1BTUd/w480-h640/20230904_113802.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYYtveCEkExI9m5x0ceTfk7d3-KRMhn62ZbAYSunAZ9LRypPiBO-xtbpMPI5fjhudC6rQMVKri8gjkO1jbLVcUPmHrP1uXFNlzEKK2oT8-Wi8nyK-9yxb9oA28i7wJC-itFMigkfGYGiVf1b55yugivl8fiKHzsYYO9LmuMlAMXEqV92ssOROoJzg/s4032/20230904_113959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYYtveCEkExI9m5x0ceTfk7d3-KRMhn62ZbAYSunAZ9LRypPiBO-xtbpMPI5fjhudC6rQMVKri8gjkO1jbLVcUPmHrP1uXFNlzEKK2oT8-Wi8nyK-9yxb9oA28i7wJC-itFMigkfGYGiVf1b55yugivl8fiKHzsYYO9LmuMlAMXEqV92ssOROoJzg/w400-h300/20230904_113959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>When we went past the Copenhagen Opera House the American lady turned and ask if it was anything like the Australian one.<br />"No, ours looks like Shark Fins." I said, knowing she was asking about the Sydney Opera House, and not any other one in the country. As we looped around the big harbour and reached <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Mermaid_(statue)" target="_blank">the Little Mermaid</a>, she told us to smile because we would be in the background of the numerous photos of all the people there photographing it. She told us of the history of the statue, and that it was modelled after a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Price" target="_blank">ballet dancer</a>, and about all the acts of vandalism against the statue, including having its head cut off numerous times and being graffitied for political reasons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1JMpr1xH1t-rD358lqCE9RVCYc0yrM8UwWKDP426dY6I06xq7Zh2CYQd4G3nWT0EBFYmAu9B1HU0BS37zRZ8lOknM4hUtejfrGE3nnjiEU5nUz_XnelERz8dVbAAHSX29CgS5ud01BBI0bvccmwG9fdOk0iCO_JOO8thCgOkIjK-OQ6GbwzRpTPC/s4032/20230904_115824.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1JMpr1xH1t-rD358lqCE9RVCYc0yrM8UwWKDP426dY6I06xq7Zh2CYQd4G3nWT0EBFYmAu9B1HU0BS37zRZ8lOknM4hUtejfrGE3nnjiEU5nUz_XnelERz8dVbAAHSX29CgS5ud01BBI0bvccmwG9fdOk0iCO_JOO8thCgOkIjK-OQ6GbwzRpTPC/w480-h640/20230904_115824.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we went near or through certain sections of the tour our guide said she couldn't use the microphone other than telling us to watch our heads under some bridges. I turned to my Wife and asked if she thought that it was because we were going through Freetown Christiania in Christianshavn, which we had only learned about the day before we flew out of Australia. Although we didn't know all the details we read that it was a sort of commune, drug area, that had had some shootings occur and that it was advised that while you were there to not photograph the area, the details were a bit sketchy on it and even looking it up didn't give us the full story of the area, but every time we went through this section the lady would go quiet and made no comment or reference to any of these things we had heard other than at one point noting we may notice similarities with 'Amsterdam' which was a read-between-the-lines reference to pot smoking, which is apparently still illegal there but apparently a lot of frequent.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLBr3Rj-cA2v84iXmKXuE6WwcgPz77b6js-T61gLO5sOH5AcYxHJd_TkhhE_2pPEi3bZjA9nYzrxHbmfBNlQ6bQyvKJ7BM6AN4qwlsvY-8qYWnHHR0qd11A7UIFv19Reld0DmT9qzJNrvmq51-_HovSIJM393QqrKvHaZlND2cK1YQRhuK8tI1QkW/s4032/20230904_120847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLBr3Rj-cA2v84iXmKXuE6WwcgPz77b6js-T61gLO5sOH5AcYxHJd_TkhhE_2pPEi3bZjA9nYzrxHbmfBNlQ6bQyvKJ7BM6AN4qwlsvY-8qYWnHHR0qd11A7UIFv19Reld0DmT9qzJNrvmq51-_HovSIJM393QqrKvHaZlND2cK1YQRhuK8tI1QkW/w400-h300/20230904_120847.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_7ewJAJncxbmlsgCBzpLtWarBLOdQ_6dOvZUithBEF6yjKuzhAXm1BEb_JOzHIuVW3LWNYQcH3Y493p44Wt7lteAy-q-xKTG_6W2ow2aFrTd2hdlmgBTsd6Fzxj7JBMznDfX7aWF8SSMmuckHU69jFihYtka4xNDrm9e3ji5bhb6loMxjJnhCJzT/s4032/20230904_122803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_7ewJAJncxbmlsgCBzpLtWarBLOdQ_6dOvZUithBEF6yjKuzhAXm1BEb_JOzHIuVW3LWNYQcH3Y493p44Wt7lteAy-q-xKTG_6W2ow2aFrTd2hdlmgBTsd6Fzxj7JBMznDfX7aWF8SSMmuckHU69jFihYtka4xNDrm9e3ji5bhb6loMxjJnhCJzT/w480-h640/20230904_122803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The canal tour continued as we got to see a lot more of the city and from a different and unique point of view, as we progressed through a smaller tunnel and took a very sharp turn, we clapped to the guy driving the boat as we were told often boat coming through there would hit the wall or sides as it is the sharpest turn along the canal with a tight squeeze. As we approached the end, I noticed the American lady had gone silent and was sighing heavily (maybe she was bored?). As we reached the wharf, we had left from she was very quick to depart the boat as I thanked our guide, we tried to find a spot in the shade, shocked at how hot and sunny it was.<br />"I left Australia to get away from this heat!" My Wife commented as we were both feeling on the verge of heatstroke. <br />We planned to go to the museum next, but I suggested we grab lunch beforehand, and I tried to look up a hotdog vendor, as it is custom to get a Danish hotdog when in Denmark.<br /><br />We found one a short walk away, Petersens pølser. We had a bit of a wait though as there was a group on tour who had been taken there to try a Danish hotdog too. As we waited another couple began waiting behind us with a baby which we could smell had soiled itself. <br /><br />"Scheiße!" We heard a man yell, and we knew enough German language to know what that tourist was yelling as we saw him limp up a nearby street holding his knee, unsure what he had done to himself.<br /></p><p>Soon we got our Danish hotdog which was quite tasty (though I'm yet to have a hotdog ever match the one I tried in Poland)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0Px7Dyn4mB0Dls1sHEHD54m9jsksbqPqiTj7so7wvEHaFS8QiLPVz8G8uC-gYE-IrGD-_dX3M6XxidbEsGXMlEUk8PEKKr8Kl0dVQdJDAb-3XtLaqZcsMuGit3J7Yc8xyUsJxoO3JSfTroesH0CJODBx9oG6qDeMzV_iwEFclR0pwZ1poKzj2r1k/s2016/373110794_821250702981385_4227367954928655897_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0Px7Dyn4mB0Dls1sHEHD54m9jsksbqPqiTj7so7wvEHaFS8QiLPVz8G8uC-gYE-IrGD-_dX3M6XxidbEsGXMlEUk8PEKKr8Kl0dVQdJDAb-3XtLaqZcsMuGit3J7Yc8xyUsJxoO3JSfTroesH0CJODBx9oG6qDeMzV_iwEFclR0pwZ1poKzj2r1k/w480-h640/373110794_821250702981385_4227367954928655897_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />We ate them and decided to head straight to the museum for some air conditioning as the weather was very hot and sunny.<br /><br />"If it has air conditioning." My Wife said, referring to the Museum of Natural History near the Botanic Garden, which had not had air conditioning.<p></p><p>As we entered, we realised this museum was much larger in size than the one at the gardens and had a lot more sections and floor levels that actually started to become a bit of a maze as we worked out way through the different exhibitions beginning with Danish Prehistory.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wu9IKzKAC9LT8z7Usgwy-sgC7Z7Mbt5JJ8vi9gEwbSCF7o4Xaq90fxEpw8_tGOz43485n53MAnxGDuXuI_jVHEJXK-Vqf87D2x9YxDC2tjKGonrG9GpNvb38mVG11eD6oBny3wSirk1tyW3pPem_fpgeFTpfDvGPekpIXL0OyP3IiDb8jHZDga5N/s4032/20230904_132244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Wu9IKzKAC9LT8z7Usgwy-sgC7Z7Mbt5JJ8vi9gEwbSCF7o4Xaq90fxEpw8_tGOz43485n53MAnxGDuXuI_jVHEJXK-Vqf87D2x9YxDC2tjKGonrG9GpNvb38mVG11eD6oBny3wSirk1tyW3pPem_fpgeFTpfDvGPekpIXL0OyP3IiDb8jHZDga5N/w400-h300/20230904_132244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JlID7nrVo1Z4KVyunNVxGsoJZaLs7sAEqCF1Wgvaw-Js2KCeB7SIbIsODj1T1V6urdRZR7srXZLi4oGxeyV_tyVSR5HfnewNBwPN5n2hCrZDbF7lfLig6DC_FHn2JmFRCvHbo2fZ1W5ZwqwGd3U4DOSHBQ06ge5Em7Fk7oD8o-ZySjTtTPkM-jmb/s4032/20230904_134956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JlID7nrVo1Z4KVyunNVxGsoJZaLs7sAEqCF1Wgvaw-Js2KCeB7SIbIsODj1T1V6urdRZR7srXZLi4oGxeyV_tyVSR5HfnewNBwPN5n2hCrZDbF7lfLig6DC_FHn2JmFRCvHbo2fZ1W5ZwqwGd3U4DOSHBQ06ge5Em7Fk7oD8o-ZySjTtTPkM-jmb/w400-h300/20230904_134956.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiivvrZG8cg_nzhZgsSL1DosisWTTFmu_bFbze_cEzGRz7qFz1ZXsAH_te1rnx3mYxE1EYLT07688KgOghPQPGslYx0zmyOu0stJMpT0S_Lf9sLrGiqoEEQLAwhScVZdIJNSSN78lo-QQiDAcTu-GRuBZz-l06Te8HiNyA7Tx5hDsXhDMJYZh36FC/s4032/20230904_141937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiivvrZG8cg_nzhZgsSL1DosisWTTFmu_bFbze_cEzGRz7qFz1ZXsAH_te1rnx3mYxE1EYLT07688KgOghPQPGslYx0zmyOu0stJMpT0S_Lf9sLrGiqoEEQLAwhScVZdIJNSSN78lo-QQiDAcTu-GRuBZz-l06Te8HiNyA7Tx5hDsXhDMJYZh36FC/w400-h300/20230904_141937.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9S-xIgGtkWq66W7oV_ka8FNEhpzWhau_72qhbA9fzKTTmjVzW4tS8F8mXS0U1zUNIkatF0MusN0Y-AykHYAvL52QOw__D5duKWZIQpNvK1xKVLB6wQuOfS2kYPBduFl5KXkvt4aj5C20n7S5WIHKUCYhN3oPk_0DRa58qt4GerMvEcym4UECX6yM/s4032/20230904_143141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9S-xIgGtkWq66W7oV_ka8FNEhpzWhau_72qhbA9fzKTTmjVzW4tS8F8mXS0U1zUNIkatF0MusN0Y-AykHYAvL52QOw__D5duKWZIQpNvK1xKVLB6wQuOfS2kYPBduFl5KXkvt4aj5C20n7S5WIHKUCYhN3oPk_0DRa58qt4GerMvEcym4UECX6yM/w480-h640/20230904_143141.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I saw the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundestrup_cauldron" target="_blank">Gundestrup cauldron</a>, I freaked out with Celtic Mythology nerd joy. I started telling my Wife about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos" target="_blank">Cernunnos</a>, saying that I didn't realise the cauldron was in this museum. She didn't grasp the significance, as I gazed intensly at it for a long while, taking it all in.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D1FvCy7Z6dHeeQE8iFM59YqyVqZEzIuR3yIg0hElKQozRZv8hbthaxyAKu6FhEIaYu7Uj81zCnM4zSWQer73zGva9DuXroeTSDiPjAAGqOhqr7sTNA7SOShxDyxjSLlrSE54gD3mc4fkfo-T1KjamUKjeGaDvUsSGtGU1pJ2Hlx4937_NtTj2cZk/s4000/20230904_143147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3D1FvCy7Z6dHeeQE8iFM59YqyVqZEzIuR3yIg0hElKQozRZv8hbthaxyAKu6FhEIaYu7Uj81zCnM4zSWQer73zGva9DuXroeTSDiPjAAGqOhqr7sTNA7SOShxDyxjSLlrSE54gD3mc4fkfo-T1KjamUKjeGaDvUsSGtGU1pJ2Hlx4937_NtTj2cZk/w400-h300/20230904_143147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Followed by Danish Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was after this we got a bit lost and began walking through various exhibits and having to backtrack as we had missed other such as Stories of Denmark (1660-2000), The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Voices from the Colonies, Ethnographic Collection and Classical and Near Eastern Antiquities. It's fair to say as a history buff I was fanboying from the start to the end while my Wife began to lose enthusiasm as her feet were beginning to swell and get very sore from all the walking around.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BM2YGyBDbvYLBxTKaSkkPNHVsz5uUSXWs-OEn2BnxklYEG10byPf6vAX-M_2LgbhU9fIzZtfu9srFdKZDlDIt0xnUokDOUlpz_DdS7EcKbGI-tLxgnfWJp9TcP8sLxEaLNo29FKekWgGrAIXRYd5gRl8hJbGc_tO9oGhi75nrNX4ix5Lt1leDaSN/s4032/20230904_151225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BM2YGyBDbvYLBxTKaSkkPNHVsz5uUSXWs-OEn2BnxklYEG10byPf6vAX-M_2LgbhU9fIzZtfu9srFdKZDlDIt0xnUokDOUlpz_DdS7EcKbGI-tLxgnfWJp9TcP8sLxEaLNo29FKekWgGrAIXRYd5gRl8hJbGc_tO9oGhi75nrNX4ix5Lt1leDaSN/w400-h300/20230904_151225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJswAPY_BSYG2hl_FvIlHKBNRSrW4MtrV_v84YUDzHf0bDpfuH8DQGbePQ0N05DGLlmuiYZUZvvEuhVZao_QVKAJ_lSJF3BnuD5o9XSs3JFk9e7e9tUC_73pz8YbgYHsYSG_QFENXrJHLZ4x8RlhFPnPAjoNQDZW8dSkQem9jDkvLbVqriIwqvK6X8/s4032/20230904_151735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJswAPY_BSYG2hl_FvIlHKBNRSrW4MtrV_v84YUDzHf0bDpfuH8DQGbePQ0N05DGLlmuiYZUZvvEuhVZao_QVKAJ_lSJF3BnuD5o9XSs3JFk9e7e9tUC_73pz8YbgYHsYSG_QFENXrJHLZ4x8RlhFPnPAjoNQDZW8dSkQem9jDkvLbVqriIwqvK6X8/w400-h300/20230904_151735.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGZoXdknPvgraveNghyqvjefIuOelwdwXOwaOL24Zi1qlcxyG4Ck5DiwRIkgOQa5UACXOqrK1JeoX37MSgt26zZI8ZDIMeut_nWgZd4agAcHnFkSNTyfZYm7Wggsv1B4gwKosAZAWVxTrawO14G3X1q9fr_9QUMSPRnUT4mnHjn4zlIFTisav1g7p/s4032/20230904_152429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGZoXdknPvgraveNghyqvjefIuOelwdwXOwaOL24Zi1qlcxyG4Ck5DiwRIkgOQa5UACXOqrK1JeoX37MSgt26zZI8ZDIMeut_nWgZd4agAcHnFkSNTyfZYm7Wggsv1B4gwKosAZAWVxTrawO14G3X1q9fr_9QUMSPRnUT4mnHjn4zlIFTisav1g7p/w400-h300/20230904_152429.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZlQRjKLp4Epsn-0uGZyOlAsi0SUq5PwJ7JGFCbPa38_ouvF0x9JgTs980hjQFFGwFY3qjGT-r6q-qGbJmJli8e0BNuCWQc1na283U5XjDcH60wwwa-WBQfjYa6u0YJ2MHFiveawbD0YxWs4k5EvNm7bx5c7-YOKbqGQobNWGgS3QmGnQ6IpVIfi3/s4032/20230904_153309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZlQRjKLp4Epsn-0uGZyOlAsi0SUq5PwJ7JGFCbPa38_ouvF0x9JgTs980hjQFFGwFY3qjGT-r6q-qGbJmJli8e0BNuCWQc1na283U5XjDcH60wwwa-WBQfjYa6u0YJ2MHFiveawbD0YxWs4k5EvNm7bx5c7-YOKbqGQobNWGgS3QmGnQ6IpVIfi3/w480-h640/20230904_153309.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDJRNkNmoVp5YpR46DVwMdiIQbqEJ9LjkJbza-Wuik97tfrKCMME4XSFVJYDHKeGQhHNut_6DogxhD70NhpyXJKOGweyOY-9hYaUFXcvtMVeyhfCRMOZVvsD3CAieYEoILXtP2uP64xQSiRPGIbvKX5w95mjd1QSNZQczhMDWbSTyX380_yqYr7-q/w480-h640/20230904_153554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp56-Z9UgV-pqt2NNa-33lcKqTCBDmO_EyAMBAoG7O9ErdQXa1DyR2r6OUPu7fCJKBhC9EpWld1quqS0BxgwvjkDLkvKOF0-cOOhKEiDekHEkmDRjrGNiLPgZzPP_olbJYZ7VROJ1oo0zknUj0PLC33NWTV8jLo1gNz08v5gGM9ccUSWHgEFUpTUxQ/s4032/20230904_154152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp56-Z9UgV-pqt2NNa-33lcKqTCBDmO_EyAMBAoG7O9ErdQXa1DyR2r6OUPu7fCJKBhC9EpWld1quqS0BxgwvjkDLkvKOF0-cOOhKEiDekHEkmDRjrGNiLPgZzPP_olbJYZ7VROJ1oo0zknUj0PLC33NWTV8jLo1gNz08v5gGM9ccUSWHgEFUpTUxQ/w480-h640/20230904_154152.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We finished up at the special 'Join the Vikings on a Raid' exhibition which we had seemed to somehow not be able to find until we had explored everywhere else. </div><div><br /></div><div>After this we headed into the gift shop to have a look at things. There was a bottle of Mead called 'The Sea Wolf's Mead' - an exclusive mead containing Danish oaken Chips from Viking Ship that I really wanted to buy, so my Wife agreed we would come back after our Iceland trip and purchase it to take home. I was also very tempted to buy 'The Medieval Cookbook - 50 authentic recipes, translated and adapted for the modern cook ' by Maggie Black, however we found it cheaper on Booktopia so my Wife agreed to buy it for me as a Christmas Present.</div><p>We made our way back to our hotel where we realised it was 5pm and so decided to head down to the main room to enjoy our free glass of wine.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_AJvsjpGNOpWO7N7R6UvTJcKeDbxh8HUiaTYVUeKGkVljcw1iWXjlmIRFipyefFyRGtFH1iVyOCzoko_PzR0IsnBZbWNGDEFtpgO070lfJu5dmWoj_10zlALay8VrDWMKCVSmVeE7kXxJYrxMAIhvR5iEGugKdWEva1ir4xW1ojoYbxS1k2eu3vw/s3648/20230904_171519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_AJvsjpGNOpWO7N7R6UvTJcKeDbxh8HUiaTYVUeKGkVljcw1iWXjlmIRFipyefFyRGtFH1iVyOCzoko_PzR0IsnBZbWNGDEFtpgO070lfJu5dmWoj_10zlALay8VrDWMKCVSmVeE7kXxJYrxMAIhvR5iEGugKdWEva1ir4xW1ojoYbxS1k2eu3vw/w480-h640/20230904_171519.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We sat in the outdoor courtyard, relaxing and enjoying having a break from our day to day lives. Afterwards we headed up to our room for a break and to work out what to do for dinner, while a cracked open my Belgian Abbey beer. My Wife had mentioned the Wagamama restaurant that was just outside the side of Tivoli theme park (which we had decided we would do on our returning from Iceland) on the way to the museum and apparently that was 'very big in England', though I'd never heard of it, so we decided to go there where we had ramen with duck gyoza in it. I thought the ramen was nice, but the duck gyoza had a sweetness that I felt didn't go with the ramen and thought maybe they would have been nicer on their own. We headed back to our accommodation to get some sleep as the next day we would fly out to Iceland, and while I was very keen for that, I was a little sad at I had been enjoying Copenhagen and wished we had maybe arranged to spend some more time there.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Iceland<br /></b></p><p><b>Day 0 - </b>We awoke and headed down for our buffet breakfast, before quickly heading back up to pack our stuff, check out and made our way back up the street towards the train station and back to the airport. We found the check in a very easy process with automated weighing machine and no human interaction needed. As we progressed through customs which had the usual of taking your electronics out, boots and belt off, beanie off, and liquid containers out we were shocked to find that all the way up until we got on the plane no one had asked for our passport which we found very odd. We were shocked to find our flight to Iceland with Icelandic airways (which had the little screens on the back of the chairs) was not going to turn them on and we would have no entertainment, as well as being provided no food (luckily, we had purchased snacks). To entertain myself I played a puzzle game on my phone called 'Flow' before we started playing a game together where you have to go through the Alphabet and name something from a letter, swapping in turns on a particular subject (such as food, films, or dinosaurs). Thankfully this passed the time and we soon landed at Keflavik airport in Iceland. After the long wait of everyone getting out their overhead baggage, we made our way off the plane, down a hallway and found it led to an open airport. Soon a bus arrived, and we managed to fit on the first group being transported (having to stand up) as this bus made its way through to the main section of the airport where we jumped off and entered. <br /><br />Once we progressed through the monotony of the airport (still never once being asked for our passports). Once we had collected our baggage my Wife informed me there would be someone with a sign waiting for us to transport us to Reykjavík. As we exited there were lots of people holding signs and I walked around looking for my name until I saw a lady holding it, looking away. I stopped in front of her.<br /><br />"Howdy." I said, as she asked our names confirming it was us and led us to the car to be transported. We were impressed by the landscape. Open plains of mossy rock as hard as the eye could see. (Little did we know we would see a lot of this landscape), as we sadly tried to take blurry photos while in motion from the car.<br /></p><p>Our driver's phone rang, and I immediately noticed it was the Halloween theme (from the films). She soon began speaking and we listened in (not that we could understand Icelandic, but we just thought it was cool to hear the language spoken as it is pretty unique.).</p><p>"Sorry about that." She apologised after her phone call.<br />"No worries," I replied. "I like your Halloween ringtone."</p><p>Soon we entered Reykjavík, driving past Hallgrimskirkja a big Church with a statue of Leif Erikson (the famous explorer Viking from Iceland). Just before reaching this Church, I saw graffitied along a wall saying something along the lines of 'Get rid of the tourists', though I'm paraphrasing because I only briefly saw it as we drove past, that made me wonder if we were going to have an unwelcoming experience. Soon we pulled up around the back of our hotel, Hotel Fron and our driver said she could not park or pull up out the front without getting fined, adding that it had happened too much lately. Obviously, we did not want her to get a fine and hopped out the back of the car, grabbing our luggage and making our way into the hotel to check in. We had a room upstairs and took the lift up to our room, noticing it was right by a door leading outside on and upper level, and saw that someone had taped a sign to the door telling people not to slam it as people are 'trying to sleep'.<br />We put our stuff down and my Wife quickly googled where The Handknitting Association of Iceland was, which was within walking distance, and open (she wanted to buy Iceland wool to crochet when we got home), we made our way there as I continued snacking on the peanut flavoured chips I had purchased in Copenhagen (which my Wife found disgusting).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsnYqUaMDdm02_-FoUomR0cQ33b2yo-0vl5DTqJ2ZQ76IlNAqAOADGazMt-8b8lMQfa6aa-tb0Ld_9VihvoJ0_Uey58SnVmrGvOJEyddUozNjDh49DdHSc6wmAgqZzssOhMePg3ZHGf2AQpZxGKpMTwlNY3yNXf0wuNMwz0atYuEWNnTNXuLEf1Ed/s3648/20230905_173332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsnYqUaMDdm02_-FoUomR0cQ33b2yo-0vl5DTqJ2ZQ76IlNAqAOADGazMt-8b8lMQfa6aa-tb0Ld_9VihvoJ0_Uey58SnVmrGvOJEyddUozNjDh49DdHSc6wmAgqZzssOhMePg3ZHGf2AQpZxGKpMTwlNY3yNXf0wuNMwz0atYuEWNnTNXuLEf1Ed/w480-h640/20230905_173332.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We went in and my Wife was able to buy all her wool, so we returned to our accommodation to drop that off before heading down the main street to explore Reykjavík. Stopping to look at all the menus and stores as we progressed down the street, also having a look to find the restaurant that we had booked at for dinner that night 'Social Sushi' which we found was the sixth left street turn down from our accommodation, and not a very far walk at all. As we progressed further down there was a sign out the front of a place advertising 'lavender lattes' and as we are huge on floral flavours, (lavender and rose are delicious) we tried to find where it was for. However, the name on the board apparently didn't exist when I google it, and I could find no help from Google or Trip Advisor and eventually had to give up on finding it. We continued all the way down to Ingólfur Square, where we turned to the coast to go and see the 'Sun Voyager' sculpture. We passed the humorously named 'Pablo Discobar'. Continuing over to a cruise terminal, where we realised there must have been a cruise ship rocked up (as the city was way busier than we had expected). <br />"I wonder if that's what the graffiti was about?" I pondered to my Wife. We continued along the water, heading the direction back to our hotel towards the sculpture. The wind was harsh and cold and I stopped for a photo in front of the water with the Island 'Engey' in the background and the wind almost blew my beanie right off.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS3XD6I6630uiWuml1nkKs9Ft8hYhDdlzw2XzvujkT-VXIei7rFTLtWtD-vrkcM4TBfgMptlIt_1OpiW41Lyd_rNsYJQy6kR57yOYGXqku3_xLeyuwGu-Gai8dbGRE90McQ9fvU_FHhC297TjzowBTq4Fcn81WAW3RptIaSxygx4K_PaeuiT8EqGR/s4032/20230905_180913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSS3XD6I6630uiWuml1nkKs9Ft8hYhDdlzw2XzvujkT-VXIei7rFTLtWtD-vrkcM4TBfgMptlIt_1OpiW41Lyd_rNsYJQy6kR57yOYGXqku3_xLeyuwGu-Gai8dbGRE90McQ9fvU_FHhC297TjzowBTq4Fcn81WAW3RptIaSxygx4K_PaeuiT8EqGR/w480-h640/20230905_180913.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued along, I noticed a metal block with writing placed unceremoniously within the break rocks.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4o7m5eFIBmjJnc1bcJp8Ya_r_IuoIIGb_LqngA6z-Mr34unWwEtaKZtebCOygP4d_mVk3lh458iSt5obdWI_DGRrERmsz_lvEA50INABdoFHoTvhltXSDx-Xq-cXgN9zOOTYa2J34wYftA1p9mmJpEHs-UpBtFnRb7huyXNI_ucDyH8Xa5HgaEMw/s4032/20230905_181223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4o7m5eFIBmjJnc1bcJp8Ya_r_IuoIIGb_LqngA6z-Mr34unWwEtaKZtebCOygP4d_mVk3lh458iSt5obdWI_DGRrERmsz_lvEA50INABdoFHoTvhltXSDx-Xq-cXgN9zOOTYa2J34wYftA1p9mmJpEHs-UpBtFnRb7huyXNI_ucDyH8Xa5HgaEMw/w480-h640/20230905_181223.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued along to the 'Sun Voyager' sculpture, with was like a metallic Viking ship design with tridents or forks sticking out of the middle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUZBp2b4-qZ-my4OYXO39L7MTPfTgBvOAU3TbkU2gt_RZ71CS0ysJjWPLHuvslGbXcxGGe31roDPd0x3xqcx6DeDHfOEtF3qUu7zyXdpuTjnL1QvDh2xJxSL40rB2Pl_U17TCZbf-L2qUo3GUWPwFwq-kjTcW4goMDtsaKLqYGDm4b7ova9Xlsdze/s4032/20230905_181846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUZBp2b4-qZ-my4OYXO39L7MTPfTgBvOAU3TbkU2gt_RZ71CS0ysJjWPLHuvslGbXcxGGe31roDPd0x3xqcx6DeDHfOEtF3qUu7zyXdpuTjnL1QvDh2xJxSL40rB2Pl_U17TCZbf-L2qUo3GUWPwFwq-kjTcW4goMDtsaKLqYGDm4b7ova9Xlsdze/w400-h300/20230905_181846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We crossed the major road and made our way back to our accommodation (with my Wife stressing the whole time about being late to our restaurant booking). We decided to shower and get dressed nice for dinner. I hopped in first and was hit by the smell while showering. <br /><br />"I think the drains need cleaning or something." I said when I got out, referring to the smell.<br />My Wife soon hopped into shower, and she really couldn't handle it, mentioning she just couldn't feel clean and that the smell made her sick, she said, saying she really didn't like the place we were staying at, then the thought hit me.<br />"I don't think it's filthy drains!" I exclaimed. "I think it's sulfur! The heating is probably volcanic and that's why there's that smell." <br />She didn't care, she just really didn't like the smell.</p><p>We made our way to Social Sushi where we had already planned. We arrived 5 minutes early, and as we said we had a booking we got shown to a little dimly lit waiting room as we could see the restaurant was incredibly busy. More and more people arrived in the waiting room with us, and I felt a little uncomfortable because everyone was ultra blonde, like, ultra, with blue eyes. I leaned over to my Wife and whispered as a joke 'Aryan Master Race'. </p><p>Soon about 10 minutes past a booking time we were led to our table and handed menu's though we had already decided on what we were getting which is why we had booked the restaurant. We were going to get the Icelandic Feast.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYOuw-u4NaKIpUyR-sLdWJq6UWXROBpiu1MnZ83kDflk9vZj5gQXExhhaHhs1FH_uS0UDJts2dbtB88ehQCTDDYf-kUqrZH4_QlKDE5CaZTIYxOdXalZc08qxkuHfmo68v-EmDflaRZytNMV5pW0cOL5-wu-9r4flLU_xLIHRyhbx-5nWHF7n9UcD/s1455/menu.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="647" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYOuw-u4NaKIpUyR-sLdWJq6UWXROBpiu1MnZ83kDflk9vZj5gQXExhhaHhs1FH_uS0UDJts2dbtB88ehQCTDDYf-kUqrZH4_QlKDE5CaZTIYxOdXalZc08qxkuHfmo68v-EmDflaRZytNMV5pW0cOL5-wu-9r4flLU_xLIHRyhbx-5nWHF7n9UcD/w284-h640/menu.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><p>*insert pictures throughout if any*</p><p>We're pretty adventurous eaters and love trying new things, and we also believe in trying foods people of the region would eat. When I told the waitress that we were ordering it she made sure we understood that the order covered a table therefore, the two of us. We nodded and were served our alcoholic starter. A shot of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenniv%C3%ADn" target="_blank">Brennivín</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaekP_V-c17gcFuQ_yZW1zaPSk4Lg8t_qTRx1ZX3MgaM7i4ru0ltoeZZHfH-D42a00u_mfeGyykQaxGTkmnfuzU1PVDVf2hQfsRnOKpO8mlMv2bOr-n189D3o8_AhQRk2X3PJRHYhWbx1vPcHKxJFMDNqGxRrVGADDp5iCPnU5NSthPNtS1TSQD8SR/s4032/20230905_195716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaekP_V-c17gcFuQ_yZW1zaPSk4Lg8t_qTRx1ZX3MgaM7i4ru0ltoeZZHfH-D42a00u_mfeGyykQaxGTkmnfuzU1PVDVf2hQfsRnOKpO8mlMv2bOr-n189D3o8_AhQRk2X3PJRHYhWbx1vPcHKxJFMDNqGxRrVGADDp5iCPnU5NSthPNtS1TSQD8SR/w480-h640/20230905_195716.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We did the shot, and winced. "Blimey!" I thought at it was a very intense and strong alcohol, and I don't usually drink shots, and had hugely cut back on my alcohol consumption after my cancer.</p><p>Next, we were served smoked Puffin, which I felt weird about eating. Not because I believe that there is anything wrong with in, but because I had always wanted to see Puffins (missing out when we went to England), and now my first time seeing one was on my dinner plate. However, I tucked in, and it was quite delicious. Next on the menu was the thing I was most dubious about, Minke Whale. There's a whole ethical thing about whale, particularly due to being endangered. However, I was informed by my Wife (before even going to Iceland), that the Minke Whale had a stable population, wasn't endangered and that Iceland actually sustainably hunt them, with a limit of no more than 30 a year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuBAaVbKZHYiWFxl9-fniOWTYAEjplNnLTXb22uC8r_YEcVA3A8uXNLZGonc6EJIbdi-hAPT4cxdtfB1hHe3dQeqS8FoqOo0eLg6Adyjg3jyDe6pMDSZCxcv3d2bKKo0tDqG_FswkhcaWgY5j5fS6VeBjIXRXUITg501ksCgB_NsZAUuCAvG-pG30/s4032/20230905_200003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuBAaVbKZHYiWFxl9-fniOWTYAEjplNnLTXb22uC8r_YEcVA3A8uXNLZGonc6EJIbdi-hAPT4cxdtfB1hHe3dQeqS8FoqOo0eLg6Adyjg3jyDe6pMDSZCxcv3d2bKKo0tDqG_FswkhcaWgY5j5fS6VeBjIXRXUITg501ksCgB_NsZAUuCAvG-pG30/w480-h640/20230905_200003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DB4FdoWukA3u6RXHwy630GWn9VlRzpZgF2f7ewMWJApq8d39RHymaLbIFCYUc7NZd0ZakXwB4tmVlsN_exb-h6kDrYdypsm6Iaz_MteGSaoRlLokYZ24m_ae0Hg8xy6ugKhREJaxF-0fw4ELl7oWuoiJjdS2VHL6NQBRt6LV-PLrnABV8jPifIk4/s4032/20230905_200620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DB4FdoWukA3u6RXHwy630GWn9VlRzpZgF2f7ewMWJApq8d39RHymaLbIFCYUc7NZd0ZakXwB4tmVlsN_exb-h6kDrYdypsm6Iaz_MteGSaoRlLokYZ24m_ae0Hg8xy6ugKhREJaxF-0fw4ELl7oWuoiJjdS2VHL6NQBRt6LV-PLrnABV8jPifIk4/w480-h640/20230905_200620.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br />It was placed in front of me, and my Wife tried it first and said it was really good. (The couple next to us giving us looks of disgust when they heard the word 'Whale'). I picked a piece up, putting it in my mouth. The texture was a lot meatier than I had anticipated, expecting it to be very fatty. The flavour was pleasant enough, but as I kept chewing, I struggled with the soft texture, finding it a bit chewy. After a few pieces I was struggling now, and I felt my stomach churn, and I told my Wife I couldn't eat any more or I might be sick. She was a little surprised but finished the rest of the plate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzE47_88iRmOZmRGeFPksPRoSQIqZIjebYNh9er56YkUcPAuOAcHETahPsU5Lx0c71A6EqKSZrtDelSYdxodHiPFMPDWSd9nEGKNDu1Xo_yzl6n8Oo6O__SpqH58ZO20pjxnSJ0RxaNcjO63ItTA2I6IefbM8kfEApY0oZAjmNFSjv8BUcTPQdHTl/s4032/20230905_201149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzE47_88iRmOZmRGeFPksPRoSQIqZIjebYNh9er56YkUcPAuOAcHETahPsU5Lx0c71A6EqKSZrtDelSYdxodHiPFMPDWSd9nEGKNDu1Xo_yzl6n8Oo6O__SpqH58ZO20pjxnSJ0RxaNcjO63ItTA2I6IefbM8kfEApY0oZAjmNFSjv8BUcTPQdHTl/w480-h640/20230905_201149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Next came the torched '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_char" target="_blank">Arctic Charr</a>' a type of arctic fish. I was curious how I would go with it (not being a huge eater of seafood), and the only sort of, uh... 'less cooked' fish I had eaten was salmon. However, it was actually really tasty.</p><p>Coming with this was Icelandic sushi rolls which were utterly fantastic and some of the best sushi we had ever had.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG331_VBX8p69c4FdDBKQbw5iSLtbR2HZqL2iAKIJSeLmbANRGmH_3t7VevogRfcQixxF4AMCT90cXWzPgSNiEB8xo3Nnpq86j9p728HtbylVrRsOg1t-CCkCiOVxvjZUKqpQtWrQI7hB6vwL8FPmEF1ZQfdVmzD6ywd6sEkgDUEVlx0Q8VgeQBgtc/s4032/20230905_202404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG331_VBX8p69c4FdDBKQbw5iSLtbR2HZqL2iAKIJSeLmbANRGmH_3t7VevogRfcQixxF4AMCT90cXWzPgSNiEB8xo3Nnpq86j9p728HtbylVrRsOg1t-CCkCiOVxvjZUKqpQtWrQI7hB6vwL8FPmEF1ZQfdVmzD6ywd6sEkgDUEVlx0Q8VgeQBgtc/w480-h640/20230905_202404.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We were beginning to fill up by this point as all the portion sizes had been bigger than expected, when they brought out a massive bowl of Wasabi salted cod.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Me6ZW7nK6VfXJxX6nfThsJY1o14YVp_V1tzPfTclNfMF6Xke1me22BA28vNGiyvUkkWCf3aXXfTQoc750sAozQixSmz2AoDnH0yA992PGNWWfYPQW4r_cVzjaYHkcXb459mtezRfRt1TvL4mucMTmjVudE8pA443CX6cpCYO1ON3Ou-y9ihHZLHL/s4032/20230905_204328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Me6ZW7nK6VfXJxX6nfThsJY1o14YVp_V1tzPfTclNfMF6Xke1me22BA28vNGiyvUkkWCf3aXXfTQoc750sAozQixSmz2AoDnH0yA992PGNWWfYPQW4r_cVzjaYHkcXb459mtezRfRt1TvL4mucMTmjVudE8pA443CX6cpCYO1ON3Ou-y9ihHZLHL/w480-h640/20230905_204328.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The smell of it made my stomach churn a little as I was scared from the awful 'cod mornay' my Mum used to cook when I was growing up, which was always disgusting and super fishy. (However, I had since eaten good cod and new I could eat and enjoy cod), but the look of it was reminding me of that mornay. I scooped into my bowl and tried the first mouthful (holding my breath to not smell it), and the taste was warm, buttery and salty cod and quite pleasant. However, the bowl was massive, and as we kept eating, we noticed little shrimp inside that we thought might be responsible for the more 'fishy' smell, and so neither of us were brave enough, and simply ate around the shrimp. We were both stuffed full by this point, I pretty much finished my bowl but my Wife had to leave a lot more than me.</p><p>Next was the Icelandic rump steak which was also cooked to perfection, and I devoured my plate even though I was stuffed full. I finished my Wife's plate as she couldn't fit any more in and she was getting upset that she was so full because she wanted to enjoy all the food.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mA8s5rcavghKWP7AzFsjkTUpETpoJ6vY40_IC7d9lMyt9DIP8tiDkmP0h_PRk4WWnPpbkiptzK7Qbsdb2exPejKzb8zRH1oQOFr1Ikg6fZqgBhyz-5Ze0vE6upq2bjNRWAo4Uj6lDU4var4SNXsrjNV55zbn4-sVgfuC-1Pr0UO8wfyurHZ6mCVE/s4032/20230905_210133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mA8s5rcavghKWP7AzFsjkTUpETpoJ6vY40_IC7d9lMyt9DIP8tiDkmP0h_PRk4WWnPpbkiptzK7Qbsdb2exPejKzb8zRH1oQOFr1Ikg6fZqgBhyz-5Ze0vE6upq2bjNRWAo4Uj6lDU4var4SNXsrjNV55zbn4-sVgfuC-1Pr0UO8wfyurHZ6mCVE/w480-h640/20230905_210133.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Finally, we were served dessert of a traditional Icelandic cake, a 'Happy Marriage Cake' which again was delicious, and I managed to finish mine, but my Wife once more could not finish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwRt_yBp9m-YqCTpU9VkjFnrZue9F7O4swsdxuvDJQOOYhej1R5TQSCE8tLLVYR_Ls1OzLP7MFOq9AwY7JMHQRleBg8MhkYt53rk5rKtwHP02VPIqQF7lhbSER9SUK0kN9-zW1uEeYTwK-Gov9-PJuYxWtFbWdH6fR1QvZSCG7BXIyiOrJSw6CDYJ/s4032/20230905_212405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwRt_yBp9m-YqCTpU9VkjFnrZue9F7O4swsdxuvDJQOOYhej1R5TQSCE8tLLVYR_Ls1OzLP7MFOq9AwY7JMHQRleBg8MhkYt53rk5rKtwHP02VPIqQF7lhbSER9SUK0kN9-zW1uEeYTwK-Gov9-PJuYxWtFbWdH6fR1QvZSCG7BXIyiOrJSw6CDYJ/w480-h640/20230905_212405.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"What happened to always having a second stomach for dessert?" I questioned her on her boastful dessert loving statements. <br />Our waitress asked if we had enjoyed everything, obviously noticing that some of the plates hadn't been totally cleared.</p><p>"Yes, everything was delicious." I said. "Just huge portions, we're stuffed full.</p><p>We paid, before going for a night stroll up to Hallgrimskirkja.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUAyUMfBv3RxhvAJKeIdlRgpWI1Lq72_hYWWMo6KwV7-Kk2G1cbVJ2dcirxUYtQoO9G8UXe_CxAjEPDoMr_6C_c9t5SZYLeNIuxv7fRIjD-69Ov_7rSCMNjnglCj0XMT7Pithmt5n0DoNCLr6A_HS-N7PqnTJqB-TKytI-9bo2hThlc6C7MkL5zWK/s4032/20230905_214711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUAyUMfBv3RxhvAJKeIdlRgpWI1Lq72_hYWWMo6KwV7-Kk2G1cbVJ2dcirxUYtQoO9G8UXe_CxAjEPDoMr_6C_c9t5SZYLeNIuxv7fRIjD-69Ov_7rSCMNjnglCj0XMT7Pithmt5n0DoNCLr6A_HS-N7PqnTJqB-TKytI-9bo2hThlc6C7MkL5zWK/w480-h640/20230905_214711.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br />Then we made our way back to the hotel, where in the morning we would be picked up and taken to collect our car to begin our drive around the rest of Iceland. However, at night, as we tried to sleep, we were woken up constantly by the door people had placed the sign on constantly slamming and so we were aggravated and exhausted in the morning when our alarms went off. </p><p><b>Day 1 - </b>We made our way down to the bar area of the hotel for our breakfast buffet. The coffee here was percolated, compared to the coffee pods of Andersen, and I soon learned that all around Iceland that would be all they would offer, not barista coffee like we have in Australia (we're proud coffee snobs). We ate a breakfast of processed meat once more, and returned to our room to pack, check out and wait in the foyer to be picked up by the car rental company. <br /><br />They arrived but told us they could only take one of us (we had originally been told we could both go). My Wife suggested I go to collect it (as my phone was the one with the roaming sim and mobile data in case of anything). As I got there and began the process of the car I was asked about insurance for any damage and explained the difference of payout for damage depending on insurance. I began sending the pictures to my Wife who just ended up saying to get the max insurance, just in case. With this I was told we got a free car upgrade, as we had originally booked just a normal car (a sedan), but we had been upgraded to an All-Wheel-Drive, a Kia Sportage. <br />"Fuck!" I thought, when he told me this and handed the paperwork that said it would be diesel fuel, we had booked the other car because we knew fuel was so expensive in Iceland (and in Australia diesel is even more expensive than regular fuel). They pointed me to the car outside and I hopped in, trying to quickly adjust everything and not look like a complete moron as I attempted to drive on the opposite side of the road, it didn't help everything else was back to front too, and I of course, when pulling out of the parking lot immediately turned on the windscreen wipers instead of the indicator.<br /><br />I had the Bluetooth linked in the car however it wasn't telling me where to go or showing up on the screen, I was in the middle of the city in busy traffic trying to drive a backwards car on the opposite side of the road in a place I had no navigational knowledge of. I began to have a panic attack, managing to pull over into a service station while I sat there trying to work out why Google Maps would not come through the Bluetooth, but music would. Eventually I had to give up, and simply have my phone on loudspeaker saying the directions to me, but not being able to see the map and where I needed to go. I eventually found myself coming past Hallgrimskirkja and was thankful I was near the hotel. The road along here were tight and I heard a loud noise and looked around but couldn't see anything, as I continued down the street and turned when directed to by Google Maps (which told me too early, so I had turned down a one-way street going the wrong way). and I noticed in my side mirror a car with it alarm flashing. <br />"Fuck I probably hit it with my side mirror." I thought but couldn't be sure.<br />Another car started coming towards me in as I was going down the one-way street in the wrong direction. I noticed parallel parking and quickly reversed into it, allowing them to pass and turned back and entered down the next street, right behind the hotel where we had been dropped the day before, where my Wife was waiting with our suitcases. I wound the window down.<br />"I can't do this!" I said, in a panic, having had an incredibly stressful experience. I told her I thought I might have hit a car and as we looked there was a scratch on our side mirror (lucky we got the insurance). I felt like a dick, having hit someone's car but I wouldn't have even been able to find it now if I tried.<br />"Maybe this happens all the time and that's why they hate tourists." I said as we loaded the suitcases into the boot.<br />"It was probably another tourist's car if it was on the side of the street." She replied, jumping in the driver's seat as I couldn't emotionally handle it.<br />I started explaining about the GPS and the system in the car (which we tried to work out), as my Wife began the drive through the city to our first destination; Geysir.</p><p>As we made our way through the city, I set the tone by playing 'Skald' a Viking folk band through the speakers, and we discovered that, it was an Android auto system, and I was able to set the GPS up simply by plugging my phone in (which we discovered as I was simply keeping my phone charged).<br />Continuing through the city I saw someone using a little mower that was remote controlled as it mowed the side of a slope. As someone who had worked as a Front Deck Mower Operator, I thought it was such a cool thing and much safer.</p><p>We had a 1 hour and 27-minute drive from out Hotel to Geysir (my Wife had worked everything out and we had our itinerary printed and with us in the car. As we progressed out of the city and the traffic was less hectic and I continued to take blurry landscape photos from the car.</p><p>We arrived at the Geysir carpark, now busting for the toilet. It was pretty busy at the Geysir centre however we made our way inside to find a toilet. Afterwards we made our way across the road where we headed to the top of the hill to look out over the Geysir and the beautiful landscape also on the opposite side of the hill.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzZB9VzgxVV0q7zfQCGlInsyWdxGDzxyDd9523TFd-bMcZchRIiCy3-FEOgxsWntT-EhgBhYfdmbZcLND45CA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a9w8H8V90ZySecofLwAaYzHa0MR2iywNsutYKvvS3DmdnV6yLR7DW79DkrQHhb6S3XRKrK9HACMEDlxFmYl3jssKlvsVpG671REg1L-7WCtbfYRIXkGzIm4GLTLKaD56K6huWHMrtizuWqK6b-bDx1kSRpVQWYyXs5TAFVU8jweRKPT6mFJFJntR/s4032/20230906_110711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a9w8H8V90ZySecofLwAaYzHa0MR2iywNsutYKvvS3DmdnV6yLR7DW79DkrQHhb6S3XRKrK9HACMEDlxFmYl3jssKlvsVpG671REg1L-7WCtbfYRIXkGzIm4GLTLKaD56K6huWHMrtizuWqK6b-bDx1kSRpVQWYyXs5TAFVU8jweRKPT6mFJFJntR/w480-h640/20230906_110711.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8_v7gzjPX3iByLS8YnjlE5j2ORcGy1D1Pn6_5WntK9fbrTBc3jh4T5mjGKa2Oj8oV311ZUomOHFTCNCtUwa2mvadnd3N89Z1vR4x4zL6fGY5CtrksPy34mFgKRJwnQEziz3RuDx-BBzzkd-laWsQjsmQ22lfRjTVn_HTHzoD3PylMSQO_njL58bS/s4032/20230906_111322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8_v7gzjPX3iByLS8YnjlE5j2ORcGy1D1Pn6_5WntK9fbrTBc3jh4T5mjGKa2Oj8oV311ZUomOHFTCNCtUwa2mvadnd3N89Z1vR4x4zL6fGY5CtrksPy34mFgKRJwnQEziz3RuDx-BBzzkd-laWsQjsmQ22lfRjTVn_HTHzoD3PylMSQO_njL58bS/w400-h300/20230906_111322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky2JDY5ODfBVFmudK_bW-JWqUbFb9pmmIBW2ADc5M1N0SkKK5fhuKjbUXOzwB7soRtu-5xFrjKdUe3NmmaTGrodX7D9lQzFxnQy5LOwyRI56C13UAwued7KR2j_V-V55_CpzkwSvbxcSNcRyjkLQAn0MGIodUb-wD5RztOHWDjt40v-jfeeZOMA-F/s4032/20230906_111726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiky2JDY5ODfBVFmudK_bW-JWqUbFb9pmmIBW2ADc5M1N0SkKK5fhuKjbUXOzwB7soRtu-5xFrjKdUe3NmmaTGrodX7D9lQzFxnQy5LOwyRI56C13UAwued7KR2j_V-V55_CpzkwSvbxcSNcRyjkLQAn0MGIodUb-wD5RztOHWDjt40v-jfeeZOMA-F/w400-h300/20230906_111726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj-MLSWa7yPxd3ghki9LPgt2V3grVaC7BhGl1TBDF0PL-GdT1eoyC0stUhIzF6FOKiQbyPnCna_gp52mmzu5KZfUvQ0eL6h-HTc7ml4hagLfI0Cw-VpB6bQoMv5kmS-CmdoXP3RUK2o-pClr8gOHpSM2C56cziZ_B2aCONGdD4PJcZaApXsbJani7/s4032/20230906_112248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj-MLSWa7yPxd3ghki9LPgt2V3grVaC7BhGl1TBDF0PL-GdT1eoyC0stUhIzF6FOKiQbyPnCna_gp52mmzu5KZfUvQ0eL6h-HTc7ml4hagLfI0Cw-VpB6bQoMv5kmS-CmdoXP3RUK2o-pClr8gOHpSM2C56cziZ_B2aCONGdD4PJcZaApXsbJani7/w400-h300/20230906_112248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Fun fact, the English word: Geyser, actually derives from Geysir, derived from Icelandic 'geysa' ("to gush").<br /><br />We continued up to the very top, getting too hot and having to remove our jumpers.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8_NUZgcH7UweLJoY2fv1pcbWdwxBrHTJkYm825HRPn356moTCkqAf3up2SdiWoC7zONXQ5ccMbvhoppHqQklM65EUBC6ATjUDGYUQ3FR2KjmK-FLMRsn15RFA9ty33vNgagsan2pfQVxKw1r8CrmPnkfkMjprEqsa-TJLwa1TyfB2poRhzezv6kF/s4032/20230906_112533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8_NUZgcH7UweLJoY2fv1pcbWdwxBrHTJkYm825HRPn356moTCkqAf3up2SdiWoC7zONXQ5ccMbvhoppHqQklM65EUBC6ATjUDGYUQ3FR2KjmK-FLMRsn15RFA9ty33vNgagsan2pfQVxKw1r8CrmPnkfkMjprEqsa-TJLwa1TyfB2poRhzezv6kF/w480-h640/20230906_112533.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div>There was a seating platform just down from the top as I continued to eat those peanut flavoured chips my Wife didn't like as we watched the Strokkur Geysir erupt. It was very crowded down around it, but we made our way down towards it passing some boiling hot springs along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyE7yOQZHsJaabvr9ZyD3c0s6i8QTfxK2eRJWZsaTFSIyhygXrBBpWEr6vzjtPvV_CP3gt_msX5bsycd6WsUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><p>The ground was incredibly muddy, and my Wife had to move slow in certain sections to avoid slipping. There were a few different Geysir and hot pools in the area, roped off to warn tourists not to get too close, however of course right in front of us and everyone else and family crossed it close to this Geysir and took a selfie together. "Fucking asshole tourists." I commented with a twinge of guilt still about the car.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_cirjQ2p5vIefkliwPzlMmfvCSnopx1OcYhls2u6WjWs6ytnHMjtN4FBs22tlZcnuhWW801-NbLbqWPH3Ux6eYkBjMuvZ0e-dm1_XGKiaOWZBrWccnwp3-Fe2XvW7Ws2OocW1qrPKzWX0hdqG-se7e_k-C55bl6wA-9ICVn8j4CFfjBim6k-dkrq/s4032/20230906_114012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_cirjQ2p5vIefkliwPzlMmfvCSnopx1OcYhls2u6WjWs6ytnHMjtN4FBs22tlZcnuhWW801-NbLbqWPH3Ux6eYkBjMuvZ0e-dm1_XGKiaOWZBrWccnwp3-Fe2XvW7Ws2OocW1qrPKzWX0hdqG-se7e_k-C55bl6wA-9ICVn8j4CFfjBim6k-dkrq/w400-h300/20230906_114012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JVBZfkNrZekIqvMkimXyfeaxctXshgRo7GL8nxzVhmKyAQZObnyfxWh5s3PXADbfi77tuwhdvQbAsPHSSRQFhI3G9HIuEiEOhrY0GT6a78smkA-nxZ7C6bpxYpnvdA8RyFaU2yZZxCOJRveIBn_ivcZ0JiDJFmParBG9UZwhVIqIUrt6J_gIVq0n/s4000/20230906_114021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JVBZfkNrZekIqvMkimXyfeaxctXshgRo7GL8nxzVhmKyAQZObnyfxWh5s3PXADbfi77tuwhdvQbAsPHSSRQFhI3G9HIuEiEOhrY0GT6a78smkA-nxZ7C6bpxYpnvdA8RyFaU2yZZxCOJRveIBn_ivcZ0JiDJFmParBG9UZwhVIqIUrt6J_gIVq0n/w480-h640/20230906_114021.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifqiuHiLiQSOyTdVaOkmiquG7kqry3GXUlWfhA7QG0rYaGBrqp_Kq5PAaf1FUmv6cbCW5dc_oTdaI1oCheKTCRlBQNh8Pkwsrez4MDqpO5RmlAZOna1jz2LjoO4yt8kpRUY7Jt8n31Qc3qw1Lez0JvSeBeb1Xcr5H6U0Q0ImAxLkUjQAT70v8td45/s4032/20230906_114242.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifqiuHiLiQSOyTdVaOkmiquG7kqry3GXUlWfhA7QG0rYaGBrqp_Kq5PAaf1FUmv6cbCW5dc_oTdaI1oCheKTCRlBQNh8Pkwsrez4MDqpO5RmlAZOna1jz2LjoO4yt8kpRUY7Jt8n31Qc3qw1Lez0JvSeBeb1Xcr5H6U0Q0ImAxLkUjQAT70v8td45/w400-h300/20230906_114242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSKLnn7UPJKBszksNA9Roc6QZA7CkdYTlTvhk8cZwDJsz_lZ6FgHI7qDS9HqSP_ndeA5Rbk2yCo8e7OISBl3VlaLcO8_N7CbrmfHQEITZ6zSo7EzZ_jkoRWYcs4yMdzkBQwl35AUhPVKj4yeiJnH6PMJDswJmVczPYpuU5NGt47dFfXDT5Ksr9wS0/s4000/20230906_114309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSKLnn7UPJKBszksNA9Roc6QZA7CkdYTlTvhk8cZwDJsz_lZ6FgHI7qDS9HqSP_ndeA5Rbk2yCo8e7OISBl3VlaLcO8_N7CbrmfHQEITZ6zSo7EzZ_jkoRWYcs4yMdzkBQwl35AUhPVKj4yeiJnH6PMJDswJmVczPYpuU5NGt47dFfXDT5Ksr9wS0/w400-h300/20230906_114309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We reached the Great Geysir, also just called 'Geysir' and were a little surprised to learn it was not that one frequently erupting, (that was Strokkur).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzVHitvBxt_MHP3wMdUN6jY9aZfeeu3bUUjKTt8liRSVhQ_Rf_VZoTP8Sa-NShmnrpco3Hti6r73lvSWbeIFfldIGHZqt-xThTpY85Rb7oZYDpaRAIvAO5KDpj-AUHD0DM7gz_ZfqI7ykI_3Jm983ZJjKFB3XfRqQ3WRoBj1XVJhoStVIE6mtaomM/s4032/20230906_114514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzVHitvBxt_MHP3wMdUN6jY9aZfeeu3bUUjKTt8liRSVhQ_Rf_VZoTP8Sa-NShmnrpco3Hti6r73lvSWbeIFfldIGHZqt-xThTpY85Rb7oZYDpaRAIvAO5KDpj-AUHD0DM7gz_ZfqI7ykI_3Jm983ZJjKFB3XfRqQ3WRoBj1XVJhoStVIE6mtaomM/w400-h300/20230906_114514.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkGP3bbLBWYeyNXsT7t4aENxUhpMsd971Uu5Ut10vpC4j7hKmE1Fwbp5IdXP0zWpPR11NwpK6ZsU9a49tJ8E7v9FOF578d6YGHZcfu8u0X0jBgQhRpmPo02ZbY6H2b3lMSNh2jCrfW7flMoCaA1_nIqCRfhJY-XiIRdzP5I-NzJGnKO7htoY4AE3N/s4032/20230906_114650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkGP3bbLBWYeyNXsT7t4aENxUhpMsd971Uu5Ut10vpC4j7hKmE1Fwbp5IdXP0zWpPR11NwpK6ZsU9a49tJ8E7v9FOF578d6YGHZcfu8u0X0jBgQhRpmPo02ZbY6H2b3lMSNh2jCrfW7flMoCaA1_nIqCRfhJY-XiIRdzP5I-NzJGnKO7htoY4AE3N/w480-h640/20230906_114650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Soon we joined the hordes around Strokkur watching it erupt right in front of us. We watched it once, then joined the hordes trying to photograph and video it. The family that had blatantly crossed the rope barrier came and stood next to us and I eyed them off waiting to see if they did anything once more however, they did not.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT7iImdpaMQ6uX-XwkvkRrLAYP4aaM_f_m5R3TCHWvmzyH-Gf8fkXsaoAo80pTYrm0WMSq0Mrw2JePLi6KyoToOENjte6yXlOc_BTIHi38oQYUWyo080Q_GO3ddelkBwvIvrV7OKpOOt4PbTuA_P8jSYj0GsBaTlPv_X9NfpeW6V-NAnCig5o8owJ/s4032/20230906_115408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT7iImdpaMQ6uX-XwkvkRrLAYP4aaM_f_m5R3TCHWvmzyH-Gf8fkXsaoAo80pTYrm0WMSq0Mrw2JePLi6KyoToOENjte6yXlOc_BTIHi38oQYUWyo080Q_GO3ddelkBwvIvrV7OKpOOt4PbTuA_P8jSYj0GsBaTlPv_X9NfpeW6V-NAnCig5o8owJ/w480-h640/20230906_115408.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_0gTJIEXAKT7_2jZ7LiJ80fGkD4BpGlcSppLYOiL0gSMNvSnbaRZe5fhTx8vQEv1VVomRuApa5YmvDA_HgTbiUpIYDmooYbv6G0Lca3GbTMx4cfIuBW4b3eQkFEToZinbsOODm3aytvdd0Xip_zA_Nl-1McAIhJad8JYk3PoPyrlGyaLx6a9TAQw/s4032/20230906_115409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_0gTJIEXAKT7_2jZ7LiJ80fGkD4BpGlcSppLYOiL0gSMNvSnbaRZe5fhTx8vQEv1VVomRuApa5YmvDA_HgTbiUpIYDmooYbv6G0Lca3GbTMx4cfIuBW4b3eQkFEToZinbsOODm3aytvdd0Xip_zA_Nl-1McAIhJad8JYk3PoPyrlGyaLx6a9TAQw/w480-h640/20230906_115409.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOLmd9SXhsC7cGPgSxj-40sFHgfZGgNJZNZXBoyxxGK_AaLuPBT9yFTLvwREvJUYiPBU8o96Ck2_jqlhMwNg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>We continued along the path, past the Little Geysir and remaining puddles of hot springs.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-lSsN_uUE10A-PJQDGI-VxZ-z-qsE4e4L2WKYGoI5KURd9sk01RU1kVGVZL1201_Xm-ORlzmlG6LkW312HQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqJu5I0X43R_55LsRp5yL-lsjf5lZM4bU2ZhllJ-x7bybNm6zOusyUixMn5wMeFekzOaCkXy6REb7CbpNYfy1edTqNokInhKMw9E-4WaruAaIJcOX8CO294MiEctnvEJGDHrxQlfYI2i6_dGrWQcEvtzOWAatRoZo3fcCbqcsypqOdMhd4L3z_Ds-/s4032/20230906_115922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqJu5I0X43R_55LsRp5yL-lsjf5lZM4bU2ZhllJ-x7bybNm6zOusyUixMn5wMeFekzOaCkXy6REb7CbpNYfy1edTqNokInhKMw9E-4WaruAaIJcOX8CO294MiEctnvEJGDHrxQlfYI2i6_dGrWQcEvtzOWAatRoZo3fcCbqcsypqOdMhd4L3z_Ds-/w400-h300/20230906_115922.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Arriving back at the car I agreed to give it a drive as the roads were way less hectic and I didn't want my Wife to drive the whole time. I hoped in and followed the road a short distance until we arrived at another very busy carpark to view the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss. Luckily the waterfall was so massive and there were amble vantage points all around it, as it was very busy.<br />We walked across the top walkway for a few down overlooking the waterfall, before heading down the stairs and walking up as close as possible to the waterfall. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvRcR11W8HKUxGXv4Qr999FjoP2ESe1dh7RL8q4x4W66slg9VHzhYYtnR6Kv4BA3icrzUIQ-vr6-420KW66LAjGDupOUKJB8LkCGUgcY24Lf8X4G-iL2WiDjQyekAE-BRuBOGR7dreEZIIzBVL38cLfMwLiVMOujbj77l-XXY0RumIFzydsInj7RS/s4032/20230906_123121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvRcR11W8HKUxGXv4Qr999FjoP2ESe1dh7RL8q4x4W66slg9VHzhYYtnR6Kv4BA3icrzUIQ-vr6-420KW66LAjGDupOUKJB8LkCGUgcY24Lf8X4G-iL2WiDjQyekAE-BRuBOGR7dreEZIIzBVL38cLfMwLiVMOujbj77l-XXY0RumIFzydsInj7RS/w480-h640/20230906_123121.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXhUnPBxkZUJkahVIY8iaKKJ8k_b15jmn4puEi68xUEPM6zYcQFP-HxFR-a173IOcCZeKfEq2T89LlthMUMAcs5Ton094kExRzSk28kgmc7kLCWp0Gv7bnJRhWxB7RhJ7RhDOzKATtEdlgUjizkn6RA63FLg8ku7CvWSva5y_j7dY1g1hbhu3FDhV/s4032/20230906_123144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXhUnPBxkZUJkahVIY8iaKKJ8k_b15jmn4puEi68xUEPM6zYcQFP-HxFR-a173IOcCZeKfEq2T89LlthMUMAcs5Ton094kExRzSk28kgmc7kLCWp0Gv7bnJRhWxB7RhJ7RhDOzKATtEdlgUjizkn6RA63FLg8ku7CvWSva5y_j7dY1g1hbhu3FDhV/w480-h640/20230906_123144.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e7C_tqfR1iHJJng6jFA6dfyH5vHui47Zku2kGuegknVgm1rnzjjG8suHkxrDMYhXadqEOLOrsyAwdVEp3hOtIPw3Eu-DZzBMfL6UYt5T_hkS_j7h9HcD7GOOmJ68zdSdeYBvQZxmp4SKOTlqQhPAPZb5oeFEltwdvNwyvMtkdam4jPQN7QbzqVYS/s4032/20230906_123624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e7C_tqfR1iHJJng6jFA6dfyH5vHui47Zku2kGuegknVgm1rnzjjG8suHkxrDMYhXadqEOLOrsyAwdVEp3hOtIPw3Eu-DZzBMfL6UYt5T_hkS_j7h9HcD7GOOmJ68zdSdeYBvQZxmp4SKOTlqQhPAPZb5oeFEltwdvNwyvMtkdam4jPQN7QbzqVYS/w480-h640/20230906_123624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4gc3EIMJx_qt8CPARcmnEYXBA3MujTsIe0hHocEmtI82G4nfB0tBKMQyGvMsBTB38lT9N71Z4pRKgXo_JAlR2jEnEEnKSa7zi4Un5Ygv9NKITjrJZ-Zye6VuBLhdr00SpJZSbdCJUic-9V_PiZeP1wZwbKzN5QqoHK_HygAJXx6xGMlF6s-w8A2C/s4032/20230906_123812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4gc3EIMJx_qt8CPARcmnEYXBA3MujTsIe0hHocEmtI82G4nfB0tBKMQyGvMsBTB38lT9N71Z4pRKgXo_JAlR2jEnEEnKSa7zi4Un5Ygv9NKITjrJZ-Zye6VuBLhdr00SpJZSbdCJUic-9V_PiZeP1wZwbKzN5QqoHK_HygAJXx6xGMlF6s-w8A2C/w400-h300/20230906_123812.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMKqPbUTre5DcwsZezYbwBvIi3CFE_GSBem1uH66JCrLKg86UcGtISYNdeapv_kQOIADjcFQje4BFuAxSXX6G_CisU2BftpNVAdk36AwOdvymk2j7UGEhp83FFWMjnTP8S9bCpKsvQOpVkAS94GW7QhxgnSdbT8sHNErwyUrE6oLUjbMCrrvcn7N/s4000/20230906_124150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMKqPbUTre5DcwsZezYbwBvIi3CFE_GSBem1uH66JCrLKg86UcGtISYNdeapv_kQOIADjcFQje4BFuAxSXX6G_CisU2BftpNVAdk36AwOdvymk2j7UGEhp83FFWMjnTP8S9bCpKsvQOpVkAS94GW7QhxgnSdbT8sHNErwyUrE6oLUjbMCrrvcn7N/w400-h300/20230906_124150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>As we made our way back up the stairs to the car, I pointed to a random man sitting eating as he had warming earmuffs in the style of Yoda ears.</p><p>As we turned the car on setting the GPS up to our next location, the crater Kerið, however there was a farm named Friðheimar Farm that specialised in tomatoes, which brewed a unique Tomato beer which I was keen to try, and in our first run-through of our itinerary we were never able to make it to be able to go there within its opening hours, however we had time so set off towards this farm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lZ2Y-KsNuqn2UtcW6a0qifC4DqRb-EkQ0XgoXpphjyY3vAnPblrzwjP3dtbiPghpA9AovnFQZm3hVihSZI8AuMGTcmdB2JDhRYEKm4Crj0V5pFyZKUJAVT_Lam3Eq3NTBx7I2FZmrVQFhKH_WI3amyiAg7JImEnvbJLqYoadzpO92QxFLl3RvXlu/s4032/20230906_134003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lZ2Y-KsNuqn2UtcW6a0qifC4DqRb-EkQ0XgoXpphjyY3vAnPblrzwjP3dtbiPghpA9AovnFQZm3hVihSZI8AuMGTcmdB2JDhRYEKm4Crj0V5pFyZKUJAVT_Lam3Eq3NTBx7I2FZmrVQFhKH_WI3amyiAg7JImEnvbJLqYoadzpO92QxFLl3RvXlu/w480-h640/20230906_134003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we walked towards the farm, we walked past a group of Icelandic Horses my Wife was immediately excited to see, and as she went over towards them, they all came to say hello.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SBPs1bblOA-simQFYWLMF9q0OIiVmTCQmpQ5h76iLxjAaW47BNM1Wj3_rMFOOv4mbvBMza7GTCuhqQ7n_Q97xBKM7B7dsupfNfhifWEA7VLw3dsGtuINej6m2T2BgOHbxGcKxKON-qJrohcVIqZrGzT6VAySWW0Mw9-d9Pm6lgaR-UfR4Rhpli0a/s4032/20230906_134207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SBPs1bblOA-simQFYWLMF9q0OIiVmTCQmpQ5h76iLxjAaW47BNM1Wj3_rMFOOv4mbvBMza7GTCuhqQ7n_Q97xBKM7B7dsupfNfhifWEA7VLw3dsGtuINej6m2T2BgOHbxGcKxKON-qJrohcVIqZrGzT6VAySWW0Mw9-d9Pm6lgaR-UfR4Rhpli0a/w480-h640/20230906_134207.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we entered there seemed to be a wait to sit with people being seated at set tables, however I simply wanted to try a beer and I could see some toilets to our right and as we both used them, I could see a bar you could go up to, so I walked up to it to order a tomato beer, where I had the option of a normal tomato beer and a green tomato beer. I chose the normal beer and noticed a small beer table nearby we just sat down at while I enjoyed my beer. I would have tried the second green tomato beer too, but I didn't want to force my Wife into driving for the rest of the day as Iceland has strict drink driving laws.</p><p>I finished my beer, and we headed off towards Kerið. As we arrived at the crater, we noticed a little hut taking payment for entry, and headed up to do the right thing and pay whilst we noticed other people simply walk past it and just enter.</p><p>We followed the path down to the base of the crater where we walked around the water inside. Where at one point I knelt to touch and feel the water, with my Wife shaking her head about my need to 'touch everything'.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN29PCcabNEzqN_U3-NS2rI8lk-qs-x7-Gsnyhyphenhyphenl2OmYvEXV2vxP7_SUfXwJPqee_W79hQYYAZSj3LGuFXuqH4V93ZMae26H0Hkzsp5_-OoUwVDiV26pz87glSiHmO1FvnR4bn7JmXx-UWTyxqox0qwXZe2CL2BMI3GpIs4o-7NgKH_Bi9WeMegU0/s4032/20230906_142839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN29PCcabNEzqN_U3-NS2rI8lk-qs-x7-Gsnyhyphenhyphenl2OmYvEXV2vxP7_SUfXwJPqee_W79hQYYAZSj3LGuFXuqH4V93ZMae26H0Hkzsp5_-OoUwVDiV26pz87glSiHmO1FvnR4bn7JmXx-UWTyxqox0qwXZe2CL2BMI3GpIs4o-7NgKH_Bi9WeMegU0/w400-h300/20230906_142839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2LFKzEgMBlNG7O9S9s5EWEbZDIHlXUkdMlLkQai6-xGBT3GFlmc55TAeeWmgq3hCVjmPNS_XWAbK5ecwUkAI8pq7U9d69TxsK_SBQKdyl7RvAklIUeY-F0aa4ugFfg6MaGoN2GgmhzmIb15kLGb1ueaSMZp7C3yd6exZKUWwJA1dVClRpY_xiX1m/s4032/20230906_143042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2LFKzEgMBlNG7O9S9s5EWEbZDIHlXUkdMlLkQai6-xGBT3GFlmc55TAeeWmgq3hCVjmPNS_XWAbK5ecwUkAI8pq7U9d69TxsK_SBQKdyl7RvAklIUeY-F0aa4ugFfg6MaGoN2GgmhzmIb15kLGb1ueaSMZp7C3yd6exZKUWwJA1dVClRpY_xiX1m/w480-h640/20230906_143042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We continued back up the path and walked around the top of the crater.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHpRDw9pFvrfrMDPpkZSA1OjgPeIdiYbpMGND59hGyncCu5CAkwSq_s3Kn6-5Lj4hZVHCK_i1VCKljtsfX7vr8il4IU5NjcHVr03D-xG47_u_iF8-zo0qaRFBTeMKmxPWfuT92EYGXmsO2faWX13-6WDN8cxBquiuFO69DNY4bOI-WneSUsc3T2AS/s4032/20230906_144659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHpRDw9pFvrfrMDPpkZSA1OjgPeIdiYbpMGND59hGyncCu5CAkwSq_s3Kn6-5Lj4hZVHCK_i1VCKljtsfX7vr8il4IU5NjcHVr03D-xG47_u_iF8-zo0qaRFBTeMKmxPWfuT92EYGXmsO2faWX13-6WDN8cxBquiuFO69DNY4bOI-WneSUsc3T2AS/w400-h300/20230906_144659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>From here we set of for about a 50-minute drive to Hjálparfoss. As we drove it began to rain, however as we arrived it was now only very light.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lxH-ue_icx1TpSQQR_kIYIcnRrAp5Xdf7A1Di_NNduzsD3FeJxhgwt6F5qxCh3z1bcHWmUu3WzwOfaC_BG8oqN3g0sK5262yoG3sIpuM-THsAhlEgZTDI5wp_BAkD4S6qh0jgp7U4_Y6Is61pdWXFfpyjpleeBIkt8lZrxDgmvbhR6Z6pjgUjnZp/s4032/20230906_161317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lxH-ue_icx1TpSQQR_kIYIcnRrAp5Xdf7A1Di_NNduzsD3FeJxhgwt6F5qxCh3z1bcHWmUu3WzwOfaC_BG8oqN3g0sK5262yoG3sIpuM-THsAhlEgZTDI5wp_BAkD4S6qh0jgp7U4_Y6Is61pdWXFfpyjpleeBIkt8lZrxDgmvbhR6Z6pjgUjnZp/w400-h300/20230906_161317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkemBnpMWuqAH0I9XHjszS_9BT9Wsphtqo6gNGtghuZ-wJzvzxhEJ4MDlX12WbhACw4RXFOcuMBvLC0gctGGdGWzPIZEAqFC0YY4F70Uz7AggueWaHrJViNbnW6OaQV-5zhwWxfiz4nGEugFSzOkMlMIi3e7UIWCdfPz8bRZu1eFK4bqkAvAqQxmer/s4032/20230906_162100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkemBnpMWuqAH0I9XHjszS_9BT9Wsphtqo6gNGtghuZ-wJzvzxhEJ4MDlX12WbhACw4RXFOcuMBvLC0gctGGdGWzPIZEAqFC0YY4F70Uz7AggueWaHrJViNbnW6OaQV-5zhwWxfiz4nGEugFSzOkMlMIi3e7UIWCdfPz8bRZu1eFK4bqkAvAqQxmer/w400-h300/20230906_162100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I noticed people fishing at the base of the waterfall and wondered if they were locals (but just assumed they would be).</p><p>The next spot on our list was Gjáin, still within Þjórsárdalur valley. We discovered this was originally a place we were not going to visit as it was recommended for 4-wheel drives only, (with a sign saying so before you follow the dirt road out towards it), however it was fortunate that our insurance upgrade had got us one, so we followed the road out to an amazing valley, as we were left breathless at our first views overlooking it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBQK-YhNwEqPmvKY_BCRx5fuXA0efJyAYJkpxhjrjn5sjBgTbYJ37jf8zXn9tQ4eoNPYhiHE0aDLa8r-_mcXj0S3AoO7oDN948_Oy8-dTkZfDqYVB0OLVe7f_JAzlR_DUC9NCqYO8785002ozXWtRnPQ9YbysYcTWcwhPD284zX0rIcls8TKGY3Ug/s4032/20230906_164914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBQK-YhNwEqPmvKY_BCRx5fuXA0efJyAYJkpxhjrjn5sjBgTbYJ37jf8zXn9tQ4eoNPYhiHE0aDLa8r-_mcXj0S3AoO7oDN948_Oy8-dTkZfDqYVB0OLVe7f_JAzlR_DUC9NCqYO8785002ozXWtRnPQ9YbysYcTWcwhPD284zX0rIcls8TKGY3Ug/w400-h300/20230906_164914.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>It looks like 'The Great Valley' I said, referencing my childhood favourite cartoon film series 'The Land Before Time.'</p><p>As we walked down into it the rain began to get slightly heavier, but it only added to the beauty of the valley.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZXRJM_LPVcTOXZOPgUC5PT3vsq2iOKVcIbSGj0oI9AIDO6cxLpT_zmXTu3Y3U6yoxd6tbmZsQ5W4L-KmYqo70KvXx04VmwaUFYKDhuXYLJhAB3VZS2eYnqvXPisLkyK52OSlb-bCId-J-TfsxSUisYbTm9E6JXDunG6yPi-sp0B0IJqynCyGdSau/s4000/20230906_165441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZXRJM_LPVcTOXZOPgUC5PT3vsq2iOKVcIbSGj0oI9AIDO6cxLpT_zmXTu3Y3U6yoxd6tbmZsQ5W4L-KmYqo70KvXx04VmwaUFYKDhuXYLJhAB3VZS2eYnqvXPisLkyK52OSlb-bCId-J-TfsxSUisYbTm9E6JXDunG6yPi-sp0B0IJqynCyGdSau/w400-h300/20230906_165441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gViStPPoGnuvhrXCxsM6Fi5LMDF7pwxzIeQdakaCW0zEhOSQC6dXD8aZAouTxuUJ3RdNDTv4Vy2Li_xn7sWpJZpsrR2nahjrT6pVLnlZL09GXVtqsmoeyi_o_h-0SVJABPpvYXIDJzwBhnxkcSf2XZolqXXH7GLEof9526XL-GfYqHeXHCBkT5OV/s4000/20230906_165517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gViStPPoGnuvhrXCxsM6Fi5LMDF7pwxzIeQdakaCW0zEhOSQC6dXD8aZAouTxuUJ3RdNDTv4Vy2Li_xn7sWpJZpsrR2nahjrT6pVLnlZL09GXVtqsmoeyi_o_h-0SVJABPpvYXIDJzwBhnxkcSf2XZolqXXH7GLEof9526XL-GfYqHeXHCBkT5OV/w400-h300/20230906_165517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As I looked up at a cave in the hillside, I pointed out to my Wife, three sheep taking shelter from the rain.</p><p>We continued along, looking at the numerous waterfalls running over the lush greenery. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQS7mVrglOZTCPihqMEGHq-VpNfL4tCdfgq90W7n3oibvAdn7kdTv0jnX6ClM4dr9oikED9tXUGBmjImV0gA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>Following a path that came to a dead end we noticed a little cave that we took photos inside. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxNpOEXtypTDAxH0HRaGaFBjCH9QQ2nqLnF3HsF2ajUnpkpZ4nmMNPZer0blR33GYOQBmiz8bQ1WRsqbE98UyAnB5y8oXL00wHVowfbKiyWEuFzgV8WfStAEJz08-top8o-S2CEVvtMGpoUq_ygbJQaHMweh-X4w520QkHBQukF6374e8paHDZy0i/s4000/20230906_165804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxNpOEXtypTDAxH0HRaGaFBjCH9QQ2nqLnF3HsF2ajUnpkpZ4nmMNPZer0blR33GYOQBmiz8bQ1WRsqbE98UyAnB5y8oXL00wHVowfbKiyWEuFzgV8WfStAEJz08-top8o-S2CEVvtMGpoUq_ygbJQaHMweh-X4w520QkHBQukF6374e8paHDZy0i/w480-h640/20230906_165804.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked back the sheep had now come out of the cave and were wandering around.</p><p>We continued up towards one of the main waterfalls we had seen from above, before we had walked down into the valley. Crossing a metal grate across the river to the other side and up to the waterfall.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCjiqAWBRgwLs6mPxyHwmm16QK0WugLrvR9ZYGGeljeQFB1FOnRh_GfUNG1ZPdxMxjFZSpHDx7iJrYSUHumfoA2s1tluZiVUFYaXUpmpj7N8_mURWJwol_lfHgb506tkl5pr6jC-LWRr6NQlAaFdJnijfTrswDjo4FC6bGa2Gp-pHwHrzGKa2Yauj/s4032/20230906_170129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCjiqAWBRgwLs6mPxyHwmm16QK0WugLrvR9ZYGGeljeQFB1FOnRh_GfUNG1ZPdxMxjFZSpHDx7iJrYSUHumfoA2s1tluZiVUFYaXUpmpj7N8_mURWJwol_lfHgb506tkl5pr6jC-LWRr6NQlAaFdJnijfTrswDjo4FC6bGa2Gp-pHwHrzGKa2Yauj/w480-h640/20230906_170129.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y3P4Gf8yPuyJAoEbW92iGr1dqYZkrSIe1GMhN1rdkGCzDJPtz2RInA0dXI5AwnS6hJxHcFeQYaI552hQc_O44pXz0s2g2rEXP3tOwq1bhKcvJOY45ic9CBQuqZYAEi3B5CPVBQ7YXMomHXsPf5Xv1pKkb_s8AzgjpIF8k-qfdaBe1agkjEyq-2_5/s4032/20230906_170318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y3P4Gf8yPuyJAoEbW92iGr1dqYZkrSIe1GMhN1rdkGCzDJPtz2RInA0dXI5AwnS6hJxHcFeQYaI552hQc_O44pXz0s2g2rEXP3tOwq1bhKcvJOY45ic9CBQuqZYAEi3B5CPVBQ7YXMomHXsPf5Xv1pKkb_s8AzgjpIF8k-qfdaBe1agkjEyq-2_5/w480-h640/20230906_170318.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M-rpFiwvMMcp7aG-CFiOvrKO53VZRGzzDBhwOqZe6wjVR5mvQgIq0M47Fg5Q37U0G9u8DIrbBIf1gr9SNVkaiv-KpiahJ00wrCYsfpDtgo96ktAZx79lol6ZewtZDZKjnYfX7dcQUUAxk21AEHC6yFJ9kwl_vLnLmtGVEf0rlk5zvSDaTruuWg5s/s4032/20230906_170336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M-rpFiwvMMcp7aG-CFiOvrKO53VZRGzzDBhwOqZe6wjVR5mvQgIq0M47Fg5Q37U0G9u8DIrbBIf1gr9SNVkaiv-KpiahJ00wrCYsfpDtgo96ktAZx79lol6ZewtZDZKjnYfX7dcQUUAxk21AEHC6yFJ9kwl_vLnLmtGVEf0rlk5zvSDaTruuWg5s/w400-h300/20230906_170336.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLZ01OiFFrTDD1wPqhLX9mUbAbwP3QLnm7fhyndRC9TNu9xmePAm_BJ2a20ahCftE2TUHfb_z2oCxLKKBzn2SddlK3UG0PiuL7F_PzLBg-Wi8FcPJ3dSK1AuQZaWxXGOsusFKour49R8cq87PfmtTjH60VavNmmyhv5PjzMTXDW1eRqpOqY-Ua0XN/s4032/20230906_170441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLZ01OiFFrTDD1wPqhLX9mUbAbwP3QLnm7fhyndRC9TNu9xmePAm_BJ2a20ahCftE2TUHfb_z2oCxLKKBzn2SddlK3UG0PiuL7F_PzLBg-Wi8FcPJ3dSK1AuQZaWxXGOsusFKour49R8cq87PfmtTjH60VavNmmyhv5PjzMTXDW1eRqpOqY-Ua0XN/w480-h640/20230906_170441.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>From here there was another river crossing across steppingstones. My Wife went across first but found her legs not long enough to cross from the final one to the other side, I came across behind her, sneaking past her on the final one to give her my hand to help pull her across to the other side. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11hxEw85Rxm-wLb8g3epI3DaODn6oDgxM4-lYczcnVWqqchyHukjbKkLODSpRcpL6SK6pdrFIvDmuG9-7DqSacoYIrbRVkQZTLcvszE8dvjkEpaJjedvkUN0AbzKzBfZdhs5CHfFtfEITOMG7Gro1t83jkePSA4rQgWP8VzmmIGugkQCE-XsUya2/s4032/20230906_170847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-11hxEw85Rxm-wLb8g3epI3DaODn6oDgxM4-lYczcnVWqqchyHukjbKkLODSpRcpL6SK6pdrFIvDmuG9-7DqSacoYIrbRVkQZTLcvszE8dvjkEpaJjedvkUN0AbzKzBfZdhs5CHfFtfEITOMG7Gro1t83jkePSA4rQgWP8VzmmIGugkQCE-XsUya2/w480-h640/20230906_170847.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClePDbtH-P56skPCqCmSiL_tyPXmhH82kWwonm23qUyVkwuu9Pu3zDmg5L8PsYq-YYEZbhdIfcP2upw0g8zjWX1PKzhUHkNnMgXDDfx2zX6VmHmTF69GlVqBbi6Yo9CyLgyu8rzD60Oousl2nEkpI2Z6KGlnhPbWG_bWq7rMAiV132nD7fT83K_FF/s4032/20230906_170931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClePDbtH-P56skPCqCmSiL_tyPXmhH82kWwonm23qUyVkwuu9Pu3zDmg5L8PsYq-YYEZbhdIfcP2upw0g8zjWX1PKzhUHkNnMgXDDfx2zX6VmHmTF69GlVqBbi6Yo9CyLgyu8rzD60Oousl2nEkpI2Z6KGlnhPbWG_bWq7rMAiV132nD7fT83K_FF/w480-h640/20230906_170931.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Just across here was yet another beautiful waterfall with a lovely swimming hole, which I would have swum in if I were home in Australia, but not in the absolutely freezing cold Icelandic waters.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmDsoz93Ws9R0QiF61-R6cQDiaDVCgPd_8fG42wT6S6vfO5L8S1i7-MVj5Hp1LtjKEaJZGp3_heJ9qH3wCCq2atNP71432Eq_NfIFqR3H6YhkR5y3B4_AF-POfojgqhFg_kCSGCj7GZGnGukIfEpvAd-spLcLBI5qV1Ud1aN1_7cvwmx0WPKDvZgL/s4000/20230906_171212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmDsoz93Ws9R0QiF61-R6cQDiaDVCgPd_8fG42wT6S6vfO5L8S1i7-MVj5Hp1LtjKEaJZGp3_heJ9qH3wCCq2atNP71432Eq_NfIFqR3H6YhkR5y3B4_AF-POfojgqhFg_kCSGCj7GZGnGukIfEpvAd-spLcLBI5qV1Ud1aN1_7cvwmx0WPKDvZgL/w400-h300/20230906_171212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The walk continued on, and we followed the path up overlooking the river flow, we caught up to a couple in front of us who quickly crossed one of the numerous rope borders (put all over Iceland to protect their delicate ecosystem). We had only been in Iceland the one whole day and we had already seen so many tourists so flagrant with Iceland's requests, I shook my head in frustration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDncpSRCj30x716ULtocfIJ-bjAUFtXW6fzpryDnmb5XdVSP-lbcoqgXFYhfG85ZilychHcisrTKCmzeR8mP-cnlkq3IMv3ry45Byp98Lw9aroBajik-OMr4hGsFhp9vzX4cjvKqIzBKOB8dXCAqgXp0TM3JmWVSIu4Cy6XBa2ctsnC1T68EosV6s/s4032/20230906_171404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDncpSRCj30x716ULtocfIJ-bjAUFtXW6fzpryDnmb5XdVSP-lbcoqgXFYhfG85ZilychHcisrTKCmzeR8mP-cnlkq3IMv3ry45Byp98Lw9aroBajik-OMr4hGsFhp9vzX4cjvKqIzBKOB8dXCAqgXp0TM3JmWVSIu4Cy6XBa2ctsnC1T68EosV6s/w480-h640/20230906_171404.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1HbTpzOZTdr4KmSgZsfKVzRGgmn3ometfX72m8Mi_UaMOSuMKVWcrqUiDsK361c_hLTY6f89OnTNHwb1lY15CIgDZ-bMbaSoG2jRo_imnLw7kCP9fU_i_AtOsLD2I2V74oRRfAWqRol9nvdGvDWu3zzNqNsc0aiLndWkZPaha03Bl0sO1fZmPFm_/s4032/20230906_171655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1HbTpzOZTdr4KmSgZsfKVzRGgmn3ometfX72m8Mi_UaMOSuMKVWcrqUiDsK361c_hLTY6f89OnTNHwb1lY15CIgDZ-bMbaSoG2jRo_imnLw7kCP9fU_i_AtOsLD2I2V74oRRfAWqRol9nvdGvDWu3zzNqNsc0aiLndWkZPaha03Bl0sO1fZmPFm_/w480-h640/20230906_171655.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We continued along the track which split into a walkway towards another carpark, but we followed the other path that led us to an unmanned shack that we assumed must have been out of use for the season. It was getting late in the day now and we slowly walked back through the valley in the rain, breathing in the clean air. "We should move here" my Wife commented, already enamoured with Iceland. I walked slowly, so in love with the location we were in (which even by the end of our trip was still one of the most magical spots we visited in Iceland).</p><p>We said goodbye to the sheep as we made our way up the stairs back to the carpark, setting up the GPS to our Hotel in Selfoss (Hotel Selfoss). As we drove through the lava fields, I noticed some of the cars were sedans who had obviously risked coming along the bumpy road in those cars but said the car upgrade for us was worth it just for that location as we would have turned back at the sign had we not been driving our KIA Sportage. It was a little over a 40-minute drive to the Hotel, where we checked in and began looking for dinner options. We decided to head across the road to the Old Dairy Food Hall, which was a food court like setting. Upon entering we found it jam packed with tourists like us looking for a feed. Before deciding on pizza.</p><p>Afterwards we went for a walk around the town for a look, walking through and behind the old Dairy and down and across the road some where there was a man at a bus stop outside of a Krónan (supermarket), drinking from a wine bottle looking pretty drunk. We crossed the road making sure to avoid him, and we went to have a look inside the store, buying ourselves some lunch for the following day and buying myself a unique Kombucha to try. On our way back we followed the Ölfusá river along to the back of our hotel, admiring how beautiful the area was.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i94Zy3dcKGbDIjs8REIbt1xMyKdI0B14NUyyGN68x97py4-WYSaTiOVGF4PKh1P6t-KTsKQp_Nl4HeKubFtI2a1FnfMAy_or5I-f8EVFRZMccKgGppRxWqV8VTuCMF55CMsc4y7sMwKVeOsWl47sq9KCW_U8NIamgzBcW6fK4SXJH_E82L4oJ2tP/s4032/20230906_203813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i94Zy3dcKGbDIjs8REIbt1xMyKdI0B14NUyyGN68x97py4-WYSaTiOVGF4PKh1P6t-KTsKQp_Nl4HeKubFtI2a1FnfMAy_or5I-f8EVFRZMccKgGppRxWqV8VTuCMF55CMsc4y7sMwKVeOsWl47sq9KCW_U8NIamgzBcW6fK4SXJH_E82L4oJ2tP/w400-h300/20230906_203813.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgds2maQlO1Wal2uUvdAmCxod5pJiCnJ_O2SXLlEaPfWXVV3DNKO0K64ELBh6qqgb81thMkPBUrYYUPwb7BhR_gpXK37zvPSfn3tnmg8wzc4lsm0x95dgXRhvrTnNSU0ln7d3kJpDW5fmbsL7jOMeikN2oLIaEPL82K639p5dobcadUoo59JcEdScN/s4032/20230906_203754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgds2maQlO1Wal2uUvdAmCxod5pJiCnJ_O2SXLlEaPfWXVV3DNKO0K64ELBh6qqgb81thMkPBUrYYUPwb7BhR_gpXK37zvPSfn3tnmg8wzc4lsm0x95dgXRhvrTnNSU0ln7d3kJpDW5fmbsL7jOMeikN2oLIaEPL82K639p5dobcadUoo59JcEdScN/w400-h300/20230906_203754.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The rain began to get a bit heavy and so we headed back to the hotel past an ice cream store named Ísbúð Huppu, which we thought look cute with its little logo of a Cow showing it's utters. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoeZLgngEmt-xkH_Xl4rc2-t66UtSRbsA_ptjw_c09kRIV8ipHiinxSmRPJUpnFLIEmmrsnrY4hbVNFGcoiaApOKAKJNlRY-MKm0jm26rUA18zh2hwKq3vg0q6ZhTJdlYLP09wZLl5L4lmAR4hEJxi4tyLL_1q5Yt3dj30aF9GqOT-8HpQvayMHpU/s4032/20230907_094604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoeZLgngEmt-xkH_Xl4rc2-t66UtSRbsA_ptjw_c09kRIV8ipHiinxSmRPJUpnFLIEmmrsnrY4hbVNFGcoiaApOKAKJNlRY-MKm0jm26rUA18zh2hwKq3vg0q6ZhTJdlYLP09wZLl5L4lmAR4hEJxi4tyLL_1q5Yt3dj30aF9GqOT-8HpQvayMHpU/w400-h300/20230907_094604.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>As we entered our room and I went to drink my Kombucha I realised I didn't have a bottle opener, so used the door hold to our room, which once I did, sent Kombucha shooting all over the wooden floor, which I proceeded to wipe up before trying it, finding it ok but too fizzy for my liking. We laid in bed trying to wind down for the night, still excited by our day and even more excited for the following day where we would head to Þingvellir National Park, to Snorkel at Silfra, e divergent tectonic boundary between the North American and Eurasian plates. I sent my Dad a bunch of the photos of the trip so far, such as Geysir, (my Dad was back home in Australia an undergoing cancer treatment) and looked up the menu of Ísbúð Huppu in English, deciding we would go there the following night.</p><p><b>Day 2 -</b> The following morning, we went down to the breakfast buffet and sat at a table overlooking the river and the massive hill in the distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvBo8CD3RLLNVRMkZ188HxLLmIPyx7XJa5Ru1d7zXgAZ4Nz4uDpsK7fPUVrGIyT71LELVozuePnlLNRGsrripaL8nyDOy8HDqwVl786UmryTqStL3ulkYKo9or8_airGYk6P5GDGR4nOraftFctJwXsZYaoh6BRo9m4ysN2hpriSVidI6X5EZNEhz/s4032/20230907_104105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvBo8CD3RLLNVRMkZ188HxLLmIPyx7XJa5Ru1d7zXgAZ4Nz4uDpsK7fPUVrGIyT71LELVozuePnlLNRGsrripaL8nyDOy8HDqwVl786UmryTqStL3ulkYKo9or8_airGYk6P5GDGR4nOraftFctJwXsZYaoh6BRo9m4ysN2hpriSVidI6X5EZNEhz/w480-h640/20230907_104105.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>While eating my breakfast I went onto my phone where I had a Facebook message from my brother Scott who said "Dad and Kim think your holiday is a waste of money. Dad said "he could of just went to Kiama to look at a blowhole, I don't know why he had to go to the other side of the world to see stuff we have here."<br /><br />I read it and got furious, obviously assuming he was referring to Geysir, I knew my Dad was going through his cancer treatment but he had had a super negative and dismissive attitude in his later years, and I was finding him increasingly distasteful to be around even if he was my Dad. After this I no longer sent images or contacted him about my trip and told my brother "Not to tell me this shit." While I focused on just enjoying my holiday.</p><p>We headed back to the room to get ready, putting on the thermals we had bought (as they are recommended to wear under your clothing in the dry suit, however we had bought them online and so we found them very tight and itchy and quite irritating to wear.</p><p>We left to head to Þingvellir National Park, driving along the Ölfusá river towards Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. We stopped at Tjaldsvæði to use the rest room there, crossing the road to the campground on our walk back to the car where we tried to befriend a sheep. We headed back to the car and continued on to a carpark near the Silfra meeting point. We arrived early, with our snorkeling booked in at 12.15 with Arctic Adventures Company, so I took us for a walk around the nearby area, following all the paths around the little creeks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-H2gAGGvJ4PlVSZbhP-nDWHL_twKIKbMd0rf-NT4DF7qten2MO2wMw4sMbrNBubRVqmVe4W6JXpDwdDs4A52zYKU5j7r2DCLhjndr4APn1l-9r5hezrhroZS8KUdGe8hyuLYJeEicJAttvb5hjhHmJ9H80yhcscsotMiFPeO8onCnVQk9EH85gTq/s4032/20230907_114426.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-H2gAGGvJ4PlVSZbhP-nDWHL_twKIKbMd0rf-NT4DF7qten2MO2wMw4sMbrNBubRVqmVe4W6JXpDwdDs4A52zYKU5j7r2DCLhjndr4APn1l-9r5hezrhroZS8KUdGe8hyuLYJeEicJAttvb5hjhHmJ9H80yhcscsotMiFPeO8onCnVQk9EH85gTq/w400-h300/20230907_114426.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBLdprEgHEOooZPEx4dMn6PYkshbbFdjbCBJGtv1zX1xL6Mq-0N1bjeUUaLuZfwI4DQqEy2ARovwU_mfiNKZfXTWwrW2uWHlrHX9ENUaBF4ysECqMJJXcp5O7UI0oz-nixUXw7S2XgMqO9crkP0S1_y6Yw7AqFs_pOStdwnFH4oj1bg_xOUHexPyA/s4032/20230907_120256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBLdprEgHEOooZPEx4dMn6PYkshbbFdjbCBJGtv1zX1xL6Mq-0N1bjeUUaLuZfwI4DQqEy2ARovwU_mfiNKZfXTWwrW2uWHlrHX9ENUaBF4ysECqMJJXcp5O7UI0oz-nixUXw7S2XgMqO9crkP0S1_y6Yw7AqFs_pOStdwnFH4oj1bg_xOUHexPyA/w480-h640/20230907_120256.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We followed a wooden path alongside these creeks with little information signs I tried to read telling us we were standing at the edge of a parliamentary site.<br /><br />It said: <i>"Here the Law Speaker recited the laws of Lögberg (Law Rock), and goðar (chieftans) enacted new laws in the Lögrétta (Alþingi's legistaive assembly).<br />Within the Þinghelgi (parliamentary site), those who attended were immune from vengeance and vendetta. At Alþingi, people lived in shelters or "booths," whose overgrown foundation are visible on the parliamentary site."</i></p><p>As we tried to read a very loud Italian couple came from behind us and we found in very difficult to read with how loud they were being, We ended up just having to try and walk quicker and take quick photos of the information signs as we passed, agreeing we would read them later (I'm only just actually reading the information as I write this). Eventually we walked too far, and my Wife was getting stressed about being late to the meeting point, so we crossed one of the little creeks in an attempt to head to where the meeting point was, however it only ended up taking us to a Church and cemetery, so we had to backtrack and then backtrack again, with my Wife getting cranky with me.</p><p>As we arrived one of the guides was in a little disagreement with one of the people who had signed up to do the snorkel (an adult Asian man whose first language was not English), from what we heard when we arrived it seemed like he had mentioned having diabetes, and she had said he wouldn't be allowed to do it without a Doctor's Note, because they would be liable if anything occurred. He seemed to backtrack on his statement with his Wife saying something like "oh no just if his sugar gets low". The lady then said, "So you're telling me you don't, because if you're telling me that Sir, I have to believe you." But reiterated that if anything happened it would be on him. The couple agreed, and the lady turned to address the rest of the group, looking clearly annoyed. She went through safety things with us, asking if we had any issues with our hearts and lungs or anything. We shook our heads with me looking at my Wife who has asthma and me not mentioning the lung damage I have from my chemotherapy.<br /><br />We then moved to the side to begin the process of getting into the 'dry-suit' and getting everything ready and sealed, which actually, when fully enclosed, began to give me a bit of claustrophobia by how tight it was as I felt like I could not breath.<br />"Maybe this was a mistake." I said to my Wife, feeling the panic set in. As we were now fully enclosed in our gear, they divided the group between two separate instructors, the lady from Sweden seemed like she wanted to take the group my Wife and I were in but ended up taking the group with the 'nondiabetic.' The guy who took our half 'John' whose actual name was something harder to pronounce as he was Greek. We ended up trudging our way across the road towards the dive point where photos of us were taken. As we lined up to go in waiting for the first half of the group to swim through a bit, John was talking to one couple from America, and discovered the other couple was from New Zealand. He then asked us where we were from. "Australia." I answered.<br />"Oh really?" He asked surprised.<br />"Oh, we're neighbours!" Said the lady from New Zealand (who had a British accent).<br />I put a hand up as a wave and said the most un-Australian greeting ever: "Howdy".<br />"Kia ora." She responded, which means hello in the Māori language.<br />John informed us that the water was particularly pure and that if it came into our mouths with the snorkel, we could simply drink it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQrtDuh5vQ945Y1m3byi8bMcqgokPcAbWLF5cMk0UGuDPsn_8ziNEGgxRKEkryW5yGbPQmH96nmfF0shg6An4Q5vuEkOAdUloSmkmwFR6FDPviRX-YkHv2nHt07P_u08ek6AXCDfQQEpliXxg4uI79xgsIiZ-xZF9E5VPDg8vHodQ6r4iKVgKqNeQ/s4000/P1010101.JPG-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQrtDuh5vQ945Y1m3byi8bMcqgokPcAbWLF5cMk0UGuDPsn_8ziNEGgxRKEkryW5yGbPQmH96nmfF0shg6An4Q5vuEkOAdUloSmkmwFR6FDPviRX-YkHv2nHt07P_u08ek6AXCDfQQEpliXxg4uI79xgsIiZ-xZF9E5VPDg8vHodQ6r4iKVgKqNeQ/w400-h225/P1010101.JPG-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk17HROeMvXkfUd6YKkpiM_hhz8wZlOgusZ6wMBAfne6N3iKzd0FbWijo1CjDI1TL7PIVBJYXlLbR5OKQ69H_JJAm4P9mbt00uHZwiRAkBQNgxNemazym0T8PHJmAjEI_h-X25d9JUxrxiYO__Dk8gESEJs9xV5D-JS1CmS3YHYXEDPJYCVHpsW5R-/s4000/P9070047.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk17HROeMvXkfUd6YKkpiM_hhz8wZlOgusZ6wMBAfne6N3iKzd0FbWijo1CjDI1TL7PIVBJYXlLbR5OKQ69H_JJAm4P9mbt00uHZwiRAkBQNgxNemazym0T8PHJmAjEI_h-X25d9JUxrxiYO__Dk8gESEJs9xV5D-JS1CmS3YHYXEDPJYCVHpsW5R-/w400-h225/P9070047.JPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g72Ni2E-Mf4ckOve5LHMrWwprrgxqba3xiyXVDuoaiOXRxKJWAgdfWPDC8KYHQH3LVfqsz-vGv1hKSMwNr0hsjd0b9jFwKvy7MunhK9aSh-GrbGH_XMw3ikha-qEK3Qj_isZ4rcii1RcAVBhAo24oiXFxWT-IwqzuKF2PXRVW4T6_46DpYEBiVbS/s4000/P1010097.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g72Ni2E-Mf4ckOve5LHMrWwprrgxqba3xiyXVDuoaiOXRxKJWAgdfWPDC8KYHQH3LVfqsz-vGv1hKSMwNr0hsjd0b9jFwKvy7MunhK9aSh-GrbGH_XMw3ikha-qEK3Qj_isZ4rcii1RcAVBhAo24oiXFxWT-IwqzuKF2PXRVW4T6_46DpYEBiVbS/w400-h225/P1010097.JPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we were preparing our Goggles the man with diabetes was being swam back by someone, because either he had had a panic attack, or could not handle the cold. Soon it was our turn to enter Silfra and we walked into the water in the dry suit, which was a weird feeling experience, but it did the job of not making us absolutely frozen. Once I put my face under the water the pressure of the band holding the water our from around my neck felt less tight, and I felt like I was able to breath, giving me some relief.<br /><br />As we swam through, I was stuck by how lucky I was to snorkel through and see this beautiful spot, I kept blowing water through my snorkel before I remembered to try drinking a mouthful. I was dubious as I watched little floating pieces of weed or moss or whatever was within the water, but I took a gulp of the icy cold water and it tasted fine, but I didn't want to accidentally swallow any floaties so refrained from drinking anymore while I tried to record and take photos on my GoPro, which I found increasingly difficult as the snorkeling went on as I almost lost all sense of feelings in my hands that went so numb I could barely use them by the end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLdTA1gcE-mOYQuaBNWL-0TNLdL35izSxG5gIGJAdMz99KK7-02m3cIcwqrXr67zZ4xbmVkFPcrKXDNtj4_3-ZQUiCaDz-84ix21-TYKmYBMNXStaG1TF78EjhHwiJxZoiJStTQhJqWIIetrZEXxdCVEaudHDPACfLyAKaX0fbbQx3qo7wmYZWkBt/s5184/G0019960.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLdTA1gcE-mOYQuaBNWL-0TNLdL35izSxG5gIGJAdMz99KK7-02m3cIcwqrXr67zZ4xbmVkFPcrKXDNtj4_3-ZQUiCaDz-84ix21-TYKmYBMNXStaG1TF78EjhHwiJxZoiJStTQhJqWIIetrZEXxdCVEaudHDPACfLyAKaX0fbbQx3qo7wmYZWkBt/w400-h300/G0019960.JPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvutkdZBdqQEulqd1buhbduYT8QD9feFvTFQRiFhMo_lYseaWF0nw5kdpB9GyLN2PWjnGoX3IslGjIorBE7BvNKpnvKwgiA5yOGNJLiEwLpPKOKtbE-YVtZEpWDLZW8wM_D1nsH7YFcCMack1KjyYN3Y8KEWS-omhviQZxI0FZnF0i2WBk7nngWpN/s4000/P9070070.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="4000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvutkdZBdqQEulqd1buhbduYT8QD9feFvTFQRiFhMo_lYseaWF0nw5kdpB9GyLN2PWjnGoX3IslGjIorBE7BvNKpnvKwgiA5yOGNJLiEwLpPKOKtbE-YVtZEpWDLZW8wM_D1nsH7YFcCMack1KjyYN3Y8KEWS-omhviQZxI0FZnF0i2WBk7nngWpN/w400-h225/P9070070.JPG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we got to the end, a bit called 'the lagoon' (I was at the very end of our group so could barely hear anything John was saying, and even when I was close, I struggled a little with his thick accent) I tried to make the most of my time in there, but eventually the cold got too much for me as I lost any ability to use my hands at all (and I worried about my low hemoglobin, and any effects from my Stem Cell Transplant). I excited and found the couple from New Zealand there talking to John, and they too were really struggling with the cold, particularly with their hands. Once the rest of the group finished in the lagoon, John led us back to the meeting point where we were able to undress from the drysuit (we had to be careful with them to not cause damage as they are very expensive, so we were told). I put back on my jumped and other clothing and John made us all hot chocolates and gave us biscuits while allowing us to scan a barcode to access any of the photos he had taken of our group.</p><p>I needed to go to the toilet, and there was a nearby block of toilets with a sign that explicitly said, 'not a change room', however I couldn't bare wearing the tight thermals anymore so removed my top layer while inside. My Wife however went back to the car to fully get out of her thermals as she could not bear being in them either.</p><p>We began to explore the rest of Þingvellir National Park, walking along the rift of high cliffs up to the visitor centre and back down to the waterfall's Flekaskilin and Öxarárfoss stopping at the entry to Stekkjagjá canyon, as we had other spots listed in our Nordic visitor book that we were given and my Wife wanted time to see them (they only filmed Game of Thrones in there) she said. I reluctantly agreed and we did a loop of the park heading back to the car.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wV0QscaHTLzITsZ0vnY2GjUN2zJIem4iZwseD5ohpCm3CwXlnqqToXLjaU19XgWJt7SqKpD7e5QeDf5JYinjzRhxJliy1WEVi65INeI2mMGcIWIqcSCsCuVsof2UsOU8DohYdJB53Vi5d3EE1bI3XRZxkrL7vBGd3NzPH4pxK6-TjGPXm0Do7R6t/s4000/20230907_145721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wV0QscaHTLzITsZ0vnY2GjUN2zJIem4iZwseD5ohpCm3CwXlnqqToXLjaU19XgWJt7SqKpD7e5QeDf5JYinjzRhxJliy1WEVi65INeI2mMGcIWIqcSCsCuVsof2UsOU8DohYdJB53Vi5d3EE1bI3XRZxkrL7vBGd3NzPH4pxK6-TjGPXm0Do7R6t/w400-h300/20230907_145721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYORWwC7NuXDdhE4ZfkOyaiAq5Si5YFa98lf3GawgWA2dzhQRpvUTbeajVD8WjeIQlL5UzzW-loK8NWHseR63IZ7CfpGg5AkSIM0TZ4eoRDZ1FIZgqfJqdaFD3gLhgKIn4UaUCDNuejhRWYSeMEXSAaQKazq2n-R-NSn-aw0HUMYNab3SOqfrLmkHp/s4032/20230907_150624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSR7UBjc4KJfRTIQI9mLASHc42LZbqS_Tkd0ThM93Te7ujfc-MKE462f_F7itaRTE9-aFSQSoRrkMMPvNA3k5UE7-ndisy_cBJCy1GZbCMNj6vnVV3_PEbZAbeWh-EBAZTSE8Z0Q75qp66ImaB5f1EPT6sG1ml31cPAknJ9CHAUH0z6Jb4Vw43_bnQ/w480-h640/20230907_153232.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJkoGHQqgwyJnk49YQzKN59ipLATkUyeyLe2OhY8aDphNwmCG_UjSq_DciwdM_cBIgpP3KGJZLt6iso3JKmdVaNtWMWDbqy_gL92Csb7b67PVcZPbgkYXaOKxYB4T2zkBqB3fn4zzLFYF0VI1QA1dH3bsPHVKAWqXkAdXKzcguA4iRaWhjWglpbmt/s4032/20230907_153634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJkoGHQqgwyJnk49YQzKN59ipLATkUyeyLe2OhY8aDphNwmCG_UjSq_DciwdM_cBIgpP3KGJZLt6iso3JKmdVaNtWMWDbqy_gL92Csb7b67PVcZPbgkYXaOKxYB4T2zkBqB3fn4zzLFYF0VI1QA1dH3bsPHVKAWqXkAdXKzcguA4iRaWhjWglpbmt/w480-h640/20230907_153634.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OeDT7ZHeTXDuPSd_ZrC7ifk54Y7hvyTTyfoCfxDR8MKdzrX94CDhhwESLa8iGfzLEVo_ID8u3HHE_Il3_4w6fDWCsEwB6vZau9iAZaDvAYsVXIHazp_dSJXPWb42tad9RY0xE8ZIut22wsjduxZA8rvn7xR1NuRpi2l9IO8oZJOPhVyPui33Ienb/s4032/20230907_153734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OeDT7ZHeTXDuPSd_ZrC7ifk54Y7hvyTTyfoCfxDR8MKdzrX94CDhhwESLa8iGfzLEVo_ID8u3HHE_Il3_4w6fDWCsEwB6vZau9iAZaDvAYsVXIHazp_dSJXPWb42tad9RY0xE8ZIut22wsjduxZA8rvn7xR1NuRpi2l9IO8oZJOPhVyPui33Ienb/w400-h300/20230907_153734.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Arriving back to the car we set the GPS to the location mentioned in our Nordic Visitor book, and headed out of the park, turning left and driving a short while to the top of a hill to a walk that just ended up taking us to the top of Stekkjagjá canyon. As we looked out over it a group of obnoxious loud American's arrived. As we looked down into the canyon I commented to my Wife that we could have just walked up that little bit and walked through it from where we had just been.</p><p>I tried my best to get a photo without people walking through, but it was seeming impossible as it was very busy. We heard the American's loudly laughing and overheard:<br />"What was that?"<br />"I mooned her!" One obnoxious one laughed, joking about how obnoxious they obviously were, saying people would probably complain about American's. He continued "Probably never seen a black ass before!" <br /><br />Everyone around looked annoyed and slowly left the area. Soon the canyon was actually empty, and my Wife told me to quickly run down so she could get a photo of me alone in in, which I did, walking down to the far end of the canyon and back, having only photos of myself in it, and forgetting to snap a photo of it empty.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGkGBG4cc0hloehprkTrZw6-jJOp-xo2y18MPWe_0NFPP6ZossMoojubzTQiUT5O3y9LozgyCR-gcqSvafOeBZSrK9-B0fli0xK47JVXoOXrZEFYfwVz7bZNwBmIq7B0g6L3PCLY83hn2zm7nde6M7tGsKqihXUWfTNkL8JWqVnLl5-gCcxVuqxOn/s4032/20230907_162704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGkGBG4cc0hloehprkTrZw6-jJOp-xo2y18MPWe_0NFPP6ZossMoojubzTQiUT5O3y9LozgyCR-gcqSvafOeBZSrK9-B0fli0xK47JVXoOXrZEFYfwVz7bZNwBmIq7B0g6L3PCLY83hn2zm7nde6M7tGsKqihXUWfTNkL8JWqVnLl5-gCcxVuqxOn/w480-h640/20230907_162704.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was getting late in the day, and we still had on our itinerary to visit the two coastal towns of Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri that were South of Selfoss and so we decided to stop in to visit these two towns, sad to leave the beautiful national park.</p><p>We drove back along the river back through Selfoss and past some farmland until we arrive at the very small fishing village of Eyrarbakki. There wasn't a lot to see here other than Iceland's largest prison 'Litla-Hraun'. We then began discussing crime in Iceland while commenting that the small-town vibe reminded me of little Southern coastal villages back in Australia when I was a kid (back in the 90's). A quick Google search of Iceland's crime revealed to us the major crimes were speeding offenses, "I wonder how many of those are tourists." I commented.</p><p>We went for a short drive from here to Stokkseyri. Again it was a small town with not a lot there. We pulled in at Draugasetrið, the Ghost Museum which I thought would have been a niche little thing to visit, unfortunately it was closed by the time we arrived. We decided there wasn't much to do and simply headed back to Selfoss. We dropped our things of at the hotel and headed to Ísbúð Huppu for Ice creams though ended up getting milkshakes, I got a licorice one (to try something different) and my Wife got a sweet chocolate biscuit sort of one. I found the licorice milkshake absolutely delicious.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnz5t-OoAvwTUelBVcekFnzDYPI3jPI2RoH7OPr2zrVvWkFsgNS6QA-4_ytca_5PofzGQq3xzLO_z9QoR2EXcAQQUFdhs0seY8dHdPzKKt7w3JuaEMSRb-5vst2PFeKSVIESJ5sd9OOknv9WdbdUo7g_1Rsx5glOc1ESAHEGRz-Eo4aBipzn7BvWx/s4032/20230907_211044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnz5t-OoAvwTUelBVcekFnzDYPI3jPI2RoH7OPr2zrVvWkFsgNS6QA-4_ytca_5PofzGQq3xzLO_z9QoR2EXcAQQUFdhs0seY8dHdPzKKt7w3JuaEMSRb-5vst2PFeKSVIESJ5sd9OOknv9WdbdUo7g_1Rsx5glOc1ESAHEGRz-Eo4aBipzn7BvWx/w480-h640/20230907_211044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We rested in our room a little looking for something to get for dinner that night and looking at what the following day would entail.<br />We decided to go back to Old Dairy Food Hall, halving a truffle pizza, and getting some Korean Gochujang Chicken loaded fries. We sat at a bench outside Krönsí Chicken which had a heater right above us, and we started to feel a little sick from the heat. We started to get very full halfway through and my Wife had to leave the rest for me to finish eating. Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks soon began playing on the speakers and I commented that I couldn't hear the song without thinking about the scene it features in, in the movie School of Rock.<br />"Such an underrated movie." Said some random American sitting next to my Wife who had overheard me. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that was thinking that." He said.</p><p>I finished the fries, and we headed back to our room so shower and get ready for another busy day.</p><p><b>Day 3 - </b>We had listed on our itinerary about going to the Saga Centre at Hvolsvöllur. However we had so much listed to see my Wife didn't want to spend time indoors looking at things, but would prefer to go out and explore all the nature areas we had listed and asked if I would be ok to skip it and head straight to the waterfall Seljalandsfoss (which was actually the picture on a 2024 calendar I was looking at buying int the shops the other day and I was like: "Hey I've been there!")<br />I agreed, so after our buffet breakfast we headed straight to yet another gorgeous Icelandic waterfall.<br />I drove again (driver picks the music, and every time my Wife drove, I was forced to listen to Taylor Swift) and found myself getting use to driving on the righthand side now.</p><p>We arrived at the waterfall and the weather outside was quite windy, so even from far away the water was blowing over us.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EZyZUKg43w1Ua6jvnOfZjImnVt6a0ZZU3NUG6xOTGlTajjtX7vMxlk5cg8ApMVpe5xNIBOx6HF9FCzu1azrup3GhB1njEKHJz5Pe4gyNKcEtP7BTesGHuZxJsCuBsJXRsAabjh6BpsfzuzXt_9UNPAxDGKpdat7Xr01IlHE9lOYotQjmCZibYLgm/s4032/20230908_090427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EZyZUKg43w1Ua6jvnOfZjImnVt6a0ZZU3NUG6xOTGlTajjtX7vMxlk5cg8ApMVpe5xNIBOx6HF9FCzu1azrup3GhB1njEKHJz5Pe4gyNKcEtP7BTesGHuZxJsCuBsJXRsAabjh6BpsfzuzXt_9UNPAxDGKpdat7Xr01IlHE9lOYotQjmCZibYLgm/w480-h640/20230908_090427.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsNTROM9m6C9xn7aRQQqCETxkcsDNsBK_EqSilyasvnq0KxBszg-AWAzxcIPTZeHs30tCy40tt4odg6v2mYDWkjGJZkSXCduiytohBg7B-3k3NvjinT1fNDUEP5eXAgcdm6WfQerCPCgqonA3e3DLZElz5vX8bfVYYO3C3sP3PbtDHFZFiqhzUpyq/s4032/20230908_090530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsNTROM9m6C9xn7aRQQqCETxkcsDNsBK_EqSilyasvnq0KxBszg-AWAzxcIPTZeHs30tCy40tt4odg6v2mYDWkjGJZkSXCduiytohBg7B-3k3NvjinT1fNDUEP5eXAgcdm6WfQerCPCgqonA3e3DLZElz5vX8bfVYYO3C3sP3PbtDHFZFiqhzUpyq/w480-h640/20230908_090530.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As we got closer, we had to be quick to get a photo as we were getting quite saturated.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFxUH_XW3kWaF8DKMV82PBS2LkkRmXBhxAv7MQtmlJ4cHo567vW_mOiv4LCv2ntzFDsvZ-jQFY7dHpgjvLXmLw5UglVlQzN-JoVSFe-b5id567jkPk_q9VfuqNfTipkEaLwX0c_SCBuAWIT7nBtlcA_a7EccLShUmJS9W6wfW4jIneQMmNlXwOUpR/s4032/20230908_090721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFxUH_XW3kWaF8DKMV82PBS2LkkRmXBhxAv7MQtmlJ4cHo567vW_mOiv4LCv2ntzFDsvZ-jQFY7dHpgjvLXmLw5UglVlQzN-JoVSFe-b5id567jkPk_q9VfuqNfTipkEaLwX0c_SCBuAWIT7nBtlcA_a7EccLShUmJS9W6wfW4jIneQMmNlXwOUpR/w480-h640/20230908_090721.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>You were able to walk behind and around the back of this waterfall, which was quite muddy, and I was glad that I had spent the money to buy myself some hiking boots before we traveled overseas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXGctzEmfByY9m1MI4od2t0aMm-edSrs9gfyPCTRpX3OzAiFJ6ZXLssUK8gpkAd518YatuMh03qIKofndfgv0-54Ep_2xYNP3_C-5jf-Mh3m1nyaRopUgIep-VjZABU5bGgRustyIPApDKBgxgAnL_9or0e0f7ZeoDzJtGvuhScwYhyphenhyphen1lyxCPwWAo/s4032/20230908_091058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXGctzEmfByY9m1MI4od2t0aMm-edSrs9gfyPCTRpX3OzAiFJ6ZXLssUK8gpkAd518YatuMh03qIKofndfgv0-54Ep_2xYNP3_C-5jf-Mh3m1nyaRopUgIep-VjZABU5bGgRustyIPApDKBgxgAnL_9or0e0f7ZeoDzJtGvuhScwYhyphenhyphen1lyxCPwWAo/w480-h640/20230908_091058.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEqWnSm42Hygx0YeILo5rNdfmzDGPx01MZpAwNf7pQ14shViIE27KtwvIlRb1lRWge18vxV1e6EFGrjaPadPF4faXxTJ8JhiTSDWiTWbtXwASfhSUOAkUhvQ4s0J61cnY0oA4EYp15GzeE79QLaB6a99TgOqLvDwx7v0qoLy47BCw-85_Y2g8V_Dh/s4032/20230908_091419.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEqWnSm42Hygx0YeILo5rNdfmzDGPx01MZpAwNf7pQ14shViIE27KtwvIlRb1lRWge18vxV1e6EFGrjaPadPF4faXxTJ8JhiTSDWiTWbtXwASfhSUOAkUhvQ4s0J61cnY0oA4EYp15GzeE79QLaB6a99TgOqLvDwx7v0qoLy47BCw-85_Y2g8V_Dh/w480-h640/20230908_091419.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After circling behind the waterfall we had a 560m walk to Gljúfrabúi, a 'secret' waterfall (I don't know how secret it is when it's marked as a destination), there were more little waterfalls along the way and I couldn't get my head around how clear and pure all the little streams of water were.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbgBMM9lHMmCFValLU0nGasxmi7HhrY11CerF33G0hOfWa-RopGXaLk8TMoJQY7ySDWHbT7p4uOqtttxTKq3Vg_xTbPnYEguuqjYd1h8tFI9vFeXX6xZqeWb5VDJlfcPZSfvAqskexYkGajPDnd5_n7vtqmZEvAN9_BF10h91ebBmzNeAGcBHwGqx/s4032/20230908_092023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbgBMM9lHMmCFValLU0nGasxmi7HhrY11CerF33G0hOfWa-RopGXaLk8TMoJQY7ySDWHbT7p4uOqtttxTKq3Vg_xTbPnYEguuqjYd1h8tFI9vFeXX6xZqeWb5VDJlfcPZSfvAqskexYkGajPDnd5_n7vtqmZEvAN9_BF10h91ebBmzNeAGcBHwGqx/w480-h640/20230908_092023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBwpH-UxMuYg4QECQddsI7nLSn5rLoKEGZBpM96xQ0Rqju7pti9qvyS0t1u4alcNJLY4FBClc4xCBJtuydzEVVzdGdNtkXkdQCeNg5SpQSaZWMMlPEF3Pu5_MHEiLgx-SbSkattKELhb32R6wM82OAPoNHS39xvuzvv0K35V1oKTwPxwYxEo_ZVE6/s4032/20230908_092202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBwpH-UxMuYg4QECQddsI7nLSn5rLoKEGZBpM96xQ0Rqju7pti9qvyS0t1u4alcNJLY4FBClc4xCBJtuydzEVVzdGdNtkXkdQCeNg5SpQSaZWMMlPEF3Pu5_MHEiLgx-SbSkattKELhb32R6wM82OAPoNHS39xvuzvv0K35V1oKTwPxwYxEo_ZVE6/w480-h640/20230908_092202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Just after a sign letting us know there was a 300m walk until that waterfall we saw a little cave that you could walk up and into.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyV7uDDB8OfvFuN3rBoLBEDkzGf7N4UN8KlTuAqT16zDH7yl-EbwC65XakC8isfX4nBlWUVsg_Eh_RWSJmTwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p><br />Just to the side of that there was a little walk within the canyon that we explore but it just shortly took you to a dead end.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfmqY08Edg6_r3LdotaGO6J7D-0NbDK2m1SKF2iYOEkf-VqmjLRoNqAgK_iyoLUe-jjaGbN9nRIPK7FZ3X73_ZSQS_FPfAzBgqvCpSTWcNW135fiPiMqagLipIrqIcrr3KNIKNls8ACsnLO5MIgLsKp2WeWhAiE6rIJHmBY8sIW4o0EqcI5tHViw3/s4032/20230908_092803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfmqY08Edg6_r3LdotaGO6J7D-0NbDK2m1SKF2iYOEkf-VqmjLRoNqAgK_iyoLUe-jjaGbN9nRIPK7FZ3X73_ZSQS_FPfAzBgqvCpSTWcNW135fiPiMqagLipIrqIcrr3KNIKNls8ACsnLO5MIgLsKp2WeWhAiE6rIJHmBY8sIW4o0EqcI5tHViw3/w480-h640/20230908_092803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Soon we reached the stream and my Wife thought you had to follow the path to the left and it would eventually take you around to the waterfall, however there were people looking up inside the canyon, and I told my Wife that I believed you had to walk up there to get to Gljúfrabúi (translation 'one who lives in the canyon'). My Wife tried to argue with me, so I just held close to the wall, finding stones to step on and made my way up into the canyon. There were a few people who had made their way into the canyon, but a lot of older people still remained outside trying to peer in (it wasn't actually hard to get to).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dwOYFRudNCUBUTiNxUxSJAeK6gO1Xqs_fKTJ8bIzhAoY5okWP1EGFJTNufa_rJXI7ZIq-D7V85vf7bKDz9mithyphenhyphenhc_NRSFPRQ6u5mgvtTIghMiDzwRrNDwkO7E6q4NY6jNHlOvd0r9bGoS0XBpiFCCnGbR8d8-pUPL-IUw3KrA_Xo77Nq399dExy/s4032/20230908_092926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dwOYFRudNCUBUTiNxUxSJAeK6gO1Xqs_fKTJ8bIzhAoY5okWP1EGFJTNufa_rJXI7ZIq-D7V85vf7bKDz9mithyphenhyphenhc_NRSFPRQ6u5mgvtTIghMiDzwRrNDwkO7E6q4NY6jNHlOvd0r9bGoS0XBpiFCCnGbR8d8-pUPL-IUw3KrA_Xo77Nq399dExy/w480-h640/20230908_092926.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>There was a large rock in there, and while no one was up getting a photo with it I quickly climbed up to get a good vantage point and see the entirety of the waterfall with my Wife taking a candid photo of me in action (which I prefer to a posed one, but it is very rare to get a candid picture).<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkebQwd0R6we-WhsGEK33OaR9qLM_GYioMZBxeUCJ7XWtHAhfz93T558BeiDtTKo1j-Tw0tF4L_jfdYgg8ZgsDYTLPnt5_WaN0EbmkGbTuAC5l4Xq4qlucaJpByhzLfLf7CtuDiMqRs-_b9RbinX-B9QLOT0IkU5TUknpDC6nMxwoYoNkEj17652SF/s4032/20230908_093221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkebQwd0R6we-WhsGEK33OaR9qLM_GYioMZBxeUCJ7XWtHAhfz93T558BeiDtTKo1j-Tw0tF4L_jfdYgg8ZgsDYTLPnt5_WaN0EbmkGbTuAC5l4Xq4qlucaJpByhzLfLf7CtuDiMqRs-_b9RbinX-B9QLOT0IkU5TUknpDC6nMxwoYoNkEj17652SF/w480-h640/20230908_093221.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Soaking wet we made our way back to the car to drive to Skógar a small village where the huge waterfall Skógafoss was located.</div><div>My Wife drove this time (and so I tried my best to 'enjoy' Taylor Swift), as we headed there I commented that the mountains in the distance looked like a giant sleeping on its back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindyUk5BQCMIz4eMquBxnk1QZMfE7mDb89JHs8CKDeXqQYZ3hTuwDhzJYL5MvNn7ARpaT5qOZoYvl_ktmAql4SE-qwDhSoz2AihyhtcHoacnS2_zGr-GrkIUU7RuijGsbYfNOlIKt-93_Hzs2CHn3RkEpXQ9T-72C-De7NVXDZ5-HNBRzUchdjNy2l/s4032/20230908_101017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindyUk5BQCMIz4eMquBxnk1QZMfE7mDb89JHs8CKDeXqQYZ3hTuwDhzJYL5MvNn7ARpaT5qOZoYvl_ktmAql4SE-qwDhSoz2AihyhtcHoacnS2_zGr-GrkIUU7RuijGsbYfNOlIKt-93_Hzs2CHn3RkEpXQ9T-72C-De7NVXDZ5-HNBRzUchdjNy2l/w400-h300/20230908_101017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We soon arrived at the very busy carpark for Skógafoss. </div><div>"God is anywhere here not super busy?" I commented, wondering if the crowds would disperse once we were no longer on the Golden Circle part of our trip. </div><div>We wander up to the huge waterfall and attempted a photo with it ("pics or it didn't happen"), which was incredibly difficult with the crowds. It sort of felt like those videos of 'Instagram vs reality' where you see these beautiful, pristine places films on a hi-res camera, vs the actual reality of standing there as a tourist trying to get a photo with a bunch of other tourists behind you doing the same thing. I don't deny it, but find it an annoying thing to do, but I also find it really helps me to remember things, and I have frequently re-read parts of my own blog to remember certain details of things and pictures are very good stimuli for remembering.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzt57yfXS7aUi19A92FtWK6ZJPRy-seO3AYuuHxKWTn_qxBLjbP6BK9LXIStze-d7g09ML03GYAn2BnilJ7EwfhyphenhyphenDh0X0pu6XiWekgfnOskIV5NpqylMKXIbagQfzoXHiqY30R8ZEYsJ4nEnrsbxTE_LenY3kHyQctoOyX8IDV9MCgQdEvnUUQ4wd/s4032/20230908_102547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzt57yfXS7aUi19A92FtWK6ZJPRy-seO3AYuuHxKWTn_qxBLjbP6BK9LXIStze-d7g09ML03GYAn2BnilJ7EwfhyphenhyphenDh0X0pu6XiWekgfnOskIV5NpqylMKXIbagQfzoXHiqY30R8ZEYsJ4nEnrsbxTE_LenY3kHyQctoOyX8IDV9MCgQdEvnUUQ4wd/w480-h640/20230908_102547.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYgkQAG56J1pAzX9KwnbluyUqEyziGe0yvL4y6Wqog_dyysMSgG97VCTi1j7G_HwJISnsZ6NiO7mJhxc3fFe-M2XwX3Kgy5fPLwqyGG0AYBj48n2bLYt6vZF0t9ChrNSIZVY4d9klLHEOWaK-y3V2F8OPwkiE_CvBnQdsQ88VXRT0c7jwcR9MXT1c/s4032/20230908_102931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYgkQAG56J1pAzX9KwnbluyUqEyziGe0yvL4y6Wqog_dyysMSgG97VCTi1j7G_HwJISnsZ6NiO7mJhxc3fFe-M2XwX3Kgy5fPLwqyGG0AYBj48n2bLYt6vZF0t9ChrNSIZVY4d9klLHEOWaK-y3V2F8OPwkiE_CvBnQdsQ88VXRT0c7jwcR9MXT1c/w480-h640/20230908_102931.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>We walked pretty close to the base of the falls (myself walking closer than my Wife), and proceeded to get soaking wet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUN2xZf2-q3LUZp8Oyfm0fBfz6XPVlN-rPt6od3ut_5G5IkLWEfJDv3rlPMMS9-yBHhuC0AKMIxIpVxMZNjSDik1CPOuz6QwZ7_qrbjDhHzMSNYNwaDkQFq1ohVJT8b5tRzKVRDNuiFNXuVvbyVmbn4fI_t846Igsy4XVhc0ICUk60-LauZzyEcY0/s4000/20230908_103033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUN2xZf2-q3LUZp8Oyfm0fBfz6XPVlN-rPt6od3ut_5G5IkLWEfJDv3rlPMMS9-yBHhuC0AKMIxIpVxMZNjSDik1CPOuz6QwZ7_qrbjDhHzMSNYNwaDkQFq1ohVJT8b5tRzKVRDNuiFNXuVvbyVmbn4fI_t846Igsy4XVhc0ICUk60-LauZzyEcY0/w400-h300/20230908_103033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQBoNfreI-JEFj3ed8j7gk1eqRo5o5MnK0hiwX2YywaJkfXpBv2m4_XyhmgT_CGo1aFzgzBH4BJqUe0zeuXPFU-RbYJiy4y1LoKkWZGYyONAjcLPguXQArpLOKvISUH_5UHD80KFGKoBITGdpB-12M-GJvcvxWQk_73CymiqztTiWXFXmqW5Cb1zZ/s4032/20230908_103411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQBoNfreI-JEFj3ed8j7gk1eqRo5o5MnK0hiwX2YywaJkfXpBv2m4_XyhmgT_CGo1aFzgzBH4BJqUe0zeuXPFU-RbYJiy4y1LoKkWZGYyONAjcLPguXQArpLOKvISUH_5UHD80KFGKoBITGdpB-12M-GJvcvxWQk_73CymiqztTiWXFXmqW5Cb1zZ/w480-h640/20230908_103411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a large staircase heading up to the top of the 60m falls. It was packed with people, but I wanted to walk to the top. My Wife, who isn't a fan of walking, or heights was resistant to the idea, but we ended up making out way up the tightly packed stairwell, with my Wife in fear of being pushed off as not every spot along the way had railings for her to hold on to.</div><p>Even I found myself getting exhausted walking up all the stairs and was happy for the times my Wife needed to stop for a breather to rest my legs and told her not to feel bad about it because my legs were burning from the walk too. Finally we reached the top looking out in the distance, with my Wife ready to continue on to our next destinations I argued that we should continue up the river a bit while the windy whipped water at us, blowing straight off the top of the river Skógá.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4lQCF07ycSBB4yH6ZzibaqTy7-xeZ-qqsXbAR7mm10ggGXvM6AzNJ_1jH2gXvNHdCFktGKzFdEbUPjCtiSuv58Yf2UKeeslNNcROVatbCDlBpYkaJEPwu8VzAxC8mw6TPf_NDX-hpXt9nHQNZLFJ38Htha7kYl5nLiC1G3YLP0ufnPTPTJfJbmmT/s4032/20230908_104715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4lQCF07ycSBB4yH6ZzibaqTy7-xeZ-qqsXbAR7mm10ggGXvM6AzNJ_1jH2gXvNHdCFktGKzFdEbUPjCtiSuv58Yf2UKeeslNNcROVatbCDlBpYkaJEPwu8VzAxC8mw6TPf_NDX-hpXt9nHQNZLFJ38Htha7kYl5nLiC1G3YLP0ufnPTPTJfJbmmT/w400-h300/20230908_104715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoa7b-E1TtTT6Z13x9u2QSyzwRqbkmpmx1Dvg_-PgLUcLxef6UE4UsFpWev71saE10LHHeLJolg1ecSCTfW1RTtIXF0ufr8dCjP0QzXVqgTpqxYAUt5C_Z0cVot_OuDDTwXk2E-THzj5gIqNIKAICBoNZUw0Opb_-pombSQftgZEckhSs07wn1vA3/s4032/20230908_104557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoa7b-E1TtTT6Z13x9u2QSyzwRqbkmpmx1Dvg_-PgLUcLxef6UE4UsFpWev71saE10LHHeLJolg1ecSCTfW1RTtIXF0ufr8dCjP0QzXVqgTpqxYAUt5C_Z0cVot_OuDDTwXk2E-THzj5gIqNIKAICBoNZUw0Opb_-pombSQftgZEckhSs07wn1vA3/w480-h640/20230908_104557.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While looking up the height of the waterfall I learned that many scenes from film and TV shows had been filmed at this waterfall, including Game of Thrones, Vikings and Thor: Dark World.<br /><br />I could have continued walking up this beautiful river all day, but I could see my Wife getting annoyed and I was all "after we get around that bend over there, we can turn back" pointing in the far distance.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwDpQ27OiMGKV73EXCcInbuZG2qxj_lbZgzsoXv_BUHVagLMlt23GI6PjXe5axyACCAx5YW6uRd-JUS3Sqk2qL3xXwsf2xLyinTYGmo2lO4ZJ6j0pVB7rJ5miCx4A-cfzGp39lr05FrTtYOiBKTyxOGmhZRWJ6vNET4JK4pGS3genU83xuwK0sl_4/s4032/20230908_104959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwDpQ27OiMGKV73EXCcInbuZG2qxj_lbZgzsoXv_BUHVagLMlt23GI6PjXe5axyACCAx5YW6uRd-JUS3Sqk2qL3xXwsf2xLyinTYGmo2lO4ZJ6j0pVB7rJ5miCx4A-cfzGp39lr05FrTtYOiBKTyxOGmhZRWJ6vNET4JK4pGS3genU83xuwK0sl_4/w400-h300/20230908_104959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We came to another point along the river that had a small waterfall in the middle with a sign to the side naming it Hestavaðsfoss.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dvHq6kDrqp5gqa3VGRoPp58Wocc4AGDjSKXxTwQpE5aF4wuSKX6ZxyUZ855JBQrxb9ExU34Sv7v6Vml7BjVzpsaL42R7yFEg6qXoRVsflBrtTN_8E_BQwhLxNt9Sx0S-sibnVZ5NkyZVkXgH0YHgDQU5FsxkZ314dFwf6u1DzQ1CndzCpBD18V1Q/s4000/20230908_105158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dvHq6kDrqp5gqa3VGRoPp58Wocc4AGDjSKXxTwQpE5aF4wuSKX6ZxyUZ855JBQrxb9ExU34Sv7v6Vml7BjVzpsaL42R7yFEg6qXoRVsflBrtTN_8E_BQwhLxNt9Sx0S-sibnVZ5NkyZVkXgH0YHgDQU5FsxkZ314dFwf6u1DzQ1CndzCpBD18V1Q/w400-h300/20230908_105158.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyfGTS2Y58Gej6hDi5qTtRaSmSKfXVsGTGkeGWSyGzozqAaKfohkJhCD7kWGBdiAjXXtwucDoEoTEE7YEsslqgyXNgGnsRG3VhuVDOboasnTREpBi5sW8Pxp9mdI8dZj_9tX6VacZwmIGHWUIy4taBYP8cff5Se_0vPSdfJH1JNk6GTJNJmXs-bd6/s4000/20230908_105350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyfGTS2Y58Gej6hDi5qTtRaSmSKfXVsGTGkeGWSyGzozqAaKfohkJhCD7kWGBdiAjXXtwucDoEoTEE7YEsslqgyXNgGnsRG3VhuVDOboasnTREpBi5sW8Pxp9mdI8dZj_9tX6VacZwmIGHWUIy4taBYP8cff5Se_0vPSdfJH1JNk6GTJNJmXs-bd6/w400-h300/20230908_105350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />We continued on to another set named Fosstorfufoss. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwGyOsqFn40WxrZ1eZaaiJozMljnjTjyP3RDCyeIcI0epGw4k-yYzMwKGMXCDytivNnXP0EYamMwxT1u_LF-lVolGqdxXxV9YnnM3IEywjNulhvrtWKsHfO4UGGI6XSe07OZGaQM0uyyd0UrWzygBTCtPGa4eVyQRg3tteXr-UYF1oMKg_4zLCSo/s4032/20230908_105926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwGyOsqFn40WxrZ1eZaaiJozMljnjTjyP3RDCyeIcI0epGw4k-yYzMwKGMXCDytivNnXP0EYamMwxT1u_LF-lVolGqdxXxV9YnnM3IEywjNulhvrtWKsHfO4UGGI6XSe07OZGaQM0uyyd0UrWzygBTCtPGa4eVyQRg3tteXr-UYF1oMKg_4zLCSo/w400-h300/20230908_105926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIcfj93YSG4R82mUk55mGIB3gKAEpZQ8mZtNJw1Awfl0QIp99t50tQM4hORxcOoVN3Ag0kt8mmiAmaTm5UVMAFa8i5wq-tsplER1bjZEto7oo1hrsZMGXFTzx-v6RRPXwKNGkE2G8FkUZUv43qIM8g0RZiEyTPm4facgmjOHiuZ2-4O79ABeU4BO/s4032/20230908_105951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xIcfj93YSG4R82mUk55mGIB3gKAEpZQ8mZtNJw1Awfl0QIp99t50tQM4hORxcOoVN3Ag0kt8mmiAmaTm5UVMAFa8i5wq-tsplER1bjZEto7oo1hrsZMGXFTzx-v6RRPXwKNGkE2G8FkUZUv43qIM8g0RZiEyTPm4facgmjOHiuZ2-4O79ABeU4BO/w480-h640/20230908_105951.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>We continued on until we came to a sign pointing up Skógá towards Fimmvörðuháls letting us know a bridge was in 7.5km, and Þórsmörk (named after the Norse God Thor), was in 24.3km. I knew there was no chance doing that walk with my Wife and agreed to stop but commented that it was could that the signpost had the wording cut out with the light shining through to read the locations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqlnwbMpQzzcOV8sC6rCELGkAU0DWoUNm6fsljYFPuKsYiOsPOnjAfxP0wMzNUL7xrlSTLu53nEuR3YUWiEEhgBtcj2JqG2nhndjHwqqJzVs_YmL7-Y2YjUPrexXAOo0p6Rg3IsLa5Mvkd0b9WS7ihMhEN87jE1psnoiaYDMLQvuwHcMilfF8sAJ5/s4032/20230908_110900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqlnwbMpQzzcOV8sC6rCELGkAU0DWoUNm6fsljYFPuKsYiOsPOnjAfxP0wMzNUL7xrlSTLu53nEuR3YUWiEEhgBtcj2JqG2nhndjHwqqJzVs_YmL7-Y2YjUPrexXAOo0p6Rg3IsLa5Mvkd0b9WS7ihMhEN87jE1psnoiaYDMLQvuwHcMilfF8sAJ5/w480-h640/20230908_110900.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We made our way down the river back to the stairs and a couple waved at me as we walked past and I realised it was the New Zealand couple we had been snorkeling at Silfra with.<br />"I wonder if we will keep bumping into them at every destination now, if they're doing and Iceland loop too." I questioned out loud. (We never saw them again).<br /></p><p>It was slow moving down the stairs waiting for my very afraid Wife who was in a panic every time we came to a section without a railing, but we eventually got down and began to drive to our next destination, Dyrhólaey.</p><p>This took us to a promontory where we drove up a hill to a very small and very tight carpark. We opened the door to howling winds and I tried to not have my beanie blow off the cliff while I took a photo overlooking the black sand beach back West.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN78cjFokF-qEDmVNaoOjrVF43Dhk8IseLkHu_IBZYwBi9SgTJPQOg0VJVZjQywSyXfmvvTCvNjm0YwRL-3DhVocjA8ml58a1zjBVyvniH0IZQpssEjJTfBqMKgMEca83crd_jj1H91myOMM8R2SKZjCY3lJR_KipSamzzXHwuWzdhVGr8-o7-slKc/s4032/20230908_115402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN78cjFokF-qEDmVNaoOjrVF43Dhk8IseLkHu_IBZYwBi9SgTJPQOg0VJVZjQywSyXfmvvTCvNjm0YwRL-3DhVocjA8ml58a1zjBVyvniH0IZQpssEjJTfBqMKgMEca83crd_jj1H91myOMM8R2SKZjCY3lJR_KipSamzzXHwuWzdhVGr8-o7-slKc/w480-h640/20230908_115402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppvvbfbRfdigzblIhQ2-XUZl2C1QWZJJz_94eB4OmGtcQw56HwV8uNMpXjbbPlo_iQ8wyZVotX1rbPD_lQgFswTmIyQO6XWUy3bN1_J033P0aIX7hRJLHCQ2GOeCq7bdbfC2MlGq0GYtbxnPuh1tLi3kK6knmglggN_vAEnnCsq7DRe1Ht4FPbAVX/s4000/20230908_115825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppvvbfbRfdigzblIhQ2-XUZl2C1QWZJJz_94eB4OmGtcQw56HwV8uNMpXjbbPlo_iQ8wyZVotX1rbPD_lQgFswTmIyQO6XWUy3bN1_J033P0aIX7hRJLHCQ2GOeCq7bdbfC2MlGq0GYtbxnPuh1tLi3kK6knmglggN_vAEnnCsq7DRe1Ht4FPbAVX/w400-h300/20230908_115825.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We did a walk around Dyrhólaey Lighthouse while keeping a watchful eye out for Puffins (although it was too late in the season). I suggested we walk down to the beach opposite Reynisfjara (which was on the opposite side of the beach) but my Wife said we would be driving around and going to the beach on the side anyway, where she informed me that there was no land mass between that beach and Antarctica so it was prone to wild random waves and that it could be dangerous and you could be swept out to sea.</p><p>I agreed and we had to slightly open our car doors and slide in as the parking was not very spacious.<br />As we turned off towards where the famed black sand beach was located a bunch of tourists had dangerously parked their cars in the middle of the road to go over to a fence where some Cows were nearby. We swerved around them and continued on where I pointed to a carpark. My Wife told me to continue driving as there would be another carpark down closer to the beach. As we arrived in that carpark we were greeted by a camera taking a photo of your number plate in which you had to go to a book and pay for parking (we had also had one of these already at Seljalandsfoss which I forgot to mention), and so we were a little annoyed at having to pay once more, and that our guide book didn't mention anything about these areas and their paid parking. We wondered if we simply drove out quick enough if we wouldn't be charged, but not wanting to risk it we simply found a nearby booth and paid for a ticket (you simply give your car number plate and pay). I had put on a raincoat and began to walk to the beach as it was sprinkling with rain, I told my Wife she should put on hers, but she insisted she would be ok as her coat was a little waterproof. Halfway from the car to the entry way, it began to rain really heavily so my Wife requested to go back to the car to get a proper raincoat (annoying me).</p><p>After grabbing her coat, we walked to the entrance to the beach with a big danger sign at the entrance that had 3 flashing lights of different colours depending on the waves at the beach. Red meaning a high hazard and no entry allowed, Yellow meaning do not go into the yellow zone (not that I know where that was), and Green meaning you could wander freely around with caution. It was flashing Yellow for us as we wandered onto the black sands.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUN1SEst5h6oIOeeih-1Kwd9ZnoYgacWkLSKLcF0QH45mc0wThOzc7LyT96Ov7L5rSf8FRbaTcp59GiKXA4YJXpfRI4xQ5qXuaU1ZF0UHUGfbiptYMUYuu5B32V-QQdfnuImzD745LB8_Nyhhu8R7xfdkWCJmqCP8PKvuk2RP5MturPCdQ_Z7XkGM/s4032/20230908_124300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUN1SEst5h6oIOeeih-1Kwd9ZnoYgacWkLSKLcF0QH45mc0wThOzc7LyT96Ov7L5rSf8FRbaTcp59GiKXA4YJXpfRI4xQ5qXuaU1ZF0UHUGfbiptYMUYuu5B32V-QQdfnuImzD745LB8_Nyhhu8R7xfdkWCJmqCP8PKvuk2RP5MturPCdQ_Z7XkGM/w480-h640/20230908_124300.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NfwfVCn7W75wZPOdRV-J7ym6psswFv2NGaBKVNVOzIzaJIZnNWX7zenb3ul8DybxtVlC3FSQn-8EtXHEf7OjqoMuvA8ko7sAjDM2UYfPz_qzkxW5duwqtAMyoCTVHXKVGIQ_k-cskAuVva0vK2FZ9IFcm5lRoV9ZG0FaYa4bQqZ6ufURgUuVHP1J/s4032/20230908_124324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4NfwfVCn7W75wZPOdRV-J7ym6psswFv2NGaBKVNVOzIzaJIZnNWX7zenb3ul8DybxtVlC3FSQn-8EtXHEf7OjqoMuvA8ko7sAjDM2UYfPz_qzkxW5duwqtAMyoCTVHXKVGIQ_k-cskAuVva0vK2FZ9IFcm5lRoV9ZG0FaYa4bQqZ6ufURgUuVHP1J/w480-h640/20230908_124324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We made our way across the black sand beach stopping to view Reynisdrangar, the basalt columns, and Hálsanefshellir Cave.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1b6LylFKsdVKGs33ZWDtn1V_md0kkCP2tPncg9uw21rQeIDf-9kymZzMEfy5trDy8gf1rrOvCnC7uTOMJDHmeo-Bp6lDDtrrJzkv6Srmm1T7PVkSGFZu0_VfW1ve4k7NHv21iMEZPE_NTa-bvORbNWtTTErK7BrE6mRZx_MNnEUntmMzYpM8YKfF/s4032/20230908_124650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1b6LylFKsdVKGs33ZWDtn1V_md0kkCP2tPncg9uw21rQeIDf-9kymZzMEfy5trDy8gf1rrOvCnC7uTOMJDHmeo-Bp6lDDtrrJzkv6Srmm1T7PVkSGFZu0_VfW1ve4k7NHv21iMEZPE_NTa-bvORbNWtTTErK7BrE6mRZx_MNnEUntmMzYpM8YKfF/w480-h640/20230908_124650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENQBGcFuVBxOY8bIg_KbC4KxJ9fmUyfoYXYzP1AuConQtlci0jeL4itRdKRkbEAuDiZNBxj5OUCQ7_ESoVDAiQpQuk4SaTTkU63JJ8kHnpLdXnNY7HPreJxNCKvcYoNRL1aup1Q03ZfaU3_w7t455VOviBMuwLBr31I-YMKdcu8_k1_cK-lH8e-R4/s4032/20230908_125058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENQBGcFuVBxOY8bIg_KbC4KxJ9fmUyfoYXYzP1AuConQtlci0jeL4itRdKRkbEAuDiZNBxj5OUCQ7_ESoVDAiQpQuk4SaTTkU63JJ8kHnpLdXnNY7HPreJxNCKvcYoNRL1aup1Q03ZfaU3_w7t455VOviBMuwLBr31I-YMKdcu8_k1_cK-lH8e-R4/w480-h640/20230908_125058.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbn3RYu_fCGWT_QcSmsxjaeX2O3TnXNB1rqIF56-Wxvmv6Hd1vEVS9NN_-q4AZ-YTLMtbkBlhFfsD-Bkh-wUJVEe4POrM9r1IbsWKLjIbZc5D6OolOmZmBxbBa-N-Rz_XFZv9zVrS-bw7XjqUZsnXUZoW1ecgRSJqJcRDYCJB7FfI9beb4lKFiBge/s4000/20230908_125228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbn3RYu_fCGWT_QcSmsxjaeX2O3TnXNB1rqIF56-Wxvmv6Hd1vEVS9NN_-q4AZ-YTLMtbkBlhFfsD-Bkh-wUJVEe4POrM9r1IbsWKLjIbZc5D6OolOmZmBxbBa-N-Rz_XFZv9zVrS-bw7XjqUZsnXUZoW1ecgRSJqJcRDYCJB7FfI9beb4lKFiBge/w480-h640/20230908_125228.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I thought it was cool that the sea stacks were said to be petrified trolls with the story, according to Wikipedia, going like this: "Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-masted ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke they became needles of rock.<br /><p><i>Contemporary legends note the story of a husband who found his wife taken by the two trolls, frozen at night. The husband made the two trolls swear to never kill anyone ever again. His wife was the love of his life, whose free spirit he was unable to provide a home for; she found her fate out among the trolls, rocks, and sea at Reynisfjara.</i>" <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlK5BHRWY54bVztyOROczeYnnp3Z7aqBDE9BqpEiJEJ6XcCfdc1vHtjMfSQtWHK8PZ-0zPDkiel7eUKJFgjRmvB08x87-qfg7OOlLK4vcQ8l7EsKOzgCp2HFnO1TpD4LtS28VJiBVJ6suCog8_IrSVVzi_AFNodSE6bf2gLMpyqqGleUK0ADo2oD2/s4032/20230908_125244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlK5BHRWY54bVztyOROczeYnnp3Z7aqBDE9BqpEiJEJ6XcCfdc1vHtjMfSQtWHK8PZ-0zPDkiel7eUKJFgjRmvB08x87-qfg7OOlLK4vcQ8l7EsKOzgCp2HFnO1TpD4LtS28VJiBVJ6suCog8_IrSVVzi_AFNodSE6bf2gLMpyqqGleUK0ADo2oD2/w480-h640/20230908_125244.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cys3A1qNjHx534GoI0Vsk94AvL5rL4ttvg3Wt8596zndk0k0dgtyilDg1VQXw7OzajaLIB7Vs2Dhymvqd5syztpUUUEJFx8S6TAkLlOKMlgmLxufLHQxFfMEvM0WyXZzZcWfU-vbo3vwTQ86AxkfVRweWyvQKjw-V5FMqPBDLIWin6byV84jILpu/s4032/20230908_130448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6cys3A1qNjHx534GoI0Vsk94AvL5rL4ttvg3Wt8596zndk0k0dgtyilDg1VQXw7OzajaLIB7Vs2Dhymvqd5syztpUUUEJFx8S6TAkLlOKMlgmLxufLHQxFfMEvM0WyXZzZcWfU-vbo3vwTQ86AxkfVRweWyvQKjw-V5FMqPBDLIWin6byV84jILpu/w400-h300/20230908_130448.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We wandered along the cliffs fruitlessly looking for Puffins (I saw one dead seagull in the sand). I ended up walking ahead of my Wife who had stopped to film the waves. As I continued up the beach over a big rock where a man was photographing the stacks, I continued a short way before a large wave came crashing into the beach. I quickly ran back jumping up on top of the big rock with him as the waves crashed around us. "Fucking hell." I commented to myself, turning back to head to my Wife and going no further up the beach in case of any more rogue waves.</p><p>We made our way back to the car to head to our next destination, the canyon Fjaðrárgljúfur (with a quick drive into the town of Vík just for a look). I commented that while the black sand was cool, I wouldn't want to spend a day at the beach with it as it was up our shoes and all over the place (as sand does) but was deep black and much more noticeable. <br /><br />As I drove along towards the canyon, I commented about the scenery of all the mossy rocks as far as the eye could see and about how beautiful it was. I saw a group of cars pulled up at a stop that wasn't on our itinerary but thought it would be cool to see the moss up close so quickly also pulled in at a whim. The place was Mosabreiða, a mossy lava field with a section enclosed in a rope that you were allowed to walk around, which was incredibly cool.<br />"Why isn't this on the itinerary?" My Wife commented.<br /> This shows that sometimes you need to explore yourself or you can miss things, obviously it was good to have this list of things to see, but if I ever was to return to Iceland, I would like to do free exploring which would also probably limit my tourist exposure too.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5QAnU-D9BOoY8iK6ruDRvaTD_NRldlP6IGZMLC8qZwO769Jo949Bel5ZLyqv0dybllKJYkQzvQ8HVJkaOWVJmfWbQMi5t6hyphenhyphenQ7_b-s6vfslQfG1t-bR1y2o8Ezt5p9Is3qFIdq49diDGGqf_JYvt3AaZa63PUap-7yv5Xe4LOhyNC5mCH_C-wfjK/s4032/20230908_141632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5QAnU-D9BOoY8iK6ruDRvaTD_NRldlP6IGZMLC8qZwO769Jo949Bel5ZLyqv0dybllKJYkQzvQ8HVJkaOWVJmfWbQMi5t6hyphenhyphenQ7_b-s6vfslQfG1t-bR1y2o8Ezt5p9Is3qFIdq49diDGGqf_JYvt3AaZa63PUap-7yv5Xe4LOhyNC5mCH_C-wfjK/w400-h300/20230908_141632.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvrQKIsmz44vRFUBgmSTw4DiqkXrQtHBNIZqQHdcXrZnwEAHsCram_JRSK-7P72yIouilMbRioDvNR3WjoDj_TXZpq4MUko3wcDnW_ncs0jl8wh0p4wVaSHqunghnR_QI2BSW8wZ2XhS8yigGEkaHJ3iKe5VmOtchRl8THh8mP3SeEwaurnYJu_b/s4032/20230908_141850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtvrQKIsmz44vRFUBgmSTw4DiqkXrQtHBNIZqQHdcXrZnwEAHsCram_JRSK-7P72yIouilMbRioDvNR3WjoDj_TXZpq4MUko3wcDnW_ncs0jl8wh0p4wVaSHqunghnR_QI2BSW8wZ2XhS8yigGEkaHJ3iKe5VmOtchRl8THh8mP3SeEwaurnYJu_b/w480-h640/20230908_141850.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we arrived at the long stretch of road towards Fjaðrárgljúfur, we could see the carpark down the far end looking very full and meaning people pulling up and parking alongside the tight road heading down. I pulled up a long way back, along the side of this road hoping that there would be a toilet (and a free one) as I was busting for a wee, and we walked down to the parking area. Upon arriving we found it was a paid parking area again but could see no camera taking number plates and we decided to not pay because we had parked all the way up the road and not in the area, so if we got a fine, we would contest it.</p><p>As we walked to the toilet, in desperate need to wee (because we're stubborn Australian's and refuse to pay to use the loo), however it was out of order, apparently due to a drought.<br />"It's been fucking non-stop raining!" I said, feeling incredulous.<br />The sign told us the next toilet was a 10-minute drive away at Kirkjubæjarklaustur.<br /><br />We decided to walk up and view the canyon, which felt like a long walk with a full bladder, but even so we appreciated the magnificent views of the scenery and the Fjaðrá river flowing through the canyon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRlZWqnh_pJyt_PeZgtkfRGtAUJCV-fZ1IlElI6IPFL35BNSsxTFr2rDqMy_W87XxydXjD0GxGPl1uQNO5w9uJ09pvHPfA6i809k2xS5PJDwMHBlR6d1CJpLdAFIBjEAzHEaj-EvmlWKkXMGEPn26hCXBez3aGy9cvDwIuhUWLXo3hEUq7cqGKcIN/s4032/20230908_144322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRlZWqnh_pJyt_PeZgtkfRGtAUJCV-fZ1IlElI6IPFL35BNSsxTFr2rDqMy_W87XxydXjD0GxGPl1uQNO5w9uJ09pvHPfA6i809k2xS5PJDwMHBlR6d1CJpLdAFIBjEAzHEaj-EvmlWKkXMGEPn26hCXBez3aGy9cvDwIuhUWLXo3hEUq7cqGKcIN/w480-h640/20230908_144322.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB45Mz4a_OqPJp_pq3jE5WEmR25SRAd0SCqq0Uf9Bs7-IqzK4LJTqIOd8aY-Q9IBs5dFNe6erJaLrlFVX1OyJDEKygHRjtaL75YbgVG5VoCq-4Ru0VwWgNS-N1LRhRmiv31Nw4Tykm1hyphenhyphennWlg22Tn3_rjpEymrrQbZgfvtEOBVsdcOiUDJYaP6lUGn/s4032/20230908_145803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB45Mz4a_OqPJp_pq3jE5WEmR25SRAd0SCqq0Uf9Bs7-IqzK4LJTqIOd8aY-Q9IBs5dFNe6erJaLrlFVX1OyJDEKygHRjtaL75YbgVG5VoCq-4Ru0VwWgNS-N1LRhRmiv31Nw4Tykm1hyphenhyphennWlg22Tn3_rjpEymrrQbZgfvtEOBVsdcOiUDJYaP6lUGn/w400-h300/20230908_145803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDGjXtEmKbDZEitsl2Xt6_BeuAnxeTVT1POooqtcGrvqhMq3daCDBtVW280lXLHW5Q7Ok0Jk0OV2o2LIQZZ_PM4yowxWtinJ2qnpkqDxy3-OYtn9UonNlA9KI7er9w2-hVYmtE3vD7pU4OLGVnKh9HFldEzP9mm82XpHgds6avxxGopwPHF-72DLf/s4032/20230908_150055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDGjXtEmKbDZEitsl2Xt6_BeuAnxeTVT1POooqtcGrvqhMq3daCDBtVW280lXLHW5Q7Ok0Jk0OV2o2LIQZZ_PM4yowxWtinJ2qnpkqDxy3-OYtn9UonNlA9KI7er9w2-hVYmtE3vD7pU4OLGVnKh9HFldEzP9mm82XpHgds6avxxGopwPHF-72DLf/w480-h640/20230908_150055.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1q0kyQldsV8xNFtCHLsbTLZOtNa-iBIwKoWXBqlZlMA0cPDkvmEHmrxRQLEos0L4P-mchFlFMODFE9T9ev9OO6mpP3BcBsV_EyASEjE-JogipLGNAdszI2FkZMOflvqdT_sMmx4MYlMzHcS1mc6S43H2WNhqrnGm9a4WaFKs51i2LT0VuGs11GYtc/s4032/20230908_150213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1q0kyQldsV8xNFtCHLsbTLZOtNa-iBIwKoWXBqlZlMA0cPDkvmEHmrxRQLEos0L4P-mchFlFMODFE9T9ev9OO6mpP3BcBsV_EyASEjE-JogipLGNAdszI2FkZMOflvqdT_sMmx4MYlMzHcS1mc6S43H2WNhqrnGm9a4WaFKs51i2LT0VuGs11GYtc/w480-h640/20230908_150213.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"If this was Australia and they didn't have such a delicate ecosystem here, I'd just walk off the path and whizz." I commented. "Too bad there aren't any trees anywhere to ever go behind."<br />We had seen a few signs asking tourists to be respectful and not go to the toilet 'in the nature' and even my Wife commented that if they wanted tourists to do the right thing, they need to provide bathrooms and not price gouge on them.</p><p>We made our way back to the car busting for a wee, but my Wife asked me to hold it to see if there was a bathroom at our next destination 'Kirkjugólf' in English 'Church Floor' a formation of basalt columns looking like Church tiles.</p><p>As we arrived we passed a N1 gas station (that often offer fuel and food), it was a bit of an awkward place to turn so we ended up pulling up at a small farm field and heading through some gate and up to the Church Floor, being followed by a loud group of either teens or 'young adults'. We passed a mound with a info sign to get ahead and away from them, viewing the interesting pattern of the columns. <br />"Do you want a picture with them?"<br />"Nah, I'm happy just taking a photo of them." I replied, wandering around and looking at them as the group now reached us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsnGQkbUQgbQ6aFSva-EhVH8P_mOQ-eoUmoVrj2l-h-3CR1cqmhb75Zsf4r8GEl8rDZIX5xm6q5fd57HckAzJ01PXdJ9dgs8k37Fi33ocmd3bOka2ccsYYaO9NKSyFbP2yyP-WZYL8-v4p3rGyE3B_Qu050V3L5yQLbW0DVD8zR4ljndXJxSR8tWz/s4032/20230908_154201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsnGQkbUQgbQ6aFSva-EhVH8P_mOQ-eoUmoVrj2l-h-3CR1cqmhb75Zsf4r8GEl8rDZIX5xm6q5fd57HckAzJ01PXdJ9dgs8k37Fi33ocmd3bOka2ccsYYaO9NKSyFbP2yyP-WZYL8-v4p3rGyE3B_Qu050V3L5yQLbW0DVD8zR4ljndXJxSR8tWz/w400-h300/20230908_154201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We made our way back along the path to the mound, which was 'Hildishaugur' or 'Hildir's Grave Mound'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1-FjcnzKedahuqOAyzDRgbpiBigxT_cGRRQdXwycVdYUNN3gsUvEZqh_hKUSsQrPsQZq2PLpaFQnBi7M7TtJPqxw_qX2Wqiv48zzo76evhgry4EwXDO3ALYh0NIXufokxwjbNeppw1ZbRyqE2xlc8Ww7d1uH9DDtxT5t-PLOC9uX05-nKJP2VWQE/s4032/20230908_154613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1-FjcnzKedahuqOAyzDRgbpiBigxT_cGRRQdXwycVdYUNN3gsUvEZqh_hKUSsQrPsQZq2PLpaFQnBi7M7TtJPqxw_qX2Wqiv48zzo76evhgry4EwXDO3ALYh0NIXufokxwjbNeppw1ZbRyqE2xlc8Ww7d1uH9DDtxT5t-PLOC9uX05-nKJP2VWQE/w480-h640/20230908_154613.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Apparently the first inhabitants at Kirkjubær were Irish hermits and the story goes that heathens were forbidden to live there. The Christian settle Ketill lived all his life at Kirkjubær but when the pagan Hildir Eysteinsson planned to move there, "he fell down dead as soon as he set foot on the estate and is buried in Hildishaugur".<br /><br />"Who fell down dead? The monk or the pagan?" I asked confused by the wording until I realised it was Hildir's Grave so it must have been the pagan.</p><p>We made our way back to the N1 petrol station, filling up with fuel, which is interesting in Iceland, because you put your card in first before filling up, and it charges your credit/debit card, and a lot are unmanned by any people at all. We then ducked in to use the loo and continued onwards to Dverghamrar.</p><p>On our way there I pulled in at Foss á Síðu a little waterfall on the back of someone's property you can view from outside the front of their driveway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoL-rlumscfHuFbkf73LaizS3hyphenhyphenHoLZk4aufY_QlfwRq4GPUtxJzSscLqRbTA62-8nLWj18FvLMcXQp57y4ThKMYjt3fqYnpwBnwAg34-ouMCVlm3Lx7sCKRbL9mkneaRDfeu7Ii-Ng6-unCtK3-nKcrq-dFuG-lbtoNtvJFsRI8A12S-oZKXiuse/s4032/20230908_162133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoL-rlumscfHuFbkf73LaizS3hyphenhyphenHoLZk4aufY_QlfwRq4GPUtxJzSscLqRbTA62-8nLWj18FvLMcXQp57y4ThKMYjt3fqYnpwBnwAg34-ouMCVlm3Lx7sCKRbL9mkneaRDfeu7Ii-Ng6-unCtK3-nKcrq-dFuG-lbtoNtvJFsRI8A12S-oZKXiuse/w480-h640/20230908_162133.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"It's cool to have a waterfall in your yard, but I'd fucking hate all these people pulling up at my house all the time." I jested.</p><p>Not very far up the road we pulled in at Dverghamrar, the 'Dwarf Cliffs'. We knew from our Nordic Visitor guide that legend said Dwarfs lived within the cliffs. However, a signpost with information as we arrived was able to fill us in on the details.<br /><br /><i>"The striking rock formations below this point are called Dverghamrar ("Dwarf Cliffs"). From time immemorial, tales have been told about their being the dwelling place of supernatural beings, either elves or dwarves, and this is believed to be the origin of the name. Though many of these stories have probably been lost, some have been preserved. Here is one that was told by a young girl, Ólafía Pálsdóttir from the farm Foss, as recorded in the book "Íslenskar þjóðsögur og sagnir". In 1904 Ólafía had a strange experience. One evening in summer, she was sent out to drive in the ewes, and walked part Dverghamrar. "She said she heard some beautiful singing. This struck her as odd, because she didn't expect there to be anyone there, and it was also not likely that it could be anyone she didn't know. She says she sat down for a while to listen to the singing. It was the hymn "Faðir á himna hæð" ("Father in Heaven") that was sung. When she was quite sure that she had heard this correctly, she turned and set off home, and says that she heard the sound of singing going on for a long while behind her. But as it was known that there was not likely to have been anyone there, some people believed that it was the dwarves in the cliffs who had sung, and to judge by this, they must be Christian beings of the race of the Light Elves."</i></p><p>I found it interesting that the obvious Pagan belief systems of the old Norse that had occupied Iceland had continued to exist within the culture even with i's conversion to Christianity, similar to the Celtic nation of Ireland even though these beliefs so obviously go against Christian religious teachings. I wondered to myself what these places would have been like today if their religions and beliefs had been allowed to continue into this day and age without the introduction and indoctrination of Christianity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsooSv_rJOJmZEz3GKvmaBTNTPlF5-pE3dzx9dKzMdWcT51vU5biEd83Y4J0ug74c76jOPghRIoN4_iXO4YftxlB4CIeTH0u3BjDRvmeJPM7SfTJh0yVEqouKfKFbXSf-4g4Dxt8lnNIJGkKgJK9F6Wtiws4Wop6iejznCW69rOujVG04gr1Rh4Jx/s4032/20230908_162724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsooSv_rJOJmZEz3GKvmaBTNTPlF5-pE3dzx9dKzMdWcT51vU5biEd83Y4J0ug74c76jOPghRIoN4_iXO4YftxlB4CIeTH0u3BjDRvmeJPM7SfTJh0yVEqouKfKFbXSf-4g4Dxt8lnNIJGkKgJK9F6Wtiws4Wop6iejznCW69rOujVG04gr1Rh4Jx/w400-h300/20230908_162724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BomkduOo7oZ9VD3rRLnYMEbhB1x_znDZxnwG4wtTwBDjShsvT1bhbLqVPCnlo3ZUhW_vfnK-KAYcEy7EswPPsDuQW-OuB9rsn669CmkuvWopB___pykKPKU7tmzitLZbdfeUrlAZet7rB6CrgMFEsqPodU0uYhKGirEKhX_6WnMJ5rdA9QIcJPLt/s4032/20230908_162832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BomkduOo7oZ9VD3rRLnYMEbhB1x_znDZxnwG4wtTwBDjShsvT1bhbLqVPCnlo3ZUhW_vfnK-KAYcEy7EswPPsDuQW-OuB9rsn669CmkuvWopB___pykKPKU7tmzitLZbdfeUrlAZet7rB6CrgMFEsqPodU0uYhKGirEKhX_6WnMJ5rdA9QIcJPLt/w400-h300/20230908_162832.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we wander through 'the halls' of Dverghamrar I could see how mounds of stone looked like something mythical creatures would reside in and I hummed 'Misty Mountains Cold' from The Hobbit in my head. As we rounded the corner I was struck by a random stone sticking out from the side of the mound, with a sign in front saying: Eirikslundur, with no further explanation of why it was there, or what that meant, and a Google search once home did little to help this enigma.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-owlgJBuFTBOa_YMAohonsQ89DeXnPI1zJqY5uJWOAdmd9yFUqnP6TUrtBUVUR7nYw7pFshRat108GnnsMytvafndGOaUC4JEdfAJDZwSKcb6FfKntbQuFDID7_VBmauFmZYsbfvWcOc3bl9xTg5c0TZpLZsrRTquXFkyOIIAWdXR5rpmzvw1K0U/s4000/20230908_162918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-owlgJBuFTBOa_YMAohonsQ89DeXnPI1zJqY5uJWOAdmd9yFUqnP6TUrtBUVUR7nYw7pFshRat108GnnsMytvafndGOaUC4JEdfAJDZwSKcb6FfKntbQuFDID7_VBmauFmZYsbfvWcOc3bl9xTg5c0TZpLZsrRTquXFkyOIIAWdXR5rpmzvw1K0U/w480-h640/20230908_162918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbPtvtbQLzbyCLfnG4uoiduYZnzNS74LWPHQ2jEqx1V2elY4r-6TacKF7mcLTvBDEORV71v_L9LxSwxtqvTBc8NxOe7AeHFupQKCGO5bs2FJ8w2x_CNgNUzZE7m08-P_VlY928A85cnZFbztWoKN22H10fOdU3qFeWSLDYCsD9F3adSLUarJychqM/s4000/20230908_162950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbPtvtbQLzbyCLfnG4uoiduYZnzNS74LWPHQ2jEqx1V2elY4r-6TacKF7mcLTvBDEORV71v_L9LxSwxtqvTBc8NxOe7AeHFupQKCGO5bs2FJ8w2x_CNgNUzZE7m08-P_VlY928A85cnZFbztWoKN22H10fOdU3qFeWSLDYCsD9F3adSLUarJychqM/w400-h300/20230908_162950.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo5Ajqv98-28LLy0eveDH7v8-3TxOV1ISps7q5vlgt0CYS92oTByJ5ICbqx8KeVzyKkT0Woo1FpofAAChCRr_ZiPIv9RD17qo44uAXq6DaWu_cPvEkq9oBuTduKNRx2HExstnfhYtttgHQzuoN4clgFuqNSx1nlIM1_ULwKrfawnD61YljJphMRE4/s4032/20230908_163054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBo5Ajqv98-28LLy0eveDH7v8-3TxOV1ISps7q5vlgt0CYS92oTByJ5ICbqx8KeVzyKkT0Woo1FpofAAChCRr_ZiPIv9RD17qo44uAXq6DaWu_cPvEkq9oBuTduKNRx2HExstnfhYtttgHQzuoN4clgFuqNSx1nlIM1_ULwKrfawnD61YljJphMRE4/w400-h300/20230908_163054.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgaEaAGJrcXOhW_zQJYWi9tya3BUJYkgSE4f1LI8-RAxbIn6tue5XvufmQrioZG1bHmPFuiFaMqv4FE-3SgrF90548TU-bstuRy4NJxIgInttWAjXNNx0OfE7v8TP1ZIwvGkYOjholoX6TNEMz9hgBncRnIhlWMeJnxts2DmxqY96GjqAmW79zoUY/s4032/20230908_163110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgaEaAGJrcXOhW_zQJYWi9tya3BUJYkgSE4f1LI8-RAxbIn6tue5XvufmQrioZG1bHmPFuiFaMqv4FE-3SgrF90548TU-bstuRy4NJxIgInttWAjXNNx0OfE7v8TP1ZIwvGkYOjholoX6TNEMz9hgBncRnIhlWMeJnxts2DmxqY96GjqAmW79zoUY/w480-h640/20230908_163110.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Around the bend led us back to the carpark where it was another very short drive to Fossálar Waterfall. Which were little falls running down a stream alongside the road.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5qOKVfY9nIJYOPtVxNrYLwOTeyvwP3WD42AyqkQvQnOmEWmTd4ks0ORsbsvShw4I8iDISj2usk_eP9ncyh2GU7Wk6jLINsUcOdubSZJqItfRNRdT97Yrv0vIyxzBMp4A2A9ewJ7ItL3kCQoDzHWJlpJk-NXWZ70hZMe6H3yHgnHq0UsjwXEEHZXT/s4032/20230908_164448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5qOKVfY9nIJYOPtVxNrYLwOTeyvwP3WD42AyqkQvQnOmEWmTd4ks0ORsbsvShw4I8iDISj2usk_eP9ncyh2GU7Wk6jLINsUcOdubSZJqItfRNRdT97Yrv0vIyxzBMp4A2A9ewJ7ItL3kCQoDzHWJlpJk-NXWZ70hZMe6H3yHgnHq0UsjwXEEHZXT/w400-h300/20230908_164448.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After this it was a short drive to our accommodation at Fosshótel Núpar. We checked in, removing our luggage to our room, having a quick rinse and heading to the restaurant here for dinner, enjoying a burger and a drink each. Myself, trying an Einstök Toasted Porter and my Wife trying a shot of Ópal which I tried to and found delicious (as we both love licorice).<br /></p><p><b>Day 4 -</b> Once more we were up early in the morning to head to Skaftafell for our planned walk as this was a big destination for hikes, so with a lot to do in the day my Wife had selected a moderate walk for us to do, allowing us 3 hours of time before needing to move on to the next destination. As we arrived we wandered around the area near Saatvik Restaurant, trying to find the start of the walk with no clear directions and a lot of different trails leading from all over the place. As I entered into the men's bathroom, I noticed 8 printed pieces of paper on the wall each detailing a different walk, and though I wanted to do all of them, I snapped of photo of the walk we had planned to do, the walk to Svartifoss.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiHyrXh8BsDyZwCht-aXz_WfYqU6k_9kWGa88zRzZ9Q_J81SswaWEmZI8FOewERSRjdqLXTFjJw8lracBWwyBtLaUfBAy4Sx6hOnNuTsXeR7bkqNzdgwRcouYG0QRaFMJyQ05nF5hlUdPMLQzYpxwa-fbY840COB237vKJirPVP9wi9Ja1pz8hAjy/s4032/20230909_082811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiHyrXh8BsDyZwCht-aXz_WfYqU6k_9kWGa88zRzZ9Q_J81SswaWEmZI8FOewERSRjdqLXTFjJw8lracBWwyBtLaUfBAy4Sx6hOnNuTsXeR7bkqNzdgwRcouYG0QRaFMJyQ05nF5hlUdPMLQzYpxwa-fbY840COB237vKJirPVP9wi9Ja1pz8hAjy/w480-h640/20230909_082811.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I showed my Wife that it said the walk said it left from a campground which I thought I had seen further over on our left, and we began heading that way, however before we did I had to stop and take off my right hiking boot, as the soul inside kept sliding around and was not staying in position, causing either my toes to rub on the rougher boot bottom, or to ride up the back of my ankle. This was an ongoing issue the rest of the time in Iceland, and needless to say I got very annoyed by it, but this shall be the last I speak of it, but I had to stop numerous times to adjust and untie and retie my boot laces.<br />"You'd think for 200-dollar shoes they'd stay in fucking place." I grumbled angrily. "I'll fucking glue them down when I get home." <br /></p><p>As we passed the campground we found a signpost marking the start of the walk and began following the trail uphill.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPp1YUUHPTcQu8in31PrkONHCurx-dgiY0EOm8mkuXlQEwJST6pIY0PtFNmtidww17_0ln-_HWd8DsZETZEuHL8fXP_II2JXcGWyi_udYfNkX3M1-5h5xdU4AvHZThrjdcwKAe0HW2BdvYdW6N6Gu2LOaEuf1wuhrASBhtNX1kO8hPvQ-7dEODPEb/s4032/20230909_083952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPp1YUUHPTcQu8in31PrkONHCurx-dgiY0EOm8mkuXlQEwJST6pIY0PtFNmtidww17_0ln-_HWd8DsZETZEuHL8fXP_II2JXcGWyi_udYfNkX3M1-5h5xdU4AvHZThrjdcwKAe0HW2BdvYdW6N6Gu2LOaEuf1wuhrASBhtNX1kO8hPvQ-7dEODPEb/w400-h300/20230909_083952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we huffed and puffed up the hill we began to overheat, once more removing our jackets and guzzling some water while we eyed a glacier in the distance.</p><p>We continued up coming across a stream and then a lookout over the waterfall, Hundafoss.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYDbyjLDmcz_0uAeBJWePLwY4b1PENOW0sIfJ1zgLs0ovTQZ6I3mxTqaZ-P4VIsZ4reG5lEoekQ2_dVpIXushJCn_R8qb2f_MvcoCXyxF6AyCpQ8dBiRyo45_t3FrkApI1R9dJDiy7EI44_kpiiTAN35EoqXLUsuwA_fOwBFn7ywpVBO5eVBmht6l/s4032/20230909_084951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYDbyjLDmcz_0uAeBJWePLwY4b1PENOW0sIfJ1zgLs0ovTQZ6I3mxTqaZ-P4VIsZ4reG5lEoekQ2_dVpIXushJCn_R8qb2f_MvcoCXyxF6AyCpQ8dBiRyo45_t3FrkApI1R9dJDiy7EI44_kpiiTAN35EoqXLUsuwA_fOwBFn7ywpVBO5eVBmht6l/w480-h640/20230909_084951.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc7faoUVpA-Qq3myCqsH7Y1nn1Q_1y9u4jJhyphenhyphenFvflQ9XNlM6XzbeSSh-Hy8QceAUb2HWkTohq_ZjjnvfYAxVAi7vm2KgiKg1CVHsSvs4JrrKtk5_jCMQRsA_SEUH4wXY7K_-0ouqbn6PFFpkZ2XQmrNQBmHTwUCjYI1cLCODes-h6swBx_ZEoZoBc/s4000/20230909_085213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc7faoUVpA-Qq3myCqsH7Y1nn1Q_1y9u4jJhyphenhyphenFvflQ9XNlM6XzbeSSh-Hy8QceAUb2HWkTohq_ZjjnvfYAxVAi7vm2KgiKg1CVHsSvs4JrrKtk5_jCMQRsA_SEUH4wXY7K_-0ouqbn6PFFpkZ2XQmrNQBmHTwUCjYI1cLCODes-h6swBx_ZEoZoBc/w400-h300/20230909_085213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we continued on, we walked past the group who had been at the 'Church Floor' at the same time as us, and I think they recognised us too as there was an awkward slight nod of head as we passed. We followed the stream getting our first look at Svartifoss and its basalt columns from a distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhxvH0mvlswqa7Kwc8Hl5L2Yrr6wbWE7F4-tU-_sOcoqDBO4hR8V3j8uJ2YvwtmFUSVar0Z9eOUbYys0khmOB-Gp1FIWotxb81RdmtJLIosA86YPYRCqLez6ddZ6DTiAPWF9VS9HIc_1hE1hx4Zz4HPnHaVr860EowYdD_HxJ7YvIh2KqIs5qIJ98/s4032/20230909_090205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhxvH0mvlswqa7Kwc8Hl5L2Yrr6wbWE7F4-tU-_sOcoqDBO4hR8V3j8uJ2YvwtmFUSVar0Z9eOUbYys0khmOB-Gp1FIWotxb81RdmtJLIosA86YPYRCqLez6ddZ6DTiAPWF9VS9HIc_1hE1hx4Zz4HPnHaVr860EowYdD_HxJ7YvIh2KqIs5qIJ98/w480-h640/20230909_090205.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_VohPigJDA7rN9zbTq94ADuA0suyIZdz12THv0_shSu5VvmcJ3CSvjaN_E0CsxoALwS4akhs4U5CkRCOjX4CUDHoDzCCC1HTZftOzNKrV-DQicIIPSg34Qvt9aRTRQiD6yOpn3VhRWx2i4zjTeKvqTv91iPvMnTweNdB1YKmAXmDUkXrp5t5VJBR/s4032/20230909_091238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_VohPigJDA7rN9zbTq94ADuA0suyIZdz12THv0_shSu5VvmcJ3CSvjaN_E0CsxoALwS4akhs4U5CkRCOjX4CUDHoDzCCC1HTZftOzNKrV-DQicIIPSg34Qvt9aRTRQiD6yOpn3VhRWx2i4zjTeKvqTv91iPvMnTweNdB1YKmAXmDUkXrp5t5VJBR/w480-h640/20230909_091238.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We followed the path up to the end zone right in front of the waterfall, while I wiped water from the handrails to dampen my overheating face. While appreciating yet another magnificent Icelandic waterfall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoQCYXA4lBhDSPsbmiOsxy3tXjnmV3vzuIKTGsioll_ejlGCtCbcWncAIJhRoQn4-69Hh0jl4d_An6oq164-kQyhTRjn66kYliVTIgWOOAjHAXY-y-OdqpYBdGwpueKZHhUFE4PrC5Z4BLDatLFRWiW5yCc2184AcycYKkpZOzkTJAJNbmimMw30H/s4032/20230909_091527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoQCYXA4lBhDSPsbmiOsxy3tXjnmV3vzuIKTGsioll_ejlGCtCbcWncAIJhRoQn4-69Hh0jl4d_An6oq164-kQyhTRjn66kYliVTIgWOOAjHAXY-y-OdqpYBdGwpueKZHhUFE4PrC5Z4BLDatLFRWiW5yCc2184AcycYKkpZOzkTJAJNbmimMw30H/w400-h300/20230909_091527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxX245gRb3wXNXcMtcj1hoEfuAV7r1-AUyqSQhvR7LIAPOborHnkgwvKfY8w5upRERQDbyzAUd2o2yvzUFNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>The cold water continued to spray off while we stood and admired it. Many people coming simply turned and returned the way they had come but I wanted to follow the loop trail and cross the bridge over the river (having some weird fascination with bridges over rivers, particularly suspension bridges, maybe from watching too many adventure movies/shows as a kid)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0pbhuqVLmmz7cWxKK-H0IUwB75IDvf9zGavFA92IEwdRwqsC9wFBT2tw2SeLpqLjVvl3mG3ktBYNxiRC2PvALR4-V6zwFJZPcckhMc8Z-FoKbi8zowOt08E-RJDwSDTqBA-vi_ljSDAAhgfHrxyeLmFIjYWxjOgKoxeaSPfkkFegs3v8EMgtKSt3/s4032/20230909_092100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0pbhuqVLmmz7cWxKK-H0IUwB75IDvf9zGavFA92IEwdRwqsC9wFBT2tw2SeLpqLjVvl3mG3ktBYNxiRC2PvALR4-V6zwFJZPcckhMc8Z-FoKbi8zowOt08E-RJDwSDTqBA-vi_ljSDAAhgfHrxyeLmFIjYWxjOgKoxeaSPfkkFegs3v8EMgtKSt3/w480-h640/20230909_092100.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After crossing the bridge and beginning uphill on the opposite side, a signpost marking the distance to other locations appeared.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG78vxx4bqinIHxY329FnGkhrvulwAtGGn4mlWlj5TUce8RfSTC6P55H0sFhyi7W-pLY6GKzRxWt40GKLdHC9z8QSXbiN_R1P93L1NTVH1jMEiNa_U2DUbecqrDqQhnhS_cRIAbxo8daE6j6tEY1zReMlUsufLmiB4K1woHatEcOCh3NWloF7fUkU/s4032/20230909_092152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG78vxx4bqinIHxY329FnGkhrvulwAtGGn4mlWlj5TUce8RfSTC6P55H0sFhyi7W-pLY6GKzRxWt40GKLdHC9z8QSXbiN_R1P93L1NTVH1jMEiNa_U2DUbecqrDqQhnhS_cRIAbxo8daE6j6tEY1zReMlUsufLmiB4K1woHatEcOCh3NWloF7fUkU/w480-h640/20230909_092152.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxfrBMwI6LRAj7OwTczcSRZd3y4Vmin1w-G76RFB31fKf45ivDuB2yA1BTxnZzXySfxVPBpVIw4Y1nTrqSiks562QPYUde2tyrlD3D6FIJjYwXUnQ7k7EkE2cemgBqsKOTQIL4H2gj1rd7xMoYZCoHgrCrrfdt3_ZPfaKPcmXimcnExSLN10h6GuN/s4000/20230909_092335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxfrBMwI6LRAj7OwTczcSRZd3y4Vmin1w-G76RFB31fKf45ivDuB2yA1BTxnZzXySfxVPBpVIw4Y1nTrqSiks562QPYUde2tyrlD3D6FIJjYwXUnQ7k7EkE2cemgBqsKOTQIL4H2gj1rd7xMoYZCoHgrCrrfdt3_ZPfaKPcmXimcnExSLN10h6GuN/w400-h300/20230909_092335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEKbr6cS04XweIIdyoPYmRV157OEICX4qBU5DUA1Ci1RMR3gj6YWgBse1jD0N6kqHvVQq9QbBYPY6J1QO-DIiEV-vTtC6BRsE4OwlHwnxs9eE6HCxoz1hELO0qO6ltnXuC7F1MYOBMzePLWiMhhjTZhZEIEBP4Glb0-Q76sITz5GwhdOJsGzEfg-W/s4032/20230909_092702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEKbr6cS04XweIIdyoPYmRV157OEICX4qBU5DUA1Ci1RMR3gj6YWgBse1jD0N6kqHvVQq9QbBYPY6J1QO-DIiEV-vTtC6BRsE4OwlHwnxs9eE6HCxoz1hELO0qO6ltnXuC7F1MYOBMzePLWiMhhjTZhZEIEBP4Glb0-Q76sITz5GwhdOJsGzEfg-W/w480-h640/20230909_092702.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>There were big wet squarish rocks acting like stairs as way made our way up, looking towards a big split hill in the distance that we made our way towards. With the S2 path marking our trail splitting and going in opposite directions, one heading back down the mountain, presumably the loop back to the campground, and the other heading towards the big mountain. I convinced my Wife to continue up towards the mountain a little as I could see something atop the hill. As we made our way up, I kept pointing to little berries in the scrub that I identified as 'blueberries' however my Wife once more would not let me try them, arguing that they looked different to the blueberry plant we are growing at home. I told her they were like artic wild blueberries like we would see them harvest on the survival TV series 'Alone'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rZzb9eeVYfQNkEQMT8tWEIy7JxUHOOAI8LagP04sgl74xxeTPiDkauZEjJy5zLb_EOPp68-hc9G4dJlEqMy_PKDTeV_PhBSUn1kA-fuHnEoMIOAcgt-tMZjPw5qog6WRM7oZpGaHbOZ9v59tSrjTiuYfITEZv8wszrrTsklvENWYFNC1jYd4wlFg/s4032/20230909_093455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rZzb9eeVYfQNkEQMT8tWEIy7JxUHOOAI8LagP04sgl74xxeTPiDkauZEjJy5zLb_EOPp68-hc9G4dJlEqMy_PKDTeV_PhBSUn1kA-fuHnEoMIOAcgt-tMZjPw5qog6WRM7oZpGaHbOZ9v59tSrjTiuYfITEZv8wszrrTsklvENWYFNC1jYd4wlFg/w480-h640/20230909_093455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we reached the thing I could see from below, it was a survey marker on a built platform with three more walks leading from it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuJ8MljAWZkv00ZaqDKKYJLY6Q4vU5XMcghpB0i-g84BO0OZl6aC5iNlerztvqGNlsXGXjxKQcLEPLAAwIdeJpiIoFQJVzDjetk7sfoVnk1VKTtvt3t0okLpgH-DYUMo2rqeTdSXTBPQS2eHGht9S9uhDt3q5__yM0muN1Vrj5UJuLRjD_TlhKaJl/s4032/20230909_093754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuJ8MljAWZkv00ZaqDKKYJLY6Q4vU5XMcghpB0i-g84BO0OZl6aC5iNlerztvqGNlsXGXjxKQcLEPLAAwIdeJpiIoFQJVzDjetk7sfoVnk1VKTtvt3t0okLpgH-DYUMo2rqeTdSXTBPQS2eHGht9S9uhDt3q5__yM0muN1Vrj5UJuLRjD_TlhKaJl/w480-h640/20230909_093754.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NX1NSMqAhld4-QDzG00feqNXI8uSWRojdRAFRKj3ziP4aWccVYOHwQyRRtI9cEg-M2q7u3yBmtU7ZRkMS9WgeiwYWs7Rhe7jUf6BLDWsJNhHxsDALjSEI-Ax4MuWri3Pe8pDDn4Dezob314ZfDaC0gv2B2A5ytjOwMLAFEOiYyvmqVjUoEH673D4/s4000/20230909_093846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NX1NSMqAhld4-QDzG00feqNXI8uSWRojdRAFRKj3ziP4aWccVYOHwQyRRtI9cEg-M2q7u3yBmtU7ZRkMS9WgeiwYWs7Rhe7jUf6BLDWsJNhHxsDALjSEI-Ax4MuWri3Pe8pDDn4Dezob314ZfDaC0gv2B2A5ytjOwMLAFEOiYyvmqVjUoEH673D4/w400-h300/20230909_093846.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I agreed we would not take any more paths, though dying inside to walk them all as we made our way back down to continue along the S2 track, pointing out little red berries low to the ground.<br />"I think that is the Stone Brambleberry we didn't but the jam for." I said, pointing to it and referring to a small tasting jar of stone brambleberry jam we had come across in the supermarket, but I didn't buy. I decided if I saw it again in a store I could purchase it, but annoyingly never encountered the small jars again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbab6PXtazNocm-8GV7Qgzxh0WPKx9QdJqlsxmH-RBmqiVY1WU5vzB-WaSn1UvKzGLO4JsDQAGyHl7wNKgXq9qqP1vhIRBIniVh_pQSRG8slFeX2uii4VL8ZR2N7Yhih7dJIC6CUjGAdm_iq1U8eQd9TAzifWrDaouN-vm77Yp1fNPDxcGDRpGKt1/s4032/20230909_095124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbab6PXtazNocm-8GV7Qgzxh0WPKx9QdJqlsxmH-RBmqiVY1WU5vzB-WaSn1UvKzGLO4JsDQAGyHl7wNKgXq9qqP1vhIRBIniVh_pQSRG8slFeX2uii4VL8ZR2N7Yhih7dJIC6CUjGAdm_iq1U8eQd9TAzifWrDaouN-vm77Yp1fNPDxcGDRpGKt1/w480-h640/20230909_095124.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I also pointed out some large soggy mushrooms, commenting that they looked like Kombucha SCOBY.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkEGnpPVdpXxFVB1LmuGF55mxWxnJSvGOerLwVXqNtWMG7ZJmFnJisdfjDN19edd5hRINd1qwo6T3EyUdvzRR9rfWE37Ny2GQjW7tfwisp5rb5x_N9PWvZipJvoRzolwt3ojGmsep1jaHZEW5gbdmn3Jt4HFDp8wwimGi2LjnqHq2HIlV4sIZjAsF/s4032/20230909_100000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkEGnpPVdpXxFVB1LmuGF55mxWxnJSvGOerLwVXqNtWMG7ZJmFnJisdfjDN19edd5hRINd1qwo6T3EyUdvzRR9rfWE37Ny2GQjW7tfwisp5rb5x_N9PWvZipJvoRzolwt3ojGmsep1jaHZEW5gbdmn3Jt4HFDp8wwimGi2LjnqHq2HIlV4sIZjAsF/w480-h640/20230909_100000.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we continued down the trail, I commented that it was nice to actually have trees around us, as for the majority of Iceland we scarcely saw any trees. These closed in on us, and the wet leaves brushed against us, wetting out clothes as we continued down, coming out on the opposite side of the waterfall we had encountered before Svartifoss.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJOsh8MXYijqdKVUFLOsBw3t-gIrjdk8gj9tbfKsYZXfJYnBjYS3T2OFfvG0M1wbVi0gtC56s_eiSGoGjexlRge4Fw_1QbfU4FMF2WM_za8rXUGPNtM7_vLXS1v4Qm0wfSNVNDVXeZzyf98rSI2hgAD4nNdhfxnQUlIvl5xNXpYKmGpF27VudKQik/s4032/20230909_100522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJOsh8MXYijqdKVUFLOsBw3t-gIrjdk8gj9tbfKsYZXfJYnBjYS3T2OFfvG0M1wbVi0gtC56s_eiSGoGjexlRge4Fw_1QbfU4FMF2WM_za8rXUGPNtM7_vLXS1v4Qm0wfSNVNDVXeZzyf98rSI2hgAD4nNdhfxnQUlIvl5xNXpYKmGpF27VudKQik/w480-h640/20230909_100522.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>There was a split in the path with a wooden post marking the trail Lambhagi, which I wanted to go down, but my Wife by now was just wanting to get to our next destination; Fjallsárlón. I put my foot down "We're here let's explore."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCsTbgcssDUpTNUflKBovja6W1_qEm2zUwd8OXZ9QROhyPTfN2GvyDsa0HZVhPIFWTv4VvJumvqYDXrkvcDxWXv7IQEPSTL7aHg4EyQuruV-C2VYNWFI1u8VSycrh7J3u4Z8Q9z3EA2gLQnzSZbphmLt9v3KnBxVoRWIO7mWP6CT32DZczKn3P2Hj/s4032/20230909_101256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCsTbgcssDUpTNUflKBovja6W1_qEm2zUwd8OXZ9QROhyPTfN2GvyDsa0HZVhPIFWTv4VvJumvqYDXrkvcDxWXv7IQEPSTL7aHg4EyQuruV-C2VYNWFI1u8VSycrh7J3u4Z8Q9z3EA2gLQnzSZbphmLt9v3KnBxVoRWIO7mWP6CT32DZczKn3P2Hj/w480-h640/20230909_101256.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It led to what looked like something out of an American summer camp swimming spot, pristine and empty, and I could imagine it being packed with people going for a swim during summer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmos098LBrMd94_p1ep0-GYB0ZFlF6X0MXH2WRTq14AU3LXVY1RA4dZeSrcvwdg5nThwHi1glOLksATb3_uxXKlc9_2JYyX9Efk-eC9zepAxPn3qjk9i9XT1ZHLB50-78HsKWhAt1d9xnIQKKjGydm-2ccsmu1bNeguVfdYYfiB_At_8_7tUMyXYCd/s4000/20230909_101410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmos098LBrMd94_p1ep0-GYB0ZFlF6X0MXH2WRTq14AU3LXVY1RA4dZeSrcvwdg5nThwHi1glOLksATb3_uxXKlc9_2JYyX9Efk-eC9zepAxPn3qjk9i9XT1ZHLB50-78HsKWhAt1d9xnIQKKjGydm-2ccsmu1bNeguVfdYYfiB_At_8_7tUMyXYCd/w400-h300/20230909_101410.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFqum_m4n4afLvhOZLCMMXwzJnb1imC70d4shivGGWfI1ogXNF87og7UUahUzSoYWfi6ANg-olje4HtoqTC3xuF06qfwtGYnF3WkR2oh3H-1gto2zJOT_Mso02kXPgg9RvGGWXMBqF92bsJM2j4PtM84cCfKiQqeU6bAZ24F0ZLfRVlw256iTKgwA/s4000/20230909_101427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFqum_m4n4afLvhOZLCMMXwzJnb1imC70d4shivGGWfI1ogXNF87og7UUahUzSoYWfi6ANg-olje4HtoqTC3xuF06qfwtGYnF3WkR2oh3H-1gto2zJOT_Mso02kXPgg9RvGGWXMBqF92bsJM2j4PtM84cCfKiQqeU6bAZ24F0ZLfRVlw256iTKgwA/w480-h640/20230909_101427.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We continued down to the campground, passing a signpost marking the distance back to the camp and up to Svartifoss and Sjónarsker, the area with the directional dial.</p><p>We continued down to level ground turning right to head back towards the campground, crossing another little bridge over a stream.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNivNYMaeBHku7KRwvqKaLkdDd2oFk9Il9CGkCRIbC9FRuCKimR6TR88kN2BJSyVKC5x1wEgUQpAmYfBwDc94beVNapzQoqN_iHT4p1s-m8HVUtd6llrZh69r0gfU1ek5aqQyBoap55bJp63oMkiYHTdk7mi-8xeAB6ooYv5v-cn7No94cFI5JvjjQ/s4032/20230909_101621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNivNYMaeBHku7KRwvqKaLkdDd2oFk9Il9CGkCRIbC9FRuCKimR6TR88kN2BJSyVKC5x1wEgUQpAmYfBwDc94beVNapzQoqN_iHT4p1s-m8HVUtd6llrZh69r0gfU1ek5aqQyBoap55bJp63oMkiYHTdk7mi-8xeAB6ooYv5v-cn7No94cFI5JvjjQ/w480-h640/20230909_101621.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>There was a split in the trail on our left, which I quickly ran up to read some information signs, learning it was the track for Gömlutún, the Visitor trail. We continued back to the camp, and through to the parking spot, and on towards Fjallsárlón, a glacial lagoon.</p><p>After about 40 minutes of driving we arrived, walking past a restaurant (and quickly checking online to see if it offered anything interesting on the menu before walking up to the lagoon.</p><p>We were in awe of its beauty, and the nerdy gamer that I am I couldn't help but referencing ice levels of video games with the floating chucks of blue ice.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFq3hkrQrChic9Gdg-pzwSwp8KCMwinvER0C7rNkggT0XT-fNoUqn__GQDiolxbGEVXpWjlDy6GSLVvl5brlDWmlXpHw_RpPsz0l4wIy8BJqmPWThWstZwRytnNJnL3XM8_7trNHwdo9V7s3GzyEqs-7ZqSTbjPCHvVXSaX17C0BN1me2lJd4pr0B/s4000/20230909_113833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFq3hkrQrChic9Gdg-pzwSwp8KCMwinvER0C7rNkggT0XT-fNoUqn__GQDiolxbGEVXpWjlDy6GSLVvl5brlDWmlXpHw_RpPsz0l4wIy8BJqmPWThWstZwRytnNJnL3XM8_7trNHwdo9V7s3GzyEqs-7ZqSTbjPCHvVXSaX17C0BN1me2lJd4pr0B/w400-h300/20230909_113833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz3tWHIauD2o4pm0BB4IEDjOHr5ZFw4MwZSQSZ8KCF0Ssy0zMVW_g6Hqc6ghXEAp6BOh3Q9p2dnO-51iFYH-1VV-Nk-X7vaEYAje_3dc2qqLRKiBjUuiPagpfUOonNbHljodHGxtbBNmtrgX2Dr_dkGF1pGFZsKKNJvOQPM5ys3snrdaiLaThP5s1/s4032/20230909_114613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoz3tWHIauD2o4pm0BB4IEDjOHr5ZFw4MwZSQSZ8KCF0Ssy0zMVW_g6Hqc6ghXEAp6BOh3Q9p2dnO-51iFYH-1VV-Nk-X7vaEYAje_3dc2qqLRKiBjUuiPagpfUOonNbHljodHGxtbBNmtrgX2Dr_dkGF1pGFZsKKNJvOQPM5ys3snrdaiLaThP5s1/w400-h300/20230909_114613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJlcSm4b365J4jGEVD6FSB5q-tgQD9a51b9Oyxo1TejijrDg-ZwI7OF1GIE_f3zDLNjno4z8cO77o9vB3XVtu479zXToYVSicjdGWiVQyUSYV0L_bUY_Aml2_sUTC7IH1qOl0kqK64J_WOAH8ib3O9ur1EbpU8x-bybcLJC6eFQLIQMF7gdkF9hDY/s4032/20230909_114706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJlcSm4b365J4jGEVD6FSB5q-tgQD9a51b9Oyxo1TejijrDg-ZwI7OF1GIE_f3zDLNjno4z8cO77o9vB3XVtu479zXToYVSicjdGWiVQyUSYV0L_bUY_Aml2_sUTC7IH1qOl0kqK64J_WOAH8ib3O9ur1EbpU8x-bybcLJC6eFQLIQMF7gdkF9hDY/w480-h640/20230909_114706.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflx08vzp9jSR_Sbj9y9wPGb-SMFa4M1c9xFhJ3lSmhcBaZR8M73tL1HbNKrdIalKMNNLr6uNEaM2vHng7NCkibbQZBsnJAkOaZUtzdZBNdDeq81gh9nEI1J5CEUehLeQMukpaujFqM3t7M3qZP-HikrXcdcyQhcMlI5i0KxDNRM2zjVnB47iK9bOm/s4000/20230909_115850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflx08vzp9jSR_Sbj9y9wPGb-SMFa4M1c9xFhJ3lSmhcBaZR8M73tL1HbNKrdIalKMNNLr6uNEaM2vHng7NCkibbQZBsnJAkOaZUtzdZBNdDeq81gh9nEI1J5CEUehLeQMukpaujFqM3t7M3qZP-HikrXcdcyQhcMlI5i0KxDNRM2zjVnB47iK9bOm/w400-h300/20230909_115850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Soon a massive group arrived and one of them instantly set up his drone to begin flying over the destination (even though this, and many other destinations have signs requesting you don't use drones). It was obnoxiously loud, but it soon flew out far enough over the lagoon that we could no longer hear it as we sat down to eat our storebought wraps (that were actually really tasty). We sat looking over the lagoon, as the group passed us walking further onwards. We finished our wraps, and I hoped up to touch some small pieces of ice that had washed up. I proceeded to place my hand in the water for a few seconds, turning and commenting that it doesn't feel as cold as I thought it would."</p><p>We stood up to go for a walk around the lagoon, viewing it from different angles. As we were walking around suddenly the guy who had been flying the drone bolted past us and we could hear his drone controller franticly beeping. "Probably flew it too far away and lost control." I said, "Hope he loses it." However shortly after he was walking back past us, holding his drone.</p><p>We headed to the car after a solid walk around to head to an even bigger glacial lagoon shortly down the road; Jökulsárlón. </p><p>It was another paid parking area, and it was very busy. We pulled up in the parking closer to the Diamond Beach and were surprised to be charged a reduced fee. <br />"I think it's cause we're here later in the day." My Wife said.</p><p>We followed the water from the ocean into the entrance of the lagoon watching small icebergs trying to float out to the ocean. There was a bench here, so we sat and ate another wrap watching the water flow and keeping an eye on the distant seals.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMNkLhLKqPmox_0nG20Iu2O4xXPd_Fj2yYrkqvPSgrZzuONFISsdlccpHScuwXPNSLwDiUObu-CUb-lHE8zy0yGlF_geBIldoHDtaWkfrhwSyuIerPc1n6AVNOslHK32OF9Na9M5vMFAk53mHo0Ld2RJKfHY2KgCZi7tbqtXMft7Kni8H0Sqs0MAH/s4032/20230909_123329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMNkLhLKqPmox_0nG20Iu2O4xXPd_Fj2yYrkqvPSgrZzuONFISsdlccpHScuwXPNSLwDiUObu-CUb-lHE8zy0yGlF_geBIldoHDtaWkfrhwSyuIerPc1n6AVNOslHK32OF9Na9M5vMFAk53mHo0Ld2RJKfHY2KgCZi7tbqtXMft7Kni8H0Sqs0MAH/w400-h300/20230909_123329.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn_44V5WbHdpKNPulcwONn4MIbo4oKVNaOssxWK-gZ7xFvFccVAaFvQubSACg0VDnxL6SkDALx1KaUmPn7Mlf_tGqQ4d-AtRNMWWKsOu3WVkbsB8doUoUu9isnLTh-xokkQbg8WCgTV49YQwfnjs4jhCQYlCFBGmlyKVKm8F2L0ibD9-QqDLKMIZq/s4032/20230909_133715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtn_44V5WbHdpKNPulcwONn4MIbo4oKVNaOssxWK-gZ7xFvFccVAaFvQubSACg0VDnxL6SkDALx1KaUmPn7Mlf_tGqQ4d-AtRNMWWKsOu3WVkbsB8doUoUu9isnLTh-xokkQbg8WCgTV49YQwfnjs4jhCQYlCFBGmlyKVKm8F2L0ibD9-QqDLKMIZq/w400-h300/20230909_133715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Soon someone stood in front of us smoking a cigarette and we coughed loudly and continued inwards along the shoreline of the lagoon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi7mDPr5cEfNFUE_cVsYmFBl5wSa-cMLgXyIcR_ez0UnP7CdP6K9K0MWu3ADEqiUudMhSME89wNI7wu-T7nNApBegIXxeb9AZsuPURVvdFJWq-KTp0D803D2IoGHDSkQiN260d865Tj78_hWLHV_ZueXFWPSkJ0GSBDSY6cRKlt3sSgL52FnpoDYL/s4032/20230909_134047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNi7mDPr5cEfNFUE_cVsYmFBl5wSa-cMLgXyIcR_ez0UnP7CdP6K9K0MWu3ADEqiUudMhSME89wNI7wu-T7nNApBegIXxeb9AZsuPURVvdFJWq-KTp0D803D2IoGHDSkQiN260d865Tj78_hWLHV_ZueXFWPSkJ0GSBDSY6cRKlt3sSgL52FnpoDYL/w400-h300/20230909_134047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We both felt like we needed to use the toilet and walked in amongst the carpark with tourism stores for boating in the lagoon as well as numerous food trucks. We were able to beat a bit of a queue and afterwards wandered along the trucks looking for a snack. We ended up buying a donut and a coffee, feeling tired from very full-on days of activity, we took them back and sat on the lagoon pebble beach watching the seals and feeling ourselves get angry at a couple watching their kids actively throw rocks into the lagoon and not telling them off.<br />"God I hate people." I said. <br />But at least it was a kid, soon loud obnoxious adults came along and started doing it and it took all my willpower not to turn into some psycho screaming tourist yelling at other tourists and inevitably ending up on social media. "Let's get away from these fucking degenerates." I said pretty loudly, but English was not their main language, so I have no idea whether or not they comprehended, but they settled down afterwards.</p><p>We went for a walk along the lagoon watching the seals, commenting that it might have been cool to have done one of those boat tours, but we had not wanted to book too much because we would need to be places at certain times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJ3Yyc2H4qHUQEhJJPODklnEyeKwPeS1S5w-A70IflHLcLsFeoCzWFA8WrNaQE3VhvsAgt4qkQ5aR6qkXoVssNyZOGWbtbCyjdEc20hSLc2L2lOVdy8Zf8hUqobGl7HJDDlzMbjW_ugfcl_QZHHPyocR2wRH9ZqeRAWu-nMVgCyWz8UFCnsL1CYj/s4032/20230909_134515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wJ3Yyc2H4qHUQEhJJPODklnEyeKwPeS1S5w-A70IflHLcLsFeoCzWFA8WrNaQE3VhvsAgt4qkQ5aR6qkXoVssNyZOGWbtbCyjdEc20hSLc2L2lOVdy8Zf8hUqobGl7HJDDlzMbjW_ugfcl_QZHHPyocR2wRH9ZqeRAWu-nMVgCyWz8UFCnsL1CYj/w400-h300/20230909_134515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwYETjkRoxQHiKkDfH_3ZjBKFrdal4sMf8iVW1AIRSMBST0HY1XEqgM5AH6lMJ_8uONJdFcUGv_NKRDB71Te0A7QDYGCZUev8-oFrVV5wjt6J9yu6wcWxKQULsabAPn8cV-UJQvl0JVaaF5hxXjFxpHicqSkBhLesOtltP7MSd7XMwJjvDyBRfEvg/s7280/20230909_134529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="7280" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwYETjkRoxQHiKkDfH_3ZjBKFrdal4sMf8iVW1AIRSMBST0HY1XEqgM5AH6lMJ_8uONJdFcUGv_NKRDB71Te0A7QDYGCZUev8-oFrVV5wjt6J9yu6wcWxKQULsabAPn8cV-UJQvl0JVaaF5hxXjFxpHicqSkBhLesOtltP7MSd7XMwJjvDyBRfEvg/w400-h211/20230909_134529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>We followed lagoon down to where our path to our right ended, and we walked across and followed that path on our way back to the carpark, where we once more went under the bridge walking onto another black sand beach, the famed Diamond Beach.</p><p>It didn't take long to figure out the name, with all the block of ice washed up on shore looking like glistening diamonds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYWZJGtOWExCc4msDcLMuXM00w9KAO-IiG9BMcpAhmAKMxL7fGucAmCZgVDPVKH2Mw-yLLaD0U0mOiTmNYm7Lgmm66kvlquMVW3oWQtmM3T8tDt_wqSFlUn6lfDavQMFYcleRqL4AFTixNGnkFsFwt2Geid_ogJYO4oQHdbUZyNrgNwW9lIEZRlM1/s4032/20230909_141628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYWZJGtOWExCc4msDcLMuXM00w9KAO-IiG9BMcpAhmAKMxL7fGucAmCZgVDPVKH2Mw-yLLaD0U0mOiTmNYm7Lgmm66kvlquMVW3oWQtmM3T8tDt_wqSFlUn6lfDavQMFYcleRqL4AFTixNGnkFsFwt2Geid_ogJYO4oQHdbUZyNrgNwW9lIEZRlM1/w400-h300/20230909_141628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzn2AR3NarSdmRj8RvaafigTmcCxiivYLlUEargYgJhz0JVyM1FvRS1fI-y33Cm5_kgk27u4z0pvACK6XK3l2MoMPeIxqejX-hjQ7Qthw4Fl-2SfnrfXbm6yJmDVXZFBfR3VizoI3gZpvvilT-DBbQYqdCOFq_HkbvrYpJF-mMIveLjjr42qLsQGw/s4032/20230909_141646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzn2AR3NarSdmRj8RvaafigTmcCxiivYLlUEargYgJhz0JVyM1FvRS1fI-y33Cm5_kgk27u4z0pvACK6XK3l2MoMPeIxqejX-hjQ7Qthw4Fl-2SfnrfXbm6yJmDVXZFBfR3VizoI3gZpvvilT-DBbQYqdCOFq_HkbvrYpJF-mMIveLjjr42qLsQGw/w480-h640/20230909_141646.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGmYzTpkvG9b0wtJUlC_iLbw8X34-Dp7yZeawxOcWHGCrFiiatCeVu5ScigdNY5RnhukStELVLfTrXWq9pcEB7nmKPVNseYuw-c7QC8ucDgN2lh8b-j7hbACDrEkDf9LGN2b46vlYOOUD6V7YoisGAfUv_FXQFhp9iMrkA4kYAs69H7tpZOH93ZiB/s4032/20230909_142151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGmYzTpkvG9b0wtJUlC_iLbw8X34-Dp7yZeawxOcWHGCrFiiatCeVu5ScigdNY5RnhukStELVLfTrXWq9pcEB7nmKPVNseYuw-c7QC8ucDgN2lh8b-j7hbACDrEkDf9LGN2b46vlYOOUD6V7YoisGAfUv_FXQFhp9iMrkA4kYAs69H7tpZOH93ZiB/w480-h640/20230909_142151.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After this we made our way to the car and drove an hour to our accommodation, the Seljavellir guesthouse. It was a small guesthouse along the road, and there was no one waiting when we arrived. We went to the reception and hit a buzzer that called someone who gave us the code to our room and let us know what time breakfast was. We wandered around the outside of the guesthouse with its glass windows. so that our room was overlooking farmland.<br />"This is quaint." I commented about it, finding it really quiet and lovely.</p><p>We put the stuff from the car in our room, showering and getting ready to drive into the nearby town, Höfn where we planned to go out to Pakkhús Restaurant to try a horse steak for the first time, after actually stumbling upon a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMd7nF8dQE" target="_blank">YouTube channel called STUFR</a> who went there. We sat in the cute little restaurant and ordered our Horse Tenderloin. As it arrived on a plate it looked and smelled so good, and I tried some vegetables served around the meat first. I pulled a face.<br /><br />"Holy shit, this is delicious." I said.<br /><br />The food was cooked perfectly, and everything was so flavourful. Succulent and delicious, so I cut a little into the Horse, and took a bite.<br /><br />"Wow." I said in ecstasy. "That's the best steak I've ever eaten."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RGB20WfmH4tL2vObxb_7PTBjeZACHoE421G8sKw6DVjvFsDYYQPzuM-pasugsQmMmE9e-eVDIJR8BJGJvh9nNDJTqks1NTULV-TNOej5E9OvseKCepqfg9Fim0K0Gj_k7LFTutlRy-KvkFru2SKH96htuoZ8NronzKQO2_ojhRMjJ2GX54b-7HdW/s4032/20230909_172727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RGB20WfmH4tL2vObxb_7PTBjeZACHoE421G8sKw6DVjvFsDYYQPzuM-pasugsQmMmE9e-eVDIJR8BJGJvh9nNDJTqks1NTULV-TNOej5E9OvseKCepqfg9Fim0K0Gj_k7LFTutlRy-KvkFru2SKH96htuoZ8NronzKQO2_ojhRMjJ2GX54b-7HdW/w400-h300/20230909_172727.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We ate slowly, savouring the flavours on our plates. While eating two Americans sat at the table next to us. I assumed they were a couple but my Wife thought they were mother and son by how they were behaving. The lady pretty loudly scolding the menu and the man sitting there, not saying much but looking down and seeming miserable. I could hear them complaining about the horse on the menu, also commenting that they didn't 'eat fish'. They discussed leaving, while at the same time looking awkward about it. Soon the lovely young waitress who was serving us asked about their order, and they loudly complained about the horse.<br /><br />"We don't eat horse in the states!" She said loudly, before getting up and leaving the restaurant.</p><p>"Why fucking even travel if you won't try new things." I said to my Wife as they left. Soon the waitress collected our plates asking how everything was. We told her it was the best steak we'd ever eaten, before ordering a licorice crème brûlée each for dessert.</p><p>While we were awaiting or dessert a new Amercian couple took the table next to us. We could overhear them, and it was obvious the man was curious about trying the horse but was feeling slightly culture shamed out of doing so. Soon the waitress came to them to take their order, and the man commented he was thinking about eating the horse but 'felt bad.'</p><p>"Why?" The Icelandic waitress asked. "It's the circle of life, it's nature." She said, confused by the hesitance to something that was obviously so culturally accepted and not even thought about in Iceland.<br />I could see the man still hesitating.<br /><br />"Get the horse mate." I leant over and said. "It's the best steak I've ever had."<br />The man seemed a little shocked but the waitress pointed to us and said "Yes they had it.."<br />"It's good?" The man asked. We guaranteed him it was, and he decided to order it.<br />"I don't even know why I care," he said. "I don't even like horses."</p><p>Soon our crème brûlée arrived and it was less licorice than I had anticipated, with small little flecks of licorice through it giving it a very delicate mild licorice flavour that might be able to be enjoyed by people who don't love licorice. (Can't guarantee if you hate black licorice though).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFTSlL_u9NVn7QHiLGrGfUBk_VpW7bGdR0AsjU44lssqsBc-_gIRgQs2Bi8h8kJiJW_q9hGsJqM_utXrcBDoaQoX0jpPpKNP13OxRYpBX14mLoHKxU1IoEu0KD1q0qfegvTDnsbRBaDyIyh3y1QB2mdo5Z4DSBlHgpLe3v5Yry5uuJeZGruVJ4aKc/s4032/20230909_175132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFTSlL_u9NVn7QHiLGrGfUBk_VpW7bGdR0AsjU44lssqsBc-_gIRgQs2Bi8h8kJiJW_q9hGsJqM_utXrcBDoaQoX0jpPpKNP13OxRYpBX14mLoHKxU1IoEu0KD1q0qfegvTDnsbRBaDyIyh3y1QB2mdo5Z4DSBlHgpLe3v5Yry5uuJeZGruVJ4aKc/w480-h640/20230909_175132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"Physalis must be a really big thing in Scandanavia." I noted about the Gooseberry on top that we had first tried in Finland.<br /></p><p>We finished our dessert, and I was keen to leave just in case the American's didn't like the horse, or got all in their head about it, so we paid and headed to the car where we were going to drive to the beach and go for a little stroll before heading back to our accommodation, however it started pouring with rain out of nowhere. We ended up driving to a Netto and buying some lunch for the following day along with some 'candy sushi' as a treat and heading back to our accommodation for some sleep and yet another early morning.</p><p><b>Day 5 -</b> I drank a lot of coffee this morning and we didn't have too many destinations to stop at, with a drive time of almost 6 hours I needed to stay caffeinated. We packed once more and set off to our first destination in our itinerary, Djúpivogur, to see the Eggs of Merry Bay, 34 granite eggs representing various bird species created by local artist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigur%C3%B0ur_Gu%C3%B0mundsson" target="_blank">Sigurður Guðmundsson</a>. It was about 1 hour 20 minutes to get here as we arrived in a very small industrial town with not a lot to see. We headed to the harbour as it drizzled with rain. As we hopped out to view the eggs, I was really feeling the cold in this spot with an icy cold wind chill. My Wife wanted to walk the whole way up reading the little plaques indicating with bird species they were meant to represent, I wasn't that keen, feeling slightly off. She told me I could wait in the car, but I walked beside her the whole way reading about which bird egg they were (in Icelandic). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOENo2ve5k_rR2-mCcOLILSGNgky8FyS3YzXvOoKoBC71z8Vc732QFCZsywJNjQJIP8pHUlMwCYNpqLLBQtMSH9TigCbILVfn-eQiiABo_-4_yYm_SmvNQ31cf9UVCI0NyMQH_P7Bzzh_yNEe5y1PAE0JIi79UzwdfI1fWgEnb1OcH-nEr6N0fr5LX/s4032/20230910_085033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOENo2ve5k_rR2-mCcOLILSGNgky8FyS3YzXvOoKoBC71z8Vc732QFCZsywJNjQJIP8pHUlMwCYNpqLLBQtMSH9TigCbILVfn-eQiiABo_-4_yYm_SmvNQ31cf9UVCI0NyMQH_P7Bzzh_yNEe5y1PAE0JIi79UzwdfI1fWgEnb1OcH-nEr6N0fr5LX/w400-h300/20230910_085033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Occasionally a tourist car would drive in and look for a short second without getting out of their car and then simply driving off. When we reached the far end the rain began to get heavier and we made our way back to the car to continue on our long road journey, with our next listed item to visit being Búlandstindur, a pyramid shaped mountain. However, the spot Google maps took us had no place to pull up and we ended up just viewing it as we drove along the road to Borgarfjörður eystri, where nearby the 'Elf City' Álfaborg was located. This was almost a 3-hour drive. But that's the thing with a road trip, a lot of things you witness are from the car as you drive along the road, which gives you time to just view and appreciate the views sometimes without thinking about taking a picture, you can just enjoy it, and there was a lot of natural beauty to just view from behind the driver's seat (which I was no very comfortable in, even on the wrong side of the road).</p><p>At some point along the journey, we began the drive up a very steep, winding road to the top of a mountain, when I pulled up for a little break from driving, with a view over the ocean, and while stretching our legs it began to sprinkle little pieces of ice down around us.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aKkrrY2dTc_pkIS1MyMiLlleLR-8nHWPwNjDbfVHWEskdRDIYWpCR86l9bkAwAw4DmboTrOHjcsFyHtVH4XVH-BlNyeiql3JoCAvhJxjz6iBqY8lC8E2-mZeNqqvs-1qmRLTWant4lTX6SWhMdueAgGa3zhqG8KZ-cwzAhOxH050MqTjzxtRAQU9/s4032/20230910_120525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aKkrrY2dTc_pkIS1MyMiLlleLR-8nHWPwNjDbfVHWEskdRDIYWpCR86l9bkAwAw4DmboTrOHjcsFyHtVH4XVH-BlNyeiql3JoCAvhJxjz6iBqY8lC8E2-mZeNqqvs-1qmRLTWant4lTX6SWhMdueAgGa3zhqG8KZ-cwzAhOxH050MqTjzxtRAQU9/w400-h300/20230910_120525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We drove down the mountain and made our way to the small village of Bakkagerði. We pulled up at Álfaborg. It wasn't what I was expecting, thinking in my mind along the lines of the little Elf Homes I had seen in the American movie 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'. Learning that was a fictional creation, and Álfaborg was more like what we had seen at Dverghamrar.<br />We exited the car in the rain and made our way up the top of the Elf City, while I kept an eye out for Elves (which in my mind were small, similar to the Minish in the Legend of Zelda video game series).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl-10dt4xWjWPDKpaaemCVG8ZBfkZaPndmcSxdC16e6mI0NwSkVpXc1jJmgrZc-LU5sltJNFgeSuUAXJ9YrLNzjPyjhMUYUkjIJ-i-RUPn6xrLqaPnOZGygIIp1G9CRh3_2IOkjYKaWhyzIoGowKfNpReNFg98TMw3uVVh1z7w5741S8ADGUn1Bhn/s4032/20230910_123951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl-10dt4xWjWPDKpaaemCVG8ZBfkZaPndmcSxdC16e6mI0NwSkVpXc1jJmgrZc-LU5sltJNFgeSuUAXJ9YrLNzjPyjhMUYUkjIJ-i-RUPn6xrLqaPnOZGygIIp1G9CRh3_2IOkjYKaWhyzIoGowKfNpReNFg98TMw3uVVh1z7w5741S8ADGUn1Bhn/w480-h640/20230910_123951.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5PUi1UFTM9f-sZxh1VruKytrf0RaZ6MfiuT_IYE6bA_qdW7TbUNgMyInn_4hiT5IhfMq-io-dwuozfNfcUROUYKUvKkKNi4le-4z2A3HdDZAVu7pyPQNC37FAUpudIR4X29Nv0arR-zyNB_dUsSBXZbcGur77bdp5fUlWZ7xhEM3yWWJztvCYTTG/s4000/20230910_124326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5PUi1UFTM9f-sZxh1VruKytrf0RaZ6MfiuT_IYE6bA_qdW7TbUNgMyInn_4hiT5IhfMq-io-dwuozfNfcUROUYKUvKkKNi4le-4z2A3HdDZAVu7pyPQNC37FAUpudIR4X29Nv0arR-zyNB_dUsSBXZbcGur77bdp5fUlWZ7xhEM3yWWJztvCYTTG/w400-h300/20230910_124326.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9Vp6I5CH7cvt69PKnNit7bK5LYFEPFEEL1vv9l8rykfk-0JI3U7SIT9jnD-J4KRo3C04DxK82o6j-oTe4iQ5yGa8SGZFj_aF-97_mHMdwcoGUO4MgW_mFq6hyphenhyphenTs5McygmMmvQOO1dszrUcJCX3gDcarGXNsqA6nHoIJi9q5V1BM1QqLkqt3Lp7VJ/s4032/20230910_124622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9Vp6I5CH7cvt69PKnNit7bK5LYFEPFEEL1vv9l8rykfk-0JI3U7SIT9jnD-J4KRo3C04DxK82o6j-oTe4iQ5yGa8SGZFj_aF-97_mHMdwcoGUO4MgW_mFq6hyphenhyphenTs5McygmMmvQOO1dszrUcJCX3gDcarGXNsqA6nHoIJi9q5V1BM1QqLkqt3Lp7VJ/w480-h640/20230910_124622.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8yVAIPRikuHHu2CLzVFWnljxOfroqdjQ-NN5lx6BujaovxhZpZWn-7FvKclG1NxcthMiQIMvLvf97yq0xytgBa9bnn1Vg8wl0Pi6UuvOE8Il6wcoofdz7x_5k75F4egttD1LsUA9b0BPUKHOgi3Bj5Lk0Ml9Fg3OLRcOM_dRdEAaZ5tiRgd-tMN/s4032/20230910_124932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8yVAIPRikuHHu2CLzVFWnljxOfroqdjQ-NN5lx6BujaovxhZpZWn-7FvKclG1NxcthMiQIMvLvf97yq0xytgBa9bnn1Vg8wl0Pi6UuvOE8Il6wcoofdz7x_5k75F4egttD1LsUA9b0BPUKHOgi3Bj5Lk0Ml9Fg3OLRcOM_dRdEAaZ5tiRgd-tMN/w480-h640/20230910_124932.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We walked to the top in the rain, looking around every nook and cranny. As we got back down, I read the information sign about Álfaborg.</p><p><i>"According to regional folklore, Borgarfjörður eystri is home to a large population of elves. The fjord derives its name from Álfaborg (Palace of the Elves), which is the residence of the Icelandic elf-queen Borghildur. An easy path leads to the top of Álfaborg, which has a panoramic viewpoint. Álfaborg is a reserved area since 1976 and an interesting place to visit, especially if you believe in the hidden people. They don't mind passers-by as long as one respects their residence. In Icelandic folklore, the elves are often described as similar to humans, but taller, fairer and more beautiful. Elves in Iceland are often called "hidden people" because of how difficult it is to see them. Their homes (inside the rocks) are similar to those of 19th century Iceland, just a bit nicer."</i></p><p>"Well, that's not what I thought at all." I said, feeling stupid and misled by film once more (for years I believed Dilophosaurus spat poison and had a frill, the difference between fiction and reality).</p><p>There was a little cafe nearby, and I asked my Wife if she wished to stop for some lunch, but she wanted to continue on to Borgarfjörður eystri in the hops of seeing some wild puffins.<br />It was a short drive to this little harbour, and as we approached there was a sign saying the Puffins seasons, which was a month earlier then we had read online, which was a month later than any tourism stuff had told us. But we still had hope we might spot a rouge one that had not flown out to see. There was a cafe/restaurant here which had opening hours and dates out the front, however was closed even though we were there between the dates and times. They had left a door open with access to the toilets however. But my Wife got annoyed at it not being open and saying it should be (I should say hangry), it didn't help there was not a puffin in sight and so we looked at the empty holes they had burrowed and walked around the little harbour looking at jellyfish.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF7l58drR2hpyF0G81dws9o5CpaqTU0qsIqppqJq36_1sT7Sf0vtPwkUEAiWPLvPKwzykl4ti7nrRRumwcVuF96SP6dBLeiF2yecPMvN97rLZR8QcdBbYbcTSHIx329DkySxLnKr5GvInQENl-hrhFIPQYG29IKcbc8YQLp-H5zfChhvlyddH433T/s4032/20230910_133337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigF7l58drR2hpyF0G81dws9o5CpaqTU0qsIqppqJq36_1sT7Sf0vtPwkUEAiWPLvPKwzykl4ti7nrRRumwcVuF96SP6dBLeiF2yecPMvN97rLZR8QcdBbYbcTSHIx329DkySxLnKr5GvInQENl-hrhFIPQYG29IKcbc8YQLp-H5zfChhvlyddH433T/w480-h640/20230910_133337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7iGrF19v9We54LytKI1NfHJX9P7xf64HW0PuSqImxs0QB5voK3saG1X-HDCbj92kFBncFq16xXKY-Fv0t1bSXLxoIx33boLI3KKK-BwdkG2KqI9I47UtHkq5eAgwuLoK1YPJipVf6Zw3R4ABr-VJtT4EOvUkPd0Dp8uJMz0pa3RaKpXK-AGTfXIH/s4032/20230910_132354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7iGrF19v9We54LytKI1NfHJX9P7xf64HW0PuSqImxs0QB5voK3saG1X-HDCbj92kFBncFq16xXKY-Fv0t1bSXLxoIx33boLI3KKK-BwdkG2KqI9I47UtHkq5eAgwuLoK1YPJipVf6Zw3R4ABr-VJtT4EOvUkPd0Dp8uJMz0pa3RaKpXK-AGTfXIH/w480-h640/20230910_132354.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We had to drive back through Bakkagerði for about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to our accommodation at Hótel Hallormsstaður. I suggested we stop in at the cafe I had seen near Álfaborg, named Álfacafé.</p><p>As we entered it was a cute rustic looking cafe with some stuffed puffins, ("We finally see a Puffin!" I joked), and decorated with local artifacts which I thought was really cool. We looked at the menu and I noticed the 'Taste of Iceland' which was a coffee with a shot of brennivín in it. I ordered that for something a little different and started reading the little stones on each table that had a mythological name and description. Our table said 'Snotra' - the mysterious Elf Lady.</p><p>As we drove back up the mountain (going back the direction we had come to get to Hallormsstaður, we found the hillsides now covered in snow.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMeV9As6JPkSYPWvUGrultYQwM9CHvGEiejxwC5GPrtgyxXpXFQQGRwiZZScKiEzmxH7lSs0BM05EP5irfeQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We continued the long drive to Hallormsstaður, where I should comment now, a lot of these Icelandic names, whose pronunciations you can look up how they were actually meant to be said. But along our Iceland trip I just glanced at the name a lot of the time and made up my own word pretty much for them, calling this destination 'Hal-mor-sted' or 'Hal-more-sted-or' which is in no way how the place is said, but I'm uncultured swine.</p><p>As we drove our way, there, we encountered some sheep crossing the round. Once more in a group of three. We had to be careful the entire way around Iceland as we were sent a 'driving in Iceland' video for tourists about farmers free range sheep, and if you hit one you had to fork up the cash for it, it was a quirky and odd video giving us our very first impressions of Iceland.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D4kMt3QkUMQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="D4kMt3QkUMQ"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquuEyHAEVbB1flKijlGX8s3C2qroFqWTp_wz2j3mklJ_7CoLSa4j5l0-AV0Dpnt6uZhNrIJkRYQGe8d-F9WmBoLfu8wu36WAyP0JDhdSXeR4mXGxjxVxoZgbsY3Wjt1AIpNA8QyfgqWQm5i-S0ZGOHkX-6B69l57zaOaqvPfW33MA8aDo89DOCGSA/s4032/20230910_151405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjquuEyHAEVbB1flKijlGX8s3C2qroFqWTp_wz2j3mklJ_7CoLSa4j5l0-AV0Dpnt6uZhNrIJkRYQGe8d-F9WmBoLfu8wu36WAyP0JDhdSXeR4mXGxjxVxoZgbsY3Wjt1AIpNA8QyfgqWQm5i-S0ZGOHkX-6B69l57zaOaqvPfW33MA8aDo89DOCGSA/w480-h640/20230910_151405.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We eventually arrived at Hótel Hallormsstaður, checking in while I eyed of a deer head hanging on the wall in the reception area. We headed down to a room down the hallway, to rinse of and relax, really admiring the view from our room window while my Wife relaxed with a cup of tea and I looked up restaurants in the nearest town, Egilsstaðir, a 23-minute drive from our hotel which was situated in the Hallormsstaður National Forest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm51BgQJlqnBmyjNt1wU6BuwEPEf-7a7RhBgvzrHq-jMby8Lls9izMDhnMXVSGDCozwBz1NasS9yMvsYwPEOhzANX8JpYofE8FlOx0cg7Np2hjlW81ZY8WWJ2IBESQ_hwxqnXtG9hnAB0Q-Tt21XsSWXflYFXGxlaIv8d7FEksrsQF8DUjca83RJC/s4032/20230910_161422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYm51BgQJlqnBmyjNt1wU6BuwEPEf-7a7RhBgvzrHq-jMby8Lls9izMDhnMXVSGDCozwBz1NasS9yMvsYwPEOhzANX8JpYofE8FlOx0cg7Np2hjlW81ZY8WWJ2IBESQ_hwxqnXtG9hnAB0Q-Tt21XsSWXflYFXGxlaIv8d7FEksrsQF8DUjca83RJC/w400-h300/20230910_161422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1rYd2IY-mZV2xHGtc-9vd08oOa-wVrOVobM7JjbMnSv9AZ3K5gaoa15GzpmX1JMcpE47CzAcIzCfQ6Cmrj64ajqotu6E6jRW3lCW2rGZce1UKDCxUc50hCHxGTy2mNvF33mR10e2063oMgXVnIgx_akc2yKCQf9Gt-JmBchTPLxlbkxSeAE_Uk3z/s4032/20230910_194750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1rYd2IY-mZV2xHGtc-9vd08oOa-wVrOVobM7JjbMnSv9AZ3K5gaoa15GzpmX1JMcpE47CzAcIzCfQ6Cmrj64ajqotu6E6jRW3lCW2rGZce1UKDCxUc50hCHxGTy2mNvF33mR10e2063oMgXVnIgx_akc2yKCQf9Gt-JmBchTPLxlbkxSeAE_Uk3z/w400-h300/20230910_194750.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br />My Wife had wanted to go to Skálinn Diner, an American diner of burgers and chips, that she had also seen in the video by STUFR. I didn't want to eat boring food, having come to a foreign country, I wanted to try interesting things. I found the Salt Café & Bistro and we went there instead, enjoying some deep-fried white cheese with red currant jelly as an entree and having a reindeer burger with brie, red currant jam, red onion in balsamic and horseradish sauce. <br /><br />However when we first entered, we were told they couldn't do burger as they were 'out of beef'.<br />"So I can't get the reindeer burger?" I asked.<br />"Oh yes we can do that!" The waitress responded, evidently excited I wasn't another disappointed customer.<br />The burger and entree were both absolutely delicious, and I felt mentally better knowing I hadn't eaten some boring meal. "We don't eat horse in the states." I mocked in an American accent to my Wife.<br />Afterwards we crossed the road to the Netto to buy some lunch for we had planned a lot of bushwalking/hiking or whatever name you wish to use for the act of getting out and walking in nature, which was why we were excited to come to Hallormsstaður National Forest, as it was the largest forest in the whole of Iceland.<br />As we headed to the Netto there was a pop-up food truck selling game (a lot of venison), with warnings about buckshot in the food. It had a few interesting food options, and I told my Wife if there were still there tomorrow, we would grab that for dinner (though I think she was slightly disappointed to not go to the American diner).</p><p><b>Day 6 - </b>Once more we were up early to have breakfast, I again ate bacon, eggs and more processed meat and commenting that I thought eating it every morning was starting to catch up with me, and that I could 'feel it'. We got set in our gear to head off to walk up to our first destination, the waterfalls called Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss. As we walked to our car I heard a crack, I looked down and found I had stepped on a small puddle of water that had frozen over overnight. When we reached the car we found also, that or windscreen had frozen, and so we removed the ice scraped that had come with the car from the boot and began chiseling away at the ice. I told my Wife to turn the car on, to put the heating on to help from the inside, eventually getting it clear enough that we could see, we headed to our destination to begin our walk.</p><p>The drive there winded all through the forests of Hallormsstaður, which had a series of walks all through it that we also planned to do after our walk up to these waterfalls. <br />As we arrived and looked at the long, steep walk up to the waterfalls, my Wife joked "Do we really need to see more waterfalls?" Jokingly wanting to get out of the uphill walk. Before we began our uphill walk, we noticed a food truck, walking over to it, it had a sign claiming to sell the only sheep's milk ice cream in Iceland, unfortunately it was not yet open. "Maybe when we get back down." I commented.</p><p>There were actually two different sides you could walk up to the waterfall, and we ended up walking up on the left side, which seemed steeper, but less winding.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX18O-QweSsAq2mnfM82ZoOYxNrDCYMMCUixdOBPF5Y_ArAgdp3js63mEnq9LE-rf8csDx7nFScUZ0_T_Lw1H_QZZh3CjjJqoLunwYF-U3Dkv_JHETHEW6GBQpzV2vDaa5I0rx0NcdUUtvavHVhsh034RCCe8GP7HvAtK0c0-ddkOBr5ttguOZZaw/s4032/20230911_090010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX18O-QweSsAq2mnfM82ZoOYxNrDCYMMCUixdOBPF5Y_ArAgdp3js63mEnq9LE-rf8csDx7nFScUZ0_T_Lw1H_QZZh3CjjJqoLunwYF-U3Dkv_JHETHEW6GBQpzV2vDaa5I0rx0NcdUUtvavHVhsh034RCCe8GP7HvAtK0c0-ddkOBr5ttguOZZaw/w480-h640/20230911_090010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We both struggled up the hill, either less fit then we thought we were, or the cumulative effect of doing so many walks catching up to us. "It's probably all the processed meat and cheese." I once more iterated as we struggled up the side and stopping to catch our breath, looking out over the Lagarfljót river, a river which a mythic serpent, the Lagarfljót Worm (Lagarfljótsormur) is said to reside. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFMUxuoU4Yl0RZkBRcSVsqbKv-YRZJoQEdTa90ETroI-fDxu2i074B5anyZpEeO4tkDKEIb5wYoz6f19v7CeHl564jsn5aGwXK9VvqS9YkOg6Hn4ejpN2GZgvZt-1Hhk9sBwnyhnjmt_Cj9KI9QprRPyE3x5Lskywinpcr3w3dMPAAA8gjP9aP74Y/s4032/20230911_090842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFMUxuoU4Yl0RZkBRcSVsqbKv-YRZJoQEdTa90ETroI-fDxu2i074B5anyZpEeO4tkDKEIb5wYoz6f19v7CeHl564jsn5aGwXK9VvqS9YkOg6Hn4ejpN2GZgvZt-1Hhk9sBwnyhnjmt_Cj9KI9QprRPyE3x5Lskywinpcr3w3dMPAAA8gjP9aP74Y/w480-h640/20230911_090842.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued up we could see Litlanesfoss with Hengifoss in the far distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7p_Y4EsAl8wjseqYXhiDpNG5L7dp_edDNDxCUkJAqKULryxKROt8tGc769HWxdfbHpglEQ4ejbuBlf5sXSVyIzn2AMZnmVbBcLlqfObY-eDtUrgEwCEuOb74zZ2RtWeECQxKsrYXJrS34CzHldqBSO0ZniURGdaXTYdCzJakZYY3atpZhEM-zrvB/s4032/20230911_091646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7p_Y4EsAl8wjseqYXhiDpNG5L7dp_edDNDxCUkJAqKULryxKROt8tGc769HWxdfbHpglEQ4ejbuBlf5sXSVyIzn2AMZnmVbBcLlqfObY-eDtUrgEwCEuOb74zZ2RtWeECQxKsrYXJrS34CzHldqBSO0ZniURGdaXTYdCzJakZYY3atpZhEM-zrvB/w480-h640/20230911_091646.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we got to Litlanesfoss, we found there was no good view from this side of it.<br />"Hopefully there is a trail over, letting it loop, and then we can walk down the other side." I said.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUDhohM5lc8Rx4tXPkhJOuTxJkC3m8XxIRsHqhCu_x0PUVHm6jL-KIqAbzOqtlj1lPGUeKO1lgxf9pAnn__QJEjEbxKvDDlWvUaZFjWPlJUmhehNOOq7aPcfUV49nONAEfHzIizoMVipfUa9BDv74SHVAQ2fjumvrY4Cm62_jXjhCi0wEv1yhCTpN/s4032/20230911_092559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUDhohM5lc8Rx4tXPkhJOuTxJkC3m8XxIRsHqhCu_x0PUVHm6jL-KIqAbzOqtlj1lPGUeKO1lgxf9pAnn__QJEjEbxKvDDlWvUaZFjWPlJUmhehNOOq7aPcfUV49nONAEfHzIizoMVipfUa9BDv74SHVAQ2fjumvrY4Cm62_jXjhCi0wEv1yhCTpN/w400-h300/20230911_092559.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEz4DpkAc_ppIOEEESXqt4YZswq_50y7rdnKjGHU0EYOai2wX83XJinCZ4XyN3tIAVuB8MXGWM-7gZYIyqWgIdwxk8WeKVqYiCD3uSZJM4ux61E8K8Rs3YGp8yeowv1uMgsK4gN4TdDg6EMPdSH3kdSGSkND-aQWIKZ0OL-2hY2fKlMoLsXHQC51e/s4032/20230911_092843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEz4DpkAc_ppIOEEESXqt4YZswq_50y7rdnKjGHU0EYOai2wX83XJinCZ4XyN3tIAVuB8MXGWM-7gZYIyqWgIdwxk8WeKVqYiCD3uSZJM4ux61E8K8Rs3YGp8yeowv1uMgsK4gN4TdDg6EMPdSH3kdSGSkND-aQWIKZ0OL-2hY2fKlMoLsXHQC51e/w400-h300/20230911_092843.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After a pretty steep walk, we could see the Hengifoss in front of us, and the path was much less steep, however, there was a pretty muddy and slightly slippery bit to walk around, and I made sure to hold my Wife hand and help her walk around this muddy slope and back onto the path, making sure she didn't slip.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvoYESwIB3_la9h5N63knh3f66tArZtfr6EkP0huY8A42FUf14AfjOEzNU_NvwqN83cDrOy3M-n7LN7HZr5jXp_9IQrRKtCK69ENDbD2UiR-Az_qIgUgS9W7-sKKyTvk791gLFFzLjl9SMKRwNIux7Jnlx1ptSDbA5Zk3uk_KEG7241FU7plswc8U/s4032/20230911_093305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvoYESwIB3_la9h5N63knh3f66tArZtfr6EkP0huY8A42FUf14AfjOEzNU_NvwqN83cDrOy3M-n7LN7HZr5jXp_9IQrRKtCK69ENDbD2UiR-Az_qIgUgS9W7-sKKyTvk791gLFFzLjl9SMKRwNIux7Jnlx1ptSDbA5Zk3uk_KEG7241FU7plswc8U/w400-h300/20230911_093305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>After a short walk down the path you had to walk along a shallow section of uneven creek rocks.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkt-__hHNtJiBMs6pwkfBJTFoPpqYdazB2rzGNsswb-mXOlaoDPSKFp65cotzPb_9yL_AthSpYniZoCimceA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As we got closer to Hengifoss there was a boardwalk to a lookout section with giant rocks on top of it, with plaques on them saying that the stone fell in Spring of 2021, and that they remind that nature is ever changing.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYH1aSMgcvioYOLcyQgwdNEZFCIz8NAjvk6ACSmXp_jX6WpEWBMFfVgK20w_2JvyFb5hH7SLV2n6NZABDNgrtO66EH_5Z3DdpmEH6pLPHeJvfnGB-o-mZafP8AhpPJj35ekE97QhpLgYMqnRVcgYD6UhNIuC92X5JWTpYiWiIShJ45RV0IRaUoj9/s4032/20230911_095216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvYH1aSMgcvioYOLcyQgwdNEZFCIz8NAjvk6ACSmXp_jX6WpEWBMFfVgK20w_2JvyFb5hH7SLV2n6NZABDNgrtO66EH_5Z3DdpmEH6pLPHeJvfnGB-o-mZafP8AhpPJj35ekE97QhpLgYMqnRVcgYD6UhNIuC92X5JWTpYiWiIShJ45RV0IRaUoj9/w480-h640/20230911_095216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The boardwalk came to an end, that was where the lookout for Hengifoss was, with rope around it signifying that you were obviously not meant to walk any closer towards the waterfall, which was still a short distance away. We chose to respect the wishes of Iceland, but of course as we sat watching the waterfall, people simply walked underneath and began heading up to the waterfall. In principle I have against this, but when you're asked by a foreign country not to, for whatever reasons, you simply respect that. There are plenty of waterfalls around the would you can walk right up to, and I frequently do this in Australia. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApbC7fqxRh3uOA8P94DhZCzUygGFWWGy9XRIhims5E5I46SKssJMN8EJDIOjG-r7uMYlQ5imibp998UC6MiFyyiqx8uwZzcPkClwUCeeY9C1ARueRF9whxGPTtyaewI9zAAIJHEDbq1gE6GXsfTcbTfurVLg5G0bKN7DKVqLNj0-E-r1lUVQjMajr/s4032/20230911_095056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApbC7fqxRh3uOA8P94DhZCzUygGFWWGy9XRIhims5E5I46SKssJMN8EJDIOjG-r7uMYlQ5imibp998UC6MiFyyiqx8uwZzcPkClwUCeeY9C1ARueRF9whxGPTtyaewI9zAAIJHEDbq1gE6GXsfTcbTfurVLg5G0bKN7DKVqLNj0-E-r1lUVQjMajr/w480-h640/20230911_095056.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8b5oBKW-akJLjfP6vC_98YqYMZI6atvlTndtmYl_ilC_-N3E-LrO3Z9D-FY9eJ79p3HjPIK0Eou7ATAIjJO8DR-cajTYHemIgcQyo4m3i0NUtXjwOkuiYmerezrhlQRvrpRUgL3WD3Ipiwx-WVcWUWjEQIozzQGoa4yIdbN8O0tWZlGNcfsi3sdP1/s4032/20230911_094707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8b5oBKW-akJLjfP6vC_98YqYMZI6atvlTndtmYl_ilC_-N3E-LrO3Z9D-FY9eJ79p3HjPIK0Eou7ATAIjJO8DR-cajTYHemIgcQyo4m3i0NUtXjwOkuiYmerezrhlQRvrpRUgL3WD3Ipiwx-WVcWUWjEQIozzQGoa4yIdbN8O0tWZlGNcfsi3sdP1/w480-h640/20230911_094707.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After a while more and more people started reaching the lookout, so as it began to crowd we decided to head back down the opposite side, hoping that the food truck would be open now. However as we took the opposite side back down, which was longer, but less steep, we arrived at an unopen food truck, and had to just head off to the next thing on our itinerary, Skriðuklaustur.<br /><br />As we drove down the road we ended up pulling up at Snæfellsstofa Visitor Center, (it's taking all my willpower not to spell that as Centre).</p><p>It was a short walk from here, and we passed Leiktæki, or 'Playground' with a giant billboard with artificial 'indoor' rock climbing holds on it. I ended up climbing my way across this with my Wife getting cranky with me. "It's for kids." She said scolding me.<br />"I'm just a big kid." I retorted.</p><p>We walked down the path between the neatly lined trees towards Skriðuklaustur (Former scenic farmstead of acclaimed author Gunnar Gunnarsson, featuring exhibits & a charming cafe.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4btiNJWpOwJPRdw06tP7eKA9uyrZO3GrGP4R6XOvFWEdPEeiBbGF0PGRbFin-KxA1hrMyk0bCeYiG54uVqV3pd15wizR_CZXDrIyS2xkKUGRt1IP7eMwsHc8FjvkH4IXh8kZMx1rip-DkSVdyCqvYkjwfK1z9UotESFCCmxGAF2adHb8pzpoq7j-D/s4032/20230911_105743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4btiNJWpOwJPRdw06tP7eKA9uyrZO3GrGP4R6XOvFWEdPEeiBbGF0PGRbFin-KxA1hrMyk0bCeYiG54uVqV3pd15wizR_CZXDrIyS2xkKUGRt1IP7eMwsHc8FjvkH4IXh8kZMx1rip-DkSVdyCqvYkjwfK1z9UotESFCCmxGAF2adHb8pzpoq7j-D/w480-h640/20230911_105743.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We'd had a quick look at the menu of this place before leaving the Hengifoss carpark. "Ooooh they do reindeer pie." I said, keen to eat that.</div><div>"You've eaten reindeer before." My Wife said.</div><div>"But not in a pie!" I answered.</div><p>As we entered the little cafe, we found it empty and an older lady was there.<br />I enquired about getting the reindeer pie, as there were no physical copies of menus to be seen.<br />"Yes, I'm thinking of doing the meat balls first." She responded. A very confusing answer to me.<br />She continued that food would be available from 11am onwards. I replied in a way implying we would come back, however her confusing answer, and the time spent waiting around (and the pie itself was very expensive), so we decided to just leave and head to the forest and begin our day of walks.</p><p>However, on our way back, it looked like the food truck was now open, and so we pulled in at the Hengifoss carpark and bought two little tubs of the sheep milk ice cream. A Rhubarb flavoured one, and a blueberry one.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiWLjeB1iAfiGRvGzV2Lvff96GvDQ-Y6BwH9JZaVJD4iykucIuiM1P7Y9l_jxKdRw23wSkorhERaO8SxjRm7JimUqLtHWYGSITSUiI9KFoV_7N8XV4K_0TzxR1tXer05xVQNNHgmpAh1PpzXzQj0OL7SuX3suW1GUnI-mbp2XaEwbUWrqQIxVuCih/s4032/20230911_113428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiWLjeB1iAfiGRvGzV2Lvff96GvDQ-Y6BwH9JZaVJD4iykucIuiM1P7Y9l_jxKdRw23wSkorhERaO8SxjRm7JimUqLtHWYGSITSUiI9KFoV_7N8XV4K_0TzxR1tXer05xVQNNHgmpAh1PpzXzQj0OL7SuX3suW1GUnI-mbp2XaEwbUWrqQIxVuCih/w400-h300/20230911_113428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We drove back across the Lagarfljót river, pulling up in a carpark along the side of the road, with a walk headed to Guttormslundur a grove with the tallest tree in Iceland.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6aPtW1vbPA7yitYcE8kzEzghwI6oAEXpDoGViT1I0yUly4AJjIQDE4WJDgAZvMv5z4EacxPQ9SJn9QqO_nqTe3mtvz-7gjWyXpJvFplpic7jm03Bnpwyp5QTjKOOQtz1hpuRkRKsqRq-JaNZz-EtN6hDeoDOL9SzF5CcuX9fTE9-CffJoFosc5G-/s4032/20230911_115522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6aPtW1vbPA7yitYcE8kzEzghwI6oAEXpDoGViT1I0yUly4AJjIQDE4WJDgAZvMv5z4EacxPQ9SJn9QqO_nqTe3mtvz-7gjWyXpJvFplpic7jm03Bnpwyp5QTjKOOQtz1hpuRkRKsqRq-JaNZz-EtN6hDeoDOL9SzF5CcuX9fTE9-CffJoFosc5G-/w400-h300/20230911_115522.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtmUaldkbODQ7-vDZbHQ9z13IqPoQRqOrOA2Z80s_LFDW-fGJnz3KONjVlF7FwrtDqO1rO3ffypvkYf9W8O3YewvaqsSMJ_8pougxd2mGZIhm6dOYCG4evM3XwuIG_il2qI1-jtjiBcgu5xJtXDmRGUkOw2ClvsCBodDlNcDIHxD-RMtGs8IF_irj/s3648/20230911_115627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtmUaldkbODQ7-vDZbHQ9z13IqPoQRqOrOA2Z80s_LFDW-fGJnz3KONjVlF7FwrtDqO1rO3ffypvkYf9W8O3YewvaqsSMJ_8pougxd2mGZIhm6dOYCG4evM3XwuIG_il2qI1-jtjiBcgu5xJtXDmRGUkOw2ClvsCBodDlNcDIHxD-RMtGs8IF_irj/w480-h640/20230911_115627.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhTOvZwSt8ctWT_rdwXjWKg0OyBhJxKQBN0UkKke3Awtag8uM0-kT_eyFSv5vQbKGuYpM9XUmLydPHgFyGfFdTzygL0ZVLQjQHuxzUVt8hRlr-FrF7Hf0VUZFkmd2-i4vVSabwpbzm92OsxsCk4c4-iXmrXVuCo9nJO-FSohQEfnptP6ixWCVFOO_/s4000/20230911_115948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhTOvZwSt8ctWT_rdwXjWKg0OyBhJxKQBN0UkKke3Awtag8uM0-kT_eyFSv5vQbKGuYpM9XUmLydPHgFyGfFdTzygL0ZVLQjQHuxzUVt8hRlr-FrF7Hf0VUZFkmd2-i4vVSabwpbzm92OsxsCk4c4-iXmrXVuCo9nJO-FSohQEfnptP6ixWCVFOO_/w480-h640/20230911_115948.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>However, while looking at it, we couldn't distinguish a notable height difference to the other trees around. "Actually some of the others look taller." We said bemused.<br /></p><p>I wanted to continue along this path but my Wife said it just led 'to a campground' and that she had looked it up before and that there was a series of walks and made me load up a maps of the 11 different trails in Hallormsstadhur Forest. These had different names, and we marked with different colour tags throughout. We looked at where we were on this map, deciding to walk along the road and do the Purple trail (The Partglacier Stream), a short 200m trail set in between the looping Yellow trail (The Part) a 3km trail.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichrDZF2KAZznrrYP1f8RfHWuiwi9w9icN5_7U_Df-HDfjBmFFyjyyqJuXUAKbQQkyXfxMo7vetMSvUZCbvqN_uzAVOKpH8d0UUycJScIUyIyea_TTbeAshVi_EOlyiVCSX2ZbuFi5gGgjm6yAmEvEKofbTbXadneRyGSz5KZwcFBsIPbPknfTtzhV/s1409/Screenshot_20231122_174513_Drive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="984" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichrDZF2KAZznrrYP1f8RfHWuiwi9w9icN5_7U_Df-HDfjBmFFyjyyqJuXUAKbQQkyXfxMo7vetMSvUZCbvqN_uzAVOKpH8d0UUycJScIUyIyea_TTbeAshVi_EOlyiVCSX2ZbuFi5gGgjm6yAmEvEKofbTbXadneRyGSz5KZwcFBsIPbPknfTtzhV/w446-h640/Screenshot_20231122_174513_Drive.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><p>We walked this to the end where there was a little picnic table where we sat and enjoyed the quiet serenity of the woods.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_KJSghtqlQHFM7RjxWDt4i05RNqd4dUVIq1PnzJQnHL8qCnFu0M5_KHReJpLM94za4TvA1hKfUU0L9xO6mL6UkW-pZJfPMoQFaSzjH1TjtJqSQ7d3bD4d-nOmdG_uzpbtvCcmKUGlxz3HSLHSIIhoVlE8tCbwbPtwT0hgGvQJO-UJNCqZcSUiVCc/s4032/20230911_120621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_KJSghtqlQHFM7RjxWDt4i05RNqd4dUVIq1PnzJQnHL8qCnFu0M5_KHReJpLM94za4TvA1hKfUU0L9xO6mL6UkW-pZJfPMoQFaSzjH1TjtJqSQ7d3bD4d-nOmdG_uzpbtvCcmKUGlxz3HSLHSIIhoVlE8tCbwbPtwT0hgGvQJO-UJNCqZcSUiVCc/w400-h300/20230911_120621.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbK4Z32gIK_MVM3gLbiVLhadLZATpz_BgmP2lSRClRwP11a14IqAdXJbpJTzH9uQ2JCjJPR3w5gsgydZHuAtGPlZvuw0gIs349qAyqECXU1_5tIPrGQEfS79UNh_cIca_LEBpiBXU8sUEr8ZJierFjGZD3-mWq6wse01eQ7gNI4y-yQsDbFFIU8yF/s4032/20230911_120841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbK4Z32gIK_MVM3gLbiVLhadLZATpz_BgmP2lSRClRwP11a14IqAdXJbpJTzH9uQ2JCjJPR3w5gsgydZHuAtGPlZvuw0gIs349qAyqECXU1_5tIPrGQEfS79UNh_cIca_LEBpiBXU8sUEr8ZJierFjGZD3-mWq6wse01eQ7gNI4y-yQsDbFFIU8yF/w480-h640/20230911_120841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaLz4gfivTPfvwD_Y_5k22QMqv3kqrft_2Ag4arGEShHuxc0cPvqGthpE3LF8syxSNj8REiG3VDdbpQnvPb1MXT4D0TX3JelLoT5O6e1E1G7EI44d0YzWlq2VF1RQ35aHKY4HsT3Con09r4pu01sRYjM1G0qt34u2nhMMRAW05Mc6vm4_ky5NvBeU/s4032/20230911_121109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaLz4gfivTPfvwD_Y_5k22QMqv3kqrft_2Ag4arGEShHuxc0cPvqGthpE3LF8syxSNj8REiG3VDdbpQnvPb1MXT4D0TX3JelLoT5O6e1E1G7EI44d0YzWlq2VF1RQ35aHKY4HsT3Con09r4pu01sRYjM1G0qt34u2nhMMRAW05Mc6vm4_ky5NvBeU/w480-h640/20230911_121109.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Before heading back and doing the light Yellow trail (Light River Slope) which was 850m.</p><p>While walking through an enjoying the beautiful forests of Pine, Birch, Firs, and Beech, there was an assortment of different mushrooms, and a cute little bird called a Snipe (<i>Gallinago gallinago</i>) that made the forest it's home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t_x2UabWtcc39IYsK7WdHVKptkF4Uz2G-N2Ec3BUzudtX5RsqRCAciopvD3qJpMjRiodPe7Uc3hjOLi1QeBOCVlGl56qEPV0clIAD0CE8kAZCANJX7rLeTYP1n1Lvm0MNTQVxg6ILDikjL_hRA7xn0DeJAFRLsdHPmpVpUdhwi9hvyjM1gIavVnP/s4032/20230911_121230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t_x2UabWtcc39IYsK7WdHVKptkF4Uz2G-N2Ec3BUzudtX5RsqRCAciopvD3qJpMjRiodPe7Uc3hjOLi1QeBOCVlGl56qEPV0clIAD0CE8kAZCANJX7rLeTYP1n1Lvm0MNTQVxg6ILDikjL_hRA7xn0DeJAFRLsdHPmpVpUdhwi9hvyjM1gIavVnP/w480-h640/20230911_121230.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr7RwkjngiZfOpYPsG70SbPdABtNGJJBOk9J-56c9oYHVzKzvTAWsQxdFpGuT1TN-7mMYYQU2bfgCWD1yld4VMY7dYPKiiMSnCPh_2GyNxG34pihPkzpKNY80CTgsANM6010lJx-9ipzmSZR30BoefGIXVpd_a8npR7MEljGh3RqtFcCeiPzvVIde/s4032/20230911_122352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr7RwkjngiZfOpYPsG70SbPdABtNGJJBOk9J-56c9oYHVzKzvTAWsQxdFpGuT1TN-7mMYYQU2bfgCWD1yld4VMY7dYPKiiMSnCPh_2GyNxG34pihPkzpKNY80CTgsANM6010lJx-9ipzmSZR30BoefGIXVpd_a8npR7MEljGh3RqtFcCeiPzvVIde/w400-h300/20230911_122352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then set off along the Yellow trail (The Part), 3km.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv6yUoXjUM38CiTzx10Dytyr13gl9UwSWXXbnZzHt0B4P2w_fPpEBkiZgxa55qaT2030CPsrufWlgLD5wUIA8iwVKlD_Gpw1249jeWymIdLH0JtRsnfNMrVpSrWHo5seITS963Hg5ikCkiPgp2zyKqVKL0wa93pLwR8p0Ws1sTqSoj7s2LSr5vhjP/s4032/20230911_122931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: left;">We reached a field before following a short path down back to the road, while walking through we noticed a rainbow shining down onto the river in the distance.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUsqd6znWv6IwBYvao41oRiRzA0vo-H9RVPHXqo5ua_SDVP-lKy054V5neavIGXGlsjLZPSn5L1BRjHK2915JkYeEMnp6zg8wsiHDZWgdOuyX3mKz9Te6-xm4M9_gSwMQAHDlhc_Er0yWpsHf4iPbQcV2riaBE5nVh3TVDQaInx_ZcwIMjpUITd5Z/s4032/20230911_134148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUsqd6znWv6IwBYvao41oRiRzA0vo-H9RVPHXqo5ua_SDVP-lKy054V5neavIGXGlsjLZPSn5L1BRjHK2915JkYeEMnp6zg8wsiHDZWgdOuyX3mKz9Te6-xm4M9_gSwMQAHDlhc_Er0yWpsHf4iPbQcV2riaBE5nVh3TVDQaInx_ZcwIMjpUITd5Z/w480-h640/20230911_134148.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The Yellow trail seemed to take a long while and after completing it we both thought it felt longer than the 3kms. </p><p><a href="https://visitegilsstadir.is/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Hallormsstadaskogur2017_ens.pdf" target="_blank">We looked at our map PDF we had downloaded</a>, reading little bits of info, when I suggested we do the Red trail next, as it had ruins of a Viking age horse corral. We moved the car to the carpark on the road up from the Arboretum, deciding that we would do the red trail looping down to Guttormslundur once more, but continue on to the campground Atlavík, and follow that through to the Arboretum and back up to the car.</p><p>One of the things I usually do when writing my hiking/bushwalking blogs is take ample photos, many of which I never end up using. On occasion I say to myself while hiking that I want to 'take less pictures' and just enjoy doing that walk, but often find when it comes to writing it up, I don't have the recall, and due to the lack of pictures, including the ones I wouldn't have used anyway, I can't recall any some of the information in regards to the walks, which I found while looking through the pictures I took doing the Yellow and Red trails, finding it hard to distinguish when one walk became the other. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYAn28donxEx3U6UQmDmt7eMCeOeEq_YcMP1eyaSW6vF7vsNDiPhygO_R5guBT6HSLFyrAWW8bCq2f2eOT4qoTvyL8o24GxRb_gtj874twhBElLJmqDpN5KTo5xyfnUAyN48mnCXABFfOE30SGmYBURMxxARj8xbym1QfkJz2IJ5ktHAXqVyNn2WT/s4032/20230911_134808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYAn28donxEx3U6UQmDmt7eMCeOeEq_YcMP1eyaSW6vF7vsNDiPhygO_R5guBT6HSLFyrAWW8bCq2f2eOT4qoTvyL8o24GxRb_gtj874twhBElLJmqDpN5KTo5xyfnUAyN48mnCXABFfOE30SGmYBURMxxARj8xbym1QfkJz2IJ5ktHAXqVyNn2WT/w480-h640/20230911_134808.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizE0utQtimZCHsJqiyLv3toSJPsi1tSAbFE180j0xVscch_RS4KCJDP3_hXUGcC3NHf0FjA1kx2fdgsktEO734Ad9Lb1cHUoAMKxglBtmG7MRZVRghaS0QvO8aECzwrv51TkanU-H_6F_0ciTmztvEKFR9CUDKLa29AEHE37wWZKqnv5HdbJP2HP7/s4032/20230911_134846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizE0utQtimZCHsJqiyLv3toSJPsi1tSAbFE180j0xVscch_RS4KCJDP3_hXUGcC3NHf0FjA1kx2fdgsktEO734Ad9Lb1cHUoAMKxglBtmG7MRZVRghaS0QvO8aECzwrv51TkanU-H_6F_0ciTmztvEKFR9CUDKLa29AEHE37wWZKqnv5HdbJP2HP7/w480-h640/20230911_134846.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ujstoHuu838wg_86nrgbCpFAut9RoYpRDk6LUAq1mZk492ny9e6hn06kwy09IYxkXNXCshcJajX3WUJX4YBHbhntEIWnD75VG2LY3SzcOSbf_P8ipnIGH9hSYKQiPBT00SRKGnxOPmPYpEwMd9ba1j_kzrtll9V1uQ8XQ-Ex0UYWlwW8MWtR92T/s4032/20230911_135039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3ujstoHuu838wg_86nrgbCpFAut9RoYpRDk6LUAq1mZk492ny9e6hn06kwy09IYxkXNXCshcJajX3WUJX4YBHbhntEIWnD75VG2LY3SzcOSbf_P8ipnIGH9hSYKQiPBT00SRKGnxOPmPYpEwMd9ba1j_kzrtll9V1uQ8XQ-Ex0UYWlwW8MWtR92T/w480-h640/20230911_135039.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GwHtQgg9Tb8UJjBrZsvRm9V6_tji__BtpqjMwuB6MTZ6YE2Tg4knv1R9pZxBf3te9osZV706mqVgxKjjQJO9CBhgJcQd6QJbqgA3XEPIPm85ewCpjeR8C17bbCHU5AFbrUbJuq1ajG1NPP63-RIrHXkxIU_wJfpdiGJRsZCd85jvZN6XD_YJyYxw/s4032/20230911_143357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GwHtQgg9Tb8UJjBrZsvRm9V6_tji__BtpqjMwuB6MTZ6YE2Tg4knv1R9pZxBf3te9osZV706mqVgxKjjQJO9CBhgJcQd6QJbqgA3XEPIPm85ewCpjeR8C17bbCHU5AFbrUbJuq1ajG1NPP63-RIrHXkxIU_wJfpdiGJRsZCd85jvZN6XD_YJyYxw/w480-h640/20230911_143357.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>On the red trail, hoping to see the Viking age horse corral, we were never able to spot it, and as we came to the end of the trail (with stars on the PDF map marking scenic vistas) I assumed it wasn't too far back and really wanted to walk back in and try to find it, but my Wife reminded me there was still a lot of walks left and time was running out if I wanted to do them, so sad and upset we made our way down to the campground that was along the side of the Lagarfljót river.</p><p>As we arrived in the campground there was a big information board telling the folktale about the Lagarfljót Worm.</p><p>"<i><b>The Folktale</b><br />A long, long time ago, a young maiden living at the farm Hof acquired a golden ring.<br />She hid the ring under a snail and kept both in a box, for she heard that this was the way to increase gold. After a week had passed the girl decided to see how her ring was faring. When she looked, she saw the snail had grown so quickly that it was on the verge of bursting the box. Terrified, the girl took the box and threw it as far as she could into Lagarfljót lake. Time passed and the worm-monster grew in the waters until it became known, even infamous. Powerless against the creature's ravages, the farmers of the region asked for the aid of widely reputed sorcerers from Finland. The Finns came to Iceland, appraised the situation, and concluded that the worm-monster might prove too strong for them. Nonetheless, they prepared for a struggle with the creature in the depths of the lake. The Finns remained submerged a long time, while the people on the land noticed tremors in the earth and turbulence in the water, evidencing the fierceness of the battle. Finally, the Finns resurfaced, weak and weary, and declared that they had managed to chain the worm-monster's head and tail to the bottom of the lake. There the creature would like until the end of days, unable to harm anyone. That is why no one need fear the worm-monster, though its humps occasionally be seen rising from the lake.</i>"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlePo4_2q5Z3SW6mN_Hl7r2WMSeFc-HxR4WOVLotOHTnobFAIKCx2a-Qlv578jHWRhMKdad5rVDAxpCXCIGjv8MY_ospzqkGh9nFYASb0BRET8lgBDAjcnUlt4iomOOoHyz7onmlEk21pifxuTNitucdymdm2gbDwy02lly4wOny-OaYGYgm2ygieI/s4032/20230911_150447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlePo4_2q5Z3SW6mN_Hl7r2WMSeFc-HxR4WOVLotOHTnobFAIKCx2a-Qlv578jHWRhMKdad5rVDAxpCXCIGjv8MY_ospzqkGh9nFYASb0BRET8lgBDAjcnUlt4iomOOoHyz7onmlEk21pifxuTNitucdymdm2gbDwy02lly4wOny-OaYGYgm2ygieI/w480-h640/20230911_150447.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As the trail along the lake got a bit steep I pushed my way up to the top, where there was a little natural break wall blocking the wind, that I collapsed upon, panting, unable to catch my breath, feeling the amount of walking or exertion, or just the inability to breath from the lung damage caused by my Stem Cell Transplant. I eventually was able to catch my breath and we continued that walk around until we arrived back at the car.</p><p>There were still so many more trails left, many of them longer, and we still had to drive in to town and get dinner, (and I think my Wife was getting over the walks now). I pushed for one more, and looking through the PDF we agreed to do the Brown trail (Road Forest). The map showed this heading in two directions from the road, one towards Lagarfljót and the other side that linked on to the Blue trail. We could not find a starting path heading towards Lagarfljót, so simply followed the path the other way, walking through some beautiful forest that I commented made me think of Japan (though we had never been there, but from what I had seen in pictures).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB93C5IFGIOm6RY4Fc4L93x245bsUtwrhMwJZQPcYbjiUPwCi6imPVf4iXZDhOubKhl42a_sRTXmXCWPzqGu4WhqtWUXd4n4n1yE3qPQ14lkFoLFjFdX-bTaAKfWU_RRuzmbXx49sRJlb0fA2gBYAExkhyphenhyphenQEXUqQUN3XLIqIxzTNZAJzXsW9-Ji0W/s4032/20230911_154107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB93C5IFGIOm6RY4Fc4L93x245bsUtwrhMwJZQPcYbjiUPwCi6imPVf4iXZDhOubKhl42a_sRTXmXCWPzqGu4WhqtWUXd4n4n1yE3qPQ14lkFoLFjFdX-bTaAKfWU_RRuzmbXx49sRJlb0fA2gBYAExkhyphenhyphenQEXUqQUN3XLIqIxzTNZAJzXsW9-Ji0W/w480-h640/20230911_154107.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaypEPW2or3psbsED2_kz9BxbFvDWneGfzZM4m6Cae6y_f2-nqb4tTSgHL3gZh6H-7Ka95Cb98srWR8se_twcp9Ec9IHSuTZg16M1zpXcWr75IkTdnHO_bO4x6kx82EEIWwacSxLjfk0qqRBBkjzdwVWBeW9Vz9BJxhQbT8lR96W41Q7BihxE4v6bJ/s4032/20230911_154202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaypEPW2or3psbsED2_kz9BxbFvDWneGfzZM4m6Cae6y_f2-nqb4tTSgHL3gZh6H-7Ka95Cb98srWR8se_twcp9Ec9IHSuTZg16M1zpXcWr75IkTdnHO_bO4x6kx82EEIWwacSxLjfk0qqRBBkjzdwVWBeW9Vz9BJxhQbT8lR96W41Q7BihxE4v6bJ/w400-h300/20230911_154202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We followed this up until it linked onto the Blue trail but I pushed to go just that little bit further, to where the Blue, Orange and Light Green trail met. My Wife allowed this, and we reached that. Heading back down to the car, and back to the hotel for a shower before we drove into town for dinner (hoping that the food truck would be there.</p><p>Upon arrival in town, we found the food truck was not there, and so I told my Wife that we could go to the Skálinn Diner as she had planned (but first checking out the N1 petrol station food prices (as we had yet to get servo food in Iceland), however for the price and portions the diner actually seemed cheaper, so we ended up heading there. I ended up ordering the 'Harry Pepper' burger, that was pretty decent that came with a huge side of fries. As we ate, more and more American families began arriving and I didn't even feel like I was in Iceland. After finishing the burger that was great I started snacking on the fries... I added some more salt... and more salt... and then started covering them in tabasco sauce that was on the table. It felt like the fries had been sitting out for 3 days, and they were pretty awful and I struggled digesting them, but tried to make myself eat them all so that food and money didn't go to waste (and so I didn't end up hungry later).<br />"Well, those were the worst fries I've ever eaten in my life." I commented as we left. "At least the burger was good."</p><p>We headed back to our hotel, opening the curtain and looking out over Lagarfljót until it was too dark to see it any longer, and we drew the curtain and went to bed, to repeated the cycle of early mornings.</p><p><b>Day 7 -</b> Once more we were up early to head to our breakfast buffet, (I tried to eat some fruit this time, but still ended up eating the same heavy stuff), and we began the drive towards Stuðlagil Canyon. Witnessing one of many waterfalls in a distance from the road as we drove.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TFgyacw3czQl7I9Kv9tGPRFMK7TogpUjg-iNkgczRQX8Rvd1AGU6JkMYpy-0rZcDpSYKLwBZUMq6QiZxAWE1Icpc8MbAF51vfLjRmF01pDAbIZUo_MHeoZmgbEcf3L5YkxL25qMFg8PVMmh3HeSeafEPJAqPSo-s1N7avxxxgyU669WrZ4HE_Dog/s4032/20230912_090024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TFgyacw3czQl7I9Kv9tGPRFMK7TogpUjg-iNkgczRQX8Rvd1AGU6JkMYpy-0rZcDpSYKLwBZUMq6QiZxAWE1Icpc8MbAF51vfLjRmF01pDAbIZUo_MHeoZmgbEcf3L5YkxL25qMFg8PVMmh3HeSeafEPJAqPSo-s1N7avxxxgyU669WrZ4HE_Dog/w480-h640/20230912_090024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a bit of an iffy drive out to the canyon, and seeing a bit of it my Wife tried to turn around on the road but down herself panicking as the dirt road wasn't so firm and their we edges of each side for her to do a 3 point turn so I had to swap over and drive for her (I felt more comfortable driving in situations like this than I did in a busy city where my Wife felt more comfortable). We headed to our next destination, another crater known as Krafla which was on our way to a new region of Iceland situated around Lake Mývatn. However, on our way there we began to see smoke rising from the mountains in the distance as we drove past lava fields. It began to stink up the car with the smell of sulphur (rotten egg/fart smell). As we reached the turn of to Krafla there was a back carpark with steam or smoke rising from it, I decided to pull in where there were cameras snapping your number plate and so we had to pay once more. I learned we had pulled in at Hverir, a geothermal area filled with bubbling pools of mud and steaming fumaroles emitting sulphur gas. My Wife absolutely hated it, barely wanting to get out of the car, she found the smell too strong and repugnant that she felt like she would throw up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwnaba3npK3fYqISh4pEyp2m9AFQbo76MdocXR8nbnKJpeGEoWet9EKCT6ux1vF1TxV4jgr9Kx3tFMvV_gW5g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuxil-8pR0og011X4ETbxmeJLPqRwq3Gk7fE8JG3TCrwuP6mebf6ezC7IVMgBAhWvaPUn55xGrHeyIkt_s19ctpKenRZId0s865uVpWulHaiG55fo9ZEuWQTgGqWBMgbJlMF8nk5A2gQWHlo460PvqIwebZ2oi56OssJkkKp8QxwwFNjR2k6uZ8kF/s4032/20230912_104756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuxil-8pR0og011X4ETbxmeJLPqRwq3Gk7fE8JG3TCrwuP6mebf6ezC7IVMgBAhWvaPUn55xGrHeyIkt_s19ctpKenRZId0s865uVpWulHaiG55fo9ZEuWQTgGqWBMgbJlMF8nk5A2gQWHlo460PvqIwebZ2oi56OssJkkKp8QxwwFNjR2k6uZ8kF/w480-h640/20230912_104756.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffy3Df0lQ9ueVi1aEx9d7ivRLBMZFEl-mdSfkm8tIwEgmEX4HYoEAZo_4c-cGeGdZd9bmK7EYkuHGBqquHy91qYYNTqzAHfAPqftz8PGJzThpThWbIx8gBJ8CC7kku6Ik78Fi0TbxVDdCbM1JYvLYB-e8yYtlDY6Uc4ebUhpopaUsHQeOmw5NtPo6/s4032/20230912_105508.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffy3Df0lQ9ueVi1aEx9d7ivRLBMZFEl-mdSfkm8tIwEgmEX4HYoEAZo_4c-cGeGdZd9bmK7EYkuHGBqquHy91qYYNTqzAHfAPqftz8PGJzThpThWbIx8gBJ8CC7kku6Ik78Fi0TbxVDdCbM1JYvLYB-e8yYtlDY6Uc4ebUhpopaUsHQeOmw5NtPo6/w400-h300/20230912_105508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy-ni-CLANKlB0aT12rWBNRbAjasGTGnUJ0b3Y62Mqm2YJjdP7vW7bg0POOAf2gJrSMSvyXWO4kMm1J_zpzrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J3BVD3UgXGjiC5nUE3kvDMmmvz21lmf510ZwK5kAbR84FbI4eBHp5uFg11ZSGZuH55gROnAzoSsJFHk_omviWPc-BdwOKuCK6tiAKuSGw5MCSQBs1S9EmZWMTnGEAZDSNccmREGODvmWOhkaKXL60PiO-LC5p-7Yn6w1E4leD81tG_qwm0fjTbx0/s4000/20230912_110003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J3BVD3UgXGjiC5nUE3kvDMmmvz21lmf510ZwK5kAbR84FbI4eBHp5uFg11ZSGZuH55gROnAzoSsJFHk_omviWPc-BdwOKuCK6tiAKuSGw5MCSQBs1S9EmZWMTnGEAZDSNccmREGODvmWOhkaKXL60PiO-LC5p-7Yn6w1E4leD81tG_qwm0fjTbx0/w480-h640/20230912_110003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5XdhOzrzuCqaJ5Fm8pbjz892wCmSJcbdcesIgqXi9q37Hg6OPUbNmEvWO1Ns2aADSe9iboJMXzEVa8Y3J4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>"Maybe I don't find it too bad because I grew up around my brother David doing disgusting farts all the time, and although it stinks, at least I know it isn't coming out of someone else's ass, which makes it less gross."</p><p>None of this helped my Wife who just wanted to leave as I wandered around the area seeing why Iceland would be a great filming destination for films/TV Shows set on Mars or in space.</p><p>Eventually my Wife went back to the car, even inside it having her face covered and absolutely disgusted and sensitive to the smell.</p><p>I quickly rushed around exploring the area before heading back to the car to drive out past the Krafla power plant until we reached the crater. Where we did a walk around with the slight smell of sulphur still lingering in the air, or on my clothes.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFtY6_nRn6BIy6drgpm77PuNyhzhbaDWSK3Nd_IRZxBfU-FHOCN2HPpbmrK4s2UdZ3m243hS1i7bnrKZWqazCZSUx12iqqA1WtiXzE7zBMgpIaZx7ZJkaQHmkXIPLYuibTixsjGaKAY33vKF3JulfJhT5hs9mpAI3S-BPhrPw71b19GYaXvVcs0iC/s4000/20230912_112542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFtY6_nRn6BIy6drgpm77PuNyhzhbaDWSK3Nd_IRZxBfU-FHOCN2HPpbmrK4s2UdZ3m243hS1i7bnrKZWqazCZSUx12iqqA1WtiXzE7zBMgpIaZx7ZJkaQHmkXIPLYuibTixsjGaKAY33vKF3JulfJhT5hs9mpAI3S-BPhrPw71b19GYaXvVcs0iC/w400-h300/20230912_112542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxOjChpHzYiZUTTMfbBk43cI6a9CNq_wkKZsh_G6TolLCVi7BdgPFXPDnUNtVyevAOz4TawJXkgUdFCe9J9mCPLDRz0IhUwvMVZvSgp6PG08I60Ei5218-d1vkJRKOeEfC86AGsUitT41t-NZEfAsbpGcjvMBSrT9riwqfs0hc5Hoitx9WAJUv0Ko/s4000/20230912_113007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxOjChpHzYiZUTTMfbBk43cI6a9CNq_wkKZsh_G6TolLCVi7BdgPFXPDnUNtVyevAOz4TawJXkgUdFCe9J9mCPLDRz0IhUwvMVZvSgp6PG08I60Ei5218-d1vkJRKOeEfC86AGsUitT41t-NZEfAsbpGcjvMBSrT9riwqfs0hc5Hoitx9WAJUv0Ko/w480-h640/20230912_113007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>From here we headed to Lake Mývatn, stopping nearby a fish and chip shop to use the public toilet there. I was lucky to go straight away at the men's, but there was a bit of a line for the female toilet. As I came out my Wife was away not in line anymore.<br /></p><p>"Are you not going to go?" I asked.<br />"We were lined up and the woman in front let a bunch of old people go first. Like, we don't all need to go, so I said 'well fuck it then' and walked off." I could tell she'd gotten the toilet anger (when you're busting to wee and it makes you angry)<br />I suggested we head to the hotel to check in or just use the toilet there if we were too early to check in, I set the GPS to the hotel, Hótel Laxá, and we began the drive around the beautiful lake, while my Wife looked up our check in hours.<br />However we were too early to check in, and my Wife angrily just said she would hold it, but commented that you don't allow people to jump a line to a toilet because you have no idea how badly someone else lining up needed to go. "Like if that woman (the one who let the old lady go) didn't really need to go she should have just got out of the line."<br />I couldn't fault her logic, knowing how frustrating the urge to wee can be with no avenue, and as a guy I am privileged in my ability with this too.</p><p>We came to a spot with parking right by thew lake so I suggested we randomly pull up and eat our lunch here as it was such a beautiful spot. So we pulled up and sat by the side of the lake eating (once more) store-bought wraps.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlEfeRhXNZoFb7J_ipyF_-SbN21PGp9azgzBX-lw-8PnRA5UxuPKzos8iuMHsoYgrRlY9PcU2UU-knbhc-uwiZKhzpC37jRjgw2d4K8AQHeDfmVPHYNn6d-MkBO83859QAw4cYDghVZ5tmtUmDJ-zRzPcAPo4uLz2YsFJ4wW90cyHjJfes612R_8k/s4032/20230912_122312.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlEfeRhXNZoFb7J_ipyF_-SbN21PGp9azgzBX-lw-8PnRA5UxuPKzos8iuMHsoYgrRlY9PcU2UU-knbhc-uwiZKhzpC37jRjgw2d4K8AQHeDfmVPHYNn6d-MkBO83859QAw4cYDghVZ5tmtUmDJ-zRzPcAPo4uLz2YsFJ4wW90cyHjJfes612R_8k/w400-h300/20230912_122312.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCSgftsBAw3ZR32Bs6GgBS5hhcBpSOIidQBWnTI7HGTcroCJlxPzH6d5sPw6cajP4O51ma4016luwEofHXdkxk_DBtUcO_QVPM5uAc8JfhZ2eQ8fc3uoEGKrQfTHKJjqQ_LhiMsAEr1d_YcGXNOlfSTXUWMxcjfhJkUR5NLeIke8Kqnd1jGXzwxQv/s4000/20230912_122443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCSgftsBAw3ZR32Bs6GgBS5hhcBpSOIidQBWnTI7HGTcroCJlxPzH6d5sPw6cajP4O51ma4016luwEofHXdkxk_DBtUcO_QVPM5uAc8JfhZ2eQ8fc3uoEGKrQfTHKJjqQ_LhiMsAEr1d_YcGXNOlfSTXUWMxcjfhJkUR5NLeIke8Kqnd1jGXzwxQv/w480-h640/20230912_122443.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I found on the map Mývatn Visitor Center which was meant to have toilets and we set off that way passing the gorgeous Laxárdalur and our hotel.<br /><br />As we entered and my Wife went to the toilet I read up about the lake, with the information inside. We left from here to follow a walking path along the lake leading to Skútustaðagígar a series of pseudocraters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_DRiSsdYkJBi8raHPFfhUkwYk3so7-1ZcYlC3E0FGNWZeNkkV6dwLZVENfaTFcapEDk7DqPbjIQ8G1oedC8OM-pIDe_sFDbG3i4WwzStRdHNsObIBUpjtMF1YykHEbB-a2oNzda9BChbXVy5FR2w1k-UDq0BPbp5HK7iOQpZ6_dGj-I9a7f0Zgq_/s4032/20230912_124457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_DRiSsdYkJBi8raHPFfhUkwYk3so7-1ZcYlC3E0FGNWZeNkkV6dwLZVENfaTFcapEDk7DqPbjIQ8G1oedC8OM-pIDe_sFDbG3i4WwzStRdHNsObIBUpjtMF1YykHEbB-a2oNzda9BChbXVy5FR2w1k-UDq0BPbp5HK7iOQpZ6_dGj-I9a7f0Zgq_/w400-h300/20230912_124457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEqj4eKUfEnxzV-m2cAjsgmqHTj-navI4iFXEdVT_8PqTJ8ZqsjFz-p1RIUFwgGD3ZCKVJnx4PTIDMg7xB1hyphenhyphen8ZTxTZzgKCtc0hQkIWOMVGCtNqGON0i3Coy4dWx0lNKLvGs_4r_h1DLg4vCPx947p0SRVCjQmh2-SSBZvNKcL2dU36eMsaxc-U-B/s4032/20230912_124556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEqj4eKUfEnxzV-m2cAjsgmqHTj-navI4iFXEdVT_8PqTJ8ZqsjFz-p1RIUFwgGD3ZCKVJnx4PTIDMg7xB1hyphenhyphen8ZTxTZzgKCtc0hQkIWOMVGCtNqGON0i3Coy4dWx0lNKLvGs_4r_h1DLg4vCPx947p0SRVCjQmh2-SSBZvNKcL2dU36eMsaxc-U-B/w400-h300/20230912_124556.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYALwnRsSXBQcmoWGeOFwMBS4Kxt-rYGLs4V-ksZDQWp5ekQpmdMo2_CCwwkwEp8YKrckcQDH94oYu4kKYNw4ZxYqQj4p0f45vVBvO_ShojmS3DrV7_Y2adT8BTYCiRZJr9jHzR305G9Ukb6KnHCB9fq6ZYgKxjJPYqA_VeC_v9LxAhEoBD9Qg7JB/s4032/20230912_124742.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYALwnRsSXBQcmoWGeOFwMBS4Kxt-rYGLs4V-ksZDQWp5ekQpmdMo2_CCwwkwEp8YKrckcQDH94oYu4kKYNw4ZxYqQj4p0f45vVBvO_ShojmS3DrV7_Y2adT8BTYCiRZJr9jHzR305G9Ukb6KnHCB9fq6ZYgKxjJPYqA_VeC_v9LxAhEoBD9Qg7JB/w400-h300/20230912_124742.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczNZkVdylgjBopEz3pqCIR9pnDYVu_GrBwOhlwSkww3XjVGM0rVeiQfdU2OYtUC9L1-Jqoocuu1n3kGe8LqHJaMIKOBUoXn7WbeH5JS7y0hhkZ7AHRZ65zk3sNQH3byr3JLCBvDpWc4EFyvn9nKlLEcj4RZLJOKWJmzPZWkh3iQVLW-YubNf4zGdh/s4032/20230912_125001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczNZkVdylgjBopEz3pqCIR9pnDYVu_GrBwOhlwSkww3XjVGM0rVeiQfdU2OYtUC9L1-Jqoocuu1n3kGe8LqHJaMIKOBUoXn7WbeH5JS7y0hhkZ7AHRZ65zk3sNQH3byr3JLCBvDpWc4EFyvn9nKlLEcj4RZLJOKWJmzPZWkh3iQVLW-YubNf4zGdh/w400-h300/20230912_125001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHpBPkO1TZOh9mhjHlhstlqs0dq3L_BLIcuDSHtmNBfs_j_RnnzOEiIdVakmLrpAh0r4E0XOBsixs333hSfrVyOw153bHoP6_Ly6HgTTr8J-eE2ElZ4EPSkIZ6tz2qm-iQfGPrhjfBdHb5SjaXhhxLoMq2U72vwlUcJoHX_hbaXiLO9wqfmrJ4SBv/s4032/20230912_125618.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHpBPkO1TZOh9mhjHlhstlqs0dq3L_BLIcuDSHtmNBfs_j_RnnzOEiIdVakmLrpAh0r4E0XOBsixs333hSfrVyOw153bHoP6_Ly6HgTTr8J-eE2ElZ4EPSkIZ6tz2qm-iQfGPrhjfBdHb5SjaXhhxLoMq2U72vwlUcJoHX_hbaXiLO9wqfmrJ4SBv/w480-h640/20230912_125618.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We walked all the way up to Skipaskurður, before deciding to walk back, not knowing how long the walk continued on for as we were going to go to Dimmuborgir ("Hey that's a black metal band!" I exclaimed after seeing the name).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo3XvtyQJmUekW08eStmaEE4ItHaInOntCE1qJXWafxXf1MCi7_iwA6dXzF_qV4ANb3mXx9IvMALZZapmtrcjMGO_GFiO9qvigr8sJNYDQJYqmMHWwF84zzegWTb5eIvKLe3UbhPzkllTf84uGJuotapRh-UxGYYTNvpzszHImONN2nqNUVXG-dko/s4032/20230912_133225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTo3XvtyQJmUekW08eStmaEE4ItHaInOntCE1qJXWafxXf1MCi7_iwA6dXzF_qV4ANb3mXx9IvMALZZapmtrcjMGO_GFiO9qvigr8sJNYDQJYqmMHWwF84zzegWTb5eIvKLe3UbhPzkllTf84uGJuotapRh-UxGYYTNvpzszHImONN2nqNUVXG-dko/w400-h300/20230912_133225.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*touches water again*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO2dz9J5ZVmPCGf8sF4MoTkrk5zJKD68InYU9bX7t5FIvBqHY0V0Z-yOosVKczp2puUlXTeX-QDUmdRkzlyZ2C9auqFyw5L0pKvQfKI4Y0bV-40nSz8qFyYUM081d89ECPQgTiGCgHLON6ga6GjVONObe6_WKa-brF1BDeiWjIHrfbnWcitfb_oMa/s4000/20230912_133257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZO2dz9J5ZVmPCGf8sF4MoTkrk5zJKD68InYU9bX7t5FIvBqHY0V0Z-yOosVKczp2puUlXTeX-QDUmdRkzlyZ2C9auqFyw5L0pKvQfKI4Y0bV-40nSz8qFyYUM081d89ECPQgTiGCgHLON6ga6GjVONObe6_WKa-brF1BDeiWjIHrfbnWcitfb_oMa/w400-h300/20230912_133257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>On our way to Dimmuborgir, I noticed the areas around the lake were stunning, and saw a random location that was too gorgeous I made us pull in. It was a nature reserve named Höfði.</p><p>As we followed the path along, I commented that this place was much too beautiful to be such an unmarked spot in Iceland. The waters were crystal clear, beckoning me to dive in and take a swim (though I knew how cold it would be), but with the sun shining and the pristine nature around me I was very tempted. A set of stairs led off to our right, but we continued straight along the path to the other end of this promontory, following the path around to the right, all high up along the cliff edge, overlooking the waters of Lake Mývatn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f5LAfxYJRnKn77YlmKMNaVJhEaiVCLUt1lCkv6pq3AIfbLo8dicYnxV1qGSQGP3lIHEWSedNeoD1nSGNYg5W9L5NCKI5MaFPr43f1bf07WvXi4MdCbOab_8vDQgp2KY_dGfxzhAS4Ny8VJlxX7xRv2URujqDRu_Vv9mlDJJU0MWeneMPtCwRF2Zr/s4032/20230912_141616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f5LAfxYJRnKn77YlmKMNaVJhEaiVCLUt1lCkv6pq3AIfbLo8dicYnxV1qGSQGP3lIHEWSedNeoD1nSGNYg5W9L5NCKI5MaFPr43f1bf07WvXi4MdCbOab_8vDQgp2KY_dGfxzhAS4Ny8VJlxX7xRv2URujqDRu_Vv9mlDJJU0MWeneMPtCwRF2Zr/w400-h300/20230912_141616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHoc8ucSZz_xahN6dUPVMXeylK-8fKRmFfoAB6-VM2cRtkjZ6_WNPsMe8BhTCb-nWCn8pyRr_pc1x-fBHWbau3OlRJMMgSEPC7ykNDPAw0HJHykhzqIgjW0Fyw6-l6RpUVu6L8UoyV-o1ulb6PUCdRujdbDISO019Qeqw73pe_i4B52FVpZfpDLel/s4032/20230912_142320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHoc8ucSZz_xahN6dUPVMXeylK-8fKRmFfoAB6-VM2cRtkjZ6_WNPsMe8BhTCb-nWCn8pyRr_pc1x-fBHWbau3OlRJMMgSEPC7ykNDPAw0HJHykhzqIgjW0Fyw6-l6RpUVu6L8UoyV-o1ulb6PUCdRujdbDISO019Qeqw73pe_i4B52FVpZfpDLel/w480-h640/20230912_142320.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy8BSLlGTbdyreJ21Qc5XeanC_xeC1P0nJ-cds5IdDxZYrjzocaAplJMdzI8jkDFOI6dhJ4L9gfn-LbmCVQskXow9zk973gh2pqatANMeTw_Ivj0KUSxRaJ3WIkQDNpYvqYc4vnTx90csi6-nNXbhGQ0O8s95d2J8201AK8JKJvqbXqr3mUXQDDf_/s4032/20230912_142358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzy8BSLlGTbdyreJ21Qc5XeanC_xeC1P0nJ-cds5IdDxZYrjzocaAplJMdzI8jkDFOI6dhJ4L9gfn-LbmCVQskXow9zk973gh2pqatANMeTw_Ivj0KUSxRaJ3WIkQDNpYvqYc4vnTx90csi6-nNXbhGQ0O8s95d2J8201AK8JKJvqbXqr3mUXQDDf_/w400-h300/20230912_142358.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO2lPWcAF54meSEgkaEWtCdDFRX7S4AyMe0SgWKPwx76kJTiYAaQV7XL2S3WeBQO9ApsWoOj_Rtc1SyOBXODSg6ugV-fYZycW0ZGxTHasqjjmeOIXtuJsOAFFHwiyvjwFBWctPnPzxV4Z6YTwjPYJku4P7H2pZwygua9eG6vJN3GEX8Hc9EMVxl6c/s4032/20230912_142744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO2lPWcAF54meSEgkaEWtCdDFRX7S4AyMe0SgWKPwx76kJTiYAaQV7XL2S3WeBQO9ApsWoOj_Rtc1SyOBXODSg6ugV-fYZycW0ZGxTHasqjjmeOIXtuJsOAFFHwiyvjwFBWctPnPzxV4Z6YTwjPYJku4P7H2pZwygua9eG6vJN3GEX8Hc9EMVxl6c/w400-h300/20230912_142744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6px99WbNWBk3JOP4IfydL7SI0IghHriEADuOx96fX_vF0NX7plBuCG2_hFLxvZ8Cy6eUYZ_HuLGsYcXY8gBmUUd9WOFr1EU2PI1YA-ltrFVKN02W7Kiivf6JGgPu-da0BgWjKgW7PvcuFex-Pv9XvDJSCsX94RCMhEPTWNrht8ebjTezVPZSDcT4/s4032/20230912_143204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6px99WbNWBk3JOP4IfydL7SI0IghHriEADuOx96fX_vF0NX7plBuCG2_hFLxvZ8Cy6eUYZ_HuLGsYcXY8gBmUUd9WOFr1EU2PI1YA-ltrFVKN02W7Kiivf6JGgPu-da0BgWjKgW7PvcuFex-Pv9XvDJSCsX94RCMhEPTWNrht8ebjTezVPZSDcT4/w400-h300/20230912_143204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The path soon led us to a man-made garden on the outskirts of a small property on the nature reserve, we continued past that leading to the path back towards the car. We passed the stairs that we had encountered on our entry to the area, my Wife was wanting to get a move on, but she could tell I was annoyed about not being able to explore up them so told me to just go while she went to wait at the car.</p><p>As I walked to the top, I found a lookout overlooking the carpark, and on the opposite side a snowcapped mountain.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9AG2rALpwQLS30cWOAMnG2xod0XkHwgq67wk0TdQlfgM7m4q7h4QeZ4BoTI0FTnb8YmMCj1DO5y3aoad7zKlmDVxf_ZFR2CrodVE3cB_72xRjJ39WahdcIoCQKf54zjWIhUIHPyySrLPOTlj5isoAI67EZnRNzScbL1gAQWEqvOSUDklX5glXeSI/s4032/20230912_144316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9AG2rALpwQLS30cWOAMnG2xod0XkHwgq67wk0TdQlfgM7m4q7h4QeZ4BoTI0FTnb8YmMCj1DO5y3aoad7zKlmDVxf_ZFR2CrodVE3cB_72xRjJ39WahdcIoCQKf54zjWIhUIHPyySrLPOTlj5isoAI67EZnRNzScbL1gAQWEqvOSUDklX5glXeSI/w480-h640/20230912_144316.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I headed back to the car, telling my Wife she had missed a great view and we set of towards Dimmuborgir, name meaning 'Dark Castles'.</p><p>"<i>In Icelandic folklore, Dimmuborgir is said to connect earth with the infernal regions. In Nordic Christian lore, it is also said that Dimmuborgir is the place where Satan landed when he was cast from the heavens and created the apparent "Helvetes katakomber" which is Norwegian for "The Catacombs of Hell</i>".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ4UP6H-_BruUOdY04oH85SgQvK8MBlBqalZhLB_DC_8TaNaDXannWU44sG8oH_ulnrxn5L3Q3U-sg-uXFGli5JLopkHJnJldrywi6gpOOwS3Nnpj6DenYG9NDKSd4O72O2Pb0Ncx2NYBtTa3PdXEmLDxfwQLHxzLIfubTK-AldqQZZJESKUN7gz5/s4032/20230912_145512.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ4UP6H-_BruUOdY04oH85SgQvK8MBlBqalZhLB_DC_8TaNaDXannWU44sG8oH_ulnrxn5L3Q3U-sg-uXFGli5JLopkHJnJldrywi6gpOOwS3Nnpj6DenYG9NDKSd4O72O2Pb0Ncx2NYBtTa3PdXEmLDxfwQLHxzLIfubTK-AldqQZZJESKUN7gz5/w400-h300/20230912_145512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs0DXxXCLZe02uEgTBYn5I0huEwXuhrZ06KJj1ASgD0lXESJpUlrObHqDJFkG7m-JX6WrLVNfUfN-Kvz99EfUczb3l2T12mm8roZA9_EDUVrQszQv3svGhuESTESHvAwiXRIN5Dnreenma6R5ZZSCQoIVDubkwJ0EA-W4SedtEHab2Vanf1C_xDoS/s4032/20230912_145809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs0DXxXCLZe02uEgTBYn5I0huEwXuhrZ06KJj1ASgD0lXESJpUlrObHqDJFkG7m-JX6WrLVNfUfN-Kvz99EfUczb3l2T12mm8roZA9_EDUVrQszQv3svGhuESTESHvAwiXRIN5Dnreenma6R5ZZSCQoIVDubkwJ0EA-W4SedtEHab2Vanf1C_xDoS/w400-h300/20230912_145809.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we walked through there was a sign informing us about the 'Yule Lads'.<br /></p><p><i>"<b>Who are they?</b><br />The Icelandic Yule Lads live here, in Dimmuborgir. We refer to them as our Santa Clauses! They are the 13 sons of Grýla and Leppalúði, vicious trolls that live in a big cave in Lúdentarborgir. The brothers all have funny names that refer to their interests or food preferences. Their names are Sheep-Cote Clod, Gully Gawk, Stubby, Spoon Licker, Pot Scraper, Bow Licker, Door Slammer, Skyr Gobbler, Sausage Swiper, Window Peeper, Doorway Sniffer, Meat Hook and Candle Beggar. The Yule Lads are rarely seen during summer as they use the summer season to rest in their caves, but they might show up on special occasions. As winter approaches, they become more active and start preparing for Christmas. The best time to meet them in Dimmuborgir is during the month of December, when they are busy preparing for the holidays, their favourite time of the year! In order to find them, it is best to walk the path to Hallarflöt and loudly shout: Jólasveinn!"</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OHbzbVA6fx1hf8oTHlFQHrt5K6qzNHrdNv5ku9aJ70EpZZPPHBxOsmJSvaRciFyfThVZo_IKMHXN45SqnSXGNnwEYHklWw1yv5iigQ2tTT5om6JFCpxrs8M3rrWP2kS4OMTe1ouQfPKirK_Oxapn7eV-vQKXqe7Qc9RolRW-AfNeQ_BHWwttaZAR/s4032/20230912_145945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OHbzbVA6fx1hf8oTHlFQHrt5K6qzNHrdNv5ku9aJ70EpZZPPHBxOsmJSvaRciFyfThVZo_IKMHXN45SqnSXGNnwEYHklWw1yv5iigQ2tTT5om6JFCpxrs8M3rrWP2kS4OMTe1ouQfPKirK_Oxapn7eV-vQKXqe7Qc9RolRW-AfNeQ_BHWwttaZAR/w400-h300/20230912_145945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw8-aOdqBftWZl9uhmk1GtnysmnTawZjZEAxWLTwBLM-e5ZVJ39PO-uq4sOdfG5WMwQ4uIr9JAhmvMebTwoB3pAUxu9vmmvZ9sYh6EH_a5SulcVtpOzj5Zk6m2e84uEchBkojoZWefLCa19jk0l5e9YEf5VKbdfcmK-_n61-VFQ7R8j8ZQ_g1VyUs/s4032/20230912_150100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw8-aOdqBftWZl9uhmk1GtnysmnTawZjZEAxWLTwBLM-e5ZVJ39PO-uq4sOdfG5WMwQ4uIr9JAhmvMebTwoB3pAUxu9vmmvZ9sYh6EH_a5SulcVtpOzj5Zk6m2e84uEchBkojoZWefLCa19jk0l5e9YEf5VKbdfcmK-_n61-VFQ7R8j8ZQ_g1VyUs/w400-h300/20230912_150100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We spent the day wandering through the beautiful, and very distinctive lava fields, with the hot sun beating down on us, and the unique barren landscape all around, we were in I felt like this was the closest place in Iceland to resembling Australia. We continued around, encountering more Yule Lad dens.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI6X8my3W7y3S4P5DZM6jex9xEegb5-y0BXTmqf73-VcP216eikC-rs8AvqX_im40j1NO5_PK1RjRBwQap6sQ7SlQLso5u9wuzS_-3RXr03HbakHwlq4YnO0y8C8EmPwYReSOWwdZaNF98MmBzrOUofX4h_AEwRwnK-xNjZhCk6mn4k0YlOwl4V22/s4032/20230912_150214.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI6X8my3W7y3S4P5DZM6jex9xEegb5-y0BXTmqf73-VcP216eikC-rs8AvqX_im40j1NO5_PK1RjRBwQap6sQ7SlQLso5u9wuzS_-3RXr03HbakHwlq4YnO0y8C8EmPwYReSOWwdZaNF98MmBzrOUofX4h_AEwRwnK-xNjZhCk6mn4k0YlOwl4V22/w480-h640/20230912_150214.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0apKDCv-QBG2eu9FjMTwd7k-DypvGj7AxB_8qB8lx5kD0kDHvlNO5sa-bbcduMuDwng1m-BG_wiGgE3jb1TRDJ6skEgP563nk5FxN7Tfru2JnQO0n93mmV9LZo1JXGa18FyyDYDFRN7aQ2R6015xnQh2BpDnzLDBRVK_nMerrUO_QplZquTO88Qr6/s4032/20230912_151048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0apKDCv-QBG2eu9FjMTwd7k-DypvGj7AxB_8qB8lx5kD0kDHvlNO5sa-bbcduMuDwng1m-BG_wiGgE3jb1TRDJ6skEgP563nk5FxN7Tfru2JnQO0n93mmV9LZo1JXGa18FyyDYDFRN7aQ2R6015xnQh2BpDnzLDBRVK_nMerrUO_QplZquTO88Qr6/w480-h640/20230912_151048.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbd0uWIZW-r-xB3bwXOUiaj_Cm9EsDaKay397AQp7BGZKVE-R6hiqTKcTsgsF7BWZo9UKYP6TKzyd1_eWghu1C-p1FwPkJ3DfZSjAP9wf1J_qoECahtPf3tB7-mENH0hwftdz93tpBsjxqeMOzn9tcqZ9WwuWxhkXSQxFBYwOeQLNmkxKbBLbfcRM/s4032/20230912_151407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbd0uWIZW-r-xB3bwXOUiaj_Cm9EsDaKay397AQp7BGZKVE-R6hiqTKcTsgsF7BWZo9UKYP6TKzyd1_eWghu1C-p1FwPkJ3DfZSjAP9wf1J_qoECahtPf3tB7-mENH0hwftdz93tpBsjxqeMOzn9tcqZ9WwuWxhkXSQxFBYwOeQLNmkxKbBLbfcRM/w400-h300/20230912_151407.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IQ81YWLE7-ZYyDVeM8dF6zEt9BWE4hEhcYN63zgV7kDKnKoVa083W7xE3TevebO4mBQAhUm1YoZt2A36b95Y2JHUZ-3TkC8ASHdFy1vZPCj8-nRScSKqePf8E2cy8LN3N40JWI_WVRD3ivmCCv67HK7OC3ZagKjuqg9KF9i-cAxIeZAKQULZ6vQv/s4032/20230912_152848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IQ81YWLE7-ZYyDVeM8dF6zEt9BWE4hEhcYN63zgV7kDKnKoVa083W7xE3TevebO4mBQAhUm1YoZt2A36b95Y2JHUZ-3TkC8ASHdFy1vZPCj8-nRScSKqePf8E2cy8LN3N40JWI_WVRD3ivmCCv67HK7OC3ZagKjuqg9KF9i-cAxIeZAKQULZ6vQv/w480-h640/20230912_152848.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErhF3agQOOC4Wgs-N5eeBqVeLgqAgcBJaGITrlWOqfbHDMD5VWuqFXFBpuVk_I8supWf4SBDgJ5znQTS5_Eam-rjKXFyycx71cGa6KE4JNhG9N_-woGE0TgV8cytRinP3VdxH0iBFNLf8NFzoc_YduIIrTB4glK-inXsJ3Yop1tV306jnw9nabVOc/s4000/20230912_153042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErhF3agQOOC4Wgs-N5eeBqVeLgqAgcBJaGITrlWOqfbHDMD5VWuqFXFBpuVk_I8supWf4SBDgJ5znQTS5_Eam-rjKXFyycx71cGa6KE4JNhG9N_-woGE0TgV8cytRinP3VdxH0iBFNLf8NFzoc_YduIIrTB4glK-inXsJ3Yop1tV306jnw9nabVOc/w400-h300/20230912_153042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgO1aa4kK5RnfmBOBMLz9_AjlgWUYV7Mr8w-HyjLU6EJj9m8UWcSym9ppCeR5EroNBwjmP18QxdAMSkWoyfqxp_o_BL_Glyu8_Cx5DGj0WJvTWmuKCnzmvYtWmKJ4cuGwMhPLnsiipUDX8fOH8FS6yqj5U2mrxQQenFxdiuCbU_1wGIIm_r46ANXK/s4032/20230912_153814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgO1aa4kK5RnfmBOBMLz9_AjlgWUYV7Mr8w-HyjLU6EJj9m8UWcSym9ppCeR5EroNBwjmP18QxdAMSkWoyfqxp_o_BL_Glyu8_Cx5DGj0WJvTWmuKCnzmvYtWmKJ4cuGwMhPLnsiipUDX8fOH8FS6yqj5U2mrxQQenFxdiuCbU_1wGIIm_r46ANXK/w400-h300/20230912_153814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>At the end of the day, and with pretty sore feet we headed back to our accommodation to figure out a dinner option. I found the Sel Hotel on the map (as it was across from the visitor centre we had visited earlier in the day), and I was pretty keen to go there as they offered slow cooked pulled Goose on the menu (I have never eaten Goose). We headed there for dinner. As we got in we got shown the option of the buffet dinner (which included some interesting things such as Hákarl (fermented Shark), and Sheepshead Jelly. However, we were already planning to try these things when we were back in Reykjavík at Café Loki, and I was pretty keen to try the Goose, so we sat down at the table to order from the menu.</p><p>However, upon ordering we learned that they had no Goose, as it was 'out of season', and so we each ordered the slow cooked pulled lamb with rhubarb jam, red cabbage, green peas, coleslaw and french fries, which was delicious, and I actually started really devouring the coleslaw, my body evidently craving some vegetables.</p><p>Afterwards we headed out to go to the Orkan unmanned fuel station that was just outside and we learned first-hand why the areas was known as Mývatn, translating as Lake of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midge" target="_blank">Midges</a>, which are small flies, and they were everywhere. I spasmed and flung my hands, shaking my head while I tried to fill the car, as hundreds upon thousands of these tiny little flies got in my eyes and up my nose and underneath my sunglasses, they were everywhere as night approached. We had encountered a few while at Dimmuborgir, but no worse than flies in Australia (probably helping the area remind us of home).<br />As it was Autumn at the time we learned these midges were even worse during Summer and Spring, which I couldn't image dealing with.</p><p>We headed back to the accommodation to wind down, escape the midges and try to get to bed early. While getting ready to go to sleep, dressed up in pyjamas and ready to sleep, there was a bang at our door. "What the fuck was that?" I asked, and we heard noise shuffling through the hallway. "A drunk?" I asked.<br />"Maybe it's knocking on the door for Northern Lights." My Wife said.<br />However the hotel hadn't asked if we had wanted that, like how we got asked on our stay in Finland. <br />"Should we go out and see them?" I commented, as we were literally about to go to sleep.<br />"We've already seen them in Finland." My Wife said, tired and not wanting to get changed to go out in the cold.<br />I was tired too, but we were in Iceland, and most people would love to see the Northern Lights in their lifetime, so I mad us throw some normal clothes on to go out into the freezing cold and look up at the night sky.<br />The light were pretty diluted, with flashing waving moments of green but not too powerful. I tried to take a photo with my phone, but doing so was as bad, if not worse, than when you take a beautiful photo of a full moon and it looks like a lifeless light amongst black on your phone.<br />"I think you need a better quality camera for this." I said. After watching for about half and hour, and freezing cold we retreated inside, burnt out, very tired, and went to sleep.</p><p><b>Day 8 -</b> Originally we had planned to do this day the opposite direction, but we had learned Iceland was a country of late risers, and things were scarcely open in the morning and so we swapped around the direction of our plans, and after a breakfast buffet (I promise I tried to have less processed meat and cheese) and we headed off people anyone else in our hotel towards Dettifoss, the second most powerful waterfall in Europe.</p><p>We arrived at a barren looking landscape (perfect for a science fiction film, and I later learned the movie 'Prometheus' by Ridley Scott filmed a scene at Dettifoss). We were one of the first cars there and I was eager to get to the falls before it become flooded with tourists, having long since given up on escaping them anywhere around Iceland.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjbbp3oaP1LN6mJHcnIc3Tc7MsKOhSEZCe9NFQiXYuDdjW0a4-GY8dmFLJSNNi3_5rjSyH-2_KmC5L2WDejRaT7ItZK2_C1PyO1e85p9Fr1gbTic4QriOGSdsJBn4a3QOIo4cnrmPI2wePj6VHQT80EXFqboCCRmgp8AHbv9vL3mG0gXEQPaaIdjs/s4032/20230913_090421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjbbp3oaP1LN6mJHcnIc3Tc7MsKOhSEZCe9NFQiXYuDdjW0a4-GY8dmFLJSNNi3_5rjSyH-2_KmC5L2WDejRaT7ItZK2_C1PyO1e85p9Fr1gbTic4QriOGSdsJBn4a3QOIo4cnrmPI2wePj6VHQT80EXFqboCCRmgp8AHbv9vL3mG0gXEQPaaIdjs/w400-h300/20230913_090421.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_cQuqzRXTjs3kN-mFFKez68sIVYlNwLQoktm6JrqAo1cEQjQ_8wGTPAsOVB4t-ySEsX7fk_mvqSHVkWxFnikDu5TlMl4be7BgRMa3EQ4lqEDQQlV95xLn6Ya5LLdfrxoI10gVlgP-I8ne7eoUeTj5_wxSC1CfpnXLb2Ix82ZKmNH3PDyTywclOL6/s4000/20230913_091243.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_cQuqzRXTjs3kN-mFFKez68sIVYlNwLQoktm6JrqAo1cEQjQ_8wGTPAsOVB4t-ySEsX7fk_mvqSHVkWxFnikDu5TlMl4be7BgRMa3EQ4lqEDQQlV95xLn6Ya5LLdfrxoI10gVlgP-I8ne7eoUeTj5_wxSC1CfpnXLb2Ix82ZKmNH3PDyTywclOL6/w400-h300/20230913_091243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8645A5biFZiYUp7WM8i9m6n85R1GkczqrrxAbQrRWYdlXEDlP8B-9agKuQeG8MUwGuPw2GgqGRHUhWD2rv3xa_JKaGouayAZly3uodhW9tLEaBZPLI8emDS7FI7uZFG0oYI1pbr-siIb4aVICQN3eFNYliZwVYCy2e900ZFFPT1lshSeHmhPnl_LU/s4000/20230913_091641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8645A5biFZiYUp7WM8i9m6n85R1GkczqrrxAbQrRWYdlXEDlP8B-9agKuQeG8MUwGuPw2GgqGRHUhWD2rv3xa_JKaGouayAZly3uodhW9tLEaBZPLI8emDS7FI7uZFG0oYI1pbr-siIb4aVICQN3eFNYliZwVYCy2e900ZFFPT1lshSeHmhPnl_LU/w400-h300/20230913_091641.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrOBjY4eRGkEQKEaPXyr9ZGFrx1AcRbW-FJx0xk2yIhkyODKqTt3TXHJKz6ZRXeOMQcSSvJizMv64Peqg2BQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>After walking down to as close to the waterfall as you were allowed and watching some attractive influencers jump past the ripe to make her photographer boyfriend take styled pictures of her posing in front of it we continued on a path leading up to a lookout to view from waterfall from higher up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVgVo15EC-YfH3X9EzNaayQKW9ZtrYNA1RWQKdT2frf-G8pnBmTlGv8QFPvy9iVwQtp1UtaMpl6cPVEyf6hNQ8sVx5g4qP_xPGqQfGxwx2_q6TnonI1gGSAXU_8tr7_v1bhY__6MdZem7GHa37j6KgBGTVSbBN18SiwL_xmCYgxwx21ZNfaBiShEb/s4032/20230913_091936.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVgVo15EC-YfH3X9EzNaayQKW9ZtrYNA1RWQKdT2frf-G8pnBmTlGv8QFPvy9iVwQtp1UtaMpl6cPVEyf6hNQ8sVx5g4qP_xPGqQfGxwx2_q6TnonI1gGSAXU_8tr7_v1bhY__6MdZem7GHa37j6KgBGTVSbBN18SiwL_xmCYgxwx21ZNfaBiShEb/w480-h640/20230913_091936.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4KTdI3K24S40q9C8JfBuTpL5kbrtlxzIlj96fQr24NzQe2wODFzzKKAI54K1A5ZdrQisTGv2BGdvWHZrQZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YudNpxdD34_QdQRUdJqzIQ_dhmi5Ove-80ek9IO4yTeI1040caMfqaPC5DRFNTMEvi93ghGXdPL5hs14ahyLWvQU63i0FwXiKiXRFz8no6Mb2dy2uoG_W-5G-fAJX_IK91I8KEMaBQm6la2PIs6bkOFldpAMeHxP4GvH1ea0YvtApyfDi_xkrQX8/s4032/20230913_092845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YudNpxdD34_QdQRUdJqzIQ_dhmi5Ove-80ek9IO4yTeI1040caMfqaPC5DRFNTMEvi93ghGXdPL5hs14ahyLWvQU63i0FwXiKiXRFz8no6Mb2dy2uoG_W-5G-fAJX_IK91I8KEMaBQm6la2PIs6bkOFldpAMeHxP4GvH1ea0YvtApyfDi_xkrQX8/w480-h640/20230913_092845.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiAPBmDKLqfMYeis97Uu0jr-p-OI9-jim3C57lCYB95CLYWB3Rtql5KG6hp6xrlrYRjuGQHtXgFt_rZu-2EaWixk97cVhfQrmSjEnzgAA1-VN0ClsDTtexBtkaZeL1NgAR3QQVsIm-R5IacKKokoawkFhKBGlDNt2IeM-6J5aPvLs0p1ibjf62Kw-/s4032/20230913_093835.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiAPBmDKLqfMYeis97Uu0jr-p-OI9-jim3C57lCYB95CLYWB3Rtql5KG6hp6xrlrYRjuGQHtXgFt_rZu-2EaWixk97cVhfQrmSjEnzgAA1-VN0ClsDTtexBtkaZeL1NgAR3QQVsIm-R5IacKKokoawkFhKBGlDNt2IeM-6J5aPvLs0p1ibjf62Kw-/w400-h300/20230913_093835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There was a platform up here that was wheelchair friendly that must have led from the carpark, and as I walked to the far side of it to look further up the canyon I almost slipped and fell as the wood below me was so slippery with ice, it was like one of those low-traction ice levels in a video game.</p><p>We walked back down to Dettifoss that was now beginning to get busy and followed the trail high up along the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river toward another waterfall, Hafragilsfoss.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrsPM-3mzQNIccWmNfAbYb93eVy79sxF7CJCRcICw5B2smhRm84fbI6pEEdzcekqziHOKfcPh3JZcN4cKFivHUU6WLUNYhbJR9xFyTr9l38PjYmafzaScturc6_aaEvqfc68is27Yt06HflhRJuAbEPWF9kX1gkvCtNN-vvwTRjQj0lOQiN23sbli/s4032/20230913_094204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrsPM-3mzQNIccWmNfAbYb93eVy79sxF7CJCRcICw5B2smhRm84fbI6pEEdzcekqziHOKfcPh3JZcN4cKFivHUU6WLUNYhbJR9xFyTr9l38PjYmafzaScturc6_aaEvqfc68is27Yt06HflhRJuAbEPWF9kX1gkvCtNN-vvwTRjQj0lOQiN23sbli/w480-h640/20230913_094204.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDm30qYPFM7qj6BfcCiX2sgbxNHEgR_btj-LFPz61WwxdIS_pPxA1huTzkwoQZcKoTq4RTKeLrgOhSsSz6d9YrXSknclCSOTHNe8V9LwiiQgEnbB7rGgKezIoU6M5H7T1NQxPdk3XXSnn2Fv0AO4uLdbHYngNuQje7g0XJG_FZfPhg7wxpso9NR97/s4032/20230913_094238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDm30qYPFM7qj6BfcCiX2sgbxNHEgR_btj-LFPz61WwxdIS_pPxA1huTzkwoQZcKoTq4RTKeLrgOhSsSz6d9YrXSknclCSOTHNe8V9LwiiQgEnbB7rGgKezIoU6M5H7T1NQxPdk3XXSnn2Fv0AO4uLdbHYngNuQje7g0XJG_FZfPhg7wxpso9NR97/w400-h300/20230913_094238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we returned to Dettifoss carpark I entered the toilets there, that really reminded me of the Australian bush toilet you can encounter on a bushwalk, the 'hole in the ground' style toilet with a laminated piece of paper stuck up explaining that it was a 'composting toilet' and that the human waste inside would be composted and recycled for land reclamation.</p><p>From here we drove a short distance to Vesturdalur Valley. We pulled up here and began our walk towards Hljóðaklettar.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCY8nsJ-2JSwKvdRqKEWgORMRHju6PIeKFTkhEpJ-CFfYIPCZ-8ScvazmKXOJRHaH3_Li4rhEsI_zNXKtEBb7WoJyDbwVRnRZq4a4vZO7EeD4USdrmiYcZWMyeQv9x-JQQqLYXJTu98q7N9DKx7sebPksb9qgLgZbQryXWTalc9asiO0qCmMe0Mwv/s4032/20230913_104038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCY8nsJ-2JSwKvdRqKEWgORMRHju6PIeKFTkhEpJ-CFfYIPCZ-8ScvazmKXOJRHaH3_Li4rhEsI_zNXKtEBb7WoJyDbwVRnRZq4a4vZO7EeD4USdrmiYcZWMyeQv9x-JQQqLYXJTu98q7N9DKx7sebPksb9qgLgZbQryXWTalc9asiO0qCmMe0Mwv/w400-h300/20230913_104038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa_v82-iCvuPNZ16Kuz2NNjfyhtVaBp77FCfpYUnYmna8W25umKcicp_d6-UsGwkTty7yxGSPfvIifpmsgLbqbf4GHClUWpF4gP3hbaY5_EBqPgbod58utiwwgMbHslfpiiUgc-_vDZwbgLPzUeRUl6FM-Gsvdafu-3ByJRJ1Pf7WThm2IGrdAzYz/s4032/20230913_104410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa_v82-iCvuPNZ16Kuz2NNjfyhtVaBp77FCfpYUnYmna8W25umKcicp_d6-UsGwkTty7yxGSPfvIifpmsgLbqbf4GHClUWpF4gP3hbaY5_EBqPgbod58utiwwgMbHslfpiiUgc-_vDZwbgLPzUeRUl6FM-Gsvdafu-3ByJRJ1Pf7WThm2IGrdAzYz/w400-h300/20230913_104410.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we wandered through the alien looking shapes protruding from the earth, we learned that they were 'crater plugs', the remains of ancient volcanos. <br /><br />"Look at the basalt pattern in that one! It looks like a beehive." My Wife commented.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrjTx1r2nVBqrL5OE-TiPqmNLHEYLNepbnfIG48Aj2Fubu26hRJ3tBRKSAhU4AikWi0Shq6SgRoa7q_unmZp4iA-HPrVgYXhWMpoI6KgRbFGhUe5wd3OBSfT7g4l0hXYedxudoNZurWQQlUkP7iK6BwWQaiVxaDGcCy9g1LtZuzBeEgzT88c0kZ6L/s4032/20230913_104533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrjTx1r2nVBqrL5OE-TiPqmNLHEYLNepbnfIG48Aj2Fubu26hRJ3tBRKSAhU4AikWi0Shq6SgRoa7q_unmZp4iA-HPrVgYXhWMpoI6KgRbFGhUe5wd3OBSfT7g4l0hXYedxudoNZurWQQlUkP7iK6BwWQaiVxaDGcCy9g1LtZuzBeEgzT88c0kZ6L/w480-h640/20230913_104533.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we clambered up over the uneven rocky surface my Wife worried she was taking too long and I told her we were in no rush and just to enjoy the views.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCWnbkL-tAYyiIiBLb4YVhvpkbDE-X3Qfvon4iSpixTLbX9syWxEexRf_wohoY9OmGqdRrRRir1stmc9wxGLpPvppXwzRaYkmKSA29rEOBvdA-ZYS0W-iS_2l1K3rdphWIKlnk1ZdpjrrUsC9MrP-_DdVKl39egcsB5IuVQvPr0jLoe_SCWV0uUzH/s4032/20230913_104933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCWnbkL-tAYyiIiBLb4YVhvpkbDE-X3Qfvon4iSpixTLbX9syWxEexRf_wohoY9OmGqdRrRRir1stmc9wxGLpPvppXwzRaYkmKSA29rEOBvdA-ZYS0W-iS_2l1K3rdphWIKlnk1ZdpjrrUsC9MrP-_DdVKl39egcsB5IuVQvPr0jLoe_SCWV0uUzH/w480-h640/20230913_104933.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9G2z0cDqrFfrCOwjgt3GxVIy_Wnxawmp7Rd40kjrfpA8Vbk1RJTe3VNHiMrSEzIac4jnb6lfKxlyQwz-6-dRze4iIsEH1z149R0UK4GqAH_pz5vdOjsrIbws9BRNTSbG2rVJDzThtM0Vx4ob5k4LIGOydFfvEY8kPJChdFsy-IcTyIFehDD0vgCQ/s4032/20230913_105002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9G2z0cDqrFfrCOwjgt3GxVIy_Wnxawmp7Rd40kjrfpA8Vbk1RJTe3VNHiMrSEzIac4jnb6lfKxlyQwz-6-dRze4iIsEH1z149R0UK4GqAH_pz5vdOjsrIbws9BRNTSbG2rVJDzThtM0Vx4ob5k4LIGOydFfvEY8kPJChdFsy-IcTyIFehDD0vgCQ/w400-h300/20230913_105002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhC7WNXrvREZ0s6HJ0dNbrPUEnsRgouSKGMqIA-O9VBHxoKUKZYYpy1sJ7fcM8r9CaLeFoVZR7dVJ7GcGWq0SIKf4eycXaW-1OUBQUHdMpjJBORdEjAutTpJy4vgTDzsYe24j-Gtq7vXiskneUE4A5ruudH0WNw2EIQcMHs_uSbdSykm2GaIzjTFK/s4032/20230913_105332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhC7WNXrvREZ0s6HJ0dNbrPUEnsRgouSKGMqIA-O9VBHxoKUKZYYpy1sJ7fcM8r9CaLeFoVZR7dVJ7GcGWq0SIKf4eycXaW-1OUBQUHdMpjJBORdEjAutTpJy4vgTDzsYe24j-Gtq7vXiskneUE4A5ruudH0WNw2EIQcMHs_uSbdSykm2GaIzjTFK/w480-h640/20230913_105332.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRM8Wq2DKbKjwbUuxCYK63tzTxFEcFilV019FSipxTwjHVBuZizvZb-D6S7w5PyjCAkKVJKg4NGpmdcJeuP5wshNk77A3Mxkl9ntE-jD2n_agBxEOt8761cJa08dYrSoZRFdYZa7nvE8fuKn_Ngj2QeB6opcJ_Mb_ci0w2yQIRKJuJrrVbBPA9cO3/s4032/20230913_105500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRM8Wq2DKbKjwbUuxCYK63tzTxFEcFilV019FSipxTwjHVBuZizvZb-D6S7w5PyjCAkKVJKg4NGpmdcJeuP5wshNk77A3Mxkl9ntE-jD2n_agBxEOt8761cJa08dYrSoZRFdYZa7nvE8fuKn_Ngj2QeB6opcJ_Mb_ci0w2yQIRKJuJrrVbBPA9cO3/w400-h300/20230913_105500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we followed the path along there was one dark piece of rock protruding from a cliff side in the distance, and my Wife commented that it 'looked like a Wizard'. With me looking and being instantly reminded of 'Tim the Enchanter' from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzT5uVNAg58OtYNwHSq8iLkTkcNuRhORNo6Zzcsjtm3vhh0Dg9nZ_VyhtqQ2HE7pP6vv3jnwO6kevAnIBGF_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz_1ypYeXoJMUljdhS-Yn3BXsaYCLQ0RQIqxcidUwwg2BWASVPQZ9NM6IgW-StsZNnhUBF7l51u3EZTbFozalHl3GasGLQLw4sltjGSNVZPRRd7sdw-aEWOGJ1RP60_mzbdADgv7fgdT0Sd5254OoAUo014qhdaTK18qRNnHqLxBr2-UyPvL2WZP_/s496/tim%201.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="496" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEz_1ypYeXoJMUljdhS-Yn3BXsaYCLQ0RQIqxcidUwwg2BWASVPQZ9NM6IgW-StsZNnhUBF7l51u3EZTbFozalHl3GasGLQLw4sltjGSNVZPRRd7sdw-aEWOGJ1RP60_mzbdADgv7fgdT0Sd5254OoAUo014qhdaTK18qRNnHqLxBr2-UyPvL2WZP_/w400-h215/tim%201.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KiXubV9fU1r22Tg6AJEQvcMIYPqXGS63EJ2_aJPfRLTvLrNJDpfvG9WjmU0jVKgeiRheVYKfsTNVWCIzLEW625_btgebLqFQOnTNoO7FopmL2NgFtp4B2EtbCRjKQsowd_3ILHygIlxVq528UUYKdb29JX-LQXARzk-A3YjHKrYkmppkqUH2Wmwj/s400/tim%20gif%202.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="400" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KiXubV9fU1r22Tg6AJEQvcMIYPqXGS63EJ2_aJPfRLTvLrNJDpfvG9WjmU0jVKgeiRheVYKfsTNVWCIzLEW625_btgebLqFQOnTNoO7FopmL2NgFtp4B2EtbCRjKQsowd_3ILHygIlxVq528UUYKdb29JX-LQXARzk-A3YjHKrYkmppkqUH2Wmwj/w400-h233/tim%20gif%202.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The path began leading us to 'Kirkjan'.<br />"Wasn't that the name of a place in Dimmuborgir?" I asked, looking it up. "No that was Kirkja".</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSRW0nEYBOLCGJai4ffGl6UuJawZRqofQAk8zcX2j2sZOZJ3X2fJh2-jIls9Y5a-j_8sXgOSq2BiMerbpoRi0-CxdkoRYCD5-__eaL2zWkGKCH4CSr5ZIwNVulMvOGbT9ER4jfb8eqEnOF3uy9gIENcwEygL6fL01vbV_u5XZ_U6VWKxBfGGv3oUT/s4032/20230913_111422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSRW0nEYBOLCGJai4ffGl6UuJawZRqofQAk8zcX2j2sZOZJ3X2fJh2-jIls9Y5a-j_8sXgOSq2BiMerbpoRi0-CxdkoRYCD5-__eaL2zWkGKCH4CSr5ZIwNVulMvOGbT9ER4jfb8eqEnOF3uy9gIENcwEygL6fL01vbV_u5XZ_U6VWKxBfGGv3oUT/w480-h640/20230913_111422.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooOwLS6I-3mYR-UaeTNsUpRkfByNjg8BUzgU_pPMAFhzJR49NjGSViDpycUxqRmQomSm-WCk5UNKUqR5sxsJgwZ4OdxsH9ztu0N5tfK4zCKzT4BeOsJKAoA-y42pTxkGk2yQO1SBaB5qGJ0FtGE84ChPc9Yy5i0LHeb2cdVeerMDm4hGRmIVFBZyK/s4032/20230913_111702.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooOwLS6I-3mYR-UaeTNsUpRkfByNjg8BUzgU_pPMAFhzJR49NjGSViDpycUxqRmQomSm-WCk5UNKUqR5sxsJgwZ4OdxsH9ztu0N5tfK4zCKzT4BeOsJKAoA-y42pTxkGk2yQO1SBaB5qGJ0FtGE84ChPc9Yy5i0LHeb2cdVeerMDm4hGRmIVFBZyK/w400-h300/20230913_111702.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZiiImS_itXlqTfF10ERcs2qcmgkpuM99XdXqOLDJ1_IHZDXl31lEJukOvR6ievv98x5Lime9rM8BZh1q3Svw7VwJTGKvHFv902_GsN_3GiU7taWW8uvx_Qo2aJXUTaa05wArAnPd_U80kTOcR59CocrO0Gw_drcODoWTlfUGzIn6O-7Mi9qrzbHs/s4032/20230913_111853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZiiImS_itXlqTfF10ERcs2qcmgkpuM99XdXqOLDJ1_IHZDXl31lEJukOvR6ievv98x5Lime9rM8BZh1q3Svw7VwJTGKvHFv902_GsN_3GiU7taWW8uvx_Qo2aJXUTaa05wArAnPd_U80kTOcR59CocrO0Gw_drcODoWTlfUGzIn6O-7Mi9qrzbHs/w400-h300/20230913_111853.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I learned that the name meant 'The Church' (sometimes known as 'The Lava Church') and could see the similarities between the shape of it and the one at Dimmuborgir, and realised the connection in etymology to Kirkjufell the basalt column 'Church Floor' we had visited.</p><p>We sat inside the 'Church' cave and ate some lunch before continuing on with the walk where I pointed to a cliff face commenting that it 'looked like a Dog'.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4irK6NEzDFGOdDoU-OdBSQDeVUbZpbYInRWTGMBtdZt9BxMSSlOxcPsYHonKnMYO5UjWfmewQlYR2RK6gEYc8k_uw0eCMatIm9eaj1GzH8xGiD8BY7zUkjIXSSA89P6A7mTw-zivFuVxLFrXFj_hmtAIQ9NlHHjTSZ5OijSBzU-zIdVRVtO5YcnF/s4032/20230913_112123.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4irK6NEzDFGOdDoU-OdBSQDeVUbZpbYInRWTGMBtdZt9BxMSSlOxcPsYHonKnMYO5UjWfmewQlYR2RK6gEYc8k_uw0eCMatIm9eaj1GzH8xGiD8BY7zUkjIXSSA89P6A7mTw-zivFuVxLFrXFj_hmtAIQ9NlHHjTSZ5OijSBzU-zIdVRVtO5YcnF/w480-h640/20230913_112123.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Clifford' the Big Cliff Dog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we came to a bend in the road, I wanted to push on, walking all the way to the end but my Wife wanted to do what seemed to be the loop back. Having agreed to not be 'pushy' on holiday before we went overseas and pushing her too much physically, I relented and we made our way back towards the carpark, passing along a cliff face with a walk up inside a little cave that we explored.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI3WWnIQ6UQYpmiUcvNzwAXsmkc9C8XWX-VBEYZH_AQ8QB4UEEKm6DaWoNgjv64ESjnCS2jKJY3Hkjk5qfFXemPfyj6h92-oGNREUnPQFlqrwNy1ljHeChFjNoG6SxeT8_RqHI-b9CI0_vtERZoQ_UVLqg4AnAh4FppkG_MhY_Hu07mR7IYLYLOLS/s4032/20230913_113354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI3WWnIQ6UQYpmiUcvNzwAXsmkc9C8XWX-VBEYZH_AQ8QB4UEEKm6DaWoNgjv64ESjnCS2jKJY3Hkjk5qfFXemPfyj6h92-oGNREUnPQFlqrwNy1ljHeChFjNoG6SxeT8_RqHI-b9CI0_vtERZoQ_UVLqg4AnAh4FppkG_MhY_Hu07mR7IYLYLOLS/w480-h640/20230913_113354.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>When we arrived back at the carpark, I saw there were some walks heading the other way, and wished to explore up that was a little, heading back down the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river towards Dettifoss. <br /></p><p>On our way along the path we passed a man jogging, which was an unexpected site out this way as we hadn't encountered any other people yet. The path continued uphill eventually giving us a view over the river.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSkRazwHZjhsufvgPUZUiV8b2Y7ZVAv52JFkljOCe8DlQNqhkO2dTvRE18kopI1AA6XNPnPkcvOq0zXOrSz2V_cVCYHHVj-tidqNptSAuKfBUu1VmFAg_WJtntW5ImuGhYXEGz8kzkr5cvKZTIEY1JH-kL28q5mgP0sLr9gdqw-NEvczED2thsiSz/s4032/20230913_120128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSkRazwHZjhsufvgPUZUiV8b2Y7ZVAv52JFkljOCe8DlQNqhkO2dTvRE18kopI1AA6XNPnPkcvOq0zXOrSz2V_cVCYHHVj-tidqNptSAuKfBUu1VmFAg_WJtntW5ImuGhYXEGz8kzkr5cvKZTIEY1JH-kL28q5mgP0sLr9gdqw-NEvczED2thsiSz/w480-h640/20230913_120128.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGuh9w2Niq0Lm62LASr74qNV0REdAg-aw9zUVY7BTez3vd-oQSx7lRcEQODAdGUtkUEu5fEhov-X9pVyufjN_F_tTVS_x6AwS-MZrctc_Ey4CZQtD1HMYWWO1IEftR3HjqFBhfbYOgHjsOdm4UL8WdBbSh0v-rCDaM13KJ3vhOIiipNx877TPDDNI/s4032/20230913_122353.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGuh9w2Niq0Lm62LASr74qNV0REdAg-aw9zUVY7BTez3vd-oQSx7lRcEQODAdGUtkUEu5fEhov-X9pVyufjN_F_tTVS_x6AwS-MZrctc_Ey4CZQtD1HMYWWO1IEftR3HjqFBhfbYOgHjsOdm4UL8WdBbSh0v-rCDaM13KJ3vhOIiipNx877TPDDNI/w400-h300/20230913_122353.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we found a nice rock to sit on watching the river flow and eating a bag of corn chips with salsa we noticed a plaque on a rock dedicated to a Peter Spörl from Germany. A passionate hiker, travelling across Iceland who fell off these cliffs to his death in 2017, with the circumstances of the accident remaining unclear. We wondered what those circumstances were, an accident, a slip? A suicide?<br />"Hopefully he wasn't a dumb shit who fell trying to get a selfie." I said, as the frequencies of that happening since social media had skyrocketed, though I doubt they would have placed a plaque had that been the case.<br />As we continued eating our corn chips, we would see the winding road down into the valley carpark and a giant packed tour bus making it's way to the car park. <br />"Whelp time to go." I said, after we finished the chips and dip, and began heading uphill still.<br />"Isn't it back that way?" My Wife asked.<br />"Up a bit further the path loops back." I said, sure I had seen the path.</p><p>As we continued on my Wife began to doubt me and I hoped I wasn't wrong, however soon we came across the joining in, taking the other path down and back to the car. Quickly driving to Hljóðaklettar viewpoint, overlooking the valley and then continuing on towards Ásbyrgi.</p><p>Ásbyrgi is a horseshoe shaped canyon which our Nordic visitor guidebook informed us:<i> "Legend has it that the canyon acquired it's distinctive horseshoe shape thanks to Sleipnir, the legged flying horse of Norse God Odin. While Odin was out on a joy ride with Sleipnir one fine day, the horse accidentally touched one of its giant hooves onto the Earth, creating the mighty canyon".</i></p><p>Now as a lover of history, mythology and folklore anything associated with the Norse Gods I was going to be right into, and if you don't know the Norse myth involving the birth of Odin's Horse Sleipnir I would recommend looking it up, because it's a banger.</p><p>As we arrived there were a few different paths for us to travel, and we ended up walking to the far side from where we parked where we read some information signs.<br /><br /><i>"<b>The Ás Hollow</b><br />Established during the settlement. Ás was a prosperous estate for centuries. The hollow Ásbyrgi, was originally part of the estate, but eventually became a separate small farmstead, Byrgi. The farmhouses were at the mouth of the hollow, but further in the land was farmed, wood gathered and sheep grazed. The dramatic cliffs evoked stories, could there be something hidden within?"</i></p><p><i>"<b>Hidden People and a Beast</b><br />The locals tell the story of the poor farmer's son from Byrgi and a girl from the estate who were not allowed to marry. In a dream a fairy told them that her lover had been turned into a beast by a creature living in the cliffs. The beast lived in Ásbyrgi pond and could surface when the midnight sun gilded the cliffs. By confronting the beast and throwing their dearest possessions into its jaws the girl could break the spell freeing the fairy's lover. And the fairy saw to it that the young couple could marry.<br />Icelandic folklore abounds with the stories of hidden people in cliffs. Those who have seen the hidden people say that they are like us but more beautiful and well-to-do. They also say that the hidden people's capital is in Ásbyrgi, with many homes, public buildings and concert halls. One never knows what can happen during a quiet walk in Ásbyrgi!"</i></p><p>We headed down our first trail, 'The Flowers' also known as the Visitor trail, wandering through the beautiful birch forests.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXQN83JPb0yMl3JyKTUBo0D6qOxC9Gyq2CioCpXa4RoA7MDOt9B1rxAyzyVQO3FAbFieOE0b3RoVLK0M9B_gPHDI4Q3l1U7lrFUK8eHsUJTYeKcjNmVNLL9IDVRm27PYa8921PL7sLMPOgbVNObZy2fydeVcCATLCuYabSuY4BCqz4fQXibfSn2Y/s4032/20230913_130914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wXQN83JPb0yMl3JyKTUBo0D6qOxC9Gyq2CioCpXa4RoA7MDOt9B1rxAyzyVQO3FAbFieOE0b3RoVLK0M9B_gPHDI4Q3l1U7lrFUK8eHsUJTYeKcjNmVNLL9IDVRm27PYa8921PL7sLMPOgbVNObZy2fydeVcCATLCuYabSuY4BCqz4fQXibfSn2Y/w480-h640/20230913_130914.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The path came to a split, with one to our left leading0.1km to 'Lindin' which we followed to the end before following the opposite trail 0.3km to Botnstjörn Pond, which I assumed was the pond talked about in the beast myth.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOpS11nElzvGfUoIiIuVOk4N5UuQ6xDQiQRwv06wVbnyUqWM1neRuw_0siQvV3ySL_eOTVStR3L54qSlzC5-wFDcR9my_T6wRj6OB9X6za40jH0PmCIc4rwvvD2ajtzklCEJgCVFAcpxwTECJ0aLYFBJ_vq0uHeKljeRIlg-FHnHWdMt9FqpnsbDf/s4032/20230913_132400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOpS11nElzvGfUoIiIuVOk4N5UuQ6xDQiQRwv06wVbnyUqWM1neRuw_0siQvV3ySL_eOTVStR3L54qSlzC5-wFDcR9my_T6wRj6OB9X6za40jH0PmCIc4rwvvD2ajtzklCEJgCVFAcpxwTECJ0aLYFBJ_vq0uHeKljeRIlg-FHnHWdMt9FqpnsbDf/w400-h300/20230913_132400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxMbJLx1taPAsoXGQLZk_8WtTVBnUhYcQwGtvqdtbgCsirZoqZWhQN7Y57KJuGhMCRar8pR-mZsRa7pU992TQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T70zldZbhcIDr-ODJxraZ9RTsnqADBROGzvagSjwa82Exxw23wDb33e3Xs_j8X8uB6hCsbyIsxyHMXoccj9qGz3me5EQgGGgswiVpyPCcSyErRCgJgzs6PSqN_yEucaieDRVVKplqZKGmK3wbGMgmDO1QaRB4wdNh04oOkT-xpwYaH4EprPL-jMF/s4032/20230913_132736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T70zldZbhcIDr-ODJxraZ9RTsnqADBROGzvagSjwa82Exxw23wDb33e3Xs_j8X8uB6hCsbyIsxyHMXoccj9qGz3me5EQgGGgswiVpyPCcSyErRCgJgzs6PSqN_yEucaieDRVVKplqZKGmK3wbGMgmDO1QaRB4wdNh04oOkT-xpwYaH4EprPL-jMF/w480-h640/20230913_132736.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>I was ever mindful on this holiday not to take too many photo's and to try and appreciate where I was and the scenery around me, and even so look at home many I already have shared! Just such a beautiful country. We continued following the path through the forest, heading up some stairs to a view looking over the valley.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0ZY9Khwptml6PpbdXQyL-B8QJFvYcXjmO_ysld17vjebT3tLYbUAc5JOPSrcoeLtm6HytdDyK4r6jHEr2iPU_eI3VBA0zSHkWGtol1ED98HnEYYSlSlRbspuR2NNZvyibvy3HGCiAac-ppZ67xHYlJkaLDRJoMtkWO8tHLoWT59bGpsT8Ntwl5Si/s4032/20230913_133818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS0ZY9Khwptml6PpbdXQyL-B8QJFvYcXjmO_ysld17vjebT3tLYbUAc5JOPSrcoeLtm6HytdDyK4r6jHEr2iPU_eI3VBA0zSHkWGtol1ED98HnEYYSlSlRbspuR2NNZvyibvy3HGCiAac-ppZ67xHYlJkaLDRJoMtkWO8tHLoWT59bGpsT8Ntwl5Si/w400-h300/20230913_133818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We headed back down following the path and doing a full loop back to the carpark, but there was a little trail to our left I followed down to a large slab of concrete that I assumed was a helipad. As we came out of the direction back towards the carpark a group of American women were coming out from the path, they turned to go to the carpark, before doing a double take at us and then asking "Anything interesting down that way?"<br />"Just a helipad." I answered, not even sure if that's what it was as there were no marking on it.<br />"Oh for the important people." She joked and the group continued on back to the carpark.<br />"That's not what I would have thought." My Wife said, referring to the helicopter pads use.<br />"No probably for all the dumb shits that have accidents in here." <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">Getting a flashback of the rock climbing accident that caused my Dad to be airlifted to hospital</a>.</p><p>From here we headed of to the city of Húsavík, probably most well known outside of Iceland for being the setting of the Will Ferrell film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga' and for the song titled Húsavík that featured in that movie, which I made sure to play in the car Bluetooth as we drove into town.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8krlsXdxPpepE0wzVu8HJ3OJBSdqx6B7c-k4hPlcz2_PLkYrT4oWvPVJFLPhF1R5KcBm7fhDI3B2lASlq9A2HeeYO4_rk9wWsVtFU1Ehb_FAb9_Z9Y8jbm4g6VtZxT7KdU3gcmWGojyNtEjtZY2ZtkRQAKe9NoLQl0h5RSvj7xoEsG6L9dc5o3KK/s4032/20230913_151151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8krlsXdxPpepE0wzVu8HJ3OJBSdqx6B7c-k4hPlcz2_PLkYrT4oWvPVJFLPhF1R5KcBm7fhDI3B2lASlq9A2HeeYO4_rk9wWsVtFU1Ehb_FAb9_Z9Y8jbm4g6VtZxT7KdU3gcmWGojyNtEjtZY2ZtkRQAKe9NoLQl0h5RSvj7xoEsG6L9dc5o3KK/w400-h300/20230913_151151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>After finding some parking, which was actually more difficult than we thought, our first stop was the local brewery Húsavík öl, for me to try some locally brewed beers. I started with the Rindill, a dark beer. I was only planning to get the one (as I needed to continue driving), but you're only is Iceland once, so I followed up with Límon Y Sa, a Mexican lager brewed in Tequila barrels. <br /><p>From here we walked up the street to another bar, Jaja Ding Dong Húsavík. Named for the song in the Will Ferrell film that was also having a 'Eurovision' museum exhibition inside (that was pretty expensive). Made after the success and popularity of the film (evidently the only reason we were there), I bought my Wife a cocktail and we sat down inside the bar.<br />While waiting for the barkeep to create her cocktail, he had walked off, (maybe to get ingredients? But he was gone a while). Americans started coming in, and looking at the exhibit entry clearly saying you had to buy a ticket, but entering and walking through anyway.<br />Soon another group of Americans came, and the bartender came back and finally finished my Wife's cocktail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A_t7TWx6X0y12IQi3rMYJnag6bXrrordU8ohbVjstgSxtEidLMUnYL7eCHSG9tX6WYkAHaZujZNBYqvR_XXT0Si-UYi12EKMt0hoNTxi1zTsYGbYZqQT9uPBFPDi_ih3bGhONk8uzunvC6HwF4aJnBb5V8ltjqWG44O9Ne7vPwwhgGLU9aitEJx8/s4000/20230913_162825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A_t7TWx6X0y12IQi3rMYJnag6bXrrordU8ohbVjstgSxtEidLMUnYL7eCHSG9tX6WYkAHaZujZNBYqvR_XXT0Si-UYi12EKMt0hoNTxi1zTsYGbYZqQT9uPBFPDi_ih3bGhONk8uzunvC6HwF4aJnBb5V8ltjqWG44O9Ne7vPwwhgGLU9aitEJx8/w400-h300/20230913_162825.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The American's began loudly asking for 'seniors discounts', and saying that the song 'Jaja Dingdong' had better play over the speakers.</p><p>After she finished her cocktail we decided to go for a walk around Húsavík, while I pointed to the Elf House's outside the bar (that where like the ones in the film) saying that it was lots of them that I had been expecting in Álfaborg.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4JPAA-DkoHEjFote2ZgGF6PlQk6f6Sb5rzHxTUn8wLlSTxqCnTTidnH6S9r91GC7_7Y7KuSsB7VGUe3-TSohoQ00eBoj2L-6ij26hcldN9mMtUMWNVtUctclFWF3XnOhKZowz7KbGJRFOseh20FPT8lOqIF6FN8zPqTkoi-Haqb79ZEyPuvTYIn6/s4032/20230913_164418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4JPAA-DkoHEjFote2ZgGF6PlQk6f6Sb5rzHxTUn8wLlSTxqCnTTidnH6S9r91GC7_7Y7KuSsB7VGUe3-TSohoQ00eBoj2L-6ij26hcldN9mMtUMWNVtUctclFWF3XnOhKZowz7KbGJRFOseh20FPT8lOqIF6FN8zPqTkoi-Haqb79ZEyPuvTYIn6/w400-h300/20230913_164418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Afterwards heading back to the car and deciding to head straight to Vogafjós Farm back in Lake Mývatn, a farm-to-table restaurant that had the Cows on site, which was about a 50 minute drive away.<br /><br />As we arrived I learned it was also a resort. "Are you sure we can eat here?" I asked, learning through some Google searches of some restaurants that some hotel restaurants would not serve customers who weren't staying there. She assured me it was fine and we found we could walk straight into the barn that was full of Cows and baby cows that we began to pet and feed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznS2xIgalTLKSTHg2tK4V_4gnFruw2tjHP4QiEWMjYQ4SyW8Dpw9VbFn38y0-vUVm6gKL10jwGPtlwEirqlRS10OzmeJusZ-FWwRCpZPg5-UJRT_YRbAtpjFzXzAColgSeF7ZltTZuDrOqH-70v23283n9VlSprVTNmxvyhZP63AsLEy3zbJgW2dC/s4032/20230913_174453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznS2xIgalTLKSTHg2tK4V_4gnFruw2tjHP4QiEWMjYQ4SyW8Dpw9VbFn38y0-vUVm6gKL10jwGPtlwEirqlRS10OzmeJusZ-FWwRCpZPg5-UJRT_YRbAtpjFzXzAColgSeF7ZltTZuDrOqH-70v23283n9VlSprVTNmxvyhZP63AsLEy3zbJgW2dC/w480-h640/20230913_174453.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Afterwards we entered the restaurant, and I questioned whether what we were doing was morbid, but also knowing in myself that you can love animals but still eat meat, as we ourselves are animals and it is the circle of life (however I was secretly hoping to eat something on the menu that was cow).<br /><br />As we went inside, stinking of walking all day, we found the restaurant area pretty fancy, and I was worried we were underdressed (until I saw a man in shorts and thongs and thought for sure he was Australian). Once I saw the smoked Goose on the menu I got instantly excited, having missed out the night before on trying Goose. We ordered that as an entry and ended up both getting a beef burger for dinner, that was topped with the farms cheese. For dessert we tried the Geysir-bread ice cream which was the star of the show by a long shot, I could have had it for the entrée main and dessert (and I prefer savoury!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0r8FEcfBHi5yMyrKLIytrQVh7gp50dMD2kqMjxExar6zjl-d09s085Ll0E-vxSXOpLvkiOLPWRRol6SIPCTCZaDLU7QnOQ9HiezJc6d5LGN_eKaDIbE9LJSxRj0YzLUlTjq3c-umCjMeGWLdPI5HShVsakKf0lz10nFmizZpl8w5j4ZyKfRu1P-_O/s4032/20230913_180739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0r8FEcfBHi5yMyrKLIytrQVh7gp50dMD2kqMjxExar6zjl-d09s085Ll0E-vxSXOpLvkiOLPWRRol6SIPCTCZaDLU7QnOQ9HiezJc6d5LGN_eKaDIbE9LJSxRj0YzLUlTjq3c-umCjMeGWLdPI5HShVsakKf0lz10nFmizZpl8w5j4ZyKfRu1P-_O/w480-h640/20230913_180739.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4OikPAPVj-R99t9hvEEE-ntIfRJULCsN5-uuJ2amBBoX8hFMJJPU4NV_pSNWXG0fQgB7qwnb25BM818oCf-AyrRDulISI3RBfDy_L6qF9gzCz6ay7_LbW40RZQYn3G9yMjixywtCo4ZWvdYCUaBOX78qFH70PpKzGkQjWbW5U1H2Y2CVw5wIZLbL/s4032/20230913_182358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4OikPAPVj-R99t9hvEEE-ntIfRJULCsN5-uuJ2amBBoX8hFMJJPU4NV_pSNWXG0fQgB7qwnb25BM818oCf-AyrRDulISI3RBfDy_L6qF9gzCz6ay7_LbW40RZQYn3G9yMjixywtCo4ZWvdYCUaBOX78qFH70PpKzGkQjWbW5U1H2Y2CVw5wIZLbL/w480-h640/20230913_182358.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After a filling meal we exited the restaurant to find it now dark outside, heading back to the hotel to hopefully get an early night sleep...<br /><br />However, late at night, another bang on our door.<br />"We saw it last night." Commented my exhausted Wife.<br />I debated not going out, but in the end I commented we could 'rest at home' and made us dress and head out into the cold to watch the lights.<br />This night they were slightly more powerful than the last, and even with my terrible phone camera I was able to capture some of the green in the sky. (It was actually easier to photograph on my phone when it hid behind the clouds, I guess contrasting the light)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUC4SqsUt5sY1e-b1P1dlAuEhMNvLRouyh29cP9ouKJm7OMmQJkB98MxpJjPxCWZhP9F3c4XDTUDEJZ9IgwKF1Zlz1ktC4isS-h41whNx-fE4ZeIiwZT-is-h11AlNpmV2j6y1hY04pyafMmxoxNH2C0eceK6Hk8B9J2zGLvq33lATTYEPjjuk03p/s4032/20230913_220507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUC4SqsUt5sY1e-b1P1dlAuEhMNvLRouyh29cP9ouKJm7OMmQJkB98MxpJjPxCWZhP9F3c4XDTUDEJZ9IgwKF1Zlz1ktC4isS-h41whNx-fE4ZeIiwZT-is-h11AlNpmV2j6y1hY04pyafMmxoxNH2C0eceK6Hk8B9J2zGLvq33lATTYEPjjuk03p/w480-h640/20230913_220507.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After standing in the cold a while, once more frozen and sore we we about to head back inside when 'WHOOSH' a giant green light light up across the sky making a loud noise. We both jumped, lamost thinking we were getting bombed as we watched the comet fly through the air.<br />Everyone around us had also jumped and were now laughing.<br /><br />While I didn't get any photo's or footage of this, I looked it up after getting home from Iceland and found someone else who was lucky enough to get the incredible sight on camera, someone on the same night looking up at Iceland's night sky.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GHHitRCagcE" width="320" youtube-src-id="GHHitRCagcE"></iframe></div><br /><p><b>Day 9 -</b> Once more we were up early and the first at breakfast. As people began to get up the frustrations began, first a woman put a piece of toast that didn't fit through the conveyor belt toaster, (even though it had a sign), causing it to block all toasting that anyone else wanted to do, it was also here that there was a waffle maker, with some guy unable to make waffles, being shown how by a lady, then when another lady came along he proceeded to mansplain to her how the thing worked even though we literally had just seen him get shown.</p><p>We packed everything into our car, hitting the road again, us and one of couple obviously keen to get out for an early start, and we headed to Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods).</p><p><i>"<b>Historical Notes</b><br />History tells us that in the year 1000, Þorgeir, chieftain of Ljósavatn district, and Lawspeaker of the Allthing, was entrusted with the momentous task of deciding whether Icelanders would adopt the Christian faith. When his decision was formally accepted, he went home and threw his statues of the pagan gods into the waterfall. Goðafoss (Waterfall of the gods) is said to derive its name from this event.<br />It is 12 metres high. Skjálfandafljót (180km) is the country's fourth longest river."</i></p><p>As I read this, looking out at the beautiful waterfall, I couldn't help but feel sadness. Another belief system crushed by the powerhouse that was Christianity. <br />"Should have stayed Pagan." I said out loud while reading it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTit3s91GdvaEp1r_rSuvC5lXiEs7-oJpFDNU8nptsz2QWhN6EC6LiyM0ZwK6yPB069HWDOm6DKp3vkcd7sXNPRFVelGziT1cJLm9bKGCGM_ka8mFJX_5cHGMx9ElLIMFbovPMMFQ0C0YIVyAto8r75bfAe9eK5p7QNrCAYOIhIt8PL6LyY-jaNAi/s4032/20230914_083324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTit3s91GdvaEp1r_rSuvC5lXiEs7-oJpFDNU8nptsz2QWhN6EC6LiyM0ZwK6yPB069HWDOm6DKp3vkcd7sXNPRFVelGziT1cJLm9bKGCGM_ka8mFJX_5cHGMx9ElLIMFbovPMMFQ0C0YIVyAto8r75bfAe9eK5p7QNrCAYOIhIt8PL6LyY-jaNAi/w480-h640/20230914_083324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>From here we travelled out to Akureyri, which my Wife told me was Iceland's second largest city (though apparently it is its fifth, though largest outside of the capital region).</p><p>As we entered the city and stopped at a red light, I pointed out to my Wife the curious fact that the red light was a heart shape.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLjV5yG5TUem8HU-yh1PzjldPNVFNAfyD0DCmzKn1032O5qchj78nGCV6SIqM_Tw5eO34IjDr6lNzUnN_CU3PtdpU6-EMmUh6vYR-dXdZGBsADKeQUovM09Hiwsxi1-RVkjx0rwbqRhL9LwLukuEsXPZmDFcyb8DGT_Ka_UPxmPrupqX1CI0UZ_C-/s4032/20230914_091749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLjV5yG5TUem8HU-yh1PzjldPNVFNAfyD0DCmzKn1032O5qchj78nGCV6SIqM_Tw5eO34IjDr6lNzUnN_CU3PtdpU6-EMmUh6vYR-dXdZGBsADKeQUovM09Hiwsxi1-RVkjx0rwbqRhL9LwLukuEsXPZmDFcyb8DGT_Ka_UPxmPrupqX1CI0UZ_C-/w480-h640/20230914_091749.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We found a free spot to park within the city (as many areas are paid parking), right by the Hof Cultural and Conference Centre. From here we made our way through the city to head to the Akureyri Botanical Garden (Lystigarðurinn) the worlds northernmost botanic garden, where we found the cute city had more quirks, such as knitted animal/monster bin covers.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOsH9s6I9VriR6ICWyKDx2iNgsanTu277BQFeR4YVU07SZOL3YAvLyGuUn57zsj2M9L5_DPHe20sS4mVzsLgFqqwwyR2_7CYvEwsDkiR12CuGNhj6DLB79RZwGgv0cJ32Sk9CdqWgilSME48619jg2eqPwLW7fDqViG3hwuOiYVAHtXW642doOUK8/s4032/20230914_094043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOsH9s6I9VriR6ICWyKDx2iNgsanTu277BQFeR4YVU07SZOL3YAvLyGuUn57zsj2M9L5_DPHe20sS4mVzsLgFqqwwyR2_7CYvEwsDkiR12CuGNhj6DLB79RZwGgv0cJ32Sk9CdqWgilSME48619jg2eqPwLW7fDqViG3hwuOiYVAHtXW642doOUK8/w480-h640/20230914_094043.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we passed a large group of tourists randomly photographing a local home, I commented to my Wife that all these tourists would drive me insane if I lived here, especially if they were to stand outside for no reason taking photos of my home.</p><p>We spent some time wandering around the botanic garden (which wasn't too huge), before heading back into the city to head to a bakery my Wife had heard was good called Kristjáns’ Bakery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzzm9MwDnXD-vB2xKxlaaHoqoyEnehobOI6Iyscz2Bm_gvFwJPsTGctOxp0fDrk_vizw-E5xFKO0u9qc4qqg-B64MG-ZXM9q0DclGcnpELtKONspyG7O7MDNmb3boA1_VRf6hpj41lpMAuu_Eyl6dlMALv61fi2WvHaW4VrbNLERYnSTgOoiX7ASf/s4032/20230914_100037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzzm9MwDnXD-vB2xKxlaaHoqoyEnehobOI6Iyscz2Bm_gvFwJPsTGctOxp0fDrk_vizw-E5xFKO0u9qc4qqg-B64MG-ZXM9q0DclGcnpELtKONspyG7O7MDNmb3boA1_VRf6hpj41lpMAuu_Eyl6dlMALv61fi2WvHaW4VrbNLERYnSTgOoiX7ASf/w400-h300/20230914_100037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_obZoL_UM_HVLc-WedzjPRoplpWg9bFdAucKAjSra4F66Hsxz3u4efhXNh-9Fu_QGxoTktbjKBEOnW8GmR7zZyx3B4mm-8Crdc3yZDucVJSjhBU5ljRWiTnW6zv8VmOPLDS8kjAsnPerJPFk5pBvTjHmfta0qUzwpqmP567zRN_73rBlY2unHNqc/s4032/20230914_100130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_obZoL_UM_HVLc-WedzjPRoplpWg9bFdAucKAjSra4F66Hsxz3u4efhXNh-9Fu_QGxoTktbjKBEOnW8GmR7zZyx3B4mm-8Crdc3yZDucVJSjhBU5ljRWiTnW6zv8VmOPLDS8kjAsnPerJPFk5pBvTjHmfta0qUzwpqmP567zRN_73rBlY2unHNqc/w480-h640/20230914_100130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoDzCslFg11BntlRQbahTu6-lHbdLEl5nJUWDLrWVxCpXT3OlS-HdAzcd2lfpiCn_hyD8u8MFLer5J-ssRdjeuGsWMaOqpdTOTql0tMXbo487GDnOziJ__ZawyF_JTXoY4mZ_bUJM_vdpvS9fQTAdxjXsTwcQkSl8AuY9JALDyLbEUMklT-ox0Ssl/s4032/20230914_100720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoDzCslFg11BntlRQbahTu6-lHbdLEl5nJUWDLrWVxCpXT3OlS-HdAzcd2lfpiCn_hyD8u8MFLer5J-ssRdjeuGsWMaOqpdTOTql0tMXbo487GDnOziJ__ZawyF_JTXoY4mZ_bUJM_vdpvS9fQTAdxjXsTwcQkSl8AuY9JALDyLbEUMklT-ox0Ssl/w400-h300/20230914_100720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYjxliJo00fxWbt-Qnz0uP6llO6m99B3W2BaE251femNpPtZQPdTBtT_VbtTYyzw34y7jALS0MQeZcfyCGV3844qP4ZySW0TH9yaDxkisZ_Nn07g5GdWaqE5UIElBTBZ5o-NOAdPZ-nIjQOLJpWVjCg74dzyoe32mXEvbpKxv6IWnZ5eFWKaYh1gJ/s4032/20230914_101152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYjxliJo00fxWbt-Qnz0uP6llO6m99B3W2BaE251femNpPtZQPdTBtT_VbtTYyzw34y7jALS0MQeZcfyCGV3844qP4ZySW0TH9yaDxkisZ_Nn07g5GdWaqE5UIElBTBZ5o-NOAdPZ-nIjQOLJpWVjCg74dzyoe32mXEvbpKxv6IWnZ5eFWKaYh1gJ/w480-h640/20230914_101152.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It was weird to be in something that felt like a city again, but it was interesting to explore all it's strange quirks without it being too busy (though I had a feeling as the day went on it would begin to be).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WqCJLGFIXVf22bRsM4XnWn7Yc-_9TsqSUzjbuaqzlrK-LGHgd_n2chtYeQiL_YmjYVENEyZzxJD1z0FavAxf_7O0ZkKsx-yggSAHebULCKnXZr6k8EXuG09N4Rm8cfqDT1xttZrD2wEXCfKq_M_iRz2ITTHCSH0_gd54yTAyn32c0Lcj1wAIKOVp/s4032/20230914_102945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WqCJLGFIXVf22bRsM4XnWn7Yc-_9TsqSUzjbuaqzlrK-LGHgd_n2chtYeQiL_YmjYVENEyZzxJD1z0FavAxf_7O0ZkKsx-yggSAHebULCKnXZr6k8EXuG09N4Rm8cfqDT1xttZrD2wEXCfKq_M_iRz2ITTHCSH0_gd54yTAyn32c0Lcj1wAIKOVp/w480-h640/20230914_102945.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgZPnV2r7RsdBUlJebRjQVytH6uT1utekPPvWCXJQObjjNs4WBVP0Uvs68GXfxNgNEUebJByxRfad4aZxQZNdbQbQdr88Rp_L1j2JcXfCTwf1hoQW7l-HPNgAQBw9HsaMusdzotSvjpS296vnG2ocVRO8BO8InWFJqz0-gZPZBWCfMf7cEqsoZiZt/s4032/20230914_103112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgZPnV2r7RsdBUlJebRjQVytH6uT1utekPPvWCXJQObjjNs4WBVP0Uvs68GXfxNgNEUebJByxRfad4aZxQZNdbQbQdr88Rp_L1j2JcXfCTwf1hoQW7l-HPNgAQBw9HsaMusdzotSvjpS296vnG2ocVRO8BO8InWFJqz0-gZPZBWCfMf7cEqsoZiZt/w480-h640/20230914_103112.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TcnKLhPZ6hYssQbCkXDDWGXyjXdiR9vkGFzdj4Y9ZXEaaQB47tu0fIGGoLejDFeeoPxE3AXCN_70YUA6Y302tFFIJS_hyckgMZGTtPTN34HN7SWh8uboD7xXiaf-fcAllmGbDwAcDhW_un60DocntJ4XehlFCzAmIEtm5g9Tq505E41kxLgZMN-L/s4032/20230914_103244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TcnKLhPZ6hYssQbCkXDDWGXyjXdiR9vkGFzdj4Y9ZXEaaQB47tu0fIGGoLejDFeeoPxE3AXCN_70YUA6Y302tFFIJS_hyckgMZGTtPTN34HN7SWh8uboD7xXiaf-fcAllmGbDwAcDhW_un60DocntJ4XehlFCzAmIEtm5g9Tq505E41kxLgZMN-L/w480-h640/20230914_103244.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The bakery was very small and very crowded, so I ordered a coffee (which was still just peculated, no barista coffee here!) and some pastries, quickly leaving the very busy store to go and eat and drink at what seemed like a kids play area, surrounded by a ring road.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs79ZwJQLm7kA22-MLlRHFBWGZOyvE7LQbB7LNDEILvRyTOWaeku13bVaAYlM-tJ47bTQ4rd0mzBQEqX_3ni2FQBE5KFJIvsmbXXlojjoIlJfglLq8-Rs6wVH5ffETICEis8Wo91PrSPajXPhst9Rf9lcWJpEr42XevhyphenhyphenqOkdJexCWEAazD6adBIZ/s4000/20230914_105151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLs79ZwJQLm7kA22-MLlRHFBWGZOyvE7LQbB7LNDEILvRyTOWaeku13bVaAYlM-tJ47bTQ4rd0mzBQEqX_3ni2FQBE5KFJIvsmbXXlojjoIlJfglLq8-Rs6wVH5ffETICEis8Wo91PrSPajXPhst9Rf9lcWJpEr42XevhyphenhyphenqOkdJexCWEAazD6adBIZ/w400-h300/20230914_105151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>After this we walked down to a Krónan supermarket to buy some lunch for later and for the following day, before walking down to the Port of Akureyri and following as close as we could get to the water and back around to Hof Cultural and Conference Centre (which had nice clean toilets).</p><p>Not sure what to do in Akureyri (and we had been debating whether or not to head to Árskógssandur and catch the ferry over to Hrísey, but deciding not to due to infrequent ferry times), I looked up nearby walks on my phone, deciding to head to Krossanesborgir a nature reserve just north of Akureyri.</p><p><i>"<b>The area of Krossanesborgir</b><br />Krossanesborgir was designated as a natural park in the year 2004.<br />The area has versatile plant- and birdlife which the intention is to preserve as well as provide access for public education and leisure. Emphasis is on providing access to the area without disturbing the natural setting.<br />The area is distinctively marked with rock formations or cliffs in irregular groupings with direction north-south. The rocks generally have a whaleback formation; evenly formed to the south with steep cliffs on the north and east side. The marks of the ice-age glacier can clearly be seen on the rocks, including glacial stria.<br />The area has not been drained much for agriculture over time. Therefore it has marshlands and ponds with unique vegetation and wildlife. The main ponds are Dáknatjörn, Startjörn and Hundatjörn.<br />Around 170 plant species have been found in the area including 16 types of sedge (Carex) as well as 5 types of pondweed (Potamogeton).<br />According to a thorough bird count made 2003 at least 27 species breed here. Among species found here are: Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea); Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus), Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), Lesser black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and Mew Gull (Larus canus); Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa); various Ducks and Geese such as Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) and Greylag Goose (Anser anser) as well as many other species of birds.<br />Trails have been laid to make it easier for visitors to enjoy nature in the area."</i></p><p>We followed the trail along doing a big loop of the area, getting quite warm once more and removing our jackets.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi_pCNC4EP2YaUvm2d9V_vZVUvkilQaCCrm2MM2hpmDCAyMTEWgGUyUE5obF_OhBqWxcYRWz9RXe0WYJo4GFGHYW3SmkhgSK58aOuaEfT-doECDPbq7rKSPg2aKmU1BOUovCkgxdOabIdhqTdyi4pfYdiXg8AqZlXDUUZ0imNI9xE4HfJ6Q-gZbt-/s4000/20230914_122808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigi_pCNC4EP2YaUvm2d9V_vZVUvkilQaCCrm2MM2hpmDCAyMTEWgGUyUE5obF_OhBqWxcYRWz9RXe0WYJo4GFGHYW3SmkhgSK58aOuaEfT-doECDPbq7rKSPg2aKmU1BOUovCkgxdOabIdhqTdyi4pfYdiXg8AqZlXDUUZ0imNI9xE4HfJ6Q-gZbt-/w400-h300/20230914_122808.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_hDhnsdxpIX396DO9j6vsEhTgr5_Wdx7CYuUSElJhyEldY6cB0RvK7PjeAxKZJ3do27ZNfqwxA2LkJ1KvRV-R5KmhLsdlNYat23EetR9EpBGQzc4EkPPZZ_whDBvfe2xoOxSfaXreIQ_Yzntp2Gomm_GoyPOum8XIc7R69yVdkpJBzA6ZQGmEJVm/s4032/20230914_130914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_hDhnsdxpIX396DO9j6vsEhTgr5_Wdx7CYuUSElJhyEldY6cB0RvK7PjeAxKZJ3do27ZNfqwxA2LkJ1KvRV-R5KmhLsdlNYat23EetR9EpBGQzc4EkPPZZ_whDBvfe2xoOxSfaXreIQ_Yzntp2Gomm_GoyPOum8XIc7R69yVdkpJBzA6ZQGmEJVm/w480-h640/20230914_130914.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkTd9vtaBMMHBvBvXaL6ubseUAqU16yPU-Uxf6uhbu8JuiZpapYveTakhwoKaQ4UMNVibwTiwcNuTjALpwpAv59dkSkeeGS_yOd2jE09ycRuFZqcjkOU7zxTbHGN62RAUD9ucDQuB9csUYCjjOQcF10jI6_nofIEsWw6ZuVL3pv2c4FlFl16v55S3/s4032/20230914_132250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkTd9vtaBMMHBvBvXaL6ubseUAqU16yPU-Uxf6uhbu8JuiZpapYveTakhwoKaQ4UMNVibwTiwcNuTjALpwpAv59dkSkeeGS_yOd2jE09ycRuFZqcjkOU7zxTbHGN62RAUD9ucDQuB9csUYCjjOQcF10jI6_nofIEsWw6ZuVL3pv2c4FlFl16v55S3/w480-h640/20230914_132250.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>As we began circling back, doing a big loop we came to a lookout over:<br /><br /><i>"<b>The Desolate Farm of Lónsgerði</b><br />The farm of Lónsgerði or Óskarsgerði was abandoned in the year 1931. According to the public records most of its inhabitants did not reside for a long time at the farm. The reason probably being limited and poor pastures. The ruins of the farm can be seen today."</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeso5a5a4ExDMk606VMq2aWfYBfLMjvgCKmzhrkVSi65J_M7rCvOgmKA-5cIWPN33iA1bXXNF_PrfzVaGBE_MWafoB2sjUBaVL0SZWBxRs-osvtbhoXmVVfMxNSuFhE2yhWR1OFmnV7kziAK7-Gy18szaIsHPe6IBwiOWFgmvNPC5O8acRksrXsD94/s4000/20230914_132402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeso5a5a4ExDMk606VMq2aWfYBfLMjvgCKmzhrkVSi65J_M7rCvOgmKA-5cIWPN33iA1bXXNF_PrfzVaGBE_MWafoB2sjUBaVL0SZWBxRs-osvtbhoXmVVfMxNSuFhE2yhWR1OFmnV7kziAK7-Gy18szaIsHPe6IBwiOWFgmvNPC5O8acRksrXsD94/w400-h300/20230914_132402.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXKsH5qTGmpOKDYN6TlWBiK7lS5CR0Hrptxfi6S1_lwo996Q33UrP-InKX60ljsn-WZ0jvxuxu84_l3bMGfy9x8bRa1Ntvlq7Q8hN0whD67FZzF9GfX9xt4XnNZtZXfF7pOHsc0KBQjpQumB8TtfqT_zl7XkBH78zSPRqFCXxG3yw3v_0SP88GWKt/s4032/20230914_133453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXKsH5qTGmpOKDYN6TlWBiK7lS5CR0Hrptxfi6S1_lwo996Q33UrP-InKX60ljsn-WZ0jvxuxu84_l3bMGfy9x8bRa1Ntvlq7Q8hN0whD67FZzF9GfX9xt4XnNZtZXfF7pOHsc0KBQjpQumB8TtfqT_zl7XkBH78zSPRqFCXxG3yw3v_0SP88GWKt/w400-h300/20230914_133453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>There wasn't much to see other than some mounds in a field, and from the distance we even struggled to see them, so we continued on arriving back at the car.</p><p>My Wife wanted to bypass the next two stops heading straight to Sauðárkrókur, where our accommodation was, as Sauðárkrókur was marked as a feature destination in our travel book by Nordic Visitor. However, I thought that we were only in Iceland once, and even if we weren't interested in the fishing villages (which were our next two stops, Siglufjörður and Hofsós, two small fishing villages that would add 2 and a half hours' worth of driving) that we would miss part of Iceland by road. Offering to drive, we set out towards Siglufjörður </p><p>When we finally arrived at the small village and had a look around we stopped at a bench to have some water and food and looking at a local art piece called 'The Herring Girls'.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi9cx-ioNjOv2ZV9uvWjs4QDeCCaS_e51JQ6e4IqLovx5K6kULSlW2mutcu71BGVmPbc_U_Qr1OTa-6i6CC97ANl1xQlShn8L2c07nA4S8BdiOtBsuR6VNu5srU4btqk0b00KigsJ9slnjoc4e6ZSckJZdr_R_suLjOs-jB8jPNB3W3w7QxD1kVya/s4032/20230914_150949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi9cx-ioNjOv2ZV9uvWjs4QDeCCaS_e51JQ6e4IqLovx5K6kULSlW2mutcu71BGVmPbc_U_Qr1OTa-6i6CC97ANl1xQlShn8L2c07nA4S8BdiOtBsuR6VNu5srU4btqk0b00KigsJ9slnjoc4e6ZSckJZdr_R_suLjOs-jB8jPNB3W3w7QxD1kVya/w480-h640/20230914_150949.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><i>“At its height, there were approximately a thousand herring girls in Siglufjörður, ready to save herring day and night, regardless of the weather. Their income was dependent on whether the herring was caught, and only salted barrels were paid for, but there was no guarantee of purchase.”</i></p><p>From here we crossed the main road, walking over to a warehouse, that turned out to be a Herring Museum. My Wife kept insisting we would 'have to pay to enter', but as we entered, we found no one there and walked around looking inside the museum,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMepl35irVSYrakR7idIzB35BZC00_1BYb9pc5WJOv6Dakp5t2ok_Vkt74TFzyQRZXZdZnTc2W35vtm_GUx9TITxVJfw3ykfrEJV05klwJhEaWbXlmOWJhDBN5Cm4l1pG0K3Q6wGImrs5rslB31ejoDbvKzfd6rLeHmnYGvCAVorIJ2UpT2behu6Q/s4032/20230914_151324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMepl35irVSYrakR7idIzB35BZC00_1BYb9pc5WJOv6Dakp5t2ok_Vkt74TFzyQRZXZdZnTc2W35vtm_GUx9TITxVJfw3ykfrEJV05klwJhEaWbXlmOWJhDBN5Cm4l1pG0K3Q6wGImrs5rslB31ejoDbvKzfd6rLeHmnYGvCAVorIJ2UpT2behu6Q/w480-h640/20230914_151324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After doing a loop through we exited and continue back to where we parked the car, where we walked past a second warehouse, also the Herring Museum. As we entered this one there was someone there who asked if we would like to buy a ticket. "No thanks." I replied and we walked out.<br />"I'm not interested in Herrings enough to pay for it." I said to my Wife as we walked back to the car. "Like, at home little museums for things like that that people only go to are usually either free, or so cheap that people don't mind paying, but a lot of it gets its funding from government grants and stuff."</p><p>We returned to the car and set off for a long drive, continuing around the coast towards Hofsós. This road was actually pretty treacherous, often gravel, and slippery, next to cliff faces overlooking the ocean and it was hard to see at points as we were surrounded by mist. There was even a long stretch of a one-way tunnel with bays you had to pull up in to let oncoming traffic through. There were also occasion crests on these roads that seemed like they had sharp turns off, and we went at a much slower pace than we anticipated taking much longer than expected. In the end, it had taken that long, and we were that tired and stressed that as we passed the turn off to Hofsós, we simply continued on to Sauðárkrókur.</p><p>We arrived in this very small town that didn't have much to do either, and we found our accommodation at the Hótel Tindastóll & Annex. The place put my Wife on edge as a suspicious looking character pulled up in his car, blasting music to visit the vape shop just across from the hotel.<br />"I'm sure it's fine." I said, as we checked into the hotel, which had no elevators, and just to carry all out luggage upstairs. As we entered our room we could hear the music from the car at the vape shop still, and I could see my Wife visible annoyed. "Why would they want us to come here? There's nothing here." She said.<br />"Well just be thankful we didn't bypass the coast track and just come here." I said, which would have taken only an hour and a half not driving around the coast.<br />My Wife continued to complain about it. "Like if we knew there was nothing to do here, we could have organised something for today in Akureyri, or done the horse riding today (we had horse riding booked for the following morning), and then we would have missed less tomorrow."<br />I placated her, trying to not have a bad experience, and decided I would have a shower. "Well this is the oldest hotel in Iceland, so that's sort of cool." I said.<br />But then the smell came, the sulphur smell from natural heating of the shower. My Wife, unable to bare the smell continued to get worse, complaining that now she can't shower, or she'd throw up.<br />I noticed a sign on the door about the sulphur, saying the cold water was safe to drink, but not to drink the heated water. "Would have been good to know that back at Hotel Fron." I said, not that I had drank any hot water from any taps.</p><p>I looked up food on the town map, finding two locations for dinner, but we went for a walk down water, doing a little loop before going out to dinner at Kaffi Krókur. I ordered fish and chips (after visiting a Herring Museum, I felt the craving), and it came as a massive portion that was really good as well as trying an Icelandic beer and my Wife having a cocktail, deciding to just enjoy the most of our night here,<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZM0v2t3OYpJLTADXYyPYz4gbfqLQ47PX6Xj-wG9nYrfCaWSvlDsX4ddb2Ww7rTj7sHUFDOpV7vMhaHaCmzQkzgcy73ybKlbEU7tOyeohBjTbHt5rxOu6EN3Tmfd0hFxuYNRz7V5aAR1hu2sRnoTx1Xa_DpBUkoVAfgm1kSmW70ZyeitLdMfdplhn/s4032/20230914_184531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZM0v2t3OYpJLTADXYyPYz4gbfqLQ47PX6Xj-wG9nYrfCaWSvlDsX4ddb2Ww7rTj7sHUFDOpV7vMhaHaCmzQkzgcy73ybKlbEU7tOyeohBjTbHt5rxOu6EN3Tmfd0hFxuYNRz7V5aAR1hu2sRnoTx1Xa_DpBUkoVAfgm1kSmW70ZyeitLdMfdplhn/w400-h300/20230914_184531.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Day 10 - </b>The following morning we had our Icelandic horse riding booked in at 9.45am, so there wasn't a lot we could do before then, so we took the opportunity to have a bit of a sleep in, feeling the fatigue of our long days of either walking or driving. Before we had come to Iceland my Wife had wanted to ride Icelandic horses while looking through a series of activities you could book through the provider (Silfra being the one other thing we booked). She had grown up riding horses in Australia and loved horses, and was fascinated that, while most horses have three gaits Icelandic horses had five with the addition of the tölt and flying pace. "Yeah you can do it, I might explore while you do." I had said back at home before booking it, having done guided horse rides a few times in my life and knowing that you are never allowed to go fast, and might do something a little faster than a walk, having found them to be pretty boring. In the end I ended up agreeing to do it with my Wife so I could take some photos of her.</p><p>We headed down to the breakfast hall of Hótel Tindastóll & Annex, which as we had gone to breakfast later then any other time on our trip, we found very busy and squishy, but I thought it was a cool aesthetic down there. I made sure to not have any processed meat, as I was feeling a decline in my body with I believed was due to these breakfasts, so instead I loaded up some rye bread with salads, trying to fill my body with healthy nutrition, as well as vigorously drinking as much coffee as possible to shake my fatigue.</p><p>My Wife didn't have to strength to lift out suitcases and carry them down the stairs so I did multiple trips for us, when she once more began the complaints about 'accessibility issues'. "How could old people be expected to do this?" She asked.<br /></p><p>We set the GPS to the horse riding located in Skagafjörður with the company Hestasport. As we made our way to the reception area, filling in all our details, we got told we could go to the wait room downstairs with a comfy couch and free tea and coffee. I once more started helping myself to the coffee, trying to wash away my brain fog, but instead just gave myself the instant urge to poop. Soon the lady from reception came to tell us they were ready for us now, and gave us the location to head to to begin our horse riding, however with my urge to poop I found the toilets located in a different room upstairs while my Wife was frustrated by my timing. As I finished my business and exited, my Wife pointed at the door saying "You pick the right toilet at least." I turned around to find a drawing of a horse pooing on my door.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvft_aIzoio42TEPr3M_v-_4vAgwUM9MdIvfMYgH7UGs-lLcDY9ho2iOYZKNVZM1IZNn_CBZfN_DMc4JGIj781cyt9tGgORGcW7V7H9eCd5ydya69uQPj1MoX_IoRweURBslUolSkh0ufweBlenqDsgx1XyndCg9R-x-Bjo40S8B_SY4DMJWx4SQsM/s4032/20230915_095244.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvft_aIzoio42TEPr3M_v-_4vAgwUM9MdIvfMYgH7UGs-lLcDY9ho2iOYZKNVZM1IZNn_CBZfN_DMc4JGIj781cyt9tGgORGcW7V7H9eCd5ydya69uQPj1MoX_IoRweURBslUolSkh0ufweBlenqDsgx1XyndCg9R-x-Bjo40S8B_SY4DMJWx4SQsM/w480-h640/20230915_095244.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>On the door next to it a horse weeing.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8EboMfcwLNUhACGSfQu1qEeroRfheadWlV70sNzyA8ZxkPusB_ssLyK-_CBs7mCj0qL_4BY_uZ8v6XNef26wFF8slE6HJJIpD_um5vFwg-7dHcFPKKspBUNKlqSAgtpj6UbyhXWeOKgxRn6cq7s8XO7iMe82J0KfmPACM7XdtUrIT2F5DRlIXUyY/s4032/20230915_095248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8EboMfcwLNUhACGSfQu1qEeroRfheadWlV70sNzyA8ZxkPusB_ssLyK-_CBs7mCj0qL_4BY_uZ8v6XNef26wFF8slE6HJJIpD_um5vFwg-7dHcFPKKspBUNKlqSAgtpj6UbyhXWeOKgxRn6cq7s8XO7iMe82J0KfmPACM7XdtUrIT2F5DRlIXUyY/w480-h640/20230915_095248.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>"That's so good." I commented, finding it amusing that I had entered the 'correct' toilet (not that it was designed for that but still).<br /><p>We made our way to the stable, and were greeted by two ladies (ladies makes them sound old, they were probably younger than me), and told we were waiting on one more person to rock up who was running late. Soon that person finally arrived, and we were given all the general safety instructions and a walkthrough on how to get on and ride the horses.<br />We were informed we would be told the name of our horse, and that in Iceland it was bad luck to forget the name of your horse. I was told I would be riding 'Björn'. I forget the name of my Wife's horse, but it's ok because I remember the name of mine!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f-wg6XLSWj6CELAbMANOsHSHuaxCws0TckxOim4SJxK2dXTeW3BqPkEjdDBlg5tsO2E8T9eDyvRgK3mymQymV53hLWztoKF6ku2H9En3upWqZJ0YzjT3hDamBHo6O2OVvxcRwL9vMkZaoqHXHnv91PySMpqgQLFRzu4crL3j5OJmbWH4GXL5yN1X/s4032/20230915_102215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f-wg6XLSWj6CELAbMANOsHSHuaxCws0TckxOim4SJxK2dXTeW3BqPkEjdDBlg5tsO2E8T9eDyvRgK3mymQymV53hLWztoKF6ku2H9En3upWqZJ0YzjT3hDamBHo6O2OVvxcRwL9vMkZaoqHXHnv91PySMpqgQLFRzu4crL3j5OJmbWH4GXL5yN1X/w480-h640/20230915_102215.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>When the time came for me to get up on my horse, I stretched my leg up over it and heard an almighty ripping sound, and I knew immediately what it was. I looked down and saw a massive tear in the crouch of my cargo pants. Luckily I was on a horse and no one could see the huge tear or my underwear. But it was an awkward start to our ride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G9OatXldcc6ecXhGWn9IEL-yVOyunX6RBR2lKRd4UWQYlPIGqzqNWkx35jc0423A6T0GwlH40n2K-OMjudhoQ2zPBqSKEU5org7RzwybfUGC6LIy_upFMcMTh5Ob2Ef1mQlaySl65qa72u_fsu2r91TH7UIi5RCZ0UVAbFWkKMcJ58P6JNgzl5vg/s4032/20230915_110113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G9OatXldcc6ecXhGWn9IEL-yVOyunX6RBR2lKRd4UWQYlPIGqzqNWkx35jc0423A6T0GwlH40n2K-OMjudhoQ2zPBqSKEU5org7RzwybfUGC6LIy_upFMcMTh5Ob2Ef1mQlaySl65qa72u_fsu2r91TH7UIi5RCZ0UVAbFWkKMcJ58P6JNgzl5vg/w480-h640/20230915_110113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We travelled some way, and it was as I thought with mostly walking and the occasional slow run (the exact gait I can't recall). But I just enjoyed myself, patting Björn, who was a much nicer horse than the Australian horses I'd ridden before. As we took this horse ride their pet Dog ran alongside us to, and I imaged having the free open space for my own Dog, Orla, to run around and explore, imagining how happy that would make her.<br /><br />We crossed a river on them, allowing them to stop and drink the fresh flowing Icelandic water, before following the side of a hill up along the river. Although it wasn't necessarily dangerous, I knew my life was in the hands of Björn, for is he was to lose footing or slip, and roll, I would probably be crushed and die, which for some reason increased the thrill for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl8cJD3Fe0hG71S7Jb1CPSmRClYfE1q4nlBOWqmTKGONoqv272YUtdQ_k6L_7JKmNFdPeIhxwHlfbUFTCcDAU_TZwbl38zJR3NI8yYfuUdXfH5h4qRVYCH9PvCUIxya_vlKJhBlm2sXGm3xknxdFfy_OK6axfdMwXPqXX-uYucCghw7KJqrc45W_n/s4032/20230915_113406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl8cJD3Fe0hG71S7Jb1CPSmRClYfE1q4nlBOWqmTKGONoqv272YUtdQ_k6L_7JKmNFdPeIhxwHlfbUFTCcDAU_TZwbl38zJR3NI8yYfuUdXfH5h4qRVYCH9PvCUIxya_vlKJhBlm2sXGm3xknxdFfy_OK6axfdMwXPqXX-uYucCghw7KJqrc45W_n/w480-h640/20230915_113406.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>As we reached the top we approached the waterfall, Fosslaug.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWVyxtfFnQ0rWnwxj3qpshppcXZAK0COOdNaPv0XJSHsypihKntMd8DmhwIgVayaB0I6tsbWYP_7n-saB5K6lp93PNTEmI04YzaZbP1dG_S0NdI7TBJBceSUT5cUzpPP3CrgqpTR3QVt7Yzmzo1BsPne7KgFc8Sffkd-8dGWfXc_Qw6-sKs1EMVU-/s4000/20230915_113632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWVyxtfFnQ0rWnwxj3qpshppcXZAK0COOdNaPv0XJSHsypihKntMd8DmhwIgVayaB0I6tsbWYP_7n-saB5K6lp93PNTEmI04YzaZbP1dG_S0NdI7TBJBceSUT5cUzpPP3CrgqpTR3QVt7Yzmzo1BsPne7KgFc8Sffkd-8dGWfXc_Qw6-sKs1EMVU-/w480-h640/20230915_113632.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We made our way back to the stables were we got some photos with our horses, and gave them some pats, cuddles and food (I hoped off quick when no one was looking to as not to expose myself).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nc68suS5d82ZTB4xnJt35wlVUx8ehgHHxZpqnNGNW3Qoj-e3RXP6zQcaulnJIXnU214ocAFwehPRe99SuvKyzrWQtopMesQtdj9iS6pLzeP3h5CxLkkhiJRB9q5PjMNZ52QHU9ddrP9HNqojFQPbO8t0CfTxzdEq72TNMQUSMl9yVrCKU_mdNOnc/s4032/20230915_120024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nc68suS5d82ZTB4xnJt35wlVUx8ehgHHxZpqnNGNW3Qoj-e3RXP6zQcaulnJIXnU214ocAFwehPRe99SuvKyzrWQtopMesQtdj9iS6pLzeP3h5CxLkkhiJRB9q5PjMNZ52QHU9ddrP9HNqojFQPbO8t0CfTxzdEq72TNMQUSMl9yVrCKU_mdNOnc/w480-h640/20230915_120024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I said goodbye to Björn and we headed off to a service station we had passed on our way to the Hestasport reception, to use the bathroom (and change into non torn cargo pants), as well as buying ourselves a chocolate milk, before beginning the rest of our day, and heading of to our destination of Vatnsdalshólar, which according to our guide was:<br /><br /><i>"a lush, green area. Dotted around the mouth of the valley are innumerable hills, created by an enormous landslide at the end of the last Ice Age." </i></p><p>We were told on the route we were taking that we would find Þrístapar, the site of the last execution in Iceland in 1830 (a beheading). Which apparently were written about in a popular novel 'Burial Rites' by Australian author Hannah Kent.<br />"Hey, my friend from work talked about that book to me before we came to Iceland." I said.<br /><br />As we drove a long winding dirt road with no markers overlooking a valley filled with hills, there was no place for us to pull up, or signs or stops and google maps was not helping us at all. We did a giant loop around the lake and creek, before arriving at the Vatnsdalshólar View Point. <br />"Maybe this is where the execution happened?" I said, with no idea.<br />A nearby Dog ran up to our car as we opened the door and my Wife was more than excited to give it some cuddles.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgNm0GFMSjj73wFanF-Z4wdCDqpyn5YzZZ9WaEdmGtfUvJKJAy58jhxoE0vkBCA_QyN9QhyphenhyphenDZUxrZi8XwSmkh-ZwPEpvWd0kVk_ZzJSNIQyepDoSmukGkbhJknKyIO5PJ515gsNB5BR5jG8QUoYn7b05mLtC7LOLnlGNJZCC6C7OoDON4u7msDOzN/s4032/20230915_134726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgNm0GFMSjj73wFanF-Z4wdCDqpyn5YzZZ9WaEdmGtfUvJKJAy58jhxoE0vkBCA_QyN9QhyphenhyphenDZUxrZi8XwSmkh-ZwPEpvWd0kVk_ZzJSNIQyepDoSmukGkbhJknKyIO5PJ515gsNB5BR5jG8QUoYn7b05mLtC7LOLnlGNJZCC6C7OoDON4u7msDOzN/w480-h640/20230915_134726.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We walked up the stairs of the big mound up to the lookout over the lake, "this would be a cool execution spot", I thought unaware that it was not the location at all.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYAyK1I7PSzMs5QdjcBzAsqpbPQJLLDui7NJuulYSzRV0VcJWf-QFc_F-n_K6srJsfqpml4dXfUGyWFgbfSKDaQwP56TiyDz3qhA2-KxI9ZbFh82uq2FBpWaBxsDktr2SnjURcFW9qbt-L1m9eL-ekQM3I_1zZBv69F5PcRPl1TM6JrtWuPw9S_tu/s4000/20230915_135302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYAyK1I7PSzMs5QdjcBzAsqpbPQJLLDui7NJuulYSzRV0VcJWf-QFc_F-n_K6srJsfqpml4dXfUGyWFgbfSKDaQwP56TiyDz3qhA2-KxI9ZbFh82uq2FBpWaBxsDktr2SnjURcFW9qbt-L1m9eL-ekQM3I_1zZBv69F5PcRPl1TM6JrtWuPw9S_tu/w480-h640/20230915_135302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXgYRNRJ_wd9_TeqSxPGVqjgMoljU5X9bws29j-nY4muiLXYhYplmi-jtLlzRGDM423leUVPP6WbV29Z4nHg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>As we left we quickly pulled in at a bathroom we saw at an area named Ólafslundur, which also had a nature reserve walking area (similar to how the front of Höfði had looked). I wanted to go for a walk through, but as we had started late in the day with horse riding, and spent so much time driving around the lake (when we could have driven 2 minutes down the road and turned left), my Wife wanted to just hurry to our next destination Kolugljúfur Canyon, so we headed off towards the canyon, no idea we passed Þrístapar literally 2-minutes down the road we took to the canyon. (Moral of the story, sometimes invest more time looking where you need to go instead of a general location and google maps).</p><p>As we arrived at Kolugljúfur Canyon, the grass parking bay was almost full but a few spot at the ends, and as I drove down I pulled up next to a car with people sitting beside it having a picnic.<br /><br />They said something to me, which I didn't comprehend at all as I wasn't expecting anyone to speak to me, so I didn't take it in at all.<br /><br />"What was that?" I replied.<br />They commented something about following them or something, and I sort of awkwardly, semi-aggressively replied saying that I didn't understand, just completely caught off guard, and not fully understanding the accent.<br />Soon it became clear they were among the group of people who had been on the horse guide tour with us, so I awkwardly nodded, and continued over the nearby bridge to view the canyon and waterfall (Kolufoss), painstakingly taking the effort to try to get a photo without people in it. (Because social media, and photography is inherently disingenuous).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1D1BBVu2LtWmVI9rGiww0LwJ6KdqEp9bos-YKgJ80aS9M-hqaPNBKWH4IPCZ69RExuQ7r9OUT-j6V7-LDvp9GkBLEAedjfFDzdxrJWN38RDXXVtC0EYRzPdSuVWM66RqN62IDOi_a0QHjasOmhkSwkOMiO-YaS9TGY26kuU5UTL-ZFMpiuVUfVPQ/s4032/20230915_142725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1D1BBVu2LtWmVI9rGiww0LwJ6KdqEp9bos-YKgJ80aS9M-hqaPNBKWH4IPCZ69RExuQ7r9OUT-j6V7-LDvp9GkBLEAedjfFDzdxrJWN38RDXXVtC0EYRzPdSuVWM66RqN62IDOi_a0QHjasOmhkSwkOMiO-YaS9TGY26kuU5UTL-ZFMpiuVUfVPQ/w480-h640/20230915_142725.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYVUNbuexMU21zhAS2tAqSTQrvgsFEb94iBXCJZw_sbN91baHdjRmXiOSs6z0g3kKW4Bk6ElkWifXqtlDVGVBLG7oOfmbDwRSGLVT37jZwavbGIrf56E9KRcUq6HoZcJPmzvfQeulVAb1IcdQDA90_RA-ldOl-Aj54gxV_gunCYNWBQ8qd-Qlq1t/s4032/20230915_142848.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYVUNbuexMU21zhAS2tAqSTQrvgsFEb94iBXCJZw_sbN91baHdjRmXiOSs6z0g3kKW4Bk6ElkWifXqtlDVGVBLG7oOfmbDwRSGLVT37jZwavbGIrf56E9KRcUq6HoZcJPmzvfQeulVAb1IcdQDA90_RA-ldOl-Aj54gxV_gunCYNWBQ8qd-Qlq1t/w480-h640/20230915_142848.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-MoeNl3P2tuOXLosoJttTuJ_ZxkDr84CNT0mAOnU5NeXoHm5GeItxaGzZbW0pDHaN4138CRx1vGqmFFLPxaM54n4eA9U_Cvf0q9G7nopgIyFGdEh_jhOKWf1AsKaTWFFQTD5cZ3d_REOO6FbTdAVW2H0hKbpB-BJsqrzgJfdS79DeCRoFRoa0YCv/s4000/20230915_143952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-MoeNl3P2tuOXLosoJttTuJ_ZxkDr84CNT0mAOnU5NeXoHm5GeItxaGzZbW0pDHaN4138CRx1vGqmFFLPxaM54n4eA9U_Cvf0q9G7nopgIyFGdEh_jhOKWf1AsKaTWFFQTD5cZ3d_REOO6FbTdAVW2H0hKbpB-BJsqrzgJfdS79DeCRoFRoa0YCv/w480-h640/20230915_143952.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjJHORPTTRK4n4afeNzFFh3qUIHsmfL3gs2f9pfWha06285K6WM6dRlFnqTVrSoX0Vi72mQoKzoP06gqL28zVkQE0lGiFdVZuJeOHzeowS3xiCtvnkusAdm_b4n2WOSR-6-Bsd0KaBz4grfitEj-GhRoSBUohFlhLWpALDsZal7a3uwyquO_Pf1mV/s4032/20230915_144134.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjJHORPTTRK4n4afeNzFFh3qUIHsmfL3gs2f9pfWha06285K6WM6dRlFnqTVrSoX0Vi72mQoKzoP06gqL28zVkQE0lGiFdVZuJeOHzeowS3xiCtvnkusAdm_b4n2WOSR-6-Bsd0KaBz4grfitEj-GhRoSBUohFlhLWpALDsZal7a3uwyquO_Pf1mV/w480-h640/20230915_144134.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>After this we made our way out to Borgarvirki Fortress. This volcanic plug was created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. Used as a natural fortress over the years, it was apparently fortified further of time by the people of the Húna district.<br /><br /><i>"It is believed they used it to stave off the constant attacks of the armies of the Borgarfjörður cheiftans."</i></p><p>This was again, one of the coolest spots for me and my Wife in Iceland, made better by the fact we were the only two people there, able to wander around outside and in on our own, and I could picture epic sword and archery scenes happening around it.<br />"It looks just like castle ruins." I said.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkrhta70t2E-fE7wWjZBsdAAza-d5_3GMo8r-dp8bgk4N5hoggP5HwhCN4GQ0JzbMsYDvlyf4OvHBAoGDa0lGj64gN1-mg7j0iJpvUWCeA-2MtelWtW5nGvBYCPsH1Pfv1uKiTf98jwRCA1TPd6IGzJNU6P93xWXWh-StmPuTVrouzJSDkPIGonO_/s4032/20230915_150851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkrhta70t2E-fE7wWjZBsdAAza-d5_3GMo8r-dp8bgk4N5hoggP5HwhCN4GQ0JzbMsYDvlyf4OvHBAoGDa0lGj64gN1-mg7j0iJpvUWCeA-2MtelWtW5nGvBYCPsH1Pfv1uKiTf98jwRCA1TPd6IGzJNU6P93xWXWh-StmPuTVrouzJSDkPIGonO_/w400-h300/20230915_150851.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbqdwiRqR5HL1D5VoMOU9th2cuXAghGoHUHbYYo3LTuK0g_IMFmAvkdCgrCP86GeX4j3a2xM5jbkgwZ86dOV-kPs2a0IgUwN4a-F8td3YbiTWWkrE-IlRF4iA3GUiVPOxWQppQPODBFF2xlJTr6G5dG0TpLnsuzFsFTYmMMgfM4186giGt0QSgo8R/s4000/20230915_151149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbqdwiRqR5HL1D5VoMOU9th2cuXAghGoHUHbYYo3LTuK0g_IMFmAvkdCgrCP86GeX4j3a2xM5jbkgwZ86dOV-kPs2a0IgUwN4a-F8td3YbiTWWkrE-IlRF4iA3GUiVPOxWQppQPODBFF2xlJTr6G5dG0TpLnsuzFsFTYmMMgfM4186giGt0QSgo8R/w400-h300/20230915_151149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVLcKyfhl8mTtEC9nojngie_3bVAupRxb-9W4GeQ2WIUe-m4ukKVNcV691MUYtd8FtZ1ZbyOCXs0RkgBEqAT1sf8GMt8v_VuxB4X7u6K7KJwFBIjnSr7yLS4jQI5FaMKq0RLecI9Th3mUSjZvX_6Gq6WXDCQ4fGbIcrmyiKgjigGUIXpthS1ZuwGq/s4000/20230915_151309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVLcKyfhl8mTtEC9nojngie_3bVAupRxb-9W4GeQ2WIUe-m4ukKVNcV691MUYtd8FtZ1ZbyOCXs0RkgBEqAT1sf8GMt8v_VuxB4X7u6K7KJwFBIjnSr7yLS4jQI5FaMKq0RLecI9Th3mUSjZvX_6Gq6WXDCQ4fGbIcrmyiKgjigGUIXpthS1ZuwGq/w400-h300/20230915_151309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-fG6Ngmq5o6710CYsln2g0yv0hu7x8JjubGkJkni-TiZfj5mrcJBqNQu_pNyHe04h6E7P8BJA94iG-I_MJP8VRxGBj6_Hyd5R8V8UQ0at7X4_wQAFdNZ1AXnt6ugE4RH1P66r_1kM9vwkzgOSygWZ4FvGL60QmLjDAGQduCzbzyW83_ul2_clP3t/w480-h640/20230915_151741.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iLQgbi1YeruhY8BfUtxDU8KbkEb_WSC2KotWUr4GcbqTdhi3N_YcbWk4iKe9NgYM2qS5Gd35NfkYo9m0Wq4A4NJjRvtmPltQ-ptNSIxUnBjapNB-Iu_1tLlDGv9Wx-6OL5VVcpDJolvyhU7O0TEyqg37qi8cg3Mc8zlgZyR4yOAT_yj0qkhNAF8i/s4032/20230915_151855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iLQgbi1YeruhY8BfUtxDU8KbkEb_WSC2KotWUr4GcbqTdhi3N_YcbWk4iKe9NgYM2qS5Gd35NfkYo9m0Wq4A4NJjRvtmPltQ-ptNSIxUnBjapNB-Iu_1tLlDGv9Wx-6OL5VVcpDJolvyhU7O0TEyqg37qi8cg3Mc8zlgZyR4yOAT_yj0qkhNAF8i/w480-h640/20230915_151855.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVCRaCO9IAXnjiAdctYbMiG8l8bWR-rEKUl0Vuxfx0L_Oyj1g2MfDoKCRb7JAk19b6Im3YxRZepSZcXjmQuGIaV-jT2K1wbaND54erSa37mokMwsvPI0TkyZDg3mqEJBIN4urqW1jxZcsF_D9hyEVwDYTc7W7CGRAfy8NzsiuvtsPUFZvlUjdHhWn/s4000/20230915_151958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVCRaCO9IAXnjiAdctYbMiG8l8bWR-rEKUl0Vuxfx0L_Oyj1g2MfDoKCRb7JAk19b6Im3YxRZepSZcXjmQuGIaV-jT2K1wbaND54erSa37mokMwsvPI0TkyZDg3mqEJBIN4urqW1jxZcsF_D9hyEVwDYTc7W7CGRAfy8NzsiuvtsPUFZvlUjdHhWn/w480-h640/20230915_151958.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsAIxrfVEO1huUgTTpgjIYHTpkLanfGO7e6R1yFz297s2fUTQuq-JVDIyNHOdI_JvBok_iK6eiVnQM6LdOlwmADLWtJbHz9j7AKBfw_SGMfmheELqdw0sBifoIdskWX39tPNY0XaWRQZe-JFNgp7Yie5lAb3vMarwePE1uvch4MFH-bo9Neyiso0K/s4000/20230915_152025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsAIxrfVEO1huUgTTpgjIYHTpkLanfGO7e6R1yFz297s2fUTQuq-JVDIyNHOdI_JvBok_iK6eiVnQM6LdOlwmADLWtJbHz9j7AKBfw_SGMfmheELqdw0sBifoIdskWX39tPNY0XaWRQZe-JFNgp7Yie5lAb3vMarwePE1uvch4MFH-bo9Neyiso0K/w480-h640/20230915_152025.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>From here it was meant to be a 25 minutes drive to our next scenic location, Hvitserkur, however we found ourselves behind a truck creating a gravel road, (that was very thin) that added an extra 15 minutes to our drive, even with being able to get around him at one point, we still had to drive so slowly along the loose and spot gravel.</p><p>We finally arrived walking over to a lookout over Hvitserkur, a basalt rock stack of the Vatnsnes peninsula.<br /><br /><i>"The impressive 15 metre rock formation is said to be a troll who got caught in the sunlight on its way to tear down the bells of a nearby convent. It resembles a dragon crouching down to drink from the ocean.<br />The stack is home to many nesting birds, whose guano have stained the rock white giving it its name. Hvitserkur translates to 'white shirt'."</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ImpzsM8-6odNJbE2q8ADj0lcvEgX9xeGZlYhxqXSMymWz_Im0_fr52rkIm7I_xZN7TlfNU5IE5ca_7HkZ0WzkN19g9Sp-oDOXqeT0Axl67eyFcdlo0Jc2AgVky8dJHb1P9WFxwrcRyhdvhdGyP3pet00vXUMNVuADslMVU9KrjYpANDKtgQchFNr/s400/guano.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="400" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ImpzsM8-6odNJbE2q8ADj0lcvEgX9xeGZlYhxqXSMymWz_Im0_fr52rkIm7I_xZN7TlfNU5IE5ca_7HkZ0WzkN19g9Sp-oDOXqeT0Axl67eyFcdlo0Jc2AgVky8dJHb1P9WFxwrcRyhdvhdGyP3pet00vXUMNVuADslMVU9KrjYpANDKtgQchFNr/w400-h166/guano.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbqqlGxY7gcBwqmBuFDopoudSj1ciB3OdrxFRDLvATDqOxJCIxIlMdzEjfz1RGKGNWlCXzyHrbP7Y64YajnyIE9JnFsdHeCW99wyi1BiVWcuzVLmmGktKQORjnenHDCEjcJJshgp7QokZ_rM1aSUGdA57OuE6QyUHvrtaGThyi4kimpDRlrpvYkUS/s4032/20230915_155202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbqqlGxY7gcBwqmBuFDopoudSj1ciB3OdrxFRDLvATDqOxJCIxIlMdzEjfz1RGKGNWlCXzyHrbP7Y64YajnyIE9JnFsdHeCW99wyi1BiVWcuzVLmmGktKQORjnenHDCEjcJJshgp7QokZ_rM1aSUGdA57OuE6QyUHvrtaGThyi4kimpDRlrpvYkUS/w480-h640/20230915_155202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JlR4qh7CbxcOD_QutAGaNtn8hvtJFjQ6JI1CmgTXiWrfK1CGS5UlbL4x4Upump89-5osxNecN4kw-9JaJ8DfHO3vJHe4BlQMUUCOysraFiUg8DrItFdr9iFhcf66ZcSv8KThseQnB4lQifhXrReO5LVqZtPO9ki4n5y74r-HlRi9UX0N5vWkffD6/s4032/20230915_155216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JlR4qh7CbxcOD_QutAGaNtn8hvtJFjQ6JI1CmgTXiWrfK1CGS5UlbL4x4Upump89-5osxNecN4kw-9JaJ8DfHO3vJHe4BlQMUUCOysraFiUg8DrItFdr9iFhcf66ZcSv8KThseQnB4lQifhXrReO5LVqZtPO9ki4n5y74r-HlRi9UX0N5vWkffD6/w480-h640/20230915_155216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_xniJ5GeDCa9phCECIA9a7aXTMF5Lw-mcGJu0Tx9MlRaqs9mGxzr2iXeuGpCDL1guPX7-UGwI_1ThgpCVmXgnZByuiwR3ShZ_JzwOFv0DiaFgnLzyr5_pDxyZ2SLOrLNqyoUMECaxMDmYHIj-d-hE9RH6epJUTrWKGPBzo9gIQqaMbMn3HpvaHQD/s4000/20230915_155300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_xniJ5GeDCa9phCECIA9a7aXTMF5Lw-mcGJu0Tx9MlRaqs9mGxzr2iXeuGpCDL1guPX7-UGwI_1ThgpCVmXgnZByuiwR3ShZ_JzwOFv0DiaFgnLzyr5_pDxyZ2SLOrLNqyoUMECaxMDmYHIj-d-hE9RH6epJUTrWKGPBzo9gIQqaMbMn3HpvaHQD/w400-h300/20230915_155300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq6kePRDH4oFpyoMGLpPUoW7MEhOJx724pEL09gQ94PT9j_ew1qdgZXFuxBtc0XGDh07XaoFWceYYZg63F2foTNlkUY2bRsAD1W3N9_2uJ3vQVv_FqGj_E5l9CVSzSnInu-UiztDPvChQFC4xCYsFifLcWs4HtcHOvmgmmhpi0u8raVvKhxqSDYyc/s4000/20230915_155406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq6kePRDH4oFpyoMGLpPUoW7MEhOJx724pEL09gQ94PT9j_ew1qdgZXFuxBtc0XGDh07XaoFWceYYZg63F2foTNlkUY2bRsAD1W3N9_2uJ3vQVv_FqGj_E5l9CVSzSnInu-UiztDPvChQFC4xCYsFifLcWs4HtcHOvmgmmhpi0u8raVvKhxqSDYyc/w400-h300/20230915_155406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>There was a walk down, to the stack, however we still had three destinations left (and two others listed as optional) and one included a 30 minute total walk, so with no time to spare we set of to our next destination, Grábrók crater.</p><p>As we arrived here, it was now beginning to rain. It was fine, not heavy, but consistent enough to make us very wet and so we put on our raincoats and made or way up the side of the crater.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauzp6MS26ey9ah_T_8l_50Tq9jDeelpEof3QJSEYIPZqPuN5QnFmefShyphenhyphenddLeBxUiD26dteJNOMWDRkAG5HuxCr49NMjqZAxY-jB4lLeWyOkn9_yBHn7g7Gt0Css4QSNm9JVQpmuVVuSx2p3wyq33Li_SOKdKExfaJeVR990C3XY9qrkL44YBleCz/s4000/20230915_180459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauzp6MS26ey9ah_T_8l_50Tq9jDeelpEof3QJSEYIPZqPuN5QnFmefShyphenhyphenddLeBxUiD26dteJNOMWDRkAG5HuxCr49NMjqZAxY-jB4lLeWyOkn9_yBHn7g7Gt0Css4QSNm9JVQpmuVVuSx2p3wyq33Li_SOKdKExfaJeVR990C3XY9qrkL44YBleCz/w400-h300/20230915_180459.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we continued up, I could see down behind us some ruins, and I wondered if they were Viking ruins (because everyone who wants to go to Scandinavia loves Vikings).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf5P4mqVuGJZHzScMScUMIJf06zln3YObikonEL0_BTZ_-2FPuuaHXooUe0yQ6zPvN5cyCZ3yrCosVzRCE9wmh25axby10NwMHHBedHgrzcIdgRLHMwlJIIhccnCqncbICszQEE7m_heNXsBHiRRK4a3ChDlFKopgmwuwq1EUcRZWWotrzWoF-4Gi/s4032/20230915_180418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf5P4mqVuGJZHzScMScUMIJf06zln3YObikonEL0_BTZ_-2FPuuaHXooUe0yQ6zPvN5cyCZ3yrCosVzRCE9wmh25axby10NwMHHBedHgrzcIdgRLHMwlJIIhccnCqncbICszQEE7m_heNXsBHiRRK4a3ChDlFKopgmwuwq1EUcRZWWotrzWoF-4Gi/w480-h640/20230915_180418.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We did a loop around the top of the crater while looking to another large crater in the distance that you could also walk to.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GH3xgrYLO5aKp1Q18Fhew6NUaJEQuruzA2GeBRfUXCi3CDd5E_vEj5rpKUy9PimnHsuu-ZZmdsM_HStcLCTRbHmjhPx0Pli1CSoNdEMW1GxDA4l2_GOQwCoxHcbPRqz7n7g9tbcMFu29b_sJ_hIGAAowiYdnTCvd7DXvLeZsc0BCXPK-_zv9nRzr/s4032/20230915_180653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GH3xgrYLO5aKp1Q18Fhew6NUaJEQuruzA2GeBRfUXCi3CDd5E_vEj5rpKUy9PimnHsuu-ZZmdsM_HStcLCTRbHmjhPx0Pli1CSoNdEMW1GxDA4l2_GOQwCoxHcbPRqz7n7g9tbcMFu29b_sJ_hIGAAowiYdnTCvd7DXvLeZsc0BCXPK-_zv9nRzr/w400-h300/20230915_180653.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Before walking down and exploring the ruins (that were much more modern than Viking age), but where still cool to look at.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gw00fY-t1VjjM38hbtjG0hxT_tl3k7AgxrJzSeb6LfpG66VUkXPyIL93gLMZDUFiDuk0VS5oOWbBhJ3xr7suLqvwB-2owAssQFUoWGivwGxUNj1gfNpjDhXgxOj-tTXuVsg-0CQ2ds0XnKW61L1_68zWMnKwptp2zXt3eur9-1zYxVZJHziH2ZZB/s4000/20230915_181741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gw00fY-t1VjjM38hbtjG0hxT_tl3k7AgxrJzSeb6LfpG66VUkXPyIL93gLMZDUFiDuk0VS5oOWbBhJ3xr7suLqvwB-2owAssQFUoWGivwGxUNj1gfNpjDhXgxOj-tTXuVsg-0CQ2ds0XnKW61L1_68zWMnKwptp2zXt3eur9-1zYxVZJHziH2ZZB/w400-h300/20230915_181741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we got back to the car, sodden and wet, and I felt my mood dropping and myself getting very depressed and I couldn't understand why, my Wife made a comment about my attitude, and after a short little argument we reconciled, just wanting to have a good time. So we set of towards Deildartunguhver, a hot spring (you could pay to go in a swimming section if you wanted).<br />"I just want to see the natural hot-spring." I said. "I don't need to pay to try and get a selfie in a bath when all the showers here are also heated by geothermal energy."</p><p>We pulled up at the section of the hot spring that were free to view, getting as close as we could to try and get some residual warmth as it rained heavily and we were really feeling the cold in our bodies.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJTvaBYvvKex7yKMzHCSoL_JS_67--absagzMzc-SPT8avhjT5G3g3yoKNwf_mNQ8-vsg4Ru4voicrAq9AlA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwhMzUqU3ylZki6yeSvY4DN8HZzlF9TmdkOGvz6ooHOiK5mAGI4HhNAmKdVEQR8MPbvjrYWJsE7uBHIFSkyDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>From here it was about a 30-minute drive to our accommodation at Hótel Hamar. We were unable to find anywhere nearby to go out for dinner, searching for interesting foods nearby as we drove and decided we would simply eat there. We arrived wet and cold and were asked if we wanted to eat at the Hamarinn Restaurant (the hotel restaurant), needing to select a time. We agreed to have dinner in about 25 minutes, giving us time to take our belonging to our room and have a nice warm shower and dress for dinner. (I'll also note the lady asked if we would like to be notified about any Aurora sightings rather then a random knock on our door, this time my Wife told her no.)</p><p>We looked through the menu deciding to just go all out for dinner, and getting a baked brie as an entrée, which was coated in honey, roasted nuts, jam and came with crispy bread. It was a huge bowl full (and though we don't usually like soft cheese like brie, we had had some friend soft cheese in Iceland and loved them, and this was no different). It was sweet, and savoury, and runny, and delectable and such a large serving we thought we might fill up on it alone but were blown away by how utterly delicious it was. We both got drinks to wash it down with, I thought about getting a wine but ended up going with another Icelandic beer I hadn't tried. Then for the main, Duck confit, which I had eaten duck a few times before and only thought it a 'meh' dish, but this was delicious and crunchy and melty and just another one of the best meals we had in Iceland. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKwEQUzl14gTGOtjp5qMTlHlqKwmZb-O9waYDlHQZ6q_2yWRsN3aZjaMOTAYnd-aIRFbpJsrGmbop_2hdElGo4j74lzm9Fzg6oYh5DnZDtsBGTZLm_pEIpVjRKxymQyaBTr5xHZJME_0kbUb3niSD0TQVVkE5EB-Oc5I2MAFyHdF_1AUVlOMH-fk2/s4032/20230915_205414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKwEQUzl14gTGOtjp5qMTlHlqKwmZb-O9waYDlHQZ6q_2yWRsN3aZjaMOTAYnd-aIRFbpJsrGmbop_2hdElGo4j74lzm9Fzg6oYh5DnZDtsBGTZLm_pEIpVjRKxymQyaBTr5xHZJME_0kbUb3niSD0TQVVkE5EB-Oc5I2MAFyHdF_1AUVlOMH-fk2/w400-h300/20230915_205414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><b>Day 11 -</b> The next morning I woke up feeling like crap. I had a runny nose, a cold, but just felt incredibly shit. We headed to our breakfast buffet and I tried to take it off by once more having a nutritious breakfast and ample coffee.</p><p>We set off to our first destination, Eldborg crater. As we drove this 30-minute drive to the start of the trailhead I was feeling worse and worse, with cold chills and fevers. We hopped out of the car into the rain and began walking past a farm, with all the sheep rushing over to say hello to us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa0lHda6pYo4q79NBftgjDdysS7XSmPwB37QhFm-bCwPkKJmxN-Tv0UNMxSMyQgtU8ti1H-UGbXLVHXXuNm7FEweXVUpfFsfg5pU30O464uePXRP145ne_5qnKvtcRBxNjOiET4xJ5qA9eQ-5rN0FKNZc1rocJrsi7zj6PqITon0NUMIJDhGMYHzR/s4032/20230916_091405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa0lHda6pYo4q79NBftgjDdysS7XSmPwB37QhFm-bCwPkKJmxN-Tv0UNMxSMyQgtU8ti1H-UGbXLVHXXuNm7FEweXVUpfFsfg5pU30O464uePXRP145ne_5qnKvtcRBxNjOiET4xJ5qA9eQ-5rN0FKNZc1rocJrsi7zj6PqITon0NUMIJDhGMYHzR/w400-h300/20230916_091405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_J8xM6_b6fDSEwgQq1ekUOFloFmstMaixowAcSPJRyeFWL4GnFXwJ4PHoOYwL7h_U6NwUDnbNdLpXCUQP1ohJ_hQY8uL_Z9gP1RNsqGhk8oFHWoHUrL9rOWXBmliSvnYwDMXE_dCm_Xwd-SExsZDJg-SPktZoVW9uqAZAPD_N4xejqjSmRJSNOfC/s4032/20230916_091650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_J8xM6_b6fDSEwgQq1ekUOFloFmstMaixowAcSPJRyeFWL4GnFXwJ4PHoOYwL7h_U6NwUDnbNdLpXCUQP1ohJ_hQY8uL_Z9gP1RNsqGhk8oFHWoHUrL9rOWXBmliSvnYwDMXE_dCm_Xwd-SExsZDJg-SPktZoVW9uqAZAPD_N4xejqjSmRJSNOfC/w480-h640/20230916_091650.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxbKdVb2TOaHHhVQmvSYgSyejjoyUGtOqyGaA2qGnXdoqqOQ8JgxIMuBQbl0n9WS8NKfFLulpoD0QrIO8ixHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>As we made it past the side of the farm heading towards the crater, I was feeling rotten, I was shivering with fevers and cold, I had zero energy and all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball in a warm bed. I looked at the distance to the crater, 2.5km.<br />"Honey, I'm sorry. I don't think I can." I said, feeling the worst I had felt in years, and definitely the sickest since my cancer treatment. My Wife was upset, wanting to do the walk and see the crater, and I told her I could wait in the car, because I was simply too sick to walk all that way (which is saying a lot for me who usually pushes through anything, including sickness for some adventure).</p><p>A lot of this day is a blur to me, as I wasn't looking out the windows at sights, I was curled up with the seat heating on maximum, blasting my side of the car with heating, shivering in a ball feeling like absolute death. Our printed itinerary has at least 8 destinations after Eldborg crater, and I could only remember two without really looking into it. </p><p>We started heading to wherever the next location was pulling up at a little scenic stop along the way to enjoy the view, but getting drenched in rain which didn't help with the way I was feeling.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHYRFJ7ntXo-gCZK5KfJICy5MZ0iXHWOOQ3fp2UJ_gUi7cIe9V1OTdgIg9oo_fQjoVz9-3ivQ4T9KSWyJu9Vu4NFd1hten6hNpp4ClhqX_aO5n1nroUXXbHQj8AfcjrOdvangVoRNyhrY1a9DikVwQTcMl7DBEAFRKOLpQAXvtkCgWJxmCxWSteME/s5728/20230916_101501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5728" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzHYRFJ7ntXo-gCZK5KfJICy5MZ0iXHWOOQ3fp2UJ_gUi7cIe9V1OTdgIg9oo_fQjoVz9-3ivQ4T9KSWyJu9Vu4NFd1hten6hNpp4ClhqX_aO5n1nroUXXbHQj8AfcjrOdvangVoRNyhrY1a9DikVwQTcMl7DBEAFRKOLpQAXvtkCgWJxmCxWSteME/w400-h259/20230916_101501.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The next thing I remember is stopping in at a town (which I think was Grundarfjörður), as we needed to use the loo, and we decided to buy ourselves a hot chocolate at a local store, I pointed to a man-made Viking-ship nearby and said we should get a selfie in it together, but in the pouring rain I couldn't muster the energy to bother. I noticed a few people in the stores wearing masks and it hit me. "Covid." I began looking in my phone about covid outbreaks in Iceland, but in this day and age with all restrictions lifted, no one cared about covid anymore and I could find no information.<br />I told my Wife that I thought I had it, as I had not felt this sick or awful and I began to get teary eyed and almost cry because I thought it was going to ruin the rest of out holiday, which was a celebration of not being sick from cancer anymore and the whole reason of going to Iceland as we though it less likely to get covid then Japan.</p><p>We found a toilet and drove to look at Kirkjufell in the rain from the car at the side of the water. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBPtygehjwjQSGBW9WioKeI02uJkMYjL5PRWU4vqZWRpsV6YcE-7o-y-mwFLT_Ew1pJadeEBSX8o5pvsoa7bKkzT4UbgrZ7Cs8i3UMXOwJ0YSutqzIzkZnKYq06ao3TnZqTJlNmRcWYb0S1LyKCidZf9YdX1j8u8fb5EmGl9uHXQeBfXcBpgJmWtz/s4032/20230916_111906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBPtygehjwjQSGBW9WioKeI02uJkMYjL5PRWU4vqZWRpsV6YcE-7o-y-mwFLT_Ew1pJadeEBSX8o5pvsoa7bKkzT4UbgrZ7Cs8i3UMXOwJ0YSutqzIzkZnKYq06ao3TnZqTJlNmRcWYb0S1LyKCidZf9YdX1j8u8fb5EmGl9uHXQeBfXcBpgJmWtz/w400-h300/20230916_111906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>From here we continued driving along the coast, with the next destination I remember stopping at being Skarðsvík Beach, where the rain had died down a little, and with hot chocolate in hand we went for the short walk down to the beach, where in the 1960's a Viking gravesite was discovered.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMs39K7SWw_FcK1hgjWT2VNbpAIym4nN3tjIZOCm12iujNXHt_Hbq4Bqs-SsoT22xSqRj-Pl88Jkc87zbxdMcVXk-z1U34oJYWuzZ57e_kqfHIKZB_AWv0HInObjWpV9VmPnpoQ7DuSeWvPSFdOYiGmJnzvwTd2lM73ET6odaKfWO0TupV4kbdHnl/s4032/20230916_121136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMs39K7SWw_FcK1hgjWT2VNbpAIym4nN3tjIZOCm12iujNXHt_Hbq4Bqs-SsoT22xSqRj-Pl88Jkc87zbxdMcVXk-z1U34oJYWuzZ57e_kqfHIKZB_AWv0HInObjWpV9VmPnpoQ7DuSeWvPSFdOYiGmJnzvwTd2lM73ET6odaKfWO0TupV4kbdHnl/w400-h300/20230916_121136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCcbdq_70CkZ3Y0feDUcL_0K41JiPrRAqndjpZ7EN1nd8y5ugF2rLlye0pZrB4k-E6_sNvT2MvLsIDsZ_Go6uApcfFpi-7Hu82hRhZazJUYZDSXVSsm4nJXm2S9SPV7TjkdMyM2IBVUsLiW7b51ZA-1gGZglfE8wEiu7MwtoMnHnenIwz9-pCzrjs/s4032/20230916_121418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCcbdq_70CkZ3Y0feDUcL_0K41JiPrRAqndjpZ7EN1nd8y5ugF2rLlye0pZrB4k-E6_sNvT2MvLsIDsZ_Go6uApcfFpi-7Hu82hRhZazJUYZDSXVSsm4nJXm2S9SPV7TjkdMyM2IBVUsLiW7b51ZA-1gGZglfE8wEiu7MwtoMnHnenIwz9-pCzrjs/w480-h640/20230916_121418.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWXjpzB0oqRbSFSh7UbZHWLRfUKtRouOJuyh2rPSgW4PXULSebbGPV1LiAZL-4HXpavbb_suL-w9-UTFvy1pE3-2G-B2EVxHtebOdoNXK9D23QVTkzs91AlPrXEO-EePE3ofSDpPzt2h3WjchS0uO4UnsvBFh0Zg_REHVS_R26DbNrB19k8LYsvBo/s4032/20230916_121627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWXjpzB0oqRbSFSh7UbZHWLRfUKtRouOJuyh2rPSgW4PXULSebbGPV1LiAZL-4HXpavbb_suL-w9-UTFvy1pE3-2G-B2EVxHtebOdoNXK9D23QVTkzs91AlPrXEO-EePE3ofSDpPzt2h3WjchS0uO4UnsvBFh0Zg_REHVS_R26DbNrB19k8LYsvBo/w480-h640/20230916_121627.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsbLPqQXqSOBpnC-j2lxfdT2PAk7KXd9MD7QR54K7DpiiNbK1hxTlDDxW26Z_Lxk7bEstCaC6Pal4VhXt4f-N-pDhjcWDKdakQlTC2H9N9eNjcExaMIwK6zwCQ_40kv9iF-IEOXoSAbXRMFvVoUCzgjhQcHEn0WPdD6SxZiwPG-KF5dq00rqvGiEN/s4032/20230916_122039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsbLPqQXqSOBpnC-j2lxfdT2PAk7KXd9MD7QR54K7DpiiNbK1hxTlDDxW26Z_Lxk7bEstCaC6Pal4VhXt4f-N-pDhjcWDKdakQlTC2H9N9eNjcExaMIwK6zwCQ_40kv9iF-IEOXoSAbXRMFvVoUCzgjhQcHEn0WPdD6SxZiwPG-KF5dq00rqvGiEN/w480-h640/20230916_122039.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GwTHH7gEaRRWn9PHpuG9lFnhSOJcMgD-X68N-eCKxhPH4nfq996a2swbaAN0UfAPnWlROdxuXSHksJ4VpdpGmU5RXFmbmcscSZVefAFwIBc25Dvyqr89HopFDA95i6_GXXX42uD-mZ7i2X5hefmNBlkpJ2PkQgnCIi43Z33MhkN9Kit8CWAAZzjo/s4032/20230916_120601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GwTHH7gEaRRWn9PHpuG9lFnhSOJcMgD-X68N-eCKxhPH4nfq996a2swbaAN0UfAPnWlROdxuXSHksJ4VpdpGmU5RXFmbmcscSZVefAFwIBc25Dvyqr89HopFDA95i6_GXXX42uD-mZ7i2X5hefmNBlkpJ2PkQgnCIi43Z33MhkN9Kit8CWAAZzjo/w480-h640/20230916_120601.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I pushed through to explore this beach, feeling a break in the waves of intense sickness (or just forcing them down). After exploring this beach, and getting back in the car we headed to Djúpalónssandur, a beach scattered with the wreckage of the fishing trawler Epine which was shipwrecked in 1948.</p><p>As we arrived here parking was scarce and the wind had really picked up. We were lucky to get a park and as we opened the door the large gusts almost blew our doors off. We struggled to open the back doors to retrieve our raincoats, getting blown around by intense winds we struggled to put them on as thick rain fell and was blown into us, hitting us so hard it felt like hailstones.</p><p>We attempted to walk to a lookout and view, stopping in at the public toilet with the wind raging so badly that we couldn't close the door, and each of us had to stand there and put our fully body weight against the toilet door to hold it just while each other went.<br /><br />It was unrelenting and even with raincoats, we couldn't hand the sheer force of the wind and rain, and even my Wife agreed to call a quits to our adventures for the day and head back to our accommodation, which was fortunate for me as I sure could not take anymore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdijpMP-xvEwDDDf0V-NRcUcGikUbhDgDgJpSYikvo-KJskn8ExVOkjFRcl5E1m3HaUk7uQsVgHda96KrbdE0542Rutr6wxxNg8skhuTVDeq1HzWptGcxVpQSmHWd1QIBjHRWIhYOuXX3DKnH3ZOzDqB4zCAkKoZArIUH6JDHiTzqnnw1IMxr3fiK/s4032/20230916_130006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdijpMP-xvEwDDDf0V-NRcUcGikUbhDgDgJpSYikvo-KJskn8ExVOkjFRcl5E1m3HaUk7uQsVgHda96KrbdE0542Rutr6wxxNg8skhuTVDeq1HzWptGcxVpQSmHWd1QIBjHRWIhYOuXX3DKnH3ZOzDqB4zCAkKoZArIUH6JDHiTzqnnw1IMxr3fiK/w400-h300/20230916_130006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The only other stop I recall that day was a quick stop a distance away from Lóndrangar, where my Wife simply pulled up a took a photo from the car with the window down (as rain proceeded to fly vigorously in through the window).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqaoLO7Nh-GAwaZE644JDhdczudo8MTGWL4KaHz-gjLGnGtOaBHghxF3oWFH6z2Td8rvptprzxpWogXWPdZ7zam7hj7HWviyMI38DQ6NcyJUXUR8ZSgUGx1oXVxpXCFoGm97SDsdI1iYJbBJa2qdVElN4Po8PioWd8IA0Cy83izPDuBFPVctd4VQF/s4032/20230916_131514.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqaoLO7Nh-GAwaZE644JDhdczudo8MTGWL4KaHz-gjLGnGtOaBHghxF3oWFH6z2Td8rvptprzxpWogXWPdZ7zam7hj7HWviyMI38DQ6NcyJUXUR8ZSgUGx1oXVxpXCFoGm97SDsdI1iYJbBJa2qdVElN4Po8PioWd8IA0Cy83izPDuBFPVctd4VQF/w400-h300/20230916_131514.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I was out of it for the rest of the day, huddled in the car trying to feel warm. As we arrived back in our accommodation, I had a hot shower and went to bed and simply slept, hoping to feel better by the next day, where I had planned one of the hikes I had been looking forward to the most on our trip to Iceland.</p><p><b>Day 12 -</b> The next day I woke up still feeling like absolute crap, and we went to breakfast in the morning, and I struggled to eat, trying to have some healthy Icelandic yoghurt as I watched an elderly Asian gentlemen sneeze of the buffet bacon without covering his nose and continue on like nothing happened.<br />"Whelp, that's why I'm sick." I commented. I told my Wife I wanted to try and push through and try this hike, even though I felt the worst I had felt in years. <br />We began loading our bags into our car and noticed a bunch of Ptarmigan wandering around outside our accommodation, we laughed because we had spent the entire time at Krossanesborgir keeping an eye out for them without seeing one, and now just here they were!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK9oqoBuKDEtdRHwqmQLNoflrVHL4ypBFonasyFzvI3l3U319bAn-SKXK3sf-p7Bkj-GJpdQn9DNEeG4T0JRZqv_vxIKbceImSL4FvO7y6VKn4-aly7YiYY-e5eFAGR6NbI9kHFFBEkettDqUQpeGgqJoW66LWy1oBxycDHRQb6u7zWg43CQHBjdd/s4032/20230917_075102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJK9oqoBuKDEtdRHwqmQLNoflrVHL4ypBFonasyFzvI3l3U319bAn-SKXK3sf-p7Bkj-GJpdQn9DNEeG4T0JRZqv_vxIKbceImSL4FvO7y6VKn4-aly7YiYY-e5eFAGR6NbI9kHFFBEkettDqUQpeGgqJoW66LWy1oBxycDHRQb6u7zWg43CQHBjdd/w480-h640/20230917_075102.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was about a 50-minute drive from our hotel to the start of our walk to Glymur, the highest waterfall in Iceland. As we arrived there was a group just getting out of their cars and setting out ahead of us. I stopped over and read the information sign and looked at the map.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgEYwXWxH00bCnJ6vPhoKkodqJERTMpapYEcdfhJGQDf0_YwzXEOj4EPuJyfpURuXfYLVB1hy06HIhMMDi830Xo3jhyphenhyphenRZ4cyWomRGsupQJrdJ1oV-SOe42Ou_BKXSTO-vkFYXD94UTsOuiMpw-oZQzdq5q4tosTcOu34KFlI6NRITXVMa8P4HOvgJ/s4032/20230917_084443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgEYwXWxH00bCnJ6vPhoKkodqJERTMpapYEcdfhJGQDf0_YwzXEOj4EPuJyfpURuXfYLVB1hy06HIhMMDi830Xo3jhyphenhyphenRZ4cyWomRGsupQJrdJ1oV-SOe42Ou_BKXSTO-vkFYXD94UTsOuiMpw-oZQzdq5q4tosTcOu34KFlI6NRITXVMa8P4HOvgJ/w480-h640/20230917_084443.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBp5IeVLY9G_8LQGGjOYs7eXhlLUUznomDRdCZ4Yrl6HVevTAZhaNTY4EKZ5HQlJ15Bp9apU1Jcx13W7L0ru56dpIvt72E2gx4zFn6ItbFRR8-XsA0xm8Q95qxIGLRS5T2N7Hvtnj6ME60OOTBAJtiEjA82mENa0gviDhVaOYCAsH83_6zRdMw0dM/s4032/20230917_084720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBp5IeVLY9G_8LQGGjOYs7eXhlLUUznomDRdCZ4Yrl6HVevTAZhaNTY4EKZ5HQlJ15Bp9apU1Jcx13W7L0ru56dpIvt72E2gx4zFn6ItbFRR8-XsA0xm8Q95qxIGLRS5T2N7Hvtnj6ME60OOTBAJtiEjA82mENa0gviDhVaOYCAsH83_6zRdMw0dM/w480-h640/20230917_084720.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>We started the walk, following the trail along for a short while where the path split, I lead the way to the left trail which was the more adventurous path with the river crossings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx37e3aCSWm81gS47j42g_pFrH5rIhNeKzMOSKSdAc_tz6sHmrtptGPEXCtglgTjRq7C685NKqY0lqLSTGhKOZNQRhdxAhAq1rQGVuWomCR-0i8P85SBjqiYn2rL_khpZJo_Z1IGdINtOiNceUgG2bV0_Hi3hb2-cFyL8FuxkgVUSaxi1t6gu2rZ7p/s4032/20230917_085607.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx37e3aCSWm81gS47j42g_pFrH5rIhNeKzMOSKSdAc_tz6sHmrtptGPEXCtglgTjRq7C685NKqY0lqLSTGhKOZNQRhdxAhAq1rQGVuWomCR-0i8P85SBjqiYn2rL_khpZJo_Z1IGdINtOiNceUgG2bV0_Hi3hb2-cFyL8FuxkgVUSaxi1t6gu2rZ7p/w400-h300/20230917_085607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWYjPjlfwjZjQ1F00cNVGgaqD8Sw-H0OJ-P0BgOxCV-vuakAdVbxg7RgAFQKXkYJd7e3C3vBhpr3xlX0F5tZC-DdF4rZIXztyfbxQ6zM1ry9hHSzz_0AW1LzJlFmOlCz2kIas2pbI4FRazKrU2LzBA_d4RiWu2HICOdXEI9o8SQjmmURlLc7Y0oQ7/s4032/20230917_095127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWYjPjlfwjZjQ1F00cNVGgaqD8Sw-H0OJ-P0BgOxCV-vuakAdVbxg7RgAFQKXkYJd7e3C3vBhpr3xlX0F5tZC-DdF4rZIXztyfbxQ6zM1ry9hHSzz_0AW1LzJlFmOlCz2kIas2pbI4FRazKrU2LzBA_d4RiWu2HICOdXEI9o8SQjmmURlLc7Y0oQ7/w400-h300/20230917_095127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwIfL7uqJMF3ZR6h14hDpABl1h8dAPecL8Zuccm6VfrrlCpwWrItXw8BblJMSgsJ9ruD7e0E9UbYY3i8Nh_uQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Soon we came to Þvottahellir, a cave the I referred to as the 'Skull Cave' as once we descended down the stairs into it the exit on the other side was two gaping holes, like eyes reminding me of the Monster Strongholds in the Legend of Zelda games 'Breath of the Wild' and 'Tears of the Kingdom'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax47N1c1mG_LCE8JW-uMf5YpYr4u3vTtUTor0wgm4EHz0DUi_HQs4PgGuI8Mek68Zv_zwpiGpsilTS-e14Tq_TgbTmm1jNlrYxlQzGLDBZJpmtx9PIaaA6O5I5vDWsLdzOOms80LcAguZ5TyXweHU-0mL0-nLdANEq1aulZR5mNErp7rc6CPVM0ER/s4032/20230917_091043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax47N1c1mG_LCE8JW-uMf5YpYr4u3vTtUTor0wgm4EHz0DUi_HQs4PgGuI8Mek68Zv_zwpiGpsilTS-e14Tq_TgbTmm1jNlrYxlQzGLDBZJpmtx9PIaaA6O5I5vDWsLdzOOms80LcAguZ5TyXweHU-0mL0-nLdANEq1aulZR5mNErp7rc6CPVM0ER/w480-h640/20230917_091043.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wemtRftz-uStv8rVj3KeNwuYe4hX9L2elo7F9EVNvYfQzjKWQN6oII6J56GCxzIOBoPeCeJ8AFW5SAnhxFmwJLUyQj4v3EPQKRpLvxBlh2YtoJ3LomEKP963fI7eKv3l4YVynLd42BG-PRgZ-SKjMGAS7OHsC-839Gc_GU2VIWS3dlQBzXiT4ico/s4032/20230917_091107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wemtRftz-uStv8rVj3KeNwuYe4hX9L2elo7F9EVNvYfQzjKWQN6oII6J56GCxzIOBoPeCeJ8AFW5SAnhxFmwJLUyQj4v3EPQKRpLvxBlh2YtoJ3LomEKP963fI7eKv3l4YVynLd42BG-PRgZ-SKjMGAS7OHsC-839Gc_GU2VIWS3dlQBzXiT4ico/w480-h640/20230917_091107.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RgsrvLGc1M4PImwiKmArkqLCUxGMWMz1ypkNvRnFiGeWRWLsHq_YfZkJOd-GohnrbEbRVQxpOXwbtsOPb85d7ovru3G2qgg5K-CqLRRJljlXbOM9FCiXXS2JJYkK13-l4yl9W9dRdeUwi6r1VdrrKxKBV0YrGljUJmKZZyscGOsrOxvsuKM1Ai2D/w400-h300/20230917_091435.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3A02zArDnk0rVHzU8a8zh8SK0PFFuZ73wuzBM3BKByIeuGKTPctzJLM5_JD4kphd7stg0cvXdxvaKLLhxbT7yczVf9nvyUpuwUDBXSlHNOpMAub2rTc91hxqUE1AjfhKuXdc1Z47mH_nromxwOFngDW2Dkft9AT1Rdb3jSiZVszR42zhIavQaFsa/s4032/20230917_091608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3A02zArDnk0rVHzU8a8zh8SK0PFFuZ73wuzBM3BKByIeuGKTPctzJLM5_JD4kphd7stg0cvXdxvaKLLhxbT7yczVf9nvyUpuwUDBXSlHNOpMAub2rTc91hxqUE1AjfhKuXdc1Z47mH_nromxwOFngDW2Dkft9AT1Rdb3jSiZVszR42zhIavQaFsa/w400-h300/20230917_091608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>My Wife was terrified taking the stairs down into the cave in the dark, which completely blew my mind and made no sense to me, but I kept my cool helping her down and through the cave, and continuing up the Botnsá river, where we came to our first river crossing.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7RFpBkqZNyNc8Llec9K2gg8eLKCtth5jm6XrAdNUDimF8rn6BK_aV0QaW-4PTBtbU2nxQjzkiBWV6zNP4DZvhsSVk_8aUik9LGXzEerG6XKCPjbDMb0gy2c5UqSTDMg_8BR8_gTV7ty0aKEYUjFMgYo__r8oCth7vggyFRvrMkWwA4FsB-R5hfHX/s4032/20230917_091614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7RFpBkqZNyNc8Llec9K2gg8eLKCtth5jm6XrAdNUDimF8rn6BK_aV0QaW-4PTBtbU2nxQjzkiBWV6zNP4DZvhsSVk_8aUik9LGXzEerG6XKCPjbDMb0gy2c5UqSTDMg_8BR8_gTV7ty0aKEYUjFMgYo__r8oCth7vggyFRvrMkWwA4FsB-R5hfHX/w400-h300/20230917_091614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskMDrAwaEdeB3iNMD0jq2BSwEycgn631-FF9ZbhcNCkCobDHi5LJ5JkF6S25nSFTbYzPM1ofEXu7aIT9nuyRFWL7WWs_lhgKMbjt9oNuE8H6iXG9bBLXW9jiT1t6Oa1kB_Lxx3l_IHokiPRtXqoV81GSV6IBrQq4qI27j1AB6hgrrImLdOo9hG4A_/s4032/20230917_091814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskMDrAwaEdeB3iNMD0jq2BSwEycgn631-FF9ZbhcNCkCobDHi5LJ5JkF6S25nSFTbYzPM1ofEXu7aIT9nuyRFWL7WWs_lhgKMbjt9oNuE8H6iXG9bBLXW9jiT1t6Oa1kB_Lxx3l_IHokiPRtXqoV81GSV6IBrQq4qI27j1AB6hgrrImLdOo9hG4A_/w480-h640/20230917_091814.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This completely panicked my Wife who didn't feel comfortable at all doing it. The family who had left the carpark before us were there taking their shoes off to cross and they said it seemed a little dangerous (it looked fine to me). I tried to calm my Wife down as the American family crossed. I tied my shoes to my backpack, half crossing the log while a couple appeared behind us ready to also cross (also American), my Wife was yelling "No, you go!." Saying she would go back to the car, obviously not comfortable crossing the log while holding the wobbling wire that was next to it, so I walked through the water halfway across to try and show that she could cross that way. She said it wasn't 'her thing' but insisted I go on as I had been looking forward to this the most of the entire trip, and she began heading back to the car. Not wanting her to wait for me too long I quickly crossed the log, with the American mum (or should I spell it 'mom'?) commented that I made it 'look easy'.<br />"This sort of thing is right up my alley." I replied. "Just not hers." Referring to my Wife.<br />I quickly put my socks and hiking boots on and started off ahead of the American family who were still drying their feet.</p><p>I continued uphill, pushing my body, coughing up phlegm and struggling to breath but pushing through and charging up towards the top of the waterfall, stopping a few times to catch my breath and appreciate the scenery (but a ticking clock in my head as I didn't want my Wife to be too upset that I had gone on).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEividBXxK2C4BtDfZi5kjr2XwWPw_BSXC7TiEen3IWCOlr700cfLOGrLsIsv6IbULxoKxhZloMrhpLAIUmnzD3AzmFhwZL4Cf12RASjsBN6nCJsEhnSRpBfBGVAnrJqCvNsOoJt3g77-0JquuqgjQVDUW-Ovgg6XfeQVbLK3Ku41NhlvmG-edhqx-6k/s4032/20230917_094750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEividBXxK2C4BtDfZi5kjr2XwWPw_BSXC7TiEen3IWCOlr700cfLOGrLsIsv6IbULxoKxhZloMrhpLAIUmnzD3AzmFhwZL4Cf12RASjsBN6nCJsEhnSRpBfBGVAnrJqCvNsOoJt3g77-0JquuqgjQVDUW-Ovgg6XfeQVbLK3Ku41NhlvmG-edhqx-6k/w480-h640/20230917_094750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy61ZL29OD-lLeUn1vIMbiesjRdcMb-X279wqcYX1LYZyR_nb7lIfvIgGgL4sMgOoRvwDmHCppKYdIQ2f5Sup1M85SSzkcVyrg7GJZOvpGcP0INSVbvwIySR8Zb_lqCbntgqmycP7eNjheIAZq7ovdq5L6y9FwqV_ERMF5704F0LpA8YtlibHPZUkT/s4032/20230917_100637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy61ZL29OD-lLeUn1vIMbiesjRdcMb-X279wqcYX1LYZyR_nb7lIfvIgGgL4sMgOoRvwDmHCppKYdIQ2f5Sup1M85SSzkcVyrg7GJZOvpGcP0INSVbvwIySR8Zb_lqCbntgqmycP7eNjheIAZq7ovdq5L6y9FwqV_ERMF5704F0LpA8YtlibHPZUkT/w480-h640/20230917_100637.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>At one point while resting the American couple who had arrived behind me continued on past me, there was no way I could go at that level in my current state of sickness, and wondered if I even could which my lung damage. I soon came to a lookout where I took some photo's and had another short rest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOml27XpkOCjDhVi_abEyU-6pt9HBLDZCehgieBCZry2bjiVQXUoAHYwgEKeCux4ODS4s8J58MFSs1HVpGUy6ZxBWKacqfnj6ViGr-PSI1dKCUw91z_8NxAnu36b9fiS9RR8voARx20VTa4b6jjZa82rVEoWD8i3yxW0JZaAbx5DE4EDBTj8IOq9Oy/s4032/20230917_100712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOml27XpkOCjDhVi_abEyU-6pt9HBLDZCehgieBCZry2bjiVQXUoAHYwgEKeCux4ODS4s8J58MFSs1HVpGUy6ZxBWKacqfnj6ViGr-PSI1dKCUw91z_8NxAnu36b9fiS9RR8voARx20VTa4b6jjZa82rVEoWD8i3yxW0JZaAbx5DE4EDBTj8IOq9Oy/w480-h640/20230917_100712.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDJbTNHEf2EYRt2x7UL2zgrHO-xNSuplc_0vFJIZJ4MUkknyA_AyIs3fwD4Ytr2zxRGmaJnkZO6WcbKicn_OF8z2WzLv9wB1ScAZBHsb1f9COgH1HQbsNQSx9g37qfESoeSTCkmjRrdb3G7JgV7ojTUbmR-PAZD07DGhooq-TyymMgaYL9TYoSHQX/s4032/20230917_101629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDJbTNHEf2EYRt2x7UL2zgrHO-xNSuplc_0vFJIZJ4MUkknyA_AyIs3fwD4Ytr2zxRGmaJnkZO6WcbKicn_OF8z2WzLv9wB1ScAZBHsb1f9COgH1HQbsNQSx9g37qfESoeSTCkmjRrdb3G7JgV7ojTUbmR-PAZD07DGhooq-TyymMgaYL9TYoSHQX/w400-h300/20230917_101629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As I continued up further I passed that American couple who were heading back down.<p></p><p>"Going back the same way?" I asked. :"Not crossing the river."<br />The lady commented that it got too dodgy and her fear of heights got to her and she was too afraid of falling. I was determined to push on and reach the top, finding the section they meant of rocks you could easily slip on and go over the edge, but all you needed was too not rush or be stupid and it was actually pretty safe. A helicopter started flying overhead and I wondered if they were doing flyovers of the waterfall for tourists or keeping an eye out of injuries and accidents.</p><p>Soon I reached the top, feeling a great sense of satisfaction that even in my incredibly sick state, and with my lung damage I was able to push through.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OQGbbHIPLAZHmceMv50hhJRASdM2k7migOUHISRfSwn4BOONPrbsDbLOdgei1oH9cK6rpT3-eUE7Zwle9PqmWTQGF0avw-UEyuxc7lHpJT5niBa9ed2RHEqsFcHmnVm5HxW9GTHfeOIGkDzBX4E0M2ZIcC6tcLeD1cFgyzmitrh-60kS1SLRimuF/s4032/20230917_102727.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OQGbbHIPLAZHmceMv50hhJRASdM2k7migOUHISRfSwn4BOONPrbsDbLOdgei1oH9cK6rpT3-eUE7Zwle9PqmWTQGF0avw-UEyuxc7lHpJT5niBa9ed2RHEqsFcHmnVm5HxW9GTHfeOIGkDzBX4E0M2ZIcC6tcLeD1cFgyzmitrh-60kS1SLRimuF/w480-h640/20230917_102727.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKik8X6uoBwBPDS-QVHzSpgcPuXAhHwb2x72UiNEUbuDXWpfgYrAd39Iw1FtBdEUbMNkcYiDwQRiq6e8R_QyPIBpXfjXGKs9W5tTGqb4ra42hUEkqU0znb3JiZYhqgzmJgNzVxgXYUVF2i8VWDd6QJ5uFyH_wa2_7Mlu6SIkloPj1YjkCLJ1TLb10/s4032/20230917_103511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKik8X6uoBwBPDS-QVHzSpgcPuXAhHwb2x72UiNEUbuDXWpfgYrAd39Iw1FtBdEUbMNkcYiDwQRiq6e8R_QyPIBpXfjXGKs9W5tTGqb4ra42hUEkqU0znb3JiZYhqgzmJgNzVxgXYUVF2i8VWDd6QJ5uFyH_wa2_7Mlu6SIkloPj1YjkCLJ1TLb10/w400-h300/20230917_103511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe9In97mvvNNaEYw-l3shr5dCJGE_mTrrb3-ytEW5TkXbWMO_MN6GWXFhCw7OABNhLKo0t_TmDJ3iVuAiBqVI0ML8pQVCVWW0ZE-Pi-vwnWuQpkmrLuC8BsJQxDRCdaITJjPbgLkEHVUlioDAjnH3h5ClZyBdggtpekYITZFWBrxBIJGce3g84ffT/s4032/20230917_103849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe9In97mvvNNaEYw-l3shr5dCJGE_mTrrb3-ytEW5TkXbWMO_MN6GWXFhCw7OABNhLKo0t_TmDJ3iVuAiBqVI0ML8pQVCVWW0ZE-Pi-vwnWuQpkmrLuC8BsJQxDRCdaITJjPbgLkEHVUlioDAjnH3h5ClZyBdggtpekYITZFWBrxBIJGce3g84ffT/w480-h640/20230917_103849.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As I wandered along on top of the waterfall I tried numerous spots to cross the river, with the water freezing cold, the rocks underneath super slippery, and the water flowing pretty strongly, and every time I tried, I'd get to a spot that just got too deep.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5QZjS9IvwKPs3LuSgyCEa46XgiQvYylfuQY_PC90uznRnFXnSB1-56sy508dx_1Ow1xDrkrEmhFyQi1IMrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>I was up there for maybe 30-minutes walking back and forth, up and down the river attempting crossing at various spots, but it either got too deep, too slippery or it just wasn't safe. I was getting annoyed, wishing there was some spot marking the location that you were meant to cross. I was beginning to think about just heading back down the way I had come up, aware of my Wife waiting in the car.<br />Just when I was about to turn around, I noticed the American family arrive, and I watched them at a distance as they attempted to cross a few spots too. I wandered closer to see what they were doing, to follow if they found a way.</p><p>I wandered too close to them and they greeted me. I told them I was watching to see if they made it, as I had been trying multiple times to get across. The Mum and her Daughter almost seemed ready to give up, but the Dad seemed determined to cross. "Gene!" They called out to him, suggesting maybe going back, but the man kept his footing, and we watched the way he crossed, when he was almost halfway over the Mum had a slip and almost fell completely into the water, pulled up quick by either her son, or her daughter's husband/boyfriend (from what I could tell by my short interactions with them). The Dad continued and he soon made it to the other side, so we all followed the road he's paved watching the slippery rocks, just making it across where it wasn't too deep.<br />Reaching the other side my body was frozen and I sat to put my socks and shoes on once more and thanked them for helping me cross as I quickly jumped up to speed down the opposite side and back to my Wife.<br /><br />This way down, though longer and more winding, was less steep and dodgy, and as I arrived back at the car to my Wife I said she could have walked that way up to the waterfall, which annoyed her as she had wandered partway up due to being bored but had assumed it didn't lead up to the waterfall.</p><p>We began the hour and a half drive out to the Reykjanes Peninsula, near the Keflavík International Airport where we had first arrived in Iceland, our first destination was meant to be Krýsuvík, another geothermal area, however once my Wife realised what it was she asked if we could bypass it as the smell would make her sick, and given I had just made her sit in the car while I hiked to Glymur, I agreed.<br /><br />Instead, driving to Reykjanes Lighthouse.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72CN4Nzq063FuvEbk6AOHRvy7UD8uY8EhrmQX3eCph98rMty6fiJZcPldfkrKRnLxwTM2IToxDu4qAe1AEAjhs3iai3UKD_mY60_bxJAHvJ2TXiGN4olJZgTKBOojwKPoWRua_DDFT9zoCwFtIxc42KsznhI7ISrniRGyslqSFh59msj7_2x3fXay/s4032/20230917_142053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72CN4Nzq063FuvEbk6AOHRvy7UD8uY8EhrmQX3eCph98rMty6fiJZcPldfkrKRnLxwTM2IToxDu4qAe1AEAjhs3iai3UKD_mY60_bxJAHvJ2TXiGN4olJZgTKBOojwKPoWRua_DDFT9zoCwFtIxc42KsznhI7ISrniRGyslqSFh59msj7_2x3fXay/w480-h640/20230917_142053.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we began the walk up the stairs to the lighthouse, I got ungodly cramps in my legs and I had to sit down on the stairs, trying to message away the awful cramps, while my Wife waited for me at the base of the lighthouse. We did a walk around the lighthouse, as well as following a trail up there a short way North to a lookout, where we could see the geothermal sulphur billowing into the air.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zxta1uoqVSpUhFGSoniGwa1ydOZdazHArbhRGLNjZFeznRa16mwO_M2LJLkhpxy7ewSDmQddO3a2kqdYnMpTlmpzI_tn0pEHRlNc4m7fY7ZDpEgVyOt1W_T9HKd_gEfPQ4ebxFz_v-5ZQhzGLtaUl59c8IgjJPSB-nNTO4Cg2m4TcxNkhsb2gxK7/s4032/20230917_142542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zxta1uoqVSpUhFGSoniGwa1ydOZdazHArbhRGLNjZFeznRa16mwO_M2LJLkhpxy7ewSDmQddO3a2kqdYnMpTlmpzI_tn0pEHRlNc4m7fY7ZDpEgVyOt1W_T9HKd_gEfPQ4ebxFz_v-5ZQhzGLtaUl59c8IgjJPSB-nNTO4Cg2m4TcxNkhsb2gxK7/w480-h640/20230917_142542.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We made our way down from the lighthouse, and drove over to Reykjanestá, is the uttermost tip of Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. Here was Valahnúkamöl a high boulder ridge composed of well rounded stones. As well as a piano you could get a picture or video at that was the location of the 'Volcano Man' song from again, the Will Ferrell film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLo673HjZAy_0qpgFtF2eZbP-FsdlRziX3SVh4nRE8DiSTDfXeWesfc0Ue9KaE1ckeVFosBc0w3uNkej8mIu5V_HN2weCwrY8SjMMsGWZF8Yej3W-TR_44wfzE1WbmVp1ZP3Z9iKW6KzjZ9PMreo5smZX8H65D-F_NB_foljAWjei2xrsJ2vvvXzu/s4032/20230917_143746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLo673HjZAy_0qpgFtF2eZbP-FsdlRziX3SVh4nRE8DiSTDfXeWesfc0Ue9KaE1ckeVFosBc0w3uNkej8mIu5V_HN2weCwrY8SjMMsGWZF8Yej3W-TR_44wfzE1WbmVp1ZP3Z9iKW6KzjZ9PMreo5smZX8H65D-F_NB_foljAWjei2xrsJ2vvvXzu/w480-h640/20230917_143746.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbStl1rUyfQMTOeb8ExgYuDExPvfs3xDcY2wwknPk1MEKCiaybn7ELWsV1EY5uj48Eot2r1KWHVD_o8KryQdEWgdMIksuD3JkzQFQhD2NUU6g1nJsVHfmShCScGjng2iQ9COcecrlC3oLPQmRXipXbrrHiq4aWlJTpObAss0rcAga6EKCnk34D0hc/s4032/20230917_143823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbStl1rUyfQMTOeb8ExgYuDExPvfs3xDcY2wwknPk1MEKCiaybn7ELWsV1EY5uj48Eot2r1KWHVD_o8KryQdEWgdMIksuD3JkzQFQhD2NUU6g1nJsVHfmShCScGjng2iQ9COcecrlC3oLPQmRXipXbrrHiq4aWlJTpObAss0rcAga6EKCnk34D0hc/w480-h640/20230917_143823.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Here was also a statue of the Great Auk. The statue is located near the that is believed to be the point where the last mating pair was killed in 1844. Which made us feel sad and remember the utter destructive force that is humans upon the natural world. (Not to get preachy, but stop destroying nature).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeQZDTYlGmtFiDqcp513hLH4jorVp_u9JyIuAekfXXrysjIL5gKtCtLMcTt5oa2ye6-4mGDnbbmLV_HJtA8jXCrOAb4h6dGztFgoVSxCznlmhfRqw1GsdmEbfjtYOcWAZHDjlp531pM4CrFcjgiA17HqlIxm9OEn3lHoEnbY9zdOZg_EZTBjp-ZOp/s4032/20230917_144223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeQZDTYlGmtFiDqcp513hLH4jorVp_u9JyIuAekfXXrysjIL5gKtCtLMcTt5oa2ye6-4mGDnbbmLV_HJtA8jXCrOAb4h6dGztFgoVSxCznlmhfRqw1GsdmEbfjtYOcWAZHDjlp531pM4CrFcjgiA17HqlIxm9OEn3lHoEnbY9zdOZg_EZTBjp-ZOp/w480-h640/20230917_144223.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwK19svpYd9KE3Vcxk8CnuxBcDFTtFW1-rBi8pSAQSbHcQjX2vX1_GipZOldeSTZS8RKqUA_zAFeqb1UEEbJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>As we followed the paths along, we came to what we thought were the ruins of the old lighthouse storage building.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMuRz_pCtghatksAT6tyCrmt246pYN371YiV8YzWGpDIpoML8R1YluZ_B0Mog0aOpCFgSLprI23DAxOyBTDn5V-_rr3SxSkYpqEYE3rTk670pGdEsg5kVRhBxqALrq27Hu03uuKMVUZLNFiUeY55lTJoNoI0Iv7zILGCgRmUYa2kCYRYJHhCtOeTL/s4000/20230917_144807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMuRz_pCtghatksAT6tyCrmt246pYN371YiV8YzWGpDIpoML8R1YluZ_B0Mog0aOpCFgSLprI23DAxOyBTDn5V-_rr3SxSkYpqEYE3rTk670pGdEsg5kVRhBxqALrq27Hu03uuKMVUZLNFiUeY55lTJoNoI0Iv7zILGCgRmUYa2kCYRYJHhCtOeTL/w480-h640/20230917_144807.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>From here we drove out to Leif the Lucky Bridge, or the 'Bridge Between Continents'.<br /></p><p><i>"The Mid-Atlantic Ridge that crossed Iceland is an impressive rift between active continental plates.<br />The ridge is the meeting-point of the North American and Eurasian plates and the Leif the Lucky Bridge acts to symbolically connect the two land masses while treating visitors to a view of the rift from the small footbridge."</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_qYO7-uB4pNxZ3vveQL5sZvnnNJeMPMbZ2eJZPIq9DZJwS1YIHGxzD5gG46_QbUreX87hjZzUWlr5CsFXaCCLvRibjXsjU7YlIpM8-3tieFpCxtGPS5U-fo805ahrAEtJc_2I29C0FxwY281BcSugy4ZH4JcIfOIBCR5binSH0Rx38VdaYnn_zTS/s4032/20230917_151418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_qYO7-uB4pNxZ3vveQL5sZvnnNJeMPMbZ2eJZPIq9DZJwS1YIHGxzD5gG46_QbUreX87hjZzUWlr5CsFXaCCLvRibjXsjU7YlIpM8-3tieFpCxtGPS5U-fo805ahrAEtJc_2I29C0FxwY281BcSugy4ZH4JcIfOIBCR5binSH0Rx38VdaYnn_zTS/w480-h640/20230917_151418.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k2helciSUJIDQDQyHAPJ913c1yBRNIKCbniaZRFNdvilm7CZ1lbCdcE3zsGC_D8tjIEpnQIRCfZ28lDB-4dfE11Gti8L9Ot0KrapwFi3DYlZm4y8VQjX8AeHqJb9CR8RzLGXipyMSsVGYDV5471ami8FYQM5jOulYHSNfLFA8miAL5OPk-qWayOx/s4032/20230917_151457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k2helciSUJIDQDQyHAPJ913c1yBRNIKCbniaZRFNdvilm7CZ1lbCdcE3zsGC_D8tjIEpnQIRCfZ28lDB-4dfE11Gti8L9Ot0KrapwFi3DYlZm4y8VQjX8AeHqJb9CR8RzLGXipyMSsVGYDV5471ami8FYQM5jOulYHSNfLFA8miAL5OPk-qWayOx/w480-h640/20230917_151457.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpWqa3ctO1nA3-TBwXDV3vxK7lfNcm4cG5BTRVC0o33MrZLh2gkkCDnSVQstZ49Qap3rTpiz3gqRuwxaDAZSN8MMzfIcwRt0a7SCCNkre9vAUyJxtXlfYvnH5E3qbblZkebNZTZ01MlrQyLezR9Tde41OGtKTlRaCoUHq5VPkcQZsrz_ctNcEHOJQ/s4032/20230917_151524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpWqa3ctO1nA3-TBwXDV3vxK7lfNcm4cG5BTRVC0o33MrZLh2gkkCDnSVQstZ49Qap3rTpiz3gqRuwxaDAZSN8MMzfIcwRt0a7SCCNkre9vAUyJxtXlfYvnH5E3qbblZkebNZTZ01MlrQyLezR9Tde41OGtKTlRaCoUHq5VPkcQZsrz_ctNcEHOJQ/w400-h300/20230917_151524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGIptW6Kvm1mTM_IL9NmS7UbrAG5txiwjpPmtUJRyaTGCX6ird_XEXKPBqcTYSLVEHLpA6S9eJr1YIf7Cd0gsQ72yRnZw4m3F8he0H4CcCJvwTQ-JSJHgHXWrB-voEBAHAjCXFsOUksI2IKlyoQUqMQw2WAj_O2_VGUgkvTAVmhb766qKt268z_br/s4032/20230917_152008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGIptW6Kvm1mTM_IL9NmS7UbrAG5txiwjpPmtUJRyaTGCX6ird_XEXKPBqcTYSLVEHLpA6S9eJr1YIf7Cd0gsQ72yRnZw4m3F8he0H4CcCJvwTQ-JSJHgHXWrB-voEBAHAjCXFsOUksI2IKlyoQUqMQw2WAj_O2_VGUgkvTAVmhb766qKt268z_br/w400-h300/20230917_152008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>From here we were reaching the endpoint of our Icelandic journey, as we drove back in to Reykjavík to return our Kia Sportage to the Hertz car yard, which was closed. We pulled up in a pay, emptying the car and grabbing our belongings, and dropping the key into a drop box. Rather then pay for a lift, we lugged all our stuff on a 30-minute walk through the streets of Reykjavík, and back to Hótel Frón to check in again.</p><p>This time we were in a much nicer and bigger room and we set out to enjoy the rest of our time in Reykjavík, as we would be picked up early the following morning and taken to Keflavík International Airport to return to Copenhagen, Denmark.</p><p>We headed up the road across from Hallgrimskirkja to Café Loki to get some dinner.</p><p>We got a seat upstairs, and I had waited to the end of the trip to try some of these more 'exotic' Icelandic foods. <br />"I hope I'll be alright." I said, feeling that it was unfortunate I had to be feeling ill during our last night in Iceland. We looked through the menu, deciding to order the 'Must try-Tasting' of Fermented shark (Hákarl) & Brennivín shot, homemade flatbread with sheep-head jelly, turnips & bean salad, and homemade rye bread with lamb pâté.</p><p>We started with the Hákarl, which we were told it was customary to chew the piece 7 times. My Wife ate a piece first, saying that if I gagged, she would not be able to try it.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewWrfnWFNCZWCVjlUDw0W_EzuySmfJBTdoHIs_HsbvLP9WwHa28kFUM24lC4N8Qe0c-_IuUzC-i8pMyPtyNXTRdjTyf3zGG7br8hGYki1HmLVXRIzloWAk5jf859xslX2naDwMa7Lt95MRZEovJietso6w9fVy-YcrlKHHkPOGPYnIppNiKo-41eM/s4032/20230917_182921.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewWrfnWFNCZWCVjlUDw0W_EzuySmfJBTdoHIs_HsbvLP9WwHa28kFUM24lC4N8Qe0c-_IuUzC-i8pMyPtyNXTRdjTyf3zGG7br8hGYki1HmLVXRIzloWAk5jf859xslX2naDwMa7Lt95MRZEovJietso6w9fVy-YcrlKHHkPOGPYnIppNiKo-41eM/w400-h300/20230917_182921.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfYzQ28bqb0M3JyMTXdG6mgBMoMiLMvFmKki89FnF15T-X6HeDU9JxmUpoksfoCsdNXTy8nw5KPcDwf86faQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After given the all-clear I ate it too, trying to chew 7 times but ended up chewing longer as I found it very chewy and hard to break down. I got the hot, weird chemical flavour first, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. The shot of brennivín I found to be much harsher.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyOW3FwbQRfNj5Yq3wstYJHicAv5Wl7lKkhgOi-FAzB3ajrPHgcADjVVVUY5wNtkVytybvlvz1_LuJlTJnzbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>We started sharing the sheep head jelly and lamb pâté and were surprised both were actually really tasty.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0cEodDE6OBn1z33XZZhUnaJsWnPNTm5N2h1-JxEUn2QVV6PqqSxkoJf6lKQQYPD4EnXWfZxGMMTPdmOpmB8RJFj-zAsKQR0l3lzHV1V-ImoU9Z0IPahUuZ0K3aWyBx4B8cv-0QTMLQV-Km5R-RKX9fzMJSOF227nOCo0BtfkZA-zHnJ3pBL9ltCt/s4032/20230917_182842.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0cEodDE6OBn1z33XZZhUnaJsWnPNTm5N2h1-JxEUn2QVV6PqqSxkoJf6lKQQYPD4EnXWfZxGMMTPdmOpmB8RJFj-zAsKQR0l3lzHV1V-ImoU9Z0IPahUuZ0K3aWyBx4B8cv-0QTMLQV-Km5R-RKX9fzMJSOF227nOCo0BtfkZA-zHnJ3pBL9ltCt/w400-h300/20230917_182842.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSji0-RsbHj9G1mMSWUnjizykTLmuGrXSAqA6gq_Sv5uESfI0vg-7AcuAqbaGvv2ORJkpGXle7vnvZCuzRxlEgb2fZ4Mwa4JcDNATd1p4s29NUwqT_Z8vgka4vGz7CEa2iOqvFKqASUCL0cfp3erjmUsEqid-dqM_rZyVe56FIC8c1Hp0n-5zP-Nv/s4032/20230917_182918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSji0-RsbHj9G1mMSWUnjizykTLmuGrXSAqA6gq_Sv5uESfI0vg-7AcuAqbaGvv2ORJkpGXle7vnvZCuzRxlEgb2fZ4Mwa4JcDNATd1p4s29NUwqT_Z8vgka4vGz7CEa2iOqvFKqASUCL0cfp3erjmUsEqid-dqM_rZyVe56FIC8c1Hp0n-5zP-Nv/w400-h300/20230917_182918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We decided to get desert afterwards, each getting 'Loki’s unique Rye bread ice cream with cream & rhubarb syrup'. Which we were told was made here and that other places do knock-off but this was the place that invented it, we took them at their word.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq6UkX6JG5ZbcFtirJv2kltg_SQXm5DDzbXIyzpqP4OyjfYmA6C80egYjooFvcU_z3AjtoiGRz6b0ExmyfFzz4E50R3TmIKRBar1hNskgnZVWZ1oBZ5z2SRvrvWurtK9Got4y-u0LeH_lzx19lxf353fAhI93AzvZi7eNWn5fZy0_FZMVg0cIArKB/s4032/20230917_190002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq6UkX6JG5ZbcFtirJv2kltg_SQXm5DDzbXIyzpqP4OyjfYmA6C80egYjooFvcU_z3AjtoiGRz6b0ExmyfFzz4E50R3TmIKRBar1hNskgnZVWZ1oBZ5z2SRvrvWurtK9Got4y-u0LeH_lzx19lxf353fAhI93AzvZi7eNWn5fZy0_FZMVg0cIArKB/w480-h640/20230917_190002.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>With a belly full of food we went back to the hotel to relax a little, stopping in first at a store to buy a flavoured drink each (each getting one we had never tried). I thought mine would be a sort of non-alcoholic beer sort of drink as it was a wheat drink, however it was so sickly sweet that to me it tasted like when I was a kid and to make myself eat the breakfast cereal 'Weet-Bix' I would absolutely cover in sugar, so it tasted liked, when you would get to the end, and drink up that sugary, wheat milk, but without the milk. Sugary wheat drink. Needless to say I couldn't finish it, and my Wife's drink? Bubble-gum flavoured, and she doesn't like bubble-gum. Needless to say it was a bit of a bust and I ended up having to duck out to the store to buy her another drink as she got upset about it 'ruining' our last night.</p><p>After a relax we went for a night walk down the street and around Tjörnin Pond and back, relaxing in our room, while I suggested getting licorice coffee's from 'Te & Kaffi' a coffee shop just up the road from our hotel in the morning.</p><p>However, it seemed that the licorice coffee syrup was no more as when order the man said the manufacturer had stopped making the syrup, as we tried another coffee shop that also had it on the menu, and to no avail. I had also wanted to get to Borg Brugghús to try a beer that had been smoked with sheep poo that I had read about in my book 'Brewed with Balls' about weird beers from all over the world that I had bought back when my Wife and I were first dating, however we never go the time to go here.</p><p><b>Day 13 -</b> There was nothing planned this day, we awoke, having our buffet breakfast in Hótel Frón, slowly making our way back to our rooms to make sure everything was packed, and heading down to the foyer to await our lift to the airport. (I was expecting the lady who got us our first day).</p><p>However it was another man who led us up the street to a van, and we hopped in and began our way to the airport, a tinge of sadness in our hearts. He asked us if we had eaten anything interesting in Iceland.<br />We told him we had had the fermented shark and told him it wasn't too bad. We also told him we ate horse, he told us that it was his favourite.</p><p>We thanked him for the lift, and proceeded in making our way through the airport, now having to have a look in duty-free. (As you cannot take alcohol in your carry-on to Australia, as we learned on our Europe trip, and it would be too late in Copenhagen's airport so we had to do it here).<br /><br />We bought two large bottle's of the licorice drink 'Opal' (one for us, one for my Wife's parents for Christmas), a bottle of Icelandic Schnapps with Icelandic moss in it, and 6 little tasting bottles that we thought we would try at our hotel in Copenhagen, including a small bottle or regular Opal, wild berry flavoured Opal, Lava Icelandic Bitter (that was filtered through lava!), Björk Liqueur from Icelandic Birch, Crowberry Liqueur, and finally Birkir Snaps from Icelandic Birch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hdvRDQOLJkvgKg1qHM7fvbjsHfsA_gbJamgzptCh9g9DLZ2Qg6i8HHaRp7zu6fGY3V19H13EYPkBgVoXl3tpxGScr0WywNbaulwlc8EzBzXmOxJPjKsQeGmspWxMQPbnLTH4v3x8EdyrUXRRDLR8QoRDAKK7hFajq4qzQLTleDJAuYlCfQgE0fwc/s4032/20231006_194337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hdvRDQOLJkvgKg1qHM7fvbjsHfsA_gbJamgzptCh9g9DLZ2Qg6i8HHaRp7zu6fGY3V19H13EYPkBgVoXl3tpxGScr0WywNbaulwlc8EzBzXmOxJPjKsQeGmspWxMQPbnLTH4v3x8EdyrUXRRDLR8QoRDAKK7hFajq4qzQLTleDJAuYlCfQgE0fwc/w480-h640/20231006_194337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoOLKshIEYdQ69EvobgXvFU3YPrQbQZ3oJTok4SUVaMWsyGhkmYXKKZ2V63O0Jljl0Laqus959U-lGrA7kBjB-63JX-wmZ2EY_CvPLEqnBOPHBQA7pKoS7pOhlOxSI0DFYrtsOmGuvraE2pS3CU_IPfm4pdn9q9LUmSPXpGFWPQAYTfFim5MloLKn/s4032/20231006_194348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoOLKshIEYdQ69EvobgXvFU3YPrQbQZ3oJTok4SUVaMWsyGhkmYXKKZ2V63O0Jljl0Laqus959U-lGrA7kBjB-63JX-wmZ2EY_CvPLEqnBOPHBQA7pKoS7pOhlOxSI0DFYrtsOmGuvraE2pS3CU_IPfm4pdn9q9LUmSPXpGFWPQAYTfFim5MloLKn/w480-h640/20231006_194348.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_xb28pZUBcPK7pfaC-q8Vhqd2Su6thoravFE94TbgrjgvcQ2PxbkR0KHDOb6ciQ0BdmIxLzim4-yg0ttsZg45EB_219fEWV4NmBErUIzSdUdBrk8f5_h9rf_wNJz-kOiCOffO1uI2phGmQmquBSMnWacEN_-hXmW9wPRsZQanJzfasWkf97NZMjb/s4032/20231008_203828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_xb28pZUBcPK7pfaC-q8Vhqd2Su6thoravFE94TbgrjgvcQ2PxbkR0KHDOb6ciQ0BdmIxLzim4-yg0ttsZg45EB_219fEWV4NmBErUIzSdUdBrk8f5_h9rf_wNJz-kOiCOffO1uI2phGmQmquBSMnWacEN_-hXmW9wPRsZQanJzfasWkf97NZMjb/w480-h640/20231008_203828.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_2rcAXIHLUHgeoDZ4lTzC8nJ3V_78ZkqN0jcm7MH6erKZ1J06UMpOd1JQoAo8mPcFHhdy46sodMBu-YZl7rRLA0yPte-RkjRNVxqYpMKSpBwQ4SCoUKdGsWN9H_mOYHPpKRodwcWs7hyRC3iKj44A0NcZuIwHiFYvOMbFabn57KKVhO6D-WyQUG0/s4032/20231009_205918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_2rcAXIHLUHgeoDZ4lTzC8nJ3V_78ZkqN0jcm7MH6erKZ1J06UMpOd1JQoAo8mPcFHhdy46sodMBu-YZl7rRLA0yPte-RkjRNVxqYpMKSpBwQ4SCoUKdGsWN9H_mOYHPpKRodwcWs7hyRC3iKj44A0NcZuIwHiFYvOMbFabn57KKVhO6D-WyQUG0/w480-h640/20231009_205918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAZ1j5D6z-OU-zASI_Swm6RZ8yZX43qxZ_9Pj80dRW8Oih43dSNgUFlSwdLtBDqUdEGdv51qXGgs8JfFOddlHtbA-DGu5-4Gph-f7WtoxDiLaR0qUfU5FfxTCOUMp-auzWnhcBkGfbMgNlrTSBPeRXnc08WvbGLgtdEBDJPfJtu2_fDcVVDFRFsIQ/s4032/20231010_192757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAZ1j5D6z-OU-zASI_Swm6RZ8yZX43qxZ_9Pj80dRW8Oih43dSNgUFlSwdLtBDqUdEGdv51qXGgs8JfFOddlHtbA-DGu5-4Gph-f7WtoxDiLaR0qUfU5FfxTCOUMp-auzWnhcBkGfbMgNlrTSBPeRXnc08WvbGLgtdEBDJPfJtu2_fDcVVDFRFsIQ/w480-h640/20231010_192757.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJRj_85oD7eSmPxjjsxEhbUDnQWDhmh2H9V9tGBuokTdIkGiOvaQx3odeVFgVkhnSbX6HoWY636e_xPCMFuUL-lyNXG_vusOAFH66OrjCP1F2tUfnbXMvunqcUi_-4IkRzVwnqvybDQ7IVSW7l6Nax3gU3jp2sFsLoTaa9m1ll2M9wxVD86qYue_Z/s4032/20231010_193218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJRj_85oD7eSmPxjjsxEhbUDnQWDhmh2H9V9tGBuokTdIkGiOvaQx3odeVFgVkhnSbX6HoWY636e_xPCMFuUL-lyNXG_vusOAFH66OrjCP1F2tUfnbXMvunqcUi_-4IkRzVwnqvybDQ7IVSW7l6Nax3gU3jp2sFsLoTaa9m1ll2M9wxVD86qYue_Z/w480-h640/20231010_193218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPjAKMAq2N_1Z4SRFZjcvQliSxS-uxDZzC4d1WqShlJAtbt9Z0cnyIXISf-uwPpBUT2PKmxN_I-X6aooU5M_kYDDkHpAHKudjvDGnx9kOp5ObvBl4ZWO63A5vKxVohjP8s6x-KN3iW8obceb6lID7fVIxEyJq0ZRxrX6B5PAHE-bTAd0R-rwwh1Ya/s4032/20231011_194349.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPjAKMAq2N_1Z4SRFZjcvQliSxS-uxDZzC4d1WqShlJAtbt9Z0cnyIXISf-uwPpBUT2PKmxN_I-X6aooU5M_kYDDkHpAHKudjvDGnx9kOp5ObvBl4ZWO63A5vKxVohjP8s6x-KN3iW8obceb6lID7fVIxEyJq0ZRxrX6B5PAHE-bTAd0R-rwwh1Ya/w480-h640/20231011_194349.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It was a pretty long wait for our flight, but eventually we watched our plane land, quickly empty, quickly load our stuff and begin boarding. We masked up for our flight with once more no entertainment and commented that with the quick turn around with flights, there's no way they would have disinfected things adequality, once more accusing something of getting me sick.</p><p>After what seemed like a really long flight we made it back to Copenhagen and were once more surprised that no one even checked our passports. It was a weird feeling as we headed towards the Andersen Boutique Hotel, as Copenhagen was feeling like home. <br />After checking in we proceeded to our room, having some cup of soups for dinner with some bread and getting an early night, with the plan to head to Tivoli Gardens theme park the following day, with my Wife now also starting to feel ill.</p><p><b>Epilogue - Copenhagen Part 2<br /></b></p><p>We had planned originally to hire bikes upon our return to Copenhagen and spend the morning riding around to the Little Mermaid Statue to view it from land, and to venture out to the mysterious Christianshavn and the street-food area, Reffen.<br />Unfortunately, we were far too unwell, and so we slept in the following morning, having to eventually force ourselves to get up in the morning and head down for breakfast, drinking a lot of juice and coffee to shake off the sickness and fatigue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyZahqu6zwdHn5ulPwPWfeNBuS_35jspIvKfyYHiJTrqqOD9hCojBTZ5nkUU4Uj5eUiUDHJxKl-QqipkhW1OIK_7ksftYw9jbM746r3l_fVFxTevgthdW2uzjt5lGxwTk5NsL-g7Vb6WNVavntdvZLr2AuLSnZjXnZg5kcs3ErI_9BBf3uuxX5jiY/s1920/bear%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="956" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyZahqu6zwdHn5ulPwPWfeNBuS_35jspIvKfyYHiJTrqqOD9hCojBTZ5nkUU4Uj5eUiUDHJxKl-QqipkhW1OIK_7ksftYw9jbM746r3l_fVFxTevgthdW2uzjt5lGxwTk5NsL-g7Vb6WNVavntdvZLr2AuLSnZjXnZg5kcs3ErI_9BBf3uuxX5jiY/w318-h640/bear%201.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><p>We had also planned to go back to the museum to by the mead, and still eager to buy it we set off to the museum, stopping in at a pharmacy at the train station and stocking up on some paracetamol to get us through. We bought the mead, which I am yet to drink (wanting to save if, both until I had finished this blog, and for Winter, whether or not we can hold off time will tell)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHF44eohxFYfDY5cLWQ6TLMndAstMKjxH14iNt83UYZI9vVFI-JFQH68bUo7BS8uTJJWPI6rap1966BWl_QkHK7PjnmYsSfpNPdYhxvMQKIu8wsQDxUhueNfK0uXnQROkf4wplNNXS1udrbN5br3Ko8Z0mXKDUnMD-LuBhHLT3O4dDLaNkT9Rxt87/s640/mead.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="640" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHF44eohxFYfDY5cLWQ6TLMndAstMKjxH14iNt83UYZI9vVFI-JFQH68bUo7BS8uTJJWPI6rap1966BWl_QkHK7PjnmYsSfpNPdYhxvMQKIu8wsQDxUhueNfK0uXnQROkf4wplNNXS1udrbN5br3Ko8Z0mXKDUnMD-LuBhHLT3O4dDLaNkT9Rxt87/w400-h389/mead.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://museumsbutikken.dk/en/delicacies/havulvens-mjoed-eksklusiv-og-unik-mjoed-gaeret-med-hugspaaner-fra-vikingeskib/" target="_blank">Sea Wolf Mead photo from Nationalmuseet</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Afterwards we headed back to the hotel, to try and rest up. We had wanted to visit Tivoli Gardens to go on all the rides, but we were questioning whether or not we were well enough. After some resting and paracetamol, we decided we'd feel really sad if we missed going, and so made our way over shortly after it opened at 11am.</p><p>We spent the entire day there, going around and making sure we went on all the rides (some multiple times).<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyDN5euz6gyVE71J9OaMPe-OwFHWm7xG0DVZCUWqlHgIrOWSVdAJ6y7L1PVlIEgFvZbJwUbkuI-82znwKqvJQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3uI3cafsN77XaBQ0gYAk0okU6PAeJUMce-DQ7mov6cA8V6lOkaRlBHKcaJg40Hy7vL71OSpHTbbe29aVhbBi-vvwzDoduJFQBWP_aLff5LN0fxn5EJwuk8ItRvE3p6NQ7LqJSQ8D6j39EFs5LfKa2WQB1jDFTSaWuOZ6PxRKbIqjTjYbSYtJy_W_/s4032/20230919_162324.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3uI3cafsN77XaBQ0gYAk0okU6PAeJUMce-DQ7mov6cA8V6lOkaRlBHKcaJg40Hy7vL71OSpHTbbe29aVhbBi-vvwzDoduJFQBWP_aLff5LN0fxn5EJwuk8ItRvE3p6NQ7LqJSQ8D6j39EFs5LfKa2WQB1jDFTSaWuOZ6PxRKbIqjTjYbSYtJy_W_/w480-h640/20230919_162324.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Hans Christian Anderson' from a ride based on his fairytales</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ywWEn6q8FE3BSaBMYqN3Mzp62qzszzN8OY4WOTwP8NWHYof_7eOFulr45-K79tO1b0kx83Xn8b4yrexmKBYssuMJktr76yFERmCGkhEQBwKzUN7Dm0xV5LEK-ljaNuJcM8HPy7tQA_bqoT2rVr9rdxQz6wg0BW8NbTABqkM_1Y3Y35v827070XOK/s4032/20230919_173659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ywWEn6q8FE3BSaBMYqN3Mzp62qzszzN8OY4WOTwP8NWHYof_7eOFulr45-K79tO1b0kx83Xn8b4yrexmKBYssuMJktr76yFERmCGkhEQBwKzUN7Dm0xV5LEK-ljaNuJcM8HPy7tQA_bqoT2rVr9rdxQz6wg0BW8NbTABqkM_1Y3Y35v827070XOK/w400-h300/20230919_173659.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>All the way into the night, continuing to go on rides as the park now lit up with all the colourful lights.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDbXqmAMU-whCN8zkIarywY0w8DXdUMHdESLOpzNCWiGGO7eFBoZ1C4XmunhACpQxZLNcYr59dVWjw7dhSTvwVIlzCwzCocE0UnNHXx9-Dknz1JNnCS_G2GqUcRuW6czF4Hs9uR9GfLoZK3BuKXEMTE828PpBQtRoBEOmfD9tmvZAejj_sbggswVt/s3648/20230919_201548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDbXqmAMU-whCN8zkIarywY0w8DXdUMHdESLOpzNCWiGGO7eFBoZ1C4XmunhACpQxZLNcYr59dVWjw7dhSTvwVIlzCwzCocE0UnNHXx9-Dknz1JNnCS_G2GqUcRuW6czF4Hs9uR9GfLoZK3BuKXEMTE828PpBQtRoBEOmfD9tmvZAejj_sbggswVt/w480-h640/20230919_201548.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOm1R-8uVlhbLWZ0SAZtDFaWs-oS9EgQSr3q8l4Mr2OhFDFVJOg0r6_ajjfi9pq_Gru9_jwNglHUFp1EjLvnFDvCb1U0FUcH_BciPlFXLdKE-2HiS7JaycsFTSKYiz9e8ENIa7wTgvsaBS0C5DyJ0e1UeqejiVxHwyH2jzp7P1MEXxti4rVRSpNqf/s4000/20230919_201906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOm1R-8uVlhbLWZ0SAZtDFaWs-oS9EgQSr3q8l4Mr2OhFDFVJOg0r6_ajjfi9pq_Gru9_jwNglHUFp1EjLvnFDvCb1U0FUcH_BciPlFXLdKE-2HiS7JaycsFTSKYiz9e8ENIa7wTgvsaBS0C5DyJ0e1UeqejiVxHwyH2jzp7P1MEXxti4rVRSpNqf/w400-h300/20230919_201906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ10EF0WQduZP9SedP8IEifVH8UYeL05SIyydMpC5XP9HWUJz1IfDniADrnSzaUbJ3nKOsSMwWwbddCnhSHH377zqZsdbq961detSckJTyxDc68TPPWYEcmz-CrTqz9JtRDZPXkDR5t8A_DhyYo6vj_3FqEr3daRvhae69ZIm0UmdAvpRjYgrYebT/s4000/20230919_202611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZ10EF0WQduZP9SedP8IEifVH8UYeL05SIyydMpC5XP9HWUJz1IfDniADrnSzaUbJ3nKOsSMwWwbddCnhSHH377zqZsdbq961detSckJTyxDc68TPPWYEcmz-CrTqz9JtRDZPXkDR5t8A_DhyYo6vj_3FqEr3daRvhae69ZIm0UmdAvpRjYgrYebT/w400-h300/20230919_202611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCNbEU2UeFkja3IAyt387lokoEYRewQXNjad1N-hbLo9_9fd1mDQFgWYO7yfvTMwZfEa4JA0MSgBbteJjGAw6GeJQcpDlC575iJKO1CbdosgKBmlPsD5Q2eZFNcbDBWW9sFWIgWBuYqVkIoBR4YuRKGbSniL87kW2IuLGoOxhU6OxBCauGLiIc4GW/s4032/20230919_212732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCNbEU2UeFkja3IAyt387lokoEYRewQXNjad1N-hbLo9_9fd1mDQFgWYO7yfvTMwZfEa4JA0MSgBbteJjGAw6GeJQcpDlC575iJKO1CbdosgKBmlPsD5Q2eZFNcbDBWW9sFWIgWBuYqVkIoBR4YuRKGbSniL87kW2IuLGoOxhU6OxBCauGLiIc4GW/w400-h300/20230919_212732.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkWXR6SW9eBG8cYifmeRKYKeaSmVSE96Sl2hKt2PT5tozN6EcxnpEqMDCMXbXKNT3rLK2YRSWeqhvvgXxJKreA8IGQCeTFDLnhABrkK6G2b0q4vXuSZUO76zGKbA9aQD_gQidIJUUMVbm2NM3eRV1sbxY2IZ_5SiOTzo5k8TgqXRSyJEHjzP1rG09/s4032/20230919_203118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkWXR6SW9eBG8cYifmeRKYKeaSmVSE96Sl2hKt2PT5tozN6EcxnpEqMDCMXbXKNT3rLK2YRSWeqhvvgXxJKreA8IGQCeTFDLnhABrkK6G2b0q4vXuSZUO76zGKbA9aQD_gQidIJUUMVbm2NM3eRV1sbxY2IZ_5SiOTzo5k8TgqXRSyJEHjzP1rG09/w400-h300/20230919_203118.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We wanted to stay to watch the Tivoli Illuminations a light show. After we were done with rides (a solid effort of going on them all day while sick), we made our way into the Tivoli Food Hall for dinner. <br />I ended up getting the spicy duck ramen, which was one of the best Ramen I'd ever had and was exactly what I felt like while feeling under the weather, and the flavour worked so much nicer than the ramen I had eaten at the Wagamama. </p><p>We continued back inside Tivoli to away the spectacular laser show, and brilliant send of for our final night in Denmark. We wandered back to our hotel holding hands, and went inside for a hot shower, and some sleep.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrsS-HZpDghQCKlNBIm0Eo0ut3qDwe0YmDTh-Yua_pl1X0uRBP2sjKf0BR0jBJlY-z4ScZBy8_2JE0WimefJ_Rmh7uVB8r_sh8W8ANwIDkXJb_RfMOi1Lx84zvJBGjssRFEaRhE4OZ8T1YZ9pL-55UMZ5r6frdo6M53uCs_00mZ9gls_rHwnsBf7/s2016/bear%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrsS-HZpDghQCKlNBIm0Eo0ut3qDwe0YmDTh-Yua_pl1X0uRBP2sjKf0BR0jBJlY-z4ScZBy8_2JE0WimefJ_Rmh7uVB8r_sh8W8ANwIDkXJb_RfMOi1Lx84zvJBGjssRFEaRhE4OZ8T1YZ9pL-55UMZ5r6frdo6M53uCs_00mZ9gls_rHwnsBf7/w480-h640/bear%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The following morning, after enjoying our final breakfast, we left our hotel for the airport runaround and awful flight home while feeling absolutely horrible. I felt in my heart a desire to explore more of Denmark, and my Wife a desire to explore more of Iceland (though where our next overseas holiday will take us, maybe Japan? Time will tell).<br /><br />Stuck on the flight, we masked up while listening to everyone else on the plane cough, sniffle and splutter. I was curded into a ball the most I could and watched a few things (finishing that climbing reality series I had begun), but I didn't feel the motivation, too ill and eager to get home and rest.</p><p>After 23 hours, we finally got through all the security at Sydney airport, with my Father-in-law picking us up to drive us home. We wore masks again in the car and I could feel the straps hurting the backs of my ears. Getting home I realised both of my legs were swollen and sore from not moving around enough on the flight, and they didn't go back down to regular size until a whole 48 hours later.</p><p>Before having a shower and getting ready for bed we did a covid test (RAT) just to check, as these were not readily available anywhere overseas. Sure enough, it came up positive, our first time contracting covid-19. Now that we were home and not pushing ourselves to do things the sickness hit us, and I ended up taking a week off from work (my Wife lost her sense of taste for almost that entire time too). Finally, it cleared up, though even now, almost two months later as I finish writing this blog (which I struggled with covid brain fog for) we still feel some of the effects of the fatigue. (My immune issues with my cancer and stem cell transplant probably didn't help even though I'd had 6 shots of covid vaccine).</p><p>Sometimes I question writing my blog, as I see others, more well read, more popular. But then I remember I never started it for fame, for attention. I began it to remember my adventures, my stories, and more than ever I realise why that was a good idea, even as little as two months after this holiday I found myself forgetting things, and forcing myself to go through, bit by bit, and remember my holiday, helped me appreciate it more. To stay in that moment a little while longer. For it not to just be a passing moment but a fond memory I can return to again and again.<br /><br />So, the writing will continue, and if you, (or myself if I'm reading this once more) can come back, for another, Steventure.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPQLLe2EsLJZFsi6Hwjp3YamApipSaKsDIpMhqQkE79_6rndVAPBqC27Bq7d2-CYhj8eLoEMq6fLKOsDkOS5fsAMebUBOyqZE4IBDrD29MLBqjZ6Utya_vgwpk7PAiBbQOcQa3g-QgxRVUiTZPQZGpyq4M4984UScZgodw6mmeNyrXgZNfWDTOqhd/s4096/Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1738" data-original-width="4096" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPQLLe2EsLJZFsi6Hwjp3YamApipSaKsDIpMhqQkE79_6rndVAPBqC27Bq7d2-CYhj8eLoEMq6fLKOsDkOS5fsAMebUBOyqZE4IBDrD29MLBqjZ6Utya_vgwpk7PAiBbQOcQa3g-QgxRVUiTZPQZGpyq4M4984UScZgodw6mmeNyrXgZNfWDTOqhd/w400-h170/Logo.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steventure Logo by Stuart Karindjias</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com14Iceland64.110944 -21.873839162.157685442608027 -26.26837035 66.06420255739198 -17.47930785tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-36283389506492710192023-08-24T13:53:00.003+10:002023-11-12T15:22:39.418+11:00Mount Keira<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Dharawal </i></b><b><i>Country</i></b></p><p>During my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">chemotherapy to treat my Leukemia</a>, I sometimes was placed in rooms in Wollongong Hospital that had me looking out over Mount Keira. I would sit there often looking out over it on sunny and rainy days and tell myself that after I had beat my cancer I would go and walk it.</p><p><br />I did one trail on it, <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/mount-keira-ken-ashburn-track.html" target="_blank">the Ken Ashburn track</a> with my friend Tristan in between my third round of chemo and my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>. I always planned to do the other walks, but time got by, and I never got around to it. While discussing future walks with him after we had done the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/07/tarbourie-village-to-termeil-lake.html" target="_blank">Tarbourie Village track</a>, I threw out a few suggestions to him to see if he was interested. One of these was the rest of Mount Keira. He wasn't so I thought it was a good opportunity to do some more walks with my nerdy friends Stuart and Megan, who I had done the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/06/hoddles-track-saddleback-mountain.html" target="_blank">Saddleback Mountain walk</a> with.</p><p>They were keen to go, and we locked in the date, with Megan asking if they were alright to pick me up at 8am. We set off early with Stuart driving and asking me for directions. I told him to go up Mount Ousley to head straight to the summit, as I had investigated some of these walks right before I went in for my Stem Cell Treatment while spending a day out with my Dad.</p><p>We arrived at the summit park and from this point I knew exactly where to head, taking them straight over to the lookout facing North over the Illawarra.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EEQwEuGv_oHLLzZPWVH2pHyyhwRctgcl6TZL0j1eMkWuxEUrHycmCOXyQZsfa4tbewTsQswRwaKeMa2EHc58xQWpMq8Wsuc3xpo0mAB68XWIiVFRgyG-INZsoUQ0YgSoXVU6NTM9kx5scApEs1DGQrJxTcoxdvJplEsLhAF8Bqe07Yw6PCR5NHLn/s4032/20230820_083141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EEQwEuGv_oHLLzZPWVH2pHyyhwRctgcl6TZL0j1eMkWuxEUrHycmCOXyQZsfa4tbewTsQswRwaKeMa2EHc58xQWpMq8Wsuc3xpo0mAB68XWIiVFRgyG-INZsoUQ0YgSoXVU6NTM9kx5scApEs1DGQrJxTcoxdvJplEsLhAF8Bqe07Yw6PCR5NHLn/w400-h300/20230820_083141.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>From here we walked down a set of stairs down to a bronze wheel marking the distance and direction of Illawarra locations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIdtJHVwvBqpvfojmzmIn6KmDnvtOCz2t9k0ZuLQLk62VCunn4HqG5wguoEocT_BiWQkH62DyrnIBe9LM4xp_1cAd1p3mXTtTz6tZCSSMRbDG_WkVFdBxNdPeUX1xqOWQUyFnWKQDw0AJAS7FxZvmUODPsompStv3tQTB3gceWrjN9-Im3HKkDPY/s4032/20230820_083346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokIdtJHVwvBqpvfojmzmIn6KmDnvtOCz2t9k0ZuLQLk62VCunn4HqG5wguoEocT_BiWQkH62DyrnIBe9LM4xp_1cAd1p3mXTtTz6tZCSSMRbDG_WkVFdBxNdPeUX1xqOWQUyFnWKQDw0AJAS7FxZvmUODPsompStv3tQTB3gceWrjN9-Im3HKkDPY/w480-h640/20230820_083346.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked back up the stairs, I was humming the soundtrack to 'Hamilton' to myself as I had been listening to it once again.<br />"What?" Megan asked me, thinking I had said something.<br />"Oh no, I'm just singing Hamilton." I replied, explaining that I was listening to it again. We made our way back up, past a sign towards Five Islands Lookout, which I explained was the direction to go as I had gone that way with my Dad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2brUv67oHJY3kE0gEoUQ92mP1Z7JvG7r4xScAcqQBOYzC2rQ9lhsb_6B7Kqq8brMOTPVpfYDyIhyK--VeIAW4Y9q9i5wfgYeTjXmFibkR1ljU7OZ6LKpM5Rs-joreonKNehJcnqTCqCD2LMi7l0gctgb64G92Xp0AqWSVEVFcth0rZbS6XUYGmIw5/s4032/20230820_083611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2brUv67oHJY3kE0gEoUQ92mP1Z7JvG7r4xScAcqQBOYzC2rQ9lhsb_6B7Kqq8brMOTPVpfYDyIhyK--VeIAW4Y9q9i5wfgYeTjXmFibkR1ljU7OZ6LKpM5Rs-joreonKNehJcnqTCqCD2LMi7l0gctgb64G92Xp0AqWSVEVFcth0rZbS6XUYGmIw5/w480-h640/20230820_083611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we continued along Megan mentioned she and Stuart had been getting into 'Hadestown', another musical, but they explained to me it was based on the Greek myth of 'Orpheus' which immediately perked my interest as a lover of Mythology. Stuart interjected and mentioned something about Hades becoming a mining town and something about everyone wearing mining outfits.<br />"Oh, that makes more sense." Megan said.<br />"So, is this on something?" I asked, assuming, like Hamilton you could watch it on some sort of streaming service.<br />"No, we've just been listening to it." They responded.<br />I was about to mention to them about a musical artist I listen to: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcs4ubonyLk" target="_blank">'Shawn James' and how he had written a song about Orpheus</a>, before I realised that the path in front of us had been blocked by a fallen tree.<br />We walked through a small section of scrub on our right onto another section of path that just had the base of the tree in front and simply walked around the other side of the tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R_c1fUipCUwDaH6Ue5X2q8MIhxlASiKX3u85E6K97pFEAkzMf2BtrfNTSecqkvqDCP-7w4nef__OUdTuGNuvBk3GKn9l-5J3INgU_jnagqHOb1Aj1zXXZJMxcEUWeOMd_-uqqyPQWTkgezWs1ZoWZG0XDEHviZkOYOLZgC1LGVuc0FnvUpoIZmxa/s4032/20230820_083746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R_c1fUipCUwDaH6Ue5X2q8MIhxlASiKX3u85E6K97pFEAkzMf2BtrfNTSecqkvqDCP-7w4nef__OUdTuGNuvBk3GKn9l-5J3INgU_jnagqHOb1Aj1zXXZJMxcEUWeOMd_-uqqyPQWTkgezWs1ZoWZG0XDEHviZkOYOLZgC1LGVuc0FnvUpoIZmxa/w480-h640/20230820_083746.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After passing the tree, the conversation moved on and I never mentioned the song. As we approached the Five Islands Lookout, we got a view through a clearing overlooking Lake Illawarra.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VzPiqW3Fve82xIKUYFMT42c9N4nigJ_DYXi4d2UbZdIG6tVKCS25ORu2MuRGthBb6I_SQdqASjHzFtUrlEYH2BDhHLjSCJDc5yWUfBTXmzloQqoJApuBbTRGByrRk0kE2ZQCL4Upgk2NspKKZhh3AyZa5vB1DOtixEIcbKHOZ3cVUtEx5eSz4K7g/s4032/20230820_084016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VzPiqW3Fve82xIKUYFMT42c9N4nigJ_DYXi4d2UbZdIG6tVKCS25ORu2MuRGthBb6I_SQdqASjHzFtUrlEYH2BDhHLjSCJDc5yWUfBTXmzloQqoJApuBbTRGByrRk0kE2ZQCL4Upgk2NspKKZhh3AyZa5vB1DOtixEIcbKHOZ3cVUtEx5eSz4K7g/w480-h640/20230820_084016.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I mentioned that I wanted to do a blog that was a bike ride around Lake Illawarra, saying I had attempted the ride around once before with my Dad, leaving from Central Park in Oak Flats, however I got a flat tire at Tallawarra Power Station, not far from completing and thus I never finished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL8y4JRdwINqVltQq0U6hgX_ZkSiULzm06S23t2_g_SoOiGhtb233guc1qKdgDyNOlN9Vex1d_M02xFU0k76M_Fo5RKTBwHvtgL0bFr3JcrIOJJBPQK52yxbsNgURWlZDvQTIHZSruhW4uJWNaHDIYuM_JOAWh4zxSXSwWIb5u0D9C32JcBo5mxtD/s4032/20230820_084332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL8y4JRdwINqVltQq0U6hgX_ZkSiULzm06S23t2_g_SoOiGhtb233guc1qKdgDyNOlN9Vex1d_M02xFU0k76M_Fo5RKTBwHvtgL0bFr3JcrIOJJBPQK52yxbsNgURWlZDvQTIHZSruhW4uJWNaHDIYuM_JOAWh4zxSXSwWIb5u0D9C32JcBo5mxtD/w400-h300/20230820_084332.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The lookout itself was barricaded off, apparently due to being on an unstable cliff, I couldn't remember it being there when I had come up with my Dad (however looking through old photo's it was). I remembered the stick pyramid structures and explained to the two of them Dad and I had come up here for a little walk after going out for lunch at Bourke Street Burgers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cmBZzP99KH-WxKeKBejkaiYqjt11AX1IHLlUbmiUZI0rlE3aPkuySSEl9-WKD-2VLhbvicN-8yA6-dzHc3HApmvMWfA1ShuPUB_i7-D81k1u8WbuBQ399HthGgLf4Szj9vEwyYAmIcPIW637H2Iw46imyLU2GQ9TP_RncjP8IEqbxF__cogz-IQ-/s4032/20230820_084342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cmBZzP99KH-WxKeKBejkaiYqjt11AX1IHLlUbmiUZI0rlE3aPkuySSEl9-WKD-2VLhbvicN-8yA6-dzHc3HApmvMWfA1ShuPUB_i7-D81k1u8WbuBQ399HthGgLf4Szj9vEwyYAmIcPIW637H2Iw46imyLU2GQ9TP_RncjP8IEqbxF__cogz-IQ-/w300-h400/20230820_084342.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>We walked over to read a sign explaining the structures that also told the local Dharawal creation myth of Mount Keira or 'Geera' and that of the Five Islands that were off our coast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OqWIO0GsmbDnveWzxpvKE1C2UTb1T3yXTwOj_1iAP1QNYSGWVed46CNIRk_xYWjNVi-RoyTyBT3yAC7YxVWxY7p2CABtoN-xfGjnTZQIj-xLa4TOqeThbSRu3SATteBURr8KdAOhFG17nTb2U_KrAA3fzrHw-YoA-LMojKTALTmn6LvQ_X5gZwHR/s4032/20230820_084404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OqWIO0GsmbDnveWzxpvKE1C2UTb1T3yXTwOj_1iAP1QNYSGWVed46CNIRk_xYWjNVi-RoyTyBT3yAC7YxVWxY7p2CABtoN-xfGjnTZQIj-xLa4TOqeThbSRu3SATteBURr8KdAOhFG17nTb2U_KrAA3fzrHw-YoA-LMojKTALTmn6LvQ_X5gZwHR/w400-h300/20230820_084404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i>"<b>Merrigong Environmental Sculpture - The Six Daughters of the West Wind</b></i></p><p><i>The west wind, Oolaboolawoo lived on top of Merrigong (Illawarra Range) and had six daughters, Mimosa, Wilga, Lilli Pilli, Wattle, Clemantis and Geera. Mimosa would scratch and fight when the girls were playing and to punish her, the west wind blew her and the rock she sat on out so sea. She landed away from the land and became an island, which none of her sisters could swim to. Mimosa's fate should have been a lesson to her sisters, who were also cast out to sea by their father.<br /><br />Because Oolaboolawoo way always bust out west, the last sister Gerra sat lonely on the escarpment looking out at her sisters, the Five Islands, eventually allowing the animals and trees to grow on her.<br />She turned to stone and became the mountain known as Mt Keira (Geera).<br /><br />The sculptures were inspired by the story of the six sisters. The site where the sculptures are situated is both sacred for women and is said to have once been a place of massacre.<br /><br />The ephemeral and fragile quality of the 'twig-like' structures refers to a former occupation of the site by the traditional people. The permanency of the bronze material consolidates Indigenous survival and everlasting connection to place."</i></p><p>We all agreed that it was cool to learn about local mythology, and I talked about how I liked to include some history of places as often times we really don't know much about the places that we have grown up around. I pointed on towards Dave Walsh's Track saying that it led on to the Mt Keira ring track that we wanted to do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6g-Qy9GgNZXrHd7k0ZarEEZesjv-GSUwWiCvMLoRXVOvTF9GrN9FQEpnvm3QPshp1JcgT1tB2PN1wMXi_CDaFW9Pi5z3H14n-ASH4lBBHh0JxXRjnul7dJ8H8ye_KF4_v-rFVJiQrtAwiXrWdt6mEyART4nBNbQMJgt3yeUOnIzO59gikZpClMx2/s4032/20230820_084634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6g-Qy9GgNZXrHd7k0ZarEEZesjv-GSUwWiCvMLoRXVOvTF9GrN9FQEpnvm3QPshp1JcgT1tB2PN1wMXi_CDaFW9Pi5z3H14n-ASH4lBBHh0JxXRjnul7dJ8H8ye_KF4_v-rFVJiQrtAwiXrWdt6mEyART4nBNbQMJgt3yeUOnIzO59gikZpClMx2/w480-h640/20230820_084634.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we continued on and talking an elder couple had caught up to us, and not wanting to walk with other people we sort of slowed down, allowing them to pass and I headed to a clearing over by the ledge that had not been barricaded off.</p><p>I brought up the conversation of the upcoming Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum. They were both confused as neither really follow politics, but I was surprised by the fact that neither of them had even heard of it.</p><p>"It basically acknowledges Indigenous people in our constitution" I explained, "currently they're not referenced in our constitution, other than that what it does is gives an Aboriginal advisory committee in parliament in regard to Indigenous issues, and because it would be in the constitution the next government couldn't simply get in and dismantle it."<br /><br />It seemed like a pretty reasonable thing to both of them, and I explained that many Australians were voting no, for various reasons. I explained about Lydia Thorpe previously for the Greens was voting no because she wanted Treaty, and semi explained the concept of that to them, while explaining a lot of other people who were voting no were, and I was fairly blunt here: "racist."</p><p>The older couple was no longer in sight, and we continued our way down Dave Walsh's track and I wondered to myself who Dave Walsh was, and I also wondered who Ken Ashburn was. Which after a Google search, I learned David Walsh was a local, big in the scouting movement, so whether or not he created the trail, or it was simply named after him I'm not sure. When I looked up Ken Ashburn I could find nothing, causing me to go into my previous blogpost for any information that might have been on that walk, where I learned that I had simply misread his name, and even incorrectly titled by blog post. as it was named after Ken Ausburn, not Ashburn, causing me to have to retroactively go back and edit that previous blog post, but leaving any other incorrect mentions in other blog posts.</p><p>As we approached the decent a couple and their child began approaching from behind so I went over for the view of Mount Kembla hoping that they too would continue past us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8ifnP9PkhgDKGjHxP5XtvcDkBY6eBgiRY0MXiy6nq_CBrdWgAENUx1FFSqW2dyq6h8TtIxwR-YIVeVg4xEcHBbSfxCyttAT7Bu0r8DkcJ_6Ow4VYQy3vITPXvHM0-2PcCf8MRFe6OCXxn45ronAgtlzE2i-V3GhiTaIOcb25fXKhyIn_iZNyJcp4/s4032/20230820_085237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8ifnP9PkhgDKGjHxP5XtvcDkBY6eBgiRY0MXiy6nq_CBrdWgAENUx1FFSqW2dyq6h8TtIxwR-YIVeVg4xEcHBbSfxCyttAT7Bu0r8DkcJ_6Ow4VYQy3vITPXvHM0-2PcCf8MRFe6OCXxn45ronAgtlzE2i-V3GhiTaIOcb25fXKhyIn_iZNyJcp4/w480-h640/20230820_085237.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVykxby8yrNeqBL0OMy9BI55tRWl1_wjGj-aIOP5r5-HVbXipxGbbuKqqjc_P4YdNmG9a-0svi51cKXj0t4y500Pviv-RejVpSk4teQmNFYjiTIn9ISA_-RA9PgnrseRSDzmB8eK3UXY6IRa6rTObacaCdZ8rMr3BtsIlvcn-FINvNZop__GPVndQ/s4032/mt%20kembla.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVykxby8yrNeqBL0OMy9BI55tRWl1_wjGj-aIOP5r5-HVbXipxGbbuKqqjc_P4YdNmG9a-0svi51cKXj0t4y500Pviv-RejVpSk4teQmNFYjiTIn9ISA_-RA9PgnrseRSDzmB8eK3UXY6IRa6rTObacaCdZ8rMr3BtsIlvcn-FINvNZop__GPVndQ/w400-h225/mt%20kembla.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture my Dad took, 2 and half years earlier</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Soon the couple and their child began approaching me on the edge, so I made my way over to Stuart and Megan who were at a different spot. I began pointing out the climbing bolts saying this area was used for rock climbers. Megan had a look, before saying she would need to get her climbing fitness back up, and her and Stuart had let their indoor climbing memberships expire before attempting that, however none of us had really attempted outdoor climbing other than some light bouldering.</p><p>While we were looking at this the couple began making their way slowly down the mountain, and we lingered waiting for them to move substantially ahead of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECYxI7RQwyMdmBW3AvYgbctPF87MZCOJDMsnHGNuovzrSyGeTQ3Dqcr9Id3mL__JgLxKB_lmWiNGdPDZ3OM_arMAu2b-1uaWzaPpbW0AdOu3fxJyo5HDALH69gH-YjLoNE6s_KWZnS5tfTEfPxxFYNdbTZjqe16JUN6cpsXGv10e0V3yr4za-7faO/s4032/20230820_085617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECYxI7RQwyMdmBW3AvYgbctPF87MZCOJDMsnHGNuovzrSyGeTQ3Dqcr9Id3mL__JgLxKB_lmWiNGdPDZ3OM_arMAu2b-1uaWzaPpbW0AdOu3fxJyo5HDALH69gH-YjLoNE6s_KWZnS5tfTEfPxxFYNdbTZjqe16JUN6cpsXGv10e0V3yr4za-7faO/w480-h640/20230820_085617.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I pointed toward the arrow nailed to the trees marking the way and commented that this path was pretty obvious and that they weren't really needed to follow the trail. I said that I had seen someone do a post on a Facebook hiking page complaining about people marking the tracks in ways like this, or spray painting, or tying on bits of plastic, or making cairns, saying that if you couldn't find your way you didn't deserve to be doing the walk. Which I could agree with in some ways, but I told Stuart and Megan I had often done many walks with various trails splitting off in different directions for various points along the way and nothing to tell you which was the right way to go. These were often not 'wilderness' walks, but marketed and promoted National Park walks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzGTysho4zTetPsMzQnqtZ1FgRhNepda__W1u9hzu9Ci5xZyQoxcLgrqqr_ZrCA99tggcaQcLp81deYEXXByFOpFfol4yHMRytaDAJCz0dbRfJBj3DMX_YvTjHD3sgbG5fhuGwYBnKgNOtfUqG4OSfLydKsCfBxX3jFh7Pr-KXn9KY2TWt4spFpGU/s4032/20230820_085700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzGTysho4zTetPsMzQnqtZ1FgRhNepda__W1u9hzu9Ci5xZyQoxcLgrqqr_ZrCA99tggcaQcLp81deYEXXByFOpFfol4yHMRytaDAJCz0dbRfJBj3DMX_YvTjHD3sgbG5fhuGwYBnKgNOtfUqG4OSfLydKsCfBxX3jFh7Pr-KXn9KY2TWt4spFpGU/w480-h640/20230820_085700.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFynj5VqXUDdMNl48QcfSITcehnoYsHbhe4H5oBKzcijE9oNsicbXanm_GU-S0qTYxKb-B4cXp56noBXs84xoPPIFzDUWT_AgVOguw3VEgkv2VpNRImpTBk4dPQwSiwcLPKS00-bQHPrZSVOQMyhDibpU1dz_F5Pmn-00g1Tyt09So3B7pmBcLmVDy/s2944/20230820_085748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFynj5VqXUDdMNl48QcfSITcehnoYsHbhe4H5oBKzcijE9oNsicbXanm_GU-S0qTYxKb-B4cXp56noBXs84xoPPIFzDUWT_AgVOguw3VEgkv2VpNRImpTBk4dPQwSiwcLPKS00-bQHPrZSVOQMyhDibpU1dz_F5Pmn-00g1Tyt09So3B7pmBcLmVDy/w480-h640/20230820_085748.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>A cold wind picked up, and I commented that I had made the right choice wearing long pants, but wondered if I should have worn my beanie rather than my hate, as I held it down from blowing off.<br /></p><p>"I never think to wear a beanie." Megan said.<br />"I always wear my beanie." I replied.<br />"We know friend." Said Stuart, referring to the fact that wearing my beanie had become a pretty constant thing for me casually after my hair never returned after my Stem Cell Transplant.<br />"It comforts me." I insisted.</p><p>Soon the path turned right down, but the couple with their child continued straight to a section of boulders you could walk between, seeming to almost form a sort of boulder cave. We turned right and continued down, able to move a little faster now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHnJyKblPzK0EYkP5GwHRk6adg0T-Ta6Tj9_e4gQUfFTp5IlU9vGxp5lq7hVVkWHtGE_oS8f2E-bvDYVSWzkXCE7Ds60tUPIRtUACpP-w69Jh_vvT33bIFhETLUdeK1yWjeV1KBlhuvkDtjTdeavNiem0DvdyDoUR0xMJxe2BxfyBnq5Wtvn9YGzP/s4032/20230820_085928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHnJyKblPzK0EYkP5GwHRk6adg0T-Ta6Tj9_e4gQUfFTp5IlU9vGxp5lq7hVVkWHtGE_oS8f2E-bvDYVSWzkXCE7Ds60tUPIRtUACpP-w69Jh_vvT33bIFhETLUdeK1yWjeV1KBlhuvkDtjTdeavNiem0DvdyDoUR0xMJxe2BxfyBnq5Wtvn9YGzP/w480-h640/20230820_085928.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88PUcKh_9bWtVlLMaNc_RO0T61J8eK64Z35jrzCZ7Zese_3y8f2ofK18T_iRYzED7jAcP1qwYMiQiUYZqdXmFEETiY_nLv_MH_IJctRcD16XN3lhw6QAC1eckmFDe6jGBawoqIMgkVJSj9b19uywCfopL0xgVNjzVW-uRRZPfYtg_azlBtdresNtx/s4032/20230820_090044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88PUcKh_9bWtVlLMaNc_RO0T61J8eK64Z35jrzCZ7Zese_3y8f2ofK18T_iRYzED7jAcP1qwYMiQiUYZqdXmFEETiY_nLv_MH_IJctRcD16XN3lhw6QAC1eckmFDe6jGBawoqIMgkVJSj9b19uywCfopL0xgVNjzVW-uRRZPfYtg_azlBtdresNtx/w480-h640/20230820_090044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuZ5Qf7OfUXvQLzHW69-upqzNVcTauDR5F-r04J3uk4zLPb7n6zEPGCVPlS2AWRtHGvqMlK5BpWAON1CIV0p56oKAAFMyBu0UwmIhY17D7vXtZX7wHrITLeiol2-ItAPKpHeU5iuw8cnHIQDkMFwemHJl5_gsX7qD6KgWF1oqKyozJND8VLPVWwqv/s4032/20230820_090053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuZ5Qf7OfUXvQLzHW69-upqzNVcTauDR5F-r04J3uk4zLPb7n6zEPGCVPlS2AWRtHGvqMlK5BpWAON1CIV0p56oKAAFMyBu0UwmIhY17D7vXtZX7wHrITLeiol2-ItAPKpHeU5iuw8cnHIQDkMFwemHJl5_gsX7qD6KgWF1oqKyozJND8VLPVWwqv/w480-h640/20230820_090053.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We followed the stairs down until we a dirt trail that began winding through the bush. I snapped a lot of photos along the way, saying that my Wife had complained recently about how many I take while we had done the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/08/glow-worm-glen.html" target="_blank">Glow Worm Glen walk</a>. I said that there had been a few times where I had tried to take less, but then when it came to writing a blog, I struggled to remember where things happened on the walk sometimes. I said that it just gives me that jump-start to my memory to remember where we were at certain points in time, and those cues helped me remember things such as conversation that had occurred along the way, but I would often cull a lot of them, or sometimes spam a bunch of images when I found I had less to write about.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k37Qc2PTssC1osbEHorNgQAUBtHlbCv9K_y-FKxDhU18KuOpMevi0DG8B8ZNSsIelSJlZZkzD0djquA9bA0yZZqrzbyNJYXgzqiHZq2PJgzkF6wZ27RFUBYxmHkBOFMukI-r2NeYT7aoBK6K2M9HE0njgNvnJZioojJw0j1YsuQYpBeITQbAHOHz/s4032/20230820_090450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k37Qc2PTssC1osbEHorNgQAUBtHlbCv9K_y-FKxDhU18KuOpMevi0DG8B8ZNSsIelSJlZZkzD0djquA9bA0yZZqrzbyNJYXgzqiHZq2PJgzkF6wZ27RFUBYxmHkBOFMukI-r2NeYT7aoBK6K2M9HE0njgNvnJZioojJw0j1YsuQYpBeITQbAHOHz/w480-h640/20230820_090450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6acQ8jbGraGEFRbFmUtXyuHZpAFPjMhjN-xx1Y-6pbtCsPu8L6Zjxwu3sLDzepIWGXi1SeFcEb-_xU3XDzOoJ_PJxvWmcjzLRHdx4tXOG8eOCBOWMFPjeJCRvhZnVd08-y2hJEDS55kUskpYcwAFxmBSjOMQUIGD_5TNmOmf6ASBAsny9TDQ98_lI/s4032/20230820_090532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6acQ8jbGraGEFRbFmUtXyuHZpAFPjMhjN-xx1Y-6pbtCsPu8L6Zjxwu3sLDzepIWGXi1SeFcEb-_xU3XDzOoJ_PJxvWmcjzLRHdx4tXOG8eOCBOWMFPjeJCRvhZnVd08-y2hJEDS55kUskpYcwAFxmBSjOMQUIGD_5TNmOmf6ASBAsny9TDQ98_lI/w480-h640/20230820_090532.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHCyHHpbGogt2M3LIqTutqLoFLWzCQMl1DlDs2oVj9g66DFCTo6aVJAd9iTuzODdq0TBuMWl1WD7v_wfChqTsS3NIHxlwf-kOSZ77HGNdWv5BBA54w3Y5SIx24gaWqjX2WNMq-DIU4p4XDDmSsDQ6ftw7SZnSm_hi1sjcgdypKp6T7EbNt1jZCndH/s4032/20230820_090611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHCyHHpbGogt2M3LIqTutqLoFLWzCQMl1DlDs2oVj9g66DFCTo6aVJAd9iTuzODdq0TBuMWl1WD7v_wfChqTsS3NIHxlwf-kOSZ77HGNdWv5BBA54w3Y5SIx24gaWqjX2WNMq-DIU4p4XDDmSsDQ6ftw7SZnSm_hi1sjcgdypKp6T7EbNt1jZCndH/w480-h640/20230820_090611.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon caught up to the older couple we had let go ahead a while back, and I could see them stopping for photos but also looking in different ways. As they saw us approaching, they began moving again and as we reached the spot they were at we saw that there was a trail heading left and right as well as continuing down the mountain. The way right had no signs or markings, however the way left had a danger warning sign, informing that the area was closed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QjRNf_NbiWaDaDlp-Ex7p9-9l363ix6G8XZ6Rzw0HSrCWE99WBc2GjdmUvNotDWXTVCVSJ7OPZK4HCmTzpE2K7w_epU2b5yVv6BwAbg0nhJz8ySclaNV5pKF3h3JcJv7Ev3TkkEQLx-G0GG6OWbtlwaE40geXRn_OmBMUSxqXpt_n9E7fa7xujZl/s4032/20230820_091031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QjRNf_NbiWaDaDlp-Ex7p9-9l363ix6G8XZ6Rzw0HSrCWE99WBc2GjdmUvNotDWXTVCVSJ7OPZK4HCmTzpE2K7w_epU2b5yVv6BwAbg0nhJz8ySclaNV5pKF3h3JcJv7Ev3TkkEQLx-G0GG6OWbtlwaE40geXRn_OmBMUSxqXpt_n9E7fa7xujZl/w480-h640/20230820_091031.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I wondered out loud to the two of them if that track was the 'ring track' as I had never done it before.<br /><br />"I wonder if we follow it down, if that's just the Dave Walsh track." I questioned, vaguely remembering walking to the end of it with my Dad and coming to a road.<br /><br />"How about we follow it down, and if this ends up being the ring track we can just walk back and just follow it the opposite way to the closed sign?" I suggested, and they both agreed, so we continued forwards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkrjTiO6tBMpxyD8SCeKKAwSm3YJF7UOnkm0AYbJ415qWdQ5TgS2u4NavandDkKZgGmGrUcFObV9OQxnFvNkt7vndCYxI9weskbHmmnzeXPIHuzwheoWcVZxjs8ws-bZj6tlowrMoCoU5TqU-GLsoQ9qXOs_VNleyNgd_HO0l6LTAiL6g02aVYvjo/s4032/20230820_091129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkrjTiO6tBMpxyD8SCeKKAwSm3YJF7UOnkm0AYbJ415qWdQ5TgS2u4NavandDkKZgGmGrUcFObV9OQxnFvNkt7vndCYxI9weskbHmmnzeXPIHuzwheoWcVZxjs8ws-bZj6tlowrMoCoU5TqU-GLsoQ9qXOs_VNleyNgd_HO0l6LTAiL6g02aVYvjo/w480-h640/20230820_091129.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we walked, I told them how my Wife and I had gone to a Nature Talk at the Shellharbour Civic Centre that was about astronomy and told them about what we had learned about Black Holes while there, and how they can 'burp' and also sort of go into a type of hibernation where they don't suck everything in, and can randomly start again, talking about what bizarre enigmas they are.</p><p>"Oh, burp is what you meant." Megan said, referring to a message I had sent them in a group chat where I wrote: 'I just learned that black holes burb and I'm terrified.'<br />"I wasn't sure if you meant burp on burn, I thought you might have meant black holes burn."<br />"Did I write burp?" I asked.<br />"No, you wrote burb."</p><p>The canopy above us opened up revealing sky as we walked by a clearing made by powerlines and we entered under the canopy once more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU76oJ0ZMZpAd4p75TBASus0Cb-I4Suax3gosuPnAGu4bzP3ZWRIwW69TmVFthcnW9ENOHxN2S1AunFRHLAaH4GXxKZbzk8t38K5a4g8y7nE99IEqRzmdVD7r8XCRhme0OuZ-Fi3y5TpnDwKD-2TWlzzEK8sKige6Z4CU9l7flchTuibN57Z5yWHaG/s4032/20230820_091205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU76oJ0ZMZpAd4p75TBASus0Cb-I4Suax3gosuPnAGu4bzP3ZWRIwW69TmVFthcnW9ENOHxN2S1AunFRHLAaH4GXxKZbzk8t38K5a4g8y7nE99IEqRzmdVD7r8XCRhme0OuZ-Fi3y5TpnDwKD-2TWlzzEK8sKige6Z4CU9l7flchTuibN57Z5yWHaG/w480-h640/20230820_091205.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Someone the conversation changed onto how I was watching season 10 of the US survival TV series 'Alone' where I was talking to them about how good it was in comparison to the recent Australian version. I commented that I had read the headline of an article on Facebook recently about a recent British version of the show where the headline was along the lines of 'Have any of these people even been outside before?'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7-TABWAMrd4nyxzLwSGegpRFqsltZ3YQ4N4rXu8Hj6h95RCdAnqll9xOupNr4Kpto29VtuAWsFNVEi3MpaEzcBxfidp0nXINe55hd0pc5uZIYsGO4H81T5mduWgoFq1EpTNSbnehNUdq-BCQFLCGs9g1Q_MLsl6BcXO4ugSXFE4o1RiP7s9K1_vI/s4032/20230820_091327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7-TABWAMrd4nyxzLwSGegpRFqsltZ3YQ4N4rXu8Hj6h95RCdAnqll9xOupNr4Kpto29VtuAWsFNVEi3MpaEzcBxfidp0nXINe55hd0pc5uZIYsGO4H81T5mduWgoFq1EpTNSbnehNUdq-BCQFLCGs9g1Q_MLsl6BcXO4ugSXFE4o1RiP7s9K1_vI/w480-h640/20230820_091327.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOUFjTuBFtdS376DRHU52_Y8M-tI5VPZiEEyssB2gEntfRt_QdpPBUiEfh-DUyenhYyEngHyoCSnq0op9wFoDbBHH8KBoDJt2gh2aua83If53Vq0VOu43uN7TJqarEH03vtnkW1NptUv6DH-TsXGVbUFyj2YWGrbkzpe4yzXbvVS4uOB9wlwO0nsf/s4032/20230820_091407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOUFjTuBFtdS376DRHU52_Y8M-tI5VPZiEEyssB2gEntfRt_QdpPBUiEfh-DUyenhYyEngHyoCSnq0op9wFoDbBHH8KBoDJt2gh2aua83If53Vq0VOu43uN7TJqarEH03vtnkW1NptUv6DH-TsXGVbUFyj2YWGrbkzpe4yzXbvVS4uOB9wlwO0nsf/w480-h640/20230820_091407.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Soon the canopy cleared again, and the bright sun lit the surrounding greenery and we commented that it was beginning to get warm now.<br /><br />"I'm glad I didn't wear my beanie now." I stated.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUtIvIXQcTOIzEH3iFj4UpK-LaohxUpPUph5htAPPxnZdx484ImFPxWNoN-NC02JWc-1DvBpMlG1YKegym0WI_nNXYwpEWfw3KDwbVqnxNqmGvStjQcpRkZBw_tlKeq-RVya2ILmj7i4sMMmqdnGRoAVQjqHjlwnS446UyfggtGWKYa6UzgKB-yKy/s4032/20230820_091449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUtIvIXQcTOIzEH3iFj4UpK-LaohxUpPUph5htAPPxnZdx484ImFPxWNoN-NC02JWc-1DvBpMlG1YKegym0WI_nNXYwpEWfw3KDwbVqnxNqmGvStjQcpRkZBw_tlKeq-RVya2ILmj7i4sMMmqdnGRoAVQjqHjlwnS446UyfggtGWKYa6UzgKB-yKy/w400-h300/20230820_091449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I pointed out native raspberry plants all lining the side of the track.<br /><br />"I feel like I point them out to you every time we go on a walk" I said as we passed a sign and could see a road ahead of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3bboBM-BkYlSdhFgRYUBFsSEf5WU_1yK7ldKGSSj65YfBW_eKim-wCAbeZEkz_xkD5F9gEeLji6KlANxVktDCjN_yWZtS5BNro59IWzUtUUPlczrDijvOFrqjXSJafCvwUuppFuwdkVcXb7-gJ-m-cIJS9AW7O4yGBC2gUnQLBNUhStP0njXTkUT/s4032/20230820_091513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3bboBM-BkYlSdhFgRYUBFsSEf5WU_1yK7ldKGSSj65YfBW_eKim-wCAbeZEkz_xkD5F9gEeLji6KlANxVktDCjN_yWZtS5BNro59IWzUtUUPlczrDijvOFrqjXSJafCvwUuppFuwdkVcXb7-gJ-m-cIJS9AW7O4yGBC2gUnQLBNUhStP0njXTkUT/w480-h640/20230820_091513.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_PUqKvP59taz22AI6NTO3I1JEbiY2ZI81YpsS8_wuQCkloFO1B_3twthH2Wt3FrtRJYkH0fkLibzoXU2rYxp6148pkzutn9Vf4307wXWGr_KbJZnmI68VNKkCC_XuSFlju6b_CVB8aZjSoj1Mzw_cZMMwAq7wAbwEMjwb9AFpXL3Jf9g_zSO7A8q/s4032/20230820_091643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_PUqKvP59taz22AI6NTO3I1JEbiY2ZI81YpsS8_wuQCkloFO1B_3twthH2Wt3FrtRJYkH0fkLibzoXU2rYxp6148pkzutn9Vf4307wXWGr_KbJZnmI68VNKkCC_XuSFlju6b_CVB8aZjSoj1Mzw_cZMMwAq7wAbwEMjwb9AFpXL3Jf9g_zSO7A8q/w480-h640/20230820_091643.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"Hey, this one actually had a raspberry on it!" I showed them, explaining that I wouldn't eat one out some where because I didn't know if it had potentially been sprayed with chemicals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO7NG3vFFwyKU2sCihdbT3fJXKGMu6bOO2HPD35GNFifxufWfAR05ls_iM9uv6vIpPwkRyjQyHmn0zFtGsUbAslS7wJi-nUxWfmhzvP4fbArVve_kiQdzYzu9X1hKQNRUFYzAAj5BOWngjxyjti758cqsYldR9cTqLKxdn_Q1g4TIf5P0UfuOPo6I/s4032/20230820_091658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWO7NG3vFFwyKU2sCihdbT3fJXKGMu6bOO2HPD35GNFifxufWfAR05ls_iM9uv6vIpPwkRyjQyHmn0zFtGsUbAslS7wJi-nUxWfmhzvP4fbArVve_kiQdzYzu9X1hKQNRUFYzAAj5BOWngjxyjti758cqsYldR9cTqLKxdn_Q1g4TIf5P0UfuOPo6I/w480-h640/20230820_091658.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>A few cars passed as the three of us shuffled across the road. As we reached the other side we saw the track was splitting in two directions, left the sign said was towards Byarong Park in 1.2km and right towards Robetsons Lookout in 2km.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvIsU8bo1bVIxbcPSMcpDHHZmEDLFqsHCMah4Yob1YqT3Bg_ALLvkpCE6OJoO6LzUgM7BZcowypZh-r2Ig3Fnj1nI2lNRRmkGYKd5UrABRp2DTy5kQ8sg5Zm0O-0F9t43E_wFjj1v5jvwAi1SvNRELm26Tj0BwYEjZKIwc-ODclOyhpMH64pRwA5P/s4032/20230820_091833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvIsU8bo1bVIxbcPSMcpDHHZmEDLFqsHCMah4Yob1YqT3Bg_ALLvkpCE6OJoO6LzUgM7BZcowypZh-r2Ig3Fnj1nI2lNRRmkGYKd5UrABRp2DTy5kQ8sg5Zm0O-0F9t43E_wFjj1v5jvwAi1SvNRELm26Tj0BwYEjZKIwc-ODclOyhpMH64pRwA5P/w480-h640/20230820_091833.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I thought Byarong Park was a stop on the ring track as I recalled stopping in their with my Dad as we drove down from the summit, but I wasn't sure about Robertson's Lookout, so we decided to head towards the lookout and would just backtrack afterwards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILmxpKa0dGkKQDUs0ucYS3WYKiKiNgaJ52_vQE6WXUsY0UHrZXc8wRRXhREGpAsK7QaGApdocpNUPDvsQvRhb4JZtSesR-6uKQaPBKYjOso1KeS_ASCIv5gz5Er-2ljutGWjl-7AByIv2uf9YqLpuszDATXDpQm1tFhs5wGWp7wP70vM0jbnm88KC/s4032/20230820_091757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILmxpKa0dGkKQDUs0ucYS3WYKiKiNgaJ52_vQE6WXUsY0UHrZXc8wRRXhREGpAsK7QaGApdocpNUPDvsQvRhb4JZtSesR-6uKQaPBKYjOso1KeS_ASCIv5gz5Er-2ljutGWjl-7AByIv2uf9YqLpuszDATXDpQm1tFhs5wGWp7wP70vM0jbnm88KC/w480-h640/20230820_091757.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we began down this track, I heard the end of some joke or reference Stuart had said in regard to Jurassic Park, Dennis Nedry and a Dilophasaurus.<br /><br />"Speaking of-" I said quickly, my brain thinking after the Jurassic Park reference. "Our alliance is almost full, so we will have to start culling people who are inactive too long." I said referring to the Jurassic Park mobile game: Jurassic World Alive (which is sorta like the Dinosaur equivalent of Pokemon Go), which Stuart had got me into as a time killer while I was in hospital undergoing my chemothrerapy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_QL7th3WXhkOJIlw8yF88FkXW2Ef6WXS_gQYSQav2wPAdgvLppKqEC-5uIrJlxYpYUYU753SqsmKWI3DIPHROBld_o9oMmrnZ_Ubi8FvzAS2uN8Pa_mh-xpDpZDnQg2MRcNCqoDsjkXsvc1uO-Npp8gOBo9U5b1crRB7ItG2KbghZ1zC2j_rjsT2/s4032/20230820_091904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_QL7th3WXhkOJIlw8yF88FkXW2Ef6WXS_gQYSQav2wPAdgvLppKqEC-5uIrJlxYpYUYU753SqsmKWI3DIPHROBld_o9oMmrnZ_Ubi8FvzAS2uN8Pa_mh-xpDpZDnQg2MRcNCqoDsjkXsvc1uO-Npp8gOBo9U5b1crRB7ItG2KbghZ1zC2j_rjsT2/w480-h640/20230820_091904.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RM6wSzqAx7tBYmmy0t8lu809_4PzTkOY-ab3OOSTKkQzIgHCMGQ-XYaxyHEj6q-1tHHZvuGLSabXu3Yr2q7_oQaeoJmrtwyKPyWlFCMDBBG_ExmltUiqVq_rHYI85c3803vkr6lR9SyFlcRWjJ8FeIx0spQR5xLLrEqYGUMU4ZZdaCEWSJ8ZjCMq/s4032/20230820_091934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RM6wSzqAx7tBYmmy0t8lu809_4PzTkOY-ab3OOSTKkQzIgHCMGQ-XYaxyHEj6q-1tHHZvuGLSabXu3Yr2q7_oQaeoJmrtwyKPyWlFCMDBBG_ExmltUiqVq_rHYI85c3803vkr6lR9SyFlcRWjJ8FeIx0spQR5xLLrEqYGUMU4ZZdaCEWSJ8ZjCMq/w480-h640/20230820_091934.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdrzvqY66qnHlL2sn4Uje0hfqFFrbECCWPLKFVO2FV_lzqggy9XrlWIowT90e_InCDxCtl-At_cXxAH_yAk1jnEmQ_z5vf9lDrZes4seS9sxme9t6tlVHvW1ST9NzZKqxNmT25lXZ7Y61usxOKnjO7xFHdT7_hq_---tGUuLZMnihUX2hdvIbh2rZ/s4032/20230820_091949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdrzvqY66qnHlL2sn4Uje0hfqFFrbECCWPLKFVO2FV_lzqggy9XrlWIowT90e_InCDxCtl-At_cXxAH_yAk1jnEmQ_z5vf9lDrZes4seS9sxme9t6tlVHvW1ST9NzZKqxNmT25lXZ7Y61usxOKnjO7xFHdT7_hq_---tGUuLZMnihUX2hdvIbh2rZ/w480-h640/20230820_091949.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODfZnGvcwDk4buvtgnMpSKEt1ZnbmOv9hOe22BHY5n5GeoTMEaCL4ud_bYuIXqLgIQOKM5_0x69CVUUciPyIAiluoKOjJQXjepl70dakpprSNsXNop3nkkrJK8EPjDF6VfoG6fwyqwZx0Qa9D9Rq5FMZyAgrk57TvcNapxxlf2oQ08wfZCvVZ0jEc/s4032/20230820_092130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODfZnGvcwDk4buvtgnMpSKEt1ZnbmOv9hOe22BHY5n5GeoTMEaCL4ud_bYuIXqLgIQOKM5_0x69CVUUciPyIAiluoKOjJQXjepl70dakpprSNsXNop3nkkrJK8EPjDF6VfoG6fwyqwZx0Qa9D9Rq5FMZyAgrk57TvcNapxxlf2oQ08wfZCvVZ0jEc/w480-h640/20230820_092130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the track began up hill we began complaining about work, with the two of them filling me in on details on their work environment (which on all accounts sounded pretty terrible). I could relate with a previous job of working at a bottle shop where my manager was an abusive asshole who would tell you to do something, then come along and yell at you and ask why you were doing it. I worked there as long as I could before quitting, as it had ended in screaming matches with this dickhead and it was taking all my will power not to punch him in the fucking face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNUjBho6I8XFgi_vXxQvDQ7JygQrVT5aMxHMiurheQqN5C4mTfvH6vebhDACBVJu7FBKpnKovTeYnUMmC63K6N7pZ8g_joNR1g_htaNS6ggYE6urEEpF-8n0V0AxTj7oytF9co7XmNg-V8QP4YXXOxKlixDE-h68P_won3aF6N-Qek62lMganav_R/s4032/20230820_092240.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNUjBho6I8XFgi_vXxQvDQ7JygQrVT5aMxHMiurheQqN5C4mTfvH6vebhDACBVJu7FBKpnKovTeYnUMmC63K6N7pZ8g_joNR1g_htaNS6ggYE6urEEpF-8n0V0AxTj7oytF9co7XmNg-V8QP4YXXOxKlixDE-h68P_won3aF6N-Qek62lMganav_R/w480-h640/20230820_092240.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeeeboiii</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trail continued at an incline now and we were all feeling the warmth of an approaching Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEQa-O6YJyu02RRs1si8PYhhxgsHqx8qtHFOmR8VGBKsDZGgV1t_HL3iP_KCGcydoSfjVNabsvMNgY4AQP_enqRFifnskTJ2-9v0PlOsxj7u4goGvqVHRuUs7NQ1oYj8bfNcI9qINBDeNDs_IGNato18F9PreL7tJ2NLyctRDnrty1zBobBXF--iH/s4032/20230820_092407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEQa-O6YJyu02RRs1si8PYhhxgsHqx8qtHFOmR8VGBKsDZGgV1t_HL3iP_KCGcydoSfjVNabsvMNgY4AQP_enqRFifnskTJ2-9v0PlOsxj7u4goGvqVHRuUs7NQ1oYj8bfNcI9qINBDeNDs_IGNato18F9PreL7tJ2NLyctRDnrty1zBobBXF--iH/w400-h300/20230820_092407.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI8FCEs0xNeNmjY1smq50Jy3-i6OKoED_jjTAZX1SfOjZjl06IyevQlWXzhZieZUp_w6T7fNtmOZ2yF_NSAnEsFgrRGT6k1FOz-FxBOmIloyl6O_nAciqn36DWk2PYABN4n94y3XSGezV9TYEh25nvI1-jWHa12fM-dUtmHzFjt_gmr3Z6mjy6-CO/s4032/20230820_092439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjI8FCEs0xNeNmjY1smq50Jy3-i6OKoED_jjTAZX1SfOjZjl06IyevQlWXzhZieZUp_w6T7fNtmOZ2yF_NSAnEsFgrRGT6k1FOz-FxBOmIloyl6O_nAciqn36DWk2PYABN4n94y3XSGezV9TYEh25nvI1-jWHa12fM-dUtmHzFjt_gmr3Z6mjy6-CO/w480-h640/20230820_092439.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPexD9IJlZytnCoFTlq1sEIr38yp2ETKFauaFqxUcUAg9Q8QTIywj8vBdk2bxYWLwnzuQ9cVM250vVaIZa0ro-mRLOmD7ur_IImXbLkkTLEUCAAb9Z4t1uGKS9RShs_sOpXe4mRUiUUb43jmFips3Fw0GhbpR2Ckq37SwEeWxyDdKQylTFqaAUfHg/s4032/20230820_092637.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPexD9IJlZytnCoFTlq1sEIr38yp2ETKFauaFqxUcUAg9Q8QTIywj8vBdk2bxYWLwnzuQ9cVM250vVaIZa0ro-mRLOmD7ur_IImXbLkkTLEUCAAb9Z4t1uGKS9RShs_sOpXe4mRUiUUb43jmFips3Fw0GhbpR2Ckq37SwEeWxyDdKQylTFqaAUfHg/w480-h640/20230820_092637.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGob4L0HgL-2dQYZx6-RRf6dQYKGC_DuU1pEBYYZ_vwI5UfN2PZwaXPmrBEi-B6vVShQG3WkNSccaBQuh8ztVFKcjHi3FbhMqmMUFD35C6NJ90h7cQiFzGjtzKwLt8xKBmdyRimuJ5CB_WftWBsqpUwEQ4mqYNrLQPr4lr92ARvEKbVqib2fpnJh7H/s4032/20230820_092737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGob4L0HgL-2dQYZx6-RRf6dQYKGC_DuU1pEBYYZ_vwI5UfN2PZwaXPmrBEi-B6vVShQG3WkNSccaBQuh8ztVFKcjHi3FbhMqmMUFD35C6NJ90h7cQiFzGjtzKwLt8xKBmdyRimuJ5CB_WftWBsqpUwEQ4mqYNrLQPr4lr92ARvEKbVqib2fpnJh7H/w400-h300/20230820_092737.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we rounded a bend I saw a sign facing the road but our path continued straight, I quickly ducked up to look at what it had written.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJlFEsbjbJrRJXYFroa5kjJfRzqRBiwwj9u1-tyJ3wSc5xHQFnWHWYglXp43VEUvJJTwjaFSMIsCXyX6v1wRFwjJ5pDGyp6JHzNUWXuskr3cMSA_E1iWZd019BCYpY6sXUclfhqD51zwAX29fYJppORTGoFe_0X23PoIfTm6n7fY0RTP_S6cJc64V/s4032/20230820_093135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJlFEsbjbJrRJXYFroa5kjJfRzqRBiwwj9u1-tyJ3wSc5xHQFnWHWYglXp43VEUvJJTwjaFSMIsCXyX6v1wRFwjJ5pDGyp6JHzNUWXuskr3cMSA_E1iWZd019BCYpY6sXUclfhqD51zwAX29fYJppORTGoFe_0X23PoIfTm6n7fY0RTP_S6cJc64V/w480-h640/20230820_093135.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued along the track, once again discussing nerdy topics such as the latest Legend of Zelda game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBva072LguY1wxwdDcffmzZB0ftyz4uczpm6mluhUlGCFPVWsCpIgQmkkEPkceaj_E0fqx7cULQT2wTii4C6kXbQsNdrDLxMAD0F8E_AJ-GZLgyMTyej_le99RQCAWBP7g8ZNgH7JAlkhSv48GhuE6ifGRWc3KpucVF8xi2TkYl_3KcRIgKIEGi7w/s4032/20230820_093149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBva072LguY1wxwdDcffmzZB0ftyz4uczpm6mluhUlGCFPVWsCpIgQmkkEPkceaj_E0fqx7cULQT2wTii4C6kXbQsNdrDLxMAD0F8E_AJ-GZLgyMTyej_le99RQCAWBP7g8ZNgH7JAlkhSv48GhuE6ifGRWc3KpucVF8xi2TkYl_3KcRIgKIEGi7w/w480-h640/20230820_093149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued along before coming to a sign and a little wooden staircase leading off to the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFugNpW-YfCgawWPIeL0X8qpkjXAkILVC1pOAnHB4tW5CCTNlqSt2Pkpl6K7UGByxKAocYCteIm41PnkzeV7FRLu4nerb6r8ijKeiJs4iF398m-UfNMhqi7MUQ_c5Qx2-h3m_F7GYwj1M3pw29SGCsRXM55Q8GMFVdpQNCpK7xzNJHKyDCwiNQ6wQ/s4032/20230820_093440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFugNpW-YfCgawWPIeL0X8qpkjXAkILVC1pOAnHB4tW5CCTNlqSt2Pkpl6K7UGByxKAocYCteIm41PnkzeV7FRLu4nerb6r8ijKeiJs4iF398m-UfNMhqi7MUQ_c5Qx2-h3m_F7GYwj1M3pw29SGCsRXM55Q8GMFVdpQNCpK7xzNJHKyDCwiNQ6wQ/w480-h640/20230820_093440.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzE4uQ2CpnxtFLliV330kjkUf9iKr1l_w01wxfQJTxPIr2MRWGlFFpgFWhwsPuO-HfB5S1JxL6LDRFGrrIg0b26EHICdyBdaqbCCb2mvELSNyHyaGoU8pFEUZKubysp4LiSRXugV5ss47CGW-IAfcjXt9-Dv4rSf78lHv01V9zY3zKHJO5mhoa0X4/s4032/20230820_093446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzE4uQ2CpnxtFLliV330kjkUf9iKr1l_w01wxfQJTxPIr2MRWGlFFpgFWhwsPuO-HfB5S1JxL6LDRFGrrIg0b26EHICdyBdaqbCCb2mvELSNyHyaGoU8pFEUZKubysp4LiSRXugV5ss47CGW-IAfcjXt9-Dv4rSf78lHv01V9zY3zKHJO5mhoa0X4/w480-h640/20230820_093446.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We saw that the ring track was up the stairs to the right but decided to continue on straight to Robertsons Lookout anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we continued along the trail we began discussing films or shows that we had been watching recently, with me saying I had recently seen Oppenheimer, the new Indiana Jones and the new Mission Impossible at the movies and had found all three to be a bit disappointing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P_sAF2fKc7qWdRZcdUbo8IF7jO0A9exvXzt50mN94p-kM13ArgQXV90SvEwDGjJVrZz-kGsPwEz2cCzjaClwnOpsPg965trTcop42MbwAgYuc3dMV5TPQEFasI2Y8I7Df0vRDS5OB_OUZw25XbRj5DomCBQ9OE5Bhqr7uiz2phj-KayX6lGGYMYs/s4032/20230820_093735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P_sAF2fKc7qWdRZcdUbo8IF7jO0A9exvXzt50mN94p-kM13ArgQXV90SvEwDGjJVrZz-kGsPwEz2cCzjaClwnOpsPg965trTcop42MbwAgYuc3dMV5TPQEFasI2Y8I7Df0vRDS5OB_OUZw25XbRj5DomCBQ9OE5Bhqr7uiz2phj-KayX6lGGYMYs/w480-h640/20230820_093735.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we approached another set of stairs next to a big rock, we stopped for a quick water break before continuing on up the hill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ajRGlSCMUZzSw50aqLFLYCDQwHZ3shOT5gxRNGLIX8ZhubzFbB4xYKiLFQlf41lJpiPnSzVU1pXUoSFMEAHlj0zlVn6UNobywJUTHQs58BLBsFmT9VxLk_J37r8dPGgQVUF3nX469Wu-6iZHigoVmowyPjK6oMaU0m_rrDynVQWoFk7CGV1udMXf/s4032/20230820_094256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ajRGlSCMUZzSw50aqLFLYCDQwHZ3shOT5gxRNGLIX8ZhubzFbB4xYKiLFQlf41lJpiPnSzVU1pXUoSFMEAHlj0zlVn6UNobywJUTHQs58BLBsFmT9VxLk_J37r8dPGgQVUF3nX469Wu-6iZHigoVmowyPjK6oMaU0m_rrDynVQWoFk7CGV1udMXf/w480-h640/20230820_094256.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Megan asked if I had seen 'Only Murders in the Building' season 3 yet, and I responded that I had only seen what had been released of it.<br />"It's not all out yet?"<br />"No, only like the first 3 episodes." I replied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She asked how it was and I said we were enjoying it so far, but not being able to binge it like I did with the first 2 (as I had watched them after they were released) limited my enjoyment a little. I mentioned I really liked 'Whodunnit' films as a genre, as it was sort of like a puzzle. I mentioned I wanted to watch the Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot movies with Kenneth Branagh.<br />"Is that murder on the Orient Express?" Megan asked.<br />"Yeah, and Death on the Nile and the new one."<br />"Yeah, we watched it and liked it."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />I told them my Wife didn't like the genre, so I hadn't found time to watch them yet. I mentioned I would like to do one of those murder mystery live action games before also mentioning I was looking forward to the 4 of us doing the Jumanji escape room in Sydney that we had booked for the following Sunday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJR6Vtzxjt4Yl8KQ6x-8_zgbmUBHlCYFOyHHqp5991m8m-qm7lgWnTpkUKPfO4qPGw8-esw784DsugvppSvtbrSU4FNhSxRlVnWAS9fQIm-xpMwlY5W7XyPZZQ8h_J9fXRF5qtzypB4lpxBXYLNaMSTAP3nQSKqDcSdCrtRgL3_UlB8ZTDJou_Uva/s4032/20230820_094415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJR6Vtzxjt4Yl8KQ6x-8_zgbmUBHlCYFOyHHqp5991m8m-qm7lgWnTpkUKPfO4qPGw8-esw784DsugvppSvtbrSU4FNhSxRlVnWAS9fQIm-xpMwlY5W7XyPZZQ8h_J9fXRF5qtzypB4lpxBXYLNaMSTAP3nQSKqDcSdCrtRgL3_UlB8ZTDJou_Uva/w480-h640/20230820_094415.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stuart had forgotten that we were going to do them and mentioned that he had cancelled a Dungeons and Dragons night (because of the walk) with his friends as he has them every Sunday.<br />"Oh, so I've stopped you playing D&D for 2 weeks in a row." I said in regard to next week's escape room.<br />I continued "What was the theme of the second room we're doing? It was like, very similar to our D&D game Stuart had hosted."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The two of them looked at me with confused expressions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"You know how in our game; we were visiting the facility abandoned by Wizards and the escape room had like a very similar story and that's why we chose to do it as well while booking the Jumanji room".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This sparked their memory as we passed by a rusted powerline that I commented looked like a steampunk 'Torri' or as I called it a 'Shinto Gate'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsvKXrEzL5Qx8eHL31MAQQcEUZGExjfYr71gagCgNSx7X73B73Fz76l_PfJ1GMH04UTu2jjPOfoZsB7fQEhce5zmwjs_JTv7LUxnwMtUAWrl50cwy-VNCSlKI_5eW0utz0OgoLDOAyQdXfWoMg67IigQsp7Jk7ANRa9TwuZoqv6f-x7MJna2cC1Df/s4032/20230820_094535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsvKXrEzL5Qx8eHL31MAQQcEUZGExjfYr71gagCgNSx7X73B73Fz76l_PfJ1GMH04UTu2jjPOfoZsB7fQEhce5zmwjs_JTv7LUxnwMtUAWrl50cwy-VNCSlKI_5eW0utz0OgoLDOAyQdXfWoMg67IigQsp7Jk7ANRa9TwuZoqv6f-x7MJna2cC1Df/w480-h640/20230820_094535.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"That would be a cool show, a steam-punk dystopian Japan."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EhHArYdhq_h6CBcy6hKe3qTHceZUYKrhWvWgVVZ5HVz0mjjrX12qRmVpsQV7D7-CuhsM7Wr598qPSoRfDa-GkvTZvbcNAnpiwn9HLnO0g4fZyr-fyyKtwJU_Ba5MShvm6z45HsNbbC2p-U-FcyZmmkVvE1kVLQ2VmTE8uNnlr9JVbJO-yG-AgEFT/s4032/20230820_095013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EhHArYdhq_h6CBcy6hKe3qTHceZUYKrhWvWgVVZ5HVz0mjjrX12qRmVpsQV7D7-CuhsM7Wr598qPSoRfDa-GkvTZvbcNAnpiwn9HLnO0g4fZyr-fyyKtwJU_Ba5MShvm6z45HsNbbC2p-U-FcyZmmkVvE1kVLQ2VmTE8uNnlr9JVbJO-yG-AgEFT/w480-h640/20230820_095013.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JBlD03KLk69tpqAOylKzP8HOu3RKNbt9MLLKFyl2kdi99PMsFycJ-1OQwjT6csY__8UeUYi2wY2iCya-IJFiBD3_z7rPQC6fXV4k16XWaklb3gao7QlTuP_VQ2GBsADsKHl3PQwEMElps8T-PZbj9ZZR85Fu-Wss7xBCb-Putjj4dKyZ5jSUazpu/s4032/20230820_095052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JBlD03KLk69tpqAOylKzP8HOu3RKNbt9MLLKFyl2kdi99PMsFycJ-1OQwjT6csY__8UeUYi2wY2iCya-IJFiBD3_z7rPQC6fXV4k16XWaklb3gao7QlTuP_VQ2GBsADsKHl3PQwEMElps8T-PZbj9ZZR85Fu-Wss7xBCb-Putjj4dKyZ5jSUazpu/w480-h640/20230820_095052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued chatting about a variety of things, with me asking the two of them if they watch 'Black Mirror', knowing it wasn't really their thing other than some of the science fiction elements but told them they might enjoy the episode 'Joan is Awful' as it was pretty funny. I said my Wife didn't like it either and that I had been watching the episodes of it on my lunch breaks at work along with the Game of Thrones prequel 'House of the Dragon' and the latest season of 'Outlander'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon the path split, and we followed it right a short while, and it only led up to a road. We walked back down to continue along the path as we man across a man walking.<br /><br />"What's that way?" He asked me.<br />"Up there is just a road, and the other way if you follow it long enough leads back to Mount Keira." I answered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He continued on past us, and Megan asked us if we had noticed his shoes. I said I hadn't, and she said they were just odd shoes to be walking in.<br />"He's probably just pulled up at the carpark and is just having a little look around while he's stopped." I said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBm6O1XC-_mO_pdssbV1QGZ_e3rAcloJeSpZ7N5rA43xkOzZ7Fs23kAjuuklEsh4i1KdzAVGN6LVo0qIdTSUDq8KWfH9Ykh-j8lyw9cwjI1xoDXfXaXhWXn8cFiV2xnLE1md62eTysBSarhjWlhJl-o2lctbCsqM2aVjmTmTiGJdMCG3IEoMrCduR/s4032/20230820_100331.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBm6O1XC-_mO_pdssbV1QGZ_e3rAcloJeSpZ7N5rA43xkOzZ7Fs23kAjuuklEsh4i1KdzAVGN6LVo0qIdTSUDq8KWfH9Ykh-j8lyw9cwjI1xoDXfXaXhWXn8cFiV2xnLE1md62eTysBSarhjWlhJl-o2lctbCsqM2aVjmTmTiGJdMCG3IEoMrCduR/w480-h640/20230820_100331.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We brushed by the ferns, and they opened up to a little picnic table by a concrete path where we stopped and decided to have some food.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoShNGtlATsk1MMWmW_iXWXR_bnGHT4jOJnPOgFHrTBo_We4Y39hK2GoByV5EfsoKW3qVYGjWWmfwsFD2gflDvb3OAejuGsMTKOWB7jeTf3U7CpVv6CzEi7bSUEY1ELZ9ggMVvuBdBdulnKOXkHfo7M62I9DtZ1SLKpxpYRh6FFNS601qBb7EZ_5RR/s4032/20230820_100507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoShNGtlATsk1MMWmW_iXWXR_bnGHT4jOJnPOgFHrTBo_We4Y39hK2GoByV5EfsoKW3qVYGjWWmfwsFD2gflDvb3OAejuGsMTKOWB7jeTf3U7CpVv6CzEi7bSUEY1ELZ9ggMVvuBdBdulnKOXkHfo7M62I9DtZ1SLKpxpYRh6FFNS601qBb7EZ_5RR/w400-h300/20230820_100507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I quickly walked pat the danger sign, just to see if there was a good view, only to find a rock surrounded by trees, and maybe if you walked dangerously through them towards the edge, a view.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Not much of a lookout unless it's a bit further up that concrete path." I said pointing at the path that led away from the car park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we ate Stuart pulled out a delicious looking salad sandwich, and I complemented him on how good it looked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Back when I worked outdoors and didn't have access to a microwave, I used to make nice sandwiches like that." I told them. "I would often get complements about how good they smelled and get asked what was on them where I would go through listing all the delicious things. But once I stopped, I always got the same question: Where's the meat?" I told them and they found it amusing to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Megan, who used to be vegan but stopped due to heath issues mentioned they wanted to, not necessarily go vegetarian, but go to mostly eating vegetarian. We soon began a discussion of ethics with Stuart saying he didn't like to eat smart animals which is why he didn't eat Octopus or Dogs.<br />"But you eat Pigs." I pointed out. "Which have the same intelligence as Dogs if not more."<br />He realised I was right, but I continued trying not to make him feel bad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"But to be fair, we grow up eating Pig we're desensitised to it, and we grow up eating it in so many foods, so we also know how good it tastes, bacon, ham, chorizo." I said, saying it was much easier to not eat something you had no history of eating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon to random men came out of the bush from behind the danger sign and made their way to the car park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Let's follow that path along." I suggested as we were done eating and we followed it along to a lookout over the Illawarra, and the steelworks but on the left a view out over Mount Keira.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrroz8dnvEkoqbwm1YQN0SD79jZ04LHxX529b5kA-rUlI7KV0fk6wUN7WJkRfdiT9ngi-BQroohGqINQJ2dD_PKyLSdqB1VR-kTckqK6pPN_7tRljM64z4qfDQH1fh2uebqCxjScVY5Ke89jJIH786takUHczjBUgIAKfJPSlnqSGkTCI_u0wDqzZ/s4032/20230820_102042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrroz8dnvEkoqbwm1YQN0SD79jZ04LHxX529b5kA-rUlI7KV0fk6wUN7WJkRfdiT9ngi-BQroohGqINQJ2dD_PKyLSdqB1VR-kTckqK6pPN_7tRljM64z4qfDQH1fh2uebqCxjScVY5Ke89jJIH786takUHczjBUgIAKfJPSlnqSGkTCI_u0wDqzZ/w400-h300/20230820_102042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I noticed a small mountain between us and the Nan Tien Temple and wondered if it was one you could walk up. I pointed out two islands in Lake Illawarra close to Berkeley; Gooseberry Island and Hooka Island. I began to explain that back in the day school dances used to be held out on Gooseberry Island, as a man approached the lookout and stood next to us. <br /><br />"I couldn't think of anything worse than being stuck on an island for a school dance." Megan said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made a comment about all the litter just down from the lookout that people had just tossed, commenting that some people were grubs, as we turned to head back towards the picnic table and resume the ring track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"How about we walk along the road from the carpark until we reach that section we walked up before?" I suggested. "Just so we've walked a different way." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They agreed and we began the walk along the road with the heat of the sun blaring down on us, but rather than find it too hot, I commented that it actually felt nice out in the sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What's that?" Stuart asked, pointing to a sign across the road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I told him it was a special area sign, sometimes used for water catchments. I said I had come across them before, sometimes after taking one of those unmarked trails I mentioned earlier, and then come across them from behind only to see it was one of those signs, some warning of surveillance cameras and very expensive fines. I said one such incident occurred on my walk up <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/10/bong-bong-pass.html" target="_blank">Bong Bong Pass</a> in Dapto.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Later after having written a blog post about it, I saw a sponsored post on Facebook from them telling people not to walk these paths or take advice from 'blog posts' and mentioning how many people had been fined lately."<br />They both laughed.<br />"To be fair," I said "My post mentions I went the wrong way and warns people about this fact."<br />"I like that your blog does that with stuff, like with <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-coast-track-otford-to-bundeena.html" target="_blank">Wedding Cake Rock</a> and calling people out on it." Megan replied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We noticed the way back down to the path from the road and back on to the track and began making our way down, walking past the man whose shoes Megan had mentioned last time.<br /><br />"Did you notice them this time?" She asked.<br />We nodded and the conversations quickly jumped from one topic to another. I mentioned that I had stayed up a bit late the night before watching 'Air' on Amazon Prime about Michael Jordan and the history of the 'Air Jordan' sneaker. Stuart looked at me with a face that said he didn't think that sounded like his sort of movie. I commented that it was pretty good and that while looking up movie trivia on IMDB (which I do after watching any movie), one of the other Basketball players mentioned as a potential for Nike to invest in was Mel Turpin, who unfortunately his career never took off which affected his mental health, and he ended up taking his own life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Jesus."<br />I commented that at least we didn't have to worry about that, because we would never be great at anything. <br />"I'm under no delusions." I said, "I'll never be the best hiker, or climber, or adventurer or traveler. I do what I can within my budget and within my means and don't have the pressure of having to be great."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The conversation turned to the fun run I had asked them if they were interested in doing in November. The 'Fisher's Ghost Fun Run.' They mentioned they were keen but would need to start jogging or exercising to build up to it before then, as they had both slacked off. I mentioned I had begun jogging using the C2K app on my phone recently as a last-ditch effort to improve my lungs before my upcoming lung test to see if they had recovered at all from the damage they sustained during my chemo. I mentioned I wanted to do the Fisher's Ghost run as a bit of catharsis, as I had always been dragged along to it with my brothers as a kid and had to sit around all day while my Mum would run it and we all hated going, so I wanted to do it myself to 'take it back' which they could understand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow the topic changed into video game movies, with Stuart saying he had seen a good one lately, but he couldn't remember what it was.<br />"Detective Pikachu? Sonic? I asked.<br />"No Sonic was awful." He responded.<br />"Oh, I didn't mind it," I said. "Though I do like Jim Carrey. As long as it wasn't the Uncharted movie. That was a piece of shit, and those games are fantastic."<br />"We haven't seen it." Megan said.<br />"Yeah, why would they cast Michael Cera." Stuart said.<br />I began laughing. "Michael Cera!" I laughed, thinking that it might have actually improved that awful film.<br />"You know who I mean! Spiderman!" Stuart urged, still not recalling his name.<br />"Tom Holland." I responded, putting him out of his misery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon approached the stairs taking up back along the ring track, as we made our way up them, passing an information sign I swore.<br />"What?" They asked.<br />I told them I had kept meaning to bring the 'NSW Rocks' I had found over time and had built up in my study, and place them when I was doing walks, even finding one the time I did the Ken Ausburn track.<br />"But I don't want to place them in Wilderness areas, more on these suburban frequently visited sort of walks."<br />We crossed a road to continue the walk and realised the road we were crossing was the entry way we had driven to park at the summit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAxi0qEqjhFjmXS9bP85X4BAW-G5lCpORjRhiRCmvpdAS3o7NDNwmCFP-98R-uEV3BjYlySDLNtY5ccLcYbWlwUWCT8h7iRATRRDgaqqJOzupdnASGQ6HgU7NI23JgfNvZexYdDvHZeLJTLAw2px7_PU83yLahfBykPDNUk3v855hXJhM_HBLELi3/s4032/20230820_105121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAxi0qEqjhFjmXS9bP85X4BAW-G5lCpORjRhiRCmvpdAS3o7NDNwmCFP-98R-uEV3BjYlySDLNtY5ccLcYbWlwUWCT8h7iRATRRDgaqqJOzupdnASGQ6HgU7NI23JgfNvZexYdDvHZeLJTLAw2px7_PU83yLahfBykPDNUk3v855hXJhM_HBLELi3/w400-h300/20230820_105121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Have you guys started the new season of Futurama?" I asked as we continued along the trail.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFfz4vE_Q2AHjVqQB_TfrfU-63DvfqIB6OIGQP0SAOm233QlM6N1oBDozcrk4HNEAsrdprdVr_Y4XQ6ZjEdYPapHxW-VJAmrisqJYjlorus-QOZ1G-bfCpaDpwVMuU6wiWLOVFFBBJGJykd9EArKwRPmCBGnqdcDK3H8b8LQNOZ8QnF_fBvR6Xuhk/s4032/20230820_105239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFfz4vE_Q2AHjVqQB_TfrfU-63DvfqIB6OIGQP0SAOm233QlM6N1oBDozcrk4HNEAsrdprdVr_Y4XQ6ZjEdYPapHxW-VJAmrisqJYjlorus-QOZ1G-bfCpaDpwVMuU6wiWLOVFFBBJGJykd9EArKwRPmCBGnqdcDK3H8b8LQNOZ8QnF_fBvR6Xuhk/w480-h640/20230820_105239.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"No, we haven't."<br />"We started, but then my Wife realised she hadn't watched it all and so we went back and are watching it from the beginning before we continue with the new season."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJJA7khX0lJOF0VVwPNXUpJyMvh_M25g3DLJ2ublwk9Ks8C70tyZ1Vy_mLzoQKV1jzM-RJCXmSGM0J8KXdd3P0YIUyekkuqFFnHYwVxNW-5wYG2mHmJ4Dv1s2qrIVW0mhI7l9jWmtFQJafYAyhzV71gAO-02c-mx1GrGTDni_WBTdOUD6ihQba2xG/s4032/20230820_105455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJJA7khX0lJOF0VVwPNXUpJyMvh_M25g3DLJ2ublwk9Ks8C70tyZ1Vy_mLzoQKV1jzM-RJCXmSGM0J8KXdd3P0YIUyekkuqFFnHYwVxNW-5wYG2mHmJ4Dv1s2qrIVW0mhI7l9jWmtFQJafYAyhzV71gAO-02c-mx1GrGTDni_WBTdOUD6ihQba2xG/w480-h640/20230820_105455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"But all the Futurama movies have been edited into episodes, so they've just become seasons of the show." I continued ranting, talking so fast that I wasn't able to catch my breath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHpwZn14w3mPJVyJKbXWVLOScfg1JXVpIevGyhggz_FfoIZKeBr-ZWXrgmUzU8xAo2crs4JM_wGyaOKOhdb60qIEgbCLtgo0qq_Wzr0tJHgq_9ZK_LMtg8TZcTxwQNGLCU1PCVtH6auu8bV4-ddWJ0hgXLFpmMRk64wW81jpcszv8nhziSfqsSqGw/s4032/20230820_105704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHpwZn14w3mPJVyJKbXWVLOScfg1JXVpIevGyhggz_FfoIZKeBr-ZWXrgmUzU8xAo2crs4JM_wGyaOKOhdb60qIEgbCLtgo0qq_Wzr0tJHgq_9ZK_LMtg8TZcTxwQNGLCU1PCVtH6auu8bV4-ddWJ0hgXLFpmMRk64wW81jpcszv8nhziSfqsSqGw/w480-h640/20230820_105704.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweJ3MvW7G4jwBpk1ueo8Vv9SEvN7hgn5KVIWphM4BKEZ58A6dF4ywZGXppt96-xX1KHYS3PpiCzVIqkuDb-K3bcLClLuKFtwtvbfvcTzE4hG5BrGJIW8FOuVOBJFlETY2MXSm-Jgi3ZDgEz5-jZjLq_O6-TL6EoVPAochfOV7MNUNDYkrrQwwD35M/s4032/20230820_105814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweJ3MvW7G4jwBpk1ueo8Vv9SEvN7hgn5KVIWphM4BKEZ58A6dF4ywZGXppt96-xX1KHYS3PpiCzVIqkuDb-K3bcLClLuKFtwtvbfvcTzE4hG5BrGJIW8FOuVOBJFlETY2MXSm-Jgi3ZDgEz5-jZjLq_O6-TL6EoVPAochfOV7MNUNDYkrrQwwD35M/w480-h640/20230820_105814.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmzV1ovXEf_3CZuGNYBhBGhm9hjgT7sPfkAI8a7jCTXK3-kdn0Uxju8Ipoeog5QRPIbuDUNVZjnQBD6N0yftuVgUopU6GTOIrIhTderHSsohRNTX8TGGqIUIgJ7sJ-X4pUcN2esb_Vbamse2Q2vJuMhVDsNkl0ROYLepFoV15Hhsn9FSBpH8jOERA/s4032/20230820_105854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmzV1ovXEf_3CZuGNYBhBGhm9hjgT7sPfkAI8a7jCTXK3-kdn0Uxju8Ipoeog5QRPIbuDUNVZjnQBD6N0yftuVgUopU6GTOIrIhTderHSsohRNTX8TGGqIUIgJ7sJ-X4pUcN2esb_Vbamse2Q2vJuMhVDsNkl0ROYLepFoV15Hhsn9FSBpH8jOERA/w480-h640/20230820_105854.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stuart and Megan began saying that had been getting really into 'Magic: The Gathering', but specifically all the Lord of the Rings deck of cards, saying how many they had bought, and I could tell by the enthusiasm in which they spoke how into it they were.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI09OZMJO_lnM7ak5cnaYwcYsT88ckN1KcAG2XCZ65yxNtvVkclZgiqaLOOd3w8I-Bj535RpIw3sstmvUTAepvhfR6f4F_evP-xHCxR8BlyNzvbgiBswqX6VPUUCnCvFi2mIuh_LcLDkVnlxN6kt-nER3o1MAAKfYwt5jkT9MFC-dQlUsfWLTBBKpe/s4032/20230820_110006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI09OZMJO_lnM7ak5cnaYwcYsT88ckN1KcAG2XCZ65yxNtvVkclZgiqaLOOd3w8I-Bj535RpIw3sstmvUTAepvhfR6f4F_evP-xHCxR8BlyNzvbgiBswqX6VPUUCnCvFi2mIuh_LcLDkVnlxN6kt-nER3o1MAAKfYwt5jkT9MFC-dQlUsfWLTBBKpe/w480-h640/20230820_110006.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6w9sisbO2xFYedE5k3jeS4EXpT9Cw95lDy8vfpruCS_CnSfLly8A0G61U7kP_wWo1d6ktz9dEMrOlfgbWsh4-bnsUb3JaCY0QJQBkF4cmpr3jhAqwo-oXU-y7ltiICANLLH7XrM9g7pT4yh2H6nyABd4X5-JsV6fdvpcZNTNY0Pr_SsoSX_Wqc12/s4032/20230820_110302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6w9sisbO2xFYedE5k3jeS4EXpT9Cw95lDy8vfpruCS_CnSfLly8A0G61U7kP_wWo1d6ktz9dEMrOlfgbWsh4-bnsUb3JaCY0QJQBkF4cmpr3jhAqwo-oXU-y7ltiICANLLH7XrM9g7pT4yh2H6nyABd4X5-JsV6fdvpcZNTNY0Pr_SsoSX_Wqc12/w480-h640/20230820_110302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9XnVI_JFtnIzjOttb1LoouyggyUAmw9aE7MulFr9mBA2-W0yDn6MUkyFElX0bBbVnnwrkqI7iMsbDIc9ionuMU_p5TY35J18xITt3Hj9apcGRBEqgUpzV78hhXGYRJS1M6Mq4py-oLwsg-gRG5XP43TCRlUC09BsAuTImmFZYSfaYPCWr87gXIGA/s4032/20230820_110716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9XnVI_JFtnIzjOttb1LoouyggyUAmw9aE7MulFr9mBA2-W0yDn6MUkyFElX0bBbVnnwrkqI7iMsbDIc9ionuMU_p5TY35J18xITt3Hj9apcGRBEqgUpzV78hhXGYRJS1M6Mq4py-oLwsg-gRG5XP43TCRlUC09BsAuTImmFZYSfaYPCWr87gXIGA/w480-h640/20230820_110716.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They said they had been listening to the Lord of the Rings music, in particular the song 'Into the West' by Annie Lennox from 'The Return of the King'. I mentioned that I had been listening to some of the end songs from the Hobbit movies and that they were 'Bangers'. We began discussing what a shame those movies were and how they didn't live up to the brilliance of the original trilogy.<br />"And I only watched like 2 episodes of the Rings of Power before I gave up on it." I told them, and they said they hadn't even watched it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We approached a split in the path with a group of young girls walking on the trail to our right that headed up hill, while the track left remained flat. We stopped and looked at the sign at this split, hoping for some indication of which way to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUvmgaVgbtz0uxofBAjqWDS9p9XMLZxsuxTwJPVC6Bqephg8AKoogwA7sbb3IZL6lc0_EWnwgIfNnWnYPlalbmvbo_3OQvgu3xzSjJ1xRqiwEjYTNLwBMUvT_pAut9sQhI47H6nu-kYNpfTD8PW3ZLVlicNqzEJwWpeBn4L8J3HzuzRxhXUlSqcBb/s4032/20230820_110843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUvmgaVgbtz0uxofBAjqWDS9p9XMLZxsuxTwJPVC6Bqephg8AKoogwA7sbb3IZL6lc0_EWnwgIfNnWnYPlalbmvbo_3OQvgu3xzSjJ1xRqiwEjYTNLwBMUvT_pAut9sQhI47H6nu-kYNpfTD8PW3ZLVlicNqzEJwWpeBn4L8J3HzuzRxhXUlSqcBb/w400-h300/20230820_110843.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Well, it says left is Mt Pleasant and Byarong Park, and Byarong Park was the ring track on the opposite way we didn't take to Robertson's Lookout, but I don't know where that way leads." I said, pointing on the track heading up the mountain.<br />"It probably leads back to the car park." Stuart said, meaning Mount Keira summit where we had parked.<br />As he said it a couple approached from the left saying they had just come up a lot of stairs, and told us that the way they had come from was the way to go and so we headed off down that path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon began talking about the Lord of the Rings extended editions, where I said I had only seen the first one extended and that it was really good, and that I wanted to watch the rest.<br />Stuart began to tell me about Saruman dying in the extended edition, and them filming it, and then the anecdote about Christopher Lee.<br />"Is this about him murdering Nazi's in World War II?" I asked, having seen the story floating around on Facebook.<br />"Yeah!" Stuart said, mentioning other weird things that happen in the books like Merry and Pippin drinking Ent juice.<br />"I've never read the books, I tried to read the Hobbit and really struggled with it. I'll just stick to Deltora Quest!" I joked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we continued down the mountain, we could hear a noise coming from the bush, and stopped, watching through the scrub as a Lyrebird kicked around leaves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxv922a7FojV94iRxKJEqU63lDlssXScJEcx7jY4kIHtlLnGPntzOAMsJahAjbGi_zOVBvoJWLIEoRyai9zkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I always see heaps of wildlife when I walk with you guys, you're like good luck charms."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_6c_kFbpVPZQP0zKjw7JlrZEfA5YtuFqfJ1XMJOW8RrMfy2oMkHOLcwHxKT_RKYOwfomWM5zU7cbDr98mAI7YkdBX04xswnHCKzU4T8rgcWbMl0nkZPzCg6gUkdCK--xKc4inW-nDldhn96wvT-8U-R3EU1z1ORZGyv3wGo4A-GZRUU2BK5sKG0U/s4032/20230820_111332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_6c_kFbpVPZQP0zKjw7JlrZEfA5YtuFqfJ1XMJOW8RrMfy2oMkHOLcwHxKT_RKYOwfomWM5zU7cbDr98mAI7YkdBX04xswnHCKzU4T8rgcWbMl0nkZPzCg6gUkdCK--xKc4inW-nDldhn96wvT-8U-R3EU1z1ORZGyv3wGo4A-GZRUU2BK5sKG0U/w480-h640/20230820_111332.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48MQlYcn8cnifFtFW6IbRS0zO2AzrvVSr0e03wexJWhinXGguqgAIGfCefuuTEzhs0ORNnijo6kOy-rGw3KHkflFsjzd8hM51ewNP3TQepYIz66bJDWPcx3hXqpZ_jvmWPbFlb0cq4jZ-2oLUZH2NTacBJFBDVsL2I8zQhocyXAS7_SG1hYVqsEF2/s4032/20230820_111503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48MQlYcn8cnifFtFW6IbRS0zO2AzrvVSr0e03wexJWhinXGguqgAIGfCefuuTEzhs0ORNnijo6kOy-rGw3KHkflFsjzd8hM51ewNP3TQepYIz66bJDWPcx3hXqpZ_jvmWPbFlb0cq4jZ-2oLUZH2NTacBJFBDVsL2I8zQhocyXAS7_SG1hYVqsEF2/w480-h640/20230820_111503.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQoP2fviyA5tsPXOPLPoxelhW3c9ceiznErQiQtUpKb3gV40tJegvZTxo33VEIe00iuFPbNfCzUZtfZbGgdqZzI6gNnnCNAC-w7xB7J2ckBDyzZALBiFGeYiohVZwLEk03rA9Navy8FLznVg5AQU1R_LfnjlOwk9jwGnCC80SWRimHkodywpHkTH6/s3648/20230820_111518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQoP2fviyA5tsPXOPLPoxelhW3c9ceiznErQiQtUpKb3gV40tJegvZTxo33VEIe00iuFPbNfCzUZtfZbGgdqZzI6gNnnCNAC-w7xB7J2ckBDyzZALBiFGeYiohVZwLEk03rA9Navy8FLznVg5AQU1R_LfnjlOwk9jwGnCC80SWRimHkodywpHkTH6/w480-h640/20230820_111518.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1aFIkUQtkUYKJ5dgr4T3tmQa1-aIJFl3xZ5DoadjqS1pKybs5K6prJtnms-wip9hxOZyq_OjmJX1G6T1iTaBy699GS0lAx0dg-q3bXwkWlA9U1FNKPYIgMUZY_akVRC_2VLVlvRofg4TCQ31yI_ogXWZ41CYcVbAt7Hr8_frojPVAgetq-iWVv2e/s4032/20230820_111626.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt1aFIkUQtkUYKJ5dgr4T3tmQa1-aIJFl3xZ5DoadjqS1pKybs5K6prJtnms-wip9hxOZyq_OjmJX1G6T1iTaBy699GS0lAx0dg-q3bXwkWlA9U1FNKPYIgMUZY_akVRC_2VLVlvRofg4TCQ31yI_ogXWZ41CYcVbAt7Hr8_frojPVAgetq-iWVv2e/w480-h640/20230820_111626.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG3STjtK7qZmTNv6kb0KQuaeGiSHX2Y6BN7begkZoWhS8NJjAfuCZ3gX7EaX9oIkPPyiZ1yl7hyisHdfRYPiVKGKNq0DQZVhF_02xzmtYt8M6L17CfV3HSCrAQp1L4wQej0fzmXuxu_5gJVGjrIVc2IN5jC3QD3zEBME2vuvE8ix9qARV_6HndODo/s4032/20230820_111636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG3STjtK7qZmTNv6kb0KQuaeGiSHX2Y6BN7begkZoWhS8NJjAfuCZ3gX7EaX9oIkPPyiZ1yl7hyisHdfRYPiVKGKNq0DQZVhF_02xzmtYt8M6L17CfV3HSCrAQp1L4wQej0fzmXuxu_5gJVGjrIVc2IN5jC3QD3zEBME2vuvE8ix9qARV_6HndODo/w480-h640/20230820_111636.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wXbEa3wY8WETlM47dGASfl3fAHGqDZ8Z9KoZIYxgyhTHVuz9gQIt5Trl9OXpr7WYUNxsQV5EaVmlS-p3dFShNKl_8nTWfGGvIjSu5iQruFnimHmuRIIguBECHDmCKy-W0qoHpW-I0LmKCDP_ym293qzlBvn3Po_9WIUsjIToOB-ELKlx1oj0NdLM/s4032/20230820_111725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wXbEa3wY8WETlM47dGASfl3fAHGqDZ8Z9KoZIYxgyhTHVuz9gQIt5Trl9OXpr7WYUNxsQV5EaVmlS-p3dFShNKl_8nTWfGGvIjSu5iQruFnimHmuRIIguBECHDmCKy-W0qoHpW-I0LmKCDP_ym293qzlBvn3Po_9WIUsjIToOB-ELKlx1oj0NdLM/w480-h640/20230820_111725.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked in silence for a while, worn out with conversation as Stuart removed his backpack, carrying it in his hands to allow his back to 'breath' as it was sweating so much. As we continued down the long set of stairs.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7E8PeKki1mQx2SHqa6zZRVNd9bRttH8dkXTAmP_Ir1kpssvK1divqXNQdzjlBp_SX6oQkhG6igCshWuYdnrl0LBfWTtHMQEi76z8PgapWleyUueZxoKKOBdIupCSWXVkwKF0a037qnlrsWsngayZpESiEB1RSNMOhqkiZZeL9Zc1QYD8FZmgXQfC/s4032/20230820_112122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7E8PeKki1mQx2SHqa6zZRVNd9bRttH8dkXTAmP_Ir1kpssvK1divqXNQdzjlBp_SX6oQkhG6igCshWuYdnrl0LBfWTtHMQEi76z8PgapWleyUueZxoKKOBdIupCSWXVkwKF0a037qnlrsWsngayZpESiEB1RSNMOhqkiZZeL9Zc1QYD8FZmgXQfC/w480-h640/20230820_112122.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finally reached the bottom and Megan commented that walking down was hurting her knees.<br />"And we'll still have to walk back up." Stuart replied.<br />"Maybe, it's a loop track. Honestly I think we've gone the easy way, if we had headed left instead of Robertson's Lookout we'd be walking up all these." I commented to him.<br />"But there's probably more up along the way." Stuart said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I nodded unsure of what lay ahead on the path.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked along the flat path for a time before coming to one of those built-up walking structures. I commented that I didn't really like them, as they, to me, didn't feel as good as walking along on the ground, but I understood the purpose of them when it came to both keeping people on the track, and protecting potentially sensitive flora that may be around the area.<br /><br />We walked along as I quickly pulled out my phone for 'on the go' photo's as I often do, both turning out blurry, before sticking my phone in the air for a quick selfie in which Stuart couldn't help but look away every time I took a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yX1PJT1B6QBwW5t6LuG53jdm-NnVhbeql4gQU3qWw2x2SFixEOXAt0lJbzuY7erguK5nSRQaJ57znirKHmMuCPgqinu_4mju14pX5rrrubktYIo9ANxKx1tMd3kYKK3rsJCzmmJ0V4Yih6OGQD0gyvN1DJnTJ8KYEl4tmAd4mT_DWUrJFkSfoEVw/s3648/20230820_112901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yX1PJT1B6QBwW5t6LuG53jdm-NnVhbeql4gQU3qWw2x2SFixEOXAt0lJbzuY7erguK5nSRQaJ57znirKHmMuCPgqinu_4mju14pX5rrrubktYIo9ANxKx1tMd3kYKK3rsJCzmmJ0V4Yih6OGQD0gyvN1DJnTJ8KYEl4tmAd4mT_DWUrJFkSfoEVw/w480-h640/20230820_112901.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we were walking along there was suddenly a loud shuffling sound in the bush. I threw up my hands giving them the signal to stop and be quiet.<br /> <br />We waited as all the palm fronds shook, and the rustling intensified. I thought to myself that it might be a deer as the loud noises grew. I squatted down, trying to see what it was, wondering if maybe it was people cutting through the bush, then I saw it, digging around on the ground, another Lyrebird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"God it was so loud I thought it was a deer." I said, sitting and watching it for a bit before continuing on, once more coming to a divide, heading right towards Byarong Park in 2.1km and left towards Mt Pleasant in 600m (according to the sign that was there).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Do you guys want to do a short walk down to Mt Pleasant? Which, I don't know what it is, or just continue on?" I asked, hoping they would be interested in the extra walk. To my relief they were keen for the extra walk, and we turned left towards Mt Pleasant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuynG5NXoi9T0UMBx-nOhh6PUr5kXN51Iu02gdYzuUfqiNd8jzzK2pCVnnWgvotqshYJDJyvSq1gkK5WC5fNOsCjBqCknUOJw5t0Ch0R0O5AMbMZDeQHOAFdCQalq2ebtJC42ppZjC1NfqfqCozF-w7y2BnwthFSlyCA-bolCZyg8VvaUvMVT4jWn/s4032/20230820_113324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuynG5NXoi9T0UMBx-nOhh6PUr5kXN51Iu02gdYzuUfqiNd8jzzK2pCVnnWgvotqshYJDJyvSq1gkK5WC5fNOsCjBqCknUOJw5t0Ch0R0O5AMbMZDeQHOAFdCQalq2ebtJC42ppZjC1NfqfqCozF-w7y2BnwthFSlyCA-bolCZyg8VvaUvMVT4jWn/w480-h640/20230820_113324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZil3-3jdeK-hir1-C-D8HZwFjnqdA0Sw7nalRvoqzdRD2uTsjEqKDR2BQjLhy4aygLaTdhvttiy0cChuZiMA5VRIV4_99oco7s7S2shHtlR2Com9eep18uH-E2oVJk1khn1xta5Tqx1hRmm2qYYvTKw01jaY_KMDVgW6aGDN6C2UVomeMmDh51XDE/s4032/20230820_113414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZil3-3jdeK-hir1-C-D8HZwFjnqdA0Sw7nalRvoqzdRD2uTsjEqKDR2BQjLhy4aygLaTdhvttiy0cChuZiMA5VRIV4_99oco7s7S2shHtlR2Com9eep18uH-E2oVJk1khn1xta5Tqx1hRmm2qYYvTKw01jaY_KMDVgW6aGDN6C2UVomeMmDh51XDE/w480-h640/20230820_113414.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We came across a boulder and I almost walked past it, but I stopped, eyeing it off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgl-BcVcRDVNj9Z4ZJOdM9uO1MfoPK5XGivvC1oTMF4hVg8nBZjxKFbGmX03O8iILVOrmh8iEslGK6s66TN65hzMoQBXh0M67-DNs9jA2Arw0nKmAgElAaUNfXSBJHFWQQP-z73DZzi1H2glrmk99n7ASPRHTzbJ82qHhFnevOExw9_lJQbSbqgSk/s4032/20230820_113536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgl-BcVcRDVNj9Z4ZJOdM9uO1MfoPK5XGivvC1oTMF4hVg8nBZjxKFbGmX03O8iILVOrmh8iEslGK6s66TN65hzMoQBXh0M67-DNs9jA2Arw0nKmAgElAaUNfXSBJHFWQQP-z73DZzi1H2glrmk99n7ASPRHTzbJ82qHhFnevOExw9_lJQbSbqgSk/w480-h640/20230820_113536.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I'm going to climb it." I said.<br />"No." Stuart told me.<br />"It's fine, I can see holds." I replied, dropping my backpack and ungracefully climbing up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rhXVn43El5l87odRFG4WDtqldRI7qLNeqC7q-TwnuDE33bLnC3AQyDa8cjiPH8gW11VpLed5edR1oXI-zw_OrpbmfgV2-EYPj2TJthsQRKWXcbsiXua3QlQkk6H8oaLpQg4aw2SZVCvmxMQU0Gy_QizDSH5ogFhBe-J21kBN85960tvkCnD_B5MK/s2000/received_601909658528858.jpeg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rhXVn43El5l87odRFG4WDtqldRI7qLNeqC7q-TwnuDE33bLnC3AQyDa8cjiPH8gW11VpLed5edR1oXI-zw_OrpbmfgV2-EYPj2TJthsQRKWXcbsiXua3QlQkk6H8oaLpQg4aw2SZVCvmxMQU0Gy_QizDSH5ogFhBe-J21kBN85960tvkCnD_B5MK/w480-h640/received_601909658528858.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The climb down was even less graceful. But I felt satisfied as I slung my backpack on, and we continued moving.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vbdVGmWr2moOLtuik4viipunOxIeJ7SHNHqGhI8pDwtJZpc_0rdkkpLVJBfFWJNoL-ulsIEdprHGX-RotBRicmeF9puBcltT7GWYYxZ_MxXh8mV0VSj78L4Q1CiDrVdqdTJAi1Hz-bhlZ2hzEutm-YESf0IbhT_juPc-XYRxlNbdqF_v3WiL5lzw/s4032/20230820_113914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vbdVGmWr2moOLtuik4viipunOxIeJ7SHNHqGhI8pDwtJZpc_0rdkkpLVJBfFWJNoL-ulsIEdprHGX-RotBRicmeF9puBcltT7GWYYxZ_MxXh8mV0VSj78L4Q1CiDrVdqdTJAi1Hz-bhlZ2hzEutm-YESf0IbhT_juPc-XYRxlNbdqF_v3WiL5lzw/w480-h640/20230820_113914.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The small track opened up to a wider path, as two young girls came from our left and entered up the track we had come down from, we decided to head right as there was no sign and that was the direction the initial sign was pointing towards Mt Pleasant. Stuart pointed out a random shovel head standing on the side of the path, the handle no longer attached.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6HFuBrXbJ3L1ioYuUIONaopM3D9x5-BfUw6VhiwxuydC72WRHmu6RyCCU8N2CTGQ3eWJEWCWaUQRrR81Pa53L2ejQ5PyOX027AMPHHso_gQ-CGJ1hMapn701mNK40G4J0tkbgB__ITsKOBFjGBqtf-nR8JGO0ujVgH-NvPTDIAfVcWWlQFfAztey/s4032/20230820_114147.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6HFuBrXbJ3L1ioYuUIONaopM3D9x5-BfUw6VhiwxuydC72WRHmu6RyCCU8N2CTGQ3eWJEWCWaUQRrR81Pa53L2ejQ5PyOX027AMPHHso_gQ-CGJ1hMapn701mNK40G4J0tkbgB__ITsKOBFjGBqtf-nR8JGO0ujVgH-NvPTDIAfVcWWlQFfAztey/w480-h640/20230820_114147.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We approached a slope that looked like corrugated concrete. I commented that it reminded me of a boat ramp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtP_mxOcVUusf3VcU9HZtE3p2NdAeKQdKZsvxk1OYZwMzrDQhH1fxbK48M12dhYC-WfKsg38SqgfywhcciFBmiv43mChYRm39kjl9FBCZ5VDalh7haT0Dp168keVCNtfZpFPUkHpjhS4usm0eSsSYgqG8N5OXxt1UfIXPRHNXAtkFz6GzEz5v6PUi/s4032/20230820_114149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtP_mxOcVUusf3VcU9HZtE3p2NdAeKQdKZsvxk1OYZwMzrDQhH1fxbK48M12dhYC-WfKsg38SqgfywhcciFBmiv43mChYRm39kjl9FBCZ5VDalh7haT0Dp168keVCNtfZpFPUkHpjhS4usm0eSsSYgqG8N5OXxt1UfIXPRHNXAtkFz6GzEz5v6PUi/w480-h640/20230820_114149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Hopefully there's a toilet down here." I said, feeling the urge as I began to drink more frequently as the sun moved high above. We wander through the shade of some trees and down a slope that opened up to a random empty field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwEXfbAjQCjzQ_sIbk2WtwhmjD6fMV_xHAlEQd5LGyYyxnLb5mHsp1XJLKGZV70cUukt_auPWqSBsYnN-OyTjd3lZBRvywbUP9-ahzE5QIspU52AUskqbUsubdNI1bLNjgaUFpMyO7MiOeKZxJ7dNC7Aao9jPPPMue4e7lrmA71N2cWbiNmNZPoLj/s4032/20230820_114317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwEXfbAjQCjzQ_sIbk2WtwhmjD6fMV_xHAlEQd5LGyYyxnLb5mHsp1XJLKGZV70cUukt_auPWqSBsYnN-OyTjd3lZBRvywbUP9-ahzE5QIspU52AUskqbUsubdNI1bLNjgaUFpMyO7MiOeKZxJ7dNC7Aao9jPPPMue4e7lrmA71N2cWbiNmNZPoLj/w480-h640/20230820_114317.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu3XaO1ok8cez9gDMDfrHk0XGz1KyIxFAC9tzoyPQoT-78TdjpQ0PFiRyZgmP6sPLmw6NrLJYIXSwuwW_mEacXbuMsXr7C_pAabzYImPakC61cyO6t1tM4k7-a9dLzaNBBpEdHPkMnWXlWLTK8xqWq8f5WoIs2ADR-ZCkwQEvBcAmhSI8sMtz0Msx/s4032/20230820_114507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu3XaO1ok8cez9gDMDfrHk0XGz1KyIxFAC9tzoyPQoT-78TdjpQ0PFiRyZgmP6sPLmw6NrLJYIXSwuwW_mEacXbuMsXr7C_pAabzYImPakC61cyO6t1tM4k7-a9dLzaNBBpEdHPkMnWXlWLTK8xqWq8f5WoIs2ADR-ZCkwQEvBcAmhSI8sMtz0Msx/w480-h640/20230820_114507.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Down from the field we walked down a gravel hill, where we arrived at Mt Pleasant, which was simply a carpark, with no toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cf93zBj-syqkh9Jt9V9lo1HK3alsmOmZXAhbIQ0eQUV7whYJ-7s62DJI2M8DHfCUEPuOWqyrnhvHxh_rdSJrV4BHBf2RqcepYZeWB99hRSB9MbrJpgg0HiDPWaI4xm0cF8cz5KEvkkqRU8nVuRrt5hnb3QdR8ueYJX8gMsCEcwUH0z1KJE5vDHtV/s4032/20230820_115051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cf93zBj-syqkh9Jt9V9lo1HK3alsmOmZXAhbIQ0eQUV7whYJ-7s62DJI2M8DHfCUEPuOWqyrnhvHxh_rdSJrV4BHBf2RqcepYZeWB99hRSB9MbrJpgg0HiDPWaI4xm0cF8cz5KEvkkqRU8nVuRrt5hnb3QdR8ueYJX8gMsCEcwUH0z1KJE5vDHtV/w400-h300/20230820_115051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I noticed a track down along a fence besides some houses and got a weird sense of nostalgia. <br /><br />"Before I did the Ken Ashburn track with Tristan," I said, misnaming that walk once more. "The only time I had done Mt Keira was in year 7 of High School when I went to Wollongong High. I remembered walking from the school to top, and when I did Ken Ashburn I had thought it seem too far away from the school, as it was behind the Uni." I continued. "Maybe that track leads down somewhere and that was the way up my school group walked?" I pondered, annoyed at how useless my memory seemed to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Maybe." Megan said placating me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I began to tell them about how I had got a tick 'just above my penis', while doing that walk in school.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"What did you do about it?" Stuart asked, assuming I had gone to a doctor.<br />"My Mum got it out." I laughed.<br />"But like, how?" Stuart asked.<br />"With tweezers." I answered.<br />"No!" Stuart yelled at me. "You're not supposed to do that."<br />I told him I know that now, but it was fine, and that I'd only ever removed ticks this way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although there was no toilet block, we sat on big rocks along the side of the car park and had another short lunch break, where I started talking to Stuart about the TV series 'Primal' an animated cartoon show set in a sort of 'lost world' with Dinosaurs, cavemen and all sorts of whacky episodes like magic ape-men and a Zombie virus.<br />"Man the ending sucked." I said.<br />"What was the ending?" Megan asked.<br />Stuart and I made awkward eye contact.<br />"You can tell her." Stuart said, laughing about the shows silly ending.<br />We decided to make a move back to the ring track while I filled her in. She had a basic understanding of the show as Stuart had talked to her about it before, so I simply gave a rough run down of the final few episodes.<br />"Basically, there's a Viking village that took slaves, including the main Caveman: Spear, his love interest Mira, and they go to the village and end up killing everyone including the Viking chief's son and eventually the Viking chief, who end up in hell and makes a deal with, I guess the devil? He comes back as a shape-shifting flame monster-" I said puffing as we made our way back up the corrugated concrete section. "Anyway, he I guess succeeds in killing Spear, so gets pulled back to hell, while Spear is like dying, his whole body covered in like third degree burns, Mira like... hops on top, and like, has sex with him so there's a flash forward with like, his kids even though he's dead."<br />"Because there's nothing painful about that at all." Stuart commented.<br />"I'd be surprised if he could even get up with third degree burns on his dick." I joked. "But before the ending it was a good show."<br /><br />We arrived at the turn off to Byarong Park and continued along the ring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVARxokqPspjb216UKgmc4TsAO8_7W9x_C-sKiIzGaRHkkSY4qfyTGoDimZONr2X-Fm500go6D9kUqPFBsi3_Oppoop58jGkNUbn56qCHh7KNw9p2r1A_r_hwTAv_I6JJaVkGZvg6uLRdaDHXYisln2QJz2McmeftA_BjWcWZHM8q0L0M12WayKTy/s4032/20230820_122707.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVARxokqPspjb216UKgmc4TsAO8_7W9x_C-sKiIzGaRHkkSY4qfyTGoDimZONr2X-Fm500go6D9kUqPFBsi3_Oppoop58jGkNUbn56qCHh7KNw9p2r1A_r_hwTAv_I6JJaVkGZvg6uLRdaDHXYisln2QJz2McmeftA_BjWcWZHM8q0L0M12WayKTy/w480-h640/20230820_122707.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySFne38uL5Xm-sGonv-Bt_PXXxWNfP1i7v03jFqkYUh5inBXyTshkvaecuLAVB4CEqENkAokhIP6aCpZGQ72yRAy_JhnvSbhQVIGZn32KUtQQX33eX4spz5bJo5-NOyjZachsL3sZz20B9PNlgIHCl3ODiU-QjmZEOlEo8eTiEV8rsitEbsITa522/s4032/20230820_122844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySFne38uL5Xm-sGonv-Bt_PXXxWNfP1i7v03jFqkYUh5inBXyTshkvaecuLAVB4CEqENkAokhIP6aCpZGQ72yRAy_JhnvSbhQVIGZn32KUtQQX33eX4spz5bJo5-NOyjZachsL3sZz20B9PNlgIHCl3ODiU-QjmZEOlEo8eTiEV8rsitEbsITa522/w400-h300/20230820_122844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon we approached another, slightly larger boulder. "I'm going to climb this one too." I said, walking around it and looking for a way up. I could see a way to climb but knew I wouldn't be able to get back down. As I crossed to the other side, I saw a tree had grown on an angle up against the boulder which I could use to shimmy my way down if I climbed on top. So, I dropped my bag once more and worked my way up on top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ_L2-i8m6XzCFPUmmwvLk-Khhzmjpzg2FBeItTbD64zt2iW7ZSgnXJs486HDvBrWlcQ0pvTALF95us-leJtpbWo6cnipJPS7CAswD7RRXvtEGuwDwSrxkjXQrhIkF31b6V2xUkkTr8rZjfg44a4mzmdud_P-jwNDfWHc1zk86Xo0BG_Y-V5Ww2EP/s2000/received_9798734710199942.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ_L2-i8m6XzCFPUmmwvLk-Khhzmjpzg2FBeItTbD64zt2iW7ZSgnXJs486HDvBrWlcQ0pvTALF95us-leJtpbWo6cnipJPS7CAswD7RRXvtEGuwDwSrxkjXQrhIkF31b6V2xUkkTr8rZjfg44a4mzmdud_P-jwNDfWHc1zk86Xo0BG_Y-V5Ww2EP/w480-h640/received_9798734710199942.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wrapped my arms around the tree, projecting my legs against the boulder and I walked down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We moved on, walking through the bush. Stuart began the topic of 'lore' in term of our Dungeons & Dragons game, as the four of us (them, me and my Wife) had begun playing with Stuart as our dungeon master. This ranged from things we would like to see, or not see in the game, to the world and its creatures, and this conversation went on and on for a decent stretch of time, so I'll once more just photo dump.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzAHTMWEh7fK9HFH0pqJ3MbbtXKXM1UKxwRzSAZZk7l1UcTdCpcKZ9KTC879WCtaWxS31yUz8EjbHRuvzUy0FI3UJX830gr0S2WMnccNLNCYaQNlIA0NLHvBMcSN6nRAgRHukiKRGN8t92nOceXFI1_uOkmzwQKd-CXW6KgTE94dy6gSzHs686D9K/s4032/20230820_123858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzAHTMWEh7fK9HFH0pqJ3MbbtXKXM1UKxwRzSAZZk7l1UcTdCpcKZ9KTC879WCtaWxS31yUz8EjbHRuvzUy0FI3UJX830gr0S2WMnccNLNCYaQNlIA0NLHvBMcSN6nRAgRHukiKRGN8t92nOceXFI1_uOkmzwQKd-CXW6KgTE94dy6gSzHs686D9K/w400-h300/20230820_123858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTKJLnficQHOVWQXzExytTvN40of2ZsEW0xt4SQXQiVT7dj9KBjJ4a9sw7StphsP37dI1jpJJlOYmUbPz9O88Iv6pq8eaTwRT3FSmKL401Hr1u1W5uQydfZm2nPzeyJGQkQI5p83eTy8S4hctBhU1K1FwRsCABpbyKR4nHKUBKFfkBj-MZ_0x5hlc/s4032/20230820_124124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTKJLnficQHOVWQXzExytTvN40of2ZsEW0xt4SQXQiVT7dj9KBjJ4a9sw7StphsP37dI1jpJJlOYmUbPz9O88Iv6pq8eaTwRT3FSmKL401Hr1u1W5uQydfZm2nPzeyJGQkQI5p83eTy8S4hctBhU1K1FwRsCABpbyKR4nHKUBKFfkBj-MZ_0x5hlc/w480-h640/20230820_124124.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQAWAcqq0agyng0f8WAJcQNg6U7hsEqUT_7adCmblPVuwOAUS1OiomIbhqIsoLIEJwsWIi0_4ySxS--IBkepQMgbeYoU4NLapCHWg7TeWBdpEGd9KVfdCUDAj1ap-bJHzjCJsOVGxDhmdkV3Z4IzXqPyfbNv0gF1CjHphl8GsW72b_oVNnTL_dsjn/s4032/20230820_124411.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqQAWAcqq0agyng0f8WAJcQNg6U7hsEqUT_7adCmblPVuwOAUS1OiomIbhqIsoLIEJwsWIi0_4ySxS--IBkepQMgbeYoU4NLapCHWg7TeWBdpEGd9KVfdCUDAj1ap-bJHzjCJsOVGxDhmdkV3Z4IzXqPyfbNv0gF1CjHphl8GsW72b_oVNnTL_dsjn/w480-h640/20230820_124411.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrThYKL7sxkLZMFkO3WT4aZH4y-n1wDBqJidoLZusdGGCoNtZ-OehpJ6UqI1BtBvQi-qcvoAVrVFedcXsz7VfKXHmUnlB7F0s4rGg7ZXlVVTy4bGiQ43WEj7SMxqI6x90sA7JXB4GliqdWoIWPHTambsqPsJ3tkeDt6wYJij5bPjFap7l10qV3IxM/s4032/20230820_124735.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrThYKL7sxkLZMFkO3WT4aZH4y-n1wDBqJidoLZusdGGCoNtZ-OehpJ6UqI1BtBvQi-qcvoAVrVFedcXsz7VfKXHmUnlB7F0s4rGg7ZXlVVTy4bGiQ43WEj7SMxqI6x90sA7JXB4GliqdWoIWPHTambsqPsJ3tkeDt6wYJij5bPjFap7l10qV3IxM/w480-h640/20230820_124735.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we reached this turn off heading up, I could see a cool rock ahead in the bush, so I cut through the bush to the rock, only to find that it was along the track anyway, and cutting through the bush was just a short cut. A couple that were walking and overtook us along our intense D&D discussions soon came along the path where I was looking at the rock. I walked back through the bush, and we continued along the track up the mountain, knowing I would eventually come back to the cool rock, and we once more resumed our in-depth D&D chat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStVDCya01VeM1IB0bzK1zBt61-B4-s87doODwUqGHvMNhn3J3gTvz4kUTv7o4KIKfpzmKjVo4qmMo4NCiMKVf6mVVNJid622L00ikYhVwACKs9w-9At5ZpNGf5JflPJLbBCv3lpCHjEj5PKfl2s81eM43mDnrybzLpwMXz-CGUlgl9tvTxRNjkrU8/s4032/20230820_124941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStVDCya01VeM1IB0bzK1zBt61-B4-s87doODwUqGHvMNhn3J3gTvz4kUTv7o4KIKfpzmKjVo4qmMo4NCiMKVf6mVVNJid622L00ikYhVwACKs9w-9At5ZpNGf5JflPJLbBCv3lpCHjEj5PKfl2s81eM43mDnrybzLpwMXz-CGUlgl9tvTxRNjkrU8/w480-h640/20230820_124941.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9nN_Bd5MVmOCN1UnaJxaQa1Nqcwkdl3DdvBZO-T3PVBv2GhsO6ZV1YuyZuxXGX7t2iu1qrVSxfodIHRqFMrzVSdRzFCt1YfyGVAdHK9JzPwS1K_mLkn0WwWI3csvC2bsIbsyPhuNEXa1B4sRe0iXtYJSIbJSfkn_FmJXjakJZD8wwfSibaAJWH4L/s4032/20230820_125044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9nN_Bd5MVmOCN1UnaJxaQa1Nqcwkdl3DdvBZO-T3PVBv2GhsO6ZV1YuyZuxXGX7t2iu1qrVSxfodIHRqFMrzVSdRzFCt1YfyGVAdHK9JzPwS1K_mLkn0WwWI3csvC2bsIbsyPhuNEXa1B4sRe0iXtYJSIbJSfkn_FmJXjakJZD8wwfSibaAJWH4L/w480-h640/20230820_125044.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AlZzsedFL9nq_ZS-dRxCig--oU-mePArqE87Ny71JfJ9qkrrhXqi2Suh5-FSFnkmCj7tBgZrUapZfihjZlr-_DXOuUf0ttcx5MHQlHg3FqPxNVSJo7BHIpactcHFPbM-akn07a-ZgRc6c3j4XM5jA4cubps9jZmZuKkBog62vUpfuJ5QD50ARTlh/s4032/20230820_125155.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AlZzsedFL9nq_ZS-dRxCig--oU-mePArqE87Ny71JfJ9qkrrhXqi2Suh5-FSFnkmCj7tBgZrUapZfihjZlr-_DXOuUf0ttcx5MHQlHg3FqPxNVSJo7BHIpactcHFPbM-akn07a-ZgRc6c3j4XM5jA4cubps9jZmZuKkBog62vUpfuJ5QD50ARTlh/w480-h640/20230820_125155.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back down</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we approached the rock, there was now a Mum and her two kids doing the Karate Kid 'Crane' pose on top taking photos. I slowed down hoping they would see us and move on, (I also wondered where the hell they came from). They did see us, and the two kids jumped off and ran further up the path along the way we were heading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GhQdsT1I0I_l2WuTFdWHtAGD5U1rC3RxVrbHKTezAqDjYGDal-dT9wkh8dXMcz9EFklGaP1CCFTnjChnLA6bL47ZVDusSB6qoeUaXdhrR1RdbH2oUJJLORPJ984McxKPZpeRD0fKLH2cDA22VfeUUsZdkI-teUqPcXmfBCflJpXdVkMW4AR6sVKM/s4032/20230820_125327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GhQdsT1I0I_l2WuTFdWHtAGD5U1rC3RxVrbHKTezAqDjYGDal-dT9wkh8dXMcz9EFklGaP1CCFTnjChnLA6bL47ZVDusSB6qoeUaXdhrR1RdbH2oUJJLORPJ984McxKPZpeRD0fKLH2cDA22VfeUUsZdkI-teUqPcXmfBCflJpXdVkMW4AR6sVKM/w480-h640/20230820_125327.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The path continued down further, and I reiterated that I thought we were going 'the easy way' and that had we gone the other way, we would have had much more uphill walking, but Stuart still questioned this, believing we would have a bunch to walk up at some point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qlD1JYxG6CKNoj2_jVdN-Fiz5W2iWwZR1xvQjExQbLXSSd_3JDJk_4OmLFKMu3KGfaup99R1MWUnGGgZXyb5DG9Ry4A2aec0tNoYhxPKyQuKE0h_k08S55WcfxtWeCuNKJNCi--VFcuGrLwCZkBPvcXUmkUjOK3_TBAkNIffNoboFzAl9BpQnl3O/s4032/20230820_125544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qlD1JYxG6CKNoj2_jVdN-Fiz5W2iWwZR1xvQjExQbLXSSd_3JDJk_4OmLFKMu3KGfaup99R1MWUnGGgZXyb5DG9Ry4A2aec0tNoYhxPKyQuKE0h_k08S55WcfxtWeCuNKJNCi--VFcuGrLwCZkBPvcXUmkUjOK3_TBAkNIffNoboFzAl9BpQnl3O/w480-h640/20230820_125544.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Megan began walking slowly, struggling with so much downhill walking putting pressure on her knees, and her feet began to hurt from wearing relatively new hiking boots that hadn't been full worn in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We slowly progressed down as the track opened up to the road once more, with a little car park and an information sign. There was a gras track leading in to our left, but I could see a sign across at the other end of the carpark, heading down the road that was the ring track continuing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTOGsu6PiC7T2Nm36XFeW6P3sv30P2QKFfBObrZ7_WLBnN3oDgxa2cSV-id1ztLR4IUzUjdI6sRzDbwabyM7pj4WoFNRH44veLrBHiyHooJvd2Ukmh8-lvk4G_lt8cTL9CwAIaF59lZQY7wvj1ReIObs9Umir4XtByX3dA2etNfAosBltPrvssZ-K/s4032/20230820_130140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTOGsu6PiC7T2Nm36XFeW6P3sv30P2QKFfBObrZ7_WLBnN3oDgxa2cSV-id1ztLR4IUzUjdI6sRzDbwabyM7pj4WoFNRH44veLrBHiyHooJvd2Ukmh8-lvk4G_lt8cTL9CwAIaF59lZQY7wvj1ReIObs9Umir4XtByX3dA2etNfAosBltPrvssZ-K/w400-h300/20230820_130140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPTR9riVGNjcQfmPUaf5coLHv5lpejDFlWUUDU52L2c3v1C-6ArZZjby3pwg0zNYHs_h4QrhujTIENtXNTi-jaTXK7kgKvlfKUE5oP7haa6VpmJwJnt5nYvjdj-B7t4rzf8U5RbQBsd9s3V2y20WKIJoGKPoRWizJt79KNTva0Gv0u0c_PjDikEJ/s4032/20230820_130200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILPTR9riVGNjcQfmPUaf5coLHv5lpejDFlWUUDU52L2c3v1C-6ArZZjby3pwg0zNYHs_h4QrhujTIENtXNTi-jaTXK7kgKvlfKUE5oP7haa6VpmJwJnt5nYvjdj-B7t4rzf8U5RbQBsd9s3V2y20WKIJoGKPoRWizJt79KNTva0Gv0u0c_PjDikEJ/w480-h640/20230820_130200.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we started through this section I paused. I could hear the loud buzzing of bees and I assumed there would be a beehive in one of the surrounding trees, Stuart however pointed out that it was just bees in the flowers of the tree above. "Spring is here." I said and we continued.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K5cSwtRa-Rgyn1WwPZNk2dhezHKflo4VlvLx4bN6RR5C9RHRvpiAV2B2M3H5pmMc4Jue2NVozXl_uwcUgX4HulMvYPGdk5eF2U2Up84Ko0Yrd6K3SPOnlIu9UZsGBMHnvHe_bDBtCV5IB5h5T2X8k5cmX_vt1DOIK3xRCEiarAZUqTfuMdsoPGvb/s4032/20230820_130202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K5cSwtRa-Rgyn1WwPZNk2dhezHKflo4VlvLx4bN6RR5C9RHRvpiAV2B2M3H5pmMc4Jue2NVozXl_uwcUgX4HulMvYPGdk5eF2U2Up84Ko0Yrd6K3SPOnlIu9UZsGBMHnvHe_bDBtCV5IB5h5T2X8k5cmX_vt1DOIK3xRCEiarAZUqTfuMdsoPGvb/w480-h640/20230820_130202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ71_Fe0mrPeKNAwkqPYngJiLiGY33gpClZ_0WOIlqulC6Z9wch1m7wDKa1P07fgRBCktWxBdDiXmj3cIciF3aCnCeiQzhk-F00F9kHTJTi_KUKR3_9KQDZ0SdVETOHJq72x67xh7y0s6XWSiGHDcihBoRCp2JBVfIG4kxeQ0UPE1NCZJ13LX7yWx/s4032/20230820_130604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ71_Fe0mrPeKNAwkqPYngJiLiGY33gpClZ_0WOIlqulC6Z9wch1m7wDKa1P07fgRBCktWxBdDiXmj3cIciF3aCnCeiQzhk-F00F9kHTJTi_KUKR3_9KQDZ0SdVETOHJq72x67xh7y0s6XWSiGHDcihBoRCp2JBVfIG4kxeQ0UPE1NCZJ13LX7yWx/w480-h640/20230820_130604.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By now Megan's feet had worsened and we could see she was in a little bit of pain, the path opened up onto a crossing of the road and I told them that I thought we were close to Byarong Park and that hopefully there would be a toilet there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5j61k3LL3ReCTLg5oj0L6OFHpZ6UrrfKUUdpj6Pr7Sc_gjvVGTqrl53fKaJzc85OgBodLAG7AAnaXmNBoIdUawgPHNqP46Rosr9_gDMC5lr5f9vjBd3NKQa9CCJzzeYrKKMLcgQA1Aj07DVjYnzrUb_6_orjxuKfUuXag9xwNdgwQQxzNDkfJi2W/s4032/20230820_131135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5j61k3LL3ReCTLg5oj0L6OFHpZ6UrrfKUUdpj6Pr7Sc_gjvVGTqrl53fKaJzc85OgBodLAG7AAnaXmNBoIdUawgPHNqP46Rosr9_gDMC5lr5f9vjBd3NKQa9CCJzzeYrKKMLcgQA1Aj07DVjYnzrUb_6_orjxuKfUuXag9xwNdgwQQxzNDkfJi2W/w480-h640/20230820_131135.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we walked up the stairs across the road we struck instantly with the sight of an overgrown fallen car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZCGhj-HXSueLyB1JyKEAjcba5U-q1tlFitL1khSlyrDoeAYWpbGrq6wsz91JTzESXP7cNRi6BaZ-hALONRHTJo-rK1uRnxjYYsj5ErYl1nBtvuqMX1ai5IweU-N5iOcImKcxqY6_9JmAFT9zo8KFI0vCQwndynQJcLOzCNOG86Il9NVpxGEGNWjx/s4032/20230820_131252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZCGhj-HXSueLyB1JyKEAjcba5U-q1tlFitL1khSlyrDoeAYWpbGrq6wsz91JTzESXP7cNRi6BaZ-hALONRHTJo-rK1uRnxjYYsj5ErYl1nBtvuqMX1ai5IweU-N5iOcImKcxqY6_9JmAFT9zo8KFI0vCQwndynQJcLOzCNOG86Il9NVpxGEGNWjx/w480-h640/20230820_131252.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Well, that's very Jurassic Park." I commented, noticing the ground below with littered with objects I assumed were from the car. As we continued on, I thought and said, "I hope that car wasn't like, a suicide." I said, feeling like that would make the scene a little less cool to look at.<br />"Maybe," Stuart replied, mentioning all the lifeline signs that had been at the top of the mountain.<br />"Hopefully it was just reckless driving." I replied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We approached another split on the trail, left towards Byarong Park, an extra 600m down to the park and back, or right back up the mountain towards where we had started the ring track at the end of Dave Walsh's track. I asked what they wanted to do, not wanting to pressure Megan as I knew her feet were hurting pretty bad. She was ok to continue down to Byarong Park, adding a little extra on our walk, as I tried to raise hope for a toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG-aYVsRfikqpe2YkdC7pfM1N3YycFZFXBtbqVmcHn504__ycvEXATwAXp6Q0jcKIdG1bPUMtoSPSngyPmPrRTYIEgl3cuLOYC7TxILgmeGnGg76us2U0BaSsrroIzD5ZeGBmFs_F_UsXp_tQocjRYGEM-2Kd0qJnudXMa3mB6ANoV0WtyJc0RcGB/s4032/20230820_132448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdG-aYVsRfikqpe2YkdC7pfM1N3YycFZFXBtbqVmcHn504__ycvEXATwAXp6Q0jcKIdG1bPUMtoSPSngyPmPrRTYIEgl3cuLOYC7TxILgmeGnGg76us2U0BaSsrroIzD5ZeGBmFs_F_UsXp_tQocjRYGEM-2Kd0qJnudXMa3mB6ANoV0WtyJc0RcGB/w480-h640/20230820_132448.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mkW0_7bAZUNuhQigDEcN9XcZnxS2sbi2HrNQXwWD74CQlGnNfwQnfO6cQv65SpJqapqBGjnUkjMAyyEVLstXKD2_uns6hdXUC-OUNvGrKfzvksPIWxsAFKtMbx6sumQYuETYFkob1q40Emy5bPYMoaxLCvL8akDb3iLY59TVpaDh0TOuuyI-qd03/s4032/20230820_132622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mkW0_7bAZUNuhQigDEcN9XcZnxS2sbi2HrNQXwWD74CQlGnNfwQnfO6cQv65SpJqapqBGjnUkjMAyyEVLstXKD2_uns6hdXUC-OUNvGrKfzvksPIWxsAFKtMbx6sumQYuETYFkob1q40Emy5bPYMoaxLCvL8akDb3iLY59TVpaDh0TOuuyI-qd03/w400-h300/20230820_132622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we reached the park, we were hit by the smells of cooking barbecues, making my stomach gurgle. Megan waddled over to a park bench to rest while Stuart and I went to look for a toilet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6x8iJOevuAMvLrcKvtoGmnkoDaF-8szgFluxvKJt4HyUk_XHMM0PDQAWK-RXoXkKwD89bnNWs5dsKBrQN3iwNyZ7JA3fGFN5hh_NTX_HtJV_KGDjRPUpWPQ45_FykTLBspe0ckyYPrzwogPL6xUzMWrvn83ehalTyfeBd5BiP8AuNZbhKS_5zx-i/s2944/20230820_133010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6x8iJOevuAMvLrcKvtoGmnkoDaF-8szgFluxvKJt4HyUk_XHMM0PDQAWK-RXoXkKwD89bnNWs5dsKBrQN3iwNyZ7JA3fGFN5hh_NTX_HtJV_KGDjRPUpWPQ45_FykTLBspe0ckyYPrzwogPL6xUzMWrvn83ehalTyfeBd5BiP8AuNZbhKS_5zx-i/w480-h640/20230820_133010.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The toilet is a lie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was no toilet and so we joined Megan at the bench for a quick break, having some water and nibblies. I told her to just let us know when she was good, and she said she didn't want to stop for too long because it would make starting the walk again harder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I commented that I wouldn't like to be a woman in situations like this, because, feeling the need to wee, if I was desperate, I could pretty much pull up to a tree and go. <br />"One the scale of reasons why it's bad to be a woman, that one is pretty low." Megan commented.<br />"Yeah, I just think about it I guess because it's such a convenience."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I guess I could get a She-Wee, but I've never looked into it."<br />"I've seen those mentioned on sites, but I've always thought, after you use it, you now have this object that is covered in piss. Like, then you have to wash it off I guess." I said, as we slowly made our way up hill, and I commented to Stuart that I didn't think this way was anywhere near as steep as if we had walked the opposite direction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPgyoo2r5mF4yshQjg2cNGfMojjHChiCaqf5ltBjIUlwzRJPGeA5kBuNebavBSzOGXW0QtAWfh10wghmNRAZ-zV-vLZobeXbLKAyhN0JasPOQC0oZ62x8ZS8AFkxNn__UPyMPpNlX4rm8pFPl6VDWL1BmgTI2Hru4y2yq9mtas4BywSKzUyng-Q-F/s4032/20230820_134357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPgyoo2r5mF4yshQjg2cNGfMojjHChiCaqf5ltBjIUlwzRJPGeA5kBuNebavBSzOGXW0QtAWfh10wghmNRAZ-zV-vLZobeXbLKAyhN0JasPOQC0oZ62x8ZS8AFkxNn__UPyMPpNlX4rm8pFPl6VDWL1BmgTI2Hru4y2yq9mtas4BywSKzUyng-Q-F/w480-h640/20230820_134357.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItWvzGcQbMxpEtDmX-TyQEeNZ2WuKnFFxRlvXmDWqpTfFUTKw-rIkDkzDBQb57xojn9vTBnkoUbabRKwUjmVqfBtRWyQjSwDJPdSxPjIX0E2zr2-ijpnYGU26GABIeYwA0kyQUNK3d99tMi3BRF0qQ-9ygPyRL9bsaxqLlfVo46eswltLAYthF6QA/s3648/20230820_134420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItWvzGcQbMxpEtDmX-TyQEeNZ2WuKnFFxRlvXmDWqpTfFUTKw-rIkDkzDBQb57xojn9vTBnkoUbabRKwUjmVqfBtRWyQjSwDJPdSxPjIX0E2zr2-ijpnYGU26GABIeYwA0kyQUNK3d99tMi3BRF0qQ-9ygPyRL9bsaxqLlfVo46eswltLAYthF6QA/w480-h640/20230820_134420.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nXtoZTjlqq8mTRYywhnIt2Q5KbVezpvvlsOsnuvJk_ZJ9NTy7ttwM_kaRdER0Qft2Q7Z0noZUQw9Ep9tnTEbiKuWOGoqM_J6MJpe_efsIUlzs0qGq4XK0gZlZoryLQ-VzeoGdGOggvvfaHqcS3uYLOgZ-wB5mR76omioGKmvT5njNrin3mljeuFY/s4032/20230820_134505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nXtoZTjlqq8mTRYywhnIt2Q5KbVezpvvlsOsnuvJk_ZJ9NTy7ttwM_kaRdER0Qft2Q7Z0noZUQw9Ep9tnTEbiKuWOGoqM_J6MJpe_efsIUlzs0qGq4XK0gZlZoryLQ-VzeoGdGOggvvfaHqcS3uYLOgZ-wB5mR76omioGKmvT5njNrin3mljeuFY/w480-h640/20230820_134505.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued uphill and I commented that I didn't need to wee so much anymore as I had 'sweated it out'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw03mY3E-MVtZEa7GuHvrMnZl59ZE9oVsciwEtTaJuVT1H-LL-57gf-1SiyOVETWsOxJVjjnE-1cwwf1w2uBg-skOcIhwS-syRSx9dhJBSQhZPn4b5uSW8u07LBIh5aWWhN-lY5oP7wKSQ2IPVtydDcJshCfy39huOpfWamo3bfg44Fje2DhQmYgJ/s4032/20230820_134556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw03mY3E-MVtZEa7GuHvrMnZl59ZE9oVsciwEtTaJuVT1H-LL-57gf-1SiyOVETWsOxJVjjnE-1cwwf1w2uBg-skOcIhwS-syRSx9dhJBSQhZPn4b5uSW8u07LBIh5aWWhN-lY5oP7wKSQ2IPVtydDcJshCfy39huOpfWamo3bfg44Fje2DhQmYgJ/w480-h640/20230820_134556.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMLM6h-216Va6BTy3ExILZ7-YRQdxVy6I2sGz_caOKKBNaJDOWnl8v2urpq493zErCyVrXXq6TR-J2lg96i_ClTvY9z1vlYGJ6F0zPWGW8xxf0UTRcHVogTrwp4Y_kkzhJoAFTTjsOZjDRHDbjGOmPGgkDG0dDzQforPBbdsfxIROJMY35MD5OE7L/s4032/20230820_134640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMLM6h-216Va6BTy3ExILZ7-YRQdxVy6I2sGz_caOKKBNaJDOWnl8v2urpq493zErCyVrXXq6TR-J2lg96i_ClTvY9z1vlYGJ6F0zPWGW8xxf0UTRcHVogTrwp4Y_kkzhJoAFTTjsOZjDRHDbjGOmPGgkDG0dDzQforPBbdsfxIROJMY35MD5OE7L/w400-h300/20230820_134640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxo4J6O-Bf7sVgHiGGux3CWIriXHn-E8mYVHzgAoDbL-EzBzGkbQ4k5JZaA4oU3mTnwGZdUOM-MOxvZjpcco9W8L5yFrJHdVmoKBBpRQOnq2WLBGjvsCaWlZyjhG4JiWFXHiYkhycDVrqD5uYpQLRfkXxrP7LqBY5t5DRLDoo6dEtL4UAT1eFPhlc/s4032/20230820_134746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxo4J6O-Bf7sVgHiGGux3CWIriXHn-E8mYVHzgAoDbL-EzBzGkbQ4k5JZaA4oU3mTnwGZdUOM-MOxvZjpcco9W8L5yFrJHdVmoKBBpRQOnq2WLBGjvsCaWlZyjhG4JiWFXHiYkhycDVrqD5uYpQLRfkXxrP7LqBY5t5DRLDoo6dEtL4UAT1eFPhlc/w480-h640/20230820_134746.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I commented that I wanted to come back another day and do the walk the opposite direction.<br />"Maybe after I get back from Iceland." I suggested, knowing I had to spend less time blogging after my return as I had to knuckle down and finish my Tafe course (I had begun a Cert IV in Business Admin, at the suggestion of my Wife to get a higher paying job role, though I would have rather done something along the lines of 'Outdoor Recreation').</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-57dBCI6voKncoYEjRcyJdlnDxZiMUptDqxUPmZlVrR0Q19tbv6vIcnmCYvr1wtlLhd7OLmAu6PLBeHUeKJAw-HMC_4J-ivAHObMMZ1hcIfxiwUiDw8IxkFVVD_SswHCiyTjUXNeZTN0eLmEC-RLJyqrVM-TbIxMSmo_h16h-y91L0RP6XR6c0oB/s4032/20230820_135456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-57dBCI6voKncoYEjRcyJdlnDxZiMUptDqxUPmZlVrR0Q19tbv6vIcnmCYvr1wtlLhd7OLmAu6PLBeHUeKJAw-HMC_4J-ivAHObMMZ1hcIfxiwUiDw8IxkFVVD_SswHCiyTjUXNeZTN0eLmEC-RLJyqrVM-TbIxMSmo_h16h-y91L0RP6XR6c0oB/w400-h300/20230820_135456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxv3s_ABcCE84mt8my8x6wF0SA-xMrsvVIyM7Vcw70x3_1hzO5ikl8tNr2TvF6UEQM9weaASXii44Wry0eYIGE1VFMku34Uhh-iNBIUX2B_ueFOYdevRlkCGTICYbkN58Eb9uSo-uzRz1WhEEovz6L76YK_hmNmnw-NacJtUZ4l-1zNvOoOFt5HsR/s4032/20230820_135550.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxv3s_ABcCE84mt8my8x6wF0SA-xMrsvVIyM7Vcw70x3_1hzO5ikl8tNr2TvF6UEQM9weaASXii44Wry0eYIGE1VFMku34Uhh-iNBIUX2B_ueFOYdevRlkCGTICYbkN58Eb9uSo-uzRz1WhEEovz6L76YK_hmNmnw-NacJtUZ4l-1zNvOoOFt5HsR/w400-h300/20230820_135550.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwpel0fa2xNciafCxidXxnDc1j1BMX1qFSdmi9fVKFu9pIlfrb2Ek-LAOtaEfC3_N_5yjL7WZlsyJ2wxWR4Ls7_s19rxlc4mW2_3Mz2DmfhraKZdw57gfUMDWQEj9xaQlt-Mb2CpwKpmTp4YL_GetMeWvq-XV5fB5Ej3HblkdmaFw0wILZuiRV-S5/s4032/20230820_135743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwpel0fa2xNciafCxidXxnDc1j1BMX1qFSdmi9fVKFu9pIlfrb2Ek-LAOtaEfC3_N_5yjL7WZlsyJ2wxWR4Ls7_s19rxlc4mW2_3Mz2DmfhraKZdw57gfUMDWQEj9xaQlt-Mb2CpwKpmTp4YL_GetMeWvq-XV5fB5Ej3HblkdmaFw0wILZuiRV-S5/w400-h300/20230820_135743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I could see the road in our line of sight, I asked the question about if they wanted to follow along the ring track, back to the road through to the summit park, of if they wanted to walk back up Dave Walsh's track. They preferred to head up Dave Walsh's track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA-Qet7IBxLDlcvflqWqc0He0lBgzSAyedrf2L9lfrqdX6caPNvCR6SnxOjMA27UgQ8EnK8qOkwfuAQuthoEABgjNfAxuAKEzyONPzCbsgyYDKjDBKYJ2xE_AtSUIp-Nl3xl-8n7Rk9d_NVNBMn-EhHQVmWcft_RQCnGNxU3dicBbEMWfmhs_LtJ0/s4032/20230820_135915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA-Qet7IBxLDlcvflqWqc0He0lBgzSAyedrf2L9lfrqdX6caPNvCR6SnxOjMA27UgQ8EnK8qOkwfuAQuthoEABgjNfAxuAKEzyONPzCbsgyYDKjDBKYJ2xE_AtSUIp-Nl3xl-8n7Rk9d_NVNBMn-EhHQVmWcft_RQCnGNxU3dicBbEMWfmhs_LtJ0/w480-h640/20230820_135915.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We crossed the road and began walking up Dave Walsh's track. As we reached the section where the couple and the child had continued straight to go to the boulder-like cave I asked if they wanted to go over and have a look. This time they turned the offer down, both feeling pretty fatigues from the walk and we made our way back to the summit car park, debating whether or not to get coffee from the very busy cafe. We decided against it, figuring we were heading home now anyway and could just make one at home. <br /><br />As they dropped me off home, I hopped out of the car, now feeling a little sore from the walk, but feeling like my lungs had handled it fine, hoping for the best for my lung test.<br /><br />"See ya's next Sunday!" I said referring to the two escape rooms we had organised. As I walked inside and kicked off my shoes, I had a sense of satisfaction, having wanted to do the walk since my chemotherapy. I felt glad to be alive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DIYyaXyYE6mF32SX_5bDDavEmPLCCE1e1VJ5q-hTJao-hG-nrinDVQhoRJj71LvpviN9kc7UaZQSfCd8Cg3Kawl44QVuZD0mKsWa3TZMmRpHgr7KCwY1N_T8pDr5JntW1rB9OXR8x4kasXmRz32Y-y4JYzKtHEunR3TucnVf0akYxso5yL2AhZ9_/s674/michael%20cera.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="454" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DIYyaXyYE6mF32SX_5bDDavEmPLCCE1e1VJ5q-hTJao-hG-nrinDVQhoRJj71LvpviN9kc7UaZQSfCd8Cg3Kawl44QVuZD0mKsWa3TZMmRpHgr7KCwY1N_T8pDr5JntW1rB9OXR8x4kasXmRz32Y-y4JYzKtHEunR3TucnVf0akYxso5yL2AhZ9_/w432-h640/michael%20cera.png" width="432" /></a></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com6Mount Keira, NSW 2500, Australia-34.4026988 150.8564661-62.712932636178849 115.7002161 -6.0924649638211577 -173.98728389999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-42256593191076816832023-08-08T13:08:00.006+10:002023-08-11T08:07:05.231+10:00Glow Worm Glen<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Gandangarra Country</i></b></p><p>Back in April, for my two-year celebration of being <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">cancer free</a>, I went for a walk in the Southern Highlands at <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/04/fairy-bower-falls.html" target="_blank">Fairy Bowers Falls</a>. My Wife, who was working that day was disappointed as she loves the highlands. So in the lead up to our trip to Iceland, I suggested she do some walks with me in order to test her fitness (she had been exercising in preparation for some of the mountains in Iceland), and so we settled on doing Glow Worm Glen, as it had originally been my plan to do that on the same day as Fairy Bower Falls but I had run out of time. However, the Friday before the weekend we planned to do it my Wife became sick, and so we delayed it to the following weekend on the Sunday.</p><p>The next weekend arrived, and the rain began early on Saturday morning. However, it had stopped by the afternoon, and while looking at the forecast for Bundanoon on the Sunday we decided the weather would be alright and so I set an alarm for Sunday morning. We awoke and I had to try and get Orla (my Dog) ready to go outside for the day. However, as I lay in bed drinking my coffee, she cuddled up next to me, tucking her head in-between my armpit making me feel guilty about having to leave her. <br />"How will you cope in Iceland?" My Wife said as I cuddled Orla, riddled with guilt.<br />We got ready for the walk, and I placed Orla out the back with her Kong that was stuffed with treats (which she usually takes and eagerly runs away with) however she simply sat down with her sad puppy Dog eyes looking at me, wondering why she didn't get to come with us.</p><p>My Wife decided to take her car, as I was beginning to clock up the km's on mine. "Is it OK if I play Taylor Swift?" She asked.<br />"You're the driver, you get to pick the music." I replied and we began our way to Albion Park and up <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/10/macquarie-pass-jump-rock-and-clover.html" target="_blank">Macquarie Pass,</a> which had both side of its bottom carparks already packed, and Clover Hill Road was too as we drove by it.</p><p>My Wife didn't need any GPS to find her way towards Bundanoon having worked up there for a time at a cafe owner by our friend Alicia's Mum. As we approached Bundanoon I told her. "You know I've wanted to do this walk for years?"<br />"Have you?" She asked.<br />I told her the story about staying at the Bundanoon YHA, that I won't repeat here as I wrote about it in my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore blog</a>. I mentioned that it was the walk I thought I was going to do when I did Fairy Bower Falls, (even though the actual walk I had planned to do afterwards but ran out of time as I drove to Mittagong to buy a stout instead). I told her I remembered that it wasn't too far from the YHA as I thought my Dad had taken my two younger brothers to the walk on foot. I said I remembered it being on top a valley looking down into it. I said I remembered there being a lot of pine trees and that my brothers had come back with ticks all in their heads.</p><p>As we entered Bundanoon I pointed to a brown sign on our right pointing up a hill on our left. My Wife turned and drove to the top of the street, where we parked and quickly sprayed some Bushmans on our shoes and legs to avoid leeches. We walked down the road just down from the top of William Street past the houses where we found the start of the walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS4HzHqubbHvYB2KFSggqecz5lfcaeviLfClBjJwBQtUvePjg1NMUKdELymYmZkAXetJi32yqYVFI02fVF5n3BhACa8h93Uxl75L3KWQRhAN1D3ed1STnqZl-4W6KVrJn9YBoZv-xJBw3c0WHmhBVR6eA-e_E0Z7_Wckgvgz_FFP3R8XtIJZPCQa8/s4032/20230806_111519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAS4HzHqubbHvYB2KFSggqecz5lfcaeviLfClBjJwBQtUvePjg1NMUKdELymYmZkAXetJi32yqYVFI02fVF5n3BhACa8h93Uxl75L3KWQRhAN1D3ed1STnqZl-4W6KVrJn9YBoZv-xJBw3c0WHmhBVR6eA-e_E0Z7_Wckgvgz_FFP3R8XtIJZPCQa8/w400-h300/20230806_111519.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwX8MErWCYlHpCZiv4Q4WwTQQ7a9lZTE-wvLOebiWXeCG3xEQgPmbQByQRbVgDQaPmdI-hAQul4aq4JoXxcuVN2D3Ha-DO9XFs63GJzZNjIKtdu6PalPM3nvzlVbjn2ucSw9JSA-BRuSg5ZOmxfTLp1wEp60Sp_sBqH7YVas2_aI2l7OCdH3CiLty/s4032/20230806_111540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwX8MErWCYlHpCZiv4Q4WwTQQ7a9lZTE-wvLOebiWXeCG3xEQgPmbQByQRbVgDQaPmdI-hAQul4aq4JoXxcuVN2D3Ha-DO9XFs63GJzZNjIKtdu6PalPM3nvzlVbjn2ucSw9JSA-BRuSg5ZOmxfTLp1wEp60Sp_sBqH7YVas2_aI2l7OCdH3CiLty/w400-h300/20230806_111540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading the little information sign I commented that is said to avoid wearing insect repellant, as we had just sprayed on some Bush-Mans. "Bit late now." I said, hoping it would be ok.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElwFifBDjlRpatb1o0HB85zvTiW91688fkstwUBNYEzaQu3x6X7LTk_fH2wiT-Ey7bw2zvh-ZTAmjIxHH1meXmvJMXiLZX1cAcjHIfAlv6AprnEfOhSY-Jn-i490drMlNIRf8lnEYPLjENpuHIVHD-9DAmWPbw74_bnth5Eu1fy5YVuzgVzuIpbGm/s4032/20230806_111524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElwFifBDjlRpatb1o0HB85zvTiW91688fkstwUBNYEzaQu3x6X7LTk_fH2wiT-Ey7bw2zvh-ZTAmjIxHH1meXmvJMXiLZX1cAcjHIfAlv6AprnEfOhSY-Jn-i490drMlNIRf8lnEYPLjENpuHIVHD-9DAmWPbw74_bnth5Eu1fy5YVuzgVzuIpbGm/w480-h640/20230806_111524.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"This still isn't looking like the place I remember." I told my Wife.<br />"Maybe where you stayed was over-looking Wingello if you remember all the pines." She said.<br />"Maybe..." I said while thinking. "Maybe and he just took them to here and I didn't see the spot where they actually walked. It was years ago, I could just be misremembering."</p><p>We made our way down the stairs that had people's properties backing onto it. As we reached the base of the first set of stairs, I stopped to look at a tree that I thought looked beautiful up against an old dry stone fence. I was taken by how green everything around us was looking, compared to a lot of the natural areas around where I live, with the haunting white bodies of gum trees and dry yellows grasses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgMxtvVjVuXJLVkBVipArhnP4vm2Y1zwc6pybgPNG-YMiy6SdQyKLZA5TbcbVQ8XXDl7vn1-3WJsQEZWSil45X7Ao5gYg15HoRdXzMPws8_NMact0xff096NCShv9Mh0YthYmJNQvE3XW9s8rpbdcqQ2nlyQltVxc257G0El8qSapETH-SBL2LTdC/s4032/20230806_111806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgMxtvVjVuXJLVkBVipArhnP4vm2Y1zwc6pybgPNG-YMiy6SdQyKLZA5TbcbVQ8XXDl7vn1-3WJsQEZWSil45X7Ao5gYg15HoRdXzMPws8_NMact0xff096NCShv9Mh0YthYmJNQvE3XW9s8rpbdcqQ2nlyQltVxc257G0El8qSapETH-SBL2LTdC/w480-h640/20230806_111806.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiia5B-qM0pvbmClX5u19xOK01FdFLjHvtDy6zJuJ01rB8wuW5mONyye6Q_O8mmR4m9dHHxzCTg02-05yXwZE-wEd2z2x3Q25QBYvJpLKL1tMcTuNT0WyblH0ue_eNYjud2zTqh8XRIk2Aerrhu9YahZURNyddAK9_bZTzyW-CdmifnHP2Gm2KaoMI/s4032/20230806_111810.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiia5B-qM0pvbmClX5u19xOK01FdFLjHvtDy6zJuJ01rB8wuW5mONyye6Q_O8mmR4m9dHHxzCTg02-05yXwZE-wEd2z2x3Q25QBYvJpLKL1tMcTuNT0WyblH0ue_eNYjud2zTqh8XRIk2Aerrhu9YahZURNyddAK9_bZTzyW-CdmifnHP2Gm2KaoMI/w480-h640/20230806_111810.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued along the path that flattened out now moving in and out from underneath the canopy as I waited for the walk to begin our decent into the Glen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kTVf5SxTg4R3j6YGR9PEIav3ECT_gAaRrKEG_LTJtl-oTIMrpkxKJwLN-3EAZheomlb2OSRdlGBXqfnuEnu4x7OO8PaWbUccOFiWRL49E1zZUsHBV8iPnV_75K4AFhUbGhctL81TDr6JJWzNxuxwQwsoWW4KwLbnZfZEaWB6yqcYuqmu6qC3ybM6/s4032/20230806_112020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kTVf5SxTg4R3j6YGR9PEIav3ECT_gAaRrKEG_LTJtl-oTIMrpkxKJwLN-3EAZheomlb2OSRdlGBXqfnuEnu4x7OO8PaWbUccOFiWRL49E1zZUsHBV8iPnV_75K4AFhUbGhctL81TDr6JJWzNxuxwQwsoWW4KwLbnZfZEaWB6yqcYuqmu6qC3ybM6/w480-h640/20230806_112020.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DAppn0GyxWz9q-8d5mvCtpoB09eoCgGqZvNMBUm3FIfo4ycBU1wGWa5yJ1JkE8yh0gPqiaGjD8mkn2g1ljPXgHKpaRetLQAAFRUsn3XekWCpWuKquCy1F_9dsaMaOYktQ8kTdtrEmoj2xCMKQ9Dwj1O2fWFXtiB2BTVD1d1aMGakArB-lGNs5x6l/s4032/20230806_112037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DAppn0GyxWz9q-8d5mvCtpoB09eoCgGqZvNMBUm3FIfo4ycBU1wGWa5yJ1JkE8yh0gPqiaGjD8mkn2g1ljPXgHKpaRetLQAAFRUsn3XekWCpWuKquCy1F_9dsaMaOYktQ8kTdtrEmoj2xCMKQ9Dwj1O2fWFXtiB2BTVD1d1aMGakArB-lGNs5x6l/w480-h640/20230806_112037.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I was struck by how in such a very small distance the scenery had already changed so much as we walked through reeds on either side of us, hitting some more steps that were once more surrounded by deep greenery,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcdEYwnR3teZEDtSHp6NUnFSOhA1PdD5T0HBafb5HtLgd0DRkgv37IHWnKoDbOKE9qzvPPzYnBQMKX_x4lORUuXRB8twD5OiLlN-9g7uspSGVtHSDWCVRz92jck9e_dqL-trKRzL0qiThv6cMlj4CfqJoZXwKG5GCQ2jfqQhYhWavLIqPe9aBgBnC/s4032/20230806_112114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcdEYwnR3teZEDtSHp6NUnFSOhA1PdD5T0HBafb5HtLgd0DRkgv37IHWnKoDbOKE9qzvPPzYnBQMKX_x4lORUuXRB8twD5OiLlN-9g7uspSGVtHSDWCVRz92jck9e_dqL-trKRzL0qiThv6cMlj4CfqJoZXwKG5GCQ2jfqQhYhWavLIqPe9aBgBnC/w480-h640/20230806_112114.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I pointed to the plants growing low along the side of the steps. <br />"It looks like parsley." I said.<br />"One way to find out." My Wife said, taking a piece that I thought she was going to eat, however she simply put it to her nose and sniffed it. "It's not parsley." She told me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDr3DUeoG2IgNL8O8lLFXX2w8Cq5A3uBjcWVz_qTTx6uNrdztHqFvDP5XsoyazNL2-rUbT0oNV3D72KUduP3kvSHxWoMvCxaq6-ocQyl2HerUWqorkepWKPr4w6EhftOI-JHS1gsmL9PlzJvFdRmROjzk9RljxXPmgoi5wY7IbH9SpSEeKvCVbifX/s4032/20230806_112139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDr3DUeoG2IgNL8O8lLFXX2w8Cq5A3uBjcWVz_qTTx6uNrdztHqFvDP5XsoyazNL2-rUbT0oNV3D72KUduP3kvSHxWoMvCxaq6-ocQyl2HerUWqorkepWKPr4w6EhftOI-JHS1gsmL9PlzJvFdRmROjzk9RljxXPmgoi5wY7IbH9SpSEeKvCVbifX/w480-h640/20230806_112139.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAUt63GDajxSRDrjU9jlHKfgSpQbaByS6yiRVM1HYucffBLJlwgFvDvcgIK_DipJucmnJvamTKEWgWz8xTOZ18EfVd3ykaC_mXbiTO42Mb_g_dfLRdr_3Fd40D9EhLBgMxEySC34aJmzFbSD0ABTFWE4AkQqARYq4fLNvpP8so6KJsNCdFEK68q7I/s4032/20230806_112250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAUt63GDajxSRDrjU9jlHKfgSpQbaByS6yiRVM1HYucffBLJlwgFvDvcgIK_DipJucmnJvamTKEWgWz8xTOZ18EfVd3ykaC_mXbiTO42Mb_g_dfLRdr_3Fd40D9EhLBgMxEySC34aJmzFbSD0ABTFWE4AkQqARYq4fLNvpP8so6KJsNCdFEK68q7I/w480-h640/20230806_112250.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L1Hp2qVcI36XnlGWuWzUfTyNnmWe_H0A5wwFa7cQJQ_fp3KqESn5o9f4KcWm-f4pjxtMOwk2OlLC4IUtaLB-HG1Czye53tA9NvESoGhLidGjXSbXvSgxq90s6XFUUavkqVjbPNpDSaF1IXXkP8UfwhGy6dUhWmewhIjVXEpksMtHkXXVuPm_Wkjm/s4032/20230806_112338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L1Hp2qVcI36XnlGWuWzUfTyNnmWe_H0A5wwFa7cQJQ_fp3KqESn5o9f4KcWm-f4pjxtMOwk2OlLC4IUtaLB-HG1Czye53tA9NvESoGhLidGjXSbXvSgxq90s6XFUUavkqVjbPNpDSaF1IXXkP8UfwhGy6dUhWmewhIjVXEpksMtHkXXVuPm_Wkjm/w480-h640/20230806_112338.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>"Orla would love this walk." I said.<br />My Wife began talking about how Dogs weren't allowed on many walks in Australia, compared to when we had been in the UK, again dreaming that she could live in the UK instead of Australia.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise5S-hpGoVrWbZ5IbOKH7qpolz09vd8FhX9jwLHh2SX9rG-3HcV7f4OQUkVCwhXWExe5MFtt_8RFdCDWac0HgiakO4AgtUc3J8gr8CxMqwJmyrFBJGhtriyqENEXgpfQI7pmg2hKBvzu6tvm7rybgHy6qor9sBjLk3jNpUL7Lp4yzxb3ymUjiPCJ7/s4032/20230806_112435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEise5S-hpGoVrWbZ5IbOKH7qpolz09vd8FhX9jwLHh2SX9rG-3HcV7f4OQUkVCwhXWExe5MFtt_8RFdCDWac0HgiakO4AgtUc3J8gr8CxMqwJmyrFBJGhtriyqENEXgpfQI7pmg2hKBvzu6tvm7rybgHy6qor9sBjLk3jNpUL7Lp4yzxb3ymUjiPCJ7/w480-h640/20230806_112435.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw40022Jycg0AIUWorhyVjmrExmnz9NRKupgw1IFC57q9cP9msK82TG2g_REYX2u7Cglvv5CKHHLLpKeNgeSoZ02jOzk_zVYdacOErHXBgQZE3GBFcpiMtjbnCl6EaRI-lUqwdR--EE6pQVnpaQCPlvFNn6rYR-yadmFiju1hsfPutUwyZYNxvYC-/s4032/20230806_112506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw40022Jycg0AIUWorhyVjmrExmnz9NRKupgw1IFC57q9cP9msK82TG2g_REYX2u7Cglvv5CKHHLLpKeNgeSoZ02jOzk_zVYdacOErHXBgQZE3GBFcpiMtjbnCl6EaRI-lUqwdR--EE6pQVnpaQCPlvFNn6rYR-yadmFiju1hsfPutUwyZYNxvYC-/w480-h640/20230806_112506.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The air was chilly in the highlands, at 9 degrees Celsius. "I wish I had brought an overshirt." I said. <br />"Are you really cold?" My Wife asked as I had been cold in her car the whole drive while she had the air conditioning on.</p><p>We soon reached a split in the track one heading ahead to Glow Worm Glen, the other heading right to an alternative car park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVUGpYeRDhyOITVeG1eAc6zbUjL5TDY7RPiiX5b8smCtLjhTLHccyJVPBpWmo2MTBVZ8c8khQewA0KmDfIbSJHF_RiwC6MLYu6AqQdu9IF-lRzfE0aDhyQ98FZ5yM9Fb32R3kJuAyokUWTY7kC6ysSK9qQAfcxLQG4XmfsnHqnd-xTOQlrXnc6fHk/s4032/20230806_112533.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVUGpYeRDhyOITVeG1eAc6zbUjL5TDY7RPiiX5b8smCtLjhTLHccyJVPBpWmo2MTBVZ8c8khQewA0KmDfIbSJHF_RiwC6MLYu6AqQdu9IF-lRzfE0aDhyQ98FZ5yM9Fb32R3kJuAyokUWTY7kC6ysSK9qQAfcxLQG4XmfsnHqnd-xTOQlrXnc6fHk/w400-h300/20230806_112533.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"Maybe that's the carpark my Dad took my brothers from?" I questioned, before pointing out it really wasn't very car to Glow Worm Glen. My Wife pointed to each sign and the distances they both said to Glow Worm Glen, both offering inconsistent distances. My Wife suggested that we would walk through to the other carpark for a look seeing as we had driven so far for such a short walk. "I guess I probably might have had time to do it after Fairy Bower, if it wasn't for my forgetting to pack water and driving to Mittagong to buy a stout."</p><p>We continued up and I noticed a lot of trees had been cut down along the track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxgBtXvYynIfDka00CsrMABFSOOrGHp-MpR3yfF5UZ4JkrYabC4HxC_xGOYp97HAe3ZkfhsCTBin6eVcAr_9If8ypCXTUXwDwOQcczPzqSWN-716lHe2GR01xCXea_vrXrXwWJoPoZtqTRA5DDZQuRVTiwdeyDXYp03khx-C63ktFY3IoB8wkIzFn/s4032/20230806_112622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxgBtXvYynIfDka00CsrMABFSOOrGHp-MpR3yfF5UZ4JkrYabC4HxC_xGOYp97HAe3ZkfhsCTBin6eVcAr_9If8ypCXTUXwDwOQcczPzqSWN-716lHe2GR01xCXea_vrXrXwWJoPoZtqTRA5DDZQuRVTiwdeyDXYp03khx-C63ktFY3IoB8wkIzFn/w480-h640/20230806_112622.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze5tOA8NoGTGCahb2uf-dMe8lOwBAfonYCeY_ERkqkIAB3dNPo2gSfbySw-pCNHiqHDvf2GGRRqkbfdHQvbFADMMMnUvypQVcbcoNDYdwffpTFrkjZI_l74DVxomJIWEcmjl62M3yWawOGJSGufkMrZQRHQSkCPPZrrYEBoiyW_LMW1qZdyJvpAft/s4032/20230806_112722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze5tOA8NoGTGCahb2uf-dMe8lOwBAfonYCeY_ERkqkIAB3dNPo2gSfbySw-pCNHiqHDvf2GGRRqkbfdHQvbFADMMMnUvypQVcbcoNDYdwffpTFrkjZI_l74DVxomJIWEcmjl62M3yWawOGJSGufkMrZQRHQSkCPPZrrYEBoiyW_LMW1qZdyJvpAft/w480-h640/20230806_112722.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We walked around the corner and soon came to the last section of stairs heading down to the Glen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYYTHJLz8jrV4hAnqfc-LWuXYMaRiRpcirdTDkueySu6yOkUuS069C3Bq-sIDicmV_4ZRvPoJ2MBwUZf_SzHDwPzsChS1p_TRin3GTvff7G4gXIEutlype-4vofWzlT867uFwJ5lcbLig-nSdFmjf4QmxvN_rs4vzivr0_dN-QLRlCF2iTPx30tp5/s4032/20230806_112846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYYTHJLz8jrV4hAnqfc-LWuXYMaRiRpcirdTDkueySu6yOkUuS069C3Bq-sIDicmV_4ZRvPoJ2MBwUZf_SzHDwPzsChS1p_TRin3GTvff7G4gXIEutlype-4vofWzlT867uFwJ5lcbLig-nSdFmjf4QmxvN_rs4vzivr0_dN-QLRlCF2iTPx30tp5/w480-h640/20230806_112846.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGdDT9aRJmzV-ouG45KWOK26IsmwL3ef6Yf5jhCzMI4iP0XzCJ1aRfU3xK0H0bB2sVdUZmRm1xfXMrVXr9W5KQVlk6Ma2M0-26OGRgV2UKpZG9p2UUATMKaYXAHzQPIwnqJfFVT64Z7fefEFiNerTLfWyYxje2RxAApr3qA38pKikWXsxxrgooD2E/s4032/20230806_113251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGdDT9aRJmzV-ouG45KWOK26IsmwL3ef6Yf5jhCzMI4iP0XzCJ1aRfU3xK0H0bB2sVdUZmRm1xfXMrVXr9W5KQVlk6Ma2M0-26OGRgV2UKpZG9p2UUATMKaYXAHzQPIwnqJfFVT64Z7fefEFiNerTLfWyYxje2RxAApr3qA38pKikWXsxxrgooD2E/w480-h640/20230806_113251.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQLSV7Zyc7ZJEUUIP7-qhGf9P1XInC5qsoE55Je-iCdEGVbbz8o51gM4dbdJ7bJCgnUDzxmn19Uku3pbWyWtf4KJQmTa1ULGuJlakQjS9yPeiK4vptc9nJJJXDmdio7P8gAAjGldtWbMwgq7K1_p3JJGz22VDul-C1962uW1US3BNFoVonIiavEYN/s4032/20230806_113336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQLSV7Zyc7ZJEUUIP7-qhGf9P1XInC5qsoE55Je-iCdEGVbbz8o51gM4dbdJ7bJCgnUDzxmn19Uku3pbWyWtf4KJQmTa1ULGuJlakQjS9yPeiK4vptc9nJJJXDmdio7P8gAAjGldtWbMwgq7K1_p3JJGz22VDul-C1962uW1US3BNFoVonIiavEYN/w480-h640/20230806_113336.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We slowly walked down these stairs looking into the gully. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKnDB84ToZq8xmrsYPAAT4ePXrfonuJKCb_RU2Bx3iM-z8L9JrhnnDxXi1l5toPw5fMr6jqFnh6ndTZzDUBpMOvnYD52_whteods3avEiiE8bHoOIg5i5ngi9_5ScneI05M5bpoBNpessl17KG1ba7rc0wCtWyjVlMXas2KUE6npNeCa8hldEI9Oo/s4032/20230806_113502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKnDB84ToZq8xmrsYPAAT4ePXrfonuJKCb_RU2Bx3iM-z8L9JrhnnDxXi1l5toPw5fMr6jqFnh6ndTZzDUBpMOvnYD52_whteods3avEiiE8bHoOIg5i5ngi9_5ScneI05M5bpoBNpessl17KG1ba7rc0wCtWyjVlMXas2KUE6npNeCa8hldEI9Oo/w480-h640/20230806_113502.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We walked down onto the built platform, which I had to wonder if it was there all those years ago when my Dad and brothers had come down. It was obviously there to stop people walking in any further and disturbing the area, although I commented to my Wife that people who wanted to would simply just jump over anyway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNHQq7YwGdsIvNSej-Bo2U01aT5WG3jYzYIt4njIw3zBmjOAo0cfU-Lmes7UozBFwZrW5k9OxLHE_-gqocDpjGtXRPwe8Y5RyYn86FypIA2escVGm6oNJO_YVMEtWdE1Jm53JbG0vvMtpVrMBPZ4sFQimGEDt0P-0WOye_llM7dHRII9hznuyDC5Y/s4032/20230806_113513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNHQq7YwGdsIvNSej-Bo2U01aT5WG3jYzYIt4njIw3zBmjOAo0cfU-Lmes7UozBFwZrW5k9OxLHE_-gqocDpjGtXRPwe8Y5RyYn86FypIA2escVGm6oNJO_YVMEtWdE1Jm53JbG0vvMtpVrMBPZ4sFQimGEDt0P-0WOye_llM7dHRII9hznuyDC5Y/w480-h640/20230806_113513.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I had known that during the day we wouldn't be able to see any glow worms but I didn't know the walk was going to be so short (as I didn't want my Wife trekking through the bush in the dark, but the walk was ultra short). She suggested we come back in Summer with our friends Stuart and Megan and come at night to see the glow worms. I said that would be a good idea and that we could all go out for dinner beforehand (as it's a late sunset in Summer in Australia, particularly in NSW because of daylight savings which I hate).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwEKhb6vZg-Mpl8oyaM1GIZMQ00R5qCSbWjvDLsPbe354cC04Hr32WH3VDK94xcxAj7UzoI7086fX-IlRnExg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We stopped and ate the cliff bars we packed, feeling like we over bought on food for the walk. We sat in the silence enjoying the views and clean crisp air, before we decided to head back up and walk to the alternate car park. "Sorry it's not much of a physical test for you for Iceland" I said to my Wife.</p><p>We soon reached the turn off to the other carpark, which according to the distances on the sign was almost as long a walk as the entire walk from William Street to Glow Worm Glen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBOB-HQ5BOqXK4HR24X_sZVvasCq2f-ra_qcWYmgaJYyWjlZ3bgVE4RV1iUo6irB07hss58YYnsxZQ6YJLCU9Lp4EVFdpvtNMzFJF1_GixAN_ZiAYeG8BEeO_EP7aw7oOJqcXfvGrx_qNYF3uXSabxQzxsWHQPjf3uQArye64dyEnu5LMP_g_3mnM/s4032/20230806_114701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBOB-HQ5BOqXK4HR24X_sZVvasCq2f-ra_qcWYmgaJYyWjlZ3bgVE4RV1iUo6irB07hss58YYnsxZQ6YJLCU9Lp4EVFdpvtNMzFJF1_GixAN_ZiAYeG8BEeO_EP7aw7oOJqcXfvGrx_qNYF3uXSabxQzxsWHQPjf3uQArye64dyEnu5LMP_g_3mnM/w480-h640/20230806_114701.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD88qc-3yrLfOb9qfBDV3NSTI5OMCDr_IIOfWI6JZwxRa93eOf_Zq46mr7pGxYaTgoqf-7T2wtGnzQhs6vbppCgHPs7DBOKKJGt0pi7uBZ00EGBrXpLErji7XcQAoQDWeBcyIE75Qix3KEwWAKYIpn-bpeKSyiqmoRFO_Mp_3VA7kGrPFlz24BseGd/s4032/20230806_114739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD88qc-3yrLfOb9qfBDV3NSTI5OMCDr_IIOfWI6JZwxRa93eOf_Zq46mr7pGxYaTgoqf-7T2wtGnzQhs6vbppCgHPs7DBOKKJGt0pi7uBZ00EGBrXpLErji7XcQAoQDWeBcyIE75Qix3KEwWAKYIpn-bpeKSyiqmoRFO_Mp_3VA7kGrPFlz24BseGd/w480-h640/20230806_114739.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I thought this crossing was a bit cooler than the walk we had taken and said out loud "Maybe this is the more adventurous route."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowpqQ1vLzH35nqwFnmrzWGDzpHxW8n-TpFcpofhmHQFbKDS2z57spfgcfi3wpjf5pDnDLKfXLesiDfKXq4iz7iACt6gL52kwyWHv3XSngRE4LeHGYZ7cCUfU04Q321eD70mG8J1x4lWr2qsPvJHKxRapuzmWnxXj7YC_AEucgQCugfq71cMf0PzUX/s3648/20230806_114800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowpqQ1vLzH35nqwFnmrzWGDzpHxW8n-TpFcpofhmHQFbKDS2z57spfgcfi3wpjf5pDnDLKfXLesiDfKXq4iz7iACt6gL52kwyWHv3XSngRE4LeHGYZ7cCUfU04Q321eD70mG8J1x4lWr2qsPvJHKxRapuzmWnxXj7YC_AEucgQCugfq71cMf0PzUX/w480-h640/20230806_114800.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I told her as we crossed the little creek it reminded me of one very particular section of the walk to Mount Jellore.</p><p>As we crossed, I told my Wife to watch her footing, as the earth was still wet from the rain and we needed to walk uphill with nothing to hold on to. She said that sometimes it was better wet as the topsoil could be more compacted, however I had walked enough to know about slipping over in the mud, however she was proved right, and the soil was pretty firm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT34nDCrHbJdgIuKpIhab9wv-xROmAQkRPzfYXV33UUkBSKLhqn6XZ7wzplbruublW1We2jD7mRC0SBpyJhC8WjlJAaZCH08R35CjvQ5k6iYtmDxziUaFT5hopFoscqknpFIxWY88JqW4g3BI13XDwP2UqyEBniQZZ-Wzjy05wM7oa2Fs4NeyS4wY/s4032/20230806_114841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT34nDCrHbJdgIuKpIhab9wv-xROmAQkRPzfYXV33UUkBSKLhqn6XZ7wzplbruublW1We2jD7mRC0SBpyJhC8WjlJAaZCH08R35CjvQ5k6iYtmDxziUaFT5hopFoscqknpFIxWY88JqW4g3BI13XDwP2UqyEBniQZZ-Wzjy05wM7oa2Fs4NeyS4wY/w480-h640/20230806_114841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4idtTmxOnHKthYqLXkKp-sLeGxWk9C_0JClvlUGFZwnJyO09Y-RahJIy_74v16AUu9-tL_TPRmIIP5pRdFqLuEJC6yzMZ_rxa1IlaEKidHffpg2yAfzfx031snxHz4Q1P0vElHs5qOaLtvN6IA9jkCPeo1NnuwgGREXpK_SWVCvLOyNmKB4zJ9EI/s4032/20230806_115010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4idtTmxOnHKthYqLXkKp-sLeGxWk9C_0JClvlUGFZwnJyO09Y-RahJIy_74v16AUu9-tL_TPRmIIP5pRdFqLuEJC6yzMZ_rxa1IlaEKidHffpg2yAfzfx031snxHz4Q1P0vElHs5qOaLtvN6IA9jkCPeo1NnuwgGREXpK_SWVCvLOyNmKB4zJ9EI/w480-h640/20230806_115010.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we reached the top we were exposed to completely different scenery once again as wel walked through cane-like plants that my Wife commented reminded her of the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/05/cruise-to-vanuatu-and-new-caledonia.html" target="_blank">Bamboo forest we went through in Vanuatu on our way to Cascade Waterfall.</a> I commented that I had had the same thought, though I don't know why, as the two didn't really look much alike at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5my9I95eaSt2s8h-Zy3SfOQIsKz0H9cz8DpEhHgOzGy7NRMvHKrFGmXfQTQjTr8sSNGQUfHYTqm4nZUz-TnkgazAGdYYVxCi0g3BQAku7NxnnUCExPrJaUZv8M8yPyX_ohp3lgmRjljxxNKD4GmERMMNbxoffzlmO7d_lkJExMC7xZRoQNdD1c9Zs/s4032/20230806_115131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5my9I95eaSt2s8h-Zy3SfOQIsKz0H9cz8DpEhHgOzGy7NRMvHKrFGmXfQTQjTr8sSNGQUfHYTqm4nZUz-TnkgazAGdYYVxCi0g3BQAku7NxnnUCExPrJaUZv8M8yPyX_ohp3lgmRjljxxNKD4GmERMMNbxoffzlmO7d_lkJExMC7xZRoQNdD1c9Zs/w480-h640/20230806_115131.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued weaving through, and the path twisted and turned.<br />"You're lucky I'm in front." I told my Wife, wiping spiderwebs from my face for the umpteenth time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG1SH14s0H7MVc8WmH3ClGF4BSv-kll7t4YLM77ORlr6cn2KI28vnjVzHD2OJulRyXsg2IeA2hm_vt9dew5oOeZ97vuQQmBPWGoURrNXjlT1IM8_-akyXBOkRUq8RkzwlYitReStuMrGLGBg8lJsHoYWGF-3C5IaiMm4LoIyVka_N10jeX2Ch0Oy2/s4032/20230806_115218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIG1SH14s0H7MVc8WmH3ClGF4BSv-kll7t4YLM77ORlr6cn2KI28vnjVzHD2OJulRyXsg2IeA2hm_vt9dew5oOeZ97vuQQmBPWGoURrNXjlT1IM8_-akyXBOkRUq8RkzwlYitReStuMrGLGBg8lJsHoYWGF-3C5IaiMm4LoIyVka_N10jeX2Ch0Oy2/w480-h640/20230806_115218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"Crocheted beanie." I said, as we walked past someone's beanie they had placed along the trail.<br />"Hey crotched beanie." She said, having not heard me just say it. She said something about the type of materials or sizing or something that as someone who doesn't crotchet went right over my head. "I could make that in... an hour and a half."</p><p>"An hour and a half? It took you weeks to make mine." I retorted.<br />She than begin to go in about the different sizes and materials and my eye glazed and I just nodded.</p><p>We came a split in the trail, and I suggested heading right, which I thought would head towards town before I noticed the pink ribbon tied to a branch indicating that it was the right way to go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB2OcUaHAqTr15BAZvi38O5PKXeGuRQTSERIUYRX4zagltZMjEi5EfLQkQp7ki8i9Oeu4qlc5q3rX2NHZ1rzhKmZ16IZrjVI9vNkKEMOA_V6AyfQIIeIKKGy1PMuicERdKf_fDHoIdfH2S2X0nBdqHwk387qsQOrzjHsrWZwc_focpSduKm7RIiZ5/s4032/20230806_115325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB2OcUaHAqTr15BAZvi38O5PKXeGuRQTSERIUYRX4zagltZMjEi5EfLQkQp7ki8i9Oeu4qlc5q3rX2NHZ1rzhKmZ16IZrjVI9vNkKEMOA_V6AyfQIIeIKKGy1PMuicERdKf_fDHoIdfH2S2X0nBdqHwk387qsQOrzjHsrWZwc_focpSduKm7RIiZ5/w400-h300/20230806_115325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I started a little rant about how a few of the walks I had done lately didn't really have good markers, and often had a variety of trails splitting off from them with no indication of which way was the right way to be going, thinking in particular of my recent walk up <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/06/hoddles-track-saddleback-mountain.html" target="_blank">Saddleback Mountain</a>. "They always have signs pointing the way at obvious points." I whined.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid5fSxmzJAn3cwufAUdfPX5mpmrDGmoGCdevuGPt6GO1Aei18x40iqH7ujlcR7rAJvgdYyBZp9vCGhIzD8EmZtoaxV5-s1JWJfneTtli5cUIqN4jQgrLb3YOibywE5aGjXE7a4Tw7dQAP0nTlbwhx7hv2wxXdo5YSVhkKAiHMz9FjJYfyLgp_Ma7s/s4032/20230806_115652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid5fSxmzJAn3cwufAUdfPX5mpmrDGmoGCdevuGPt6GO1Aei18x40iqH7ujlcR7rAJvgdYyBZp9vCGhIzD8EmZtoaxV5-s1JWJfneTtli5cUIqN4jQgrLb3YOibywE5aGjXE7a4Tw7dQAP0nTlbwhx7hv2wxXdo5YSVhkKAiHMz9FjJYfyLgp_Ma7s/w480-h640/20230806_115652.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I made a comment about all the trees with their black bark and wondered if they were recovering from the bushfires, or if they just looked that way, mentioning that in the house I grew up in as child we had a big gum tree out the front with deep dark bark with red underneath that definitely had never been burned, so I didn't know if some trees just looked this way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz84Y02J5S8812sn-4_OBDL_RSso1ygxdgn7oBZVQhQVIuQF4CPigGZ-a06wX8hVD3tLTsBzbrNMI5xIBT5zk7IxlJ_M-rHQklmPmOxuy6Ykb3tEARB9935I3lBOuX7aPCWTnOaEm8Zjdzj-iOHsVR_qrqJul0_Q2p2qfEKAzvy_7jTHGq6Ycvyh-t/s4032/20230806_115738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz84Y02J5S8812sn-4_OBDL_RSso1ygxdgn7oBZVQhQVIuQF4CPigGZ-a06wX8hVD3tLTsBzbrNMI5xIBT5zk7IxlJ_M-rHQklmPmOxuy6Ykb3tEARB9935I3lBOuX7aPCWTnOaEm8Zjdzj-iOHsVR_qrqJul0_Q2p2qfEKAzvy_7jTHGq6Ycvyh-t/w400-h300/20230806_115738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we rounded the bend we came to a large section of wattle.<br />"Oh look honey, your favourite." I said. As she had already been having some allergies from the small pieces of wattle we had walked past so far.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwXw5YIJGODFjdf96m99u9sUuYVXlnvlAb0cMGA0gmZrc51jEwdWyc5zmdbc7It_rO6wdhymHQsqCsvhw8kCPasXQXipFDxoGNZH76ssfxScOCWbS1I6x7nf21V-1aDyZiCGhgNJT6x8CcrgbL_qAanyWW9IozPBqSvQwJ-onkWWJ67EHXX0fjjRW/s4032/20230806_115950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwXw5YIJGODFjdf96m99u9sUuYVXlnvlAb0cMGA0gmZrc51jEwdWyc5zmdbc7It_rO6wdhymHQsqCsvhw8kCPasXQXipFDxoGNZH76ssfxScOCWbS1I6x7nf21V-1aDyZiCGhgNJT6x8CcrgbL_qAanyWW9IozPBqSvQwJ-onkWWJ67EHXX0fjjRW/w480-h640/20230806_115950.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I started talking about a beer I used to be able to buy from the local bottle shop. A wattle seed ale called 'Beyond the Black Stump' by Australian Beer Co. <br />"That was my favourite beer." I said, explaining it was like a dessert beer. A beer you would relax and just enjoy the flavour of it, not the sort of beer where you would sit there and down a six pack. "I wish I could find it somewhere."</p><p>Soon the track split again, this time heading left and right with no marker and not even a ribbon to differ the paths. I suggested we head right, as that would be the direction back towards the Glen, so I figured more like to lead to a carpark. We followed it down and around a bend and I could see the back of a sign before the bush opened up to a field. We walked around to view the front of the sign.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIVQsuuvNmKicBZTZJx0EvVeoFZkk0YVaytDd7MxnnMOt_blMcKzNXZUQkinKOxPE_zWzKOoMuzwWiDTmtSeny7HmXupzyMP1QpsXDtCS6kJ1XVo4hCr-5Vda_vKKmTTnyAOfnTsXvmttXJZ8CyEk4bUracqkQQKg98QE1csIe4cWXqeAm9NTheFP/s4032/20230806_120336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIVQsuuvNmKicBZTZJx0EvVeoFZkk0YVaytDd7MxnnMOt_blMcKzNXZUQkinKOxPE_zWzKOoMuzwWiDTmtSeny7HmXupzyMP1QpsXDtCS6kJ1XVo4hCr-5Vda_vKKmTTnyAOfnTsXvmttXJZ8CyEk4bUracqkQQKg98QE1csIe4cWXqeAm9NTheFP/w480-h640/20230806_120336.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"Whoops." I said, remembering when the exact same thing had happened when I had walked <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/10/bong-bong-pass.html" target="_blank">Bong Bong Pass with my Dad</a>. "I wonder why it's shut I said, walking out to the field which honestly just looked like someone's back lawn and was even behind some houses. I saw another sign laying face down amongst a fallen tree and I turned it over.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBbIWxW1rnrVBu-LDOnhbGWrl81049VYoeIBtxVftVn7iT7qjDBapqkMXm-rfb6xDHnVPsUsovk3rViqxvbUFmym5NfkwXA-_VQWEz0f4MejyZKlXFJw8epkOqOeSltS4TakpUz9VFoEvsQHg84EM3-1SEfnblPFCS4qGkotNVpd-7vhPgf34PktM/s4032/20230806_120358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBbIWxW1rnrVBu-LDOnhbGWrl81049VYoeIBtxVftVn7iT7qjDBapqkMXm-rfb6xDHnVPsUsovk3rViqxvbUFmym5NfkwXA-_VQWEz0f4MejyZKlXFJw8epkOqOeSltS4TakpUz9VFoEvsQHg84EM3-1SEfnblPFCS4qGkotNVpd-7vhPgf34PktM/w480-h640/20230806_120358.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVkAInPbm9ob8PFSbArectEbXVEFLbUsGxYfYhExyjnlmCiWZmIpXaqcjLxHF64P6xretcUswZjCyU9ETHu_LLm9xgDl8_7bU2b5zEd6-6mYYyXs7csvtnq4YV5UUQiwuX_Be0_uWfSSfpbnlJcS-1I8Gsj2dRtPTRVZvXQ5NDU8_dP8A6FtV0tbU/s4032/20230806_120412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVkAInPbm9ob8PFSbArectEbXVEFLbUsGxYfYhExyjnlmCiWZmIpXaqcjLxHF64P6xretcUswZjCyU9ETHu_LLm9xgDl8_7bU2b5zEd6-6mYYyXs7csvtnq4YV5UUQiwuX_Be0_uWfSSfpbnlJcS-1I8Gsj2dRtPTRVZvXQ5NDU8_dP8A6FtV0tbU/w400-h300/20230806_120412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>"Well, it's not a carpark, but maybe you walk down past these homes from the carpark? Or used to before they shut it." I questioned.</p><p>We decided to head back in and follow the left track instead just to see where it went.<br />"You see what I mean about signage though?" I said. "If this track is closed there should have been something back at the big proper sign near Glow Worm Glen."</p><p>My Wife, who was behind me, was now in the front because we had turned around, and I took some photo's. I snapped some photo of her walking through before she noticed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideHTgq3wgPbJTeXyxXzlC0SLmy_y-cbmcNEBznd_BZqYKEt4kyZMHEbFmSWBYZmRAd11T3YlmskaYEYZkAaLKGF8E1oATie4wYayXOJlxvCG0lSutqxBpV5RnLc4r1H7Nu47EfBU2u-VJvblMKqtUMAMCKJeuNUQtkFF2hGijHOPYclvb-h-j25HJ/s4032/20230806_120603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEideHTgq3wgPbJTeXyxXzlC0SLmy_y-cbmcNEBznd_BZqYKEt4kyZMHEbFmSWBYZmRAd11T3YlmskaYEYZkAaLKGF8E1oATie4wYayXOJlxvCG0lSutqxBpV5RnLc4r1H7Nu47EfBU2u-VJvblMKqtUMAMCKJeuNUQtkFF2hGijHOPYclvb-h-j25HJ/w480-h640/20230806_120603.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br />"Are you taking photo's of me?" She asked."<br />"Yeah, just you walking." I answered.<br />"If you post that on Facebook I will reply it's a photo of my back because of my allergies using the animal crossing meme."<br />"Animal crossing meme?" I asked, having never seen it. <br />She tried to load it up but there was no reception where we were.<br />"Well let's just hope no one tries to murder us." I said.</p><p>The path begam to open up, and we crossed a tiny little stream where I noticed a leaf had got itself stuck in the front of my now falling apart joggers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfnXQ7xcJzWZLpOT1aNKiEzmouUXGnvP1QXPsHVTyHKD53NKy6yMkrIzVqRRTTRAlOs2ImUnGseVKNFzHECeFp3LKKVMq5226Pb-7w9X2a6uPcnFpnHckDLiCQa4MF-jOPsAJ4IJoeQNubr3F382zI-u4mceNBuUVMh0kvm44KE3cWDPfvIm7c2WI/s4032/20230806_120803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfnXQ7xcJzWZLpOT1aNKiEzmouUXGnvP1QXPsHVTyHKD53NKy6yMkrIzVqRRTTRAlOs2ImUnGseVKNFzHECeFp3LKKVMq5226Pb-7w9X2a6uPcnFpnHckDLiCQa4MF-jOPsAJ4IJoeQNubr3F382zI-u4mceNBuUVMh0kvm44KE3cWDPfvIm7c2WI/w480-h640/20230806_120803.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We both discussed how bad our joggers were, with me saying I would wait until after Iceland to buy a new pair. As we continued walking up the slight incline, I commented that the look of the track reminded me of <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/gibbergunyah-reserve-walk.html" target="_blank">Gibbergunyah reserve.</a></p><p>As the incline got a little steeper there was a stump surrounded by Wombat poos that I said actaully looked like a decent toilet bowl, picturing a drawing of a cartoon Wombat using it as a loo like a human.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnJXbs2oI1yRWfOlZZI9pf5nm7r9KkwNkr7wTjhk2XFqgGU3gn99UjAc8AkzFG6N8EzmbqgpDji5_z6gu9b9qbHDgp8WMHuGbeAZGAxwYjTl-QAbsEcWaCFr3Eh955ZoEnygHhXT3H8j1XjQdSAMdzStxRVcinOyoNhXivgVAK_p1wagxh3nmpkTj/s4032/20230806_120841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnJXbs2oI1yRWfOlZZI9pf5nm7r9KkwNkr7wTjhk2XFqgGU3gn99UjAc8AkzFG6N8EzmbqgpDji5_z6gu9b9qbHDgp8WMHuGbeAZGAxwYjTl-QAbsEcWaCFr3Eh955ZoEnygHhXT3H8j1XjQdSAMdzStxRVcinOyoNhXivgVAK_p1wagxh3nmpkTj/w480-h640/20230806_120841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7uP8jeS2KKDyA047zvH0sD4IjWj2TZFTwClD8E53PkTP5qU-x_eOh-LJOkdx5VBx-vpqSvJ4f15Cg7JngWobaBbPvJQJt03YSYnI2lSCXzwlvf4mVRHbthFh5od1jBQoq5gWjN3HqyyAeXNl3iSZ71tfgdPirKL4yHfBRzoU-qeeXrQeGeYcQTzB/s4032/20230806_121048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7uP8jeS2KKDyA047zvH0sD4IjWj2TZFTwClD8E53PkTP5qU-x_eOh-LJOkdx5VBx-vpqSvJ4f15Cg7JngWobaBbPvJQJt03YSYnI2lSCXzwlvf4mVRHbthFh5od1jBQoq5gWjN3HqyyAeXNl3iSZ71tfgdPirKL4yHfBRzoU-qeeXrQeGeYcQTzB/w480-h640/20230806_121048.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We rounded the bend and could see another sign facing away which we instantly knew was another closure sign, the biggest clue this time was the large piece of orange plastic that had been placed in front to obvious stop access, with a big cut showing people obviously chose to ignore it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0eDngCiZ9DQTXbdn_cCwZEjpLeB3768Ds4EeQpWzpIt7q7YcYgHlEpIzCqlxgpP1L2nUZYyq-9wJqjZV00Uk8RvQbwBwD4CynEx3S63nStvzw5QlItIdoz02LusvKleyl7OiL2-k1ooJuD0DNQhmjfLzuKq6_Bl2d5okD9KVJSF4JG0LyVlOMEV/s4032/20230806_121311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd0eDngCiZ9DQTXbdn_cCwZEjpLeB3768Ds4EeQpWzpIt7q7YcYgHlEpIzCqlxgpP1L2nUZYyq-9wJqjZV00Uk8RvQbwBwD4CynEx3S63nStvzw5QlItIdoz02LusvKleyl7OiL2-k1ooJuD0DNQhmjfLzuKq6_Bl2d5okD9KVJSF4JG0LyVlOMEV/w480-h640/20230806_121311.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We walked to the end as I wanted to see the area which looked like a car park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WdcNSTO3Q0Ap0PvCilB10o5vdnIYT8tlvh9ftj-PDM5L7-aWLlogN4y_ch4PlRpAb0rLO80keRXyz7nA4IFPg_WMGX0iqdWuLk3zUtcNNGdKLLwI_2l3q1FGcwz5SEsj2M7DXb0GmzkTYeLiWrF8He9-IEqQroOsGxVEFqn5Lq_RjQs4noaFtOfO/s4032/20230806_121337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WdcNSTO3Q0Ap0PvCilB10o5vdnIYT8tlvh9ftj-PDM5L7-aWLlogN4y_ch4PlRpAb0rLO80keRXyz7nA4IFPg_WMGX0iqdWuLk3zUtcNNGdKLLwI_2l3q1FGcwz5SEsj2M7DXb0GmzkTYeLiWrF8He9-IEqQroOsGxVEFqn5Lq_RjQs4noaFtOfO/w480-h640/20230806_121337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I also took a photo of the white closure sign.<br />"Don't upload that!" My Wife snapped at me, as it showed we had entered an no entry area.<br />I told her that it didn't matter, and if anyone had tried to fine us, I would simply contest it, as we had entered from the other way that didn't have any notice asking us not to enter.</p><p>We made our way back now and I asked if we should wander down the other track where the path first split.<br />"We did didn't we?" She said.<br />"No, the very first one." I said to her as she couldn't remember.<br />We made our way back to that first split and followed it less than a minute down before it simply came to a dead end. We started back towards the car and we hadn't even reached the beanie before I could hear the voices of people loudly speaking.<br /><br /></p><p>"God this is why I hate people." I said. "They come out, talking this loud and wonder why they don't see anything. There's no reason to even speak that loud. The people in the houses near the entry to the walk must hate it."<br /><br /></p><p>As we approached the turn of to the actual carpark and Glow Worm Glen, the group became insanely loud and you could hear their entire conversation as we crossed down to the little creek just down from signs where we noticed small little caves in the side of the slope, hidden by plant growth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8T_aXKuLKde9jjTsaT3oMyvrwTq-NkYYHSla-P5QEinkhNnjvoiHaBbB4wP3pK7PBSnobAnMzcxEntaKb540i1qGqB8CQTmd5c_KfM_vc73ymkyUN9ChtebihiCY9Lh11r7ARb5MF_h5YlPQUOfmSU4r49joYtBODbNrgevzOSEaeM3oIq9fvDhp/s4032/20230806_123623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8T_aXKuLKde9jjTsaT3oMyvrwTq-NkYYHSla-P5QEinkhNnjvoiHaBbB4wP3pK7PBSnobAnMzcxEntaKb540i1qGqB8CQTmd5c_KfM_vc73ymkyUN9ChtebihiCY9Lh11r7ARb5MF_h5YlPQUOfmSU4r49joYtBODbNrgevzOSEaeM3oIq9fvDhp/w480-h640/20230806_123623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we reached the signs the group was there and I could hear they were talking about how they had tried to start the walk from the other carpark that we had just walked to, only to see the closures. I nodded a courteous acknowledgement of them before making our way uphill and back to the car.<br /><br />My Wife enquired about how her fitness seemed as we made it up the last set of stairs and back on to William Street. I said she did well and said that she had also walked well on our recent <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/07/bondi-to-coogee-coastal-walk.html" target="_blank">Bondi to Coogee walk</a>.</p><p>As we reached the car I asked if she wanted to go to Bundanoon for lunch, and she suggested that we walk down and into town and make a day of it. So, we headed down the street, as my Wife admired some of the street's gardens and got to pass a few Dogs along the way, always a cause for excitement.</p><p>We stopped out the front of what was now the 'Potter's Cafe' where she used to work, she took a photo to send to her friend Alicia and we made our way through the main street before deciding on getting fish and chips and calamari from the Primula Cafe and a coffee and chai each. While waiting for our order my Wife recounted how when she worked at the cafe she would often have people came in who wanted to order chips, only for them to say they didn't sell them. "But the cafe down the road does!" They would exclaim.<br />"Did you tell them they could just go to that cafe then?" I said, laughing.</p><p>We took it across the road and ate at a covered park bench, when my Wife asked if we could check out the nursery that was behind and a part of a secondhand shop. I said I quickly wanted to have a look at the information sign just down from us, that looked like a giant bus stop. As we reached in there was a map of the area and showing some of the walks. I pointed to Fairy Bower Falls following along with my finger the way I had walk and the lookouts I had driven to afterwards.</p><p>We crossed the road and made our way through the secondhand shop, that I was way more into than a 31 year old should be, telling my Wife that places like this where like 'Antiques Roadshow' and in a way, mini museums with the sort of items they had. My Wife rushed me through to the nursery that didn't have a lot of stock, before I made her have another quick peruse through the secondhand shop.</p><p>"Are you done?" She asked. Before we began our way back to the car, feeling that, even though it had been a long drive, we had made it a day well spent.</p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Glow Worm Glen Walk, Bundanoon NSW 2578, Australia-34.6600957 150.317767-62.970329536178845 115.161517 -6.3498618638211539 -174.525983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-30730294485364704112023-07-12T17:05:00.001+10:002023-07-13T06:46:42.900+10:00Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Eora Country</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Anyone who knows me or has <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/12/young-nsw.html" target="_blank">read any of my previous blogs</a>, might have picked up on the fact that I am a huge History buff. When I was young this was probably limited to Ancient and Medieval history. But in 2007 a video game called '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_Creed" target="_blank">Assassin's Creed</a>' came out, which inspired me to begin looking into my family tree, and my ancestors' places within history.<br /><br />One of these particular ancestors is none other than my 2nd Great-Grandfather <a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Franks-3370" target="_blank">Carl Franks</a>. Of all my ancestors Carl is the one who fascinates me the most and that I find myself time and time again coming back to, and thanks to Carl, I'm doing the Bondi to Coogee walk.</p><p>When I first heard about Carl from my Father and Uncle I was told he was an American ex-navy showman as well as some other dubious claims. Fortunately, when it comes to genealogical research, I'm pretty nifty, and soon found multiple articles on the Australian website '<a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/" target="_blank">Trove</a>'. It was through here I learned Carl was a hypnotist, at one stage employed at '<a href="http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/lost-theme-wondercity.html" target="_blank">Wonderland City</a>' at Tamarama. I have often thought about starting a blog focusing on a particular ancestor, their stories, things about them, their place in history and people they may have encountered, but never do as I am always on the hunt for more information, which is why I decided I wanted to head to the beach at Tamarama, to see the location of where this Wonderland City used to be. Rather than have me drive all that way to see one beach, my Wife suggested the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk, a 6km walk (12km return) that included Tamarama Beach along the way.</p><p>Planning to go Saturday, but moving it to Sunday due to extreme winds in NSW, we booked in a car space at World Square, planning to stop in at Top Impressions bakery to buy some lunch for the day (the sole thing that made my Wife keen on the walk). We had surprisingly good traffic for the drive up to Sydney, and after arriving at World Sqaure made our way to Top Impressions where we over purchased on pastries (both savoury and sweet), and a matcha latte for the day. We entered Town Hall station, getting a train to Bondi Junction where we headed to the bus depot that I commented reminded me of the one we had got on <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">at Edwinstowe in England</a>, before hopping on a bus to drop us off closer to the beach.</p><p>We made our way through Bondi towards Bondi Beach, where we made our way over a bridge to a table to eat our pastries right by Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWh712xF1VfiGj7-iFEgyYP-R2OwRoLHKlPsncut3WzI_-fWdHXNE1iGtjLi0GnhxBOnRhORJ6NCN8tNH-KcxK4cd4A8r6GkP_iFr52UpBCNIlsda0TCbVTK-k6UZ5Gpc1lKJhre4Xw4fSQqeRmxTRaohbH4HVSnXExRX8RRMHt0TCjh2fSKj_qoY/s4032/20230709_115335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWh712xF1VfiGj7-iFEgyYP-R2OwRoLHKlPsncut3WzI_-fWdHXNE1iGtjLi0GnhxBOnRhORJ6NCN8tNH-KcxK4cd4A8r6GkP_iFr52UpBCNIlsda0TCbVTK-k6UZ5Gpc1lKJhre4Xw4fSQqeRmxTRaohbH4HVSnXExRX8RRMHt0TCjh2fSKj_qoY/w480-h640/20230709_115335.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpovA1YFi7JMPVZ_j-BFiUIavBCenYBF6ALRtI4RoX25NtiuT7alPBr2vMJHSvzhWmoPnZI6x0QXbX6xyOTL1O4rO-aZ4svdaAG8HRrzxh3VLbqQooXMhdjFTybD5a6bgRWEIf7vzey1Nxn1K8N__zE4v20JSqGHBGvAB8iFOTWUYOda6NNnJ9lKNG/s2048/pastries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpovA1YFi7JMPVZ_j-BFiUIavBCenYBF6ALRtI4RoX25NtiuT7alPBr2vMJHSvzhWmoPnZI6x0QXbX6xyOTL1O4rO-aZ4svdaAG8HRrzxh3VLbqQooXMhdjFTybD5a6bgRWEIf7vzey1Nxn1K8N__zE4v20JSqGHBGvAB8iFOTWUYOda6NNnJ9lKNG/w400-h300/pastries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We only ate the three savoury pasties (both our breakfasts) before I headed down for my first look at Bondi Beach (in person, I had seen it on TV before). I passed a statue of a man swimming, where I was tempted to take a photo, but I commented to my Wife that the statue looked too much like ex-prime minister Tony Abbott, (I could not see a plaque saying who it was, and I just assume it was meant to be a generic lifeguard). I commented about how crazy packed it was for a Winter's day, compared to our local beaches where you might be lucky enough to have it to yourself. My Wife told me that this wasn't even busy for Bondi, and I was thankful for that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9-evt79SaszRFV5TePsUVE-l0T3nTZe_NC5dhwmTcYRf5LIlBvEqL4cMXC9Z9aJ81u8vSAYFlYIxDDrdniMIKBIjLkNeQRYNZYoXj9f9bWUNg_6sFaAP7SSucD2d44mjXILRC1FAyNPwhv35F9gX41vA4zm9UpGOpSd5rWqEdcVORkSiMNzNDJMo/s4032/20230709_120557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9-evt79SaszRFV5TePsUVE-l0T3nTZe_NC5dhwmTcYRf5LIlBvEqL4cMXC9Z9aJ81u8vSAYFlYIxDDrdniMIKBIjLkNeQRYNZYoXj9f9bWUNg_6sFaAP7SSucD2d44mjXILRC1FAyNPwhv35F9gX41vA4zm9UpGOpSd5rWqEdcVORkSiMNzNDJMo/w400-h300/20230709_120557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCCz1YQGcV4ofCwQB1DZ1ChniM8HhKHcw2tFhZ2s1vYXKgy7vtblzfV0k7h5aSp5Fu_BkZVHKpRm2NhK_mMZVVhlU3Gw6hzBF5tch_37oKQUmpmZMOKGOslyYHFdePAyEV1cxTF3VSBmK8UQGHjVOmkg5S2EB9NaNahSIjGBXewR0GZzGq-JVqWbe/s4032/20230709_120815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCCz1YQGcV4ofCwQB1DZ1ChniM8HhKHcw2tFhZ2s1vYXKgy7vtblzfV0k7h5aSp5Fu_BkZVHKpRm2NhK_mMZVVhlU3Gw6hzBF5tch_37oKQUmpmZMOKGOslyYHFdePAyEV1cxTF3VSBmK8UQGHjVOmkg5S2EB9NaNahSIjGBXewR0GZzGq-JVqWbe/w480-h640/20230709_120815.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We began the walk heading South, past all the people playing volleyball. I asked if these were free spots for anyone to play, or if people had set them up, or if they were paid for. My Wife didn't have the answers. We reached some stairs, and we headed up towards Bondi Icebergs Swimming club with a view overlooking the beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQE0dKIVl7Ih7gC6tRDpyOYYeoY9vKyT43o8dZIWIEpS9E4c4ENw01FkD3bCkC2dDHPF8EXcC2ZIE1S9Jh5ytaPoZNh_CpJovv6wmbWfF_AvDgCg4RXKOiEY7iZBSYBuF-ZqEV2Ala5w3tG6D0B2cacbtLhxpvf6zeFR_bc4QrtTJ5nk0JwoUsd4I/s4032/20230709_121443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQE0dKIVl7Ih7gC6tRDpyOYYeoY9vKyT43o8dZIWIEpS9E4c4ENw01FkD3bCkC2dDHPF8EXcC2ZIE1S9Jh5ytaPoZNh_CpJovv6wmbWfF_AvDgCg4RXKOiEY7iZBSYBuF-ZqEV2Ala5w3tG6D0B2cacbtLhxpvf6zeFR_bc4QrtTJ5nk0JwoUsd4I/w400-h300/20230709_121443.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we passed the club we saw a group of birds scuttling around on the ground over a railing. I thought that they reminded me of Compy's (Compsognathus, a Dinosaur) from the Jurassic Park films. My Wife commented that out loud, thinking the exact same thing as me. I pointed out the greenish shine in their feathers and my Wife said that it was due to some oil in their feathers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xv4_ZPL6_RnRxRiAiARFIq8ICjonrSx1W_LLmCWcmLTK10yX03oetUkEY766pe_dmOIe9sWmXRin4EWtZJdqDYpR9ld3AR9VhUfLdtALq7W72iXsrxQ35m4GDv73QC8Rxue9cV-R3H8CojVQvzSsm4dJTdca0CsUi0jOBDnlbSXxScXgH3a28mhZ/s4032/20230709_121829.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Xv4_ZPL6_RnRxRiAiARFIq8ICjonrSx1W_LLmCWcmLTK10yX03oetUkEY766pe_dmOIe9sWmXRin4EWtZJdqDYpR9ld3AR9VhUfLdtALq7W72iXsrxQ35m4GDv73QC8Rxue9cV-R3H8CojVQvzSsm4dJTdca0CsUi0jOBDnlbSXxScXgH3a28mhZ/w480-h640/20230709_121829.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We continued along, weaving in and out of the hordes of people, walking at various speeds and randomly stopping in front of you.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIziJjY7LtJnIXZOA9nTFAptcYbklU62ywZkTdfhhVpj8YczlmriErdSkNXDpSlXvfbvn-84tb9eo4smqI0zS82KQWAPMqDPrID6efdyTcnGt562lZ14ewR8el29cocHHU4cpP7TnyjhRT-Pr1WpTEjY_xxivuY_cOjVCI3yMdX-mgexBJRW7MgR0/s4032/20230709_121947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIziJjY7LtJnIXZOA9nTFAptcYbklU62ywZkTdfhhVpj8YczlmriErdSkNXDpSlXvfbvn-84tb9eo4smqI0zS82KQWAPMqDPrID6efdyTcnGt562lZ14ewR8el29cocHHU4cpP7TnyjhRT-Pr1WpTEjY_xxivuY_cOjVCI3yMdX-mgexBJRW7MgR0/w400-h300/20230709_121947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt-oLpTATufUBJCN9hdGaQVPw8R1DhXHBMveGQMEFrAC1Q_5e2xFbVJZ8v8CJlZEhu-MBF07ywGNoMQAbG9gPvU5WWR96s9PF87O8_rYNaiCO9vVir5-xdfzI9DhDfTZOYlXVPKVGyZ7H8gfZAf3OK0iOJ3Nfbciu4hpWkvIzlbZpudUyZIAUlXun/s4032/20230709_122004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipt-oLpTATufUBJCN9hdGaQVPw8R1DhXHBMveGQMEFrAC1Q_5e2xFbVJZ8v8CJlZEhu-MBF07ywGNoMQAbG9gPvU5WWR96s9PF87O8_rYNaiCO9vVir5-xdfzI9DhDfTZOYlXVPKVGyZ7H8gfZAf3OK0iOJ3Nfbciu4hpWkvIzlbZpudUyZIAUlXun/w480-h640/20230709_122004.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sf8AtGuDFL863E2AGXqrWEipZ-qbJ1RZEXmLiS6DxvVcx6LzHwoZ2mZPQEeIRCjPgyq-BM6tQ6m-cqM3BogqoMjCcmxEUzw8FJmumnz6dPWlmNu_hEb-GMHg-dYI7bBzAyfzc1JnDBTCBsya_6aqSgfK9IbzBRGCWrxOtsh_0NmNH5n9mpVZlq4D/s4032/20230709_122308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Sf8AtGuDFL863E2AGXqrWEipZ-qbJ1RZEXmLiS6DxvVcx6LzHwoZ2mZPQEeIRCjPgyq-BM6tQ6m-cqM3BogqoMjCcmxEUzw8FJmumnz6dPWlmNu_hEb-GMHg-dYI7bBzAyfzc1JnDBTCBsya_6aqSgfK9IbzBRGCWrxOtsh_0NmNH5n9mpVZlq4D/w400-h300/20230709_122308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mwbkg6abJ-iJzVS00jsTzxGrdn0d2fCmfztzN5aP9_lCMwG_ENgit4865H7cbuSWkOa4mdnBh2xJL2iHoGUn0DrUX1yL26ST5qvL2ri6S8N_Xeap5oq2dyrbZCF85LwKIStz1ooN_oCiHLn3XpGg-I3XFSDTUMgwIiRfFABcTZ9knlfMtnDtsr8X/s4032/20230709_122815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Mwbkg6abJ-iJzVS00jsTzxGrdn0d2fCmfztzN5aP9_lCMwG_ENgit4865H7cbuSWkOa4mdnBh2xJL2iHoGUn0DrUX1yL26ST5qvL2ri6S8N_Xeap5oq2dyrbZCF85LwKIStz1ooN_oCiHLn3XpGg-I3XFSDTUMgwIiRfFABcTZ9knlfMtnDtsr8X/w480-h640/20230709_122815.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I found it difficult to take photo's given the vast number of people along the way, as I didn't want to just feel like I was taking pictures of random people. There were people trying to jog along it along with ample amounts of people walking their Dogs (that excited my Wife and I as we pointed out every Dog to each other, and I have never seen so many Australian Shepherd Dogs in my life).</p><p>I passed a sign saying '<i><b>From Bush to Boom</b></i>' that detailed some of the early history of Bondi, I took a photo, but I know sometimes they can be hard to read so I have transcribed it below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEcghKIWIZWe8WRmpIF3YuRYfLZqEEWvCgDK9V90wBlVOs1WPUcm3JUKrRHN_7zpJ_gjQ2k-22bRgLoqxTEzREK8dtSjB3PDr-NsMe7ZFOL5D_Nbcz8xYkSA3TtThVQsYCQ4Q8u7eIX6ZsDfO8tg7UB_VW103njn9LQH-n2RdJPuak1Xnznnbjh8w/s4032/20230709_122858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEcghKIWIZWe8WRmpIF3YuRYfLZqEEWvCgDK9V90wBlVOs1WPUcm3JUKrRHN_7zpJ_gjQ2k-22bRgLoqxTEzREK8dtSjB3PDr-NsMe7ZFOL5D_Nbcz8xYkSA3TtThVQsYCQ4Q8u7eIX6ZsDfO8tg7UB_VW103njn9LQH-n2RdJPuak1Xnznnbjh8w/w400-h300/20230709_122858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><i>"Although just 7 kilometres from the city, Bondi was described in 1842 as 'a place of peculiar loneliness... a shining sandy beach unmarked by human foot'. However, rock carvings alone are clear reminders that many Aboriginal feet have walked these sands long before those of European settlers.<br /><br /><b>Early Bondi Locals</b><br />'Nosey Rob', or Robert 'the Gentleman Hangman' Howard lived a lonely life in the cottage in the top right of this photo. A former horse drawn cab driver, he worked for almost 30 years as the state hangman after being shunned by society following a horribly disfiguring accident, in which his nose was destroyed. This, and his reputation as a decent fellow, who carried out his job with respectability, gave rise to his nicknames. </i></p><p><i><b>The Rise of Beach Culture</b><br />As surf bathing became more and more popular, changing sheds for 750 men and 250 women were opened in 1911. The foundation stone for a new Bondi Pavillion, which included Turkish baths, a ballroom and a dressing room for 12,000 people was laid in 1928. The excitement and competition of surf carnivals attracted thousands of spectators to Bondi. Hessian screens were put up to keep people off the beach and to charge admission."</i></p><p>We came around the headland, getting a look at the many beaches still to make our way across on our walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71frmaB2i7T2l_tSXQVycuvrU_8XSsmaSUvORNpfcMl_Y8su9VfJmomWVEkqpEHaOFnr4yzolch-Dl49gvdnCmxlllLy4ZzqtYfewB3ZM3C_Eo85rAucPboOazAQNi4ngkY0kRY5BePdb-8YbcmMhKsYtGwqKeiK5dslqEh-Dz7KC8b6FYMKfmgG0/s4032/20230709_123136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71frmaB2i7T2l_tSXQVycuvrU_8XSsmaSUvORNpfcMl_Y8su9VfJmomWVEkqpEHaOFnr4yzolch-Dl49gvdnCmxlllLy4ZzqtYfewB3ZM3C_Eo85rAucPboOazAQNi4ngkY0kRY5BePdb-8YbcmMhKsYtGwqKeiK5dslqEh-Dz7KC8b6FYMKfmgG0/w400-h300/20230709_123136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While walking along I did my annoying habit of pointing out all the plants I knew along the way, from the Pigs Face, to the Warrigal Greens and the Coastal Rosemary. We walked past a track down to MacKenzies Bay before walking past an outdoor exercise park with some gym junkie looking guys loudly blasting their 'gangsta' music while they worked out.<div><p>As we rounded further we came to our first beach after Bondi. Tamarama Beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jHO9k5QWfMGqUEWO5j3e-00hK0M84WTI7oHY_h43Mx1-7-nGv0PslefQDM3SjGXSCEDXATWyCy0BQqOP4LzqQacxKgoOHLwIP31iaDKwgtFdjSBSzVr0Wzl-BUNckScDSUK-srZh8QBMKM_XndTs9rGjlYsRiW4BWRgACyditNGFNFog7mAVaJQj/s4032/20230709_123943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jHO9k5QWfMGqUEWO5j3e-00hK0M84WTI7oHY_h43Mx1-7-nGv0PslefQDM3SjGXSCEDXATWyCy0BQqOP4LzqQacxKgoOHLwIP31iaDKwgtFdjSBSzVr0Wzl-BUNckScDSUK-srZh8QBMKM_XndTs9rGjlYsRiW4BWRgACyditNGFNFog7mAVaJQj/w480-h640/20230709_123943.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I was taken aback to get to the beach so fast. I had looked the walk up maybe once or twice half-heartedly for an idea of where Tamarama was and had assumed it was the 3rd or 4th beach along the walk. I knew there were some signs or plaques around detailing some information about 'Wonderland City' (as my Dad had come to the beach to have a look while<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank"> I was undergoing Rituximab treatment for Lymphoma, a side effect from my Stem Cell Transplant</a>, and told my Wife to keep an eye out. I decided to walk down the stairs to the beach to have a look down there while my Wife followed the path along, as she didn't want to 'walk in sand'. I headed down looking for remnants, or artifacts showing that this Wonderland City had once existed here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q74FAcNuqqUiG0Gnb_BUVu83Czp7TZ6bFg7B2w9NRZtKHD8vhzEEKCBv-7FPJQl9hVWUnY_d6R2P_6DWpyh6yXLObW0Kgu4TGqpGFxxFsu3ffX92qCvyyiohw1aW_sMFUkBwl7hQSIMxJ-VhNB-rQAw9brWqnL9PFiMXJ4CwpBbodLeNH2NUxjBb/s4032/20230709_124205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Q74FAcNuqqUiG0Gnb_BUVu83Czp7TZ6bFg7B2w9NRZtKHD8vhzEEKCBv-7FPJQl9hVWUnY_d6R2P_6DWpyh6yXLObW0Kgu4TGqpGFxxFsu3ffX92qCvyyiohw1aW_sMFUkBwl7hQSIMxJ-VhNB-rQAw9brWqnL9PFiMXJ4CwpBbodLeNH2NUxjBb/w480-h640/20230709_124205.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqwO1S7yaBl-U2tXWm4QBJ6wSMX3_ugvlFE6_7wxpgdfyt0cRo-y17OGOjC4qOmq4UX1OPUaI7PevoheAs-6AxkoAlt-xi9KlT3t5e2cEs-cXunS3Xe9XI6NF1Ow4fRh87qDQ_4XuQKbyhaWqBJ5h24pj0fTEFPgXAXUcOHVUa0Qqoq5gjay-7FXI/s4032/20230709_124249.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqwO1S7yaBl-U2tXWm4QBJ6wSMX3_ugvlFE6_7wxpgdfyt0cRo-y17OGOjC4qOmq4UX1OPUaI7PevoheAs-6AxkoAlt-xi9KlT3t5e2cEs-cXunS3Xe9XI6NF1Ow4fRh87qDQ_4XuQKbyhaWqBJ5h24pj0fTEFPgXAXUcOHVUa0Qqoq5gjay-7FXI/w480-h640/20230709_124249.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I wondered to myself if these were left from Wonderland City more than 100 years ago, or if they were from something more recent. There was no way for me to tell as I wandered around the base of the lifeguard tower. I felt my phone vibrating and looked to see my Wife calling. I answered with her telling me she had found a sign on the path just behind some bins, so I walked back up the stairs along the path until I reached her.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o4TMwfDPXUsDw692rhOX8TIjbH2Nzkzt15viGC0HHZonN4izCZIRkWogxxPIlV4y4uv8cLA0uyRzIX9M3pDzoNIlN7QgFwlVoANKTwDa9IbKSc13PgAK6OnnbfVG00tHBkKq2O9Xn1hqSj08b5l7wmThelM1-S4INW-WbXvm7MEvP0_WXKVNINPf/s4032/20230709_124423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0o4TMwfDPXUsDw692rhOX8TIjbH2Nzkzt15viGC0HHZonN4izCZIRkWogxxPIlV4y4uv8cLA0uyRzIX9M3pDzoNIlN7QgFwlVoANKTwDa9IbKSc13PgAK6OnnbfVG00tHBkKq2O9Xn1hqSj08b5l7wmThelM1-S4INW-WbXvm7MEvP0_WXKVNINPf/w400-h300/20230709_124423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i>"<b>SYDNEY'S PLAYGROUND</b><br /><b>Vaudeville acts and an elephant called Alice</b><br />The Bondi Aquarium, Sydney's first coastal amusement park, opened on this headland in 1887. Its greatest attraction was a plunging rollercoaster that dived and twisted over the beach. People flocked to laugh at the the vaudeville acts and marvel at the aquarium creatures, which included seals and a tiger shark.<br /><br />Powered by its own steam plant, Wonderland City which replaced Bondi Aquarium, was an extravaganza of noise, entertainment and light. It thrilled crowds with an airship suspended above the bay, and rides on the beach on an elephant named Alice.<br /></i><p></p><p><i>However, battles with local residents over beach access, charges of cruelty to animals, and an accident involving the airship led to a decline in visitors. After a few years of poor crowds and low revenue, the Wonderland City closed in 1911."</i></p><p>As we walked down to the grass lawn with a toilet block, cafe, and barbecue areas where people where picnicking, enjoying the sunny day or playing with their gorgeous Dogs. We used the facilities, before reapplying some sunscreen, while we looked around for more information as I wondered about every tree or stone "I wonder if this was here that 100 years ago when Carl Franks was here." I found 4 more sign posts full of information on Tamarama, 3 of the 4 mentioning Wonderland City. So, what was Wonderland City? </p><p><b>Wonderland City - 1906-1911</b><br />Wonderland City was founded by theatrical entrepreneur William Anderson.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zKs8j56xMFHIKIqHhsDFzA7qmZQfqiTcofhF5CQxSHTn3bZKrIjV_sekv-mtn8db2QovTcefgcWAOul1Z_YXpBqwI14_Sy1nSAEEHiylY_uDl_NP6Y2y7anqqmJED1wkf-ajKm6m10_5RvHJY5R3BNeLYzcy0bM0LGRFxlxPeh45K1xfOzdEfYQX/s339/william%20anderson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zKs8j56xMFHIKIqHhsDFzA7qmZQfqiTcofhF5CQxSHTn3bZKrIjV_sekv-mtn8db2QovTcefgcWAOul1Z_YXpBqwI14_Sy1nSAEEHiylY_uDl_NP6Y2y7anqqmJED1wkf-ajKm6m10_5RvHJY5R3BNeLYzcy0bM0LGRFxlxPeh45K1xfOzdEfYQX/w412-h640/william%20anderson.jpg" width="412" /></a><br /><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMF299NXCPzOxfMv_Mz580QEWRWQw55w8USe3GLYn2lwqFEo9BPVb40AuHcDQMeD3oCBlwvbY_E-yCxZleZd_BCk1zL-LukCthXRhnduadw04e8uL8lU_Y0dThPo4VQvtlIdcTDeUbcK9NHT7kabu__j-puqQVGBe10gU0n6zQfov7UIYImhUteOY/s800/Tamarama_Wonderland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMF299NXCPzOxfMv_Mz580QEWRWQw55w8USe3GLYn2lwqFEo9BPVb40AuHcDQMeD3oCBlwvbY_E-yCxZleZd_BCk1zL-LukCthXRhnduadw04e8uL8lU_Y0dThPo4VQvtlIdcTDeUbcK9NHT7kabu__j-puqQVGBe10gU0n6zQfov7UIYImhUteOY/w400-h200/Tamarama_Wonderland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonderland City</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>"Employing over 160 people, Wonderland set a new standard for the Australian outdoor pleasure grounds. Large crowds, estimated at 2000 people, came every summer weekend, with 70 turnstiles at the entrance doing a brisk trade.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>A barbed wire fence which extended from the cliffs and across the back, blocked access for swimmers to the beach. Following an ongoing battle with swimmers, Wonderlands' owner saw the matter being taken to New South Wales parliament.<br /><br />Amidst disputes with the swimmers of Tamarama and complaints the animals were being poorly housed and mistreated, opposition to Wonderland grew. Due to poor crowds and low revenue Wonderland closed in 1911."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But why did any of this matter to me? (Besides being a history buff). Well my 2nd great-grandfather Carl Franks worked here. So, who was Carl Franks?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Carl Franks</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I first learned about Carl Franks through my Father. Who learned about him through his brother, my Uncle Mark. My Dad didn't grow up with his biological family. My Nana Betty, in her youth, had an affair on her husband John Franks, with an Italian man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKkA178wOE9jn8oVwAyd1b9vjQWEEmLOrXRg4t9yIF-D-NJlV9BHLMZWkwfmqdjvLEG9Z555jPL2Xwmv4f_5qLxdLGtsXVQIu5aN63kSVRzHa3pGQh5ppBMkLbnTxylEn0mRrK3_G3zbcr_pidbkEiGYLzfUfuIWn6YtfdGPtiYQ8hPBfbeUclIkk/s1281/nana%20betty.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1281" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKkA178wOE9jn8oVwAyd1b9vjQWEEmLOrXRg4t9yIF-D-NJlV9BHLMZWkwfmqdjvLEG9Z555jPL2Xwmv4f_5qLxdLGtsXVQIu5aN63kSVRzHa3pGQh5ppBMkLbnTxylEn0mRrK3_G3zbcr_pidbkEiGYLzfUfuIWn6YtfdGPtiYQ8hPBfbeUclIkk/w400-h300/nana%20betty.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nana Betty (95) and myself (31) - 2023</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On discovering she was pregnant, she decided to confess to her husband, lest the child come out an Italian and her secret be revealed. John agreed that if the child came out Italian they would adopt it out. However, my Dad was born in 1954 and adopted out regardless (John was my Dad's Father, as confirmed through Ancestry DNA). He ended up meeting up with his birth Mother, my Nana Betty and met his 2 brothers and a sister. His Father John never acknowledged or got to know my Dad before passing away. So wanting to learn more about the paternal ancestry line I often messaged my Uncle Mark for information, learning John's Father, Richard Lawrence Franks (called Dick Franks) had sold pies up in Ettalong, but prior to that he had served in the army during World War II in the 2/30 Battalion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn6SJFu3l65fp2gHwLHi9fc9ykN8qz2RHZZ1vdc9qYcilM0pRs9wKA8nyB2JHbDANJu4SQsSFER6mmP_6vkQKu963o4z0VRXsjtFSHGpxOKRf-nkg97Ss0E0toNJJKxL8ymiWCRmXLnsulNsbByNkwp7hQQUVJcFlaELeaT0lqXJ58_VPNYMjrvgr/s350/richard%20franks.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="157" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn6SJFu3l65fp2gHwLHi9fc9ykN8qz2RHZZ1vdc9qYcilM0pRs9wKA8nyB2JHbDANJu4SQsSFER6mmP_6vkQKu963o4z0VRXsjtFSHGpxOKRf-nkg97Ss0E0toNJJKxL8ymiWCRmXLnsulNsbByNkwp7hQQUVJcFlaELeaT0lqXJ58_VPNYMjrvgr/w288-h640/richard%20franks.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Richard Lawrence Franks'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Richards' Father was our elusive and mysterious showman. Carl Franks. While researching Carl Franks using one of my many resources 'Trove' I found a few Newpaper articles about him performing hypnotism at numerous showgrounds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeFIE4kFbbieCjK6ICsZAfya7yHSuCapc9LC2d3LNOdBp6oWS3I2YK09sAH99caW8qpuk3E4Ar-y4_B8RhlNtgPqgVvh2QS3pMMChgcj8aXrM7xFEc_idpWjHRFI4L6b9NYrcIMPyx0IlVUOqTpHnB-d67ho-mDOPqoI4Di-x0N_SuiPMsTQj3Voi/s272/=return.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="221" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeFIE4kFbbieCjK6ICsZAfya7yHSuCapc9LC2d3LNOdBp6oWS3I2YK09sAH99caW8qpuk3E4Ar-y4_B8RhlNtgPqgVvh2QS3pMMChgcj8aXrM7xFEc_idpWjHRFI4L6b9NYrcIMPyx0IlVUOqTpHnB-d67ho-mDOPqoI4Di-x0N_SuiPMsTQj3Voi/w325-h400/=return.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I found recurring references.to fellow showman he would perform with including <a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vagne-1" target="_blank">Rocky Vane</a>, an pretty dubious character believed to have released Tiger Snakes onto Carnac Island off Western Australia which preceded to infest the island and capitalised on his own Wife's death by a Snake bite!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm9GhpVmCBhQUV3-0mL-N6XT2XuLS-Esjnc_L_LMI9KkfgdDvRM7-QpyVDNLO2A0nMmXLUuKL0say14C2nujqcoQw8WPDtXaaiqsGyH8utPiQcCNSiaODJpwtbfzzKqpmUhwf_7Aen2Pn1X6E6LKhxNMLAxIPilx7nzNkz5NUnDva8wnHD4kYQLZL/s988/Great%20Snakes%20Alive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="988" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm9GhpVmCBhQUV3-0mL-N6XT2XuLS-Esjnc_L_LMI9KkfgdDvRM7-QpyVDNLO2A0nMmXLUuKL0say14C2nujqcoQw8WPDtXaaiqsGyH8utPiQcCNSiaODJpwtbfzzKqpmUhwf_7Aen2Pn1X6E6LKhxNMLAxIPilx7nzNkz5NUnDva8wnHD4kYQLZL/w400-h369/Great%20Snakes%20Alive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />Another is David Hepburn, in the article above known as the World's Greatest Cataleptic Marvel but later in life referred to as a 'Fire King'. It was in an incident with this David Hepburn where I learned Carl had been employed at Wonderland City, as the two had been involved in a drunken altercation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8oEXfc5J88rmZQDcVRQudE0MFNgoHr2_kwzs01nssEIfF-XYAUTnqDE3Ka3JS4WoAM5STI1cXgyG35e4sNZru9emvmXlcWfxUYvnes4sSfwCpoN2UtM9y9EaLq3Jy9PBeXFtJ1SVVgms5owQ521zOvsGdyep4HXg46V068w3akil1JDXRxmVodga/s492/Showmen%20fall%20out.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="257" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8oEXfc5J88rmZQDcVRQudE0MFNgoHr2_kwzs01nssEIfF-XYAUTnqDE3Ka3JS4WoAM5STI1cXgyG35e4sNZru9emvmXlcWfxUYvnes4sSfwCpoN2UtM9y9EaLq3Jy9PBeXFtJ1SVVgms5owQ521zOvsGdyep4HXg46V068w3akil1JDXRxmVodga/w334-h640/Showmen%20fall%20out.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>"At the Paddington Court yesterday, David Hepburn, 46, vaudeville artist, was charged with assaulting Carl Franks, at Bondi, on January 3.</i></div><div><i>According to the prosecution, both parties were as-sociated in the showmen's carnival at Wonderland</i></div><div><i>City, Bondi. Complainant said he approached defend- ant for the purpose of having his contract settled, and the reply he got was to wait for the settlement, which would be at defendant's pleasure. Then, it was al-leged, that as complainant turned towards the door of the office he received a blow on the nose, which damaged it, and rendered him unconscious for three or four minutes. In answer to Mr. E. R. Abigail (who appeared for the defence), complainant said he was a manufacturer of inhalers, which business he had carried on for five years. He and defendant were show- ing together at Wonderland City as entertainers, "also for catalepsy," defendant being the cataleptic subject.</i></div><div><i>They called each other "Dave" and "Carl." Com- plaintant admitted that he had been drinking stout that day. Medical evidence having been given.</i></div><div><i>Hepburn, who pleaded not guilty, said he was a showman, and was under engagement with the show-man's carnival at Wonderland City at the time of the alleged assault. Franks was engaged by him in a hypnotic turn. Complainant was the hypnotist, and witness the cataleptic subject. On Mon-day complainant approached him for some pay, and witness went to the office and arranged the payment of £5, which sum complainant received. They had been drinking a little together, and complainant left, to re-turn in the evening. Near the King's Theatre Franks said to witness, "What about the rest of this gilt?" Witness told him not to bother just then, and went into the office, closing the door. Franks entered with several others, and commenced to use bad language to-wards witness, which he accompanied by a menacing movement. Witness told him to go away, and in</i></div><div><i>warding off a blow aimed at him accidentally struck Franks, who fell down, and said, "You have broken my nose." Two witnesses for the defence stated that at the time complainant was in a state of excite-ment and fluster.</i></div><div><i>Mr. Macfarlane, S.M., dismissed the case.</i></div><div><i>A similar charge was laid against Jack O'Brien by Arthur Copeland. Complainant in this case stated that he had been working for defendant, who had an in- terest in Wonderland City. On the 1st (unintelligible), he stated, he asked defendant for some wages, when O'Brien struck him on the jaw, and said, "That's all you'll</i></div><div><i>get."</i></div><div><i>The case was not proved, and defendant was dis-charged."</i></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another newspaper article reporting on the same thing, posted:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>POLICE COURTS.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>THURSDAY, JANUARY «. SHOWMEN AT COURT.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"A couple of matters arising out of the Showmen's Carnival held at Wonderland City during the year-end holidays were referred to Mr. W. M. Macfarlone, S.M., at the Paddington Police Court yesterday for adjustment- The question of wages was at the bottom of the trouble. The first case was that in which David Hepburn, </i><i>with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm upon Carl Franks at Bondi on January 3, Mr. E. R. Abigail appeared for the accused. The prosecutor, who described himself as a manufacturer, said that on January 3 he saw the accused in Mr. Rickett's office at Wonderland City, and said to him, "Will you settle up my contract" The witness was told to wait. for the contract, and that the accused would settle. up when he plowed. As witness turned towards the door he got a full blow across the bridge of the nose with the buck of the accused's hand. He was knocked down and., rendered senseless for three or four minutes. No provocation was given for the assault. In answer to Mr. Abigail, the witness said he manufactured toothpowder and inhalers, and had been doing so for five years. The accused and witness had not been mates or friends for years. They had shown at different places together at different times. The accused was his cataleptic subject at Wonderland City during the holidays. Dr. Hugh George Allen, resident house surgeon at Sydney Hospital, said he attended the ' prosecutor at IX o'clock, on the night of January 3 for an injury to his nose, which could have been caused by a blow with the list. There was a slight fracture of the left, nasal bone, but no permanent injury would ensue. The magistrate at this stage reduced the charge to one of common assault, and the defendant pleaded not guilty.... The defendant, giving evidence, said he was under contract with the Showmen's Association to perform certain acts at Wonderland City last week, lie had known the complainant for the past il years, and had been with him on and off for about (untellable) years of the period. "They showed together, ate together, and drank together." The witness engaged the complainant to as sist him in his turns, one of which was hypnotism. Complainant was the hypnotist, and the defendant was the cataleptic subject — "the only one in Austral aida at the present time." The complainant asked witness for some money, and £5 was paid over at oncw. In the evening they met near the King's Theatre, and Franks began to brandish his arms in a menacing fashion, saying, "Your hands will not protect you.'" Witness stood up to swing his arm round in order to word off a blow aimed at him by the complainant, who ran his face against witness's; hand. Franks then lay down and began to lament a broken nose. Witness would "not hurt Drank for £1000." After further evidence, the magistrate caid that, despite the nice way in which Svenson had given his evidence, there was so case, and the information was. therefore, dismissed."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmcaVrjlx300VamPEixsFZeXPq2VFQVTw0PwveoQ83PSV7yaux5BzOQOLMz8Li1VmMBxorya5Hi0wOYILfHj-cyTFuG0EjUY9AUBPyh1-OIgdnnD3nDWvjFGYHbeyywcWP1_zJDkt6HXziEMDLKqE7NzILcqBlkj7ABpmezNgZIhaGHOupn5W3cBH/s900/ricketts%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmcaVrjlx300VamPEixsFZeXPq2VFQVTw0PwveoQ83PSV7yaux5BzOQOLMz8Li1VmMBxorya5Hi0wOYILfHj-cyTFuG0EjUY9AUBPyh1-OIgdnnD3nDWvjFGYHbeyywcWP1_zJDkt6HXziEMDLKqE7NzILcqBlkj7ABpmezNgZIhaGHOupn5W3cBH/w282-h640/ricketts%20edit.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Rickett's Wonderland City Manager</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Having never heard about Wonderland City before it was these articles and this history that led me to walk this coastal track to Tamarama in the first place, but I was always trying to learn more about Carl. It had been passed down that he was an American ex-navy man, and I found two articles that referenced this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"Special engagement of Carl Franks, the world's greatest exponent of Hypnotism, adding his latest American sensation of Diving 16 feet into broken glass in a</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>bathing costume." </i>One article wrote, and another saying: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"Or red-headed Carl Franks, the ex-American navy man, who, from the piano case in front of the big tent, would dare anyone to eat candles. But can't you feel the cold shivers running up and down your back even now when you think of Jack the Ripper, not the original English murderer, but the chap who worked the old Show with his sword and his little leaden soldiers? Jack, who would catch a' small boy, put half a crown in his mouth, and then cover his face with a hand-kerchief. I can see him taking out the big shiny sword, and going through the old formula of cutting the coin without touching the boy's nose. And how near ho would come to doing it. Nothing could over convince me but that he would have done it; only for' the boy being frightened. And the Wild Man of Borneo, who would eat you if you got too close. The Fat Boy and the Fat Girl, the cheapjack who would soil you a real knife with four blades in it for threepence. Their name was legion, and although perhaps, looking at it from a modern entertainment point of view, you never got your money's worth, you got more than it's worth in fun and "wonderful things." Now the remnant of the old brigade is licrded together in the side-show section. Most of them sorry and sick looking, and the others too ultra-modern to extract a sixpence from any real pop-eyed kiddie. Of the old hands Carl Franks is recording his 15th year on the ground, hut gone are the candles and the spangles. Carl is a medicine man dealing in cures for all mortal ills. I watched the old warrior work one night. In the middle of his story he noticed a small boy with genuine toothache. In a minute he had slopped his show and got the kiddie in a corner. Out from his box came a little dentist's looking-glass, and into the aching molar went some of his cure. "How much?" asked the mother, And Carl laughed. "Nothing, ma'am, nothing; but if it starts to ache again bring him round and I will put some more till" "Monty" Somor may be right in his dislike of the itinerant showman and the rest of the gypsies. I am not going to argue the point with him, but I know that a show where you can only buy things you can got in any shop in your home suburb can't hold a candle to the old show. At least not from the kiddies' point of view. Tho war and the high cost of living may ho responsible, but I know that 10 years ago any healthy child could get deliciously bilious for 2s. Now it can't be done under 10s."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWlnyK1kVtBTVT38q1M2uOstqwDXCdTofTYFjgwW24qSr4-gZ72N6depg76eMmYkeFz-aso2Bjo4yjQbagETW83T7EDJN1fDPee_LnK_W22UvI028B_1Bznbu9aIfu6Y_0lsgAMzewwMp-UgjoGyVhXGsdfDRdSUU48qRjqF9zC3Fyl2So3wxcfhJ/s900/The%20Old%20Show%20and%20the%20New.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWlnyK1kVtBTVT38q1M2uOstqwDXCdTofTYFjgwW24qSr4-gZ72N6depg76eMmYkeFz-aso2Bjo4yjQbagETW83T7EDJN1fDPee_LnK_W22UvI028B_1Bznbu9aIfu6Y_0lsgAMzewwMp-UgjoGyVhXGsdfDRdSUU48qRjqF9zC3Fyl2So3wxcfhJ/w366-h640/The%20Old%20Show%20and%20the%20New.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><br />I had tried often times searching for immigration records, or American Navy records for Carl, and so I requested the help of the head of <a href="https://museum.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">Shellharbour City Museum</a> to aid me in my search. She was able to find a Gaol record for Carl in my own area of the Illawarra. Carl had been arrested for boarding a train without purchasing an adequate ticket. It listed his home address as 131 Macquarie Street Sydney, said his hair was red, said he was an American with a ship tattoo on his right forearm and a heart with an arrow through it on his left forearm. It said his occupation was a showman and came here aboard the 'Aleain' in 1896.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVUfDro-1Pfr5T5-zjADv6FEUs-7FuN3PJfGM6jmrmA2nrWGYzbbm9p7gMBKs2dPqVKrRxL4Hk1sX8LY4p6PijXFfzzdXLysKEcX_4x9ATVRBBNXQP6UAF3DdSxLDdDHjO8vMwQ1flIbfXRCQOF1rX6AV_yKtjw_tf5xIFvhdiEmh7-KchzTnT08u/s9232/Franks,%20Carl%20Wollongong%20Gaol%20Entry%201904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6736" data-original-width="9232" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVUfDro-1Pfr5T5-zjADv6FEUs-7FuN3PJfGM6jmrmA2nrWGYzbbm9p7gMBKs2dPqVKrRxL4Hk1sX8LY4p6PijXFfzzdXLysKEcX_4x9ATVRBBNXQP6UAF3DdSxLDdDHjO8vMwQ1flIbfXRCQOF1rX6AV_yKtjw_tf5xIFvhdiEmh7-KchzTnT08u/w400-h291/Franks,%20Carl%20Wollongong%20Gaol%20Entry%201904.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">However, we were unable to find any records of that ship and I hit the 'brick wall' of Ancestry research, that is until, I decided to look into someone mentioned in an obituary that mentioned Carl. The obituary was for 'Henry Lawrence Drayton' and mentioned him as being Carl and his Wife Sarah's Nephew. Upon looking into this I found the website 'Wikitree' and free online family tree, where this Henry Lawrence Drayton was uploaded to. Through this I learned all about Car's Wife, '<a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Parker-11463" target="_blank">Sarah Rachael Parker</a>' and her heritage. But I also found Carl's obituary, as he died in 1919 of Spanish Influenza.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIVaBoGk_8T6ul3DDB-ZLFmTD8DRM1dz8GGuiaPlf2TdDPXYy30baGNfQ0enBZuApXtZ0XiOvq1ht2YqBb9DjgjURTZACg0uc4r4pBhCkly2kmHoKjYtai_vvWxAs8c1kTyi39DJ0Iw5qZSNba5Q_LBqYWRYqHkR-9AxQJX_U0RulAOoTWPrLhhzC/s235/obituary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="235" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIVaBoGk_8T6ul3DDB-ZLFmTD8DRM1dz8GGuiaPlf2TdDPXYy30baGNfQ0enBZuApXtZ0XiOvq1ht2YqBb9DjgjURTZACg0uc4r4pBhCkly2kmHoKjYtai_vvWxAs8c1kTyi39DJ0Iw5qZSNba5Q_LBqYWRYqHkR-9AxQJX_U0RulAOoTWPrLhhzC/w400-h151/obituary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was here I learned that Carl, the name he went by, was not his name. He was John Joseph Franks. This led to me finding another obituary posted for him by his sister, Margaret who had married a James Hassall (see how complicated family genealogy can be?) and another Margaret. Margaret Petersen, his Mother! The questions buzzed, had his whole family migrated to Australia from America too?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q_wh3JJe4qtGNCbwpJe-zEAFQ1_bNFOt5E0NMlsk14saAshsgUI5d3qbldzB3FVoHTmCR37iYWRadw9By7V2_Xx79lIrIFqkyMfRpqFuDjATBzy3LUi3cRdW61APvy29uQCgue_jMY8nTvBAX2yKyY73vGq6aA8_laPC5KQFut0pw7pS3q2C-wEH/s251/franks%20obit%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="251" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Q_wh3JJe4qtGNCbwpJe-zEAFQ1_bNFOt5E0NMlsk14saAshsgUI5d3qbldzB3FVoHTmCR37iYWRadw9By7V2_Xx79lIrIFqkyMfRpqFuDjATBzy3LUi3cRdW61APvy29uQCgue_jMY8nTvBAX2yKyY73vGq6aA8_laPC5KQFut0pw7pS3q2C-wEH/w400-h241/franks%20obit%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Searching into his Mother, I found she had been married to a Carl Julius Franke. Who died in Adelaide, who's father was Samuel Franke, who's Father was a <a href="https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Franke-898" target="_blank">Johann Gottlieb Franke</a>, who had fled Germany during the '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Uprising_in_Dresden" target="_blank">Dresden Uprising</a>' in 1856 to come to Australia and had been an editor of the German-Austrlian magazine 'The Germania' in Melbourne. So, it seemed that Carl was not an American at all, but an imposter! Did his closest friends and family know? Was it all part of his showman persona? As I write this blog over 100 years later, I don't know, and don't know if I ever will. But I often wonder of his showman's life. What was he like? Was he a dubious character like some of the people he seemed to share his life with? Was it just his way of getting through life and making money? Or did he love the attention of being a showman, the performance aspect? I may never know but my research continues, only recently finding another recently uploaded article on trove detailing more of his train arrest and why he was heading down to Wollongong. He was going to the Albion Park (where I grew up!) show in 1904. Was he to perform? Was he going for the day out? Did he get to perform or did being arrested stop him?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveroKOGC4QDdBGhqooGfau7tHSm2SMkp7tTqb8HieGSz5zQN4bEhnQxN9UWrjw6mhI4iXJWvqnkDAfYh40XQGu13zKdgocn__ImKxBOZyIcux4OTub8Tqbwk_TtJ54EF-1G6mOYJh5EvDpCaCQ5nxMOAG4cZ8OdYp0ud5T7m35zLPjxv323etvrHs/s710/dapto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveroKOGC4QDdBGhqooGfau7tHSm2SMkp7tTqb8HieGSz5zQN4bEhnQxN9UWrjw6mhI4iXJWvqnkDAfYh40XQGu13zKdgocn__ImKxBOZyIcux4OTub8Tqbwk_TtJ54EF-1G6mOYJh5EvDpCaCQ5nxMOAG4cZ8OdYp0ud5T7m35zLPjxv323etvrHs/w450-h640/dapto.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These were all questions I pondered as we walked up the stairs and along the ramp overlooking Tamarama as we continued along the coastal walk towards Coogee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc8lWlRUSyr4JUKmVf8-GqvMuqFohRujh-xnJgwMjvBrtSH7cNDcg4mSOO0o2agfAv4saHN_k-HMFvkuAE_5zN7lJ7Fpz4dCXXvVF2-5sZjLCFvhozkYj98kvL-flxP9F9vJGYnI102QjsFebeSs79V4AOFksCQSAtS6NkBeW55EbbLpMeQW5f-6z/s4032/20230709_125714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzc8lWlRUSyr4JUKmVf8-GqvMuqFohRujh-xnJgwMjvBrtSH7cNDcg4mSOO0o2agfAv4saHN_k-HMFvkuAE_5zN7lJ7Fpz4dCXXvVF2-5sZjLCFvhozkYj98kvL-flxP9F9vJGYnI102QjsFebeSs79V4AOFksCQSAtS6NkBeW55EbbLpMeQW5f-6z/w480-h640/20230709_125714.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal8Hxq8lNoq1sczAg-NrGsgqm59G8wD-tzPDm1hWjH_yRK2YM2UKc85luori6oNnmFLD8EvcnZ_sQRmbULUBX8tIhWFgjKZ1nb2j4V5qD1T5SSq_MCBPxyTCyowm1MUqcyLEDWbD51-FZtIPOVY84_TMLyQiuTX-VYuRdNZ1gfoWx05jT-VQw-tFo/s4032/20230709_125744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhal8Hxq8lNoq1sczAg-NrGsgqm59G8wD-tzPDm1hWjH_yRK2YM2UKc85luori6oNnmFLD8EvcnZ_sQRmbULUBX8tIhWFgjKZ1nb2j4V5qD1T5SSq_MCBPxyTCyowm1MUqcyLEDWbD51-FZtIPOVY84_TMLyQiuTX-VYuRdNZ1gfoWx05jT-VQw-tFo/w480-h640/20230709_125744.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we walked the slight incline, I could feel my calves and thighs tighten and could feel myself struggling. As we reached the top I asked my Wife if we could stop for a little, explaining that my legs were feeling tired, unusual for me, and she suggested I might still be recovering from my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/07/tarbourie-village-to-termeil-lake.html" target="_blank">recent really bad cold which she believed was the flu</a>. I said it could be, even though it had been gone for maybe a week now I'd had a lump appear under my left armpit, and I thought that it could be my lymph node swelling as my body fought off the sickness. But I also commented on the tiredness, saying it reminded me of the third and final attempt to <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">hike up Mount Jellore</a>, as my legs began to cramp and I felt tired and later on was <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">diagnosed with my Leukemia.</a><br /><br />"Well go to a doctor then!" My Wife snapped at me. But I didn't want to, afraid of anything being wrong, as early in the week my Father had told me a lump on his neck had been diagnosed as a cancer bringing back some trauma.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I rested my legs and drank some water (in case it was just that I was a bit dehydrated) I looked out over Tamarama beach, trying to envisage in my mind how it looked and trying to image Carl Franks going on about his life here. I wondered what I shared with Carl, what traits or genes had been passed on. Was it from Carl that through my earlier years I had a love of the theatrics, doing drama throughout school with the dreams of being an actor? The one thing I knew for sure is we shared a taste for stout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We pressed on with a short walk around the bend and we were already at Bronte Beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCFKzXV9QqMJm9M0-nS3etVyV4PMfLut1EjPcIrLKovCESLOI65bhlnABv1JBqoKLN6uVv9O0inj6CoDw_BCweb-IClONoc871qpnxCWMfxoRbxrGw2eK5QeZ0vIR9DtY4oOazvy3QqNRkRAKQqWF9lfGY9I5OepL-hBn41srAaXtaZpn3Ia_H0rK/s4032/20230709_130346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCFKzXV9QqMJm9M0-nS3etVyV4PMfLut1EjPcIrLKovCESLOI65bhlnABv1JBqoKLN6uVv9O0inj6CoDw_BCweb-IClONoc871qpnxCWMfxoRbxrGw2eK5QeZ0vIR9DtY4oOazvy3QqNRkRAKQqWF9lfGY9I5OepL-hBn41srAaXtaZpn3Ia_H0rK/w400-h300/20230709_130346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We made our way down towards the beach, pointing out one lone guy going along with a metal detector. I said I wonder what artifacts or remnants of Wonderland City people had found or discarded over the years. Occasionally we had to swap sides and start walking to the right-hand side of the path, dodging tourists who were unfamiliar with Australia's 'walking on the left side' conventions. We crossed along the path alongside the beach, following the path up past the shops further up a one-way road alongside a rock wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNob-PaVOLm5pTaWx4M_2JOAdEZdlUkPvQGAIAYnZNzfxTcBGe0iM-M9T8E40j6lrctrlIM82ddmZJ1THrZeCEeRNOEH7bTFrfonlMzp4GCK3oBF4-qqtt2TgUbC9Xw4f2rbze1C14pBWWGBHwRHPOYtBT55VrBUncZFkD7QZQlf12yb6U2DnJ50Fw/s4032/20230709_131450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNob-PaVOLm5pTaWx4M_2JOAdEZdlUkPvQGAIAYnZNzfxTcBGe0iM-M9T8E40j6lrctrlIM82ddmZJ1THrZeCEeRNOEH7bTFrfonlMzp4GCK3oBF4-qqtt2TgUbC9Xw4f2rbze1C14pBWWGBHwRHPOYtBT55VrBUncZFkD7QZQlf12yb6U2DnJ50Fw/w480-h640/20230709_131450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we reached the top my nose began to drip, and I mentioned that I might not be fully over my cold. <br />"It's just the sea air." My Wife said.<br />Ahead of us was Waverly Cemetery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ0K4AoxkVEknQ8WINFCIxApiKl3x6iUCqyDGXkro6Kb4HfJZE5wZm2r8xMb83C4wb6nMQtfe7dU4NN0YYKnIO38v118Fdk-icR0MypMksu2wVAdj4O1r_TRofPB81jF-lPHiY0YDP-UTsBSKMRzTVmro0pPwIPHkA1fii4rWLQY6o8d7jZdiqJJo/s4032/20230709_131634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ0K4AoxkVEknQ8WINFCIxApiKl3x6iUCqyDGXkro6Kb4HfJZE5wZm2r8xMb83C4wb6nMQtfe7dU4NN0YYKnIO38v118Fdk-icR0MypMksu2wVAdj4O1r_TRofPB81jF-lPHiY0YDP-UTsBSKMRzTVmro0pPwIPHkA1fii4rWLQY6o8d7jZdiqJJo/w400-h300/20230709_131634.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">However before continuing I walked back along the top of the rock wall, looking at the view back North where we had come from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZI4JbvEbMaNVlycbkMEYSMV7CZAiBDsyWuR0QiLoG37QvsuOkacSKvkJmFybkpIa9BhXdnbfl8tBExGliNxzHB83CIFd5ZL_v79-PdHZQaoiSp906sxCDgwd85xYwZC_8kPhyjdo826YyqnicFhBI-zvjim6XjeJ5VYMeZIceNDV0BHMkXhrEav4/s4032/20230709_131721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZI4JbvEbMaNVlycbkMEYSMV7CZAiBDsyWuR0QiLoG37QvsuOkacSKvkJmFybkpIa9BhXdnbfl8tBExGliNxzHB83CIFd5ZL_v79-PdHZQaoiSp906sxCDgwd85xYwZC_8kPhyjdo826YyqnicFhBI-zvjim6XjeJ5VYMeZIceNDV0BHMkXhrEav4/w400-h300/20230709_131721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We walked through Colga reserve, having a quick look at the Japanese sculpture that was there. The path split in two, with a structured walkway left along the coast or heading right, into the cemetery. I told my Wife I didn't think the walk through the cemetery would lead us along the coastal track, and so we followed the boardwalk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPz_LOkFYfb_QHm-YBc8q6Ghl7tdz4chBIMnPGhcFHIC4irKnHvJqguK3SyA4HpJGe-EYzVGYEfsVbZq5TBHq787-k1z_s9c9Qx6Zhmr12AfmMtE-tmAz0p9aSMMJWipyo7Iu29BjCLEQrl2yUrmIu-4NX6KXm-bwJ5giyI3LcLi0JeLnxpFU-VT4/s4032/20230709_132039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPz_LOkFYfb_QHm-YBc8q6Ghl7tdz4chBIMnPGhcFHIC4irKnHvJqguK3SyA4HpJGe-EYzVGYEfsVbZq5TBHq787-k1z_s9c9Qx6Zhmr12AfmMtE-tmAz0p9aSMMJWipyo7Iu29BjCLEQrl2yUrmIu-4NX6KXm-bwJ5giyI3LcLi0JeLnxpFU-VT4/w480-h640/20230709_132039.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I told my Wife I always liked Graveyard, which is probably a morbid thing to say. But I had grown up down the street from a Graveyard and as an avid 'Legend of Zelda' fan said in those games you often have to go into graveyards. My Wife said she thought the graveyard was the reason I had wanted to come, assuming someone related to me was buried there, but I told her that Carl had died in Melbourne and that I didn't know where he was buried or if he still had a remaining grave. (A great site for Graves and Ancestry research is the website '<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/" target="_blank">Find a Grave</a>'). We continued around and my Wife pointed out the 'stacked stones' I hate. <br /><br />"Oh, you me cairns." I told her.<br />"Don't legitamise them." She replied. "Aren't they really bad?"<br />"They're pretty hated among certain hikers for disrupting the environment." I replied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We continued around and I looked back in order to ger a good photo of he bit that reminded me of a amphitheatre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUAmKKFuOAl0ZyBasoFlM2f-wLVfFuCJTTTR58QMFKQTNb7Yk-9GmWgpyhIPO01RPsA8lYxyvdAO6NvBOgT_kCVpROCUFKvEDhCbeIEl49XT77kU0PEFypyRAz21l1JGrVe-Q8B5X8DQRY3B12jngQA1KO4rqafKAr6id2SQTQeLrccwqzQr4ROAV/s4032/20230709_132701.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUAmKKFuOAl0ZyBasoFlM2f-wLVfFuCJTTTR58QMFKQTNb7Yk-9GmWgpyhIPO01RPsA8lYxyvdAO6NvBOgT_kCVpROCUFKvEDhCbeIEl49XT77kU0PEFypyRAz21l1JGrVe-Q8B5X8DQRY3B12jngQA1KO4rqafKAr6id2SQTQeLrccwqzQr4ROAV/w480-h640/20230709_132701.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we passed the cemetery we came across Clovelly Bowling Club, and we continued along Ocean st past the sportsfield where my Wife pointed out a seahawk that had landed on a streetlight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmtvh37z3Y3TOnvoCXhOsi2SqoVCQZlGo8dWMOaBhKXxKYnd3U4FyB7mxuMnjz800RfurnpRk8ZfTpbrseR4llBLIASAW4b4r2-W6hHFpzGRprevU1NibgC4UJM0aV_fptFwUATYavG4kk-9pJOfwoTUiiBZ95Cg77bBBPAdlVhQhO4SygvG4efJT/s4032/20230709_133319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmtvh37z3Y3TOnvoCXhOsi2SqoVCQZlGo8dWMOaBhKXxKYnd3U4FyB7mxuMnjz800RfurnpRk8ZfTpbrseR4llBLIASAW4b4r2-W6hHFpzGRprevU1NibgC4UJM0aV_fptFwUATYavG4kk-9pJOfwoTUiiBZ95Cg77bBBPAdlVhQhO4SygvG4efJT/w480-h640/20230709_133319.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">From across Clovelly Bay we got our first view of Clovelly Surf Lifesaving Club.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3LsxflBfocsUWE1862x40vNaNdzwEc34e-GleBV9ESJefpec-23TN3OE9x4WzuyjpLydHcXkLdUsmZdLTW0j789gW8RZEPIViFStZeIOPktJ-1y9IWXTvUdY7mDF7FjmJPpfpEY9AMSEfBEk9hrFD6VZUCKkvAaJNyZ2A_BwTFzDZ7lQV-009BQD/s4032/20230709_133456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3LsxflBfocsUWE1862x40vNaNdzwEc34e-GleBV9ESJefpec-23TN3OE9x4WzuyjpLydHcXkLdUsmZdLTW0j789gW8RZEPIViFStZeIOPktJ-1y9IWXTvUdY7mDF7FjmJPpfpEY9AMSEfBEk9hrFD6VZUCKkvAaJNyZ2A_BwTFzDZ7lQV-009BQD/w400-h300/20230709_133456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the far distance I could see where the manmade structures stopped and I commented that it might be the Royal National Park as it looked a lot like the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-coast-track-otford-to-bundeena.html" target="_blank">Otford to Bundeena Coastal walk</a>.<br /><br />"It's probably Cronulla." My Wife replied, and looking at Google maps, it was actually probably Malabar Headland National Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As we continued the walk down towards the Life Saving Club, there was a young boy selling drinks and snacks. <br /><br />"That's <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/last-drinks-for-entrepreneurial-12-year-old-as-council-rejects-trading-application-20220930-p5bme6.html" target="_blank">the kid</a> the council tried to shut down for selling without a permit and earning too much." My Wife said as the young kid served a customer.<br />"I think I remember seeing that on the news." I replied. Assuming the community had rallied in support of him, and he had been allowed to continue his business pursuits.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We crossed down by Clovelly Beach looking out at the bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI9__R4JcqngXTs5is4KLRjYG-yoPJowZcZVjjvNwa3tX5UMXqWS159cRi1Ztiq2Sd_fYBWZmqC4STJp0fJosq5Kc-B1LG2HmIdWKpwP_5DIGt7rxgJ-lwMN8fiE-ijknPvxGpou7gjS01cNQLneqs1H5q-CjBQNbynyOtrvzIHeovOObtD6W-eJ8/s4032/20230709_133902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI9__R4JcqngXTs5is4KLRjYG-yoPJowZcZVjjvNwa3tX5UMXqWS159cRi1Ztiq2Sd_fYBWZmqC4STJp0fJosq5Kc-B1LG2HmIdWKpwP_5DIGt7rxgJ-lwMN8fiE-ijknPvxGpou7gjS01cNQLneqs1H5q-CjBQNbynyOtrvzIHeovOObtD6W-eJ8/w400-h300/20230709_133902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We made our way around the pool where the path began to have a slight incline again following the path around Little Coogee Bay and getting our first view of Gordons Bay. Here there was two tracks, one going right, staying as a concrete path and one heading left, a little dirt track leading down to the water. We followed the left path down towards the water finding it just continued on straight into the water, but there was a little track on our right we followed two people heading up. We followed and it cut up under a railing back onto the footpath. Here we walked up some stairs and I turned around to get a better shot of Gordons Bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGdAmNA8xifTEUZJ1Sq3UZJDvflfyKZ6wIFzx0BbfR09EKWqDJ9mbNKC9rnu8ZrB7laOBtvjnk18VkQ0G3C4E3auK1YLk6YEB38Qlx2NDS3ajBzbOp52nyGSUzHxk0d_TEbzctKsY7Sma-zYRfL7db4UoeV4_wmjxBiK475cByMkKOEVnOPaT1xH8/s4032/20230709_135307.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGdAmNA8xifTEUZJ1Sq3UZJDvflfyKZ6wIFzx0BbfR09EKWqDJ9mbNKC9rnu8ZrB7laOBtvjnk18VkQ0G3C4E3auK1YLk6YEB38Qlx2NDS3ajBzbOp52nyGSUzHxk0d_TEbzctKsY7Sma-zYRfL7db4UoeV4_wmjxBiK475cByMkKOEVnOPaT1xH8/w400-h300/20230709_135307.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My feet began to get a bit sore and my legs still felt a bit tight. I commented that I probably needed a new pair of joggers for walking, as I had the pair I was wearing since my second attempt at summiting '<a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-castle.html" target="_blank">The Castle</a>' back in 2017.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"We're almost there, it's like, literally around the corner." My Wife told me as we now began heading down stairs, towards the beach at Gordons Bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDIyDcnCP5ZZ1evPeRyckjWn-5ZebFAbRJIJUFYGFpj_JzuWQ1CsPrRZTAoz1Whmh130uTCRoyyPkEWtY6Nt30D8xPCFpkjJjMsJu-Dgkco9q05lOd5wtUEVgJgAryP8CRaPMC4URJFM0vE2mQVOEWM0nXp6szj0feyGFPLnk_FQvkwpr1uJO0pXt/s4032/20230709_135515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDIyDcnCP5ZZ1evPeRyckjWn-5ZebFAbRJIJUFYGFpj_JzuWQ1CsPrRZTAoz1Whmh130uTCRoyyPkEWtY6Nt30D8xPCFpkjJjMsJu-Dgkco9q05lOd5wtUEVgJgAryP8CRaPMC4URJFM0vE2mQVOEWM0nXp6szj0feyGFPLnk_FQvkwpr1uJO0pXt/w400-h300/20230709_135515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"I wonder if the water raises all the way up to where the boats are?" I asked out loud, not really expecting an answer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The path began up again and we pushed uphill, walking past a few slower people along the way. A sign along the way acknowledged we were on Gadigal Country, an Aboriginal clan that was part of Eora Country (not that I would have known any of this without looking it up, as Aboriginal history was barely taught growing up, when I went through school people were still calling Uluru; 'Ayers' Rock'). We passed along the outskirts of houses or buildings people reaching a green field or reserve, walking past a group who were sitting up a PA system that sounded like some sort of Buddhist religious music (maybe they were about to pray, or dance, I have no idea). We continued, getting the first view of our final beach, Coogee. I commented that it looked like 'Thirroul', (but I was actually thinking of Austinmer Beach). I saw a plaque that I walked up to read, finding it was a memorial to Australian's impacted by the Bali Bombings of 2002. As I turned away from reading the list of names, saying that the act of terrorism made me sad in its cowardness, I noticed an Ibis eating spilled Corn Chips off of the ground. "Bin Chicken!" I exclaimed, as tragic a word and its context might be, they have become much loved birds in Australia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcEu4BHNJ7-RfJ6AP6w8BSlv_U0bXZ-d2nhWWFZRkj40zzpahdfGZgfzViEcwuByakTtuKs56kqMHnNmwslz1GW7RNOWJ_H05rJm3cVq-IW-ZSXnRxGF5FwSrI0W9OcGLCpianc5Wc539_YURTRjlosirN9MGy8FwrjRLpg7Iu7xZaS7L6KbmK_jy/s4032/20230709_140354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcEu4BHNJ7-RfJ6AP6w8BSlv_U0bXZ-d2nhWWFZRkj40zzpahdfGZgfzViEcwuByakTtuKs56kqMHnNmwslz1GW7RNOWJ_H05rJm3cVq-IW-ZSXnRxGF5FwSrI0W9OcGLCpianc5Wc539_YURTRjlosirN9MGy8FwrjRLpg7Iu7xZaS7L6KbmK_jy/w480-h640/20230709_140354.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0HnZ1NJhn9GCBOmjY9bEqusYrMcLaE9MSKflCNzT0_3Hl7ZgsxRDARjyGMEFWoiGPLlfOxH98dL2-w6qK5Te7OajOWoHXEa00SIOqGxb4daE0ue0eeKfaN2fz5xmwZrTMOt6NnKkPIjY1HdWtNC61pJj5TaMqYH0EjME-Z_l4H7LQab3bxvlAvS7/s4032/20230709_140500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0HnZ1NJhn9GCBOmjY9bEqusYrMcLaE9MSKflCNzT0_3Hl7ZgsxRDARjyGMEFWoiGPLlfOxH98dL2-w6qK5Te7OajOWoHXEa00SIOqGxb4daE0ue0eeKfaN2fz5xmwZrTMOt6NnKkPIjY1HdWtNC61pJj5TaMqYH0EjME-Z_l4H7LQab3bxvlAvS7/w400-h300/20230709_140500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We made our way down to the final beach, eager to tuck into our sweet pastries as it was getting later in the afternoon and our stomachs began to rumble. I noticed a peculiar looking tree, that looked like some sort of pine based on the leaves, which I couldn't help but take a photo of, in an attempt to have it identified.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPb2VtkQybXVITFzdKtkFV3CLkuPPUNplFomDYuamiS7qq_acaOfnBJVb38wPDl8aLPWmm9lLbnqnzhnrHPlsSPUFHeLaWDv6r32ZAL_ufBGfoLHe3296gCHTizGkzGpOKt9hM_tVXaKIRgyPNrS4Y0XR9JOwML_THXUlYm6dgNiDc2uha_qE6IkH/s4032/20230709_140658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPb2VtkQybXVITFzdKtkFV3CLkuPPUNplFomDYuamiS7qq_acaOfnBJVb38wPDl8aLPWmm9lLbnqnzhnrHPlsSPUFHeLaWDv6r32ZAL_ufBGfoLHe3296gCHTizGkzGpOKt9hM_tVXaKIRgyPNrS4Y0XR9JOwML_THXUlYm6dgNiDc2uha_qE6IkH/w400-h300/20230709_140658.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We walked down to the grass field surrounding Coogee Beach, near the barbeques, and sat to eat our sweet pastries. Sitting in the shade, the wind began to blow and we began to feel the chill. We ate two of the 3 pastries before filling up. I said we could put the third away and have it later. My Wife mentioned the bakery had a sign to consume within 3 hours (we had already had them in my backpack longer than that). I suggested that it was probably just to cover themselves as they might contain egg or something. My Wife asked if I was good to turn around and head home (or just jump in one of the nearby buses to head back to Bondi Junction). I was adamant to walk back, but first said I had to walk to the far end of the beach to truly feel like I completed the walk. My Wife groaned. I told her she didn't need to come with me if she wanted to wait. She said she would come with me and we dodged our way through the crowds past the rainbow walkway where I pointed to a sign saying, "racists not welcome".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Oh good, Pauline Hanson can't come here." My Wife jested. We walked to the far end to an ANZAC memorial, with the path continuing on South to God-knows-where. I said that you could probably just continuing walking around to many beaches, but the walk was Bondi to Coogee, and we had done the walk just for me to visit Tamarama. So, we set off on the walk back, the sun glaring into our eyes as we travelled at a faster pace back to Bondi, (passing a group of British men at Clovelly who were joking out loud they had been sent to 'the colonies' for stealing a loaf of bread), reaching Bondi beach late in the afternoon. We found the bus stop and travelled to the depot, making our way to the station from where the bus dropped us off as the sun was beginning to set. Arriving back at Town Hall station and quickly stopping in at the toilets at World Square, my Wife asked if I was still OK to drive home. I said I was, and we began the drive home in the dark, while I contemplated what further information I might unlock in the future about John Joseph 'Carl' Franks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYgdSTxaoX_ANvNFsMgN-qJCto5ggu56MmuZK1s4OYz_FOnn3XTvQRieGULlZ3uxQRbeqwvlAgWQN6-nWU63Rx45GKSQptP3Dwhmn8ol0nOQsOb4X7PTOF6joogMYW1BZcKryp02qsl-A_APgC6g_KZuadynfeoQHPpohuxYZY7cQC7WutB0hzQBa/s910/carl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="910" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYgdSTxaoX_ANvNFsMgN-qJCto5ggu56MmuZK1s4OYz_FOnn3XTvQRieGULlZ3uxQRbeqwvlAgWQN6-nWU63Rx45GKSQptP3Dwhmn8ol0nOQsOb4X7PTOF6joogMYW1BZcKryp02qsl-A_APgC6g_KZuadynfeoQHPpohuxYZY7cQC7WutB0hzQBa/w400-h289/carl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div></div></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-61859654433636750092023-07-02T10:24:00.004+10:002023-07-02T11:22:47.517+10:00Tarbourie Village to Termeil Lake<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Yuin Country</i></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Having done the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/06/hoddles-track-saddleback-mountain.html" target="_blank">Saddleback Mountain walk</a>, the weekend before I had already planned to head down and camp and walk-up Pigeon House with my friend Tristan. However the Tuesday after doing Saddleback we had a really cold snap where I could barely find the energy to get dressed and ready for work that morning, due to the cold and the idea of waking up, having to pack down a tent that was covered with frost, after spending a night freezing, walking up it, then traveling home, and to have to unpack my tent to let it dry so it didn't get moldy didn't sound like much fun. So I messaged Tristan and told him this, telling him I just couldn't really hand the cold since my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">cancer treatment</a>.</p><p>He agreed, but I said I would just spend the night at his Sunday night anyway, we could relax and have a few beers and get up super early Monday morning to drive down.</p><p>However, Thursday at work I began getting fevers and chills and came down with a severe cold. I did a Rapid Antigen Test for Covid (tested negative) before having Friday off sick and spending all day, blowing my nose into tissues and playing the new Zelda game (Tears of the Kingdom).</p><p>I waited to hopefully recover by Sunday, where I was still sick with the cold, but informed Tristan I was still keen to do the walk every with my cold (though I would have definitely preferred to have not been sick).</p><p>I headed to his place, and we chatted about a bunch of things, while I continued to blow my nose. He looked on at me in disbelief that I still wanted to go, saying that we could just go another time. I told him I really wanted to do something steep to test my lung capacity before my next lung test (as I had lung damage from the chemo). We chatted into the night, having a barbecue and some beers (Tristan much more than me and my one long neck stout). I informed Tristan that I had also been constipated all day and had really been hoping to poo during the day before I had come to his. It became time to go to bed and luckily, I was able to make myself go to the toilet right as Tristan set me up a blow-up mattress on his floor, and I laid down to try and sleep. Of course, that night there were extreme winds and the howling gale did nothing to help me sleep. I cuddled under my blanket with my jumper and beanie still on, shivering and blowing my nose, trying to daydream off to the land of sleep with no avail. As I tossed and turned, I realised the mattress was slowly deflating and I was no pressed against the tiles below and even colder. I checked my phone seeing it was 2am and the alarm was set for 5:30am. I grabbed the blanket and pillow and moved over onto Tristan's couch, where either because it was leather, or because I was unwell, I began to overheat and sweat through the rest of the night with some broken sleep.</p><p>That morning having heard about my night's sleep and with the gusty winds blowing, Tristan seemed like he really wasn't in the mood to head down. I told him I was still fine to, ever ready for the adventure as he told me that I had 'nothing to prove'. I told him if he didn't want to go we could bail, but I was still fine to go. He seemed to reluctantly agree to go, telling me that he would be pissed if we drove all that way and I got down there and was like "I can't do it". I reassured him that wouldn't be the case, or I would bail beforehand and that I would suffer through it. He also said if there were any fallen trees, he would turn us back because he wasn't going to be, in his words "One of those fuckwits who doesn't listen to the warning signs". </p><p>As I hopped into Tristan's car and felt his seat warmers on my back, I told him how good it felt after a crappy night sleep and that my back was pretty sore. He looked at me with completely disdain before once more asking if I was sure I wanted to go. I assured him I did, and we finally set off south towards Pigeon House Mountain.</p><p>As we began our drive down towards Milton I started off chatty but, found Tristan not overly responsive I eventually dialed it back assuming he wasn't in the mood or was still just tired. I removed my beanie allowing my head some fresh air after having slept in it all night my scalp felt a little tender. I began to have microsleeps drifting in and out of consciousness. As we approached Nowra I told Tristan about a chicken shop on the Northbound Lane that I had always seen for years but had never stopped at, soon we passed 'Chooksy's' and Tristan said it was quite good there and I should one day stop in. I told him there was also a hotdog place somewhere further South that I always saw and needed to one day stop in at too. We approached the new building of Nowra bridge, our first time seeing it since it's construction and we openly questioned what they planned to do with the old bridge that was now closed for access.</p><p>I sort of dozed out again until we were approaching Milton and Tristan made a comment about not being able to see Pigeon House yet. I let him know that Didthul was the Indigenous name for Pigeon House, and that it meant 'Woman's Breast', which I said it looked more like than a Pigeon House, telling him that it was named that by Captain Cook. We turned towards Pigeon House, at 'The Heritage Bakery' in Milton, telling Tristan that the pies there were pretty average.</p><p>As we drove the roads out to Pigeon House, Tristan again made a comment about the extreme winds while he pointed out the roads covered with leaves and debris. I told him it would be fine and I started to get excited by the walk, blowing my nose and beginning to get prepped. </p><p>We rounded a corner as I took some photos in preparation for my blog post, but while I was looking out the window when Tristan said "Here's something you can get a photo of."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTT6xNbRvX7QihbinU3Hr6Q___E8ON0mvtvPnm8z9B0sviBOTPDm2iAgVarhkpMY8ujEunx0glivBrUmQZPQKW1AGF2b7Qud6PM9XoqjrpSCL2kK5_k4GFbbwXJ3kUDuoLoZsWhS5HDgv4IP9zts1LMLUEQORmmqEwAPPZj0hIE6UcMqebX0fmz7b/s4032/20230626_080450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTT6xNbRvX7QihbinU3Hr6Q___E8ON0mvtvPnm8z9B0sviBOTPDm2iAgVarhkpMY8ujEunx0glivBrUmQZPQKW1AGF2b7Qud6PM9XoqjrpSCL2kK5_k4GFbbwXJ3kUDuoLoZsWhS5HDgv4IP9zts1LMLUEQORmmqEwAPPZj0hIE6UcMqebX0fmz7b/w480-h640/20230626_080450.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhO480IcnJPZK1uqGSYED0_5wRRo3JDY55vLjn6I9sRE4dFA0fv55xYZao7vPDzuYpIdSihC4q2BjLrM5yHQ2Ufke8DfOJ94ZWH73Z9sGl_AIOyVyGnoqU6SqYYOBEHA0WT9IGUNzf5QgSMYHA4aEJ3qS-srtuTlHgEIDPCE3y5k51XU_AOOyY-XH/s4032/20230626_080453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhO480IcnJPZK1uqGSYED0_5wRRo3JDY55vLjn6I9sRE4dFA0fv55xYZao7vPDzuYpIdSihC4q2BjLrM5yHQ2Ufke8DfOJ94ZWH73Z9sGl_AIOyVyGnoqU6SqYYOBEHA0WT9IGUNzf5QgSMYHA4aEJ3qS-srtuTlHgEIDPCE3y5k51XU_AOOyY-XH/w480-h640/20230626_080453.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Tristan pulled over and death stared me. "You didn't check?" He asked.<br />"Why would I check? I never check I just assume walks are open."</p><p>We hopped out of the car for some fresh air, and I told him we could just find another local hike to do seeing as we had come all this way. I still had the 'All Trails' app installed on my phone since downloading it during my Saddleback Mountain walk. Walks started popping up all over the place and I named one and Tristan quickly put in the address to that and said that was the one we were going to do while I continued to read him more options. "No, we're already going there." He said and we began to drive to Tarbourie Village.</p><p>I commented that everything was trying to stop us doing Pigeon House and that we should have listened to the signs, from the cold to me getting sick, to feeling constipated, to the extreme winds, to not getting any sleep and freezing all night, and finally actually having the walk closed.</p><p>We followed a dirt road I had never been down before in my life and soon ended up at Tarbourie Village pulling up in a suburban street, with a sand road that the app said not to go down, instead telling us to begin our walk by heading right past a gate and behind the houses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39TcB16Pi6vjSBFND-kgUBDZ7oUpBZ1YZZ5YTi1A7TKRaQqVU5V-ZeY7hzJGZ4H_NNwUrU9cKmc4Q9rNdgV5OY7Mv003CTrF7fZPY48BB0WHwGVLS3gUTPJi1E1BKzbvcX1L9cuaBMc815Iv8a-E2Nx-4bjN6WiNEPBoAikGc-1Ys6rseKfciGoLj/s4032/20230626_083133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39TcB16Pi6vjSBFND-kgUBDZ7oUpBZ1YZZ5YTi1A7TKRaQqVU5V-ZeY7hzJGZ4H_NNwUrU9cKmc4Q9rNdgV5OY7Mv003CTrF7fZPY48BB0WHwGVLS3gUTPJi1E1BKzbvcX1L9cuaBMc815Iv8a-E2Nx-4bjN6WiNEPBoAikGc-1Ys6rseKfciGoLj/w480-h640/20230626_083133.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB_nzQ4nME0F5F8FEmzKey30aLxZaBkQ0Cxkjg0mp6Ws7IjFxoutbAgSjcwcqAJ0fByx1ccGbGflAM2cOk3TiNdHUdsrdlgI0V-E5OaN_8tJDSDhn3ihiVW_R2wqR6k6niooPHwKI5zCF0KvtF0i1y3fUUrbvcc1dP9Qme0f0lX8dJgzui6-QfEsS/s4032/20230626_083140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkB_nzQ4nME0F5F8FEmzKey30aLxZaBkQ0Cxkjg0mp6Ws7IjFxoutbAgSjcwcqAJ0fByx1ccGbGflAM2cOk3TiNdHUdsrdlgI0V-E5OaN_8tJDSDhn3ihiVW_R2wqR6k6niooPHwKI5zCF0KvtF0i1y3fUUrbvcc1dP9Qme0f0lX8dJgzui6-QfEsS/w480-h640/20230626_083140.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While doing a little research (mostly into Indigenous History in Meroo) I learned that Meroo National Park was relatively new, as it had previously been State Forest, but after the severe damage from the bushfires it was made a national park in an attempt to help regenerate the land.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerXFEDWBWYjrJoloF34QCCg3UUG1taBVWSk2kg4ADNQTOtAyJCWMTpWmrf3zce3se697FCYk9uyemKxqKq8exz8RXOYjkb_56Rx7Ml7I7ekO322X_T0ZTh5Y45Uio3hu1YgUxayz8YL4Besvsqv39MDrqmiaMsIfLs5BGg9Bub4rMSUVIexQJWa0i/s4032/20230626_083515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerXFEDWBWYjrJoloF34QCCg3UUG1taBVWSk2kg4ADNQTOtAyJCWMTpWmrf3zce3se697FCYk9uyemKxqKq8exz8RXOYjkb_56Rx7Ml7I7ekO322X_T0ZTh5Y45Uio3hu1YgUxayz8YL4Besvsqv39MDrqmiaMsIfLs5BGg9Bub4rMSUVIexQJWa0i/w480-h640/20230626_083515.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I noticed a house on our right had placed up a constructed artwork (I suppose?), of Abalone Shells. I mentioned something about how I thought harvesting too much abalone was illegal and that I wouldn't be showcasing it off on my property. I then asked Tristan if he had ever tried an abalone. He hadn't and I replied that we might try it one day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol-apfDSw6O_qsxlfmIV3Pjs2_3WvQCc6MEGpVZFURH6IYk1K30PSnDRlE9zTfoN6Nt27AuXKcXrGNF2JPJ-vod0glkI2onSQ9aEGi7iJNERsDEGGLX4HxgWlb576uSMTdAIExbwjdxLWOwhywsWd7SW4PB8ylzcFeS24o1PxbpD-nWO5o6dAWH9S/s4032/20230626_083731.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol-apfDSw6O_qsxlfmIV3Pjs2_3WvQCc6MEGpVZFURH6IYk1K30PSnDRlE9zTfoN6Nt27AuXKcXrGNF2JPJ-vod0glkI2onSQ9aEGi7iJNERsDEGGLX4HxgWlb576uSMTdAIExbwjdxLWOwhywsWd7SW4PB8ylzcFeS24o1PxbpD-nWO5o6dAWH9S/w480-h640/20230626_083731.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Tristan turned around as I was way behind him, he gave me a 'why are you being so slow' speech and I told him it was a 5km walk I was just taking my time and enjoying the scenery.</p><p>There seemed to be a lot of trails branching from the path, and I just kept pointing and being like 'let's go down that way' like it didn't matter. Tristan got anal and grumpy with me, once more bringing up the constant bushwhacking and inability to find the right trail of when we walked <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a>.</p><p>Tristan made us stop and took out his phone looking at the All Trails app, making sure we took the right ways.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdabQ5Ku4EbD1I6yU-wpO5jl1fb7yh1ksxSqZu2sEETvqIAAYt32RtHej5cnTwfc-KhQuhwbL4vM4U31Cw05PuK3ZLxcl6XinlciVw_8Sv3OwrmoI1hEI-_iWQfLwq_PnHIIupjKiFTlwW_xpl2HJ0kYmXXJqF4u_Kqcwxa7lk79wIe4_xWCk1tfg/s4032/20230626_083945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdabQ5Ku4EbD1I6yU-wpO5jl1fb7yh1ksxSqZu2sEETvqIAAYt32RtHej5cnTwfc-KhQuhwbL4vM4U31Cw05PuK3ZLxcl6XinlciVw_8Sv3OwrmoI1hEI-_iWQfLwq_PnHIIupjKiFTlwW_xpl2HJ0kYmXXJqF4u_Kqcwxa7lk79wIe4_xWCk1tfg/w400-h300/20230626_083945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We came to a first proper fork in the path and the app seemed to tell us we weren't on the right path anyway, so we followed the left path heading more towards the beach, which seemed to be the right way to go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl_nYuP-AjXLSgjJNxG_21R3NRjqYlDoKcAPQg0UqXg7bMdE50PWKJ9Dq_96D_axmtNboLsYpopqFphudplh0oUSpt5HwjUUsmgPQpRfmUAyZdJJNTrd7BCl5FIxQFkQBRBaLHcxJbe543IxNKFwQfi-a0VveWwgsXmgyH69MUSgaCxvObkVnO1T4/s4032/20230626_084237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl_nYuP-AjXLSgjJNxG_21R3NRjqYlDoKcAPQg0UqXg7bMdE50PWKJ9Dq_96D_axmtNboLsYpopqFphudplh0oUSpt5HwjUUsmgPQpRfmUAyZdJJNTrd7BCl5FIxQFkQBRBaLHcxJbe543IxNKFwQfi-a0VveWwgsXmgyH69MUSgaCxvObkVnO1T4/w400-h300/20230626_084237.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9W6NX_-TlNp7JvGvFi2Ake5NgTusw9cXeCRND2wHHnzRtCItn4UvsbDcr-RHksPf3FrmwqJkXiYxH_CDsC3C9Yt4OaaT1GQcey-NWGIjmMSM2gUkRaVjFO7oXBhCaVrsl0-c5zYOKZPyBKnn5Zr5crlz2cyz3uWgKEg8LKiUIRYTtXqxaM4B4OZ3/s4032/20230626_084716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9W6NX_-TlNp7JvGvFi2Ake5NgTusw9cXeCRND2wHHnzRtCItn4UvsbDcr-RHksPf3FrmwqJkXiYxH_CDsC3C9Yt4OaaT1GQcey-NWGIjmMSM2gUkRaVjFO7oXBhCaVrsl0-c5zYOKZPyBKnn5Zr5crlz2cyz3uWgKEg8LKiUIRYTtXqxaM4B4OZ3/w480-h640/20230626_084716.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The app continued to tell us both we were way off the path, and I wondered if it was simply our GPS. "Why would both of ours tell us we are off the path in the same place?" Tristan questioned. We shrugged and continued.</p><p>I commented that this was less of a hiking trail and more of like a local beach track, similar to the local ones I would take <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/" target="_blank">Orla</a> on a walk through over at Windang Beach near the area I live. Which I stated I would never blog about.</p><p>The track soon veered left and opened us up on the beach with a view of Crampton Island on our left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcqygzQJoT7OdwtR4ZrjQ6InAJrf3DjK1q-9Xl-VXU8dwLHwiIh-8lCR2yKQrEhnKXyq58od8odqau4z1TX7ko6rfC3sfyM6f9aYbGYTw77QzMn5GMXMZ1Wg0LJb2Zvw2o7KV6ajgLsPwTsCs-Kr3Pa5rjJraTrdMuKUXlX7dPy7B38wt1DIySfTF/s4032/20230626_085327.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcqygzQJoT7OdwtR4ZrjQ6InAJrf3DjK1q-9Xl-VXU8dwLHwiIh-8lCR2yKQrEhnKXyq58od8odqau4z1TX7ko6rfC3sfyM6f9aYbGYTw77QzMn5GMXMZ1Wg0LJb2Zvw2o7KV6ajgLsPwTsCs-Kr3Pa5rjJraTrdMuKUXlX7dPy7B38wt1DIySfTF/w480-h640/20230626_085327.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZypeuA7OFr5VvudyAED6-pLiHwoDRD7aGvR6fNyKxo5EpZI30C3jd9beUvYDRjm2QMz7JeFBTSJjhkGYqrkr-VMQSja9_dyRE8ohlsIakIaI9t6Fd0wnCWyQCiG5f7NBldeIeaCj0hTIkadEWphQyd9euf0elLlma-6U41_y_MoDdAzMynbbhu4f/s4032/20230626_085333.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZypeuA7OFr5VvudyAED6-pLiHwoDRD7aGvR6fNyKxo5EpZI30C3jd9beUvYDRjm2QMz7JeFBTSJjhkGYqrkr-VMQSja9_dyRE8ohlsIakIaI9t6Fd0wnCWyQCiG5f7NBldeIeaCj0hTIkadEWphQyd9euf0elLlma-6U41_y_MoDdAzMynbbhu4f/w400-h300/20230626_085333.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan facing south towards Stokes Island</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I wondered where we were on a map (checking Google Maps on my phone) which is how I learned the name of these Islands. I thought it would be cool to walk out to Crampton Island and explore it, but commented that Stokes Island didn't really seem like an Island, more just some rocks sticking out from the beach.</p><p>I questioned to Tristan if we should go back and try and find the path, but he was already walking down the beach. I said we would walk down and see what was around the bend and if there was no sign of the walk we could head back to the track and take another way.</p><p>As we continued down, we noticed the built wooden staircase leading back up, and assumed we were on the right track, and if not, we would follow it regardless.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MiltYbB0oLo3C-lF8uEVgaUCZByQT6MjfSvquCfEQWn0wo7WaMBVJHSdmhcZyo9wldDsRWRyy60Ia0tOY5WriIXPzy7wS-PSiqol78m4RQlKSq-cxmKEx69XNIXZi4puFcqpVyi3zdTuctdfsAYYmX-Rh5DVoGdBo4g27FNIkyVQeYqMXpGLpNDH/s4032/20230626_090105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MiltYbB0oLo3C-lF8uEVgaUCZByQT6MjfSvquCfEQWn0wo7WaMBVJHSdmhcZyo9wldDsRWRyy60Ia0tOY5WriIXPzy7wS-PSiqol78m4RQlKSq-cxmKEx69XNIXZi4puFcqpVyi3zdTuctdfsAYYmX-Rh5DVoGdBo4g27FNIkyVQeYqMXpGLpNDH/w400-h300/20230626_090105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l68CsJxlfl1pdBBjGkEeRmtPHMw15bA7IBHxlHPQl_1o5OspyjYDJkrddryHWTyYRWH5A_0Jn_W4eFisrnMBgs4V-azVMsrNk32DD36Itcv7_11hbIZ6CxHGysjZO5R_anJVhQ9rbotvjh2BZPAepaZxd8PmBsrGHFbDDf22L8XBL9YYHfPRuf99/s3648/20230626_090116.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l68CsJxlfl1pdBBjGkEeRmtPHMw15bA7IBHxlHPQl_1o5OspyjYDJkrddryHWTyYRWH5A_0Jn_W4eFisrnMBgs4V-azVMsrNk32DD36Itcv7_11hbIZ6CxHGysjZO5R_anJVhQ9rbotvjh2BZPAepaZxd8PmBsrGHFbDDf22L8XBL9YYHfPRuf99/w400-h300/20230626_090116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We walked up the stairs as Tristan received a work phone call. I continued ahead as I reached the grass picnic area on top, I headed towards the table before noticing a big Kangaroo eyeing me off from across the field.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYaO_Rzes1pJonRBth8b8vAIULcDV13wJ3rFs-fzxtpWIcRnNUH03K8AZtSiFgyNG8EJyG5_6kXy_Xv93SQXGRuUZBJ883EFGhPyWpu4MK_9V9ptImS21Uww94h0Tcqg1NY336-FJPTdC5Kc8LKy36RCWD7_JwzICSfC1xiVzur4gqzs4e-MDRBVM/s4032/20230626_090328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYaO_Rzes1pJonRBth8b8vAIULcDV13wJ3rFs-fzxtpWIcRnNUH03K8AZtSiFgyNG8EJyG5_6kXy_Xv93SQXGRuUZBJ883EFGhPyWpu4MK_9V9ptImS21Uww94h0Tcqg1NY336-FJPTdC5Kc8LKy36RCWD7_JwzICSfC1xiVzur4gqzs4e-MDRBVM/w480-h640/20230626_090328.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'll fight ya!"</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I continued to the picnic bench, keeping an eye on him as he soon hopped away into the bush, I sat down and waited for Tristan to finish his work phone call.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V18fwizZe7OV3Kg9iXyMRH-2Be3qP2Ups-To21mM9ugmTGO1V-7jnJzi7-JETZwzBkjh-v-7lAprRPwiDVLwwy_Av9i7qFOw0WPw4BAerDDIAFGrYTQ4DdSHnk9-4D81KomY30EmNmrqnNS-MCV6D106O49YqIB2oRXYWT1hBNFa-Jn0NEWzWluz/s4032/20230626_090452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V18fwizZe7OV3Kg9iXyMRH-2Be3qP2Ups-To21mM9ugmTGO1V-7jnJzi7-JETZwzBkjh-v-7lAprRPwiDVLwwy_Av9i7qFOw0WPw4BAerDDIAFGrYTQ4DdSHnk9-4D81KomY30EmNmrqnNS-MCV6D106O49YqIB2oRXYWT1hBNFa-Jn0NEWzWluz/w400-h300/20230626_090452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>There seemed to be a path to our right (facing away from the beach), I sat enjoying the view over the water, as Tristan finished his work phone call and approached me. "Sorry about the work call dude." He said. <br />"Nah, you're alright." I replied, thinking to myself that the way I actually speak was so much more 'Aussie' in vernacular than the way I processed thoughts in my mind or how I write.</p><p>I told him that I thought there was a path along the right side of the bushes, but that I was not sure it was the track. He shrugged, saying that we would follow it anyway, and suddenly our roles had flipped and he was the one who didn't care if we were going the right way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx-5A1Apv-jmxtc_v90HQ-HfWzDsM_qgHIIABGpn4lsspJyhFRGprtv9HxiwpofjcFps9I60xw40YzMb6_nD8NjHYv-7zJdUOYhaE4CcemXOFvjoex7UKFUS_ra3gAWckGGw4PSF6W6nv_mqW2vmBZXvzgmtmaRRAibozrRm7llxUUDX46nb9cncA/s4032/20230626_091004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx-5A1Apv-jmxtc_v90HQ-HfWzDsM_qgHIIABGpn4lsspJyhFRGprtv9HxiwpofjcFps9I60xw40YzMb6_nD8NjHYv-7zJdUOYhaE4CcemXOFvjoex7UKFUS_ra3gAWckGGw4PSF6W6nv_mqW2vmBZXvzgmtmaRRAibozrRm7llxUUDX46nb9cncA/w480-h640/20230626_091004.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Just as we reached the shade of the trees in the image above the track split left and right. I looked down the track on the left and could see a sign pointing the way to Sunburnt Beach Camping Area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6jUeKnd9T1pdfzuwlfNWbN3xNcWkB40Ou1H8tDAT2uQA16slc77tMWvMXQwt03-cPh3VWdIf_3Cg8hyFAhGheXajYWbn_y65Pt7Bcv8Rp4qoPLipxu8ol5jIdhef_uBeEroJRWM2weiWg4uWSbJcvXcI2RIJIHrQr-w5xSUj8VDCJhBoDxsQDdnX/s4032/20230626_091038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6jUeKnd9T1pdfzuwlfNWbN3xNcWkB40Ou1H8tDAT2uQA16slc77tMWvMXQwt03-cPh3VWdIf_3Cg8hyFAhGheXajYWbn_y65Pt7Bcv8Rp4qoPLipxu8ol5jIdhef_uBeEroJRWM2weiWg4uWSbJcvXcI2RIJIHrQr-w5xSUj8VDCJhBoDxsQDdnX/w480-h640/20230626_091038.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I didn't even notice the Kangaroo, blending into the scenery until he started hopping down the track and out of sight. I mentioned to Tristan that when we had looked at the All Trails app, the track seemed to skirt around, and never go to the campground, so we continued on along the left trail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-h50GzQBcL95VHj445T3QCxUSrz6gHrlLwvwIv3DDzK3vGnZCVu6sXej7InGK1s0SVE_Tns5ywGFHQHymsUjhBNjle427IqIDoNEpkcTtajvVJ4MA2f6zdNiRlbLU68b1wvseHVZadlB42Hg7_brNYL6LYyFCk011ViyfryT4O7RoCWma-EuXSH/s4032/20230626_091044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-h50GzQBcL95VHj445T3QCxUSrz6gHrlLwvwIv3DDzK3vGnZCVu6sXej7InGK1s0SVE_Tns5ywGFHQHymsUjhBNjle427IqIDoNEpkcTtajvVJ4MA2f6zdNiRlbLU68b1wvseHVZadlB42Hg7_brNYL6LYyFCk011ViyfryT4O7RoCWma-EuXSH/w480-h640/20230626_091044.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Tristan began to perk up and get a bit more talkative, and we began chatting before the trail came out onto a road right in front of a toilet block. Tristan was psyched to get to do a poo as I wandered around in circles with a walking stick, that I had picked up prior to first reaching the beach.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqmqjrHteCfM8sST_HkY54WluxTxhfwtFIjeyMygsd_6lqL2qXXf_MlBKe3DAH6SHjM9gsfMn8lXcvIhpuw0p0Ak5duO4XAEQRVaCqWDJc_q8zSbyAQ3zt1V-aGSDgWVhnQCoB5Yg5e4EwqrFvsqgiaBXjY4RW5P1nLEW9RPIL1eOcWZwHrFhFsZD/s4032/20230626_091426.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqmqjrHteCfM8sST_HkY54WluxTxhfwtFIjeyMygsd_6lqL2qXXf_MlBKe3DAH6SHjM9gsfMn8lXcvIhpuw0p0Ak5duO4XAEQRVaCqWDJc_q8zSbyAQ3zt1V-aGSDgWVhnQCoB5Yg5e4EwqrFvsqgiaBXjY4RW5P1nLEW9RPIL1eOcWZwHrFhFsZD/w480-h640/20230626_091426.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing more exciting than a photo of a road</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpdUE4b1rSnYwlVK201SStIsIGxtLG1KkJrOM7X-zZ8LWFPGxa30_5aPJVcI9HD_dEjEezdFKB72yZ2qIhGIVsn_CtWKxRm4HTgY77JRKERzUcubJQjJ3GrMMAM7qzYWV5-Kb4xRfQvw8Aad_LzV-1WXCnYBHjpRnh4HBRRqX-3xkhyaK0IuF9aZb/s4000/20230626_091458.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpdUE4b1rSnYwlVK201SStIsIGxtLG1KkJrOM7X-zZ8LWFPGxa30_5aPJVcI9HD_dEjEezdFKB72yZ2qIhGIVsn_CtWKxRm4HTgY77JRKERzUcubJQjJ3GrMMAM7qzYWV5-Kb4xRfQvw8Aad_LzV-1WXCnYBHjpRnh4HBRRqX-3xkhyaK0IuF9aZb/w480-h640/20230626_091458.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>When Tristan finished his business, I said that I thought we had to walk the way away from the camp ground once more, before Tristan got out the app and started saying that we needed to follow the road down to the campground. I didn't particularly care and didn't need to argue so I just started walking down the road with him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN60gIDhysebvsL7XlFmJF31H61JwKLhn1tEeCO00JVqHgWAWUMzfuvgk07BN5RvnxSJdiZqmg1QeWX79LyLG35_Ps5EnvdSSO5nDFkMx62Md-HcJcO_LtW4m9Fg1yAA-81f-f9x4VMsOsSVWbZs7eNyFPGt8bzDTpCUJWYDNgwBZDwqkdBptDC83-/s4032/20230626_092022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN60gIDhysebvsL7XlFmJF31H61JwKLhn1tEeCO00JVqHgWAWUMzfuvgk07BN5RvnxSJdiZqmg1QeWX79LyLG35_Ps5EnvdSSO5nDFkMx62Md-HcJcO_LtW4m9Fg1yAA-81f-f9x4VMsOsSVWbZs7eNyFPGt8bzDTpCUJWYDNgwBZDwqkdBptDC83-/w400-h300/20230626_092022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The camping spots we walked past looked like ok spots, besides the lack of grass, as I'm not a fan of pitching a tent on rocky, hard soil. Tristan began another work call as I followed a path along wandering by all the different camp sites. As we approached the beach once more the path curved around to continue South, and I noticed a little path down to the beach that I decided to quickly walk down for a look while Tristan was on the phone (assuming the path to the beach was not the right way).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1oJOiowT3WwmD8vfr-Ye5IYNDq_p3MqlvwUng6QfPtW9fd_FMVbWRXGoXivkCTm3c8F7IY_Mvbv1VBqOZye9T7VCvRbXTqzmBcFZANjY5NHk-JZ8_9smrLZsjL2mHhDwa2zEvD2njM71II5QbqVlJff7DSX4eEJ5WyKqoQxQ4Vv-Vz2KITEHxN8c/s4032/20230626_092234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1oJOiowT3WwmD8vfr-Ye5IYNDq_p3MqlvwUng6QfPtW9fd_FMVbWRXGoXivkCTm3c8F7IY_Mvbv1VBqOZye9T7VCvRbXTqzmBcFZANjY5NHk-JZ8_9smrLZsjL2mHhDwa2zEvD2njM71II5QbqVlJff7DSX4eEJ5WyKqoQxQ4Vv-Vz2KITEHxN8c/w480-h640/20230626_092234.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbMIo9Kfd4q30BFnMLScxdtr5nyKeI-BYkmJqkamPq2t7PA3znwMGGvai1tgQAlTk0cHwEQwF6zlQ0vNroUKO3ivcO5yR1MW9EXs3UZt7aWQxc-t05erIaYjBqPfOh98B1NMv9X3i0_3azQpqKuCV_WXnd-CaU_6ZtimMY_waDI8-oXR5lGy38QCD/s4032/20230626_092246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbMIo9Kfd4q30BFnMLScxdtr5nyKeI-BYkmJqkamPq2t7PA3znwMGGvai1tgQAlTk0cHwEQwF6zlQ0vNroUKO3ivcO5yR1MW9EXs3UZt7aWQxc-t05erIaYjBqPfOh98B1NMv9X3i0_3azQpqKuCV_WXnd-CaU_6ZtimMY_waDI8-oXR5lGy38QCD/w480-h640/20230626_092246.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As I was halfway down the path I stopped in my tracks, noticing a Swamp Wallaby in front of me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P5SwQrFED2oxw45HSuPOx0q5g--6kbLFuFqfc3vqZobdTu0p-yGmG6J-oU_FhhMjnKQ3zVv5r5YCsEQdimAVB0bdGXGbM_J7F_MxAdU4_ECotMfTq-b51DnHqaMRTp5mTHU-3Hqc4qawij4riZejDcG2K-DN87xjSJWjLtnLt4u3WkGKlACzZWm8/s4032/20230626_092303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P5SwQrFED2oxw45HSuPOx0q5g--6kbLFuFqfc3vqZobdTu0p-yGmG6J-oU_FhhMjnKQ3zVv5r5YCsEQdimAVB0bdGXGbM_J7F_MxAdU4_ECotMfTq-b51DnHqaMRTp5mTHU-3Hqc4qawij4riZejDcG2K-DN87xjSJWjLtnLt4u3WkGKlACzZWm8/w480-h640/20230626_092303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It saw me and quickly hopped away into the scrub. I looked out over the beach for a while before turning to head back to Tristan and noticing he was right behind me.<br /><br /></p><p>"Did you see that Swamp Wallaby?" He asked.</p><p>I told him I did and that I thought this track wasn't the right way, but he said we should walk down it anyway, again swapping who cares about which is the right way and who doesn't.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkL1bNowQBZMlKiHq6A9UP7KJQwfRQ-W-ChghLykWOP5hDw6RaE1htHKgsKVzmnMPnPaybFgEKLez5QFmVcWc7QX0q3jIDwcBYgVEcpS865KonIGqRCD49nW-EcX_JWUUUha-OWysqtgwQArJTg978dKSSgkmxFiex7ZvXBpM2MdD0OcHJblBP0om/s4032/20230626_092549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkL1bNowQBZMlKiHq6A9UP7KJQwfRQ-W-ChghLykWOP5hDw6RaE1htHKgsKVzmnMPnPaybFgEKLez5QFmVcWc7QX0q3jIDwcBYgVEcpS865KonIGqRCD49nW-EcX_JWUUUha-OWysqtgwQArJTg978dKSSgkmxFiex7ZvXBpM2MdD0OcHJblBP0om/w400-h300/20230626_092549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We walked along the sand as Tristan asked me how my mental health was going, aware of my recent issues with anxiety (which he witnessed first-hand at his, the night before, when his neighbour started chopping wood and the sound triggered an anxious response from me) and depression.</p><p>We continued discussing it while he gave me advice about what he thought while asking me questions as we crossed the sand and followed the rocks around the headland, admiring all the rockpools, bubble weed and rock formations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNpPvYiudcDM9iJdOtFtp2K8Y1K_Ex6mA4yVKks7Pb9HYK1HQMv9AhFZ6K92mVmCQfcuuelnroy7Nfq6jZRaRkeBm-mpuL6YXWLYCv_RYhpm1H-2oRXckE1-SdRiSkkeybCtX0_e9tSfi5Ct11BwG-DHlVCXFaGZg5Z2snOOj5TF2lelNMi_ATSJY/s4032/20230626_093144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNpPvYiudcDM9iJdOtFtp2K8Y1K_Ex6mA4yVKks7Pb9HYK1HQMv9AhFZ6K92mVmCQfcuuelnroy7Nfq6jZRaRkeBm-mpuL6YXWLYCv_RYhpm1H-2oRXckE1-SdRiSkkeybCtX0_e9tSfi5Ct11BwG-DHlVCXFaGZg5Z2snOOj5TF2lelNMi_ATSJY/w400-h300/20230626_093144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG-q2OBFnS_6KJRImdP_AeFUbKUlu9jLF_JZeG7uv7V_03Xzljzdjorhq-eI8ylw-09Sk2hz9HXSVqOMOuH2wietqFexrhfrZeO4LfytSAxdBDIyY_2JgGo-j97CfCYuaO4fAfQpNtBRpmpXVhmRG2lKHUNJEMXPgFMh1Rt4xkajPGaC5sSq0g75R/s4032/20230626_093333.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzG-q2OBFnS_6KJRImdP_AeFUbKUlu9jLF_JZeG7uv7V_03Xzljzdjorhq-eI8ylw-09Sk2hz9HXSVqOMOuH2wietqFexrhfrZeO4LfytSAxdBDIyY_2JgGo-j97CfCYuaO4fAfQpNtBRpmpXVhmRG2lKHUNJEMXPgFMh1Rt4xkajPGaC5sSq0g75R/w480-h640/20230626_093333.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoOBBiWAjmfnO2e67m07R_Y9gVYxLNHhHo9q93ksG1UaRX2asmdvw4R1v7WTydSePtdNJAy88qI0L6XMRS105Uqryrxe1tOepvH4DzwbRLwLaUkQsqpchZYtdspoEmxVfe37DNuJ_AjlY0lgse1KVLGl1MZpKu9WU_VqEtcpI-McH3KNAO2Zg0vLy/s4032/20230626_093341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoOBBiWAjmfnO2e67m07R_Y9gVYxLNHhHo9q93ksG1UaRX2asmdvw4R1v7WTydSePtdNJAy88qI0L6XMRS105Uqryrxe1tOepvH4DzwbRLwLaUkQsqpchZYtdspoEmxVfe37DNuJ_AjlY0lgse1KVLGl1MZpKu9WU_VqEtcpI-McH3KNAO2Zg0vLy/w480-h640/20230626_093341.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6exfvFIoI0aaNA9_v4Kig8PcyMIVHJunEvAgNOoqTe1YWJi1pyk1ixrB7555owfafWQpTeB6Kl8wMEma0_CUMEDU2gU4m0EwqSY0IQhGIPjctd9sHDAdEUbFLzNnmCGgK2CQat_IOErrzvENnlS9LuAN9z-Aj1PsbPJbD-1S1Hj8y9-4_Avy-JKQz/s4032/20230626_093433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6exfvFIoI0aaNA9_v4Kig8PcyMIVHJunEvAgNOoqTe1YWJi1pyk1ixrB7555owfafWQpTeB6Kl8wMEma0_CUMEDU2gU4m0EwqSY0IQhGIPjctd9sHDAdEUbFLzNnmCGgK2CQat_IOErrzvENnlS9LuAN9z-Aj1PsbPJbD-1S1Hj8y9-4_Avy-JKQz/w480-h640/20230626_093433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbpOV9MiuPS5J9pS2QF9I0mVOWmktQiw_3vl6TbP6-WzXrtG_BfgPBLOTyby4706nFx1y-dt77S_SnO0G_PYpOwDMH5jWsAnU00yHQN7jhOVh0aQ9DnM9iLRaK1uqkJMK94p0CGnJNhOTZhKMn5sMdd5Rh798lISdDEgPPdJVbtZ9qqkERTicUtPr/s4032/20230626_093823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbpOV9MiuPS5J9pS2QF9I0mVOWmktQiw_3vl6TbP6-WzXrtG_BfgPBLOTyby4706nFx1y-dt77S_SnO0G_PYpOwDMH5jWsAnU00yHQN7jhOVh0aQ9DnM9iLRaK1uqkJMK94p0CGnJNhOTZhKMn5sMdd5Rh798lISdDEgPPdJVbtZ9qqkERTicUtPr/w480-h640/20230626_093823.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's this gross orange stuff?" I asked.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Tristan shared his opinion that some of my depression may be stemming from career dissatisfaction and asked if I would ever get back into doing Bush Regeneration again. I told him I would never get a job doing it, because I would be unwilling to use most chemicals (such as Glyphosate), since my cancer. He told me that if I told him that, there would be no way he would hire me to do bush regen work. I said I believed you could do regen without spraying, as I found it to not be that effective. I referred to my own time working and talking about spraying things and having the glyphosate just fasten the lifecycle to go to seed faster and how we would spray massive areas and it wouldn't help at all. I said it felt like just spraying toxins around with no purpose compared to when I had worked with Green Army at Killalea State Park, drilling and filling African Olive which was an actually effective treatment. I said I wasn't against the use of chemicals that could be necessary, in that fashion.</p><p>Tristan began defending the use and saying that it just needed to be done right and the right chemicals needed to be used. We rounded the bend, and as I was watching my footing Tristan pointed out some Dolphins swimming off-shore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx88MYB26knVsMiD01FOzwX7KZrfLZSgkmrSG7MLqvWq_Xghi7XDB9YzEiWfFeI7GFzvSY64Gc4bGQwpGZAYA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>He commented that it was a nice day and that seeing Dolphins was a positive. I agreed saying it had worked out well, exploring a place we never would have come to otherwise and that it was probably for the best to not be walking up Pigeon House while sick.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfaOg1uCxG9vD59YOgFo2XHM8PvxCPqETRXOKanxFU1gmabIF2RK_LfyOtNMwoDLHEr9bVeUinc6G3pS-qWc5zkFK-NFIfvzaEf3Or3YJc7SaipIFIzWSZKl-XNyHhiJU7lRYstSLPsKZsPEN5NA_JdmYPYCuoH6_EZblfqm3OPnYwxHLxzHiS-6w/s4032/20230626_094116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfaOg1uCxG9vD59YOgFo2XHM8PvxCPqETRXOKanxFU1gmabIF2RK_LfyOtNMwoDLHEr9bVeUinc6G3pS-qWc5zkFK-NFIfvzaEf3Or3YJc7SaipIFIzWSZKl-XNyHhiJU7lRYstSLPsKZsPEN5NA_JdmYPYCuoH6_EZblfqm3OPnYwxHLxzHiS-6w/w400-h300/20230626_094116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNduSfBAPy_Y5ndi_zivjKCVXbb4Ule4LlYw1Qp7c1JQZYpu3OugdCXTcEcvMbTNRnzUDJeorMMYUT0ioD30Pfn_T0ykh3Ld53Ggzcuwl8YOPjZrSDPFps88BGyMQoKdT53dYv4nA9e0-hCQCGiapbnE8DNjWXtOHWmzJC1PUrupgjVt1783RgfRV/s4000/20230626_094128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNduSfBAPy_Y5ndi_zivjKCVXbb4Ule4LlYw1Qp7c1JQZYpu3OugdCXTcEcvMbTNRnzUDJeorMMYUT0ioD30Pfn_T0ykh3Ld53Ggzcuwl8YOPjZrSDPFps88BGyMQoKdT53dYv4nA9e0-hCQCGiapbnE8DNjWXtOHWmzJC1PUrupgjVt1783RgfRV/w400-h300/20230626_094128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>As we reached the sand I noticed a little lagoon in the distance, but also saw a staircase off the beach out the corner of my eye.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0ipX0iwFpeajLIqq8vX3RGj_bhSmqvtIWKjKB00oZZhVLZJRLoJsaY8qLzpHhYXujNYybhyNGESMi9GGBnK4D0Q-KY5-Xemjeq6E0tZGv7ZKiSf2fOMUmXi3PAPD7gyQjGql8v9r4R6OpC_3QObuBTtT7947QVpZMLTLQ7JS5HB1ByhpBAbIhdXD/s4032/20230626_094823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0ipX0iwFpeajLIqq8vX3RGj_bhSmqvtIWKjKB00oZZhVLZJRLoJsaY8qLzpHhYXujNYybhyNGESMi9GGBnK4D0Q-KY5-Xemjeq6E0tZGv7ZKiSf2fOMUmXi3PAPD7gyQjGql8v9r4R6OpC_3QObuBTtT7947QVpZMLTLQ7JS5HB1ByhpBAbIhdXD/w480-h640/20230626_094823.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we followed the path up, we assumed that the track we were following would now head back, as we passed a sign facing away from us I turned around to see we were at Termeil Beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM5c5lYZ3zpWzY7eHq6KGNoYTDzbQLFZik6XA-9tWgZl8K_r1O27exRlAbBUM7GbKOip2d7mBydcEOArfy2zeUikLR0_2NiNjkDimk_gd2FvrFm84rsUrmuwoTVsrmb0bkhCx59A6lRd2qPS0zHZyoWdMArW024oQQJaRr806GKYi-5TLT68wYXCI/s4032/20230626_095125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM5c5lYZ3zpWzY7eHq6KGNoYTDzbQLFZik6XA-9tWgZl8K_r1O27exRlAbBUM7GbKOip2d7mBydcEOArfy2zeUikLR0_2NiNjkDimk_gd2FvrFm84rsUrmuwoTVsrmb0bkhCx59A6lRd2qPS0zHZyoWdMArW024oQQJaRr806GKYi-5TLT68wYXCI/w480-h640/20230626_095125.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>As we followed on I noticed a tree with orange berries and tried to remember some of my plant knowledge, asking Tristan if it was Wombat Berry? He said it was a '<i>pittosporum undulatum</i>'. He began saying they were a weed, well, not truly a weed, that some people liked them because they were returning places where they were back to rainforest, but he then began to start going on about how they create a monoculture and how it can be bad because nothing else grows and you will just get areas of them and nothing else growing. With my lack of sleep, I felt my eyes begin to glaze over and told him he would have to fill me in on it later because I wasn't in the right place to absorb any knowledge.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVeWfdHSXK8ctrHsFQus49OAdzDa3mLSqbiP6avFVdPaIvxIYZ0KY5c9Guq-FFRZyq3jxg_I5PiGlb0kjj_d5ZbEKpacdOQIYuGSrl8YxGVszYFiGlDzauZ0A3OPGMd0P-rdtUfOlwQxGzKIsT0143bMnr9gTwnbTkFgzDKNzGCAh3YGBxKPJXd8w/s4032/20230626_095323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVeWfdHSXK8ctrHsFQus49OAdzDa3mLSqbiP6avFVdPaIvxIYZ0KY5c9Guq-FFRZyq3jxg_I5PiGlb0kjj_d5ZbEKpacdOQIYuGSrl8YxGVszYFiGlDzauZ0A3OPGMd0P-rdtUfOlwQxGzKIsT0143bMnr9gTwnbTkFgzDKNzGCAh3YGBxKPJXd8w/w480-h640/20230626_095323.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We came upon a information sign about Meroo National Park and camping at Termeil Point that we stopped to read. I commented that it would be cool to see some Middens which brought on the topic about me adding about the land on which the walk I blog about takes place. I said about all the different tribes and that there were Wodi Wodi in Dharawal and how I sometimes found it hard to be sure so I just acknowledged the main 'country' that the walk took place on, lest I stuff up and do the wrong thing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof_ulkemGy7WpJJ6PkRyRjKM0ZSugKT0EP72ihXdY6ms_-v0PBRjtJrS3occF6klotRIZcS2AR195PZ50ub2us_lvLbQIyzChUMByUh6xtOlDcuc7xRWuSRXXk7HGXFGGfik1xhGsgeKxFoRBtgwd4zdmMLYksAcil3SHbapLC7WT-u_Dv7ypqZyh/s4032/20230626_095524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof_ulkemGy7WpJJ6PkRyRjKM0ZSugKT0EP72ihXdY6ms_-v0PBRjtJrS3occF6klotRIZcS2AR195PZ50ub2us_lvLbQIyzChUMByUh6xtOlDcuc7xRWuSRXXk7HGXFGGfik1xhGsgeKxFoRBtgwd4zdmMLYksAcil3SHbapLC7WT-u_Dv7ypqZyh/w480-h640/20230626_095524.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxA87Jcbv9a-BM3o2rJcyWD7_osLKgK2NAovqSrKoObBxWBhRAoesxnFMpo1nhSNTkx5d9ZwkhLZKZdYpZEgtr2f-fl0zliRV3Dce47xnHsafRD7MHaywtYnBAtFEJ7Hpsd8__99HqYLDpwpYtQSNteSs169THv43WVe1HxTvh5_8tKAD-65jm-Xb/s4032/20230626_095529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxA87Jcbv9a-BM3o2rJcyWD7_osLKgK2NAovqSrKoObBxWBhRAoesxnFMpo1nhSNTkx5d9ZwkhLZKZdYpZEgtr2f-fl0zliRV3Dce47xnHsafRD7MHaywtYnBAtFEJ7Hpsd8__99HqYLDpwpYtQSNteSs169THv43WVe1HxTvh5_8tKAD-65jm-Xb/w480-h640/20230626_095529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued past some more campsites on our right, with some people camping, as I mentioned something about my blog.<br /><br />"You're blogging about this?" Tristan asked, assuming that I wouldn't be.</div><div>"Yeah." I simply responded.</div><div>"Won't be a very long blog." He said.</div><div>"Good." I replied. "They don't all need to be, sometimes it's nice not to have to write so much."</div><div><br /></div><div>As we continued, I could see bright blue from the left corner of my eyes and noticed a beautiful lake to my left and realised that must have led in to what I had thought was the lagoon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglebFR7twWXUqIURP6EWF8i7moPS0v60i13VCRqIGemlr3doo-EzpUi7qjAKcoMmr8wyCBuNB7i6T0ob2PID6GSajxGD51EuLL7xe7DbQSVxv9ALHV5rkRVLwwcQTAH4R60UDqf38HfbF71ZUYRCIOSdZ4Y52S-dhPDBSq7QhFt69ImOTNMjbjzqqh/s4032/20230626_095833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglebFR7twWXUqIURP6EWF8i7moPS0v60i13VCRqIGemlr3doo-EzpUi7qjAKcoMmr8wyCBuNB7i6T0ob2PID6GSajxGD51EuLL7xe7DbQSVxv9ALHV5rkRVLwwcQTAH4R60UDqf38HfbF71ZUYRCIOSdZ4Y52S-dhPDBSq7QhFt69ImOTNMjbjzqqh/w400-h300/20230626_095833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReRCy2P7zypW_RYt9xZTGXOvbQVJAIZ6Z8CuUEvKYZ3E4jdEmhi3SPrwn-oCZS5rQhFKrnTRlIAcQVbRqFqSBKa9JLQ8RdWINADlOKXQtQR1aUAkf787vQgkyFvTJ2zmVfDilmOUojXtqp5fKsb882UhdsePTplv3kjKWi4X7ZTetVi4uudT6VKtk/s4032/20230626_095946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjReRCy2P7zypW_RYt9xZTGXOvbQVJAIZ6Z8CuUEvKYZ3E4jdEmhi3SPrwn-oCZS5rQhFKrnTRlIAcQVbRqFqSBKa9JLQ8RdWINADlOKXQtQR1aUAkf787vQgkyFvTJ2zmVfDilmOUojXtqp5fKsb882UhdsePTplv3kjKWi4X7ZTetVi4uudT6VKtk/w480-h640/20230626_095946.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we continued on the trees cleared and I could see a path down to the lake. I asked Tristan if he wanted to walk down and he agreed, as we approached, we noticed a big rock, but from the distance we couldn't quite tell what it was and I asked if it was a Ram's head, before reaching closer and seeing that it was just a rock.</div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped and admired the view of the lake that was quiet, serene and just peaceful. The wind was gentle here after a short while I told Tristan we would get a photo of the two of us, placing my phone down against the base of a tree and putting on a timer for 10 seconds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sc3iYUbyZUhqmCD110BDQIqal3eQTfSwoQanykYjL3stDprIGtt50KU3CCoAZ1N2wNY7sa1Jv9O0ME43xG-xY7B7Ppl-knU9xr8aPnQbmM3w8F41MdxmKACC5ctDdmHYT8dHtra3C3v5ha1xVe3sebPtmh8zW0OkAAYqSPxwsrumsodMClU4jT90/s4032/20230626_100306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sc3iYUbyZUhqmCD110BDQIqal3eQTfSwoQanykYjL3stDprIGtt50KU3CCoAZ1N2wNY7sa1Jv9O0ME43xG-xY7B7Ppl-knU9xr8aPnQbmM3w8F41MdxmKACC5ctDdmHYT8dHtra3C3v5ha1xVe3sebPtmh8zW0OkAAYqSPxwsrumsodMClU4jT90/w480-h640/20230626_100306.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I commented that it reminded me of some of the locations they would be placed at, in the survival TV series 'Alone'. Tristan mentioned he had been meaning to watch it. I began talking about how the show works and told him that if he was going to watch the recently aired Australian version, to at least wait until after watching the currently released US versions (general consensus among fans if that the Australian one was disappointing in comparison, and I didn't want him to be turned off). We made our way back uphill to the road and continued our way back, passing the last of the campgrounds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIurL-QCv7USHFzqsjpSHAifZfANs1HcFFqx9DjWht2Tdb63EgVcf9uptGAsbnCTutoFzih2D98FadXu3vz7S9HYfiLv33Zlfnaz1lj66cFxUjDpOAz4--fq695C0Ey7Nfdya90mikfMnvzgDSxPSYIJFlbLl38_lvy6BEusAU3OaJ4TqcOdKLo8E/s4032/20230626_100856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIurL-QCv7USHFzqsjpSHAifZfANs1HcFFqx9DjWht2Tdb63EgVcf9uptGAsbnCTutoFzih2D98FadXu3vz7S9HYfiLv33Zlfnaz1lj66cFxUjDpOAz4--fq695C0Ey7Nfdya90mikfMnvzgDSxPSYIJFlbLl38_lvy6BEusAU3OaJ4TqcOdKLo8E/w480-h640/20230626_100856.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Walking along I pointed out at least 3 Glossy Black-Cockatoo's sitting in the casuarina trees. Tristan got instantly excited saying that they were rare to see. I commented that the information sign we had based not too long ago had said they were in the area. He replied that just because they were in the area didn't mean we would necessarily see them, which to be fair is sound logic as you don't often see all the local animals on a walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea5MJ7CdEXSsEwEDWK09tttjlwzJHVXyg97LQEBLXeJoGrX3gwFHQ-pNhaz67Ne6CqNO9xPdqbxBaHJ_UKR9QawAc5CTnEQIl69AMQ0mHYXCoqqA2Rt7ryAW7FUN5W0M5F4bpJNRJok_5JXYxiJQCe7UmCbFIJeWKGlaxlD6v4W0Ijjd_RQF6DIxm/s4032/20230626_101211.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea5MJ7CdEXSsEwEDWK09tttjlwzJHVXyg97LQEBLXeJoGrX3gwFHQ-pNhaz67Ne6CqNO9xPdqbxBaHJ_UKR9QawAc5CTnEQIl69AMQ0mHYXCoqqA2Rt7ryAW7FUN5W0M5F4bpJNRJok_5JXYxiJQCe7UmCbFIJeWKGlaxlD6v4W0Ijjd_RQF6DIxm/w480-h640/20230626_101211.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I felt like Tristan's mood had greatly improved which made me feel a bit better about not being able to do the walk we planned, and feeling bad for having him drive so far.</div><div><br /></div><div>We came upon a sign letting us know we were on the Tabourie Village Track, and we were glad that we were going the right way.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4S9fWAv6DDk3yOzoXNyvBAkSajXtcLvP2HGiT1UJ2uEfNxhRFYXX-0OWUfmtXjOU8qPh2gjh6NyYjqtYuXhhki_ynLSNvtxFpquPgjxrlmLt4IRCi-_ghimo17wkyJ7mFaLjBwjnwcMRIg2GFyOA-IAbbCImZ9otQNQGUkAFy7MKbsssjdJBvhkX/s4032/20230626_101721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4S9fWAv6DDk3yOzoXNyvBAkSajXtcLvP2HGiT1UJ2uEfNxhRFYXX-0OWUfmtXjOU8qPh2gjh6NyYjqtYuXhhki_ynLSNvtxFpquPgjxrlmLt4IRCi-_ghimo17wkyJ7mFaLjBwjnwcMRIg2GFyOA-IAbbCImZ9otQNQGUkAFy7MKbsssjdJBvhkX/w480-h640/20230626_101721.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued the track along with Tristan at one point pointing out a Sundew.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAAeuIogn1JTRkjoDnO_3xd3nQzPsqIsGKDG6br8n3ndd2SULR2kwH3-egNnKjDLSybI0cz72lrB8UZr1gdiLRtvoG1Q28jDLs_wA-Nb3PF7WmHL0mVQNDN1oamjKNA9ECy8qiiPwUlrG2niXbPW7wGWrYmfQk26aY-6xDnmS3JzKwDfyxV28O0F5/s4032/20230626_102132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAAeuIogn1JTRkjoDnO_3xd3nQzPsqIsGKDG6br8n3ndd2SULR2kwH3-egNnKjDLSybI0cz72lrB8UZr1gdiLRtvoG1Q28jDLs_wA-Nb3PF7WmHL0mVQNDN1oamjKNA9ECy8qiiPwUlrG2niXbPW7wGWrYmfQk26aY-6xDnmS3JzKwDfyxV28O0F5/w480-h640/20230626_102132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"<i>Drosera?</i>" I asked, the name popping in my mind.<br />"I don't know the species name." Tristan said.</div><div>"Yeah, there's heaps of them at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/01/barren-grounds-cooks-nose-and-flying.html" target="_blank">Barren Ground</a>." I told him, before looking up and seeing that there were heaps here too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLCVV_9JL8-xoPitVexBB89_-65VF_kHTjzxbp6_IBQ8LhCd6fxuNy3JrFv4OGQ7LW6bRfH3MpQyq8bshb_X7VNwTtsfASM1jk4bYeO0AqscwFgHGh1pMBZEhZ0xn1SI_Xme1aM0Oe4GgaayLv7vq7BOFrkVlsXl_7rFWhLrjHnME5SgBYmcpeLS4/s4032/20230626_102216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLCVV_9JL8-xoPitVexBB89_-65VF_kHTjzxbp6_IBQ8LhCd6fxuNy3JrFv4OGQ7LW6bRfH3MpQyq8bshb_X7VNwTtsfASM1jk4bYeO0AqscwFgHGh1pMBZEhZ0xn1SI_Xme1aM0Oe4GgaayLv7vq7BOFrkVlsXl_7rFWhLrjHnME5SgBYmcpeLS4/w480-h640/20230626_102216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"Looks like an infection." Tristan said.<br />"The Last of Us." I replied.</div><div>"Never played it."<br />"Neither, but I watched the TV Show. It was ok. Nothing special. If you've seen 'The Walking Dead' or any other Zombie type show or movie ever it was pretty much the same (yes I know they're not Zombies, but like, they totally are really).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HNoCoUznmTJbDnCMjWR5ADU-1H4nFXgnZUWa6GliQpOxSAaZlecqR-TnkFYtWdVACxoSW_b9xS3i1RIF_Odg1wCnBfCnoMKZL07kN2_YL8yemg--VTnkeYSOsJMR4GangJ6_NI0p_HJhU1x0gALCtefqP2rrdmDK6I2cBlrn5VN6nAvZgF-MT3Cz/s4032/20230626_102808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HNoCoUznmTJbDnCMjWR5ADU-1H4nFXgnZUWa6GliQpOxSAaZlecqR-TnkFYtWdVACxoSW_b9xS3i1RIF_Odg1wCnBfCnoMKZL07kN2_YL8yemg--VTnkeYSOsJMR4GangJ6_NI0p_HJhU1x0gALCtefqP2rrdmDK6I2cBlrn5VN6nAvZgF-MT3Cz/w480-h640/20230626_102808.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We rounded the bend and the path began to get all muddy and sloppy. I looked up and saw the path ahead was covered with water.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IeJ8sATIrwUNpWMS0wkkZuzQ2QmGXTnGKbdYhYh7vXWqN0veJnx5bszmAjFvbUJzajzguv6-B7cjZB1QC0XAgw69MSNIb7soaRFkRyM7EdPPCxJBxyFnEczRs-Kns3mk9N9w15at7uMMIpX8OqClpClB1xctX-yhJ_99Njix8q_Fu6py6TvR2zZP/s4032/20230626_103209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IeJ8sATIrwUNpWMS0wkkZuzQ2QmGXTnGKbdYhYh7vXWqN0veJnx5bszmAjFvbUJzajzguv6-B7cjZB1QC0XAgw69MSNIb7soaRFkRyM7EdPPCxJBxyFnEczRs-Kns3mk9N9w15at7uMMIpX8OqClpClB1xctX-yhJ_99Njix8q_Fu6py6TvR2zZP/w480-h640/20230626_103209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"Damn." I said, as Tristan simply walked along a path that was to the left of it that I hadn't noticed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon we appeared at the fork in the path before the beach were we had initially turned left and found ourselves coming out from the right side of that, knowing it was just the straight track back to the street where Tristan had parked.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we got into the car for the long ride home, I commented that we could just do Pigeon House in July.</div><div>"I'm not doing it in the middle of Winter." Tristan responded.<br />"It's already the middle of Winter." I retorted.<br />"It's June." He said, "The start of Winter."<br />"What about August then?" I asked.<br />"I've got a lot on in August."<br />"Well, I'm overseas for the whole of September in Iceland." I said, with us agreeing Pigeon House would have to wait until October.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was a little upset, wanting to do a pretty steep hike to test out my lung capacity before my next lung test (having lung damage from my chemotherapy), and I started to think of other steep challenging walks I could try to do before I had that test.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we headed home we drove along the Princes Highway past Lake Tabourie where I commented that it looked like a beautiful spot. I told Tristan that travelling along the south coast reminded me of my childhood, reminiscing of the times we would travel down and stop in at those old fish and chip shops with the plastic strip curtains and how Dad would either buy us a Paddlepop or a Bubble O Bill ice cream. (I have a particular fond memory of the now discontinued Paddlepop Mud Puddle while spending time at Sussex Inlet).</div><div><br /></div><div>He said it sounded like a good childhood. To which I simply replied, "Some of it."</div><div><br /></div><div>We continued North past Dolphin Point and Burill Lake, both beautiful, and I questioned how we got so far South, saying the drive from Milton towards Pigeon House and then to Tarbourie Village had not felt like so long a drive. We finally came to Ulladulla as I looked out for 'Funland Ulladulla' having more good memories of going there as a kid. As we approached Milton I mentioned that there was always a big statue of a Dinosaur that always excited me as a kid (as a massive Dinosaur nerd). I wondered if it was still there, and it was, and as we drove past it I found that the memory of it was more impressive than the actual thing.<br /><br />"Is that it?" Tristan questioned, "Doesn't look very good."<br />I agreed, but still have fond memories of just being excited by it as a kid.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't take a photo and was unable to find a photo anywhere online of it. I convinced Tristan to stop in and get a pie at Milton's heritage bakery. "They're pretty average but it's one of those places you just have to get a pie from, like Robinson Pie Shop." I told him.<br /><br />We went in and I had a look at their pie options, hoping for a chilli pie. None of the options stood out to be and with a price tag of $7 I decided against buying one while Tristan bought one with a coffee. As he sat to eat it I asked how it was. "Pretty average."<br /><br />The more he ate the more he seemed to like it though, saying it was probably worth that price tag.</div><div><br /></div><div>We continued home as I felt how sick and tired I was, as I had not been paying attention to my body on the walk. As Tristan dropped me on the street before pulling into his driveway, so I could jump in my car and go home to nap, he thanked me for the walk and said we would catch up soon, I agreed and said we would go see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny that was due to come out at the movies that week, before getting in my car and driving home with very tired eyes. </div><div><br /></div><div>I went in to work the next day and had to go home before lunch because I was just too sick and rundown. I managed to go in for the rest of the week but my cold continues even as I finish typing the end of this blog post on the next Sunday, but I can feel myself coming through the other side of it, and I look forward to a steep harder walk to test my lungs before my test.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-66078354099195969132023-06-22T14:00:00.001+10:002023-06-22T14:00:24.160+10:00Hoddles Track - Saddleback Mountain<p> <b><i>This walk takes place on Dharawal and </i></b><b><i>Gandangarra </i></b><b><i>Country</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i> Pre-blog Catch Up</i></b></p><p>Following my last walk and blog at <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/04/fairy-bower-falls.html" target="_blank">Fairy Bower Falls</a> I tried to organise another walk with Tristan, however we were very busy and finally locked in a date to go and do Didthul/Pigeon House Mountain on the 26th of June (which should be the next post after this). Meanwhile, a lot of time passed without actually doing any walks, or going on any adventures and I had things going on in my personally life that were triggering anxieties and severely affecting my mental health, which my Wife believe was partially due to trauma associated with my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">cancer diagnosis</a> and <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">treatment</a>.</p><p>So on the 5th of May my Wife and I decided to take our Dog Orla camping, as we had planned to take her camping (and even booked and paid for a Dog friendly campground), before having to cancel because of my cancer. We found a Dog friendly area at Wingello State Park, and we organised time off work to go, with my Wife believing it might help with my declining mental health. The story of this camping trip I will share at the end of this blog post if you're interested (as it ended up being a much larger story than I had initially planned).</p><p><b><i>Hoddles Track - Saddleback Mountain</i></b></p><p>My friend's Stuart and Megan ended up messaging me, as the three of us had been meaning to go on another walk together for a while now, and I suggested Saddleback Mountain to them, having done it only once back on 7th August 2011, with my high school friend group (the same ones mentioned in my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2015/08/kiama-coastal-disaster.html" target="_blank">Kiama Coastal Disaster</a> blog). my recollection of the walk was incredibly vague, and I could only really remember ending up along houses down near Foxground while my friend Nathan played John Butler Trio out on his phone to us and we ended up having to walk alongside the highway towards Gerringong, before catching a train into Kiama, and having to pay for a taxi up to Nathan's car at the top of Saddleback Mountain (which I had to pay for, and was unemployed at the time).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vau1SYBV8uU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Vau1SYBV8uU"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Footage from 7th August 2011</i></div><p>As soon as Stuart and Megan arrived at mine and I got into the car we instantly began discussing the new Zelda video game: Tears of the Kingdom, the two of them confessed that they had just had a two-week break from work and had spent most of their time playing it.</p><p>"Time well spent". I declared. As Stuart asked where we needed to go (with me not remembering the directions at all) and put Saddleback Mountain into his car GPS. We continued discussing Zelda and Zelda-isms about being to in the mindset of the game that you see things in real life and think about it in terms of the game controls and/or logic. I mentioned that I too had stayed up late the night before playing 'Tears of the Kingdom', and that the day before I had gone to Spiegeltent in Wollongong to see a Drag Show. (As my Wife loves RuPaul's Drag Race and Drag Queens). I commented that I had enjoyed it, being my first drag show, but that I preferred the more comedy aspects to the lip sync singing and stuff.</p><p>Stuart's GPS started taking us through Albion Park Rail, getting us to turn right as we passed McDonald's on the highway. I thought it was trying to take us out through Jamberoo and told him to ignore it and turn around and just follow the highway to Kiama before adding Saddleback Mountain into the GPS on my phone and directing him once we reached Kiama.</p><p>We reached the top, pulling up, and hopping out of the car and realising that the wind outside was absolutely chilling and we all commented on how freezing it was. I quickly ran down to the sign to snap a photo with Stuart and Megan in the background commenting to Stuart he would be in the opening photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2icHYfiGSIL7rYNbgqDZ_0cB59aBBfnz_P16NB9nD_YWtEQG4ShAelFTto7IMzfhIh_smb9lIcOeAC5sIHFEC-oopaewWhW22cUlkRjZ1OsvQTTCvp-9aBG6rh3Hozvvw4VCfzw-BEGUpq_ntO4di8uXm4Wge317CIrFCZHsIE0srGuIO5nqUHaN/s4032/20230618_092352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2icHYfiGSIL7rYNbgqDZ_0cB59aBBfnz_P16NB9nD_YWtEQG4ShAelFTto7IMzfhIh_smb9lIcOeAC5sIHFEC-oopaewWhW22cUlkRjZ1OsvQTTCvp-9aBG6rh3Hozvvw4VCfzw-BEGUpq_ntO4di8uXm4Wge317CIrFCZHsIE0srGuIO5nqUHaN/w480-h640/20230618_092352.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We walked through to the viewing platform to our right with a family already there and we looked out over the Illawarra, while I made a joke about the serenity of the steelworks billowing smoke in the distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cxTEVN4ObafsxCuDEEQxfPYPizGQp3fYyflPss31zI_j6dlcqniP6gQ6KMA_cV5BFODNttWEdSaUupFIJjtvgJqoBLqJP812uy6wCTb3vFO2el8Y6mibOjnyYyzkfT6MM8h0G1xG7NqyqIWAOLx1ssT0lsALJ8vv02xTGr8TRoUPcYY1mi3O1A/s2048/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cxTEVN4ObafsxCuDEEQxfPYPizGQp3fYyflPss31zI_j6dlcqniP6gQ6KMA_cV5BFODNttWEdSaUupFIJjtvgJqoBLqJP812uy6wCTb3vFO2el8Y6mibOjnyYyzkfT6MM8h0G1xG7NqyqIWAOLx1ssT0lsALJ8vv02xTGr8TRoUPcYY1mi3O1A/w400-h300/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The top of Zelda-ism in real life was brought up again and I commented about how when 'Breath of the Wild' the predecessor of 'Tears of the Kingdom' came out I had mentioned finding a Korok in my blog at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">Belmore Falls</a>. But mentioning I also had a lot more time to play that game because six months after it came out, <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/07/berrima-river-walk-and-stone-quarry-walk.html" target="_blank">I broke my ankle</a> so was home from work for that whole time playing it. <div><br /></div><div>We continued up the path looking for the start of the walk and getting a photo at the Rotary Lookout just to the left of the fire trail you follow to begin the walk.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjhyhMQLxGjZzba2GTpUCayeDLGcN5wPQMT5DDIdtLqLoD7VCwtdhYVipFww0uxvEsVTYnZcQs_EqPTl9H8sKG95PKe8xvXpW4Ydx4H5NS1WuIkQz8fqE1QTpxRwwzWPehLbscnZwwwTPJ2bXc6Kd1SfHcxexjwUV0_QhJz9_e8pU5tBUs_Y2au3H/s3648/20230618_093343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjhyhMQLxGjZzba2GTpUCayeDLGcN5wPQMT5DDIdtLqLoD7VCwtdhYVipFww0uxvEsVTYnZcQs_EqPTl9H8sKG95PKe8xvXpW4Ydx4H5NS1WuIkQz8fqE1QTpxRwwzWPehLbscnZwwwTPJ2bXc6Kd1SfHcxexjwUV0_QhJz9_e8pU5tBUs_Y2au3H/w400-h300/20230618_093343.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqMplyz5HC5k_qsn3Nl1H1jQIHCq4yjdZKhvBzjC12Tp7aRuglSKxA9YLTQaBZMiEE11WF-XxExb8dF3lsCi0OQjUuZ1gJ6FcV-hdkH8xBQGv3mDTQ8nenbmuHtrk2MyPL419GvbsSj_OmqSAl-LzF5v--8BJHY_qWcmdzsSvVNj3XD0Yyh-KsAuK/s4032/20230618_093640.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqMplyz5HC5k_qsn3Nl1H1jQIHCq4yjdZKhvBzjC12Tp7aRuglSKxA9YLTQaBZMiEE11WF-XxExb8dF3lsCi0OQjUuZ1gJ6FcV-hdkH8xBQGv3mDTQ8nenbmuHtrk2MyPL419GvbsSj_OmqSAl-LzF5v--8BJHY_qWcmdzsSvVNj3XD0Yyh-KsAuK/w480-h640/20230618_093640.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire trail you follow to begin the walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As there was no sign marker indicating this was the start, and I hadn't fully researched the walk and could scarcely remember doing it I suggested we look down in case it began at the picnic area just down from the toilet so we walked down and across to the picnic area that had markers for the Saddleback Mountain Southern Lookout Walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBDo9HQ6aH13lltPgBfH-2U0mcS0odeGowzlXV8LzzNldTtfTHdcD2YSikWAZV_iSQC2mIYPtjkpbQUFZbPsaNjqhj7o-7fg5s85Ja6sHcWftEODthIeWQW3A7xziZZxMW_AEMJu87wSiC6uKL3SuTreF2fGwD1zLjYGXQvOA1eAhCkcwt06h0r9A/s4032/20230618_093931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBDo9HQ6aH13lltPgBfH-2U0mcS0odeGowzlXV8LzzNldTtfTHdcD2YSikWAZV_iSQC2mIYPtjkpbQUFZbPsaNjqhj7o-7fg5s85Ja6sHcWftEODthIeWQW3A7xziZZxMW_AEMJu87wSiC6uKL3SuTreF2fGwD1zLjYGXQvOA1eAhCkcwt06h0r9A/w400-h300/20230618_093931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO9LUSrk9t_HRy9yPOV2c7etySZoi90XD9mahYDQFivpjU7Zo5hrpBeK-Thc5_P-sjmvoEXIwFYhNpTFPRAXyvSN_Y4W7HWcX2G6TFjyOut7U280mtCAQVUWs3Ry4E6C5vDlrtYYSBFXQ-j7vQQnlfskbCHF0srCNmBZX_QyIriAsFkao63SYakqg/s4032/20230618_094059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO9LUSrk9t_HRy9yPOV2c7etySZoi90XD9mahYDQFivpjU7Zo5hrpBeK-Thc5_P-sjmvoEXIwFYhNpTFPRAXyvSN_Y4W7HWcX2G6TFjyOut7U280mtCAQVUWs3Ry4E6C5vDlrtYYSBFXQ-j7vQQnlfskbCHF0srCNmBZX_QyIriAsFkao63SYakqg/w480-h640/20230618_094059.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleb-P6erbr4-P10HxQGuLm8XX1K4VfZRTmj9kcPI4a_1sb8_IlkyQpZV_ZsKg5irsxsJDxMVTNHUb80vgEXNOdfJtaGEVViPzrmqpf_N-e4MquBYEFBQnQH8lytDIR5W_Ela78mgFZFPRp8ZK9OUIMV4b0Jod1HmCZebTi70GQiJbLciBczdY11wr/s4032/20230618_094252.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleb-P6erbr4-P10HxQGuLm8XX1K4VfZRTmj9kcPI4a_1sb8_IlkyQpZV_ZsKg5irsxsJDxMVTNHUb80vgEXNOdfJtaGEVViPzrmqpf_N-e4MquBYEFBQnQH8lytDIR5W_Ela78mgFZFPRp8ZK9OUIMV4b0Jod1HmCZebTi70GQiJbLciBczdY11wr/w480-h640/20230618_094252.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It was a short walk down to a lookout with a view of Seven Mile Beach and Coolangatta Mountain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw60aqUBeeFUyjjsEJv7bXHXDV_y8BAtN-5pDel2Erd2KKQ44jLGX2B5nFWDIBAMPmmQsH5UHvM2keGJI22fOTcIczu79NhSbDfNVqpkaCRtKGTLtjFLAexY8197jR2voMtCxR0YghAXv6o1q9xxLwGBWWd3Mh6LtZZRQCf5w8bZ_0gk8ODBahgbXa/s4032/20230618_094437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw60aqUBeeFUyjjsEJv7bXHXDV_y8BAtN-5pDel2Erd2KKQ44jLGX2B5nFWDIBAMPmmQsH5UHvM2keGJI22fOTcIczu79NhSbDfNVqpkaCRtKGTLtjFLAexY8197jR2voMtCxR0YghAXv6o1q9xxLwGBWWd3Mh6LtZZRQCf5w8bZ_0gk8ODBahgbXa/w400-h300/20230618_094437.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We walked back up and headed back towards the fire trail, the only thing in sight that could possibly be the starting location of the walk (while also looking on our phones for any information on the start of the walk, with one website mentioning green marker poles). As soon as we reached the horizon of what we could see of the fire trail from where we began it began to dip and head downhill, following it down to a gate blocking random cars we noticed the small wooden green pole next to it and assumed we were on the right path.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mw9O-Mvaxp9nVp3wFGF_OLaSWurpbc1a2iJevNA0xiNyvexhlkMHf1Msz6NDhw1H6FXHK5Vwh3qqG9i0wKxH9naufp1-Vv24eCcLk4WLie2ssRAP1hQV9OPx82Vror3ApgDOcQOJzMB_0MC10R1LbKkafZJjc2NSuDvc6JNNSYzvyYZ7prfnpfsA/s4032/20230618_095658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mw9O-Mvaxp9nVp3wFGF_OLaSWurpbc1a2iJevNA0xiNyvexhlkMHf1Msz6NDhw1H6FXHK5Vwh3qqG9i0wKxH9naufp1-Vv24eCcLk4WLie2ssRAP1hQV9OPx82Vror3ApgDOcQOJzMB_0MC10R1LbKkafZJjc2NSuDvc6JNNSYzvyYZ7prfnpfsA/w480-h640/20230618_095658.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we continued past this there was very loose gravel over the dirt track and we progressed slowly as Megan didn't want to slip and fall, though all three of us slipped on the loose gravel at various times, none of us took a fall.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2lBu-IP5QCcDAZqZFh9Btdr_yggfvxNLmag8s3M1VEbeVShdXDGZzEFe8HdhEbbA5KmMh2U6nhk3gH-Db8t0c2I76GzeQQilV1gjlXxs5mfwzVYBKCCv2i-2nobysNoPthyqf-0JD5BiVoe4WbkA7hmAPnxiDmkRr_hIFw0zomOdu4GfVyrV2Zz7/s2944/20230618_100027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2944" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2lBu-IP5QCcDAZqZFh9Btdr_yggfvxNLmag8s3M1VEbeVShdXDGZzEFe8HdhEbbA5KmMh2U6nhk3gH-Db8t0c2I76GzeQQilV1gjlXxs5mfwzVYBKCCv2i-2nobysNoPthyqf-0JD5BiVoe4WbkA7hmAPnxiDmkRr_hIFw0zomOdu4GfVyrV2Zz7/w400-h300/20230618_100027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't fall guys. I'll be watching. Aaaaalways watching.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>To our left I could see old stone farm fences overgrown in the bush, and told them they were built by convicts (though I have no idea if they were), simply because when I had worked at Killalea State Park for Green Army doing Conservation and Land Management we had cleared lantana back at least six metres to reveal similar stone fencing that had been built by convicts and our work group was featured in a the newspaper. (I also told Stuart and Megan this story).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36hA9CHkjkb-T_vrctgGsevk9izo3AY2mGu9_KYSB1B4tlBygBPluDUJvBmnKdeKG3BuQekgAaJG2RnCcMouQ0yiaekwl0KBVsDcS7mGx6Jc-03rCVy4Y69Is7x2urXsMUBZBcy-SunTrs5ulhHVhzWcdUqiKBFR-OuWcX9VUdcq2BFrtBFKVCBPN/s4032/20230618_100347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36hA9CHkjkb-T_vrctgGsevk9izo3AY2mGu9_KYSB1B4tlBygBPluDUJvBmnKdeKG3BuQekgAaJG2RnCcMouQ0yiaekwl0KBVsDcS7mGx6Jc-03rCVy4Y69Is7x2urXsMUBZBcy-SunTrs5ulhHVhzWcdUqiKBFR-OuWcX9VUdcq2BFrtBFKVCBPN/w400-h300/20230618_100347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8cCnJOpQf5TqSd62nT0ZvLG2bMDsyBI0eCrZOLuM0zkjJB3m1wpci6v1yBrzNfzJDd3udKn0WgcVZUYrFNbByaX0IRu7aoIE5h7QN0EviFT_nX9JYcWlO117AjKmUMjGuTKbfroIoa8Wmr6foQjP3oML_e-f1zHTwRp_-xhkwnuFlZZXi2aJDtxO/s4032/20230618_100455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8cCnJOpQf5TqSd62nT0ZvLG2bMDsyBI0eCrZOLuM0zkjJB3m1wpci6v1yBrzNfzJDd3udKn0WgcVZUYrFNbByaX0IRu7aoIE5h7QN0EviFT_nX9JYcWlO117AjKmUMjGuTKbfroIoa8Wmr6foQjP3oML_e-f1zHTwRp_-xhkwnuFlZZXi2aJDtxO/w480-h640/20230618_100455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>There was a group of plants on our right as we continued heading down the path that I wasn't able to identify but I point it out now because right next to it on our way back from the walk we heard a Lyrebird just here, and it was cycling through various bird noises, it was like someone playing them on a loud stereo, much louder than the actual birds would sound, (as Lyrebirds are able to mimic most other sounds), it did the Whipbird sound, Crow sound, Magpie sound and even Kookaburra noises cycling through and repeating certain ones.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzjha8QIeYvHGo_nhmi2TChIezHNM8wcBTsJskXSyEAjIuRjB77T2n0d60JB7gBO8xd3FYi9hTCET_VKkz103e6ruPlWgzLjq4kXasZwwH2BeZLfT4dJCN4y6ozfq0pcc6PLoXx3HUCDUPvtP4IIHfsb-F3HcpgIdbVU4lyLuap3HY11ct0x62ryT/s4032/20230618_100828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzjha8QIeYvHGo_nhmi2TChIezHNM8wcBTsJskXSyEAjIuRjB77T2n0d60JB7gBO8xd3FYi9hTCET_VKkz103e6ruPlWgzLjq4kXasZwwH2BeZLfT4dJCN4y6ozfq0pcc6PLoXx3HUCDUPvtP4IIHfsb-F3HcpgIdbVU4lyLuap3HY11ct0x62ryT/w480-h640/20230618_100828.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClh3zOS3YSuOaCDzjnovKfU_ifmGZGs6xCpkC68Rd4DdKIVcrciEMAfE8K0No8ba-2PCXeqefR6QEXEnvKAfO2OJOesYoJ9KQEsUy1QUVK1KQJKJd3Rty0WNnPFx6BoDV4arlGXgWTOuedD_8Jb_dzdnp0HoIq_7NAtVAVppZneyQl4A-WUz-aQPJ/s4032/20230618_100831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjClh3zOS3YSuOaCDzjnovKfU_ifmGZGs6xCpkC68Rd4DdKIVcrciEMAfE8K0No8ba-2PCXeqefR6QEXEnvKAfO2OJOesYoJ9KQEsUy1QUVK1KQJKJd3Rty0WNnPFx6BoDV4arlGXgWTOuedD_8Jb_dzdnp0HoIq_7NAtVAVppZneyQl4A-WUz-aQPJ/w480-h640/20230618_100831.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was just at the top of this hill (as we returned)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzcgQmljrkmUn1E9SeRHt3R5Q1GsBqyDnEvXx-95oLpVam0uIjHmt38zRjKmobvWRkNae9Feh-iZytuFxH47Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>As we continued down the track thinned and we could see a fallen down green sign post. We all commented about how the track might not be very well used.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b_m2dv22Ymijc0W1WCGNcZN_Yhex5t55zX9EbDXlnP1mge-s-macwkce1qOqnqosi9GbfpHVMBd6ro0nIxRqBO3VSR80kXyElT9ZmdaTu2uu6meRpTuNsxTDvg2sFra2lnKr-hglldNbDqO-ZOo4WvG4nyonaph13cAJTbsDOyq8YBGr-jtqnnnt/s4032/20230618_101212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3b_m2dv22Ymijc0W1WCGNcZN_Yhex5t55zX9EbDXlnP1mge-s-macwkce1qOqnqosi9GbfpHVMBd6ro0nIxRqBO3VSR80kXyElT9ZmdaTu2uu6meRpTuNsxTDvg2sFra2lnKr-hglldNbDqO-ZOo4WvG4nyonaph13cAJTbsDOyq8YBGr-jtqnnnt/w480-h640/20230618_101212.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa8AMNwBKRZr7pWkFEX52oDghOqAOPJXamkfe9ILRTa5ajUeqjeTPkQW4kSmHMU8RZQLqDTinxqRfMs3AKTPJDts64vo9P-srEtPfAZkA3g0_aJ0avbm1e7l_Crcpl_jIbYgJ4vvW1ufTyriWFaGADYxWUPa316hN0LIzdZ6sV3TakytzcMbfCVh7/s4032/20230618_101241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa8AMNwBKRZr7pWkFEX52oDghOqAOPJXamkfe9ILRTa5ajUeqjeTPkQW4kSmHMU8RZQLqDTinxqRfMs3AKTPJDts64vo9P-srEtPfAZkA3g0_aJ0avbm1e7l_Crcpl_jIbYgJ4vvW1ufTyriWFaGADYxWUPa316hN0LIzdZ6sV3TakytzcMbfCVh7/w480-h640/20230618_101241.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>After a short walk further downhill, we came to a clearing with powerlines heading both North and South, before the walk now began uphill. I turned around and you could see Saddleback Mountain clearly from where we were.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyZMVkklWSmW_IKcsRp7zJyv9dmIgJwzHzbW_u9MDrhRBGmZaV89d-MeGt6uOScRUE2RFYigwKvX0CMPH8fRprxKi0V8sdggFI34AnGiziY6pHwWKPpI19r5V_x5JBBW4Kd19XhSXZEiV5X-utZVkWrPH9RvdO7MyI6LNFEq0JLrfC9wYjI-qkD-U/s4032/20230618_101946.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyZMVkklWSmW_IKcsRp7zJyv9dmIgJwzHzbW_u9MDrhRBGmZaV89d-MeGt6uOScRUE2RFYigwKvX0CMPH8fRprxKi0V8sdggFI34AnGiziY6pHwWKPpI19r5V_x5JBBW4Kd19XhSXZEiV5X-utZVkWrPH9RvdO7MyI6LNFEq0JLrfC9wYjI-qkD-U/w480-h640/20230618_101946.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I commented that we could again see Seven Mile Beach looking south from the powerline clearing and Stuart jokingly stated, "I wonder why it's called that?" Before we began joking that it was six point eight, mile beach or seven point two, mile beach. </div><div><br /></div><div>Megan mentioned One Mile Beach, which she said wasn't one mile long, but was named so because it was one mile from the post office, which Stuart and I found pretty amusing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX6LFKByrmx7gbm19AnorH6ThWSocIgB8NFOiBqviaAmSnn_EBELFmzmxMTJr3FLS04nmOlQ81z-ewOWhpDKwyw54HjzsbvRduhKACeK84iD7XsNchpLuiRIbqeDSVf0-K0tzpSs2qtftMe74QodexUhJG8QvYJb4yKxmkeEINjQK87ty45Gm-Do-/s2048/powerline%20clearing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX6LFKByrmx7gbm19AnorH6ThWSocIgB8NFOiBqviaAmSnn_EBELFmzmxMTJr3FLS04nmOlQ81z-ewOWhpDKwyw54HjzsbvRduhKACeK84iD7XsNchpLuiRIbqeDSVf0-K0tzpSs2qtftMe74QodexUhJG8QvYJb4yKxmkeEINjQK87ty45Gm-Do-/w480-h640/powerline%20clearing.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Just a short walk up the hill the fire trail finely has a sign indicating Hoddles Track, inwards to our left while the fire trail continued uphill, with another gate blocking vehicle access.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DbNIkEUv9PZQRKjG5Q--mNKnmhgUnFSrSDlXOzW7PwUnNhbyqqTaxc_J_cfdE6zrt6akSQ7BCG8HYiVr7GgMM0KZ9beuAX4zLXYsW69sUdwJ2Do4LZH86NeFc3qgYUyMBbYIpBtwvK3okLHeB7iOFTzBIdpKfTINcaV4Uov0NWSN2XwrGWHowWlw/s4032/20230618_102029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DbNIkEUv9PZQRKjG5Q--mNKnmhgUnFSrSDlXOzW7PwUnNhbyqqTaxc_J_cfdE6zrt6akSQ7BCG8HYiVr7GgMM0KZ9beuAX4zLXYsW69sUdwJ2Do4LZH86NeFc3qgYUyMBbYIpBtwvK3okLHeB7iOFTzBIdpKfTINcaV4Uov0NWSN2XwrGWHowWlw/w400-h300/20230618_102029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I joked to Stuart and Megan that this was probably the start of Hoddles Track which was apparently a 7km walk, and I joked that the 7km started at this point (although I actually have no idea and I've never much cared for distances or elevation and I have had people often comment on some of my posts asking, which I read, shrug, and never respond to).</div><div><br /></div><div>The walk started uphill and the scenery of it instantly reminded me of walking up <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/10/bong-bong-pass.html" target="_blank">Bong Bong Pass</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa1t-WDEcL20HZXTEYUAyJBol34jl7BqJeud97qPBiVRwrTYHV4WQqVeofuWzZZa5sTgigvub0IySA4eMJ72NlBGqe_xLDfvfmpT9XJDaGjLdjSqUNWK5cGO3ztov8HSPrqqMCX4J0l4dNUzu6zDJ3y-AGzPN_FWPYuZlcB-UcoB93xuAS4dWWBfA/s4032/20230618_102107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBa1t-WDEcL20HZXTEYUAyJBol34jl7BqJeud97qPBiVRwrTYHV4WQqVeofuWzZZa5sTgigvub0IySA4eMJ72NlBGqe_xLDfvfmpT9XJDaGjLdjSqUNWK5cGO3ztov8HSPrqqMCX4J0l4dNUzu6zDJ3y-AGzPN_FWPYuZlcB-UcoB93xuAS4dWWBfA/w480-h640/20230618_102107.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we continued uphill the trees began to thin giving us a view of farmland on our left and you could see the stonewalls on either side. </div><div><br /></div><div>We reached a flat clearing, next to a barbed wire farm fence with a clear view over the Illawara once more and I pointed out a section of fence completely coasted in Cape Ivy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlupDRl9uG3cwWFEU-6ugk2RpCk67dvhtwoe_a5Ib4yC2gj4zGmUaZ8XXdKHvDjDA8wNIF125xLedNjPCtL8GB-bEDtRUOVuxSnH_MF_tIlyoh6hnlHpQ9KHDBoW25WB9hg5HPVgPbSDHksg5Ujw9Zl-8oJEzTfR0mtvK8qymUW3QOwfYKXmla3Ekz/s4032/20230618_102456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlupDRl9uG3cwWFEU-6ugk2RpCk67dvhtwoe_a5Ib4yC2gj4zGmUaZ8XXdKHvDjDA8wNIF125xLedNjPCtL8GB-bEDtRUOVuxSnH_MF_tIlyoh6hnlHpQ9KHDBoW25WB9hg5HPVgPbSDHksg5Ujw9Zl-8oJEzTfR0mtvK8qymUW3QOwfYKXmla3Ekz/w400-h300/20230618_102456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHTW1A7pzMYrlUZ1z1MD87WWo5uPBto2YLt17EvGHiWDcrd8W1kx3QLNDoHrhht0SLvKAMvbo9uZ6lN7ELw70F2GV612dZwOBy9i_LmzeLdQ7tT1CNqmxcwlAhzQKbBs5rAQrSQQ_j3e1XsyJsS4vCQ7ViaTyyRMtoxmoULXLDhrdY56-KoevM2Oi/s4032/20230618_102654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHTW1A7pzMYrlUZ1z1MD87WWo5uPBto2YLt17EvGHiWDcrd8W1kx3QLNDoHrhht0SLvKAMvbo9uZ6lN7ELw70F2GV612dZwOBy9i_LmzeLdQ7tT1CNqmxcwlAhzQKbBs5rAQrSQQ_j3e1XsyJsS4vCQ7ViaTyyRMtoxmoULXLDhrdY56-KoevM2Oi/w400-h300/20230618_102654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The track was level for a while and we soon came to a tree across the track, which I told Stuart and Megan I had seen complaints about while I had tried Googling the start of the walk when we were on top of Saddleback Mountain. We simply walked around the right side of it and the track soon came to a small metal fence but a path to the left of it with a fallen down Hoddles Track sign.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0Q-pUQfD-BTJZ1edJuFmRBO4mtQmJpKSW0Cd9ftqiKl1VrE2dK1MdVszX28sZLxussAYgDzFR1xZFD8iqC-iZFizT4WSwF_quOTjWc6zy2YmiYs09iNV-XMc8g4AxOTgC8993AIlwL3vk_iHvlZA1qA4sIzUO8Ike-EqWp0uVrk3BrOTsVk9NjNL/s4032/20230618_102948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0Q-pUQfD-BTJZ1edJuFmRBO4mtQmJpKSW0Cd9ftqiKl1VrE2dK1MdVszX28sZLxussAYgDzFR1xZFD8iqC-iZFizT4WSwF_quOTjWc6zy2YmiYs09iNV-XMc8g4AxOTgC8993AIlwL3vk_iHvlZA1qA4sIzUO8Ike-EqWp0uVrk3BrOTsVk9NjNL/w400-h300/20230618_102948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fjw-3fSgqyF3fthomDXHZgxfbnDeN9n7-enPF1HVHf6lPHN7Axj2WhuRXz_iOOsfpLYPBXla2zsOq_2ekQobqn6G5Gx85qMmtPvmf6mSP4CAgEPTN6NhD0T-kfgFPnx5PNuPy3kAz_6NpzJUHuGF7YrQ60OkzUfI3fbX0jyHM54l5djFBvPLJqbx/s4032/20230618_103153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Fjw-3fSgqyF3fthomDXHZgxfbnDeN9n7-enPF1HVHf6lPHN7Axj2WhuRXz_iOOsfpLYPBXla2zsOq_2ekQobqn6G5Gx85qMmtPvmf6mSP4CAgEPTN6NhD0T-kfgFPnx5PNuPy3kAz_6NpzJUHuGF7YrQ60OkzUfI3fbX0jyHM54l5djFBvPLJqbx/w480-h640/20230618_103153.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMjCu9rtp8dQGkbpEoIrqzxDxSig3CbtqCdZsuNk_a_K1A5pRq9CpHqo9yWS3p2OPg-JTovDgpd4_IBPktL8mfCAkRLM6hVBlLwd7cnN17ykEI4fgbtBi1_I0skxpYLYwS5pWZ0Oy96ALkJMtrRPOTbuTHSvgivh9EGIgfg4vVJwFnORIOpVgsl3B/s4032/20230618_103205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMjCu9rtp8dQGkbpEoIrqzxDxSig3CbtqCdZsuNk_a_K1A5pRq9CpHqo9yWS3p2OPg-JTovDgpd4_IBPktL8mfCAkRLM6hVBlLwd7cnN17ykEI4fgbtBi1_I0skxpYLYwS5pWZ0Oy96ALkJMtrRPOTbuTHSvgivh9EGIgfg4vVJwFnORIOpVgsl3B/w400-h300/20230618_103205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Which, now is a good time for me to break up the walk with some history! Hoddle Track was named for surveyor <a href="https://library.kiama.nsw.gov.au/History/Explore-Kiamas-Past/Local-history-stories/Robert-Hoddle" target="_blank">Robert Hoddle</a>, and the following is an excerpt from the Kiama Library website:<br /><br />"<i>In 1830 the plan was to open up a route from the lush pastures in the Southern Highlands to Kiama Harbour, to enable a faster route for produce to be shipped to Sydney and to avoid the slow overland journey. Robert Hoddle was the surveyor who was set this task. Hoddle set off in the July of that year, starting at Wingecarribee Swamp and surveyed the Illawarra Escarpment in an attempt to find a way to Saddleback Mountain and down to Kiama.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Hoddle wrote in his diary that the rainforest of the escarpment was "the most formidable brush". Hoddle had a team of 20 convict men, pack horses, bullock teams and drays. The path that Hoddle created went throught sub-tropical jungle and was described as rough for both man and beast and only suitable for pack horses. You can walk part of Hoddle’s track today. It is sign posted from the western end of the car park on Saddleback Mountain and will take you to Barren Grounds. The track will take around 4hours return. The views from the forested Norrinan Mountain to Kiama and the Illawarra coastline are worth the rough, steep trek.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The surveyor was of immense importance in the new colony, expanding topographical knowledge, and planning roads, towns and property boundaries. From the 1920’s no land could be leased or owned unless it had been surveyed first. Robert Hoddle was an experienced surveyor and draughtman and was also an explorer and artist, whose paintings document the area around Kiama as well as many other parts of NSW and Victoria before white settlement.<br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Hoddle completed the survey of Sydney after he arrived in 1823, and then went on to be the Surveyor-General of the new colony of Victoria in 1851. In addition to the work around Kiama and the Illawarra Escarpment, Hoddle surveyed and explored the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven River region, and south coast down to Moruya, was possibly the first white man to climb both Pigeon House and Mt Budawang. Hoddle also surveyed the area around Canberra, as well as Bathurst, Liverpool and Berrima marked the northern route through the Blue Mountains.</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div>Which upon researching and learning he was the first white man to climb Didthul/Pigeon House, I found pretty topical considering I was planning to walk it again the following weekend.</div><div><br /></div><div>The clearing had a fire trail heading on the left. Megan asked if that was the way, I had a look down but didn't want to walk to far down it as I wasn't sure that was the right way so we continued straight along the path. I snapped a picture on my phone commenting at how green the photo looked considering it had no saturation, as I don't like to filter or edit photos I take (even if they don't accurately represent how the scenery looked to the human eye).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLdNw-ANr0IHV3KdpiQCRYL1n0LiOOYQEGCQOGRzk5qnL5TfHq7xiu7iDxCwvOsNp9q7_m9zOq1vRHCO6lsx2QT1CqMu2-x9Hoxvljmn53YsmPfDeZtGlse5MfEH4csGjl43Jxs6TX-c7q7K8Thnu7oOSOyl0fn90PDoFXsf-o-maLaHebRtHO1ly/s4032/20230618_103455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLdNw-ANr0IHV3KdpiQCRYL1n0LiOOYQEGCQOGRzk5qnL5TfHq7xiu7iDxCwvOsNp9q7_m9zOq1vRHCO6lsx2QT1CqMu2-x9Hoxvljmn53YsmPfDeZtGlse5MfEH4csGjl43Jxs6TX-c7q7K8Thnu7oOSOyl0fn90PDoFXsf-o-maLaHebRtHO1ly/w480-h640/20230618_103455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReeV7pDsVXwnyMpSbxZWiS862PrMNZL6fS-jn-60TYzKvyaDfkJNyJ-ver4l-urhRxB0TgvD5jndlB1JXaGQzj_5jn2z34T_cM8NRQgh_9CzUqJHyJbFa2qouLKht9dPMoQOeaeRXo9UKWwwZK3d1lU49EIQ46h_NfUNSv8HbbmgEWUD01b-cPUOr/s4032/20230618_103655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReeV7pDsVXwnyMpSbxZWiS862PrMNZL6fS-jn-60TYzKvyaDfkJNyJ-ver4l-urhRxB0TgvD5jndlB1JXaGQzj_5jn2z34T_cM8NRQgh_9CzUqJHyJbFa2qouLKht9dPMoQOeaeRXo9UKWwwZK3d1lU49EIQ46h_NfUNSv8HbbmgEWUD01b-cPUOr/w400-h300/20230618_103655.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb5_07314EMWieCzNGX2hSyx6Esq8MGyJ7ysXig6W-JV4R2BMvpY8Z_4I7a9iUaipLghPT-CjKR0w9M6CfXluYQ7lnB07jeWC80xLTrcTmaQgQnRl5CABzWjYE68WdQr5Gx1j4xC30j3nbiUqjmzuVpin67gut-tgzpmr2WMncj1i9CD0AKr_YTut/s2048/uphill%20from%20powerlines.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb5_07314EMWieCzNGX2hSyx6Esq8MGyJ7ysXig6W-JV4R2BMvpY8Z_4I7a9iUaipLghPT-CjKR0w9M6CfXluYQ7lnB07jeWC80xLTrcTmaQgQnRl5CABzWjYE68WdQr5Gx1j4xC30j3nbiUqjmzuVpin67gut-tgzpmr2WMncj1i9CD0AKr_YTut/w400-h300/uphill%20from%20powerlines.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We commented a few times about how dark the clouds looked, wondering if we might get rained on.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG0ux4Cx7Q7bgAOuMEe5rLU_DZAWS-ljiibcK9m8MSSQNMXCFmjy6a_e4Lt3UR3GifV3lgsJcpQ4l35zGhtwBBh7i4WIhIxxYKf0GI0ke1QCvOy9nR6OiCbTuUWaZQ1DC2-dbrKABuzhe9xbH6bKaxJB4Z6ALe1ISpu_binSTJEvgUH1SUS0SEuXo/s4032/20230618_104123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG0ux4Cx7Q7bgAOuMEe5rLU_DZAWS-ljiibcK9m8MSSQNMXCFmjy6a_e4Lt3UR3GifV3lgsJcpQ4l35zGhtwBBh7i4WIhIxxYKf0GI0ke1QCvOy9nR6OiCbTuUWaZQ1DC2-dbrKABuzhe9xbH6bKaxJB4Z6ALe1ISpu_binSTJEvgUH1SUS0SEuXo/w480-h640/20230618_104123.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I literally don't recall any of this walk, I told Stuart and Megan as we continued along. Megan wasn't surprised. "You did do it 12 years ago." She said.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCaOniFvCZbzhUCZNGL0Y_fmdxx9jFwo614YyKQHZCRHow3po2b36lei5SEnoX98lYBn4Qw_D5ROWMC0H5jnGDXYnf6ttgVHFrPY-SCNUV9MERNWSjyO3eoNMXa-rgDmLPmyONL_z3UaOcxBm8GoyVwya3a1nqyVbcg9dgmlX_Qqi36AvluMZ-sFU/s4032/20230618_104345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCaOniFvCZbzhUCZNGL0Y_fmdxx9jFwo614YyKQHZCRHow3po2b36lei5SEnoX98lYBn4Qw_D5ROWMC0H5jnGDXYnf6ttgVHFrPY-SCNUV9MERNWSjyO3eoNMXa-rgDmLPmyONL_z3UaOcxBm8GoyVwya3a1nqyVbcg9dgmlX_Qqi36AvluMZ-sFU/w480-h640/20230618_104345.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we continued along the trail we came upon a sign saying there was no track through to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html" target="_blank">Barren Grounds</a>, which is where you need to go to actually get to the viewing platform at Saddleback Trig. (In my mind the end of this walk would take us to a Trig Station similar to what was on top of <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a>, I have no idea why I thought that though)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh86qHHFkwd77vG3PVNcfpXWfcg2TBlwtVHHPSeyVaiGyhy-HsZGek5rgSVcp8Ty27h6VZjzQDJT-QD6mw-PWkXVI_IA9UEdHueh9elhApMvJKt1ncQLreqHnqU-KeT9AgKiwBBQ-klWfNuE9meU-Yqok5A-1I3WqPv9hyW3Jo44Kcya5jLFdO_C0/s4032/20230618_104706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzh86qHHFkwd77vG3PVNcfpXWfcg2TBlwtVHHPSeyVaiGyhy-HsZGek5rgSVcp8Ty27h6VZjzQDJT-QD6mw-PWkXVI_IA9UEdHueh9elhApMvJKt1ncQLreqHnqU-KeT9AgKiwBBQ-klWfNuE9meU-Yqok5A-1I3WqPv9hyW3Jo44Kcya5jLFdO_C0/w400-h300/20230618_104706.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I pointed out to that the plant surrounded this sign was native raspberry '<i>Rubus parvifolius</i>'.</div><div><br /></div><div>Continuing up there were now trees all over the path, nothing too strenuous but just involving some light climbing or ducking around to continue on.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iR87VlfZk849q8ZewCaF5Ih_iGVbMY66jPvikYqKP0Ymgr7_K7jtbelzpKLV1fl3LjaKqPxjSsgNQCt0wgc_RnokoMV8Cjp96cXJ6vNrqAjh9BkqEPFb88xO_X9Bb-BYjjYSv4BObJxaxesbmXjB2IhtFJjP3SdnOONp2q4qZ03UY5SABc7BQDJR/s4032/20230618_104755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iR87VlfZk849q8ZewCaF5Ih_iGVbMY66jPvikYqKP0Ymgr7_K7jtbelzpKLV1fl3LjaKqPxjSsgNQCt0wgc_RnokoMV8Cjp96cXJ6vNrqAjh9BkqEPFb88xO_X9Bb-BYjjYSv4BObJxaxesbmXjB2IhtFJjP3SdnOONp2q4qZ03UY5SABc7BQDJR/w480-h640/20230618_104755.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxAlbIVlJLKAqFVXFQsHT5hRvVDZ1f3WBkwakHUu8du83y6mnrj4JHfG2wqB2-9LKCt6vNqV75iEZDsvf3Y69KYxLWtbL_-xRbR7wcFZgiuamEHSyHTIM1eFUVAJQ9NO8TF3pvi25sEQd8rfLaiyOOn9ebDFOvTrVi5HUF5yQ5mLnLFE2n-CLtF_t/s3648/20230618_105501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxAlbIVlJLKAqFVXFQsHT5hRvVDZ1f3WBkwakHUu8du83y6mnrj4JHfG2wqB2-9LKCt6vNqV75iEZDsvf3Y69KYxLWtbL_-xRbR7wcFZgiuamEHSyHTIM1eFUVAJQ9NO8TF3pvi25sEQd8rfLaiyOOn9ebDFOvTrVi5HUF5yQ5mLnLFE2n-CLtF_t/w480-h640/20230618_105501.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLF_dzskB-Hn-u0Vk3AfpaCeS7H7hMwW9B8T2oUaNec3Re60ED0t6JsaLhKlF1MU9doTsegPwB8M2ZapsBPBF3dNuCV8OGTKnuqM3aoPBjhcDtIQde986_Ud04MbcUn8yypyUiyl_YJ3Qu1RxVGUFlLTuAkfH4x9MHFWwyxGN190BPgqopxy-vPMz/s4032/20230618_105649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLF_dzskB-Hn-u0Vk3AfpaCeS7H7hMwW9B8T2oUaNec3Re60ED0t6JsaLhKlF1MU9doTsegPwB8M2ZapsBPBF3dNuCV8OGTKnuqM3aoPBjhcDtIQde986_Ud04MbcUn8yypyUiyl_YJ3Qu1RxVGUFlLTuAkfH4x9MHFWwyxGN190BPgqopxy-vPMz/w480-h640/20230618_105649.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjmRRb10j6okWArTdkTHcuszl5u2d95T51udBwHLjT3RBBhYIfZuKopsjn3rqaZlkWhF8fyZtYzpUR--FFjkXx5c_kqAyqosjMDTCVvrQcYJSI3Fuk4HeVUl6Pq921K_mEQ-O7QGf12Hg3DkBe7hbjG4oEiG8AgghkHNkMtlk5Iqf48-H_DMrjt47/s4032/20230618_105909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjmRRb10j6okWArTdkTHcuszl5u2d95T51udBwHLjT3RBBhYIfZuKopsjn3rqaZlkWhF8fyZtYzpUR--FFjkXx5c_kqAyqosjMDTCVvrQcYJSI3Fuk4HeVUl6Pq921K_mEQ-O7QGf12Hg3DkBe7hbjG4oEiG8AgghkHNkMtlk5Iqf48-H_DMrjt47/w480-h640/20230618_105909.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>At the top of this little incline the path was pretty overgrown, and you had to actually squat and duck through some branches to continue along.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1iyAcxWfBVBjzpyoXlqrOzVT-Tbi5fFjCDdLia7aNm-NmvUbDcP8jeTlDSqkXoivnwA0HWl-WVb2t3pHbrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>We continued past some boulders on our right before getting a pretty marvelous view south over Seven Mile Beach once more.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJFHR5T4Z55HCXv774rLm5lxbEPIHCEL_pu2fKkgisvjUrC_myHaUIc2gmo0el71Wki5qBDChmS8nNdeP8ShYaqiMVQQXfBDfvMVr4e2tbK1fFg5mTCU07VJHpXEEL5esi4VlgDl2MCNuNVbDP78V5_kEtGFwGXXTcnPSREZaxGhNBdLMo06tjXuL/s4032/20230618_110412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJFHR5T4Z55HCXv774rLm5lxbEPIHCEL_pu2fKkgisvjUrC_myHaUIc2gmo0el71Wki5qBDChmS8nNdeP8ShYaqiMVQQXfBDfvMVr4e2tbK1fFg5mTCU07VJHpXEEL5esi4VlgDl2MCNuNVbDP78V5_kEtGFwGXXTcnPSREZaxGhNBdLMo06tjXuL/w480-h640/20230618_110412.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKXziymas4eNKWaXirehFeaOmU6sSZEpa9JCIa5OXKWQGCDOdX83WApyJBZS0_ZQEFxYmzo5F7fkanQGnaWg5sKAqkUxrmrQOQlxSvxsKGzx9770vwx8OxaAj0JO4plbMrS3ERtHtkmI9TLODDIPt-FZz-U8I6-DPoZcAaVV0ETQCt_uzoy8c-9Cu/s4032/20230618_110435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKXziymas4eNKWaXirehFeaOmU6sSZEpa9JCIa5OXKWQGCDOdX83WApyJBZS0_ZQEFxYmzo5F7fkanQGnaWg5sKAqkUxrmrQOQlxSvxsKGzx9770vwx8OxaAj0JO4plbMrS3ERtHtkmI9TLODDIPt-FZz-U8I6-DPoZcAaVV0ETQCt_uzoy8c-9Cu/w480-h640/20230618_110435.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We rounded the corner and came to an awesome section of rocky cliff-face on our right, with a rock protruding that I commented looked like a Turtle.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkddy3S4bQXrrvacy5Y1knsmcndfBE16drZzZGil_qspdxDh6eJ_eFuqkkLPoJ73-_TpRFiP5TUtooFWcFpGVxAfpLJdOKabtcDN10OtiTscAhRiaS3J8fd3ysxsrM9AEwTbm42z7JgCCXnwPJsnJ4ZBdlf31xQivWY1GuhIrGQhFgxFappFh9l6L/s4032/20230618_110635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkddy3S4bQXrrvacy5Y1knsmcndfBE16drZzZGil_qspdxDh6eJ_eFuqkkLPoJ73-_TpRFiP5TUtooFWcFpGVxAfpLJdOKabtcDN10OtiTscAhRiaS3J8fd3ysxsrM9AEwTbm42z7JgCCXnwPJsnJ4ZBdlf31xQivWY1GuhIrGQhFgxFappFh9l6L/w480-h640/20230618_110635.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtle Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqrb8roUQWfMv5oeL0bVoG5IlbWhjhUuzTo-PAV5qDCfeVJ4dbmeN4EZPhvIBbJH4m6ooH5yfHCFFSImKshdR0G_ZGaoXhZVwR5D3mH2t7_LhasYzLJ4LuzbbUu9Q_VwjdDXKBkwTsbbttWQqXlOTxGkaKzNjo_KMPagiZ6IPdjUqAJg4vYQ9XNoy/s4032/20230618_110638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqrb8roUQWfMv5oeL0bVoG5IlbWhjhUuzTo-PAV5qDCfeVJ4dbmeN4EZPhvIBbJH4m6ooH5yfHCFFSImKshdR0G_ZGaoXhZVwR5D3mH2t7_LhasYzLJ4LuzbbUu9Q_VwjdDXKBkwTsbbttWQqXlOTxGkaKzNjo_KMPagiZ6IPdjUqAJg4vYQ9XNoy/w480-h640/20230618_110638.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun fact, Turtle Rock is a dungeon in three Zelda games</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EP9XKVHNgyHHg43bRE0H4VyCG_Sk-02cpRtPv7RXXwOT-MN1bB8ZYEWUkmamBWrzJ2NzWC-HeVPBhBlKU_wF6Nn5dXZlsCGbA2fF8mCNApa3cFXQ1eWmWjUpyTPA1YhUUHvZvykizC0i1RP1eoVmGwuf39-nztPX32t3cDO4vxvXfFZsi86WymQY/s2048/looking%20at%20turtle%20rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EP9XKVHNgyHHg43bRE0H4VyCG_Sk-02cpRtPv7RXXwOT-MN1bB8ZYEWUkmamBWrzJ2NzWC-HeVPBhBlKU_wF6Nn5dXZlsCGbA2fF8mCNApa3cFXQ1eWmWjUpyTPA1YhUUHvZvykizC0i1RP1eoVmGwuf39-nztPX32t3cDO4vxvXfFZsi86WymQY/w480-h640/looking%20at%20turtle%20rock.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><div>We admired it for a bit, with Megan taking a candid photo of me doing so, and commenting how it looked like the most staged photo ever, I replied "How do you think I feel when I take photos of myself on solo walks?" and we continued over some more fallen trees that were over the path.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR_UyWLQ2OcevVnIimUrztW68s9CuhAx9ufUFAKO7-_AIWF-ZFU6V7Eai0kzV1v4XvyuEDYSJpxCmVyTljPIqNPmIHNqRaoUv6GSbM_NXqGdGvq_SxSrQF8-fDpXJh3mFsfVmtilX_YaT_XoXNErWLCYet3X_Ny5kXMHlxHaIoLEBdYCClNz04Ws2/s4000/20230618_110651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR_UyWLQ2OcevVnIimUrztW68s9CuhAx9ufUFAKO7-_AIWF-ZFU6V7Eai0kzV1v4XvyuEDYSJpxCmVyTljPIqNPmIHNqRaoUv6GSbM_NXqGdGvq_SxSrQF8-fDpXJh3mFsfVmtilX_YaT_XoXNErWLCYet3X_Ny5kXMHlxHaIoLEBdYCClNz04Ws2/w480-h640/20230618_110651.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Ye4O32CWJwVKq5AV4v4n2NjNFL2tRceC6B6gAgIAUwj-Vd5HfWLENzXOiVd7vkxMi-Tv4xL5sfJ6AAnXhzvnvSytQOeqy3rESFQrlZtQTw5dJZaevyxjsyziDyKdD78HhddB6dKndHjBDlqU48dXCqz6gxzd1TVGqVebaarLj-BBDyzV4vSTtJ0/s4032/20230618_110808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1Ye4O32CWJwVKq5AV4v4n2NjNFL2tRceC6B6gAgIAUwj-Vd5HfWLENzXOiVd7vkxMi-Tv4xL5sfJ6AAnXhzvnvSytQOeqy3rESFQrlZtQTw5dJZaevyxjsyziDyKdD78HhddB6dKndHjBDlqU48dXCqz6gxzd1TVGqVebaarLj-BBDyzV4vSTtJ0/w480-h640/20230618_110808.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As Stuart finished crossing the fallen trees I asked the two of them if they wanted to stop for lunch, as we were in such a lovely and perfect spot, they agreed and I sat down on a rock and began munching down on my sandwich. As Megan opened the 1 bag they had brought, she asked Stuart where the food was. Apparently, it was in their other bag they had left in the car, as I was down taking a photo of the sign at the start of the walk, Stuart had asked Megan if she wanted to bring anything else and she had said the one bag would be fine, unaware that their food was in their other pack. I felt guilty, eating my sandwich, with them telling me not to worry about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The conversation once again became about Zelda, talking about different play styles, and I how they had spent two weeks binge playing it. I said that if you're not out on a walk, or doing some travel or adventure, playing Zelda was the next best thing. Which is why I loved escape rooms, as they sort of felt being in a live Zelda scenario, reminding them that we still needed to travel to Sydney to do a Jumanji themed escape room together. Stuart asked me about if we had a group gaming night playing Dungeon and Dragons (I have never played but after we all saw the movie together my Wife and I agreed we would with them), if we would like a normal game or a Zelda themed one. I commented that we should probably do normal as my Wife doesn't really know Zelda related things. However, I commented that I had banned myself from playing D&D with Stuart until he had finished my Steventure logo.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_TNit0EfNDgNgXvpbXiVNPt3OVctXGhvgaZyfQZystmnQgvNBBxlwKhQiGuEdUQF_7HRPRS9rojaFrlYKsdqWOkxFdpjYvpJxKmnVnrB48sNP0Cbs55JDk88O72pnGC5VTVEi9TtqYFUaH18xQ4O3T-UHGrNl8XWvL3hwh6YpM4YUoIzYtVLl-gy/s960/Steventure.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="960" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_TNit0EfNDgNgXvpbXiVNPt3OVctXGhvgaZyfQZystmnQgvNBBxlwKhQiGuEdUQF_7HRPRS9rojaFrlYKsdqWOkxFdpjYvpJxKmnVnrB48sNP0Cbs55JDk88O72pnGC5VTVEi9TtqYFUaH18xQ4O3T-UHGrNl8XWvL3hwh6YpM4YUoIzYtVLl-gy/w400-h283/Steventure.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Draft logo, actually inspired by old Zelda artwork showing 'Dueling Peaks'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Megan told Stuart to hurry up and finish it and he told her that she needed to force him, because he's bad at motivating himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finished my sandwich and said we should press on because I didn't want to take to long, aware that the two of them might be hungry, mentioning my prior walk at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/04/fairy-bower-falls.html" target="_blank">Fairy Bower Falls</a> I had forgotten to take water and not taken food. I turned to follow the track that looked like cobbled stone before Stuart pointed out a piece of lichen shaped like Australia.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcHl2HrmnBfLmLBLTsnv63G2Ys5MS1r3lapwY43F81w1m5nNKLZILigClBciekUufqyIDGrtdcZ2v_-Ani1bhbg2WFltpbWttDL-KvCMhwYk5nkcUAee7BavQgGvhHP2TIYZTwJKiTjuocZg-Bs5Jv-x_vY7lDkhgZq4CQSIXM28ILFoKa5iP9fIM/s4032/20230618_111627.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcHl2HrmnBfLmLBLTsnv63G2Ys5MS1r3lapwY43F81w1m5nNKLZILigClBciekUufqyIDGrtdcZ2v_-Ani1bhbg2WFltpbWttDL-KvCMhwYk5nkcUAee7BavQgGvhHP2TIYZTwJKiTjuocZg-Bs5Jv-x_vY7lDkhgZq4CQSIXM28ILFoKa5iP9fIM/w480-h640/20230618_111627.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhyAWpmdiglkRpvSsbZMF457_8ICD75EY_tW2fwI1ylYqD9BvVgSkadXHjqvgErmY-mgwrM3mzK3vZ60ymhXSK93VMg07CCxBAt4vzZy2gtmKNKyBHiVXKTRchnWqsDe2u_ZwW_tRPgSIZ2U77PW3YpBvw6_d-HHqPbbuQZcU5TkjxgxAwBUWXeXs/s4032/20230618_111638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhyAWpmdiglkRpvSsbZMF457_8ICD75EY_tW2fwI1ylYqD9BvVgSkadXHjqvgErmY-mgwrM3mzK3vZ60ymhXSK93VMg07CCxBAt4vzZy2gtmKNKyBHiVXKTRchnWqsDe2u_ZwW_tRPgSIZ2U77PW3YpBvw6_d-HHqPbbuQZcU5TkjxgxAwBUWXeXs/w480-h640/20230618_111638.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued onwards around the bend, as I pointed to a little tree that had decided to grow on a boulder.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kedwLr4m0CjmBxpVq_NPVilnWElwTj7kwzly2aW7bDhTNlH3tpAPAhGYfITpxdt_1Mw6aFT60EZVBxfmmj5Cd5LfDtbbjU3kDpHgZ7CMIT8olswIm0FL2hFak_rBDyJT0HhRj0bOpSnBJOvTR2r204I8jGJ1iN3syas1xZDufwnKec0q-enQJ2wr/s4032/20230618_111854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kedwLr4m0CjmBxpVq_NPVilnWElwTj7kwzly2aW7bDhTNlH3tpAPAhGYfITpxdt_1Mw6aFT60EZVBxfmmj5Cd5LfDtbbjU3kDpHgZ7CMIT8olswIm0FL2hFak_rBDyJT0HhRj0bOpSnBJOvTR2r204I8jGJ1iN3syas1xZDufwnKec0q-enQJ2wr/w480-h640/20230618_111854.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0VSRJ58BIuHNuALvhYz3e-vxDcX1A3ZDWVyIhmqYvgGGFryMz6UXBfWtq1hUyFkTJIWQl_wzhLrvHm7q3R6u1KpxRZz88F8M2NsuGKBAxeBwBpIdNcssL8p0HXF4q-Pbg70h6nMdUYjKrc4urrM5uzz-XVN-0i5MrLxE2CLDAxqS0PSQoLzPh_pg/s4032/20230618_111745.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0VSRJ58BIuHNuALvhYz3e-vxDcX1A3ZDWVyIhmqYvgGGFryMz6UXBfWtq1hUyFkTJIWQl_wzhLrvHm7q3R6u1KpxRZz88F8M2NsuGKBAxeBwBpIdNcssL8p0HXF4q-Pbg70h6nMdUYjKrc4urrM5uzz-XVN-0i5MrLxE2CLDAxqS0PSQoLzPh_pg/w480-h640/20230618_111745.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dirt, who needs dirt?</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The next section of the walk had the most trees over the track and involved some pretty ungraceful maneuvering on my part.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2zgSvmpnk2iEFwDgj4EzpWMk0CkW2Q5XFrY-LxOHFhBvdz3dPboX0nCs-B5mfTMQlMWdoBuy809JjYjxpmaJzFy7GsM4pefaxYqpWLxRRrn0g607Bc2FFO43RpY6p27NGQqOeh3RO2ykMBRBvn7fCvU0gcNF_Ztb4Km2Roy0FUXrj9taymofraS/s4032/20230618_111957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2zgSvmpnk2iEFwDgj4EzpWMk0CkW2Q5XFrY-LxOHFhBvdz3dPboX0nCs-B5mfTMQlMWdoBuy809JjYjxpmaJzFy7GsM4pefaxYqpWLxRRrn0g607Bc2FFO43RpY6p27NGQqOeh3RO2ykMBRBvn7fCvU0gcNF_Ztb4Km2Roy0FUXrj9taymofraS/w480-h640/20230618_111957.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd4Z6OtZfdbgmZISRKoiLPy5dcYRpdSmaCF4baEw6TZ87Y-ZpYjt6HEvbVpTce3U9NKBCD0cT__f5xzARxZF5a3t1Wa3-ZgHx6anuQOBQcxz_LIUbzSVWEpSgzWgn-G8mGGQ8S2yRME-asjRxAFoC6BmZ6aVoDWui3D1e27Sc67EUqcwbcEopZOB9/s4032/20230618_112132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd4Z6OtZfdbgmZISRKoiLPy5dcYRpdSmaCF4baEw6TZ87Y-ZpYjt6HEvbVpTce3U9NKBCD0cT__f5xzARxZF5a3t1Wa3-ZgHx6anuQOBQcxz_LIUbzSVWEpSgzWgn-G8mGGQ8S2yRME-asjRxAFoC6BmZ6aVoDWui3D1e27Sc67EUqcwbcEopZOB9/w480-h640/20230618_112132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we continued through this section I stopped on the tracks as there was a little bird with a yellow belly perched on a horizontal tree across the path. I tried to take a photo but at the distance I was at by the time I tried to zoom in he had flown away. I commented that it sort of looked like a Wren, and that it was probably just called a 'Yellow Bellied-Wren' joking about the names of some birds we had learned from their board game 'Wingspan'. Though looking it up when I got home, it might have been a 'Golden Whistler'. I told them I wanted to get a bird book, just of birds in the Illawarra, so I could mark off ones I saw while on walks. Megan told me she knew I would get obsessed and actively seek them out as I got to the remaining few in the book. I agreed that would probably be the case.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD07VVY1--cHRlqHPjcG4U4AkXh3lCJ13BEfjC84Gu46SEzUR3fKK1UiwmwPeOurp12QK-Jb2n9ZvfX9RDynq8s78yr525yFcPXAo1fwPwpcOPNXEMRxA7dvVESeI7eujBIvGx6xUwf27nxwvHEGujulOkhA6-JqO55Gh2_S-hw5gCCIejePi8jR1R/s4032/20230618_112708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD07VVY1--cHRlqHPjcG4U4AkXh3lCJ13BEfjC84Gu46SEzUR3fKK1UiwmwPeOurp12QK-Jb2n9ZvfX9RDynq8s78yr525yFcPXAo1fwPwpcOPNXEMRxA7dvVESeI7eujBIvGx6xUwf27nxwvHEGujulOkhA6-JqO55Gh2_S-hw5gCCIejePi8jR1R/w480-h640/20230618_112708.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we finished traversing through the area of fallen trees we came to a little pond and sandy section of the path, and I commented that it was a weird section to find sand, although it was near water, so it was probably from rain causing it to flow downhill, eroding rocks and other things over time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKIKS71ZJ-nZFne3vCqHx2igNAm4mGq0bYaU8FV3Uncsuh0qPgr0lLIfmELBT0uyqN02XDmI9n8zqkYbWE90k-0z4_pH8T-fwrZ0A9kzJb2wQlG8kVaLthOp0icyALiMBdajJ8ETC6OFwgS4-WeY32e2ukO8ow-0GqWVMG9ah12FtAzKvHytBx2tk/s4032/20230618_113315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKIKS71ZJ-nZFne3vCqHx2igNAm4mGq0bYaU8FV3Uncsuh0qPgr0lLIfmELBT0uyqN02XDmI9n8zqkYbWE90k-0z4_pH8T-fwrZ0A9kzJb2wQlG8kVaLthOp0icyALiMBdajJ8ETC6OFwgS4-WeY32e2ukO8ow-0GqWVMG9ah12FtAzKvHytBx2tk/w400-h300/20230618_113315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Thirsty Stuart?"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The track now began uphill once more and became very thin so that the bushes on either side brushed against us as we followed the path along.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p4fJ4kio5aX5xPOtcIe_TEFZW1_JaZqOvkmfSPZpFj6G5o6Q1KI451aebvy0g6FTg7cYXSdR2okiyPNFgoL1xPQmEjXXr7v2bGBgSbtS2OSucdW9k2SkP3_2BYHtc8SNadiMWmOrhYbcD099FQEqGeUcXlRyT9iakloIdbG3vdIMCHtBDSFpC5ZR/s4032/20230618_114101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6p4fJ4kio5aX5xPOtcIe_TEFZW1_JaZqOvkmfSPZpFj6G5o6Q1KI451aebvy0g6FTg7cYXSdR2okiyPNFgoL1xPQmEjXXr7v2bGBgSbtS2OSucdW9k2SkP3_2BYHtc8SNadiMWmOrhYbcD099FQEqGeUcXlRyT9iakloIdbG3vdIMCHtBDSFpC5ZR/w480-h640/20230618_114101.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV1gjLmeTLLXb3EH9YjwatlhGq4qKwNJJL0ptTrBk5tHIh1ZBGMC7j2jHTfnqkkUlUWs78bodh9gU1bnpWq4nBvMTqdbkU8OYhV8bAjSKPpOIwCferGJUwViLyXDuVd2QfYP2ejsS-5Zvof9LQgDnorsJ8rrkqFFfUMJDM18pNGZTRJoubU4H3HOy/s2944/20230618_114106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKV1gjLmeTLLXb3EH9YjwatlhGq4qKwNJJL0ptTrBk5tHIh1ZBGMC7j2jHTfnqkkUlUWs78bodh9gU1bnpWq4nBvMTqdbkU8OYhV8bAjSKPpOIwCferGJUwViLyXDuVd2QfYP2ejsS-5Zvof9LQgDnorsJ8rrkqFFfUMJDM18pNGZTRJoubU4H3HOy/w480-h640/20230618_114106.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The path soon split in two, each path looking like it could be the right way. I followed the one on our right first but saw that it began heading down after a while, so we turned back and followed the left path leading us to a lookout at the top of Noorinan Mountain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdh_rsvNl-IzbVhWnvLkQDM135mV7vgpqL9ujvCs0dreL9wqY8shVuK8Fxvtqinf4QauNxFi5atn6yG7bLU18lLoFAD57PP1fPvdspO5aKbxq3Mi2u1AQWZA5eipcCCm00zQx7Fvb0PY72_5gs8y-D51BBxiIrI58t3GFYIztJpkNvSKplO7VUtME/s2048/at%20nooningan%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdh_rsvNl-IzbVhWnvLkQDM135mV7vgpqL9ujvCs0dreL9wqY8shVuK8Fxvtqinf4QauNxFi5atn6yG7bLU18lLoFAD57PP1fPvdspO5aKbxq3Mi2u1AQWZA5eipcCCm00zQx7Fvb0PY72_5gs8y-D51BBxiIrI58t3GFYIztJpkNvSKplO7VUtME/w480-h640/at%20nooningan%201.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ1m4tYPxt-imfqMYiX-B-em_JC3X5I3lekF-mPbFViyGU1DvInzH0YumMYdSOWgJy6Sk2ZydkfBH-J8KcuXQSlCG2CHxkwqx-M6IsYllfpp0uCGH-5ZO-ABa16N-WTWLul2B9V3vcaYdmPxMq9NSRJFFMdrIV5yCcxv7Ji9e3r-ftVRh0yY1fKdZ/s2048/at%20noonigan%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZ1m4tYPxt-imfqMYiX-B-em_JC3X5I3lekF-mPbFViyGU1DvInzH0YumMYdSOWgJy6Sk2ZydkfBH-J8KcuXQSlCG2CHxkwqx-M6IsYllfpp0uCGH-5ZO-ABa16N-WTWLul2B9V3vcaYdmPxMq9NSRJFFMdrIV5yCcxv7Ji9e3r-ftVRh0yY1fKdZ/w400-h300/at%20noonigan%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped for a rest and some water and started talking about Zelda and Zelda lore, as well as fan theories regarding 'Tears of the Kingdom' and its placement in the Zelda timeline. Stuart and Megan couldn't say too much as they had played much more than me, but I began spewing out my own personal theories about how it's meant be the 'founding of Hyrule' but I mentioned how that didn't work with the established lore of the game 'Skyward Sword', and gave my theory that although it was a founding of a Hyrule, it wasn't the original founding, with that founding and ancient past still being long after the other games. Stuart and Megan couldn't say too much to me without spoiling anything, but Megan mentioned she needed to get more into the Zelda lore (and if you've never played Zelda, this is all probably gibberish). We discussed some of the fan theories we had read prior to the games release including ones about Demise and Ganondorf as well as the symbol of the Ouroboros and how the games nature my be cyclical, but I digress.</div><div><br /></div><div>We decided we had better continue on and get to the end of the walk (unaware that where we had been sitting on Noorinan Mountain was actually the end of the walk, as I was still expecting a Trig Station).</div><div><br /></div><div>We ended up following a bunch of random trails through the bush atop Noorinan, some points just bushwhacking because I was desperate to reach the finish and not have an uncomplete walk due to and overgrown on unmaintained walk.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhWxyKNzS8JfArT7bPXRB4aIIVivgswEucdKCax1nU3psNZLinW2AE46cMetIUHZplJzGG-wlqH9Cm--IHj0iWxHaB5-XvgvJMcxApEjhymvdVaGxmANQUGghLSn3F_k14JYEdU4sRd_k0LntbcFlU8VvsTq7hE32DwFaQuSbQCA0BsvdrxCFXICP/s2048/lost%20woods.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhWxyKNzS8JfArT7bPXRB4aIIVivgswEucdKCax1nU3psNZLinW2AE46cMetIUHZplJzGG-wlqH9Cm--IHj0iWxHaB5-XvgvJMcxApEjhymvdVaGxmANQUGghLSn3F_k14JYEdU4sRd_k0LntbcFlU8VvsTq7hE32DwFaQuSbQCA0BsvdrxCFXICP/w480-h640/lost%20woods.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure this is the right way guys, I promise.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSHI1DgYCvB_S4QbYA1GlsHFQjPclvTnwunKDF29b45i02iUXJsMqqoG5L0ef6ayzJTC0Uyz2_ISnQlUJXUw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>After wandering through thick bush, I began looking on my phone for answer regarding the walk and ended up installing the app 'All Trails' which I had so far been unwilling to use because I like exploring a walk with no prior knowledge. I did find some other people's hiking blogs, but they seemed to be severely lacking in information. I found that we had long passed the end of the walk, discovering that it was the Noorinan lookout.</div><div><br /></div><div>We tried to find a trail back to the actual trail but again it was the blind leading the blind. We somehow found our way back to it and were soon at the section with the pond and sand where I stopped Stuart and Megan as we watched a Lyrebird in the bush as it ran across the path. We followed it up the hill on top of the area with the pond for an extra explore before we headed back to the start of the walk.</div><div><br /></div><div>We passed a couple on the way down, and I asked if they had done the walk before. They responded that they hadn't and I let them know that there was no signage indicating the end and told them it was Noorinan Lookout, mentioning that we had to look it up. I commented to Stuart and Megan as we passed them that this was completely different than the walk I had done in 2011, and that myself and my friends must have followed that other fire-trail down to Foxground.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I waited for Stuart and Megan to cross the fallen trees just past Turtle Rock I quickly scrambled up the rocks close by it while Megan snapped a photo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLDqR8ObQBBA0pPp2SIIEVn2-Pl412J027eb1IfZ4d7Ibxj-GMraAWxyt0vDvg4uyw5H3NrbhzCP0YzDQZImKoDm6iKH2mqf0y4ow1O2lUJfruAvKFxejXMREzUGp5hKi7Fcm5N_aeAu9sEL8p4N312eI0op9p8EA82H3PdcWvBdV8laAbjh5Vafo/s2048/turtle%20scuttle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLDqR8ObQBBA0pPp2SIIEVn2-Pl412J027eb1IfZ4d7Ibxj-GMraAWxyt0vDvg4uyw5H3NrbhzCP0YzDQZImKoDm6iKH2mqf0y4ow1O2lUJfruAvKFxejXMREzUGp5hKi7Fcm5N_aeAu9sEL8p4N312eI0op9p8EA82H3PdcWvBdV8laAbjh5Vafo/w480-h640/turtle%20scuttle.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We made it back to the car but decided to stop in Kiama for Stuart and Megan to grab some coffee and food while making plans to go for a walk again soon.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Extra tidbits! - aka <b><i>Camping at Wingello</i></b></div><p>As we packed, I was keen to get away, but also knew it could potentially be difficult with Orla as due to my cancer along with the Covid-19 lockdowns in Australia we were never able to properly socialise her and she had developed Dog anxiety and reactivity herself, but I was still hoping for a good experience.</p><p>As we made our way up the highlands, we stopped at the toilet block in Robertson (where I had filmed the guy mowing in the fog on my Fairy Bower post). There was a sign put up by a Wingacaribee Council Cleaner about the toilets being cleaned (but when you gotta go you gotta go). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasS1Pn_jMhbpcUPwoitEb8YsvyqlCUwgsKJqXvMb210IvQu6gTViiurOyOhmDMZDc1eBUTSf4jW0z7xbWsnxqSBcVozd1Ex7kS1-e6GTPJ-j5t0kP-BJMhC5ZiWE9DfTpFm21kjUkF_oOeOQ3LeJgds87VoGfcyR150d78RF8UnQuLr-80jTR3tYD/s498/gotta-go-when-you-gotta-go.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="441" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasS1Pn_jMhbpcUPwoitEb8YsvyqlCUwgsKJqXvMb210IvQu6gTViiurOyOhmDMZDc1eBUTSf4jW0z7xbWsnxqSBcVozd1Ex7kS1-e6GTPJ-j5t0kP-BJMhC5ZiWE9DfTpFm21kjUkF_oOeOQ3LeJgds87VoGfcyR150d78RF8UnQuLr-80jTR3tYD/w566-h640/gotta-go-when-you-gotta-go.gif" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p>I went in first to the male toilets while my Wife kept Orla on her lead, and as soon as I walked to the toilet cubicle (not being a fan of urinals, no thank you), I saw that it was completely and utterly covered in diarrhea. No I'm not exaggerating, it was like a shit-bomb had gone off. I quickly walked out and used the urinal much too my own dismay, while the council employee came in behind me to begin cleaning, saying nothing to me. As I left, and tried to find my Wife who was walking around the toilet block with our Dog, another man entered the male toilet. I soon caught my Wife and took my Dog walking out into the field as my Wife went to enter the female bathroom the employee who had said nothing to either men, had a go at her for not reading the sign about being closed for maintenance. This left my Wife shaken and taken aback as apparently, we were meant to all use the disabled bathroom in the middle but his incredibly rude and aggressive tone frightened her, when old 'Terry Toughie' as I like to call these men, had said nothing at all to the men.</p><p>We got back in the car and I told my Wife to write a complaint to council as there was no reason the man simply couldn't have said "Hey sorry the toilets are out of order are you ok to use this one?", not that hard and not being aggressive towards small women could go a long way in our world.</p><p>We continued on making our way through the highlands (which I always complement as it's a part of Australia I genuinely love), before finally arriving at our campground that we had never been to before. </p><p>We pulled up at the mostly empty campground, other than two men packing up their mountain bikes. We put Orla on her lead before taking a walk around the campground with a lot of signs around the dirt roads saying that they were closer areas for authorised personnel only. We looked around for which spot we thought would be the best camping area for ourselves before beginning to unpack and build the tent we had bought years ago and never once assembled, which was a little bit of a cluster, partially because of our lack of reading the instructions. </p><p>The spot we had selected had a table and we tied Orla up, giving her a Kong with a dental stick inside to keep her occupied as we put the tent together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHP333d4S-o9Kbkf73Gah8AcDiWZaPbfJwA_XYJ28UyXKxIN7stXVFDba9HhCnGJjL3QTf1ckWZ1diGks2i7MxxKasA7xqd1jPLsu9ZKTE604PGwRYVsgAUR71jHPAxc4-teph1OOCgtGD0KS6Lgi86qGu6MqLzZMMguQoi14M-h7cnYt8USCYQ/s4032/20230504_131142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHP333d4S-o9Kbkf73Gah8AcDiWZaPbfJwA_XYJ28UyXKxIN7stXVFDba9HhCnGJjL3QTf1ckWZ1diGks2i7MxxKasA7xqd1jPLsu9ZKTE604PGwRYVsgAUR71jHPAxc4-teph1OOCgtGD0KS6Lgi86qGu6MqLzZMMguQoi14M-h7cnYt8USCYQ/w480-h640/20230504_131142.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After some arguing and back and forth we finished the tent and proceeded moving items from the car to the tent or the table.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINCWoOlddGOsSXD79wBTHStbURkyZVWz-XGn32lF8IbMP6dOmPEx-M238Ixbi1y2qCWPQobc1z9hJisn2On0STMdYtSYJMp3OCtNaX5WglIIXMYsqKvhiyyo9W6nrtWpC9X77Q9sIfMAm_mSndMy-xPRQYHl-7zdBfL-73-ko42RBcLKn80fktw/s4032/20230504_134151.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINCWoOlddGOsSXD79wBTHStbURkyZVWz-XGn32lF8IbMP6dOmPEx-M238Ixbi1y2qCWPQobc1z9hJisn2On0STMdYtSYJMp3OCtNaX5WglIIXMYsqKvhiyyo9W6nrtWpC9X77Q9sIfMAm_mSndMy-xPRQYHl-7zdBfL-73-ko42RBcLKn80fktw/w480-h640/20230504_134151.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We then decided to take Orla on a walk around to explore her surroundings so she could get a feel for the area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyq0pOPtgthS3fWtNhxT3pUdNfGAbOiDQu6g36wgVNq3uijYTZHIBQTIgRsUzpRZkdVJu4QPlyD5RY3RmWVAX2vJehFEnguSh3tGTs55xA8x8wC-56b0GVfnK-uCjLfI77oQM9OuUz_YsECPY003XNvSfDjpwuViwTWe7dqCZ0NFGpGp1PZWqbw/s4032/20230504_142413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyq0pOPtgthS3fWtNhxT3pUdNfGAbOiDQu6g36wgVNq3uijYTZHIBQTIgRsUzpRZkdVJu4QPlyD5RY3RmWVAX2vJehFEnguSh3tGTs55xA8x8wC-56b0GVfnK-uCjLfI77oQM9OuUz_YsECPY003XNvSfDjpwuViwTWe7dqCZ0NFGpGp1PZWqbw/w400-h300/20230504_142413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After walking around the campground with her and letting her sniff it out, we decided to go into the tent with her to see how she would go inside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0ay0LKTPokwTmgKjWn0GDIGdkohS0SxLVKe_sIM3-yV7XTQtD_p8WD4rZAIZHO-lgkArbv_NYqjbAgmzw87BtUNPpO5hb1XctF54otGATxNyI0RUQHT0E62yVG1GeCx6DWiBGc34zyStXRDuKkctj2ai9TvHLKmD06a_U6HLV3xBtfvmU01VIA/s4032/20230504_145744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0ay0LKTPokwTmgKjWn0GDIGdkohS0SxLVKe_sIM3-yV7XTQtD_p8WD4rZAIZHO-lgkArbv_NYqjbAgmzw87BtUNPpO5hb1XctF54otGATxNyI0RUQHT0E62yVG1GeCx6DWiBGc34zyStXRDuKkctj2ai9TvHLKmD06a_U6HLV3xBtfvmU01VIA/w400-h300/20230504_145744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>She seemed like she was going to be comfortable inside and we thought we might get lucky going on a weekday to get the campground to ourselves. But I was very dubious of this, as every time I have thought with while camping some weirdo had always rocked up last minute. For example, the last time we had camped at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/04/carrington-falls-missingham-steps-to.html" target="_blank">Carrington Falls</a>, before becoming engaged. It was about 9 at night, we were all set up, the only ones in the campground, I had relaxed and had a beer (I was on my Green P's at the time), and someone on a motorbike turned up. Did a loop around the empty campground before pulling up and setting up a tent right next to us. <br /><br />"Don't worry, I'm not a ranger." He said, smiling. </p><p>I wished it was, because we had actually paid the campground fee. We whispered to each other about how this guy had a whole fucking campground and decided to set up right next to us. As the night went on we began getting the wafting of chemical smells, like the chlorine of an indoor pool, before deciding it was suss as and slowly and silently dismantled our tent and left in the middle of the night. Luckily, I wasn't pulled over by police and breath tested because I'd had those few beers, but I have often had experiences of camping trips being wrecked (between degenerates being noisy, doing burnouts or just being creepy) so I tried not to get my hope up.</p><p>After hanging in the tent with Orla I cooked us up some sausages for lunch, saving the rest for dinner. Afterwards we did a little walk around to collect some firewood, before letting Orla have a walk around to explore off-leash as there was no one else in the area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-VsmwNK8Xgsk6-l7-9xZJdw4flOR93NSJ1mauoXayap2HIS_Cs6RiVEbXYWDN23xGORyuLs_yBdCpzuoDgL0hCGpzqwuPut3hf6Tig2qqVsRqFfYw6Xk33DN5j85sp8KGHthZEuXKwEkDXU2GICBTf33KLylqYSt_ZoUcTYLUvxny7iKbKVHQg/s4032/20230504_155935.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-VsmwNK8Xgsk6-l7-9xZJdw4flOR93NSJ1mauoXayap2HIS_Cs6RiVEbXYWDN23xGORyuLs_yBdCpzuoDgL0hCGpzqwuPut3hf6Tig2qqVsRqFfYw6Xk33DN5j85sp8KGHthZEuXKwEkDXU2GICBTf33KLylqYSt_ZoUcTYLUvxny7iKbKVHQg/w400-h300/20230504_155935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeetU_CpoB4Ez6iRz6jQ1-i7su2Rl_wNC-S4ZlUpt5QwOxj5M6qJ_9P0mPZioQJmYSaz4L2ltYND-hIZ0z4Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As it grew later in the day heading into the evening the temperature began to drop and we dressed Orla in her snood to keep her warm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfa36PHrv5XbztS3-Bw5S90q3yMBA8Pkhi9emcepZhsfdl4GMXoHynv7LutZ8JL7mxuhvn2CryDAJogfoytRTHAwkyzpyEfdbcJUwev70O3pRvgYFh9439lzjKgl78pPekDEZI139BFC5sc7sR0LPEnq5YZXz0_UVuEuUASbBtmTABfBozPj0kw/s4032/20230504_163830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfa36PHrv5XbztS3-Bw5S90q3yMBA8Pkhi9emcepZhsfdl4GMXoHynv7LutZ8JL7mxuhvn2CryDAJogfoytRTHAwkyzpyEfdbcJUwev70O3pRvgYFh9439lzjKgl78pPekDEZI139BFC5sc7sR0LPEnq5YZXz0_UVuEuUASbBtmTABfBozPj0kw/w480-h640/20230504_163830.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjGHf0fhXyGPP7HEJRYHDlpSTGkvyxkF_AsUVyl105IRVGA2C-T4UYPbemWksAncxX_icrSRhI5iXye9RBarrp3Zmi8bqnPfhces9Op4jFeM8YunWjOMzj_ugEp0ENPDGh42LUId0IbxojIeVAMaHADeK1hU9I2WDZahSNDuQ9cN9EPoggp0BKw/s2944/20230504_163855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjGHf0fhXyGPP7HEJRYHDlpSTGkvyxkF_AsUVyl105IRVGA2C-T4UYPbemWksAncxX_icrSRhI5iXye9RBarrp3Zmi8bqnPfhces9Op4jFeM8YunWjOMzj_ugEp0ENPDGh42LUId0IbxojIeVAMaHADeK1hU9I2WDZahSNDuQ9cN9EPoggp0BKw/w480-h640/20230504_163855.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I had brought my magnesium and flint I had bought when I was in between rounds of chemotherapy and at home recovering (as I had gotten really into the survival series 'Alone' and binged watched it while recovering), as I wanted to attempt getting the fire going using this. While I was attempting to do it a man arrived on the opposite side to our campground with a Dog, and we assumed he was going to camp the night. However, he just began walking around with his Dog off lead, which was really setting Orla off and sending her into a panic due to her anxiety. The guy apologised, but kept getting unnecessarily close to our campground with his Dog off leash, as dusk arrived.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkY9B1VIw2c12dReMiZ9lqPYf2VyApTVX92KGswN6Hz9Nqnr7o-U1isVHle-X5pzOJp2kE8DLEproQAhn8yzqgKoxpmWDHLfukkolcHqhYMqEGjU3Ls23NYiig5oRpeIZX9gMV2ne5Z5-YCGVccpRz9mGnSoLdwZSXslFslgCdtpasTYsslBaaQ/s4032/20230504_171813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkY9B1VIw2c12dReMiZ9lqPYf2VyApTVX92KGswN6Hz9Nqnr7o-U1isVHle-X5pzOJp2kE8DLEproQAhn8yzqgKoxpmWDHLfukkolcHqhYMqEGjU3Ls23NYiig5oRpeIZX9gMV2ne5Z5-YCGVccpRz9mGnSoLdwZSXslFslgCdtpasTYsslBaaQ/w480-h640/20230504_171813.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While dealing with Orla panicking and my Wife getting stressed out by both Orla behaving like this, and this guy sort of stalking around our camp with his Dog off leash, I soon gave up on using the flint and just used some matches to get the fire going.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHsn0VAujizzggPNBuC7saHwVofuX-pKVWgxpNNBmjH20moIfOBzwNC11Yugwd5pfmZYHpu9KTKv6EkibS3f2PUQmsrATggIfsZkfs8p3XAFtS8QkE-ECTyoDzsKg35OT3SuSKQntAlrDQmavC65C-qBngwna8p8dH9tABmyJRHsz9GgA56dNUA/s4032/20230504_171819.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHsn0VAujizzggPNBuC7saHwVofuX-pKVWgxpNNBmjH20moIfOBzwNC11Yugwd5pfmZYHpu9KTKv6EkibS3f2PUQmsrATggIfsZkfs8p3XAFtS8QkE-ECTyoDzsKg35OT3SuSKQntAlrDQmavC65C-qBngwna8p8dH9tABmyJRHsz9GgA56dNUA/w480-h640/20230504_171819.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As night fell and this man continued wandering around the bush with a torch, with his off-leash Dog right by our campground, I ended up having to just put Orla in the back of the car while I got dinner started, with my Wife worried the dude was some creeper or an Ivan Milat character as he kept doing loops down by the stream right by our area. I tried to alleviate her fears saying he was probably some sort of ecologist just looking at something in the area and he probably came all the time (I had no idea, but it was all I could think of to explain away his actions other than the guy being a fucking weirdo).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpFfFPAm8E1WcGSd5bN_fVHegQeLhOkHa_EbC2S8SCSGZS--fkXbFq1zvPdzsqSMHEGD4mRaD03tKo-yIC3YcwvrnKcl66Fbj2FytBu9Nsjy6JbfkOSqCV9OqV8cwmVnHplLQHhBFF6pE0hGrlW1-k8rLKMGj5Y9-YC3GubtllpjBE3RMXQ9iRw/s4032/20230504_175235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpFfFPAm8E1WcGSd5bN_fVHegQeLhOkHa_EbC2S8SCSGZS--fkXbFq1zvPdzsqSMHEGD4mRaD03tKo-yIC3YcwvrnKcl66Fbj2FytBu9Nsjy6JbfkOSqCV9OqV8cwmVnHplLQHhBFF6pE0hGrlW1-k8rLKMGj5Y9-YC3GubtllpjBE3RMXQ9iRw/w400-h300/20230504_175235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Eventually after a few hours since arriving, the man got in his car with his Dog and left. As I went to the car to let Orla back out with us, I found her asleep in the back. We ate the rest of the sausages for dinner, and I had some non-alcoholic beers (I occasionally still drink alcohol, mostly stout but have tried to switch to non-alcoholic due to my cancer) while chilling out by the fire, and enjoying the light from the moon, glowing over the pines. As the temperature continued to drop and the fire continued to burn away my piles of sticks and branches, we decided to move into the tent to cuddle Orla and do some reading (I was attempting Moby-Dick at the time but ended up giving up just shy of halfway, as it was super boring and I was only readying it because I was going to see a Lano and Woodley comedy show inspired by Moby-Dick.)</p><p>The night began to get freezing cold, and we realised we had not adequately packed enough to keep us warm, and so with Orla cushioned between us we shivered through the frosty night. We were up before dawn, just unable to sleep because of the penetrative chills. I sat for hours waiting for the kettle to boil some water for us to have cup noodles for breakfast and it was a very large kettle and I probably put in more water than needed.</p><p>Soon a lady rocked up with a van full of Dogs and she called out that she had a bunch of Dogs that were 'friendly'. Asking us if Orla would be alright. I said she was fine because she was on lead and that we had her under control, and she would be fine as long as none of the Dogs rushed her or ran up to her. The woman paused for a bit, before saying "Oh they probably will." But she just opened her door and let them all out anyway, (absolutely infuriating my Wife who had to retreat into the tent with Orla, and still continues to vent about people like this woman). Who walked off down one of the closed tracks with all the Dogs.</p><p> After hours of waiting, it was well and truly day daytime as the water was finally hot enough to make it before having ran completely out of gas by having it on so long for breakfast. We ate the noodles in the tent with my Wife seeing having no gas, and all the stress with Orla as a reason to only camp the one night, which I agreed to as it was a bit much for her and she had tried at night to keep getting into the car (we believe as she was ready to go home). I said we would enjoy the day up there and take Orla for a big walk while the sun got rid of the moisture all on the outskirts of the tent as I didn't want to have to back it away all wet.</p><p>So, we set off down a trail with Orla to explore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefqRYi5vIU6xHnhDEa4bWs6l93AgkwmvnB0T-xHyX5OVgWdDXA0wlb-FDUB7Hmrk7g2f94YtCLHjHwU9k4Y47n_coFqfWych-mUHbm_8VSrKfTxcMszHNjOaLcTEAJA6AC2CunLOtr7tvS7Rwb6Zbtqzvs0Ybbr1mFOPTNvUJKJtHq15cs7IdUw/s4032/20230505_094112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefqRYi5vIU6xHnhDEa4bWs6l93AgkwmvnB0T-xHyX5OVgWdDXA0wlb-FDUB7Hmrk7g2f94YtCLHjHwU9k4Y47n_coFqfWych-mUHbm_8VSrKfTxcMszHNjOaLcTEAJA6AC2CunLOtr7tvS7Rwb6Zbtqzvs0Ybbr1mFOPTNvUJKJtHq15cs7IdUw/w400-h300/20230505_094112.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELIFoNgJRHc15TZdFWYTMPHP0URPprL0PMC3gDgKohxRagAzGMhJPMrDPc47l9NcgP5TgnUWME3qWqUgaeAV4qggjc67uhtw5dOdFLtWJ6Dp3T4vZg5Q_jzyvyZlcEXOjQdJmlVycDPF4Z3sILSlrzmz3kQtBUK_LnCnBA14zzYnblniu0IrPhA/s4032/20230505_094118.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELIFoNgJRHc15TZdFWYTMPHP0URPprL0PMC3gDgKohxRagAzGMhJPMrDPc47l9NcgP5TgnUWME3qWqUgaeAV4qggjc67uhtw5dOdFLtWJ6Dp3T4vZg5Q_jzyvyZlcEXOjQdJmlVycDPF4Z3sILSlrzmz3kQtBUK_LnCnBA14zzYnblniu0IrPhA/w480-h640/20230505_094118.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUPFjFOcvVj0_Z1hRrue5jVkLrZDatjy5ZSIvdkaVD0gYgSOLO59Ycg7Mj8Dgkj_x6_tKhnD9_wPr5ZRX_QOHHLuD6HHVabHfxyE0iVXJHXGoeVMgOdHTdI5D3eW91q9Cg_4JjSC4KMWWKVUUxSoYiCEOWkw0-BguE8oraHLz2yXFtDYsgEstDQ/s4032/20230505_094802.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUPFjFOcvVj0_Z1hRrue5jVkLrZDatjy5ZSIvdkaVD0gYgSOLO59Ycg7Mj8Dgkj_x6_tKhnD9_wPr5ZRX_QOHHLuD6HHVabHfxyE0iVXJHXGoeVMgOdHTdI5D3eW91q9Cg_4JjSC4KMWWKVUUxSoYiCEOWkw0-BguE8oraHLz2yXFtDYsgEstDQ/w400-h300/20230505_094802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlvzGG8DfoHa_iN9oKQH7msvcPnTx_ucXkUCoEKII8THNxytek9jtfknVfpxvX23Ulyvjrhm7sguLvdBQhnlOdruNpY8grouGFi3t3hTpoHXEJlslsSrAEfJySecLFqWCYf8wc-OZTILuGSA44HhFxUTPBlPp0uoB89skgAVCj8U6cQovRw9rpw/s4032/20230505_100642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlvzGG8DfoHa_iN9oKQH7msvcPnTx_ucXkUCoEKII8THNxytek9jtfknVfpxvX23Ulyvjrhm7sguLvdBQhnlOdruNpY8grouGFi3t3hTpoHXEJlslsSrAEfJySecLFqWCYf8wc-OZTILuGSA44HhFxUTPBlPp0uoB89skgAVCj8U6cQovRw9rpw/w480-h640/20230505_100642.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After a couple of hours of walking we returned to the campground and luckily the woman's van was gone. We proceeded to pack away the tent and camping equipment (which was probably more of an ordeal than setting up). Before beginning the drive home. Unfortunately, the camping trip wasn't all I needed to magically alleviate my anxiety issues which only continued to worsen, to the point where I have started to see a psychologist to deal with my anxiety issues, which is ongoing.</p></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Saddleback Mountain, NSW 2533, Australia-34.6984503 150.7922997-63.008684136178843 115.6360497 -6.388216463821152 -174.0514503tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-29019785017846076912023-04-02T11:03:00.000+10:002023-04-02T11:03:08.692+10:00Fairy Bower Falls<p><b><i>This walk takes place on Gandangarra and Dharawal Country</i></b></p><p><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p><b><i> Pre-blog Catch Up</i></b></p><p>Before I get into my walk at Fairy Bower Falls I like to give a catch up about what's gone on since the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2023/01/karloo-pools-and-bottle-forest-trail.html" target="_blank">previous blog post</a>. Leading up to my walk I was feeling pretty burned out with work and needing some time off to recalibrate and help alleviate some of my anxieties and stresses. So I organised for 3 work days off ahead of time planning what I would do on each day.<br /><br />Wednesday- Gardening and catching up on Star Wars TV Shows (mostly Andor).<br />Thursday- A walk at the beach with my Dog, followed by my 2 year post <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a> catch up with my Doctor.<br />Friday- Fairy Bower Falls</p><p>The weekend before this I went out for Tristan's 30th birthday (happy birthday you old fuck). Where he drunkenly kept asking me to come work for him doing Bush Regeneration work in the Southern Highlands. I informed him of my plans to do the walk (which I had been wanting to do with him since we did <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a>). He suggested to me that after I finish Fairy Bower, that if I had time, I should also go do Glow Worm Glen (which as soon as he said it struck a memory of the time I had stayed there with my family which I speak about my recollections of in my Mount Jellore blog post). He told me to call him Friday when I got up to the highlands and he might be able to meet up with me for a coffee.</p><p>Anyway, Thursday came along and I had my appointment. Basic gist of the call is that things looked good. Still no trace of the <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">leukemia</a> recurring and making it to the 2 year mark without that meant the chance of recurrence dropped from 20% to about 2%.</p><p>"Your testosterone is a little bit low... are you able to get an erection?" The Doctor asked me.<br />"Yes?" I replied awkwardly. </p><p>He then filled me in that my level was at like 9 and usual was around 10 so he was just checking and it was only slightly low so not to worry. I then asked about my immune recovery as it needed to have recovered a certain amount before I could get my Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine and my Shingles vaccine.<br />He told me I should be fine to get them before telling me about a shingles vaccine that didn't include a live virus that he recommended I get, before telling me the exuberant price and that it wasn't covered by Medicare.</p><p>"So, I am able to get them though?" I asked slightly concerned by him mentioning the expensive one.<br />"Yeah, you should be fine." He told me, making me feel no genuine assurance. But making a note to myself to make sure I got them before my trip to Iceland in September.</p><p>He organised for me to do a follow up lung test in 6 months (as I had lung damage caused by the chemotherapy and need to see if they had recovered at all), he then said that after that we would have an appointment again in a year. I was a little perplexed because I had thought that after the 2 years I was meant to be all good, but he informed me it was less for the cancer recurring and more about side effects from the chemotherapy and my Stem Cell Transplant, such as Graft vs Host disease.<br /><br />"How long so I need to have these appointments?" I enquired.<br />"About the next 10 years." He informed me, taking me completely aback.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i>Fairy Bower Falls</i></b></p><p>Friday morning, I was getting ready to leave while my Wife was trying to plant out our front garden with recently purchased flowers (she was struggling due to roots of previous plants). I told her I didn't have time to do them all, finally she relented with Me and I said goodbye, while she told me she wished she could be coming (as she likes walks in the Southern Highlands, but barely anywhere else).</p><p>I headed to Hungry Jacks to get a special app deal of a coffee and a hash brown for $3 for breakfast to save me wasting more of the day at home (and to get me something in my stomach before the walk as I had no packed any lunch for it, assuming I would just grab something to eat afterwards in the Highlands). As I arrived in the drive through, I was handed a hash brown and told to park in the waiting bay for my coffee as it would be a while. While I waited, I have Tristan a call to let him know where I was and that I was planning on heading up, though he had forgotten he had even asked me to (being very drunk at his birthday). The Hungry Jacks worker came out with a iced coffee and asked if it was for me, to which I said I was waiting for a cappuccino. He went back inside while I set some music for my drive to Bundanoon (settling on Virginia Man to set the tone). Finally, he came out with my coffee, and another hash brown (I guess he forgot he had already given me one). I took it anyway, feeling slightly guilty but happy to have something extra in my stomach and began making my way with Google Maps to Fairy Bower Falls.</p><p>As I reached the top of Macquarie Pass, everything was surrounded by thick fog. As began driving through Robertson the coffee hit me, and I knew I would need to use the bathroom, knowing exactly where one was at the far end of town. As I pulled up at the public restroom a worker was mowing the misty field beside me and I couldn't help but feel my heart melt for the highlands.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw909H7Hd6cvg_buZRmT7gebzE_HdfANVQtnYCaQ9Z7JZc3QC5ic_RQa1ZQ5L4cC2aRqKmpipApYLg5IAD6iQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>As I drove through the highlands enjoying the beautiful scenery, I felt that Tristan was lucky to get to work up here to drive around and discover secret locations and trails and go off the beaten bath and reminded me of the sense of excitement I felt back when I worked doing bush regeneration in Shellharbour.</p><p>As I drove through to Bundanoon (which I later found is an Indigenous name meaning 'Place of deep gullies') I saw the signs informing you that we were on the land of the Gandangarra People. I took note of this because I had often thought about the land on which I did these walks on and wanted to from this blog onwards add that information at the top of my post (though deciding not to retroactively do so on older blog posts).</p><p>As I rocked up to where Google Maps had told me to drive to I came upon this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5oOIt8smf7KiauvJKnuREHJ0fIv6ZDd9J4398ZUJ3T6596pegBY_tc42L7kvLyoaiVFAcjMTItEy7MpQdI0_3spk1tl-GNd0XJ60OE66ilD1YDULDXjszwuFgZlwW-JQ9ScbOCVY3T1lZ09V0Cx_gb9HGtjzwfMnOXIA272ewN0a3o3IQ2eJSA/s1920/334882629_1575148569639912_1861825114022658733_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="956" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5oOIt8smf7KiauvJKnuREHJ0fIv6ZDd9J4398ZUJ3T6596pegBY_tc42L7kvLyoaiVFAcjMTItEy7MpQdI0_3spk1tl-GNd0XJ60OE66ilD1YDULDXjszwuFgZlwW-JQ9ScbOCVY3T1lZ09V0Cx_gb9HGtjzwfMnOXIA272ewN0a3o3IQ2eJSA/w318-h640/334882629_1575148569639912_1861825114022658733_n.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p>I hadn't expected to have to pay anything in order to be able to do my walk. but reluctantly paid the fee. Google Maps was telling me to take a road to my left but as I looked that direction there was a sign saying no entry as it was a one-way road. I continued straight a short while eventually turning left and parking at Gambells Rest Picnic Area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkZCkhwkvzDmnmLNv01vxr77eM0dsw7aiPKGguWbwAXnUMfuZX73EIoUVGMTgthWMfOPqWWooiUfldopXdQB9yheTx8TwepeUpwNU1Dvovbd48RL7x89ahn3M6WRfcvJCJdEBoJG8-wWuzF5gB73zfuYRuO2VXsbZfYuQ9fzcgtvRlAjGAc2kdg/s4032/20230324_103751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkZCkhwkvzDmnmLNv01vxr77eM0dsw7aiPKGguWbwAXnUMfuZX73EIoUVGMTgthWMfOPqWWooiUfldopXdQB9yheTx8TwepeUpwNU1Dvovbd48RL7x89ahn3M6WRfcvJCJdEBoJG8-wWuzF5gB73zfuYRuO2VXsbZfYuQ9fzcgtvRlAjGAc2kdg/w480-h640/20230324_103751.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_eklNZN34BgEApy9T27WoWM5fDAXJvdUx9m1uqcDAmsqiSuxRN9uNdgnZlEG5SkA-T6N8c36-pkxAexasGZFDy7OsTWL6NtWWHus6YgoJY2O3xMGkJy_ztyELmQN-bu17yKcvTestlhqVWBUwglUxdGX-4OA1Sfe13Yo9q0DSfeKobTElNR6MA/s4032/20230324_104145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_eklNZN34BgEApy9T27WoWM5fDAXJvdUx9m1uqcDAmsqiSuxRN9uNdgnZlEG5SkA-T6N8c36-pkxAexasGZFDy7OsTWL6NtWWHus6YgoJY2O3xMGkJy_ztyELmQN-bu17yKcvTestlhqVWBUwglUxdGX-4OA1Sfe13Yo9q0DSfeKobTElNR6MA/w400-h300/20230324_104145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Unsure of where the start of the walk was from here, I saw an elder couple had arrived shortly before me and were reading a big board found at many National Park walks giving information of the area as well as a map, so I walked over to have a look.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXRuaegCyHsI7-diS9uqQrZaoKlPjFJOXM_r0iDCc4wLLmflhFHg-HvVfz0-rwgFuBR1qQGJMto62rt20GKXrXJZMMxAk_gzIpb3OgJelKaSHler_xEaToXpgFMug2lAIcDu8evPANCsmygftijKRDwrEBtrw9nNQfg0UD0XZAiIMewHqw2t4kg/s4032/20230324_104022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXRuaegCyHsI7-diS9uqQrZaoKlPjFJOXM_r0iDCc4wLLmflhFHg-HvVfz0-rwgFuBR1qQGJMto62rt20GKXrXJZMMxAk_gzIpb3OgJelKaSHler_xEaToXpgFMug2lAIcDu8evPANCsmygftijKRDwrEBtrw9nNQfg0UD0XZAiIMewHqw2t4kg/w480-h640/20230324_104022.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"God, there's so many walks up here for me to do." I thought, excited by the prospect.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC7JilOEIva3VyDjOlKJRWyn58r123GQTKbatA_4xyMFA6vsZr0KPML0OazkUV64Uc3DwXVv62ZAOxttzf_40g4OPNkr6rW0HtOFJbMKuItm_h13_zDDigoT6s6H97xCGOh6IIzzM1LVU_dDKhBpKWriiysGO8W9CUzYXwxAUMzmvk4xXPC9RSQ/s4000/20230324_104032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC7JilOEIva3VyDjOlKJRWyn58r123GQTKbatA_4xyMFA6vsZr0KPML0OazkUV64Uc3DwXVv62ZAOxttzf_40g4OPNkr6rW0HtOFJbMKuItm_h13_zDDigoT6s6H97xCGOh6IIzzM1LVU_dDKhBpKWriiysGO8W9CUzYXwxAUMzmvk4xXPC9RSQ/w480-h640/20230324_104032.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could see a path through the trees at the end of the carpark and assumed that must be the beginning of the walk. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dMZyHnA1wOc3uYGQq7PmPWc_W0Ml_r6ZM12Vuqy-PrM2Kouvp-Ef59ltzoZn9GZWu3NM6Qp822Wn7gbVKYJvXydaLWiDPmgYFMbWjVK90y38F-oHABaWEdIMZxiKUiRAYI_V-5HvEPp9N7Kazjn_kX76E9ITmcQptD2t-KH-fnpcSxz1vG3X7w/s4032/20230324_104355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dMZyHnA1wOc3uYGQq7PmPWc_W0Ml_r6ZM12Vuqy-PrM2Kouvp-Ef59ltzoZn9GZWu3NM6Qp822Wn7gbVKYJvXydaLWiDPmgYFMbWjVK90y38F-oHABaWEdIMZxiKUiRAYI_V-5HvEPp9N7Kazjn_kX76E9ITmcQptD2t-KH-fnpcSxz1vG3X7w/w480-h640/20230324_104355.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shortly after following this path, it opened up onto a road leading both directions with no signage. As I looked down each path, I heard a noise and could see in the bushes across from me a few Kangaroos pretty well hidden (I attempted to photograph them, but they were very well hidden and if I zoomed in so much the photos were too blurry)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6jUWPIbjTXu4Rf3O0binExepKYbYKZD2vWVv5s8xv1C2wvH0p03hV9vY2-13SFoC80vGms0S6uEUjrvzqhsoldYpXO3TfC2qxxu23kNNC3xblc5pW6VF-oQ4uLItrjnyNAEL33urb-j3IAN6QyFczjomoFNTRtJxdCpGNun1NzaKUhtM1SqMMg/s4032/20230324_104501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6jUWPIbjTXu4Rf3O0binExepKYbYKZD2vWVv5s8xv1C2wvH0p03hV9vY2-13SFoC80vGms0S6uEUjrvzqhsoldYpXO3TfC2qxxu23kNNC3xblc5pW6VF-oQ4uLItrjnyNAEL33urb-j3IAN6QyFczjomoFNTRtJxdCpGNun1NzaKUhtM1SqMMg/w480-h640/20230324_104501.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPwr5SRTaFAo7RON8Vsik2ghUtnqrfIZ9-p43Opq_QCpbFS_hllEJ2n-wFs_JqE59Mgg1i73Ply29GFCse9ECLoCDVRCRR4KroT-mAyKpblBZ2LBrsvevZ4-xsnFEcckCKdkOoSsYKh9RGmSpg_oMtHw1756vO8T1l_bLdcNyCaTuf3eWQQHb_Q/s2944/20230324_104516.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPwr5SRTaFAo7RON8Vsik2ghUtnqrfIZ9-p43Opq_QCpbFS_hllEJ2n-wFs_JqE59Mgg1i73Ply29GFCse9ECLoCDVRCRR4KroT-mAyKpblBZ2LBrsvevZ4-xsnFEcckCKdkOoSsYKh9RGmSpg_oMtHw1756vO8T1l_bLdcNyCaTuf3eWQQHb_Q/w480-h640/20230324_104516.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know where to go</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I decided to go back to the carpark and continue walking down the main road to see if the track was down that way, walking past I decided to have a second gander at the large map. As I was approaching it, the man from the elder couple I mentioned earlier approached me to ask about Fairy Bower Falls. He was looking for it too. I told him I was also looking for it. We began looking at the map when another elder couple arrived (who I believe were locals, though sounded as if they had a slight German accent) they told us that as you come to the road that I had walked to earlier you simply follow that down to your right and you would come to the entrance of the walk. We all began to head there awkwardly together. As we reached the path, they let me go ahead and walked behind me eventually falling back (whether to keep a bit of distance or just walking at a much slower pace).</div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed the scenery, the quietness and sounds and beauty around me. While I could hear the couple conversing behind me, they were a respectful level (not like some of the more obnoxiously loud people you can come across while walking). I soon reached the start of the walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho67_OJAtp8Q2JrD5XyAV6T9hc1bFcCe9leWdCG0y0skmITCmAsMtj8h6g3yIfhjqLfqLFYcP8HUHLWRlvU-JIG7NgXMKkfXFCHwFjsQGD7vRFqmgIRHkan8B0aFA_NN2tz34_Jw3MVwAEufit5zt1wcUPrSYp0e_JyEnvgFuJBYtP_97HW2WJWw/s4032/20230324_105402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho67_OJAtp8Q2JrD5XyAV6T9hc1bFcCe9leWdCG0y0skmITCmAsMtj8h6g3yIfhjqLfqLFYcP8HUHLWRlvU-JIG7NgXMKkfXFCHwFjsQGD7vRFqmgIRHkan8B0aFA_NN2tz34_Jw3MVwAEufit5zt1wcUPrSYp0e_JyEnvgFuJBYtP_97HW2WJWw/w480-h640/20230324_105402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0avOQiqZgbJyJXvSh3-0Bak_Cu1iX3BKk6Dc6qmAR2xf8h2fI4mONxzYPc6DCVuN62Mlj0xe9onnq36XEtvWm7_aLa1otRpVk9bAqgl-hGU0rDIJkWUWvv2I80sm2W6sqsRiww24CwCTdjywBk1t0HGxetdsuG2yBQL6DpmWUy4sl86rtd9djaA/s4032/20230324_105410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0avOQiqZgbJyJXvSh3-0Bak_Cu1iX3BKk6Dc6qmAR2xf8h2fI4mONxzYPc6DCVuN62Mlj0xe9onnq36XEtvWm7_aLa1otRpVk9bAqgl-hGU0rDIJkWUWvv2I80sm2W6sqsRiww24CwCTdjywBk1t0HGxetdsuG2yBQL6DpmWUy4sl86rtd9djaA/w480-h640/20230324_105410.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkMntqbXNU1aIbdfHgsTz6aokz2evzyIcRWJGXe3LzXBjK4uz_60VFOGw0itn_RW6pzYPiGdvW6E-cuCjC1p9RuCuWl8H-LKTvKREOrq9MFvKC7OfgSnPBImQ5lSHMuTOX9FYIYm2kI-Fg7u68BU6e8_tU0ciyH3orHfiZs4UbRVsW4A6GRPIvQ/s4032/20230324_105420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkMntqbXNU1aIbdfHgsTz6aokz2evzyIcRWJGXe3LzXBjK4uz_60VFOGw0itn_RW6pzYPiGdvW6E-cuCjC1p9RuCuWl8H-LKTvKREOrq9MFvKC7OfgSnPBImQ5lSHMuTOX9FYIYm2kI-Fg7u68BU6e8_tU0ciyH3orHfiZs4UbRVsW4A6GRPIvQ/w400-h300/20230324_105420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read the little blurb about Fairy Bower Falls, saying you could create a loop via Nicholas Pass. While I sat working out the map the other couple caught up with me and began looking at it as well, trying to work out where to go as there was the loop and different tracks to take. Soon the other couple (the ones with the maybe-German accents) turned up, and it became a while discussion about how the track to Amphitheatre was closed. I eventually just walked off without saying anything, wanting to get ahead and just deciding I'd figure out which paths to take once I got to them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TBC_X9CGRcqCwhQPh1ITvYJyISMXM25KJfhIzBHJ0xQsuKJ7k5CS9k5KGa12o0Q2BnMzy0bAYi_vJxOdZt2nmyu6xa28Z6Ne3hLfNNuazp1_Lff9A78rmV8IxXyp-_DCMDtXIPmNBpbT1YwlAKSU5-wLv7KCP8LKLXU3b1qHWR--Es7BjsEONQ/s4032/20230324_105744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TBC_X9CGRcqCwhQPh1ITvYJyISMXM25KJfhIzBHJ0xQsuKJ7k5CS9k5KGa12o0Q2BnMzy0bAYi_vJxOdZt2nmyu6xa28Z6Ne3hLfNNuazp1_Lff9A78rmV8IxXyp-_DCMDtXIPmNBpbT1YwlAKSU5-wLv7KCP8LKLXU3b1qHWR--Es7BjsEONQ/w480-h640/20230324_105744.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I continued along the path conscious of leeches due to the wet weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9mgSL_BSmjgXF3x8cHOCJRzKHQPxOF2lGLrK6rFdrN2N7s3AWaZll5NSbKBU3ecsOR8rx6jOpi4OggOyL3V6SWHwnWaURs-XkwvREylGgLbezB11NT4Za2bqFueXvw7hHAFzclrZSxyiIbabPWUJ0uNiFT2NIDncY_0OXE0ZWSPn8toem64NsA/s4032/20230324_105930.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9mgSL_BSmjgXF3x8cHOCJRzKHQPxOF2lGLrK6rFdrN2N7s3AWaZll5NSbKBU3ecsOR8rx6jOpi4OggOyL3V6SWHwnWaURs-XkwvREylGgLbezB11NT4Za2bqFueXvw7hHAFzclrZSxyiIbabPWUJ0uNiFT2NIDncY_0OXE0ZWSPn8toem64NsA/w480-h640/20230324_105930.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxPUSxfYNLtYkynfNaThjkEe53eWSDKcvcPwCSvjDT6NYgkS18XmoNqPd4UGlLDWPWK6kBMlJRMJzlyywBh7k4DMAxb2fjk3BWcCJzQE-rPmBs9dAQs6Ia1Vfcccy-NEKh2l_mCVy8ZuZ49b8LP-B4x0B4x4PDAqdve5SQ8Xt-UWyRO7xaO3n6w/s4032/20230324_110127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxPUSxfYNLtYkynfNaThjkEe53eWSDKcvcPwCSvjDT6NYgkS18XmoNqPd4UGlLDWPWK6kBMlJRMJzlyywBh7k4DMAxb2fjk3BWcCJzQE-rPmBs9dAQs6Ia1Vfcccy-NEKh2l_mCVy8ZuZ49b8LP-B4x0B4x4PDAqdve5SQ8Xt-UWyRO7xaO3n6w/w480-h640/20230324_110127.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7FAekavrSBqMaLF7FFRf5v81zM0mVeKrkWihaghgOVowVIznqqRirU0rhhbzMmKgIw6i_lOHCnAlVcF15XP3CDUwNb0ILF4cqr4sljLANS_4RKZ_3SMkQv8rg3ogkgxuCxD-kIo7DLCcC0j6TLWtw01-NaDeqfLL4Ktcjl1mv6NGtMHQE3FsIA/s4032/20230324_110144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7FAekavrSBqMaLF7FFRf5v81zM0mVeKrkWihaghgOVowVIznqqRirU0rhhbzMmKgIw6i_lOHCnAlVcF15XP3CDUwNb0ILF4cqr4sljLANS_4RKZ_3SMkQv8rg3ogkgxuCxD-kIo7DLCcC0j6TLWtw01-NaDeqfLL4Ktcjl1mv6NGtMHQE3FsIA/w480-h640/20230324_110144.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmgGDu3gt1S84nxUm-ON3_40Vm-iRzzM8dHNSI_ll7nZ1OpUlm7ccbfoJqDdb1708AXN2CI94hRsrsiVLkiAEY45lYFoPuH0MPFF3hGzymLcGgPar7Pq1ghjXBX3eVp86CJbTypc1cw5pp6SZsYJnfWYbrD_jezvE5Ta3SaBVlSbSDocHzL4wVg/s4032/20230324_110302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmgGDu3gt1S84nxUm-ON3_40Vm-iRzzM8dHNSI_ll7nZ1OpUlm7ccbfoJqDdb1708AXN2CI94hRsrsiVLkiAEY45lYFoPuH0MPFF3hGzymLcGgPar7Pq1ghjXBX3eVp86CJbTypc1cw5pp6SZsYJnfWYbrD_jezvE5Ta3SaBVlSbSDocHzL4wVg/w480-h640/20230324_110302.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Passing my the rock slab on my right the path began to turn left and wind downwards. I could hear the running of a little stream and a Kookaburra began laughing from a nearby tree.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmPUcMEYdxNa2mrQX_toAJPKqj1oILZakqcittYv9sIwwrwVsPZ9gIl2KcitsVEoC2wNXji5qI6sNeXQEgRhxLY6jAZ781k-0VBxQHt0fHkfLnyRgsERd1PzTuvKMkTsG5ScpVdt9olwJVQ_r7FzOo3l7EYw1bpJt41iSHWmInpe3os2DbUdI7Q/s4032/20230324_110427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmPUcMEYdxNa2mrQX_toAJPKqj1oILZakqcittYv9sIwwrwVsPZ9gIl2KcitsVEoC2wNXji5qI6sNeXQEgRhxLY6jAZ781k-0VBxQHt0fHkfLnyRgsERd1PzTuvKMkTsG5ScpVdt9olwJVQ_r7FzOo3l7EYw1bpJt41iSHWmInpe3os2DbUdI7Q/w400-h300/20230324_110427.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up towards the start of the trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As the path continued winding downwards, I saw a growth on one of the trees holding out some stones, I thought for a moment that they might be NSW Rocks. As I got closer I realised they weren't, but thought that they would not be there naturally. I remembered all the NSW Rocks I had found over the years that were still sitting on my bookshelf at home, that I had been saying for years I would 're-hide' whilst ever out on a bush walk, but had so far yet to do so. I lamented the fact that I hadn't brought one, thinking that would be the perfect destination to have placed it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrTRyk_83dXYyyF2kY7iOw5aPO-yNcV6yHhKbGSLjsoEewxG-Cg5-Cyw0otV1FSmjD8k6PYvnPR1wCxm9S3kuPkS5nHsbw1xoSOYUFx_5TL-DPUoTejjRqfi80qpxBVQfCHalVVtyKxfO1FspTe_twq9af71QN7vePDLn3XdPibHvapOZMO9ymQ/s4032/20230324_110616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrTRyk_83dXYyyF2kY7iOw5aPO-yNcV6yHhKbGSLjsoEewxG-Cg5-Cyw0otV1FSmjD8k6PYvnPR1wCxm9S3kuPkS5nHsbw1xoSOYUFx_5TL-DPUoTejjRqfi80qpxBVQfCHalVVtyKxfO1FspTe_twq9af71QN7vePDLn3XdPibHvapOZMO9ymQ/w480-h640/20230324_110616.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMhwD6wTzeCU3onkMjJ9hCReA-cNEEQ32OKJxUsOjJPINP9APTeqc9-5s0rZGqxDGWU7xWWY-RdKrq2jG6z6MZXSW7nN5VBmSelcPvvqM2nmQ79me3irRatlInsV6SPrP5Lg-Qs-mmuWGZn6WyYnyHgEHLCYh4AXzWZP0sDvyYADaP3_AkLsYTg/s2944/20230324_110738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMhwD6wTzeCU3onkMjJ9hCReA-cNEEQ32OKJxUsOjJPINP9APTeqc9-5s0rZGqxDGWU7xWWY-RdKrq2jG6z6MZXSW7nN5VBmSelcPvvqM2nmQ79me3irRatlInsV6SPrP5Lg-Qs-mmuWGZn6WyYnyHgEHLCYh4AXzWZP0sDvyYADaP3_AkLsYTg/w480-h640/20230324_110738.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLcAqZqkObW0rfbnrpJp3OdSqzsY6LGrH7UwGFrIAQePUOFHMMpcf8aqEIqAy4QUyXrkyTHnKgBlmdHKO0_gWgrtJdzMWkBY_pA0EJm7GydC2GoXbalGCKUrIXMv9WiklUlVMifYAMmvaYp8Kep6fnVbHO4e3ZHj7LuTzBL1MUvDCy0fyNKj0ag/s4032/20230324_110853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLcAqZqkObW0rfbnrpJp3OdSqzsY6LGrH7UwGFrIAQePUOFHMMpcf8aqEIqAy4QUyXrkyTHnKgBlmdHKO0_gWgrtJdzMWkBY_pA0EJm7GydC2GoXbalGCKUrIXMv9WiklUlVMifYAMmvaYp8Kep6fnVbHO4e3ZHj7LuTzBL1MUvDCy0fyNKj0ag/w480-h640/20230324_110853.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10hEap8z9WfwT6QZe405s31e37tPAbr2RBCzVenMz8Szxam8CwEEbtlHsv_6q0ciylMA2YjZ7pocHorMiYm58_d8HabtthYRxO87DzWzTwLVR7MRHvvycyK7hfTkJuuaEo2i7XM5nR8mmw5Oyt-ypp6hAdS2eA0fqiqSUQn2_k4cOlW1Y4YilSA/s4032/20230324_110859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10hEap8z9WfwT6QZe405s31e37tPAbr2RBCzVenMz8Szxam8CwEEbtlHsv_6q0ciylMA2YjZ7pocHorMiYm58_d8HabtthYRxO87DzWzTwLVR7MRHvvycyK7hfTkJuuaEo2i7XM5nR8mmw5Oyt-ypp6hAdS2eA0fqiqSUQn2_k4cOlW1Y4YilSA/w400-h300/20230324_110859.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I soon came to a signpost pointing down the path the Fairy Bower Falls, but to the right of it, a path up hill, an alternate route back to the carpark that I noted I would take on my way back up.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2YV0azAR5W29Dt5aaBVmdzHNCKewwgNinJQIFb-TeLI2DslU5w52NNxWZAg5LuTs-9gYaU9j_fI3bcSk9gt4Lg5V-MeR_OCSCZjYA3noSnxeEub-CH390rYaOEbUSQuQAi5092BBrNN3MZ5ewws1M0mr7oaVpdIlK4KLyEm2D3EdJlRZpHD2YQ/s4032/20230324_111024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2YV0azAR5W29Dt5aaBVmdzHNCKewwgNinJQIFb-TeLI2DslU5w52NNxWZAg5LuTs-9gYaU9j_fI3bcSk9gt4Lg5V-MeR_OCSCZjYA3noSnxeEub-CH390rYaOEbUSQuQAi5092BBrNN3MZ5ewws1M0mr7oaVpdIlK4KLyEm2D3EdJlRZpHD2YQ/w400-h300/20230324_111024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EdQJ9mZM8nd8PapdzX97DV3pUyslW5wUZsNTpaomUXZF9IMiMCHCraHlkAgtcSrt-wfbb8oZEoAU64Me0oZCL6nYDKOiLE_Fhlo77BWGlyMK8R2JgoJzti2XhCngcEwWPvak1Sa-E9Nf9mLIZ1P8XmfjFr_uiMavukB-biGjmpfT_hq90Zh4ng/s4032/20230324_111038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EdQJ9mZM8nd8PapdzX97DV3pUyslW5wUZsNTpaomUXZF9IMiMCHCraHlkAgtcSrt-wfbb8oZEoAU64Me0oZCL6nYDKOiLE_Fhlo77BWGlyMK8R2JgoJzti2XhCngcEwWPvak1Sa-E9Nf9mLIZ1P8XmfjFr_uiMavukB-biGjmpfT_hq90Zh4ng/w400-h300/20230324_111038.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As I rounded a bend I came across a small line of manmade trail, which must have been added for a reason I couldn't understand. Once I stepped onto it I did a quick look down at my legs for leeches before continuing on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uWevN5FhjwlbLfLZIl5Us58WgfNX_klXqem2YswCb1HydrWjzZC9dVUHUtvUJ5tnSbMrEeOH498Z66vPMzH5YsrvgVyRyUvoRgzkF1NyFb4uq4ktrEert8UoEKOka1Sw3qM69H8XtnmNRTomdhuor8CXR6xprwt7FC8ybgJWfwlMa5kMtu_WMg/s4032/20230324_111120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uWevN5FhjwlbLfLZIl5Us58WgfNX_klXqem2YswCb1HydrWjzZC9dVUHUtvUJ5tnSbMrEeOH498Z66vPMzH5YsrvgVyRyUvoRgzkF1NyFb4uq4ktrEert8UoEKOka1Sw3qM69H8XtnmNRTomdhuor8CXR6xprwt7FC8ybgJWfwlMa5kMtu_WMg/w480-h640/20230324_111120.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90Jfkf0b1DKuG6MSS0UtbUY2G5qAdwV7WYCPE_JbX6RRX6attFL90xCxGfGQDRZ0JYUuaRE0AMLl3CEfV4momM-ltd2PkMZB-jQmquh_eGDFY4yBQz6aMxFgpLzjiHnFXhIQC1xh7Rt-4fVmP0Fzbrpie007v3hcuRmwOrlUKylJ8cgOigbVnng/s4032/20230324_111146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90Jfkf0b1DKuG6MSS0UtbUY2G5qAdwV7WYCPE_JbX6RRX6attFL90xCxGfGQDRZ0JYUuaRE0AMLl3CEfV4momM-ltd2PkMZB-jQmquh_eGDFY4yBQz6aMxFgpLzjiHnFXhIQC1xh7Rt-4fVmP0Fzbrpie007v3hcuRmwOrlUKylJ8cgOigbVnng/w480-h640/20230324_111146.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't resist a photo of some Shelf Fungi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I could now hear the running water a lot clearer and as I rounded the bend the waterway opened up in front of me.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctcM1IwDF4jAppo3_4HxeM2m2PPbv8VYndy3QXD7Kfe69ruMlpsZmDZ6TqiCPTb5I187024_zQCPttfiL5Slp2_mUu-gnZUNffOBLeHKQ_yzfH9uFGtJ6yi8z-U55GAlEUCAb15oFiv_CKeMQ_Cjj8nz_omfEvTfvA0EDfR6xcEGUz7bIle6rpg/s4032/20230324_111205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctcM1IwDF4jAppo3_4HxeM2m2PPbv8VYndy3QXD7Kfe69ruMlpsZmDZ6TqiCPTb5I187024_zQCPttfiL5Slp2_mUu-gnZUNffOBLeHKQ_yzfH9uFGtJ6yi8z-U55GAlEUCAb15oFiv_CKeMQ_Cjj8nz_omfEvTfvA0EDfR6xcEGUz7bIle6rpg/w480-h640/20230324_111205.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXqiXwB4AYmURFtFX0bET9BqCCLjRZSizxCeDZHNV1wkANJR0hL3nmVMkmdIDzPfVYX_Dj600-ffHgVTBLW92ZvAWWo1H2pFgcvr_1MEXVK5yq8VnPCnHZcaGoCDmbR4v4rmTzd-ylZbTCh9BA6b2ZpTLUSL5To8bEXAuFr4-R4NI1U1aYRBikA/s4032/20230324_111232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXqiXwB4AYmURFtFX0bET9BqCCLjRZSizxCeDZHNV1wkANJR0hL3nmVMkmdIDzPfVYX_Dj600-ffHgVTBLW92ZvAWWo1H2pFgcvr_1MEXVK5yq8VnPCnHZcaGoCDmbR4v4rmTzd-ylZbTCh9BA6b2ZpTLUSL5To8bEXAuFr4-R4NI1U1aYRBikA/w400-h300/20230324_111232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH7Mq-XE_qv_S4CuU8Ck1k__oS3xFqpoSOnfE99SnFfwagetha2LA0VVjZKZB_dpeT9u688_nuksqCeK5FzqZq2ZoPWah5wDY06y7yrnpWKVLL1m6Lz9ZX6s1m43A1nhd-4HIq_KNFRXQgGzjZgsQWSHoF599hHjepamsdZLWoy1jj1MUuJ-3YQ/s4032/20230324_111240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH7Mq-XE_qv_S4CuU8Ck1k__oS3xFqpoSOnfE99SnFfwagetha2LA0VVjZKZB_dpeT9u688_nuksqCeK5FzqZq2ZoPWah5wDY06y7yrnpWKVLL1m6Lz9ZX6s1m43A1nhd-4HIq_KNFRXQgGzjZgsQWSHoF599hHjepamsdZLWoy1jj1MUuJ-3YQ/w400-h300/20230324_111240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiav46ipxEOpQSf-ULbQLYLsi9T0Gdu4gSHLZEOb2L-zwEviTcbcRHXRKUuXEy5Fj0qVshjYXpy6iXJ6AEX3NOyRkLnoLp3C8rlGghJg3GJXvCEESHRaG5bWZjOcx3XmPUjlo4ApE0MvFkslV1PWHXhMg0nK8fV0OX5MyhlZkhp--ol-t6F4evSQ/w480-h640/20230324_111324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6Y9f7MG7HpfDUMYZJ8aU1jOQK1uAbThzC2oV0bxL2Fet64LeisBkLnljVTuymrdkLAbLu-nJE-tIeFVFTqfJglJg3UxPhZh-jSJckChgT78lBQPraokfdwszjTaHqDoiH3t8SKVchE7oAD79HN5XQmvxh0IKrFiyks0j59Obomp6wVTJMh3Wzw/s4032/20230324_111332.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6Y9f7MG7HpfDUMYZJ8aU1jOQK1uAbThzC2oV0bxL2Fet64LeisBkLnljVTuymrdkLAbLu-nJE-tIeFVFTqfJglJg3UxPhZh-jSJckChgT78lBQPraokfdwszjTaHqDoiH3t8SKVchE7oAD79HN5XQmvxh0IKrFiyks0j59Obomp6wVTJMh3Wzw/w480-h640/20230324_111332.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1l8PmsS-OszGr2whRiLab3ZbZXbxRk1tSJQEtA7V1qiC1tQb63DRnDI3uAay8n4jYIHxeQzRAF8j3ClblTDwDDsLJGUTVHw7G_1h0mnem1vWnni0Y-AMWQimzuh8VkQYJ0s6ppX4l1UNoJLuneTfO4QyHknL1_Y0q4u3-wmzKwSgX21m-FUGFw/s4032/20230324_111343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1l8PmsS-OszGr2whRiLab3ZbZXbxRk1tSJQEtA7V1qiC1tQb63DRnDI3uAay8n4jYIHxeQzRAF8j3ClblTDwDDsLJGUTVHw7G_1h0mnem1vWnni0Y-AMWQimzuh8VkQYJ0s6ppX4l1UNoJLuneTfO4QyHknL1_Y0q4u3-wmzKwSgX21m-FUGFw/w480-h640/20230324_111343.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I noticed that Nicholas Pass was blacked out, harkening back to what the couple had said at the top of the walk about it being closed. I headed down to the path to the lookout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFkemCNZRq3Rs1527i0Dj5FEDhsI7f7YAwL5jN6mTiFqXbyJ6EAb8QONAH_EhiXrM5L7iAAqOdfLsQECWl7qchtcrTYzbgyYWT---nImqIrc-qymjOQWaJgqPp7lwlmBtmoHIo1IkoYaXFPLO3Hb0x32OE8zplSLs1-zYTlxNvbv7sZAQx6c8Ew/s4032/20230324_111443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFkemCNZRq3Rs1527i0Dj5FEDhsI7f7YAwL5jN6mTiFqXbyJ6EAb8QONAH_EhiXrM5L7iAAqOdfLsQECWl7qchtcrTYzbgyYWT---nImqIrc-qymjOQWaJgqPp7lwlmBtmoHIo1IkoYaXFPLO3Hb0x32OE8zplSLs1-zYTlxNvbv7sZAQx6c8Ew/w480-h640/20230324_111443.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGa5hrIQ19JhwxbEZNXSBGZg4oFVojvXyZo2MHOALYeE-QdAWbcTSvYVqRgNrilHTb2wS9af_8x5OwWSLczvdAZ1CziJwB0VYlTb2OqSGeEYyS8K2x9wUz_MRNkBNQEbQs2W9kh9HjSM72MRAMtfbjR7QhuPYVWaHuLVHQrxrWDzgYhc4bN4l1g/s4032/20230324_111505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGa5hrIQ19JhwxbEZNXSBGZg4oFVojvXyZo2MHOALYeE-QdAWbcTSvYVqRgNrilHTb2wS9af_8x5OwWSLczvdAZ1CziJwB0VYlTb2OqSGeEYyS8K2x9wUz_MRNkBNQEbQs2W9kh9HjSM72MRAMtfbjR7QhuPYVWaHuLVHQrxrWDzgYhc4bN4l1g/w400-h300/20230324_111505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeyQKRQMh65oa0Nk3TiYNb1aSWIiOuK0QBYZ5kONg8TAiy4vV2nYPw2l8D767bC9CP7G4W8MiGUS5y9_EQig-JbcDEykWK1YIJ6Iyimrf2uj2DpfZbmJm8KFbmJ-jdHErMhc_HlXrQaMuyy2aXsm72KEBV8e_rrnxZX9h12asZBV9W2optiJwkg/s4032/20230324_111527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeyQKRQMh65oa0Nk3TiYNb1aSWIiOuK0QBYZ5kONg8TAiy4vV2nYPw2l8D767bC9CP7G4W8MiGUS5y9_EQig-JbcDEykWK1YIJ6Iyimrf2uj2DpfZbmJm8KFbmJ-jdHErMhc_HlXrQaMuyy2aXsm72KEBV8e_rrnxZX9h12asZBV9W2optiJwkg/w400-h300/20230324_111527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcW9w2AT_4m0nsgVowZvciihx0q2_0B34jUNu7TlEqtxG6VKWPWvya4gGOGrvf-8fsrIcm8PrSb5VvAGVKNQ4pnd5DSQ0rfZ--NOVtd_Tqu1PqSoh0FT15V5fGwM3pZ-R52yKdxyCLB6nBokdbXix9inW8_NV4ZgSWFz1M12zhgQcPaz3EhrTUQ/s4032/20230324_111536.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcW9w2AT_4m0nsgVowZvciihx0q2_0B34jUNu7TlEqtxG6VKWPWvya4gGOGrvf-8fsrIcm8PrSb5VvAGVKNQ4pnd5DSQ0rfZ--NOVtd_Tqu1PqSoh0FT15V5fGwM3pZ-R52yKdxyCLB6nBokdbXix9inW8_NV4ZgSWFz1M12zhgQcPaz3EhrTUQ/w480-h640/20230324_111536.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXKdNkQrOSSVO7CRxkBjlaBQfUpPe5b-fS_lRMq8bnjcyUM4dTMiW5HJEV0OSpv39cdm0EjpX1ep6FkGArDDEVRKBFDZl6RizsnDVZuoPOMD2Kodf-Litv-8KsDYzcRMkBQvGg_LoHCUN8jKomHcqPeoEe7gUT1nwAY_RuiCPS-Hodynwq_X2CQ/s4032/20230324_111549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXKdNkQrOSSVO7CRxkBjlaBQfUpPe5b-fS_lRMq8bnjcyUM4dTMiW5HJEV0OSpv39cdm0EjpX1ep6FkGArDDEVRKBFDZl6RizsnDVZuoPOMD2Kodf-Litv-8KsDYzcRMkBQvGg_LoHCUN8jKomHcqPeoEe7gUT1nwAY_RuiCPS-Hodynwq_X2CQ/w480-h640/20230324_111549.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I couldn't see the base of the falls as it was fenced in (and I'm not really one for jumping fences, <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">Belmore Falls not included</a>). I began to walk back up so head down the path to the base of the falls, as I approached the top of the steps, I noticed something carved into the rock that I hadn't noticed on my way down to the lookout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AP6uhkrFHGUD1XuuthCBhdo5UvBb4ZtN7Yd3mEggCl_ELmSR45pQc6arhR00PdqiVAEwD2P5NWI6-B8Ajv7gGw4aKAEypbX6q9NfjBkg5ame7q7u_kZDbUUE7c8x0tBdfUDvaoLEl0lzrUezufUtVVkd_0C14jhfgncYH0lFgXt_LTKYSc4UWg/s4032/20230324_111655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AP6uhkrFHGUD1XuuthCBhdo5UvBb4ZtN7Yd3mEggCl_ELmSR45pQc6arhR00PdqiVAEwD2P5NWI6-B8Ajv7gGw4aKAEypbX6q9NfjBkg5ame7q7u_kZDbUUE7c8x0tBdfUDvaoLEl0lzrUezufUtVVkd_0C14jhfgncYH0lFgXt_LTKYSc4UWg/w480-h640/20230324_111655.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I wondered what the significance of the writing was. Was it originally called 'The Brides Lookout'? Had someone written that there later in an attempt to name it? Or was it actually called 'The Brides Lookout' and the new signage simply forgot to include its name? Why was it called the Bride Lookout? Obviously, I'd never learn the answer to these on my walk and the most information I could find about the potential naming is that brides honeymooning in Bundanoon back in the day would get photographed here. (Maybe there is more information in the town of Bundanoon about it, or in a museum but that was the most I could find with a quick Google search).</div><div><br /></div><div>As I made my way to the turn to the base of the falls I encountered the elder couple again, the man mentioned to me about Nicholas Pass being closed pointing to how it was blacked out on the sign. I said I would just 'go and look anyway' and mentioned he was just near the lookout. I began walking up the path which took me to a more open and better view of the valley than the lookout had offered on another manmade walkway.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12lKSY_-I0zG7TuSBge9slrZUGHSMefThZ6Fz2C8X3CuvN5epdAEqr5t3SVIBY3CKyVcG51bLM6NzQzkrzgZA4t8-8G_Ll-HDOwsugU73QS-lDfS6ioq0gzirykUIkMIDabg3VmhPFLBchpVhmLxVb_0IzB10jwJRGcFVpCrD1eyDIpUoD3kcnQ/s4032/20230324_112101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12lKSY_-I0zG7TuSBge9slrZUGHSMefThZ6Fz2C8X3CuvN5epdAEqr5t3SVIBY3CKyVcG51bLM6NzQzkrzgZA4t8-8G_Ll-HDOwsugU73QS-lDfS6ioq0gzirykUIkMIDabg3VmhPFLBchpVhmLxVb_0IzB10jwJRGcFVpCrD1eyDIpUoD3kcnQ/w480-h640/20230324_112101.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf58UgcJZLV-8dfPMaOUYhHln8p1c46nyjONpuWtoI95Nr8plSEEso5oaEgnbi8QwyK_IXFst8xVuT527sOjv4fCAs_Mf_1Pqie8ze0_Iys1wQXVSA1Ean7Ufi9A4e1gqkh0MgYy2PyjyrfrbDngOHb8oyoW0fltp_ApF0W4e6NQa8qbjGwjW6JA/s4032/20230324_112124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf58UgcJZLV-8dfPMaOUYhHln8p1c46nyjONpuWtoI95Nr8plSEEso5oaEgnbi8QwyK_IXFst8xVuT527sOjv4fCAs_Mf_1Pqie8ze0_Iys1wQXVSA1Ean7Ufi9A4e1gqkh0MgYy2PyjyrfrbDngOHb8oyoW0fltp_ApF0W4e6NQa8qbjGwjW6JA/w400-h300/20230324_112124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As I rounded the bend on the walkway there was a large rockface just ahead with brilliant orange colouring that really stood out amongst all the green I had so far been surrounded by.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84NQIf_AGNaAK_CcEfbzdesrnPHlc24CncY_bVtYbdqggEeiEkL6WyynrOFbLW_VQWs6Uny7JIbizh8ZC7RURKoew2B7ei56J_AbKNsx1G12F-fwk4Xb_AJasLJzhysH5bWpDj0RdWkZdWHNoUOxGwNqqYavXeHQrK9AIvpHBQNp0Yo8tC3sIVQ/s4032/20230324_112213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84NQIf_AGNaAK_CcEfbzdesrnPHlc24CncY_bVtYbdqggEeiEkL6WyynrOFbLW_VQWs6Uny7JIbizh8ZC7RURKoew2B7ei56J_AbKNsx1G12F-fwk4Xb_AJasLJzhysH5bWpDj0RdWkZdWHNoUOxGwNqqYavXeHQrK9AIvpHBQNp0Yo8tC3sIVQ/w480-h640/20230324_112213.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>After walking around the side of the rock wall the path began to continue down once more, leading to a seat for people to seat and have a rest (I assume after walking back up) and there was a little boulder to the right I couldn't help but climb on top of, hoping to get a better view of the valley (which unfortunately it didn't actually offer, with tree branches blocking the way).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn1-gt7oE9Tte_arrhgWX4izMSyXwB2jcednaXRuRb_BQZlylBot67qZYdEdzXCEa9fFOqAMNKIoeoedmZG8PoKOHL13s8NZHPmBUBrd4Z99qdPyTARWFOmj1XkPrpwe0_oJkHoURYpYTYEHi69eE7D3iqMivyqBKjxpzKfivQzTqWHzG7DDv6Q/s4032/20230324_112237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn1-gt7oE9Tte_arrhgWX4izMSyXwB2jcednaXRuRb_BQZlylBot67qZYdEdzXCEa9fFOqAMNKIoeoedmZG8PoKOHL13s8NZHPmBUBrd4Z99qdPyTARWFOmj1XkPrpwe0_oJkHoURYpYTYEHi69eE7D3iqMivyqBKjxpzKfivQzTqWHzG7DDv6Q/w480-h640/20230324_112237.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI31f_gPj48IB4nSB1vi0QX_w5PsKNnAEQYSHudk6kjRWtUXxByYnc7kDdQqco39rNwvayaJ2_SrLFiqvO8TPhyadPcbD4OBcwCdzrExpCaxuUIbTAiMp2LuZ-_HxJ9KHINE8Na2LFjoaAnOWpg0PIP5CJPvZX3qXhtYIdgGa4wZxRftXau9Q2Q/s4032/20230324_112259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI31f_gPj48IB4nSB1vi0QX_w5PsKNnAEQYSHudk6kjRWtUXxByYnc7kDdQqco39rNwvayaJ2_SrLFiqvO8TPhyadPcbD4OBcwCdzrExpCaxuUIbTAiMp2LuZ-_HxJ9KHINE8Na2LFjoaAnOWpg0PIP5CJPvZX3qXhtYIdgGa4wZxRftXau9Q2Q/w480-h640/20230324_112259.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I continued following the track down for a short while before coming across the fork in the path showing that the closed path along Nicholas Pass Track went on for 1.1km to Ampitheatre carpark (whether or not the Ampitheatre or Nicholas Pass continued on further as a walk from there I don't know but I might go back one day to find out.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw110TKCPnS0z7UvmfeA_GeUgR1_YLo45Ti4Z9sMF5xoLRthSk2AmKr8vz1eb-bM7I_Syuf9JNgfmX5YzzIOmT8dYswldD4T1w31KdL7O7GYYDxyPGkvx8VsSssqvpzNzqwGxmFoA2p2fX6lPQIokbNnf88kxqt--H5l6QZGQqqIF5-NkN1_dfw/s4032/20230324_112538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw110TKCPnS0z7UvmfeA_GeUgR1_YLo45Ti4Z9sMF5xoLRthSk2AmKr8vz1eb-bM7I_Syuf9JNgfmX5YzzIOmT8dYswldD4T1w31KdL7O7GYYDxyPGkvx8VsSssqvpzNzqwGxmFoA2p2fX6lPQIokbNnf88kxqt--H5l6QZGQqqIF5-NkN1_dfw/w400-h300/20230324_112538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkjHG8cP5vRxJjndcIawkjuGy2VidyWJ6gALdDWZdEPKEaCdzrgM-e0r-atMhxG4X_isxLXuFmy4G7Dr2WF0fxzN5W-gOXmV71mxhWyUf-duUZq1jVRmW7dnrb4M2ahbiAFaQVZG-2ksjjp8aqYwssKJxBqNnzw8lghebuGtpcJ87l9UTWXp0MA/s4032/20230324_112546.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkjHG8cP5vRxJjndcIawkjuGy2VidyWJ6gALdDWZdEPKEaCdzrgM-e0r-atMhxG4X_isxLXuFmy4G7Dr2WF0fxzN5W-gOXmV71mxhWyUf-duUZq1jVRmW7dnrb4M2ahbiAFaQVZG-2ksjjp8aqYwssKJxBqNnzw8lghebuGtpcJ87l9UTWXp0MA/w480-h640/20230324_112546.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Instead I continued on down the trail towards the base of the falls, passing numerous signs warning of unstable cliff overhangs above and asking not to linger in the area.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLKvM5LWGscP2npvlFp8qqUcUUKlp9RUfvscYdQ88YetKmkYVQlciTBSAbFr6WBNHN0e0z99sfoDA9OGXCm0dcdxDGRE6gaOb40C_5zVI5Vpk8d0s0nftbRTJdG6-abutmI7kzNCUzib7XcMGI-IgYUE9qyQ1l5hzTwP0aoKVOqaSawAIUFQDew/s4032/20230324_112651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLKvM5LWGscP2npvlFp8qqUcUUKlp9RUfvscYdQ88YetKmkYVQlciTBSAbFr6WBNHN0e0z99sfoDA9OGXCm0dcdxDGRE6gaOb40C_5zVI5Vpk8d0s0nftbRTJdG6-abutmI7kzNCUzib7XcMGI-IgYUE9qyQ1l5hzTwP0aoKVOqaSawAIUFQDew/w480-h640/20230324_112651.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FSwV341ndmu2G7pmmd3uWe4YJpAOrGLrBSQ8JZQh3kMzkW9SPE-XvbqODEuDdaDfnoc9Cp5Q7Plij3D2mg4Rjxtw3koVHfVuN-nqyuFF48EOekbVAYZHEwqT7BjMfqiU6N8yCGxvhBf3uYjIUFgQQNg9Og3CuO3pqThJFMMJ3KpeSdyWNNd0ng/s4032/20230324_112658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8FSwV341ndmu2G7pmmd3uWe4YJpAOrGLrBSQ8JZQh3kMzkW9SPE-XvbqODEuDdaDfnoc9Cp5Q7Plij3D2mg4Rjxtw3koVHfVuN-nqyuFF48EOekbVAYZHEwqT7BjMfqiU6N8yCGxvhBf3uYjIUFgQQNg9Og3CuO3pqThJFMMJ3KpeSdyWNNd0ng/w480-h640/20230324_112658.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAuMmomcyUhpexL41Am4rZgJvc34ewlzad9VvSaIfvDbiIPJUxO3_kfWEBrnm9aSDXpCYQGmBqbdDwoKgSOYBQItZdfnG88lEhzM7ZKxYA7D3RtMZeMLvU6bT2d-ljlgalPcuGnttRo9TOhdJGvLY-GRhyI2YJ22alPjGuNMLVu26vZlLPP4ciQ/s4032/20230324_112743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAuMmomcyUhpexL41Am4rZgJvc34ewlzad9VvSaIfvDbiIPJUxO3_kfWEBrnm9aSDXpCYQGmBqbdDwoKgSOYBQItZdfnG88lEhzM7ZKxYA7D3RtMZeMLvU6bT2d-ljlgalPcuGnttRo9TOhdJGvLY-GRhyI2YJ22alPjGuNMLVu26vZlLPP4ciQ/w480-h640/20230324_112743.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr-s1WcEEky22o6ce3RdEXhCCDTIXipKpiiAinGLCzLjpTRwJNtZLVCVtL1HKIIsfIaHA2IIwuyUklPP4XiOH7HVJChL1u4LLjyF6MvAhH7VCvrUmmgacsJ-cvrIvIzVJKAZaIvIr_pGltmPkv6KhMIgk_RSNz1DlDENlZFTNqFN8F5IrUMsDUQ/s4032/20230324_112820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr-s1WcEEky22o6ce3RdEXhCCDTIXipKpiiAinGLCzLjpTRwJNtZLVCVtL1HKIIsfIaHA2IIwuyUklPP4XiOH7HVJChL1u4LLjyF6MvAhH7VCvrUmmgacsJ-cvrIvIzVJKAZaIvIr_pGltmPkv6KhMIgk_RSNz1DlDENlZFTNqFN8F5IrUMsDUQ/w480-h640/20230324_112820.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I approached the falls you could see the visual difference in the greenery around you. The shades were darker, and much richer so that the photos of them made them look like I'd turned the saturation filter on in comparison to how all the plants had looked so far, along the walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ5W7fCaErmHUljN2UKhq3mo-cKJYBdDn4Etw_Kn8mZoUsxahCj6HsbinbQYpojN7Sj-ebp5qPmaGY0ugF81J5vxQ9jjW6cgwdWeiHTrJ2E8Sc6IMRjWF8B5Sx_kaXZ1X3ekD_ZZEoMsfHs44_3N_Guv5xuEJQxtr571N10uwVgNbBQKexO5Dew/s4032/20230324_112932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ5W7fCaErmHUljN2UKhq3mo-cKJYBdDn4Etw_Kn8mZoUsxahCj6HsbinbQYpojN7Sj-ebp5qPmaGY0ugF81J5vxQ9jjW6cgwdWeiHTrJ2E8Sc6IMRjWF8B5Sx_kaXZ1X3ekD_ZZEoMsfHs44_3N_Guv5xuEJQxtr571N10uwVgNbBQKexO5Dew/w480-h640/20230324_112932.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I noticed just prior to reaching the falls where water still steadily dripped down the side of the cliff walls an old stairwell leading to a gate that was sealed off, maybe from back in the day, but brought to my mind images and thoughts of 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park' that I was obsessed with as a kid, imagining the abandoned, overgrown, Dinosaur infested island.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXnYUpmcvV7oD-K512HZsNrBNRN2Cxk9H9-sumn7iotTsCI9oB4marjWj47onXPAxr3GhqD88TpgkpW1d3Wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xQ5Pyp5pAI8cvyV98eKSPPysX1whZ0zC4xBKPIj46A3ylYnZeZD5INylhTLNDyMB3msbQy1f3pUQfS_XslqkTxQp-FXUgzdx943gM6CMazoj-eP8EQKItfiqvhQ1PU5YXV9PH6au_NmxP_XfjIsQb7rTrrD6hKQViKFGlCnMMSJxjAvdDqFBPg/s4032/20230324_113008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xQ5Pyp5pAI8cvyV98eKSPPysX1whZ0zC4xBKPIj46A3ylYnZeZD5INylhTLNDyMB3msbQy1f3pUQfS_XslqkTxQp-FXUgzdx943gM6CMazoj-eP8EQKItfiqvhQ1PU5YXV9PH6au_NmxP_XfjIsQb7rTrrD6hKQViKFGlCnMMSJxjAvdDqFBPg/w480-h640/20230324_113008.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2FScVvYsya-zN1hb7aNoLEQOl43cJ3t0eg5eauaVAkwPn5nwG4_4n6AGOm3ny_v9ox3F5cAiUgg_FFd_xtaImj5sAaUvIQym5Oh_cOpM3SWnt4ugetwEgK1E3jMBheDqRNXp_AEMDG-JxF7FaLjySTU9bpSnVwdFW27MG3nSsRNAyiEcQjrU2w/s4032/20230324_113022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2FScVvYsya-zN1hb7aNoLEQOl43cJ3t0eg5eauaVAkwPn5nwG4_4n6AGOm3ny_v9ox3F5cAiUgg_FFd_xtaImj5sAaUvIQym5Oh_cOpM3SWnt4ugetwEgK1E3jMBheDqRNXp_AEMDG-JxF7FaLjySTU9bpSnVwdFW27MG3nSsRNAyiEcQjrU2w/w480-h640/20230324_113022.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuHA6lMOq1NyTOpsMqzx1M3RtHOJDj-f8YEDRrKHfrDyPFKFNR5LN8yg5uxGreSr0iw5MduuJtpmU1gdMfA7nuMc67PzfR2-WmH_FjRq0c054baWWL3TBmpe5oraDi6rNvniFO9DzFwHL8-7YGd5WKlLkmY6Dskpq-5DgvYM2wrydonvjTpzzDQ/s2944/20230324_113113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuHA6lMOq1NyTOpsMqzx1M3RtHOJDj-f8YEDRrKHfrDyPFKFNR5LN8yg5uxGreSr0iw5MduuJtpmU1gdMfA7nuMc67PzfR2-WmH_FjRq0c054baWWL3TBmpe5oraDi6rNvniFO9DzFwHL8-7YGd5WKlLkmY6Dskpq-5DgvYM2wrydonvjTpzzDQ/w480-h640/20230324_113113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I headed down more stairs, past another cliff overhang warning sign, and down another manmade walkway before getting my first look at the falls.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwEpxHG5eBJI9BGshojxz7k0ogr0qBaL_LY3kyUGyajv8thEdRBIYc5BJJHS3awdWZMxTtX5O-iEj6k9XHwFQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ts-TkUqkdvNGxelFo9ZBKyaEh1IFD5rxUvitGp9O5718Eu9lc2Asi5UBHsMU_XdmC7dbQId8YZL_6bbCxIJrADsV27JL1Lxp1Ker1_SuoxOxoJ4jgY7OFsoMXUenpZ5rHKjkUeqZ918WSysROfMdQD2sEhsVciCMOFs0UydPq-8NL9-UsqVeFQ/w480-h640/20230324_113402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMz27GLQEZbOHseyYNbFl1ofKDop9q5fXjR1703CPRszWO0xcGqDGv_HCMmj1Fo1OjNEoS81CNf22XrRT9lknRY0f9n1pc6TBGgBZdFwfmZtGgrSpiSIwXEGt3G13XVTPN21OIGZz5x04N3Nd9U6neFlLVfctI89zQKCIrR1uJBwatwUYJhER3g/s2944/20230324_113507%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheMz27GLQEZbOHseyYNbFl1ofKDop9q5fXjR1703CPRszWO0xcGqDGv_HCMmj1Fo1OjNEoS81CNf22XrRT9lknRY0f9n1pc6TBGgBZdFwfmZtGgrSpiSIwXEGt3G13XVTPN21OIGZz5x04N3Nd9U6neFlLVfctI89zQKCIrR1uJBwatwUYJhER3g/w480-h640/20230324_113507%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8gOEHY8Hh_A2IFgY4sGm0QeyR9ZRKOR2xkqv37LiNlQGR2AmmoIqGSC8DYTK-bSNXZozvs1QTq9JTagqL-D8vXdchXHtT8yMI2jSgtvM6IAOEt1Xn_PWPMNCS4Pwb7q-DUaRHYxfUBpcR7el2wx51m4G1WA10VtrOSvbI7ejTv8Pe_5_8LqjWA/w480-h640/20230324_113831.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpUK_1ZS9PEZsA6durRPa483vMGjGl9J5bKOLGNflzwPCHIjTT3pjSVFhAXEgMHqocb5I6zBL3-p3B6YVzHQ0Slyn1JcThHNT3Y5jWyB5DvylHp6EEcRQZ8zfSjYkBJRix6tFuyYoi-XzKMjYE1mmSmB2pN7xYm7UMxduJWv9DqiVKYSPPwYgGw/s2944/20230324_113315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpUK_1ZS9PEZsA6durRPa483vMGjGl9J5bKOLGNflzwPCHIjTT3pjSVFhAXEgMHqocb5I6zBL3-p3B6YVzHQ0Slyn1JcThHNT3Y5jWyB5DvylHp6EEcRQZ8zfSjYkBJRix6tFuyYoi-XzKMjYE1mmSmB2pN7xYm7UMxduJWv9DqiVKYSPPwYgGw/w480-h640/20230324_113315.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I squatted down on top of a boulder watching the water crash down, completely alone and in nature. I enjoyed the silence and the ambience of my surroundings before being startled by a couple who approached the falls from the opposite way that I had come, they startled me so much I lost my balance and slid a bit down the boulder I had been squatting on. I managed to get my balance so that when I slid onto the ground I stood straight up and didn't fall over. I nodded a hello, before going to retrieve my backpack which I had left closer to the base of the falls, deciding it was time for me to have a drink of water.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I opened my backpack I found it was empty, realising that I had, whilst distracted discussing the garden with my Wife, completely forgotten to pack water. It was around lunch time now and all I had had was a coffee and 2 hash browns so I could feel how thirsty I was. But thought that I would find a tap in Bundanoon so it wouldn't be a big deal.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wondered if the walk this new couple had come from was the loop track mentioned on the sign at the start of the walk, or if this was not yet the base of the falls, but just one of them, and if there was maybe another further down. So I set off down the path that they had come up from.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe8sK9-v_Rj4vpHHQRCQk95QsqqN9PCKFtD1kAaNyiQ84EMZrnU39O62xDPO9QWKQPLsRfHQh4HQQro8pv6ZfNOXUAEAi1_D4hRx3LLoVqmpuVQUJFZe8nmeBCFUha545EDHQgRvHU0ceWn_zK3YKF5glC0xhtSI_GtNmHQOit3C8ssLQdFj42g/s4032/20230324_113900.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe8sK9-v_Rj4vpHHQRCQk95QsqqN9PCKFtD1kAaNyiQ84EMZrnU39O62xDPO9QWKQPLsRfHQh4HQQro8pv6ZfNOXUAEAi1_D4hRx3LLoVqmpuVQUJFZe8nmeBCFUha545EDHQgRvHU0ceWn_zK3YKF5glC0xhtSI_GtNmHQOit3C8ssLQdFj42g/w480-h640/20230324_113900.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJMKc513B5nstEaB4DynpPFHxr7i9zHXPIAibqH0p5y4gce7bEfpBkCQ2DoYup9SVZ-wwRFBJfJoyw5Zbw40tAyl2DVXw_rjk7c2VlxL2zKMei9FMvqprgTs5gscM3cc9UfzkjrqHJFwVvqZcBCWdJj2VOwVhxkSpCgBxDS1Urs6Vwb3XXyh3sg/s4032/20230324_113939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJMKc513B5nstEaB4DynpPFHxr7i9zHXPIAibqH0p5y4gce7bEfpBkCQ2DoYup9SVZ-wwRFBJfJoyw5Zbw40tAyl2DVXw_rjk7c2VlxL2zKMei9FMvqprgTs5gscM3cc9UfzkjrqHJFwVvqZcBCWdJj2VOwVhxkSpCgBxDS1Urs6Vwb3XXyh3sg/w480-h640/20230324_113939.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EjBda_rCFc1R6PogKIR2ZgQJoSrkHLMiMERFnW_Mh2DO_YFtYKBbnq-4Vi5uxt484h7T_n4oWpSfx_AW91Oru-T166RrGysy7TOe6ioBq8lEQK08Pq3bt2PJwW0xFhZM6Gpd1G0O4CV36MTdVCe_I20fh5gudKSyG8MQmUe4tn-hgVJ8zdJupg/s4032/20230324_114144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EjBda_rCFc1R6PogKIR2ZgQJoSrkHLMiMERFnW_Mh2DO_YFtYKBbnq-4Vi5uxt484h7T_n4oWpSfx_AW91Oru-T166RrGysy7TOe6ioBq8lEQK08Pq3bt2PJwW0xFhZM6Gpd1G0O4CV36MTdVCe_I20fh5gudKSyG8MQmUe4tn-hgVJ8zdJupg/w400-h300/20230324_114144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGh6zje2-LW-apySShz5E72VVunA2PCwc5WfH3oF_PanPFfvHu-HAk-5vaWuEL3-N0SyCtHgPoV7E0TBBlR47zfKx9KwRQA4ou20Ip9UskfI4Kb2QghcYjdFshd-AmYcbfouXDQdxJaZpeuB_km6YVqnGuT-tcWSvYo85fFc9evqxOIesjCowpg/s4032/20230324_114240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGh6zje2-LW-apySShz5E72VVunA2PCwc5WfH3oF_PanPFfvHu-HAk-5vaWuEL3-N0SyCtHgPoV7E0TBBlR47zfKx9KwRQA4ou20Ip9UskfI4Kb2QghcYjdFshd-AmYcbfouXDQdxJaZpeuB_km6YVqnGuT-tcWSvYo85fFc9evqxOIesjCowpg/w480-h640/20230324_114240.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As the canopy above me opened up, the bush on each side of the path closed in, and I was soon dripping wet as the damp branches brushed along the sides of me. The path was on a slight angle and the mud was so wet that every step I took I could feel the mud beneath my feet sliding downhill so had to tread carefully to keep my footing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Law7xCQyCftE9A918j-YxOWN09Q49UQTMezhUF-tfpGun6vqjmS8WgbNOrtCWW9F49bM2BOHK5zd4SHEUtlWmhlOu2ShEaGFyEIBNlHi7J90RgjzlYPgXHyzpaR9n-2yhsSsqf0wYhoO1WGFZlw848JqHXhTjuPx9cl6sE6jmcEBRP-Uthvj5w/s4032/20230324_114336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Law7xCQyCftE9A918j-YxOWN09Q49UQTMezhUF-tfpGun6vqjmS8WgbNOrtCWW9F49bM2BOHK5zd4SHEUtlWmhlOu2ShEaGFyEIBNlHi7J90RgjzlYPgXHyzpaR9n-2yhsSsqf0wYhoO1WGFZlw848JqHXhTjuPx9cl6sE6jmcEBRP-Uthvj5w/w480-h640/20230324_114336.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvmIQuBrdTTd9meNfLb2LcWg9vnmiKY8oiOS5-e7sAeoUU5GVz-LYDLzUs-hPS13OU-32khxsEOolsG-kXvq8kzc1B0Fw79PtFkHnWvNgkzz1-mogs2IVB9dp1JIedcz9bt8IBquPwHpgNxYNtU3MaJgw0F7pyIDNQauYYTgm3S74uHqucTYJSA/s4032/20230324_114633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvmIQuBrdTTd9meNfLb2LcWg9vnmiKY8oiOS5-e7sAeoUU5GVz-LYDLzUs-hPS13OU-32khxsEOolsG-kXvq8kzc1B0Fw79PtFkHnWvNgkzz1-mogs2IVB9dp1JIedcz9bt8IBquPwHpgNxYNtU3MaJgw0F7pyIDNQauYYTgm3S74uHqucTYJSA/w480-h640/20230324_114633.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqZ8XV2-zdQEAufIMKR6DoygsSXcNPv6FgDQwsCJ93zbQeIHJjcPyDgAUlibKlvnQIMoX6YhR7wks7sSIqTqOCmy_vzNshexm5681fSSLZZVHyvH-Ov9E583tirsUzVlIV_8okGvAjzjS3_wv607_aU5u3HiLAHUzneZbw1SpWdzQOhHeABInwg/s4032/20230324_114841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqZ8XV2-zdQEAufIMKR6DoygsSXcNPv6FgDQwsCJ93zbQeIHJjcPyDgAUlibKlvnQIMoX6YhR7wks7sSIqTqOCmy_vzNshexm5681fSSLZZVHyvH-Ov9E583tirsUzVlIV_8okGvAjzjS3_wv607_aU5u3HiLAHUzneZbw1SpWdzQOhHeABInwg/w480-h640/20230324_114841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilewi5MgwChWKL2YfArvs1ufr-z_rwAzOXHT1ZpzXxySgxamYRygFnyI-vR97NODuOSIYcB5NoOv5xfX5e7jLY7tpLqwRDxQb-1boirL9WajWr5bgCkq_ZOwrJQdbJCd1rFlrFtcqMc2uaXKLEWdzVo38mROTkRTUrr8nLG0zoFMCXp74rC7aQ0Q/s2944/20230324_114957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilewi5MgwChWKL2YfArvs1ufr-z_rwAzOXHT1ZpzXxySgxamYRygFnyI-vR97NODuOSIYcB5NoOv5xfX5e7jLY7tpLqwRDxQb-1boirL9WajWr5bgCkq_ZOwrJQdbJCd1rFlrFtcqMc2uaXKLEWdzVo38mROTkRTUrr8nLG0zoFMCXp74rC7aQ0Q/w480-h640/20230324_114957.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIUNvI4h6qSdfH0TWX1-cTksg6g-jdqQlkQapK8lz7uzwiPmbuc403EXrbwWfSGhJVssQ3HGHNvJDDRJ-Ofigd3idD8tOcigD0PiU90T8noJME802nQaqcuFgorm_kT9yEYLLlS32-q_s7DBtHCbMiFAzBEOI35Vinmb1n57IVAEmGOiaPvCLfA/s4032/20230324_115013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIUNvI4h6qSdfH0TWX1-cTksg6g-jdqQlkQapK8lz7uzwiPmbuc403EXrbwWfSGhJVssQ3HGHNvJDDRJ-Ofigd3idD8tOcigD0PiU90T8noJME802nQaqcuFgorm_kT9yEYLLlS32-q_s7DBtHCbMiFAzBEOI35Vinmb1n57IVAEmGOiaPvCLfA/w400-h300/20230324_115013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I reached another split in the path. Right, heading uphill, to 'Tooths Lookout' and left downwards to 'Bundanoon Creek'. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin2w5R-PMHoWKv-5I6e77TJalOmYgI2kp7Pwvx-VtW5Art2mXXevQl8Cd0auPY3OLnOHMwqAnN3m1TK9WiqgIh7xeP2zinlMDWu__XCA89DMRdQSks4pwfADKqvqRykFgqryKqwefOaUR7ZLIQbNq2ouV4eGQBA9P6TY0VunmmPnz7EJFKcotQQ/s4032/20230324_115200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjin2w5R-PMHoWKv-5I6e77TJalOmYgI2kp7Pwvx-VtW5Art2mXXevQl8Cd0auPY3OLnOHMwqAnN3m1TK9WiqgIh7xeP2zinlMDWu__XCA89DMRdQSks4pwfADKqvqRykFgqryKqwefOaUR7ZLIQbNq2ouV4eGQBA9P6TY0VunmmPnz7EJFKcotQQ/w400-h300/20230324_115200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried a quick search online to try to find out how far each was but was unable to get any reception. I looked back through the photos I had taken. Unfortunately, the picture on the map didn't say how far from here it was to Bundanoon Creek but showed that I could follow the track to Tooths Lookout and return to my car from there. However if I had looked at the very first sign at the carpark that had the list of all the walks and information instead of the map (which I didn't even think about) I would have learned it was a 3 hour walk from the carpark, and a 3 km return to Fairy Bower Falls (so I probably could have done it, or definitely could have if I had actually packed water). Instead, I decided I had better head up to Tooths Lookout if I was going to have time to also do Glow Worm Glen in the same day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The track was definitely less walked, as I passed through a few spiderwebs.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Zsns58Vi7ytPSMmlerm0UVWXoZKeeH0ssqvv0eG2CbatYDiQ8Prd93RB3m77F6LWqKbTSFT6_IN5UsVhDyAhoQQCG_I8icy4x97pjnfiSHLNAUMaOrrO5OPFo9aIDXJyKUIzoS4YSI0q9M9FCunUiQFem_W1dt4CwDaLjEDMTite5_Ag6sBKw/s4032/20230324_115621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Zsns58Vi7ytPSMmlerm0UVWXoZKeeH0ssqvv0eG2CbatYDiQ8Prd93RB3m77F6LWqKbTSFT6_IN5UsVhDyAhoQQCG_I8icy4x97pjnfiSHLNAUMaOrrO5OPFo9aIDXJyKUIzoS4YSI0q9M9FCunUiQFem_W1dt4CwDaLjEDMTite5_Ag6sBKw/w480-h640/20230324_115621.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phone camera did not want to focus on him</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY6TxHQv0wUZQC0Bkovoh4hOAR12YGFcF-tbDPDoFi1UmrJlhurJ6pivr7eGXmNBYXP6kW96sM5K9CZSCB8PZnqPPsLdhKareijN7LCu-KFU01jHXE1tKqCtzlsTHyaaPyZTjG8zXRzJTfHKx7ImQzavDA-bqJJg7yUPgXUT-WHi-h7oAKBU0sA/s4032/20230324_120057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY6TxHQv0wUZQC0Bkovoh4hOAR12YGFcF-tbDPDoFi1UmrJlhurJ6pivr7eGXmNBYXP6kW96sM5K9CZSCB8PZnqPPsLdhKareijN7LCu-KFU01jHXE1tKqCtzlsTHyaaPyZTjG8zXRzJTfHKx7ImQzavDA-bqJJg7yUPgXUT-WHi-h7oAKBU0sA/w480-h640/20230324_120057.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I began to struggle to breath as I ploughed on uphill. I wondered whether it was the still the damage to my lung from the chemotherapy, or the lack of water, or both. (Or potentially the low testosterone, as I latter researched causes extreme fatigue and decreased energy as well as memory issues and trouble sleeping, all of which I had been having lately). I stopped for a breath even though I had been trying to mosey onward. This stop was short lived as I noticed I was beginning to attract the leeches.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV5q1NpdZG5VnSN7pT7Zm6wNk8iQmISxiDQHD4zJCaVPc19gZtrscZeqh3-0x-Svy5PPhh-wS3v4Y24ftUYmqiQcTshT7_8OivlWK3uJLiRq2aEj_zwn3yOvVbB7gLGkRBmChin3jllSVRVPJ5jXToldtoeFEsgQFgf1fLLweZA93H1QLBbYZDg/s4032/20230324_120302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV5q1NpdZG5VnSN7pT7Zm6wNk8iQmISxiDQHD4zJCaVPc19gZtrscZeqh3-0x-Svy5PPhh-wS3v4Y24ftUYmqiQcTshT7_8OivlWK3uJLiRq2aEj_zwn3yOvVbB7gLGkRBmChin3jllSVRVPJ5jXToldtoeFEsgQFgf1fLLweZA93H1QLBbYZDg/w480-h640/20230324_120302.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I nicknamed him <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/11/mount-gibraltar.html" target="_blank">Larry</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I flicked him off and I kept pushing myself uphill, taking deep breaths, and forcing my legs to keep walking up the stone stair wells that occasionally appeared along the track, getting more frequent as I got closer to the top.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVJv2I9faJkBsJgva2udvkprwZ5t304EHD6Ow4Kcl6uT8fGuP8AIky3Pwf2nj8i57p5VdM1NtWD37cASfsw1p2RdtouKq35eK6LDTOUwZv3AkE72TZ3zbnS1VKVN-wd1wdC3fOmoFVqZeqrACx7dIrL8t4Ze6vZFJ5oc8cHAjq-csJ90pdFNOew/s4032/20230324_120507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVJv2I9faJkBsJgva2udvkprwZ5t304EHD6Ow4Kcl6uT8fGuP8AIky3Pwf2nj8i57p5VdM1NtWD37cASfsw1p2RdtouKq35eK6LDTOUwZv3AkE72TZ3zbnS1VKVN-wd1wdC3fOmoFVqZeqrACx7dIrL8t4Ze6vZFJ5oc8cHAjq-csJ90pdFNOew/w480-h640/20230324_120507.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAzIU8DtWg6EVjtQd-svS6dKEi40uiQ_n_1BAlWFHZqWJg79QhczAmLpT0qErXCgxSaOKclyBeceVlCZ5z7WRiMLFTWNQdabmyYg2crvNBk1JJFc0WdgeoXaY-TbVyoCOsoB04TXor1cBT-4hO-UruhoaKFIdmoy_g5n--eQCQt86K4PDedXRLg/s4032/20230324_120542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAzIU8DtWg6EVjtQd-svS6dKEi40uiQ_n_1BAlWFHZqWJg79QhczAmLpT0qErXCgxSaOKclyBeceVlCZ5z7WRiMLFTWNQdabmyYg2crvNBk1JJFc0WdgeoXaY-TbVyoCOsoB04TXor1cBT-4hO-UruhoaKFIdmoy_g5n--eQCQt86K4PDedXRLg/w480-h640/20230324_120542.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwnEUZTYmRwqDgEDQ5M5ldB7E1KeOvWZv17nM8yc-O6UQzqK2ltoxWWYH_5sAzjaBY33BLBnHFH0xUz525HZMtwY7TBj2Qc4X6LoTIflw0wyZ7RBqDJ1pyGSLyME1Rt8b72dyfqOvMcENxj2qp7Hy5zj_3cQe2XpMW1OHCNPhKJaOp5gvQKafFw/s2944/20230324_120755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwnEUZTYmRwqDgEDQ5M5ldB7E1KeOvWZv17nM8yc-O6UQzqK2ltoxWWYH_5sAzjaBY33BLBnHFH0xUz525HZMtwY7TBj2Qc4X6LoTIflw0wyZ7RBqDJ1pyGSLyME1Rt8b72dyfqOvMcENxj2qp7Hy5zj_3cQe2XpMW1OHCNPhKJaOp5gvQKafFw/w480-h640/20230324_120755.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I finally got top a resting spot with a boulder I could sit on to avoid the leeches that offered a view of the valley. I rested here for a while, as messages from my Wife started coming through on my phone indicating I was now in location with reception. As I sat in the sun with a nice Autumn breeze blowing over me and cooling me down, I began to hear voices at the base of the walk indicating it was time to me to make my last push towards the top of the hill.</div><div><br /></div><div>I pushed myself and finally made the top wondering if it would have been so exhausting if I had simply returned up from Fairy Bower Falls. At the carpark at the top there was a sign telling me that Bundanoon Creek was simply a 1.9km walk from where I was, but there was no way I was walking back down having just come up. Not without water.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHd1H-KsgvfdRDd9XIAMtd-0L_d1SIsc5raweG9B7EmM0dUfyM5wQUAEZ-kf-NLUaeg8bO2tPIUZHjF5ks_WhH1H_nviTZ2gE2XhnXVLQuLWVOfT3TG6gQCKCvL4zFW-jqca0P5wvFGcFqYeu4u_XZowrHBrcXxtFM30S57VdZq6flZsz1ikYzg/s2943/20230324_122317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="2943" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXHd1H-KsgvfdRDd9XIAMtd-0L_d1SIsc5raweG9B7EmM0dUfyM5wQUAEZ-kf-NLUaeg8bO2tPIUZHjF5ks_WhH1H_nviTZ2gE2XhnXVLQuLWVOfT3TG6gQCKCvL4zFW-jqca0P5wvFGcFqYeu4u_XZowrHBrcXxtFM30S57VdZq6flZsz1ikYzg/w400-h300/20230324_122317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cj7klnXWRsskWckreon319-3-GY9OlaaCtElhLkrlnP8k2A-th_Zw2agMWTYZRtGacYwa9RtNqfVYJN8CLDv8zl0I6uVksLKtIUDNT6npos_1rURvLgzxLgR01o1PKbRwg9Irv_rWHI7t2NMNznaUAIjeZhBhC2I2FgvVGyE_Hbxmxz6TBhWAA/s4032/20230324_122340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cj7klnXWRsskWckreon319-3-GY9OlaaCtElhLkrlnP8k2A-th_Zw2agMWTYZRtGacYwa9RtNqfVYJN8CLDv8zl0I6uVksLKtIUDNT6npos_1rURvLgzxLgR01o1PKbRwg9Irv_rWHI7t2NMNznaUAIjeZhBhC2I2FgvVGyE_Hbxmxz6TBhWAA/w480-h640/20230324_122340.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC81ZqzXsciZlC9vtXkd20A4e2yBMom4h7UEw4HWPUYzoumd1kqbm1l1b20zTAiGZs_sFJFp2f_dxNvd1iyyASi3R80M8XPdgsBcaXlp8HqUVap-nj5nQIwwhZTw3YiapVK-yt86n-Vh2u_UwznECxW-dyDcIc1A-gm0do90ELe_QL8ZnFCTkqQ/s5376/20230324_122404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3856" data-original-width="5376" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDC81ZqzXsciZlC9vtXkd20A4e2yBMom4h7UEw4HWPUYzoumd1kqbm1l1b20zTAiGZs_sFJFp2f_dxNvd1iyyASi3R80M8XPdgsBcaXlp8HqUVap-nj5nQIwwhZTw3YiapVK-yt86n-Vh2u_UwznECxW-dyDcIc1A-gm0do90ELe_QL8ZnFCTkqQ/w400-h288/20230324_122404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I stopped to take in the views of Tooths Lookout before beginning along the track ahead of me that had numerous ringed Xenica Butterflies flying around.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DqgqMVdXR8SoXTP9Ims527RZybYHGNGZmeA0YKA3aPa6dvGKNrE90zeY8N7H5fpeAPO7pcnU_0ieJjHqfmbotvZ83okj_jUZqAK_DeDzA-hmLBO1OsUeR0UUCNmY8QEmWuoISilIKKCVdu52DAPdur0skIgBQde9Zcy4XbXPUfn9vX_qLtRhrg/s4032/20230324_123049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DqgqMVdXR8SoXTP9Ims527RZybYHGNGZmeA0YKA3aPa6dvGKNrE90zeY8N7H5fpeAPO7pcnU_0ieJjHqfmbotvZ83okj_jUZqAK_DeDzA-hmLBO1OsUeR0UUCNmY8QEmWuoISilIKKCVdu52DAPdur0skIgBQde9Zcy4XbXPUfn9vX_qLtRhrg/w480-h640/20230324_123049.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I came upon a sign with information about the Bundanoon Creek Track warning the walk was not for the faint hearted, that made me and my very dry mouth not feel so bad.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr0UB2jK8674ga6uLsh7EygOFGKPmZ8JDbszsyMCduYsrAU10uoTeTi8AxENhm052OOdRTsruMFVRcF3d84-cnVPW2tq3pUEuA4zBUOKRDF7VDxMWIk8r2Y7AoChCq-tVBSr70oyauyrr6__7d9xe3mznLsKRzrisGmYhBdbf4WYZOxnDJRoY4A/s4032/20230324_123138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr0UB2jK8674ga6uLsh7EygOFGKPmZ8JDbszsyMCduYsrAU10uoTeTi8AxENhm052OOdRTsruMFVRcF3d84-cnVPW2tq3pUEuA4zBUOKRDF7VDxMWIk8r2Y7AoChCq-tVBSr70oyauyrr6__7d9xe3mznLsKRzrisGmYhBdbf4WYZOxnDJRoY4A/w400-h300/20230324_123138.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I continued walking down the roads making my way back to the carpark. Coming to an intersection of road heading right to the Fairy Bower Falls walk and left to the picnic area. I figured I had already walked along the Fairy Bower road so continued up the road back to the picnic area.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvWPHzopVhxmi5vq3DdJgzlA8EQ7dTghYMm-euM3JMXcBWY_P5qzazqf4xq962uYvrnckIIftt_YyqgoEXOOaOraIXnUR6frKmxHauPOvque8MVbQVSefY_VU7YZQ9UOi8Nx_nGea8yht_2D4SwDOJ4hEKyLoRlfWMkVUDjzWVunClWwBmwV5zg/s4032/20230324_123505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvWPHzopVhxmi5vq3DdJgzlA8EQ7dTghYMm-euM3JMXcBWY_P5qzazqf4xq962uYvrnckIIftt_YyqgoEXOOaOraIXnUR6frKmxHauPOvque8MVbQVSefY_VU7YZQ9UOi8Nx_nGea8yht_2D4SwDOJ4hEKyLoRlfWMkVUDjzWVunClWwBmwV5zg/w400-h300/20230324_123505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The day was now super sunny compared to the dense mist I had encountered when first reaching the top of Macquarie Pass. As I continued the path in the sun, feeling my wet clothes dry while on my body an old man on a bike road past and I waved. Soon the road turned completely left and I began walking the long way down it, far away from where the Fairy Bower Falls road had been and I began questioning if it was taking me to the right area. As I approached the picnic area I was unsure it was the right spot, cutting through the bush to the field, I realised it was, as I noticed my car on the opposite side, and that I was walking up the road that Google Maps had asked me to go down with the sign telling me not to. </div><div>I crossed the Wombat poo laced picnic area and returned to my car, looking at the time and realising I still had to find water, and that I had planned to drive to Mittagong to Eden Brewery (that Tristan and I went to after each attempt at Mount Jellore) to get their Black Clover Irish Stout that they had released for St Patrick's Day the week before, I knew I did not have time to do the Glow Worm Glen walk, deciding I would head in to Bundanoon to find water before going to get my stout.</div><div><br /></div><div>However while looking at the Bundanoon Creek Track signpost I had seen a Grand Canyon and Sunrise Point lookout that I decided to jump into my car for a quick drive down to see. "I was up here anyway" I thought.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I followed the road down I came to another two way section, heading right to Grand Canyon Lookout which I followed, pulling up and getting my first look at the 'Australian Grand Canyon'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSESkb2cmzTvS6hh3LSElZ-n0f1otRGVTFacGUqImEwiMYheXmYkCvF-AuR1HavoJ9cAhvXkyetF9L_xgGd7fnXH73cMH0vJjbsETKXmooiOlgKzhqodgc-g9gvWdBiqbuFvVX8UFUcbXfq7GzrrKPC4biSjhzDdqXGFG9vZn2h2aJJPQkgWPMQQ/s4032/20230324_130720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSESkb2cmzTvS6hh3LSElZ-n0f1otRGVTFacGUqImEwiMYheXmYkCvF-AuR1HavoJ9cAhvXkyetF9L_xgGd7fnXH73cMH0vJjbsETKXmooiOlgKzhqodgc-g9gvWdBiqbuFvVX8UFUcbXfq7GzrrKPC4biSjhzDdqXGFG9vZn2h2aJJPQkgWPMQQ/w400-h300/20230324_130720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-17EZmxwG66LBOt_bh-8FmaRArbO6Dztl0SJWjxltl-UbtlEduUbV6wQdA-sXqrQ3p_m5UXOR8OXwGXzjkJbOD3q5TvDStKRtdpPSdsJFJEc7SOvvsZg2bQCG31JB9pj62jW5eHWL_1dtKCDHOsD8Jd3i12omx4MH1_sU46KC9j4dT-Q2FwMCQ/s4032/20230324_130854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-17EZmxwG66LBOt_bh-8FmaRArbO6Dztl0SJWjxltl-UbtlEduUbV6wQdA-sXqrQ3p_m5UXOR8OXwGXzjkJbOD3q5TvDStKRtdpPSdsJFJEc7SOvvsZg2bQCG31JB9pj62jW5eHWL_1dtKCDHOsD8Jd3i12omx4MH1_sU46KC9j4dT-Q2FwMCQ/w400-h300/20230324_130854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As I took in the view my stomach rumbled with hunger and I could feel how dehydrated I was. However there was another sign here with a walk to Gambells Lookout and 'Fern Glen Walk', neither particularly long, so I quickly walked down to Gambells Lookout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNIscughErWnavWp25NYTh1HgbJlY1iZTD0Qj4-hh1E72DoYvtDcdz9kpLuubxRxWW0yTGdS25HD889dAyj0Bp2NPZHl4zV7Fusm8To780EAGPzQtdiiVL_CQAHUeDphGXdsG8X0rK86mIWa4-M7xPAJJggbdPp2D1q0kRwe9IGKe2DS8ezMcPQ/s4032/20230324_131023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNIscughErWnavWp25NYTh1HgbJlY1iZTD0Qj4-hh1E72DoYvtDcdz9kpLuubxRxWW0yTGdS25HD889dAyj0Bp2NPZHl4zV7Fusm8To780EAGPzQtdiiVL_CQAHUeDphGXdsG8X0rK86mIWa4-M7xPAJJggbdPp2D1q0kRwe9IGKe2DS8ezMcPQ/w400-h300/20230324_131023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyAuF_MUecyR9Wi_S-jeh5YFLxXgK7KsDadRIbEVmoULxT5VxctaLCdemfJq_lMAarp3XLXhUYJ6XiABzoiOARA1S-i7jK67_JR2Y2GsRPjGzAEsQ9XIAQy4YUhL4vq3pLVcbnQTFJSTjRGRyz1PPx6RlqQckgCI7NB7_kGrNTKk4RTEcjQKxig/s4032/20230324_131105.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyAuF_MUecyR9Wi_S-jeh5YFLxXgK7KsDadRIbEVmoULxT5VxctaLCdemfJq_lMAarp3XLXhUYJ6XiABzoiOARA1S-i7jK67_JR2Y2GsRPjGzAEsQ9XIAQy4YUhL4vq3pLVcbnQTFJSTjRGRyz1PPx6RlqQckgCI7NB7_kGrNTKk4RTEcjQKxig/w480-h640/20230324_131105.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWG3LURR5mUu9rUi6EN1Hau1yckpHUonv0qsaPEelfxeS5PVr9iBi8cyXdbCaeKOndk3dsUJKxJx6YjyGMMiXKqjdUtS-i2LEq8B3SORuWlOMaCa6YYzvn8pdtQ1ww42rz_1dZK6swtrk209s8WEbFhpmpgCAJmU4_f21LeAtxdYxvYSGpLwEew/s4976/20230324_131153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3760" data-original-width="4976" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWG3LURR5mUu9rUi6EN1Hau1yckpHUonv0qsaPEelfxeS5PVr9iBi8cyXdbCaeKOndk3dsUJKxJx6YjyGMMiXKqjdUtS-i2LEq8B3SORuWlOMaCa6YYzvn8pdtQ1ww42rz_1dZK6swtrk209s8WEbFhpmpgCAJmU4_f21LeAtxdYxvYSGpLwEew/w400-h303/20230324_131153.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Before walking down the Fern Glen walk.<br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx_xFIi9iZfSSxIFU_YDZtE3HECrfOlr0duPl7yKflaFcSJtiwypPQQeFzSnZzB8Lc8b7tDpk9HMuytq0LErJKQefkwjXy53FsIRoAmlQ0YAfEMblvlaVyC1L7q9vd538G9uDpRyWfj4pklWfvwtSqza1VrX8JAinj_7b7gQSeVRMPaivJ_5RQw/s4032/20230324_131305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx_xFIi9iZfSSxIFU_YDZtE3HECrfOlr0duPl7yKflaFcSJtiwypPQQeFzSnZzB8Lc8b7tDpk9HMuytq0LErJKQefkwjXy53FsIRoAmlQ0YAfEMblvlaVyC1L7q9vd538G9uDpRyWfj4pklWfvwtSqza1VrX8JAinj_7b7gQSeVRMPaivJ_5RQw/w480-h640/20230324_131305.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbyzBnGzt22rp2G1ct-LfBZBQ4d3G74P2mBbOp7HF2rL5PTxFXXVEZ4f16-sBscDrSBuW-5_9z9Q_fJCA06wX7EqJ0kJDCxAcsOPBtsmkLXaJ3MqzgEZGyfAXkNFH9_MGesm-6Qz8LzSEpXLAoMfM8RlZ9g2okR_08DQaXwqGay_6KUhBTIw-yQ/s4032/20230324_131355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbyzBnGzt22rp2G1ct-LfBZBQ4d3G74P2mBbOp7HF2rL5PTxFXXVEZ4f16-sBscDrSBuW-5_9z9Q_fJCA06wX7EqJ0kJDCxAcsOPBtsmkLXaJ3MqzgEZGyfAXkNFH9_MGesm-6Qz8LzSEpXLAoMfM8RlZ9g2okR_08DQaXwqGay_6KUhBTIw-yQ/w480-h640/20230324_131355.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW98m4iKhmSTjw2O8QkfrZb61h0Wiffq1vHO_aR97wJez22Y5IBbNG4ytmArUJfaMl6nYLrL-FPIQsc1WHMCL3LGk-K-izdnxdse4ct0Mx8htFhcC_paR-zERvA7L6o7El8wMAFurVsIgaUACP9Q4wazHC3tKNxG2gpyn2l9wv7PSIWP1UbewYyw/s4032/20230324_131442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW98m4iKhmSTjw2O8QkfrZb61h0Wiffq1vHO_aR97wJez22Y5IBbNG4ytmArUJfaMl6nYLrL-FPIQsc1WHMCL3LGk-K-izdnxdse4ct0Mx8htFhcC_paR-zERvA7L6o7El8wMAFurVsIgaUACP9Q4wazHC3tKNxG2gpyn2l9wv7PSIWP1UbewYyw/w400-h300/20230324_131442.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One path led to this fallen tree but as I went to walk under it, there was just a stream and no path</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECvufOoyJ9t35ifphCcPjNFoSwVKNBeMjWP2fj76lA50Kz2SNn6mh_Cy_U0TUj_DRDtqrmSj7Qk7qyBxpwpcYBSQD1bZ_LCUEpkq_vEyGBcRiAQcvt43_61fmfrL5pg8Xe0AXYeHEK3Q8kEenRM3OvJWMlCmAxypHWHsuLS3eA6sjuLDu59aYrw/s4032/20230324_131537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECvufOoyJ9t35ifphCcPjNFoSwVKNBeMjWP2fj76lA50Kz2SNn6mh_Cy_U0TUj_DRDtqrmSj7Qk7qyBxpwpcYBSQD1bZ_LCUEpkq_vEyGBcRiAQcvt43_61fmfrL5pg8Xe0AXYeHEK3Q8kEenRM3OvJWMlCmAxypHWHsuLS3eA6sjuLDu59aYrw/w480-h640/20230324_131537.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__W4SKHOZyi9qQsabXUPxOclqavginxGzqVEm7yvNIALzfjj2SdTIWUcGDGz1w60X2fAfgmryHf4kzCb0N34Yhr6B4asrxyvWdj5XNe9fpDCy_epKsPBLAdv_3uyrbAWJ4LFhZTJzVNHiz4MBki-qgZ1V0JWFqJ6XkxiW2samEskTEOy8w0QftA/s4032/20230324_131550.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi__W4SKHOZyi9qQsabXUPxOclqavginxGzqVEm7yvNIALzfjj2SdTIWUcGDGz1w60X2fAfgmryHf4kzCb0N34Yhr6B4asrxyvWdj5XNe9fpDCy_epKsPBLAdv_3uyrbAWJ4LFhZTJzVNHiz4MBki-qgZ1V0JWFqJ6XkxiW2samEskTEOy8w0QftA/w480-h640/20230324_131550.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IQFTg4ZYtd-6SUGlM9LsQMyQKOFMkGVrUTVP2M-Ty-gO574w6WhmAAl6YDQu29k65GxAKR-nqBKphbbCDqTgeE2XbR9eCN989_kkojltRfwOG-TnB9Ns4VO9iqLwJea--B1FgzHxvw80fMivHt7P_uGvXs57oAkB_MM3f7YIr5FE4PAvxrErFw/s4032/20230324_131631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IQFTg4ZYtd-6SUGlM9LsQMyQKOFMkGVrUTVP2M-Ty-gO574w6WhmAAl6YDQu29k65GxAKR-nqBKphbbCDqTgeE2XbR9eCN989_kkojltRfwOG-TnB9Ns4VO9iqLwJea--B1FgzHxvw80fMivHt7P_uGvXs57oAkB_MM3f7YIr5FE4PAvxrErFw/w480-h640/20230324_131631.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYQidg96Ih04exD0jMXx6doLrF884XJnFH8fS5XeNrazVfSOhn33bsxkvZH2T6tuc8MWh82P2c1v4TOdfkuP6ZSOtAmynQENqxHIeqL4tGsZEyWt04nN2bi9n8FciikV_eA_nQfvK1RUPmA-dLDMF-HzSvI5jJyyRzi4VPqiSyxAE3KlUlbwH5w/s4032/20230324_131645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYQidg96Ih04exD0jMXx6doLrF884XJnFH8fS5XeNrazVfSOhn33bsxkvZH2T6tuc8MWh82P2c1v4TOdfkuP6ZSOtAmynQENqxHIeqL4tGsZEyWt04nN2bi9n8FciikV_eA_nQfvK1RUPmA-dLDMF-HzSvI5jJyyRzi4VPqiSyxAE3KlUlbwH5w/w480-h640/20230324_131645.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>As I wandered a few different paths I couldn't actually find which was the proper trail meant to lead anywhere, they all seemed overgrown and there didn't seem to be a clear path. "I don't have time for this" I thought, looking at the time on my phone and also seeing my phone battery had somehow drained exponentially, leaving me worried it would go flat before I could use it to get to the brewery. I quickly headed back uphill jumped in the car, and began driving to Sunrise Point.</div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived at Sunrise Point, another lookout over the same valley, and wondered if there was any walk down to the 'Grand Canyon'. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl6foVNyEbcJXOUBDkvaTAnW5_KBaSm6glySApQkIN1tlinMy8z1bimNT85Kzvb78vhEuOaOmB33KTXbgF2jtSwCo-qvPozqU8zezDXjGcnGfCig10fmj8zUc_U0AWSqy18KvF0md-AKN13ellC0gA5HZTjFKk-sfTP8gsJhH454ldRKuh3_z_g/s4032/20230324_132245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl6foVNyEbcJXOUBDkvaTAnW5_KBaSm6glySApQkIN1tlinMy8z1bimNT85Kzvb78vhEuOaOmB33KTXbgF2jtSwCo-qvPozqU8zezDXjGcnGfCig10fmj8zUc_U0AWSqy18KvF0md-AKN13ellC0gA5HZTjFKk-sfTP8gsJhH454ldRKuh3_z_g/w480-h640/20230324_132245.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXit-ly0imDQCcsXUJkOou6JwMZS50jIZ_GEQlJ2AiXU1utAn1FL2k1xl1T5BR0DAh7Zox6Hj6HT53-s-wR0APNYwsWnv00BScSeblgYZ3jh-78x_0nFpyzKtBYRwiu2YdHdIYaSj1_w_IhI0NGt7sra7bPO_rESiirHokxgIqNM4-Zljz6k4ig/s4032/20230324_132255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXit-ly0imDQCcsXUJkOou6JwMZS50jIZ_GEQlJ2AiXU1utAn1FL2k1xl1T5BR0DAh7Zox6Hj6HT53-s-wR0APNYwsWnv00BScSeblgYZ3jh-78x_0nFpyzKtBYRwiu2YdHdIYaSj1_w_IhI0NGt7sra7bPO_rESiirHokxgIqNM4-Zljz6k4ig/w400-h300/20230324_132255.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I set Google Maps to the brewery, and began my drive there, deciding to bypass stopping anywhere in Bundanoon for water or food.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally after a 30 minute drive I arrived. Walking in, sweaty, smelly, hungry and dehydrated.</div><div>I asked if they had the Black Clover Irish Stout bottled (as my plan was to take it home). They didn't but they had refillable containers of 1 litre or 2 litres. I asked how much they were (too much for what I wanted to pay). I asked about a schooner, which was $9. So I sat down and drank my Stout whilst dehydrated and hungry and having to drive an hour home.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE3DnYXCmp3j2i_c1nasIHcUnK5G946J86MG45MQpZ_xZgN4DPn8R-6DuaMGpyVgSf7n2nPYfK56-g8IYP64Z_Wu7zudD-lOtmhArCueh-j23tKHR5_r4EzTLb3X8ndtau0OYfzweq0THkwjqDlgTntbZheVmrhccw2c4JmFH2VvxagXVBPhs8g/s4032/20230324_140300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE3DnYXCmp3j2i_c1nasIHcUnK5G946J86MG45MQpZ_xZgN4DPn8R-6DuaMGpyVgSf7n2nPYfK56-g8IYP64Z_Wu7zudD-lOtmhArCueh-j23tKHR5_r4EzTLb3X8ndtau0OYfzweq0THkwjqDlgTntbZheVmrhccw2c4JmFH2VvxagXVBPhs8g/w480-h640/20230324_140300.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I sent a picture of the stout to Tristan telling him I was yet to eat or drink, saying I would just stop at Robertson on the way home for a pie. I devoured the stout because I was beyond thirsty and it was super delicious. I hopped in the car and began the drive home with my stomach rumbling.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon I pulled up outside of Southern Rise Bakery, only now seeing Tristan's reply telling me to go to 'Gumnut Patisserie'.<br />I told him Gumnut gets packed (with good reason obviously), before sending him a photo of Southern Rise showing I was already there.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Keep driving they suck." He responded. "They're bad quality and unimaginative. Robo at least has the volcano pie."</div><div>I told him there was no where else but the Robertson Pie ship, which in my opinion sucked. "A pies a pie." I responded to him.<br />"Wrong, so bloody wrong." He messaged back.</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to take a screenshot of my blog post 'Belmore Falls' which was written back in February 2020. In it, he listed his top 5 bakeries in the Southern Highlands with Southern Rise being his 4th. I told him "Don't rewrite history."</div><div><br /></div><div>He responded that since covid they had "gone downhill fast" and said that 3 from that list had since closed and that "Samuel Gee in Willow Vale is now top tier".</div><div><br /></div><div>My phone went flat and I went inside anyway and asked for a chilli pie, which they were out of. I looked at the list and asked for a Mexican Pie, which they had. I got into my car with it devouring it. "Not even bad." I thought, licking my lips, though it wasn't really Mexican flavours, more a spicy tomato. I turned on my car and continued down the pass, getting home just before nightfall, realising I had no hope of doing Glow Worm Glen that same day, but giving me a reason to return to the Highlands (along with heading down to Bundanoon Creek). I hopped in the shower to wash off, where I did the most dehydrating wee off all time, after cleaning off I made sure to quench my thirst by drinking all 3 of the water bottles I had left in the fridge.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com2Fairy Bower Walking Track, Bundanoon NSW 2578, Australia-34.6775531 150.3068578-62.987786936178843 115.15060779999999 -6.3673192638211518 -174.5368922tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-68441995323323388802023-01-10T13:06:00.002+11:002023-04-13T11:57:52.625+10:00Karloo Pools and Bottle Forest Trail<p>Christmas came and went, and the New Year was approaching, I hit up my friend Tristan to come to the movies to see the new Avatar film 'The Way of Water'. While catching up after the film we got to talking about another walk and Tristan threw out the idea of Karloo Pools on the 2nd day of the New Year, the day before I returned to work. I said that it sounded good to me, who had spent most of the Christmas break laying around inside eating really heavy meals.</p><p>So, the day before I quickly messaged another friend Biris to see if he would be joining us, unfortunately he was busy with a barbeque. Tristan offered to pick me up and decided to bring his girlfriend who was mentioned in my '<a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2022/07/kiama-coastal-walk-minnamurra-to.html" target="_blank">Kiama Coastal blog post</a>'. My first time actually meeting her.</p><p>He arrived outside my house, and we set off towards Waterfall. Chatting along the way. As we arrived at Waterfall train station Tristan decided he needed to poo, with me jokingly telling him he should just go in the bush. As we began walking to the station looking for a toilet, he realised that the walk began at Heathcote train station, so we got back into his car and he stopped at a service station along the way to use the loo.</p><p>As we arrived his girlfriend Amy and I both felt we needed the toilet and went at the station. We then followed Tristan's lead over the track to the other side looking for where the walk began seeing a few people heading that way. We followed them and found the entrance to the walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZomvPfD-X_qLYJsve97dzFzYStrWxo8ksrQTXZnoIy5J7yNhRQ7fIVp-1xhYq7VO6drYgYr_sEAA0h9laDuIGZh6GcqA8KTkhCVnd1HBSTEwg2viAnUtmr7clr8RGyfp-bE7EDN80fXmTXXQDX1VCBoOZf4iFCMZMmW3Ge0JFP2F6RZgRl6RHAw/s4032/20230102_103535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZomvPfD-X_qLYJsve97dzFzYStrWxo8ksrQTXZnoIy5J7yNhRQ7fIVp-1xhYq7VO6drYgYr_sEAA0h9laDuIGZh6GcqA8KTkhCVnd1HBSTEwg2viAnUtmr7clr8RGyfp-bE7EDN80fXmTXXQDX1VCBoOZf4iFCMZMmW3Ge0JFP2F6RZgRl6RHAw/w480-h640/20230102_103535.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we inspected the map, I mentioned we could have walked there from the Uloola Falls walk at Waterfall station (a walk I have done a few times and have meant to return and do again as a blog). He commented that we could have, but this way was shorter. My eyes bounced around looking at all the different walking trails wanting to do them all. We then began the walk in the sweltering heat wondering how I would go after my diet of rich Christmas food.</p><p>I could tell instantly that the walk was a popular one, there were people heading towards the entrance as we began the walk and various groups ahead of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBxnJyviq6rGziAjbOJU0okD4WXzJm9TXs_fe9agjNhs5MWL0cVtYY8T3UdA8YoU3SERZAjTYBfAznt9WNG--k6HbjoayChElYnIuhBTgIe2giItTk2xD19VIDQf2PzOPMzw3C9Pjt6UuUMlStzLK7lIZrwyMx5-8-lF5sL0xwg8hnRVVIrw1Xg/s4032/20230102_103945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBxnJyviq6rGziAjbOJU0okD4WXzJm9TXs_fe9agjNhs5MWL0cVtYY8T3UdA8YoU3SERZAjTYBfAznt9WNG--k6HbjoayChElYnIuhBTgIe2giItTk2xD19VIDQf2PzOPMzw3C9Pjt6UuUMlStzLK7lIZrwyMx5-8-lF5sL0xwg8hnRVVIrw1Xg/w400-h300/20230102_103945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we followed the path along the back of the houses Tristan's girlfriend Amy mentioned that it would probably be nice to live on one of these houses, however I said I wouldn't like to as there is not enough privacy for my liking, especially with the amount of people traversing the trail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tgIgYRa6afqtv6d6d6A-Y9Xze3KZu6y0pj0mTzURPCyMK5L48gFPnM0t8iLWIOFMOikT3y8696bm2B7ippARfY4E0roLC3XPbdYWoos4OFVHIQv5WNlfuYaE5V6w77qVEQwrFpEoegCsrgx9IonmRMclYM1h7QM0CsOHnueCJkMmbSKde8T0Ow/s4032/20230102_104054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tgIgYRa6afqtv6d6d6A-Y9Xze3KZu6y0pj0mTzURPCyMK5L48gFPnM0t8iLWIOFMOikT3y8696bm2B7ippARfY4E0roLC3XPbdYWoos4OFVHIQv5WNlfuYaE5V6w77qVEQwrFpEoegCsrgx9IonmRMclYM1h7QM0CsOHnueCJkMmbSKde8T0Ow/w480-h640/20230102_104054.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>To our right we came upon this structured sign, and I thought above the generic 'New Years Resolutions' but couldn't be bothered coming up with any because I never live up to them.</p><p>The path soon forked, with us following the trail right into the bush, towards Karloo (while the trail to the left was an APZ trail).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj3TAeywEfwHkB-jvcO1exLScikoNO2CVXj4j-RXiRfdKcKoaK9ntTK2QVA1LxL5zG-A6ZsaRzLAV0H5Zp7ljFtONi9Ee6ImXNCXfVEA62SY6c4I0GOxMGcNcXaYvl7FbFN1SbzF-yY2J-nU-LoSysqPdQQ2VkphNP0gngPLjVJY0HPHP7hgrYg/s4032/20230102_104148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj3TAeywEfwHkB-jvcO1exLScikoNO2CVXj4j-RXiRfdKcKoaK9ntTK2QVA1LxL5zG-A6ZsaRzLAV0H5Zp7ljFtONi9Ee6ImXNCXfVEA62SY6c4I0GOxMGcNcXaYvl7FbFN1SbzF-yY2J-nU-LoSysqPdQQ2VkphNP0gngPLjVJY0HPHP7hgrYg/w480-h640/20230102_104148.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmDtYXYvc-Q3A36vGULS92pTJM9EWmfhFxS74gaGwbdkoDWQqnV36IrxOAJer-lG4YbovxnhIboEm6QajhyuThnimS_Y8xMf7J5Fb55GC0vTP-D_yyPBf8XxN72cMwYYpuX3EamUQ8pT35fCYlkfo9AXpwiyKW0LKOxu8tExc1--EDVUlbu_2-A/s4032/20230102_104253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmDtYXYvc-Q3A36vGULS92pTJM9EWmfhFxS74gaGwbdkoDWQqnV36IrxOAJer-lG4YbovxnhIboEm6QajhyuThnimS_Y8xMf7J5Fb55GC0vTP-D_yyPBf8XxN72cMwYYpuX3EamUQ8pT35fCYlkfo9AXpwiyKW0LKOxu8tExc1--EDVUlbu_2-A/w480-h640/20230102_104253.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPwF-ykpbfMOb3xX1sDpXIP5Fo6EljJlcWeomqnU3pF8FwOq_G3Z1pzQ11g57HDfNzXkCOoy9fyrStzTxDZ0rKAZjthrBILjiuqDSD1ejlXE_68ljcpXQv860ICdCEON-hodqlQS1lY7S73iJFVd3UxGt-a6-DljU58cSh_oVxHCrRK2zbh2xQ/s4032/20230102_104754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPwF-ykpbfMOb3xX1sDpXIP5Fo6EljJlcWeomqnU3pF8FwOq_G3Z1pzQ11g57HDfNzXkCOoy9fyrStzTxDZ0rKAZjthrBILjiuqDSD1ejlXE_68ljcpXQv860ICdCEON-hodqlQS1lY7S73iJFVd3UxGt-a6-DljU58cSh_oVxHCrRK2zbh2xQ/w480-h640/20230102_104754.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Tristan pointed out particular plants along the way, using his bush regeneration knowledge. He also pointed out an Eagle, which to stir him up I kept insisting was a bird it wasn't (such as a pelican).</p><p>Along the thin trail we weren't walking particularly slow, overtaking some people whilst also stepping aside to let groups of other people march on ahead of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcD2wGmGIJPyQDBAIqmF0ipTjuK1egrs9NxnaWx8xfLfcKR6_9Vp7isVahen2seu2Tn_OXPKs0ogd1TTIFN5OarbbXxQEmBH7GreY4HqDY2OI8pzGdRpf7JDEJRzY6uvI8XGW4RQkb8YtC-BKiCzOO7ZPEveofgGx5CziW0LFxoayYo3Im6iaRA/s4032/20230102_105108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcD2wGmGIJPyQDBAIqmF0ipTjuK1egrs9NxnaWx8xfLfcKR6_9Vp7isVahen2seu2Tn_OXPKs0ogd1TTIFN5OarbbXxQEmBH7GreY4HqDY2OI8pzGdRpf7JDEJRzY6uvI8XGW4RQkb8YtC-BKiCzOO7ZPEveofgGx5CziW0LFxoayYo3Im6iaRA/w480-h640/20230102_105108.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCwZchKQJh9HgM70LKtFxu1vGnXUTExejsD9pihBB4I1TCSosngkQeFQNiVAOFNUuthRlzAG7wKuumpuaXf3keJ5x4n2AeiMKvaiqtb82Yc_kmavIq6uTINxmHdqRlPoY2kqh_JXUIWn7rDsOf-jL8ndnwKi3ZLpvlL7eoY5on_b_cdMCTSFbuw/s4032/20230102_105634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCwZchKQJh9HgM70LKtFxu1vGnXUTExejsD9pihBB4I1TCSosngkQeFQNiVAOFNUuthRlzAG7wKuumpuaXf3keJ5x4n2AeiMKvaiqtb82Yc_kmavIq6uTINxmHdqRlPoY2kqh_JXUIWn7rDsOf-jL8ndnwKi3ZLpvlL7eoY5on_b_cdMCTSFbuw/w480-h640/20230102_105634.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We stopped along a rocky slope looking at the scenery. The discussion soon turned to travel with Amy mentioning swimming in the Nile while on a trip to Egypt, and I mentioned my upcoming trip to Iceland, she asked me about the Midnight Sun, and I said I thought that it occurred there, but wouldn't at the time of the year that I would be there.</p><p>The walk began to slightly incline, and we continued along the uneven surface (though it was not treacherous and was a very easy walk still).</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWWyXMHStjA0om9UaznW1AJ17DALpru-F1NLLqBK1s6LM4ajm9pBrylP0a2dGsPrM9cq_caab-PfeosFc8vyeTDUeSFtC4_MX2WTFYN0rTP84CiQw0G2ZRrHUlvIptJfALdQJvXkzvPKnnSojPn_PJCXQd8_8P49ES7RLNJEAy1GtXwohCOfcAQ/s4032/20230102_105807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWWyXMHStjA0om9UaznW1AJ17DALpru-F1NLLqBK1s6LM4ajm9pBrylP0a2dGsPrM9cq_caab-PfeosFc8vyeTDUeSFtC4_MX2WTFYN0rTP84CiQw0G2ZRrHUlvIptJfALdQJvXkzvPKnnSojPn_PJCXQd8_8P49ES7RLNJEAy1GtXwohCOfcAQ/w480-h640/20230102_105807.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZc4DTRxQgv0C8MNrsNn0ILQDpnlzEcXGekpC_eVFR4eisC_cuC3tBlOomuKg61Dx4vo1bKg50tgmoi4_dvKr70myt9wfCSXCFvyYJZAplSQKDFDyGJL1GADr5XICsWiIRQr3SqpVPDIBC8lqgDsOL8br-7yWHDFthDPOwKgREV1YyDKMbKGKhQ/s4032/20230102_110007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZc4DTRxQgv0C8MNrsNn0ILQDpnlzEcXGekpC_eVFR4eisC_cuC3tBlOomuKg61Dx4vo1bKg50tgmoi4_dvKr70myt9wfCSXCFvyYJZAplSQKDFDyGJL1GADr5XICsWiIRQr3SqpVPDIBC8lqgDsOL8br-7yWHDFthDPOwKgREV1YyDKMbKGKhQ/w480-h640/20230102_110007.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSStE5IoJ1KSsBMoaoFGskYu3JzrmIqzOn3S2Fziga5y1lUmsd4rMoSXzfCrrhbBFAimdbFMsgAslXZPyH3tAqsf3v818gr89YEQfSy2XvwfQlr5LKIoKh9W2MPbKxFeyycNa9foc9gBAR8XP1HjQUmqZQNkgSGvKMLp0s-wW1YruyhuoIoI0Y1Q/s4032/20230102_110026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSStE5IoJ1KSsBMoaoFGskYu3JzrmIqzOn3S2Fziga5y1lUmsd4rMoSXzfCrrhbBFAimdbFMsgAslXZPyH3tAqsf3v818gr89YEQfSy2XvwfQlr5LKIoKh9W2MPbKxFeyycNa9foc9gBAR8XP1HjQUmqZQNkgSGvKMLp0s-wW1YruyhuoIoI0Y1Q/w480-h640/20230102_110026.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After reaching the top just over the incline in the picture above the walk began on the same uneven surface but on a much sharper incline downwards that at some spots on the walk involved a little bit of scrambling just to avoid the people who were working their way back up (many of whom were stopping due to exhaustion and the heat as they worked their way uphill). It felt like we spent longer heading down then we had on the rest of the walk and wondered if we would look like these poor souls on our way back.</p><p>We soon arrived at Karloo Pools, which I could hear before I saw it. As the pools came into my sights, I realised why I had heard them, it was like going to a public swimming pool with the amount of people. We looked from side to side along the watering hole and opted to go to our left and climb up on a big rock away from people overlooking the water. I debated whether or not to get a photo as so many people where in there but opted to quickly take one while looking at my phone so it was 'inconspicuous'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2PKPC9_ikNCqrnb-LG05YfBCCGh9U5QhY5qW6fuP7NuleYM_VW92hqNmeQF_j40WL-AZioKXeXRint1mh5Y4PAeC_3Gh8ixUHi2t34-9iqpLkfGOXtGe25xd3SWSy6rAD4_169ObzZk0WhsbPzAqpNlpOBTMzLcUZAx-o4Ozr-5a4cY35Z76ZA/s4032/20230102_113334.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2PKPC9_ikNCqrnb-LG05YfBCCGh9U5QhY5qW6fuP7NuleYM_VW92hqNmeQF_j40WL-AZioKXeXRint1mh5Y4PAeC_3Gh8ixUHi2t34-9iqpLkfGOXtGe25xd3SWSy6rAD4_169ObzZk0WhsbPzAqpNlpOBTMzLcUZAx-o4Ozr-5a4cY35Z76ZA/w480-h640/20230102_113334.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As I sat up on the rock observing the people around me, not far from my right a group of young teenagers lounged about, blasting their crappy music for everyone to hear. "This isn't a fucking water park" I thought angrily. "Nobody wants to hear your fucking shit."<br /><br />Just down beneath me two young teenage boys threw stones into the water heading down stream and were told of by a lady who said he and her friend were trying to go in and swim there. The boys completely ignored them and continued just throwing rocks and while the woman looked at them with an incredulous look, unable to believe their sheer rudeness. </p><p>"Are you coming in?" Tristan asked me. I told him I wouldn't as I didn't bring any swimmers and I didn't fancy walking in wet cloths, and that there were far too many people for my liking. Him and Amy went in for a swim and I sat trying to tune out the music and image the area without people.</p><p>While the two of them were swimming I noticed a particular couple come down, they came around to the side I was one before turning around and going to the opposite side to read a signpost before continuing along the walk. They didn't look like they were here for a swim and I figured they were continuing along the walk to either Uloola or Audley. Once Tristan and Amy returned and got changed, I asked if they wanted to continue the walk. They said they were ready and we walked around to the signpost I had seen the couple read. The sign seemed to imply that if the followed it inward to the right it would take you to Uloola, but if you continued straight ahead it would take you on a loop track up Bottle Forest Trail and back to the entry. They agreed that they wanted to do the loop and we headed down that trail seeing a few Water Dragons and at one point a Goanna.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGB_g9v3zQL6wsuhhV_ebOj9lb3N7w29FjFo7da8us2sfmbpRdXzjOMvS2W_J5XWYs0v6HMt63Sq-m5rYfyjNTIxu5DuYngC2mIP50uKd5iVzxOMnXGVew26kIbu93QD88XaXmMraUU_w0jVSCZV8tA0wEE7j83l2w5AlJEx6nI36i8vz-6vJew/s4032/20230102_121744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGB_g9v3zQL6wsuhhV_ebOj9lb3N7w29FjFo7da8us2sfmbpRdXzjOMvS2W_J5XWYs0v6HMt63Sq-m5rYfyjNTIxu5DuYngC2mIP50uKd5iVzxOMnXGVew26kIbu93QD88XaXmMraUU_w0jVSCZV8tA0wEE7j83l2w5AlJEx6nI36i8vz-6vJew/w480-h640/20230102_121744.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mV_plRQbCjFnwiCGKUQAvm9_05YrBYFJspAhows8WzuPY5qzBCO86aGO0CEyK_7t9meCmi3ye6F9WzvwG33WC6GNw5dpEHdfzuj9uuhdw2g3amXYX56g0dI8ZcW8HErhRtSyIZeNr783vO703_b_txGUcOlJzSOlvY4CoL6tfKYqlvU7IdSpXg/s4032/20230102_121959.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mV_plRQbCjFnwiCGKUQAvm9_05YrBYFJspAhows8WzuPY5qzBCO86aGO0CEyK_7t9meCmi3ye6F9WzvwG33WC6GNw5dpEHdfzuj9uuhdw2g3amXYX56g0dI8ZcW8HErhRtSyIZeNr783vO703_b_txGUcOlJzSOlvY4CoL6tfKYqlvU7IdSpXg/w400-h300/20230102_121959.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0iJw2zKbCVOsj8M9GDkbSqx6Lhkob3YhEWbjHrBniDpP-aXcAiKY9XOgj9JXWZmaNmTdpy1YDkLbq4V2YySoYLWFZVPZi3UHVyIoXuiTHJfppLOtbBD6r2o17WbYIy2qLAABlJioOmBmoqZY1U9htG30E6nkjaHXhw_g3LewmCuQmzrCD0cKwQ/s4032/20230102_122354.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0iJw2zKbCVOsj8M9GDkbSqx6Lhkob3YhEWbjHrBniDpP-aXcAiKY9XOgj9JXWZmaNmTdpy1YDkLbq4V2YySoYLWFZVPZi3UHVyIoXuiTHJfppLOtbBD6r2o17WbYIy2qLAABlJioOmBmoqZY1U9htG30E6nkjaHXhw_g3LewmCuQmzrCD0cKwQ/w400-h300/20230102_122354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued along Tristan continued to cast doubt that we were even following a trail. I insisted we were saying I was 90% positive. Each time we got to a section that was slightly overgrown or the trail seemed a bit harder to find, Tristan would turn to Amy and asked if she trusted following my lead. I would then again insist I was positive but lowering the percentage to maybe 60% before again finding an obvious point in the trail and raising my percentage level of assuredness. </p><p>Tristan continued to remain skeptical that the path looped, bit I said it had been on the map of the signpost that I had forgotten to photograph (having felt like some of my previous blog were too photo heavy I actively tried to not take as many photos during the walk and instead just enjoy myself).</p><p>At one point Tristan even stopped to try and GPS were we were, insisting the trail wasn't a loop but was a retention basin on the map, and when his GPS loaded up it did indeed not show any looping trail (it did show the Bottle Forest Trail, but not connecting to the track we were on).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oYLzu4HcTbd7W5CoXEFevLuUnmA7FXV_ml3S1bGFod8BAvUUXcmdQGTgBndXeJlzg0mFznS2b078dtmgLyjaU3sKuQIkLpPMCshQvy9jvxVE5Qla8bOHX6HV85fZgxFFFFMqWY9EkA-Eb3dVWk5H84HoO33BswRHKZw-CCyN4LXPhk3IB7i2iA/s4032/20230102_124139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oYLzu4HcTbd7W5CoXEFevLuUnmA7FXV_ml3S1bGFod8BAvUUXcmdQGTgBndXeJlzg0mFznS2b078dtmgLyjaU3sKuQIkLpPMCshQvy9jvxVE5Qla8bOHX6HV85fZgxFFFFMqWY9EkA-Eb3dVWk5H84HoO33BswRHKZw-CCyN4LXPhk3IB7i2iA/w480-h640/20230102_124139.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UNtIBizHN2kQMkAekUXY3Equ43w36ptOAL0yHfTKbGpVWV78dRCrV8JaPdX9Kn8svOf9xGDAeR5cjGmZK9e7xjFXFkgWC0vDjscv70uFmS494_VKB_qOysH82OwkBeKyNqmV2rw5Akzg9N12OlY-XRLgbS07hQRtjLInjn1ri42JXycc9gy6cw/s2944/20230102_124146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UNtIBizHN2kQMkAekUXY3Equ43w36ptOAL0yHfTKbGpVWV78dRCrV8JaPdX9Kn8svOf9xGDAeR5cjGmZK9e7xjFXFkgWC0vDjscv70uFmS494_VKB_qOysH82OwkBeKyNqmV2rw5Akzg9N12OlY-XRLgbS07hQRtjLInjn1ri42JXycc9gy6cw/w480-h640/20230102_124146.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory selfie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we continued down some of the water spots were very clear and looked wild and like much better spots to swim in (with a distinct lack of crowds), however both Amy and myself commented at different times that the reads made it look (for some reason to us) like the water would contain Crocodiles (though we both knew they didn't).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xUSwgebO8hTHuUN93rZ8SJ5pt74XoKIAmD0HjMobmLqW8YcOyyIFXKRu82CriLrqoVtBpX9kE7pXs-s2CFAcr3KXhpf8UrglCLWlreK6jYSQJ7ZeJyZ_UF6gS9iVuzFBaX6qG9Do_0K4CgvbgrwA6wh7Cii5AHr3vuWYw2v107t6rZ1wFDpEBg/s4032/20230102_124347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xUSwgebO8hTHuUN93rZ8SJ5pt74XoKIAmD0HjMobmLqW8YcOyyIFXKRu82CriLrqoVtBpX9kE7pXs-s2CFAcr3KXhpf8UrglCLWlreK6jYSQJ7ZeJyZ_UF6gS9iVuzFBaX6qG9Do_0K4CgvbgrwA6wh7Cii5AHr3vuWYw2v107t6rZ1wFDpEBg/w400-h300/20230102_124347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6StNQnHpRrA3hmXyNyY46NcwS8mauDbdxTVbTCfd3vn1m1orGgrVjYRqaFkKX_3Eh6BHPmVaq1nTOx2MoiekKucp-k0Hbc0Fs464oNOxPpZQ0QoY4u4k7GadRkRGTxfucWe26Agypxa5wB3hAF0OKB4vh-oxwXv2nvOXO8ntH6vCJfOFRSWMlcA/s4032/20230102_124447.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6StNQnHpRrA3hmXyNyY46NcwS8mauDbdxTVbTCfd3vn1m1orGgrVjYRqaFkKX_3Eh6BHPmVaq1nTOx2MoiekKucp-k0Hbc0Fs464oNOxPpZQ0QoY4u4k7GadRkRGTxfucWe26Agypxa5wB3hAF0OKB4vh-oxwXv2nvOXO8ntH6vCJfOFRSWMlcA/w480-h640/20230102_124447.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I was happy we had come down this way, given how beautiful the views were (much more than any parts on the previous sections of the walk), but Tristan had me beginning to doubt myself and I was soon convinced that, as he said this walk simply continued through to Audley. I told them both we would get to a certain bend in the river (that I could see we had not yet reached when looking at Google Maps) and said if we did not come across a turn off to our left by that point, we would simply turn back the way we came (as I remembered from the signpost map whereabouts the loop trail was meant to be.).</p><p>As we continued further down the trail the silence was broken by voices in the distance and I suggested that we would ask the people about the 'Bottle Brush Trail' and Tristan, and I kept misremembering the name (even commenting on the lack of Bottle Brush Trees along the walk).</p><p>As we rounded a bend there was a group using a rope swim and some people swimming in the river. I called out and asked if they knew where the 'Bottle Brush Trail' was. The lady in the water replied that she found that funny as there were no bottle brush along the walk (she must have misread it too, that or the signpost I didn't photograph was incorrectly labelled).<br /><br />She said something about it being 'Olympic Pools' though I could find no reference to that name on Google Maps looking along Kangaroo Creek (the creek we were following) and the only reference to that name I could find was doing a Google Search where it came up on the app: AllTrails.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2krv-b_vOt4l0CfcNX0DVjK2HHAgTK-nyDitfL_DZndjy88qYUeaXLDeVV4fimDqbPebhxe0ySnUNPaVoFiCrWmQ4OEvESV646NlKpDHeCr94y7Cw1gbqmg28dP8nOqTgT9v0o8NaMLDARyNl74hNO_MLfGlBTqbchkRfLNcgY_PCpysG93Hmeg/s4032/20230102_125538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2krv-b_vOt4l0CfcNX0DVjK2HHAgTK-nyDitfL_DZndjy88qYUeaXLDeVV4fimDqbPebhxe0ySnUNPaVoFiCrWmQ4OEvESV646NlKpDHeCr94y7Cw1gbqmg28dP8nOqTgT9v0o8NaMLDARyNl74hNO_MLfGlBTqbchkRfLNcgY_PCpysG93Hmeg/w480-h640/20230102_125538.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPyEc6fP8uEAk61JisaQd_vxFuJKJlBgQCWojRtP4wJ4E2jVKRCLfZOkUXJ-PffCreVo6vm2SgmJlijUoCdCoPRkG2c6Hl_nFUs68vPmZHBhYAnK-xPb2QwfYYI_amIKyfM51wN3yXMaaD9j46ykH9uU2XmrgwgbVDixjiHzZzqywUJwTMc_teg/s4032/20230102_125724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPyEc6fP8uEAk61JisaQd_vxFuJKJlBgQCWojRtP4wJ4E2jVKRCLfZOkUXJ-PffCreVo6vm2SgmJlijUoCdCoPRkG2c6Hl_nFUs68vPmZHBhYAnK-xPb2QwfYYI_amIKyfM51wN3yXMaaD9j46ykH9uU2XmrgwgbVDixjiHzZzqywUJwTMc_teg/w400-h300/20230102_125724.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked, Tristan and I referenced several previous walks and he joked that soon all my blogs would simply be talking about old blogs. I told him that I had already found some of the previous ones too referential and that I would be looking to try and remove that so much from future posts. Amy commented that she was surprised we remembered enough to write about everything. I thought about that in my head afterwards, noticing how much I had struggled with my conversational recall while writing previous posts ever since having my chemotherapy, and even while trying to start this post messaging Tristan to see what he remembered, which wasn't much, which at least made me feel like it wasn't so much the chemo-brain, but the amount of conversations and distance in time between doing a walk and writing about it.</p><p>Tristan suggested the idea of bush-bashing through if we didn't find the trail and suggesting if we headed the right way, we might link up with the Bottle Forest Trail. I threw that idea out, saying I'm fine with bush bashing but the bushland was far too thick and heading uphill, I said I was happy enough to walk down a bit further and if we didn't find it, we could simply head back and walk up the way we had come.</p><p>As Tristan continued ahead along the trail while I stopped to take photos, I heard Amy call out that there was an arrow and as I caught up to her, I also noticed the cairn at the base. Tristan had to come back as he had walked ahead without noticing it and Amy seemed pretty happy to have found the path on the walk, with me sharing a gloating smile at Tristan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHs7Z_BWHZl6ISCcazQxTlr3W27E_YsENbH92AOw5YB8oGzv1uEMi9pEApfDVDfSI8PaoRon88ntHcnxBCBVrW55ekzVNERq7Wyf_HZFqwB5mJR_SuHy4lgVorok1fyKlTpQYv1-d6XIaA5v94eT67Sa4I4zJ09Uqo-iAwOpUj1vobK7WhosyKg/s4032/20230102_125804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHs7Z_BWHZl6ISCcazQxTlr3W27E_YsENbH92AOw5YB8oGzv1uEMi9pEApfDVDfSI8PaoRon88ntHcnxBCBVrW55ekzVNERq7Wyf_HZFqwB5mJR_SuHy4lgVorok1fyKlTpQYv1-d6XIaA5v94eT67Sa4I4zJ09Uqo-iAwOpUj1vobK7WhosyKg/w480-h640/20230102_125804.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBegbHXAI5R3Scj9LkWEHGS53npJ3_cXS0p1jlVCZXnGSSZP3sobIE83J9Bth_HSfSuXKlcNmNpL-9yGXnLQWwXl_JdPUidEuMOvq0xP_MWMXykD65lFAtH3k-6NpZJrXT9UGN04Tk4hS40bfaH0jTqYymGtnAQEAqiE9BoFdvW8-NtyAQ-NdpfA/s3648/20230102_125855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBegbHXAI5R3Scj9LkWEHGS53npJ3_cXS0p1jlVCZXnGSSZP3sobIE83J9Bth_HSfSuXKlcNmNpL-9yGXnLQWwXl_JdPUidEuMOvq0xP_MWMXykD65lFAtH3k-6NpZJrXT9UGN04Tk4hS40bfaH0jTqYymGtnAQEAqiE9BoFdvW8-NtyAQ-NdpfA/w480-h640/20230102_125855.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As soon as we began up the stairs Tristan began complaining about me making them have to walk uphill. </p><p>"It would have been uphill on the way back anyway." I told him, "At least we got to get to explore a different path." He continued to whinge but because it's Tristan I assume he was whinging for the sake of it and was not literal with his complaints.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iAwpZ4oarNsv9nhLnfhiKr7dmn41hV6ee2PoeemET4CTMuWb_YlBmSdWw2owdZsFj3sCsPLxdDHcJHe8Cm6QVeAuNZSZHKWVurRF5tOqX7PhRXvHOM1UICw2lG9cdmEcDP5gq4_Sx3r3mVQIZm2OCzUoyLAz9yrVE_LRVUu40iAGAtQikF9lXw/s4032/20230102_130948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iAwpZ4oarNsv9nhLnfhiKr7dmn41hV6ee2PoeemET4CTMuWb_YlBmSdWw2owdZsFj3sCsPLxdDHcJHe8Cm6QVeAuNZSZHKWVurRF5tOqX7PhRXvHOM1UICw2lG9cdmEcDP5gq4_Sx3r3mVQIZm2OCzUoyLAz9yrVE_LRVUu40iAGAtQikF9lXw/w400-h300/20230102_130948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The walk up was pretty steep, but more evenly footed than I felt the way returning from Karloo Pools would have been. We stopped once along the way for the two of them to catch their breath and I commented to Tristan he seemed out of shape compared to when we had done the Kiama Coastal walk together.<br /><br />"Are you calling me fat!?" He jokingly said angrily to me.<br />"No, I just mean your fitness. It's reminding me of when we did <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a> and you got cranky at me for wanting to let you stop once we got to the top."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xY9A8jNNhBUkaQK-HzmuTbMsel2JxQsEftTG8ncGYyqJ1REVcfDEWFErgOd94BO-TFwkDxFfCC1ZFglc37xcijkTTckAqDYg6SSYrLVt1T--sLPYaBeMCos1UA7tYajQNzLfG8g4sbma5L1dduWtnhrupoHOlSDY1s6nflitJatoTQ8Y72ni_Q/s4032/20230102_131001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xY9A8jNNhBUkaQK-HzmuTbMsel2JxQsEftTG8ncGYyqJ1REVcfDEWFErgOd94BO-TFwkDxFfCC1ZFglc37xcijkTTckAqDYg6SSYrLVt1T--sLPYaBeMCos1UA7tYajQNzLfG8g4sbma5L1dduWtnhrupoHOlSDY1s6nflitJatoTQ8Y72ni_Q/w480-h640/20230102_131001.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We reached the top of this section and we stopped again for a breath and some water, behind us the couple I had seen wandering around at Karloo Pools appeared (they had been that the spot the lady had said were the Olympic Pools, but we had not spoken to them there).</p><p>Tristan said high to them and started asking them a bunch of stuff and the woman needed him to speak slower and I realised that they were foreign and didn't speak English super well (the accent sounded slightly German but I couldn't say for sure). She mentioned they had seen a monitor lizard along the way (the Goanna we saw), and they continued on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOlJX-BxwC3CsjpJkorpoTLXxT1-lMEh-JNYDw1FOnMj3oKXXR99TlwY7Eogemt7TRjBWR0ZTpxKZ5b2YrvcCtIAwFls_npW_zXOYoyOD2iXN_kuN3O-eYfGsjxoY_2SnfVquI4MAnyoyGb7pam_jHczOCgdzkjLNMO2PU9WT4fGs1wIn83KwQQ/s4032/20230102_131119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOlJX-BxwC3CsjpJkorpoTLXxT1-lMEh-JNYDw1FOnMj3oKXXR99TlwY7Eogemt7TRjBWR0ZTpxKZ5b2YrvcCtIAwFls_npW_zXOYoyOD2iXN_kuN3O-eYfGsjxoY_2SnfVquI4MAnyoyGb7pam_jHczOCgdzkjLNMO2PU9WT4fGs1wIn83KwQQ/w480-h640/20230102_131119.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The walk continued up and Tristan continued to complain, however I was surprised by my own fitness but then realised the Christmas break hadn't really been that long, so my fitness wouldn't drop off too much no matter how much Christmas ham I ate.</p><p>Soon we heard another group catching up behind us and we stopped to let them pass while Tristan laid down for a rest.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ40nWYuIJlGQV9f2CIGfUp5Xitzm38HcQ60ZONsjqVgtUHQXBR2im3SgkZBEoF58Ez27EbMQ9tQ_SIBlrOg_V-xbO4ym1cNfvLHt4uaGa2xyu72Xrn896f5OB1DEX6tVgVfLpZLZoIoxmM0Xf_KuFxpeJaHHM7maPOpCdH9pqMy-yLNLWiZqug/s4032/20230102_132456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZ40nWYuIJlGQV9f2CIGfUp5Xitzm38HcQ60ZONsjqVgtUHQXBR2im3SgkZBEoF58Ez27EbMQ9tQ_SIBlrOg_V-xbO4ym1cNfvLHt4uaGa2xyu72Xrn896f5OB1DEX6tVgVfLpZLZoIoxmM0Xf_KuFxpeJaHHM7maPOpCdH9pqMy-yLNLWiZqug/w400-h300/20230102_132456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> As the group walked by one of the men looked at Tristan and back at me, nodding towards Tristan he said "Living the life."<br /><br />Soon they passed and I told Tristan I was going to nickname him 'Old Man Banksia' as he had commented that there had been a lot of them along the walk and not 'bottlebrush trees' as we had thought. I also commented to Amy that there's probably more pictures of Tristan on my blog then there are of me.<p></p><p>We soon reached a dirt road opening with a signpost I thought would say from the opposite direction where the walk was heading, however it didn't (I can't actually remember what it said, which is why while walking I usually take way more photos then ever get uploaded just to help me remember things sometimes).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGAyTOposAUK4GSxa5u5Z-LQgTvipQQGOuunPmXwJAnkIM3gGkjgcC3nOmXEQGZwc9wEBbPonTH9E4uxpS1sVnQeHPh9TUMWoE2C_VMsOB2EciwpM2683aF0skhUXl_YZuyD2KS43lq_hRcLncEvvxSGg6tCu4nndugwE7i0lK1W1xmS0d_yx6g/s4032/20230102_132955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGAyTOposAUK4GSxa5u5Z-LQgTvipQQGOuunPmXwJAnkIM3gGkjgcC3nOmXEQGZwc9wEBbPonTH9E4uxpS1sVnQeHPh9TUMWoE2C_VMsOB2EciwpM2683aF0skhUXl_YZuyD2KS43lq_hRcLncEvvxSGg6tCu4nndugwE7i0lK1W1xmS0d_yx6g/w480-h640/20230102_132955.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdKoSiM2mbp55LNuZqjvT_lI5c_viW-MMbdDuY00Gcc9km1vYlDC6Qh2-sRLmN7cfU2Q8JNyDHV5-gkLUCAY7f3A7BD95LYQxgvqRd4ER0pEjZf2b0N-3_84h3pYEYMeifnG4DIz-Sq5XigTO1OpvtLbcWGKGZ9rbz9KcFxJKjsWcmAL4Nt3AKQ/s4032/20230102_133259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdKoSiM2mbp55LNuZqjvT_lI5c_viW-MMbdDuY00Gcc9km1vYlDC6Qh2-sRLmN7cfU2Q8JNyDHV5-gkLUCAY7f3A7BD95LYQxgvqRd4ER0pEjZf2b0N-3_84h3pYEYMeifnG4DIz-Sq5XigTO1OpvtLbcWGKGZ9rbz9KcFxJKjsWcmAL4Nt3AKQ/w400-h300/20230102_133259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued on Amy mentioned she wanted to get a 'Storm' (a type of Sundae) from Hungry Jacks after we finished, I agreed to the idea of Hungry Jacks, having recounted to them my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">story of learning to like pickles from my trip to Finland</a> while we had all been talking about travel along the walk.</p><p>"An Orchid!" Tristan said, pointing it out and saying it's scientific name only for me to instantly forget it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmPeC0mHh--cJI7aH05X8UHEeZYcY2rtPVyS8rFN1tdW3dcBt0t5Nnt8vLbE7GTott64lQoIMS8zE9bLSsu4BaPbNd_VSgAaB3P0q9nu-5M7BsGI8xrTNqrUy0fV12PuUl5XStI9nDzOy_QQ7f99TQI_A2CoMlptHUPhkCBtMYD5TnqsBcRpw9w/s4032/20230102_133343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmPeC0mHh--cJI7aH05X8UHEeZYcY2rtPVyS8rFN1tdW3dcBt0t5Nnt8vLbE7GTott64lQoIMS8zE9bLSsu4BaPbNd_VSgAaB3P0q9nu-5M7BsGI8xrTNqrUy0fV12PuUl5XStI9nDzOy_QQ7f99TQI_A2CoMlptHUPhkCBtMYD5TnqsBcRpw9w/w480-h640/20230102_133343.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"I've got a bone to pick with you." Tristan said to me as we continued.<br />I looked at him.<br />"You're the most negative guy in positive situations and the most positive guy in negative situations."<br />I thought about that for a second.<br />"Thanks" I said to him, taking it as a compliment, further frustrating him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr-dhfdRDanJAmK1nL6TWaSGH6VgFMc3a6Q8rbtLwMmAA0Qfe_fsBpV4Ii94GAQEwl5Y-DWF69O69j3VqZYXhAITLLTwysVycveg8GZrtshnInOkUWiCKJovhUeTTjECflz9zRn_xUwR7sXBgt9nvO9BX0Kp8ordXoqGUF2Mj6xCzwVxt1hKR6Q/s4032/20230102_133445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr-dhfdRDanJAmK1nL6TWaSGH6VgFMc3a6Q8rbtLwMmAA0Qfe_fsBpV4Ii94GAQEwl5Y-DWF69O69j3VqZYXhAITLLTwysVycveg8GZrtshnInOkUWiCKJovhUeTTjECflz9zRn_xUwR7sXBgt9nvO9BX0Kp8ordXoqGUF2Mj6xCzwVxt1hKR6Q/w480-h640/20230102_133445.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The walk soon came out along the APZ trail we had seen from when we initially began the walk with a signpost on each side, left pointing to Heathcote and right pointing towards Audley.<br /><br />"So that's how you get to Audley." I said, wondering if Amy had not seen the turn off and we had continued the way Tristan was heading where the path would have led.</p><p>We were soon behind people homes again as we followed the APZ.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRl2GwtBeK6eKgOExyr3Ft0cUyKCD4mu8Omr-HWd7yTNrl-PxUrxuTvruIANJjt557iOTQ19Z3oUjOX-94-IhcEwC3tUA5tK9miYCM8lKFZ3sZsZMK8Km7_ZVXI8pZqdghFwLU_r3R_JDS7x0xU_Ee9lPhcgPfiRA-O3z1u97QYQBx1ntmjS6UA/s4032/20230102_140017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRl2GwtBeK6eKgOExyr3Ft0cUyKCD4mu8Omr-HWd7yTNrl-PxUrxuTvruIANJjt557iOTQ19Z3oUjOX-94-IhcEwC3tUA5tK9miYCM8lKFZ3sZsZMK8Km7_ZVXI8pZqdghFwLU_r3R_JDS7x0xU_Ee9lPhcgPfiRA-O3z1u97QYQBx1ntmjS6UA/w400-h300/20230102_140017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_LM-u3UVhkTdnhFH8RwBBzoPxTy3UwNL2xi3gffE-6-mhSMkRHVu3WQ-jUlXmBuR8I6Dacnxp07dUbrFLZ90lyAk9qyna0QBJ-1YtjNMGoB5SUTsioSSqfUYLLDR8VNmqkXBrJ_CSeco4s_GBIfwR2AY649fdmHAdtVBRp6N5x7Gv6JNvy2ypA/s4032/20230102_140307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_LM-u3UVhkTdnhFH8RwBBzoPxTy3UwNL2xi3gffE-6-mhSMkRHVu3WQ-jUlXmBuR8I6Dacnxp07dUbrFLZ90lyAk9qyna0QBJ-1YtjNMGoB5SUTsioSSqfUYLLDR8VNmqkXBrJ_CSeco4s_GBIfwR2AY649fdmHAdtVBRp6N5x7Gv6JNvy2ypA/w480-h640/20230102_140307.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we reached the end of the walk, I thought about my return to work the following day and looked forward to taking some time off once the holiday period had ended for some more walks.</p><p><br /></p><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com6Karloo Pools Walking Track E, Royal Nat'l Park NSW 2233, Australia-34.0918186 151.0297554-62.402052436178849 115.8735054 -5.7815847638211579 -173.8139946tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-48110098872918423182022-12-09T13:12:00.002+11:002023-04-13T11:59:55.969+10:00Bens Walk<p> Having been super busy with work and doing a lot of overtime and weekend shifts (not a complaint, money in the bank for a holiday to Iceland next year!) I had been getting really antsy about not getting out in nature for a walk. Although I had quite a few things occur between now and <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2022/09/hyams-beach-bird-spotters-walk-and.html" target="_blank">my last post</a>, I will leave that for the end of this post for anyone who cares to read and get straight on to Bens Walk.<br /><br />I had been meaning to do the walk for almost a year after learning it was Dog friendly, as I love being able to take my little girl <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/" target="_blank">Orla</a> with me. So I finally said to my Wife that we were going to go on the weekend, I locked it in, knowing the weather was too be nice and sunny (or monstrously hot according to my Wife).</p><p>"Where are we even going?" She asked in the morning as I packed my backpack with water enough for the three of us.<br />"I dunno, I looked it up and it just said it starts at Nowra Showground so just GPS to there." I told her as I tied the laces on my brand new hiking boots I had bought for my recent 31st birthday.</p><p>We jumped in the car and I set up the bluetooth, asking her what she wanted to listen to.<br />"Just not jazz." She responded as I had been blasting Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker and Dizzie Gillespie all week around the house. I chucked on some John Butler Trio, and we set off with Orla super excited for her adventure.</p><p>I always find the drive down the coast particular pleasant, maybe some part of me is always reminded of going down there multiple times a year when I was younger with my Dad and my brothers, as we frequently went camping at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltFd33w6UVI" target="_blank">Coolendel Campground</a> along the Shoalhaven when I was younger, and it's some of the best memories I have.</p><p>We arrived at the Nowra Showground, pulling up in the street just before the entry and putting on sunscreen. We hopped out of the car into the hot sun and walked into the showground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWD0mhU7AIYkFmxZyaAB4327bg1d8HxriK9h4hMMeAzvnUTrxpWlIqwyYRwgn-6E4kDO95V8Z85ROIQC5ym5q6jrvEfCK8qSuW8t09Jb6n8OiPqMTdY7H-Al_HOuy4Rr0v_B0e6vCdFmZ_3dz69l7Tu_shpowAJUEnMovXuysPfCu0v-mdmRIlmw/s4032/20221203_110857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWD0mhU7AIYkFmxZyaAB4327bg1d8HxriK9h4hMMeAzvnUTrxpWlIqwyYRwgn-6E4kDO95V8Z85ROIQC5ym5q6jrvEfCK8qSuW8t09Jb6n8OiPqMTdY7H-Al_HOuy4Rr0v_B0e6vCdFmZ_3dz69l7Tu_shpowAJUEnMovXuysPfCu0v-mdmRIlmw/w480-h640/20221203_110857.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We were surprised by the sign allowing Dogs off leash, but kept Orla on a lead as we didn't trust her to not run in front of cars. </p><p>We soon noticed the area was a campground and wasn't too busy, but imaged it would get much busier in the lead up to Christmas.</p><p>"Is there a toilet around?" I asked looking around while we also looked for the start of the walk.<br />My Wife rolled her eyes at my frequent need of the toilet, (due to bladder damage during my <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>).<br />Right in front of us was a block with the toilets, I handed the lead with Orla to my Wife and quickly ducked into the large room, with showers that I figured was the campers. I looked around before finding the toilet with a sticker warning of asbestos that gave me pause, before quickly ducking in and looking around for openings in the wall and slightly holding my breath.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppqDe41oRnxVyWNnEUkAbf6Kmeir88MRwwHkE1Qtk0NnV1R9bPH94Ja4JJFnr7tIBBKbo6lTnbbR6qTonqfmuT7rhETBl1UAmZmXVQZ-vgaVqXUqYCB5oLVIqxhnKIvcAq0rr-cw0ZUJdHXHdZyDuBn8G_3O2axeyq-4nZrltWoBLO6K8K7Rwfg/s4032/20221203_111301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppqDe41oRnxVyWNnEUkAbf6Kmeir88MRwwHkE1Qtk0NnV1R9bPH94Ja4JJFnr7tIBBKbo6lTnbbR6qTonqfmuT7rhETBl1UAmZmXVQZ-vgaVqXUqYCB5oLVIqxhnKIvcAq0rr-cw0ZUJdHXHdZyDuBn8G_3O2axeyq-4nZrltWoBLO6K8K7Rwfg/w480-h640/20221203_111301.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As I left I noticed someone had drawn a picture on the back of the door warning of Snakes, reminding me to keep more of an eye out than usual as I had to worry about my Dog, not myself (who I worry little about).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1P65t4KkRM1CB-YecAGF5UaeOY9DPIcHZM_TC_LEFN_nHKG-CVACVogPWVQRpg5wGWgsZHB7OeTuBE5XjOVr_CY5wLUDG8MFyXsm_R7HNjZ8FaKulS1HoF4Dij9lEpZXS5-ax2nmlBfC_RuCkxPW14dyEG9vb4hnDcvddDLUlgBeqhWCR3NyOQ/s4032/20221203_111446.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1P65t4KkRM1CB-YecAGF5UaeOY9DPIcHZM_TC_LEFN_nHKG-CVACVogPWVQRpg5wGWgsZHB7OeTuBE5XjOVr_CY5wLUDG8MFyXsm_R7HNjZ8FaKulS1HoF4Dij9lEpZXS5-ax2nmlBfC_RuCkxPW14dyEG9vb4hnDcvddDLUlgBeqhWCR3NyOQ/w480-h640/20221203_111446.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*tread</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After leaving my Wife walked to the opposite side to find the female door locked, before trying to enter the men's and finding it locked.<br />"It must just be for campers." I said, pointing at a point next to the door that looked like a card swipe.<br />My Wife was annoyed, and I said that surely there would be a public toilet in the showgrounds, before walking up a short way and finding them right next to a sign pointing us in the direction of Bens Walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGun12Saf38yu99H3OcaixCzyMM6uy1Qh6hP_RHsuHuWCkUjWCfDrH5wuxOW_5vfkV0aF_FaiFj2nmWHZ9h8UzDdh3PZfsK8L2WNWdvnMM4uBuj91Zri0mMgpqiBS-artiIsPZAGOfXTktYLLb-IFfkNcULQr3wb_obsmTIXc_WGt2J_opNzxNw/s4032/20221203_111746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGun12Saf38yu99H3OcaixCzyMM6uy1Qh6hP_RHsuHuWCkUjWCfDrH5wuxOW_5vfkV0aF_FaiFj2nmWHZ9h8UzDdh3PZfsK8L2WNWdvnMM4uBuj91Zri0mMgpqiBS-artiIsPZAGOfXTktYLLb-IFfkNcULQr3wb_obsmTIXc_WGt2J_opNzxNw/w480-h640/20221203_111746.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I quickly gave Orla a big drink from a tap here as to not waste any of the water I had packed and we followed the direction of the signpost down to Hanging Rock Lookout, overlooking the Shoalhaven River.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgfOQ_e0L952K-DFZaZSbD8kL1e1dd41qo9iiyJF2VDCppGJDJK87FeJZFh3T_TFTR0IVqKY0dUXFJ8-HppLIyTCcd0STjyhFORyoq2gkmdkE5-kgUAfAAHeud_Fd98AR5R3iyNXWtYrTV2qfYcZeVHdwSxzuAW6ikOi-GID1V0BslAHjhOTdkQ/s4032/20221203_112304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgfOQ_e0L952K-DFZaZSbD8kL1e1dd41qo9iiyJF2VDCppGJDJK87FeJZFh3T_TFTR0IVqKY0dUXFJ8-HppLIyTCcd0STjyhFORyoq2gkmdkE5-kgUAfAAHeud_Fd98AR5R3iyNXWtYrTV2qfYcZeVHdwSxzuAW6ikOi-GID1V0BslAHjhOTdkQ/w480-h640/20221203_112304.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtp2eiBkR25Eu1bDeWYVpd4P2pYoLnkJgfq4PI7pP4i0KG5enRq6SAtRkxatuTjQTBwGUk4aJbRf_CYHhPTNk1N-H5B6ma-BM8TXXEQxLbH-1AhaDIlItPJX5jKXk_VulbZdAF2FL0noWYI5YCmc_-rH3NnyitPGceyXd50vVHNMy8YOadxd88w/s4032/20221203_112329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtp2eiBkR25Eu1bDeWYVpd4P2pYoLnkJgfq4PI7pP4i0KG5enRq6SAtRkxatuTjQTBwGUk4aJbRf_CYHhPTNk1N-H5B6ma-BM8TXXEQxLbH-1AhaDIlItPJX5jKXk_VulbZdAF2FL0noWYI5YCmc_-rH3NnyitPGceyXd50vVHNMy8YOadxd88w/w400-h300/20221203_112329.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We turned right and began following the stairs down towards the river.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLJmQKK5Ld7r39a_4MLLoKUD4VE_lvH740G_FVeAIYVHG_Fk6l8ciAS722BPegbSiX3IU1TjvM7mleSKHaQtgq2WNBhcvMpY0a0MH0Yt95ezG6MavIR1_qj0p02giLuLvFj7cqace28SLby4RBHBSjdoAsaqzKTt0pKrmnLpArMBkkfdj9XgmXQ/s4032/20221203_112406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLJmQKK5Ld7r39a_4MLLoKUD4VE_lvH740G_FVeAIYVHG_Fk6l8ciAS722BPegbSiX3IU1TjvM7mleSKHaQtgq2WNBhcvMpY0a0MH0Yt95ezG6MavIR1_qj0p02giLuLvFj7cqace28SLby4RBHBSjdoAsaqzKTt0pKrmnLpArMBkkfdj9XgmXQ/w480-h640/20221203_112406.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mrrq69zM4Dn-c1LTRxNhMlRIlydkD8WtSqt9Enau50vcuOZMzrL_Sgb1xGhjCus-qZ151Cyx1lq0cKGvN9GITw927uSDufep-EEIYYMXpEiI_Ap6F1Ta5vvWGyEAl_MeVEFvMlzdvokl2aQCk4O0zMbEzHTifJRSY2l7obC9xQUgzhwIkT7ZZg/s4032/20221203_112614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mrrq69zM4Dn-c1LTRxNhMlRIlydkD8WtSqt9Enau50vcuOZMzrL_Sgb1xGhjCus-qZ151Cyx1lq0cKGvN9GITw927uSDufep-EEIYYMXpEiI_Ap6F1Ta5vvWGyEAl_MeVEFvMlzdvokl2aQCk4O0zMbEzHTifJRSY2l7obC9xQUgzhwIkT7ZZg/w480-h640/20221203_112614.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After reaching the bottom of the stairs we passed through the split rock that didn't allow abseiling and turned left to continue on that path down below the Hanging Rock Lookout.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLx7Z8aXWcu0EnRroFyOyl0VujfjERdtW5lQFVJ-Kz9Sstb9ekm_UNeR2pEPrWDGmGoWE5ZzHHj2d7ILunLhkO-wr0IzwYUxsesX7AGkCCTjCGnhMK80cAewqnKmE3GAQRfI66vBdOt1c2rArc-o2jPQX7JhWkI02AksFFJ2bSS1imOHsUiZxMg/s4032/20221203_112920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLx7Z8aXWcu0EnRroFyOyl0VujfjERdtW5lQFVJ-Kz9Sstb9ekm_UNeR2pEPrWDGmGoWE5ZzHHj2d7ILunLhkO-wr0IzwYUxsesX7AGkCCTjCGnhMK80cAewqnKmE3GAQRfI66vBdOt1c2rArc-o2jPQX7JhWkI02AksFFJ2bSS1imOHsUiZxMg/w480-h640/20221203_112920.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6h6FPrZ90l0UYD5BR7YPMvJ8U6xX9EoJYcngym6qcSi6FnNyLwNGx84T2427PxBarpa8Qo9O4MFdD1ipjCMNmFl9hijLROpTuZuRIYHDoi0pTerYV6zmJQUYM78OWHXH5HFWEC3JZ9CuJ6DMLgnGSh6CFfcsJQhRN7oBNmGjrvrvopOXU5JoJA/s4032/20221203_112944.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6h6FPrZ90l0UYD5BR7YPMvJ8U6xX9EoJYcngym6qcSi6FnNyLwNGx84T2427PxBarpa8Qo9O4MFdD1ipjCMNmFl9hijLROpTuZuRIYHDoi0pTerYV6zmJQUYM78OWHXH5HFWEC3JZ9CuJ6DMLgnGSh6CFfcsJQhRN7oBNmGjrvrvopOXU5JoJA/w400-h300/20221203_112944.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85jETvp4zmWtlLY-8fLt3tGYzS6FwbkTK2gdn5XABwVp97pQD67cwT-cUPvd8i-g5Ds04r-57Sjf0Fo0fUkpg8iDxSkjXmmzdL6c-SUAXX51tj8HRsx5S8D4CBVN3PMryuO2BhAs_qXyMB9LTCZsxT15TIoDvlnGtw_JL2S0UH7aFz-CVaig8HQ/s4032/20221203_112948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85jETvp4zmWtlLY-8fLt3tGYzS6FwbkTK2gdn5XABwVp97pQD67cwT-cUPvd8i-g5Ds04r-57Sjf0Fo0fUkpg8iDxSkjXmmzdL6c-SUAXX51tj8HRsx5S8D4CBVN3PMryuO2BhAs_qXyMB9LTCZsxT15TIoDvlnGtw_JL2S0UH7aFz-CVaig8HQ/w400-h300/20221203_112948.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued along I there were more moments of stairs and I noticed that all the plants down by the water were looking much greener compared to up at the showground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LTZ222iUuuDADbSSmSHfbrVkza6nuAWNWT0UwntwCy1MmDWWXAV37YydGba2mQS1jChEgMYc3ah4c44AtkpEr_wq4sX_nA8Z-SgmCXBJ1JRboRRjaJeF5CQzNY8B75NCMseeqKZ9S7JZ-wfaILCC4WjN1OTBEnybgCYPC1MxDGOSa0V4yQrmtQ/s4032/20221203_113330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LTZ222iUuuDADbSSmSHfbrVkza6nuAWNWT0UwntwCy1MmDWWXAV37YydGba2mQS1jChEgMYc3ah4c44AtkpEr_wq4sX_nA8Z-SgmCXBJ1JRboRRjaJeF5CQzNY8B75NCMseeqKZ9S7JZ-wfaILCC4WjN1OTBEnybgCYPC1MxDGOSa0V4yQrmtQ/w480-h640/20221203_113330.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRyhnuAIkxphLlLdm9S25JT0w5bfda_9dseYP_qrzDZ7D6FyMimXPvw78Ggo94_zwgtlR2paR1uVPwh5eG-TMN_4CZgg2KqIrJLlBAlgoAI-waIbhzaYovEAgfgyymAgCLbjISpdCFME0jSXn1Nta6MSZS-U6RA4tlQvUA38UKOTiPFdKaz99pQ/s4032/20221203_113505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRyhnuAIkxphLlLdm9S25JT0w5bfda_9dseYP_qrzDZ7D6FyMimXPvw78Ggo94_zwgtlR2paR1uVPwh5eG-TMN_4CZgg2KqIrJLlBAlgoAI-waIbhzaYovEAgfgyymAgCLbjISpdCFME0jSXn1Nta6MSZS-U6RA4tlQvUA38UKOTiPFdKaz99pQ/w400-h300/20221203_113505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwo31LrqwQKd4hzgcPNEGodb_sUUZ9sY5Ydgg4q_qIq8woY0PiHcZM5WT5j9v677KDG6YeYUOQ-zcAkED5R3iWDwxuNz9PYYEE_Ys8p0bvVcm6ccd4A0vNZLjc8Jj80WlUOnCwwIM3Qu4IearQ2A86IQIDnp4vRuI4vLeADTZYaTgB_rpRLfmgA/s4032/20221203_113516.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwo31LrqwQKd4hzgcPNEGodb_sUUZ9sY5Ydgg4q_qIq8woY0PiHcZM5WT5j9v677KDG6YeYUOQ-zcAkED5R3iWDwxuNz9PYYEE_Ys8p0bvVcm6ccd4A0vNZLjc8Jj80WlUOnCwwIM3Qu4IearQ2A86IQIDnp4vRuI4vLeADTZYaTgB_rpRLfmgA/w480-h640/20221203_113516.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I noticed the walk was now turning in away from the Shoalhaven, but still along a little river. I questioned out loud what an offshoot of a main river was called.</p><p>"Is it an Estuary?" I asked before shaking my hand, unable to think of what it might be. But I was right as we were no longer following along the Shoalhaven but Nowra Creek.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q2Sl0mue7o3Qn5oOx_qpVkrKOq1cv7kkF5ttnfhFQWVumY60u5SuQ6Q_qvlRnt0PcuMC8io2NTNctJsJkT4UAjUWBPrrMB6OUPw1H_kf5O9fpvfig-UoCMFSX074z1d-wksZuOLdmRA4aqcKJ84oiOd0TgO8qQLcaxBBdjCylrX-eFMmRBEHTw/s4032/20221203_113753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q2Sl0mue7o3Qn5oOx_qpVkrKOq1cv7kkF5ttnfhFQWVumY60u5SuQ6Q_qvlRnt0PcuMC8io2NTNctJsJkT4UAjUWBPrrMB6OUPw1H_kf5O9fpvfig-UoCMFSX074z1d-wksZuOLdmRA4aqcKJ84oiOd0TgO8qQLcaxBBdjCylrX-eFMmRBEHTw/w400-h300/20221203_113753.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJQ85MtkSqhKjMwVDzv75CWwDIUarA-0bM0gj0Ubh67k9y4dZ_N3HMRNycyMnZlr-xul2Haqt7Htu4C2kUo58J61S-oCwKrCSdtLl1f0wNxVpwZEmRsqDSInxluKohkyhG_-jEsROkZnQaWCEI8J04gSWuSDmGivjVR_CiAz479ZHWJ48kUiaKg/s4032/20221203_113905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJQ85MtkSqhKjMwVDzv75CWwDIUarA-0bM0gj0Ubh67k9y4dZ_N3HMRNycyMnZlr-xul2Haqt7Htu4C2kUo58J61S-oCwKrCSdtLl1f0wNxVpwZEmRsqDSInxluKohkyhG_-jEsROkZnQaWCEI8J04gSWuSDmGivjVR_CiAz479ZHWJ48kUiaKg/w480-h640/20221203_113905.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We followed the trail on a short distance before the trail split in 3 different directions. Left, looking like it headed back uphill, right over a bridge and straight ahead. </p><p>Of course I was excited to cross the bridge, having not a few days early been messaging my brother Scott about how good the '<a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RopeBridge" target="_blank">Rope Bridge Trope</a>' was.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAOe5DGaqPwS0WftXBm-BpL8C66qRhFDV7-iCNqAsc1ondsYZxpyhlp8gCVZ6DELg-T4w1lrbmZS59pNI6FF1AbPUUXOHGYXDBOQZTXBV0b_fYRw4a8_xWvWrXFJJfzHP-2NfbFx8uS1rN3ywF6EwexiczRzTY6TkLsNG3XGs8jU0wTPCXcUoWw/s4032/20221203_114037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAOe5DGaqPwS0WftXBm-BpL8C66qRhFDV7-iCNqAsc1ondsYZxpyhlp8gCVZ6DELg-T4w1lrbmZS59pNI6FF1AbPUUXOHGYXDBOQZTXBV0b_fYRw4a8_xWvWrXFJJfzHP-2NfbFx8uS1rN3ywF6EwexiczRzTY6TkLsNG3XGs8jU0wTPCXcUoWw/w480-h640/20221203_114037.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF6ExpT_6q2OeGQZEW_x0V-Dm1BnT4EZk6yqIE0S3v3Fm4-pqYhXTDMfnbbsb8K12btwfsQBAxbkrg6O-uxqJOdYI2o9tG1KzswjjZVQMGaF1nSFJ2Q7itAT-q3T1CGs8ztWFf-DT_x99HIw6AWDCelAxjqhQc4ZYyDaTss_3tnVfFnA7tekfyQ/s4032/20221203_114054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF6ExpT_6q2OeGQZEW_x0V-Dm1BnT4EZk6yqIE0S3v3Fm4-pqYhXTDMfnbbsb8K12btwfsQBAxbkrg6O-uxqJOdYI2o9tG1KzswjjZVQMGaF1nSFJ2Q7itAT-q3T1CGs8ztWFf-DT_x99HIw6AWDCelAxjqhQc4ZYyDaTss_3tnVfFnA7tekfyQ/w480-h640/20221203_114054.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeMrkFDb_ViW0tbyaVTImjXy_f8UARWlFkE9WhL8OHJGJd19KvpLH-u5-d4exfyoQTA6k4IbO-hEI4tukj1DpRxcGZH-VbTkHAWtoZ9FB6tJThWpGsBuZyK9mPgZp_unqvg8Y-el0i1k7rb7PqsYEi51V5_Rrpm-ekZubhwS2WuPEm1nDuzdWHA/s4032/20221203_114104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeMrkFDb_ViW0tbyaVTImjXy_f8UARWlFkE9WhL8OHJGJd19KvpLH-u5-d4exfyoQTA6k4IbO-hEI4tukj1DpRxcGZH-VbTkHAWtoZ9FB6tJThWpGsBuZyK9mPgZp_unqvg8Y-el0i1k7rb7PqsYEi51V5_Rrpm-ekZubhwS2WuPEm1nDuzdWHA/w480-h640/20221203_114104.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2GkLzwfJ7AWLy-ssrw8J_wKJmwhE5Q-2oRL75Pr3bRMG9T-JJzJnFB0jR0lI7LGs0uzZZKWeFkCkdx2QlVu-FnpjmKN-sdVq5Cd_juecowHlzmOdasEq6Wnqm2dGnIubHmCa3sWaagltNHcDQVH1PTjBiCzkj8n3gz9i-ybVOLJKvMFQNLyWGg/s2944/20221203_114113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2GkLzwfJ7AWLy-ssrw8J_wKJmwhE5Q-2oRL75Pr3bRMG9T-JJzJnFB0jR0lI7LGs0uzZZKWeFkCkdx2QlVu-FnpjmKN-sdVq5Cd_juecowHlzmOdasEq6Wnqm2dGnIubHmCa3sWaagltNHcDQVH1PTjBiCzkj8n3gz9i-ybVOLJKvMFQNLyWGg/w480-h640/20221203_114113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I began crossing with Orla admiring the water way, a loud boat passed by blasting loud music, but was quickly gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Does it move?" My Wife asked me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"No it's pretty steady." I said as I continued admiring the creek.<br />My Wife began to cross shortly after me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"It moves!" She said, and quickly ran across as if she was afraid it would collapse on her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally met up with her on the opposite side, which opened to a meadow filled with long grass. My Wife began talking like she wanted to go back, fearful of Snakes in the long grass after I had told her of the image drawn on the back of the door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PK_zR7-6ReyodRX0zJwOe6gxlYWEd_9fICxa4qiJTjLPIR5yc3_4_gOYwxGnyMACVmG48J3ll8ZcJEbAdF7JBmtBi-gRk6oHwMQvBTBDB3oPVdKdCVAk93hBLm0TPhY_D_9YJnKjh2b67Gr1GaSLl3dEkUs7l35LK0bltPR74VjckMh6gT4ZNA/s4032/20221203_114216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PK_zR7-6ReyodRX0zJwOe6gxlYWEd_9fICxa4qiJTjLPIR5yc3_4_gOYwxGnyMACVmG48J3ll8ZcJEbAdF7JBmtBi-gRk6oHwMQvBTBDB3oPVdKdCVAk93hBLm0TPhY_D_9YJnKjh2b67Gr1GaSLl3dEkUs7l35LK0bltPR74VjckMh6gT4ZNA/w480-h640/20221203_114216.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stood for a bit trying to convince my Wife to follow the path and that it would be fine until I eventually began walking with her following me. The path through eventually widened, and you could see the trail was clearly much lower than the surrounding grass, giving ample time to spot any sneaky serpents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QIwx7rPDkzp2wfcMv6ISb-6pXItSSkCjzTcHp4mzbNRDwOPw7BarrokpzR1-5QIt_DWwFLvT1-psEZRA-_lhVFGeFI4leALfxrXGP5AZ1-oZqqPwCzHu8pxEluqneCMs4Go11wWPthENiaBMJvxfAifc_JTcBgCcerH4tLW6TGoEP6CAd3jbDQ/s4032/20221203_114347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QIwx7rPDkzp2wfcMv6ISb-6pXItSSkCjzTcHp4mzbNRDwOPw7BarrokpzR1-5QIt_DWwFLvT1-psEZRA-_lhVFGeFI4leALfxrXGP5AZ1-oZqqPwCzHu8pxEluqneCMs4Go11wWPthENiaBMJvxfAifc_JTcBgCcerH4tLW6TGoEP6CAd3jbDQ/w640-h480/20221203_114347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a beautiful spot to walk through, by my Wife soon began to complain about the heat and lack of shade (<a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">she did get sunburned in Scotland in Autumn</a>). As we continued across the field I noticed on the opposite side acorss the long grass seemed to be someone's property. The path turned left away from the property and began along a dirt track in between casuarina trees (She-Oaks).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB4Dqk-oR4M-coyscpZIvKjSX3933VFJSeXww5YYOwlO1e_GTnfpAH9lGla-yf4lsgsNvYH_hStcf9_eSVTBl-vOStofmQGNagwSsr031bVZ0U_UbvrG8Cp7CKH6nY85XKm96z8zyhItXGTHemUOxv2xJYJmW4IgPmYtNxWgnKVssO-TjHv8-Jg/s4032/20221203_114931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRB4Dqk-oR4M-coyscpZIvKjSX3933VFJSeXww5YYOwlO1e_GTnfpAH9lGla-yf4lsgsNvYH_hStcf9_eSVTBl-vOStofmQGNagwSsr031bVZ0U_UbvrG8Cp7CKH6nY85XKm96z8zyhItXGTHemUOxv2xJYJmW4IgPmYtNxWgnKVssO-TjHv8-Jg/w480-h640/20221203_114931.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I told her that at least now she had some shade, as I smiled and continued walking, looking all over at all of my surroundings taking in all the scenery. You could almost see the creek through the thick layering of the casuarinas, and another boat when past with someone saying something obnoxiously loud with a thick bogan accent. She mentioned something about someone being stabbed on Bens Walk a few years ago (I think hinting at being afraid of whoever was in the boat), I just replied to her that she didn't have to worry and it was going to be like in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance" target="_blank">Deliverance</a> (a movie she hasn't seen).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB3wsRrVWjtugrybQwp2vQiHfWGXdq1zWvuu4ONRIgRJ30bFXZihF06Gb2KTjoogzLhJ63r_sMljkNH7mHzNwYJ_Bm-mzyWlOJkmwif-JcZJGg2JKSGiVc78YZmdWpSV7tmg5DoFSav7yZolSJ-5-s35cd6tOPQPTyhslbu9YGjA9iKCDLTyOVw/s4032/20221203_115101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjB3wsRrVWjtugrybQwp2vQiHfWGXdq1zWvuu4ONRIgRJ30bFXZihF06Gb2KTjoogzLhJ63r_sMljkNH7mHzNwYJ_Bm-mzyWlOJkmwif-JcZJGg2JKSGiVc78YZmdWpSV7tmg5DoFSav7yZolSJ-5-s35cd6tOPQPTyhslbu9YGjA9iKCDLTyOVw/w480-h640/20221203_115101.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we cleared the casuarinas and the area on our right opened up to a puddly grass area I instantly thought of and area in the video game Red Dead Redemption 2 called 'Big Valley near 'Little Creek River', if you've played it, you might know what I mean.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Fdhy4M5V6ROO6z9UGxBJnXgaOe7o0ZtGwUQrZdXGB27TgFOuO9R9fMCYd12UuYfnMnDMN3ta0cmYjN6Xk1g_yp6wCYwwUawsZISPzz3enzQI1qUaqxuMi0kSQf9D56oHuwtO3D0dX8nLHzEM_HRKy3pcL2eezQ9CElpqW8R9V0-XtyTywNTLw/s4032/20221203_115204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Fdhy4M5V6ROO6z9UGxBJnXgaOe7o0ZtGwUQrZdXGB27TgFOuO9R9fMCYd12UuYfnMnDMN3ta0cmYjN6Xk1g_yp6wCYwwUawsZISPzz3enzQI1qUaqxuMi0kSQf9D56oHuwtO3D0dX8nLHzEM_HRKy3pcL2eezQ9CElpqW8R9V0-XtyTywNTLw/w400-h300/20221203_115204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though looking at it here reminds me of 'Heartland Overflow' near 'Emerald Ranch'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were openings in on our left along the way giving clear views of the creek and we soon came to an area with a sign designating the spot 'Depot Farm Picnic Area'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkUa_iFC8EQMIVwVEeYCnBWk04ageIzyAs3Ow0VmMP7kHILv5op__MzXckPQTV4C583qYx9Zo8uUa129gNZXfgUHHHG298TOntxaiEAMceQBp-485Vpjd98jvDMzfAfEPpSiGpmfKK4L1eQDf5mTrT8Ypele0KLkK96YQiJ1W0nlQLVQx-cJ3nQ/s4032/20221203_115843.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkUa_iFC8EQMIVwVEeYCnBWk04ageIzyAs3Ow0VmMP7kHILv5op__MzXckPQTV4C583qYx9Zo8uUa129gNZXfgUHHHG298TOntxaiEAMceQBp-485Vpjd98jvDMzfAfEPpSiGpmfKK4L1eQDf5mTrT8Ypele0KLkK96YQiJ1W0nlQLVQx-cJ3nQ/w480-h640/20221203_115843.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqv0WWdfNfh2lZdrLq95k-Y5j3-Xvg9faQnzzfjxPTczWQAnli2YPvVSrG3FaUyiZaGzUUWtr2UoZkOi9EqdcjyiYPuRZx7hkdlK8yHFYctfNqaWLMP-1JvBNua5J_2FecqdhSAdMvCaKdSQUpZNSa3u11QrzPjiYsKh4z2Q2-OHsOenuI9vVpQ/s4032/20221203_115856.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqv0WWdfNfh2lZdrLq95k-Y5j3-Xvg9faQnzzfjxPTczWQAnli2YPvVSrG3FaUyiZaGzUUWtr2UoZkOi9EqdcjyiYPuRZx7hkdlK8yHFYctfNqaWLMP-1JvBNua5J_2FecqdhSAdMvCaKdSQUpZNSa3u11QrzPjiYsKh4z2Q2-OHsOenuI9vVpQ/w480-h640/20221203_115856.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where there obviously used to be some kind of jetty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I expected to come across a picnic table, or something that made this area a 'picnic area', however there was nothing else around, so I assumed the old remains of the jetty might have been the designated picnic area. I queried to my Wife whether or not this creek would be in the book we had purchased her Father for Christmas, (a book of NSW kayaking locations).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3OYvJ2IQgCUoJCsAIn30xBeYqEXpFHJQWpHWGaBRr0aGDabvrxaH-VktnqoeacFUnb8vjhjIyK-2ubD1zvAOZyd7_SR1PdQVYjqqw22IdKF_xWQ1tW8xFQEEamGFv9NtSWOoDdRGXQW3E-WBrggJp6UcE3EWR6aMxk9NR1TiLqMvuXE097bp7w/s4032/20221203_120036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3OYvJ2IQgCUoJCsAIn30xBeYqEXpFHJQWpHWGaBRr0aGDabvrxaH-VktnqoeacFUnb8vjhjIyK-2ubD1zvAOZyd7_SR1PdQVYjqqw22IdKF_xWQ1tW8xFQEEamGFv9NtSWOoDdRGXQW3E-WBrggJp6UcE3EWR6aMxk9NR1TiLqMvuXE097bp7w/w400-h300/20221203_120036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Across the creek from us I saw a Mother and her young son doing the walk, heading the opposite direction to us. We heard her calling to him to 'come down' and to 'not climb up there'. I said that I hoped the kid didn't fall and have an accident, thinking back on <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">the incident where my own Father fell off a cliff.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyAbPzV8kVRreVJCIKDQiYlv5EHun01E9RTG4qpfn-PLl0QR8CDz8kkjiHJar0tpYOWk65rzRB4jNQGWBVypXvWNJvpNZiUzN_IN9XxmSZ8MitKuV1i6RXX9j83OfHjfE4qxjErIRMtZzUcoxHtiByALWT0QO0Eba8YsplAZgZ4Gyjg-1oOVucw/s4032/20221203_120526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyAbPzV8kVRreVJCIKDQiYlv5EHun01E9RTG4qpfn-PLl0QR8CDz8kkjiHJar0tpYOWk65rzRB4jNQGWBVypXvWNJvpNZiUzN_IN9XxmSZ8MitKuV1i6RXX9j83OfHjfE4qxjErIRMtZzUcoxHtiByALWT0QO0Eba8YsplAZgZ4Gyjg-1oOVucw/w480-h640/20221203_120526.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We came to the section where we were to cross the creek, I expected a simple path at the end of the creek but where instead met with some rocks to cross over. They were simple enough, however there were gaps between the rocks and my Wife suddenly got cross and refused to try and cross with Orla.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8iaUxiSdZgzmpj_KFr-Secvb2WX1QqWNykRjUbfs8kx7GPtgD04Cozg44MbjtEOGCeW5SjP_6wEfa1wFn_VzJM0MKicAT6V37Us5HUbgMqpiPf1yBPVUmPxUhU5EH23UQz8u80Ys1kKZp6m59ppjpHu19eeRRuskr3uYMCur0H7uwQnzJId0eg/s4032/20221203_120530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8iaUxiSdZgzmpj_KFr-Secvb2WX1QqWNykRjUbfs8kx7GPtgD04Cozg44MbjtEOGCeW5SjP_6wEfa1wFn_VzJM0MKicAT6V37Us5HUbgMqpiPf1yBPVUmPxUhU5EH23UQz8u80Ys1kKZp6m59ppjpHu19eeRRuskr3uYMCur0H7uwQnzJId0eg/w480-h640/20221203_120530.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I told my Wife that it would be fine that Orla is good at agility. She adamantly refused, saying she was 'putting her foot down'. I stood out on the end with Orla, looking at the small gap across the first rock, stating that I could carry her while I stepped over, as the rest wasn't too bad for her to cross.<br />She adamantly refused saying that Orla seemed scared, and so she took Orla and began walking back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was annoyed and frustrated, because now we would need to walk back to the bridge and take the alternate route down to the other side instead of simply crossing over and continuing the walk back along the opposite side of the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I let my frustrations go, telling myself it just means I get to do extra of the walk, even if my Wife had been negative about it so far (not being very outdoorsy).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried to tell her to hand Orla back, as she can sometimes pull, and we were walking along an uneven surface. She wouldn't listen (still annoyed with me for trying to let Orla cross the creek). Not shortly after of course, walking along the uneven surface Orla jumped up, pulling my Wife and hurting her back.<br /><br />I did a sort of 'I told you so' before taking the lead and continuing ahead with Olra while my Wife proceeded to slowly walk behind. Soon a couple who were doing the walk passed us by, and the guy asked my Wife if she was OK as it looked like she was limping. "Yeah, not that he gives a shit", she said angrily referring to me, causing my blood to boil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the passed we proceeded to get into an argument and walk almost back to the field of grass barely speaking to each other, before quickly reconciling (and I assume the pain of her awkward fall lessening). We crossed the wooden bridge back over the creek and I asked if she wanted to simply wait on a little wooden seat while I just ran down the end of the opposite side, to save her having to walk injured down. She said she should be fine, but we sat on the little bench to have some water an allow another couple who were beginning the walk with their Dog to cross the bridge.<br /><br />"Is that a Shiba-Inu?" I asked My Wife, who is a self-proclaimed Dog expert, about the couple's Dog.<br />"That or maybe an Akita." She replied.<br /><br />As we sat mosquitos began to swarm us, and I could see them landing all over Orla too, who was having a rest laying down in all the thick and vibrant green <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradescantia_fluminensis" target="_blank">trad</a>. We quickly got up and began to walk down the opposite side of the creek, back towards the creek crossing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXGccLFXw4L25AHDz-5t7p-qsVN5YbVZ_5uAfJ29aj_ORDwzK7I8VtNGPyFuF_cebUa5jq_e903-knAECpX_TpQkKsu_pVbhjbJQhQ-46MFMohLPeKqBrOFQr7qcW5DJSJZMMGaDHj6AvEFvAdwEIEo9mYXDvgf3VTRDsFwJ2g34X1u2b_acntg/s4032/20221203_125402.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXGccLFXw4L25AHDz-5t7p-qsVN5YbVZ_5uAfJ29aj_ORDwzK7I8VtNGPyFuF_cebUa5jq_e903-knAECpX_TpQkKsu_pVbhjbJQhQ-46MFMohLPeKqBrOFQr7qcW5DJSJZMMGaDHj6AvEFvAdwEIEo9mYXDvgf3VTRDsFwJ2g34X1u2b_acntg/w480-h640/20221203_125402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Compared to the open grasslands or woodland hallway of the opposite side of the creek, this side felt more like walking through a rainforest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MTmXXNfzx1SksQgrdhrLkCAZizSNUgCqSCAooiCbl2lZtQBgjDTu10llIGNXW3TgN_grtwFzJYd5M499i9qWg7HsqKDxHbJv-4HfRPuLIPKzelW5dsNEPIubwAwCgnei2SrL8-18FPuok4_iefRFzkpkcV-jx-4WW0EKwt0jOihiKOl_ZixMQ/s4032/20221203_125506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MTmXXNfzx1SksQgrdhrLkCAZizSNUgCqSCAooiCbl2lZtQBgjDTu10llIGNXW3TgN_grtwFzJYd5M499i9qWg7HsqKDxHbJv-4HfRPuLIPKzelW5dsNEPIubwAwCgnei2SrL8-18FPuok4_iefRFzkpkcV-jx-4WW0EKwt0jOihiKOl_ZixMQ/w480-h640/20221203_125506.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As it progressed further, I began to get bayou vibes, though that is an American term I couldn't think in my head of an Australian natural equivalent to that (the closest I could think of were mangroves which is completely different as it referred to specific flora).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1dqGPucKTQ1qLdXG1UNPttuvStrSWaw4zNAedkS6L8-fvRv014pPOu4-kH8A7Z60JujkH4FrxK1BgaBYG1Tc2Bx9G1qOibawDHhCvqMESEdbGIVAYiGfaPKGA2SYiZvUkSePMVKp_o0R6Sp2Zhcf7XGHRvmPkg2QCgk7jzXhPuscRK-unnD4iA/s4032/20221203_125624.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1dqGPucKTQ1qLdXG1UNPttuvStrSWaw4zNAedkS6L8-fvRv014pPOu4-kH8A7Z60JujkH4FrxK1BgaBYG1Tc2Bx9G1qOibawDHhCvqMESEdbGIVAYiGfaPKGA2SYiZvUkSePMVKp_o0R6Sp2Zhcf7XGHRvmPkg2QCgk7jzXhPuscRK-unnD4iA/w480-h640/20221203_125624.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My own limitations of descriptive language began to irk me, as I gazed through the melaleuca trees at the creek. I began to think about my writing style of this blog, and conversations with my brother Scott who had criticised it's "this happen and then this happen" aspect of my blog. I thought about how busy I was in everyday life. So much overtime at work, trying to maintain the house, spend time with my family, take care of Orla, and the fact I struggle to find time to even get out on adventures and walk let alone write about them, and when I did write I felt time pressured with the limitations of my memory, to recollect to walk so I would rush to churn out something lest I forget, then I would be disappointed with my writing, unhappy with lack of descriptive or poetry language, that I wasn't writing like how I wanted to write. I thought about how I was constantly entering the lotto, desperate to ease some pressure from my life as interest rates rose, fuel prices inflated, and food was costing an arm and a leg. The everyman struggle that I didn't want. How I envied those who had the freedom of leisure and travel. "Maybe this week I will win." I thought. (I didn't.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stopped to video the creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzsA_Gt_L2A2gTIvG88NClrdIc20gyPUOwjLAZRW9pasibhzuIEcb5AtJwIOI_DMhYYFBNOZCRQAU5baDmipw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Is that a tick?" I heard my Wife ask, as soon as I had stopped filming. <br />I looked and saw it on Orla's back. I quickly flicked it away and have her a quick brush over to make sure she had none that had latched on. Luckily she was free of them, and we began moving to make sure no more in the area landed on her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJptNmUZLNAqoHHiXr1OmJv1gqsLz_J0ltgJJfyVNckeATJBi9BGIKfeUp5AnKzza-0XB0ukdo1MAOOPjncj8K5K38xxmTy9SpK7AF2YmEdQbDwFrfbzp4VLa0FstTmsvWi5zeGzsakDcdyNwfse7o6vgmz-oKnqHOEnkyC2NC_NqMMXVpmHMCOg/s4032/20221203_130012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJptNmUZLNAqoHHiXr1OmJv1gqsLz_J0ltgJJfyVNckeATJBi9BGIKfeUp5AnKzza-0XB0ukdo1MAOOPjncj8K5K38xxmTy9SpK7AF2YmEdQbDwFrfbzp4VLa0FstTmsvWi5zeGzsakDcdyNwfse7o6vgmz-oKnqHOEnkyC2NC_NqMMXVpmHMCOg/w400-h300/20221203_130012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon came to a split in the path, one heading along the creek, leading to the creek crossing, and one leading uphill to a scout hall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicffNSvP2Hqgnr6k790qXpV9pGvuDIcEz8Mqx-YiPosMBqZGWAzbLb9b0f0xS_MN914VOwzL7-1zGXEJvrOp2aWX5Er0pR6vtR17PsCRNk7oSZSxJWikkiOQMvTrQmNhh5Vab1uPchD532e7u4wy-dywytBjtGMLk0Kn8jmpCpuIAATAvthH7wLQ/s4032/20221203_131109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicffNSvP2Hqgnr6k790qXpV9pGvuDIcEz8Mqx-YiPosMBqZGWAzbLb9b0f0xS_MN914VOwzL7-1zGXEJvrOp2aWX5Er0pR6vtR17PsCRNk7oSZSxJWikkiOQMvTrQmNhh5Vab1uPchD532e7u4wy-dywytBjtGMLk0Kn8jmpCpuIAATAvthH7wLQ/w480-h640/20221203_131109.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued on the path heading towards the creek crossing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5S38dJhtWUXAd5I7l2-wKXlPk6TDanjGQI5Yol01DIBjyDLGHcSYYl4pWrWiVW-o3AAv1prszF8UpfCjT3uQcB9154L-jWFafDtYMYsJEFtxuOOPMQdax1a4ptXqFewDF0aL0FUuPTKjLgqW6FHE3afaszY1mG5GkrxCykIAYyoM43gPK68dxA/s4032/20221203_131417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5S38dJhtWUXAd5I7l2-wKXlPk6TDanjGQI5Yol01DIBjyDLGHcSYYl4pWrWiVW-o3AAv1prszF8UpfCjT3uQcB9154L-jWFafDtYMYsJEFtxuOOPMQdax1a4ptXqFewDF0aL0FUuPTKjLgqW6FHE3afaszY1mG5GkrxCykIAYyoM43gPK68dxA/w480-h640/20221203_131417.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7_9N4JN46QUoFMFyuo51zhyIH1cMktYi8H-_H9awZjvTqexjxVauoq_77qJaD-b869KVC_0NloVyocegXIYvPYrr9fKdFWC7n7KAJGLxmlZ1y1wtUhSB1vdte29ZLl91GBB4hR4s37-z_LYv-SVFwwFNn9QZ6srtnAsczG-OPSYg5w1RP8VE1g/s4032/20221203_131504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7_9N4JN46QUoFMFyuo51zhyIH1cMktYi8H-_H9awZjvTqexjxVauoq_77qJaD-b869KVC_0NloVyocegXIYvPYrr9fKdFWC7n7KAJGLxmlZ1y1wtUhSB1vdte29ZLl91GBB4hR4s37-z_LYv-SVFwwFNn9QZ6srtnAsczG-OPSYg5w1RP8VE1g/w480-h640/20221203_131504.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we passed the rocky outcrop on our left, I pondered out loud if there was maybe Aboriginal art in there, as if I was going to camp in a location a good spot with shelter under the stable looking rocky ledges would be where I would pick.<br />"Why would they?" My Wife asked me. "They built shelters?"<br />"Yeah, but going under an established shelter where you can have an open fire, and save the hassle of doing that, I dunno. That's what I would do." I replied.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We arrived at the crossing while my Wife and Dog stopped for some water I quickly crossed over the crossing as I had not crossed from the other side and then snapped a few quick photos as the couple with the Shiba-Inu like Dog arrived on the opposite side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdqRAMhhTtzmvCelNhdDKCYYhhympRMafJANVErnztzx01jsaZK2Xy4mqzUFz85QBKDMhUzljd9ZEr6PMpmkZXgKoQKtwMq_EI9V1pfmNvPhwdD-jndUby9kVonOrkaJF9CqhPS2mGgjBBcBn-EUMkhI2avse4wnCxATYY_SnDh1S2crDZrvbxw/s4032/20221203_131840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdqRAMhhTtzmvCelNhdDKCYYhhympRMafJANVErnztzx01jsaZK2Xy4mqzUFz85QBKDMhUzljd9ZEr6PMpmkZXgKoQKtwMq_EI9V1pfmNvPhwdD-jndUby9kVonOrkaJF9CqhPS2mGgjBBcBn-EUMkhI2avse4wnCxATYY_SnDh1S2crDZrvbxw/w480-h640/20221203_131840.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb4u9tnRGrpdIdX0ArUeZ4IaSRoaZWSWT5_nyFhv7soWM76vp9YPkHICjWsgk4JSk9KemR7Uvc0RRfpt2yIAGjIm5xwZiNAPNrunFPV2kcihLzYQRBk8mOGOZWPKR8vtof-PwybyS_RNxfw2mO_cozE8tKE_cltvNE1zlD8kKrcw257qZOc7OxA/s4032/20221203_132014.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdb4u9tnRGrpdIdX0ArUeZ4IaSRoaZWSWT5_nyFhv7soWM76vp9YPkHICjWsgk4JSk9KemR7Uvc0RRfpt2yIAGjIm5xwZiNAPNrunFPV2kcihLzYQRBk8mOGOZWPKR8vtof-PwybyS_RNxfw2mO_cozE8tKE_cltvNE1zlD8kKrcw257qZOc7OxA/w400-h300/20221203_132014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSGmM-zbL42wXTjqqFllktyFbW_-N3vvaSc0lJ92jB7VwK4I-F-C_GibIIBcyR7pAzLhGz-V-IswKs11A98-hm1RCnQ9kIIU8cxKpCKsZRvcyqCCyg6JwEsb6ma-dHJSDMdiz1ES5jhLvwvzUorvJVGFRbeJ9Aw5m96EY4_cAINO-vgdTWWRgvg/s4032/20221203_132551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSGmM-zbL42wXTjqqFllktyFbW_-N3vvaSc0lJ92jB7VwK4I-F-C_GibIIBcyR7pAzLhGz-V-IswKs11A98-hm1RCnQ9kIIU8cxKpCKsZRvcyqCCyg6JwEsb6ma-dHJSDMdiz1ES5jhLvwvzUorvJVGFRbeJ9Aw5m96EY4_cAINO-vgdTWWRgvg/w480-h640/20221203_132551.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They saw the same gap we had seen and had a moment of hesitation because of their Dog.<br /><br />"Yeah." I said to them while I was still standing in the middle of the crossing. "That's why we turned back and walk the other way around." I pointed to my Wife and Dog sitting on the opposite side in the shade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I walked back to my Wife and Dog to have some water and sat to watch to see if this couple and their Dog would cross. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They seemed like they wanted to, but every time they got near the first gap in the rocks their Dog retreated. After about 5 minutes they decided that they wouldn't be able to cross with their Dog and turned around.<br /><br />"Not a very Dog friendly walk then, is it?" My Wife remarked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We began to head back, arriving at the scout hall sign I told her I would quickly jog up to have a look up at the scout hall while she waited for me. So, Orla and I began a fast-paced walk up the zigzagging tarred track to the top. Arriving off the path opened up to and area along the back of houses linking up to fire-trails and power pole trails. There was a bunch of different tracks I could walk down and I didn't have all day, and most probably led no-where and were not part of the walk, I simply turned around and returned to my Wife who was being devoured by mosquitos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We began the walk back as I stopped to take a photo to our right, away from the creek.<br /><br />"You take a lot of photos." My Wife stated. <br />"So people can get an idea of the walk and the scenery. Doesn't that just remind you if Lemoyne from Red Dead 2?" I asked, again comparing the natural scenery towards that of a video game. We passed a couple who were pulled up in a Kayak alongside the creek with Orla hanging her head over the bank looking down on them. "Leave it Orla" I said as we said a polite 'hello' to the couple and continued on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"A Goanna!" I whispered with excitement, pointing ahead down the trail. I stayed back with Orla as it ran across the path and began climbing one of the She-Oaks. My Wife tried to quietly walk forward and take a few photos and videos of it, but ultimately, I am using the one I took after I had walked back up to her and looked up at it casually hanging in the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhI7AtTW4AIXpa3KK2CLuCSvQwrDXwLUWxM3NjW6O0vNy6cyorcTCmnqS-mh5_QuHUcJEQvH9DNR13Sb3MgA8aFbFX0MNmYXjUF9wv1oPnVN-BbgReoR7NHypNdqPGltldI2LcFrYH2L2kxnuil3u5pcr9-rC_jowHJEOEbIKButksLKzjX9vYg/s4032/20221203_135540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnhI7AtTW4AIXpa3KK2CLuCSvQwrDXwLUWxM3NjW6O0vNy6cyorcTCmnqS-mh5_QuHUcJEQvH9DNR13Sb3MgA8aFbFX0MNmYXjUF9wv1oPnVN-BbgReoR7NHypNdqPGltldI2LcFrYH2L2kxnuil3u5pcr9-rC_jowHJEOEbIKButksLKzjX9vYg/w480-h640/20221203_135540.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"It's not a Goanna, it's a Monitor Lizard." My Wife informed me, as we began walking.<br />"What's the difference?" I asked.<br />"Monitor Lizards are smaller I think." She replied before she began looking it up on her phone.<br />"Oh no," She said still reading, "They're the same. Goannas are just monitor lizards and there was just confusion with it back in the day."<br />"So, all Goannas are monitor lizards, but not all monitor Lizards are Goannas." I replied, nodding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon reached the split in the path where the wooden suspension bridge over the creek was, with straight leading us back the way we had came, I suggested turning right heading up the stairs saying it would probably take us back to the showground at just another point you could begin the walk from (as the couple with the other Dog had come down this way)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ouNoEbTubjNJ_AainEDRaAWl9inUJowFmbyoKp8f8XfrTthDFxyvBJm4tC6yJI-6AQSp7xMr-3Hs5KC8EtAEHwIyHjo4RnaUEPtju9k7vDGQUq30PcHKeVjwTq78MQwCMmSISOIma14PiyO2JyTIBhmpYqeG9u4FDhEn2_9kKV26h3j5VfII3A/s4032/20221203_135727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ouNoEbTubjNJ_AainEDRaAWl9inUJowFmbyoKp8f8XfrTthDFxyvBJm4tC6yJI-6AQSp7xMr-3Hs5KC8EtAEHwIyHjo4RnaUEPtju9k7vDGQUq30PcHKeVjwTq78MQwCMmSISOIma14PiyO2JyTIBhmpYqeG9u4FDhEn2_9kKV26h3j5VfII3A/w400-h300/20221203_135727.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very short way up, my suspicions were confirmed with signage</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZehAeleLsDIJmWdUh0yW8fFtBpupAAti5pYp2CH481Xk46BJbpjlRcb73wdL4v2tXKfFRr7Zjrj90cpR62mIy30uEA_Dim76Qb5p0CQvRtY28wFD8GD3Kk7hGA8wwogik9BB2fjQQ2ZFUACO9nlMD3zAsPl7SgzEFuDjPKJ7A3koUYAtIquAC7A/s4032/20221203_140059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZehAeleLsDIJmWdUh0yW8fFtBpupAAti5pYp2CH481Xk46BJbpjlRcb73wdL4v2tXKfFRr7Zjrj90cpR62mIy30uEA_Dim76Qb5p0CQvRtY28wFD8GD3Kk7hGA8wwogik9BB2fjQQ2ZFUACO9nlMD3zAsPl7SgzEFuDjPKJ7A3koUYAtIquAC7A/w480-h640/20221203_140059.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It wasn't too much of an incline uphill before we once again reached the showgrounds at a different spot to begin the walk right near a bush regeneration site with a sign detailing who 'Ben' was that the walk was named after as well as confirming my suspicion about aboriginal rock art. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAJlREDcEiGtPoi0cP5NgSAUqf0Wp32j9QqPBU2nk-ZOUe8Wly5lkvYAYQ8nb0PbOaCPdhtrT5AbG8u9Dnr8vQoDz8rCxUyDhPRve5FGcUA6YB0V0xJtIRHsvGm0bLlMInYfqSoseAP4DMgLmolbMNcu1Ax1Hg7dQN9U-pKDRfe_mxfEVlOheHg/s4032/20221203_140240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAJlREDcEiGtPoi0cP5NgSAUqf0Wp32j9QqPBU2nk-ZOUe8Wly5lkvYAYQ8nb0PbOaCPdhtrT5AbG8u9Dnr8vQoDz8rCxUyDhPRve5FGcUA6YB0V0xJtIRHsvGm0bLlMInYfqSoseAP4DMgLmolbMNcu1Ax1Hg7dQN9U-pKDRfe_mxfEVlOheHg/w400-h300/20221203_140240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way back to the toilets, and returned to the car both commenting that we probably just have packed some lunch as our stomachs grumbled. We loaded Orla into the car and cranked the aircon for her as she was panting pretty vigorously from the heat and I began to drive us home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Extra tidbits! - Prior to the walk I had been asked to take part in a scientific study as I was a survivor of a Stem Cell Transplant. The study was apparently the first of its kind, basically testing whether or not after a Stem Cell Transplant if the donor cells could form in the testes thus if you were not made infertile from the chemotherapy, would any children sired be genetically those of the donor? A very important question, so I was happy and fascinated to take part in the study. This took place up at Concord Hosptial in Sydney. Obviously, sperm collection was required so you can use your imagination there. The Doctor informed the study was happening after someone undergoing the treatment was adamant that a child he had sired was not his. I was also told I had the option (if I was not sterile) to learn if this was the case with the donor cells or to remain ignorant (which some people had chosen). I said I would like to know and wondered why this wasn't already known. I was told that they actually struggled to get permission to even conduct the study due to the ethics board being against it.<br /><br />"We I think it's something we should really know, not just people getting it but donors out there who have people walking around with their stem cells." I said.<br /><br />Afterwards I had a wait for my results so went looking for lunch, on my way finding a Kokoda Track Memorial Walk so ended up killing some time exploring along there (giving me inspiration to one day do the actual Kokoda Trail myself).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL7Rhom7WDXZByykY-lh71gEUEyXOjwuc6vi7lTUIT218059L4Uqfs6xtpb0OUfHPFj7Sdd7br3QdWmcb6GQi0wB4OLzwGCIj1x0LlWgRkglSt75KeeEU7acyNeK9Vg1UYM5Uxv1v_I4sgd08R2vYg0_0Dk5-xzmI8_79c8dVr27V1NF2_dQPmw/s4032/20221102_112503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqL7Rhom7WDXZByykY-lh71gEUEyXOjwuc6vi7lTUIT218059L4Uqfs6xtpb0OUfHPFj7Sdd7br3QdWmcb6GQi0wB4OLzwGCIj1x0LlWgRkglSt75KeeEU7acyNeK9Vg1UYM5Uxv1v_I4sgd08R2vYg0_0Dk5-xzmI8_79c8dVr27V1NF2_dQPmw/w480-h640/20221102_112503.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>There were signs along the paved walk, marking different sections of the Kokoda Trail and offering up information about the war and the trail all along the path, I stopped to read them along the way as Bush Turkeys scuttled past.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g-p6wSynq0x_rYpkVtW2kKYJArArDuWF2jPW-iuku0UeAEpcPQsiAkFo1uITx6ESdJywok6QQ5K3ctlqkgalho1t8kzvE-j1cZ97RO-Rzw2C3K-IMKeGTo2u6ouPZN0IPngaTTw2-gSgS0vIwDM6MWe1Ws4GTStDVOl_MpWGBkPzljmAxzvOsQ/s4032/20221102_113250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g-p6wSynq0x_rYpkVtW2kKYJArArDuWF2jPW-iuku0UeAEpcPQsiAkFo1uITx6ESdJywok6QQ5K3ctlqkgalho1t8kzvE-j1cZ97RO-Rzw2C3K-IMKeGTo2u6ouPZN0IPngaTTw2-gSgS0vIwDM6MWe1Ws4GTStDVOl_MpWGBkPzljmAxzvOsQ/w480-h640/20221102_113250.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I follow the stairs down to a bay with some remnants of a ship.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hRjF6l_uCtEneQZTPN_Vd8nHCu_NP4VENgI-977wBw6WqBUayJzfRuQiNOqcpkiTzxGzlxp9vIy4GFCW2LRQu170KiNvSL07oTL_gTaRRRKuIzQf1M1uabNWriiXjYOuaozAzq43oIBHc-3k-ypBeDTpWilHn1aO9LVQPTFAaKsFTvdeMmJkWQ/s4032/20221102_113636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hRjF6l_uCtEneQZTPN_Vd8nHCu_NP4VENgI-977wBw6WqBUayJzfRuQiNOqcpkiTzxGzlxp9vIy4GFCW2LRQu170KiNvSL07oTL_gTaRRRKuIzQf1M1uabNWriiXjYOuaozAzq43oIBHc-3k-ypBeDTpWilHn1aO9LVQPTFAaKsFTvdeMmJkWQ/w400-h300/20221102_113636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-PnN1V60vvlC5Pj4IO2W5WTAopE18R-InZVc-yZtvL8e2G2XptLTAd0A-u_AF-r1Bgx0WNVKEMCR5y2LKQi-SAUeCVmR6eUGTWqU693FXJ2ZtUT8YlfkeV7amjOyYDfqiFel5gBPvW4Mc4VIbDeetMSm7UrXnkLaKkx4Iiez7Vs2gsL0JusERQ/s4032/20221102_113743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-PnN1V60vvlC5Pj4IO2W5WTAopE18R-InZVc-yZtvL8e2G2XptLTAd0A-u_AF-r1Bgx0WNVKEMCR5y2LKQi-SAUeCVmR6eUGTWqU693FXJ2ZtUT8YlfkeV7amjOyYDfqiFel5gBPvW4Mc4VIbDeetMSm7UrXnkLaKkx4Iiez7Vs2gsL0JusERQ/w400-h300/20221102_113743.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdWpJTeESVmjw7iNF7gGIr6uxcHw8HlkEnW7DONZMalbjlifx4CQA4uJzCz_Xq_-s8U7z3hqSOAMPuHmR5-eIgRMUA6UFESqY4RzWYU6B6s9vw6CoJBNPmZnoDrLMyi9GmrbBqgX8S6AAR96bPfgP3kaNhCNqRkUGMYmXuXOWElpkZcECW1Vtbw/s4032/20221102_113759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdWpJTeESVmjw7iNF7gGIr6uxcHw8HlkEnW7DONZMalbjlifx4CQA4uJzCz_Xq_-s8U7z3hqSOAMPuHmR5-eIgRMUA6UFESqY4RzWYU6B6s9vw6CoJBNPmZnoDrLMyi9GmrbBqgX8S6AAR96bPfgP3kaNhCNqRkUGMYmXuXOWElpkZcECW1Vtbw/w480-h640/20221102_113759.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I accidentally came across a guy peeing off of the path into the bush and he quickly zipped up and walked away, I continued following the trail snapping a photo of the cool looking table that was next door to an Italian restaurant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMmHvA8czu4vDeQ6iSnsR8KunyV0eIELJ54MbHN9mR57V1MeU60Z75RpS0kLo5DnXgr9n1BFM8mnfnLY8a9X_ZVd9UIHL_O3AVGoyQX2FmMsXHcAwdqZn1EHn3GyTJPRGGTO_Rvq5acfJ4peFSRZY249ldbls5iNqCPWcPUD0plTrpGmJ3KAHJQ/s4032/20221102_114047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMmHvA8czu4vDeQ6iSnsR8KunyV0eIELJ54MbHN9mR57V1MeU60Z75RpS0kLo5DnXgr9n1BFM8mnfnLY8a9X_ZVd9UIHL_O3AVGoyQX2FmMsXHcAwdqZn1EHn3GyTJPRGGTO_Rvq5acfJ4peFSRZY249ldbls5iNqCPWcPUD0plTrpGmJ3KAHJQ/w400-h300/20221102_114047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I crossed the busy road over to a mall for lunch before following the trail back the opposite way so I could fully walk it, arriving at the beginning of it right next to the hospital carpark (not in the random suburban streets nearby where I had stumbled upon it).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cENXcEUNxrLsX-r-2RIkSgZSkQ7HTVa7EEgzjjVe2oDWSruqGrRwTfXUUdqACOt2d1j8fd9ZwHkVPxb7x1dxwo2gwsvQ3aXEzIi54DN47zF5-Pw-bzWQ6PQVzyvuWxxelsyGmnISAw6fZ31dztCiPKuz3pMI5JhnrevgY6jnQCsycLfHd0lc3w/s4032/20221102_122731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cENXcEUNxrLsX-r-2RIkSgZSkQ7HTVa7EEgzjjVe2oDWSruqGrRwTfXUUdqACOt2d1j8fd9ZwHkVPxb7x1dxwo2gwsvQ3aXEzIi54DN47zF5-Pw-bzWQ6PQVzyvuWxxelsyGmnISAw6fZ31dztCiPKuz3pMI5JhnrevgY6jnQCsycLfHd0lc3w/w480-h640/20221102_122731.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The path continued left, away from the hospital, and I checked the time figuring I would have time still to walk down and I began following this new trail which turned out to be the 'Foreshore Trail'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHmskXBa_COI-3mIEGGonkv4Z9FSVkXhRjIHUGWM8TO-slY650uSHUUFUqcKGrN-h1cGoHPktxPNF6MWYEpzQDeO1th8OqCZJW_lSGij3CK8yFhlx63elqnFAY5y6Wx3ibPYVPXIBzDqA0hrN_6BFxAf2DWP9Mv-HZ8zEJcFlglUD79SPzJk3Nw/s4032/20221102_123644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHmskXBa_COI-3mIEGGonkv4Z9FSVkXhRjIHUGWM8TO-slY650uSHUUFUqcKGrN-h1cGoHPktxPNF6MWYEpzQDeO1th8OqCZJW_lSGij3CK8yFhlx63elqnFAY5y6Wx3ibPYVPXIBzDqA0hrN_6BFxAf2DWP9Mv-HZ8zEJcFlglUD79SPzJk3Nw/w480-h640/20221102_123644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi2U1br2bFrqkLS24MV6yc76d1iuQ0SzcshnHLEqvap20dXfcZt_wM5ZPG7Sfab0z-boM5tDxxqJE5lMQJbrpgEdri0VSRlUh45ljZvpY6obkp0HHRTJl3ZmvLRJb9ivBOR56oiobPCF443Z5ZHLdXaT6-Ak9wAcJ0iTEr3HVySlcK5so20NgiQ/s4032/20221102_124413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi2U1br2bFrqkLS24MV6yc76d1iuQ0SzcshnHLEqvap20dXfcZt_wM5ZPG7Sfab0z-boM5tDxxqJE5lMQJbrpgEdri0VSRlUh45ljZvpY6obkp0HHRTJl3ZmvLRJb9ivBOR56oiobPCF443Z5ZHLdXaT6-Ak9wAcJ0iTEr3HVySlcK5so20NgiQ/w480-h640/20221102_124413.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QJpMceUP1BJgX0gFMHUvcAXHAOprWGodhnhOZnRZ6cdZQaMAOBX1EYNujcjXJqiaC03_o1c2cFcz-DtKeZU1-jM84Uox19Ccv2lkmPqb4xY8WtbJhlHcihq2t_UcKCwWBJtPrAS__yYNnlinrcZt_Vn7PoNpvXn7MqK-2PkkFZcd_byRstMikw/s4032/20221102_124700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QJpMceUP1BJgX0gFMHUvcAXHAOprWGodhnhOZnRZ6cdZQaMAOBX1EYNujcjXJqiaC03_o1c2cFcz-DtKeZU1-jM84Uox19Ccv2lkmPqb4xY8WtbJhlHcihq2t_UcKCwWBJtPrAS__yYNnlinrcZt_Vn7PoNpvXn7MqK-2PkkFZcd_byRstMikw/w480-h640/20221102_124700.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC7t3WXPpJpD-H-c-6eTymhNimz6j9M3ll-WIOCRTKC2oJ-mgrEnIgzOXIRF6gd5g_H8ZaxJGM9Mgoul1d3-snd_FrRk60RtaNxKXkIJ_KPP9lL4-FE2agzURxUraERTIqus_9JxVYhej8wT08OIURupL_bQYnZTRb9Ei6VU71YRoBOwwb0QvQA/s4032/20221102_124735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC7t3WXPpJpD-H-c-6eTymhNimz6j9M3ll-WIOCRTKC2oJ-mgrEnIgzOXIRF6gd5g_H8ZaxJGM9Mgoul1d3-snd_FrRk60RtaNxKXkIJ_KPP9lL4-FE2agzURxUraERTIqus_9JxVYhej8wT08OIURupL_bQYnZTRb9Ei6VU71YRoBOwwb0QvQA/w480-h640/20221102_124735.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I continued along ultimately running out of time and having to run back to the hospital to not miss my appointment. Returning back, I had a blood test and was told my sperm count was incredibly low, that I wasn't 'sterile' but 'sub-fertile' and would not be able to conceive with the low number. I was told that I would have to retest in another year as it was still too soon from my treatment to be sure whether or not they would recover. (Though I secretly hoped they wouldn't, you can probably image why, plus my sperm was saved already before <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">my first round of chemo</a> in case we ever wanted children).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This occurred early November. Mid November, for my birthday I bought tickets in Sydney to see my favourite stand-up comedian Louis C.K.<br /><br />So my Wife and I travelled to Sydney for the day (in order to try and find me some good hiking boots as we could get none in and around Wollongong), we stopped in at the <a href="https://www.lillipadcafesydney.com/" target="_blank">Lillipad Cafe</a> in Glebe, an Indigenous Cafe as I had read about it on an SBS Food post and had really wanted to go. I got a wattleseed coffee and the Gangurru Burger, a saltbush spiced Kangaroo burger flavoured with wattleseed, pepperleaf, fingerlime mayo, and bush tomato chutney that was absolutely delicious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYXyLxOC5iFwWSNkmbq2M6eA7KDZwQnwnnSLTFigJVboyUhlaVk-NKRLDBIB3AxOlYn7ZQDrUbwguTfcdMAcByuXDRjYHaG-0QGkuCxr1SHQSUM4dRfVjU5cGHt9LIh-kZfiEbHZ9bdfHP3Bs8R5KYG813ShEOffTm8t_2N46Up_u5yB730zmMw/s4032/20221115_123651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYXyLxOC5iFwWSNkmbq2M6eA7KDZwQnwnnSLTFigJVboyUhlaVk-NKRLDBIB3AxOlYn7ZQDrUbwguTfcdMAcByuXDRjYHaG-0QGkuCxr1SHQSUM4dRfVjU5cGHt9LIh-kZfiEbHZ9bdfHP3Bs8R5KYG813ShEOffTm8t_2N46Up_u5yB730zmMw/w480-h640/20221115_123651.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Noticing in their fridge non-alcoholic Bush tucker flavoured beers I bought all 3 and as we walked around Sydney during the day looking for my boots I slowly made my way through all three of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlploy3_XDdybNffKwtVsYWEiI9NTF_XObuYioUIrPSoVrKgJtd7YeBm9jL7oaH3AGuI5shNFB3bs1x7WS1Bp2TyBBRwFH2i8-5zgfLAAF6qObeiDqBECyx6LGQLIPDL8PmmUxSo0US_4Ud0voc4dPOhU-jHZFeJLEB4Zz_yZBuUBoRoA_b-NZw/s4032/20221115_125953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlploy3_XDdybNffKwtVsYWEiI9NTF_XObuYioUIrPSoVrKgJtd7YeBm9jL7oaH3AGuI5shNFB3bs1x7WS1Bp2TyBBRwFH2i8-5zgfLAAF6qObeiDqBECyx6LGQLIPDL8PmmUxSo0US_4Ud0voc4dPOhU-jHZFeJLEB4Zz_yZBuUBoRoA_b-NZw/w400-h300/20221115_125953.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally found a good pair of boots in a Kathmandu and had to carry them around for the rest of the day with me while we waited to see Louie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIWp4EIOc_Ag81_O-lDijDIa9rVzMSRr-kGf9n_UpD-z1_s-PksCWpDfNxSgevY-GN2Q3IXQp5-IqkTa7jrE2-SZjXg3bKxjiwSio5c9mO2ASNnbXhpZDAEf4doQWJMAwOsN0IrLWlWfWHeEWmXe9dgGdxOHeg25xew2Np8V_GEyHumCVPIkeIg/s4032/20221115_182609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIWp4EIOc_Ag81_O-lDijDIa9rVzMSRr-kGf9n_UpD-z1_s-PksCWpDfNxSgevY-GN2Q3IXQp5-IqkTa7jrE2-SZjXg3bKxjiwSio5c9mO2ASNnbXhpZDAEf4doQWJMAwOsN0IrLWlWfWHeEWmXe9dgGdxOHeg25xew2Np8V_GEyHumCVPIkeIg/w480-h640/20221115_182609.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally we saw him (though we did endure to not particularly funny opening acts), and he was hilarious, I laughed the most I had in a long while (so much so I struggled to breathe). Four days later my actual birthday happened, hitting 31 years of age, getting on in my years. One of the gifts I got was a Kombucha making kit. And thus concluded the very very end of this blog post, with hopefully some more walks in the future, and a trip to Iceland in September next year to look forward to. </div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com3Bens Walk, New South Wales 2541, Australia-34.8716241 150.5918897-63.181857936178844 115.4356397 -6.5613902638211528 -174.25186029999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-48096708784043792442022-09-17T14:48:00.001+10:002023-07-15T15:48:45.668+10:00Hyams Beach - Bird Spotters Walk and White Sands and Scribbly Gum Walk<p> Having done the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2022/07/kiama-coastal-walk-minnamurra-to.html" target="_blank">Kiama Coastal Walk</a> as a test for my physical recovery from <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">cancer</a>, Tristan and I agreed to try and do more frequent walks together. In the time between that walk and this I also did a solid walk in the Royal National Park with my friends Stuart and Megan (who I frequently go indoor bouldering with). It was a test to see how they would go hiking, to which they both did well enough that I agreed that I would begin to do more frequent hikes with them too. Seeing a post of a picture of a Snake I put on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/?hl=en" target="_blank">my Instagram</a> story, Tristan again hit me up about getting together for a walk.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9Xf_MCgFzpyVBKpbIpxq3uCWiAGnvd0TDKueDMeA7U4BNQ1SRDvVhekPIjqbDbdGhMwK8vpl3h3Jyt26PmW4AR4_8MOAd4RB-zCtNQ0vRh8RXJ5EnvYNbVSRQSSrbT7ecArJU_6pdKNZ3MfUz8fqhqxiiPn8hqdzi01CIk0a0XwmJ8uoe5Ylwg/s2048/snake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9Xf_MCgFzpyVBKpbIpxq3uCWiAGnvd0TDKueDMeA7U4BNQ1SRDvVhekPIjqbDbdGhMwK8vpl3h3Jyt26PmW4AR4_8MOAd4RB-zCtNQ0vRh8RXJ5EnvYNbVSRQSSrbT7ecArJU_6pdKNZ3MfUz8fqhqxiiPn8hqdzi01CIk0a0XwmJ8uoe5Ylwg/w480-h640/snake.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>Agreeing to walk again with Tristan and trying to plan a day for it, one day at work I ran into Biris, who did the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/07/forty-foot-falls.html" target="_blank">Forty Foot Falls</a> walk with Tristan and myself. We had tried to all 3 get together and go for a follow up walk but had never found the time, between the covid pandemic, my cancer and Biris having a child. However as we spoke he told me he was keen to come on another walk with us so I messaged a group chat between the three of us to find a date and location for a walk (assuming we might do the Boxvale track or 60 Foot Falls walk). However Tristan, working doing bush regeneration said many of the highlands walks were closed due to damage from the excessive rain we had recently. He suggested Hare Point walking track. Looking up that area I saw there were 3 walks. The Hare Point walking track, Hyams Beach Trail and White Sands and Scribbly Gum track. We decided (without anyone really reading anything about them, such as location or distance of the walks) that we would do all 3.<div><br /></div><div>We all finally locked in a date, 12th of September, and I agreed to drive, collecting Biris first. We started catching up in the car, I asked what music he wanted me to play and he said he didn't care. I put on the Celtic Metal band Eluveitie, and we began talking about music. Biris asked if I had heard of the Mongolian Metal band The Hu. I told him I loved them and that they had just played in Sydney but I didn't go because of the Covid risk. He told me he went and that it was an awesome concert.</div><div><br /></div><div>We soon arrived at Tristan's and the three of us immediately started a thousand different conversations (difficult to remember pretty much any of them at this point) on our way South towards Jervis Bay.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we approached Berry I told the guys I had to use the restroom, pulling up at the exact same park and toilet I had on my way to <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2022/05/gosangs-tunnel-and-mermaid-inlet.html" target="_blank">Gosangs Tunnel</a> with Dad. I told the guys about all the Jehovah's Witness stones that had been there on that occasion before letting Tristan know he would need to GPS the way as I actually had no clue where we were going and that I was just 'heading south'.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we hit Nowra I commented that the place was 'a shithole' (it's not that bad, but it is semi dodgy). The traffic through here was terrible and Biris asked me if the metal band I put on was actually going to do any metal (the shuffle playlist seemed to be playing all their acoustic-folk songs).</div><div><br /></div><div>As I continued driving Tristan told us we wouldn't be able to do the Hare Point walk, as the road to get to it was closed, but we would still be able to do the other two walks.</div><div><br /></div><div>After making our way through Nowra, Tristan began to direct me and we passed an Emu farm. I commented that there used to be an Emu farm down there that sold Emu pies and that they were really good, and wondered if this Emu farm did, saying that if they do we should stop in on the way back. Biris mentioned he had never tried Emu. I told him that I love interesting things, and that the Kiama Pie shop used to sell Kangaroo and Crocodile pies, and one day during the opening up of everything after (or really sorta still during) the pandemic my Wife and I went there to have one, but were told they didn't sell them anymore and they were more for 'tourists' who had stopped coming as our borders were shut. I then began to waffle on that I had found a place in Berry that did Alpaca burgers and that I wanted to go there to eat that.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Part 1- Bird Spotters Walk (Hyams Beach Walk)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We soon arrived in Hyams Beach, passing a cafe on our left with both Tristan and Biris hanging for a cup of coffee. We pulled into the carpark Tristan said was near the start of the walk. I pulled up, and we all walked up to the cafe for a coffee, making our way back to the car as we chatted about Star Wars with Biris saying he didn't think the 'new ones' were too bad. I thought he was talking about episodes, 7, 8 and 9 and was horrified. When it was cleared up that he meant the often ill thought-of prequels Tristan and I shrugged, agreeing that they weren't too bad. We all finished our coffee's throwing them into the nearby bin and I watched as a oversized ute tried to pull up next to my car with a young child in the back trying to open the door. I stopped and starred, making sure they didn't hit my car before we continued on down the hill to where Tristan believed the walk started.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdMMVLxIgnBpu6KuEL6tFuFZXmyGnxhYbiSad3jLDq-V2-dffiftICjRrVloY5VBslyqiPTA3uyB6qksyf0W6bQlVg3UmqHc71tDPEy8WNFlsZyTc9HZQDdHPB5F08XFDywwh54Qzt7VM0fK_J0TTwm9-H9CQdmKqW55dwPQOTo3QsHoEuJjqrg/s4032/20220912_101403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdMMVLxIgnBpu6KuEL6tFuFZXmyGnxhYbiSad3jLDq-V2-dffiftICjRrVloY5VBslyqiPTA3uyB6qksyf0W6bQlVg3UmqHc71tDPEy8WNFlsZyTc9HZQDdHPB5F08XFDywwh54Qzt7VM0fK_J0TTwm9-H9CQdmKqW55dwPQOTo3QsHoEuJjqrg/w480-h640/20220912_101403.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We passed this little creek turning left and following in a little trail to the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ7eK1VKhmGzVEuADPBJYe-esTK3LTP6Om8QGFwSFNikVyFoR8llI9v6HL3GfMtALoD2XhupEuX7nucC9aoUAZJOAoF80xgMNa4CFZcJ2jbkz_0XcIt_-8C6XNX20za8PD39-08w8tDh5c0tclSgDzJTgccqm2I2tPMcyvmxz0wFSduwALMSRdA/s4032/20220912_101511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ7eK1VKhmGzVEuADPBJYe-esTK3LTP6Om8QGFwSFNikVyFoR8llI9v6HL3GfMtALoD2XhupEuX7nucC9aoUAZJOAoF80xgMNa4CFZcJ2jbkz_0XcIt_-8C6XNX20za8PD39-08w8tDh5c0tclSgDzJTgccqm2I2tPMcyvmxz0wFSduwALMSRdA/w480-h640/20220912_101511.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"Imagine if this is the walk, and it's like 5 seconds to the beach and that's it." I joked.</div><div><br /></div><div>The path soon forked, and I wondered which way was the walking track, with Tristan believing it was probably to the right away from the beach. We walked up a short way and then believed it was a track down from somebodies property, turning back and continuing along until we hit the beach where Tristan (who had forgotten to bring sunglasses) was almost blinded by the ultra white sand reflecting the sun.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JexnezI3tz77w_gSqEn69mbbxDphjVl0-mV7crry-VIgp7vo05mPj7t_dUfwuupHD6Aov40-aGkhPGWZ8ZRvjH53NvKqnjjd8KXa6xIJxgIaWttvqrL9qCvrU6u9lljsOE5jpuw-dAnZEP9QWGkEUUYz2LIdTslSMU11yyrNIguTRxFHwfK9mg/s4032/20220912_102000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2JexnezI3tz77w_gSqEn69mbbxDphjVl0-mV7crry-VIgp7vo05mPj7t_dUfwuupHD6Aov40-aGkhPGWZ8ZRvjH53NvKqnjjd8KXa6xIJxgIaWttvqrL9qCvrU6u9lljsOE5jpuw-dAnZEP9QWGkEUUYz2LIdTslSMU11yyrNIguTRxFHwfK9mg/w400-h300/20220912_102000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As soon as we rocked up onto the sands the two guys groaned. Just in front of us was a bikini girl standing in front of a large camera on a tripod taking model shots of herself. </div><div><br /></div><div>We continued down the beach looking in at the treeline to see if any walk started along there. I said "It is the Hyams Beach walk, maybe we just walk along the beach?"<br /><br />So we continued along looking at the crystal clear water. All 3 of us agreed it would be a lovely spot to come back to and take a swim, but also new of it's reputation for getting insanely crowded and would never go on a weekend or public holiday. Even during the week in Summer we thought it might be packed with people. But on this day there were a few people scattered about but we mostly had the place to ourselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I began to get hot wearing my beanie (which I pretty much always just wear since coming home from my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>), I swapped to my hat (having worn the beanie in case it had been to windy to wear a hat).</div><div><br /></div><div>We passed a track finally off to our right into the treeline, however there was a no entry sign, stating it was a military zone. As we passed that and could see a little stream approaching we passed a group of young people in military clothing, before reaching the Creek and seeing the warning sign in regards to PFAS.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ4Z2ZjYpz17pjZKiBioOz9jxhkv68Pv4xQraLhf_veZRpH9A1bpcTzN06UCY7TRxkzlHYwMDXUj4iqKbnxeKkMNSsNiQW7maodbGXrZiKl7-oWszlpYmwxrRMai-Pf8o_9IO_VO2fJGyorVFCOUo-Aff2ZwMGqwlrrDRTVyW02SbvdDTjoGA8A/s4032/20220912_105309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ4Z2ZjYpz17pjZKiBioOz9jxhkv68Pv4xQraLhf_veZRpH9A1bpcTzN06UCY7TRxkzlHYwMDXUj4iqKbnxeKkMNSsNiQW7maodbGXrZiKl7-oWszlpYmwxrRMai-Pf8o_9IO_VO2fJGyorVFCOUo-Aff2ZwMGqwlrrDRTVyW02SbvdDTjoGA8A/w480-h640/20220912_105309.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cj8jkixVtFICkCS3s4Ai1cK7elEyj9ffvJdzIRVz-nbFlFWnxjCae2_gs6LsjIgNLgpgJpkU4ol-cDgr1l83StpZrMFeQ205P3xVB6Qck5a6IJ_WnFxExVYVsJYCi16xQauH4y28C4pzFmExYxXaBX5MlJlINM_hsCz5DIhzpZsGsZ7Zns53OA/s4000/20220912_105315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9cj8jkixVtFICkCS3s4Ai1cK7elEyj9ffvJdzIRVz-nbFlFWnxjCae2_gs6LsjIgNLgpgJpkU4ol-cDgr1l83StpZrMFeQ205P3xVB6Qck5a6IJ_WnFxExVYVsJYCi16xQauH4y28C4pzFmExYxXaBX5MlJlINM_hsCz5DIhzpZsGsZ7Zns53OA/w400-h300/20220912_105315.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div>We walked up to the bridge expecting to be able to cross it, however the other side was blocked as it was also a military zone. As we stood on the bridge the young group in military clothing came back, crossing over and entering. <br /><br />"We could take them." Biris jested. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKSo9ziq4fDC4VzisQi9jSg7imHwigcG4mAl1sXhw8btsyts_mZMSKd6U6kNYe34_5aLUuMLzMKV6e2OGYnGuF-vThuJk34_Rqocti1uuj8xIxLG0B4gEbrDUAiqoE_Zw_cTYtmjPi_-QaN2HFS_vBI6HECBc5E6ejBM9yQ2gtBTROUsoitOxww/s4032/20220912_105433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKSo9ziq4fDC4VzisQi9jSg7imHwigcG4mAl1sXhw8btsyts_mZMSKd6U6kNYe34_5aLUuMLzMKV6e2OGYnGuF-vThuJk34_Rqocti1uuj8xIxLG0B4gEbrDUAiqoE_Zw_cTYtmjPi_-QaN2HFS_vBI6HECBc5E6ejBM9yQ2gtBTROUsoitOxww/w480-h640/20220912_105433.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqAgYru34IgxWKzq9BSEYODJa5UTaJtIxmQfqIg7arnMxA6eq7XXDX41rrY55G0QY43_FHTT-_5rWdEBOBocH8B7yAhvewOEaUApp-nj-N_INANZIB4M7xvYvhDZrVqRIFM9i2Fpr0vkVShKP9dLZEqKSYDSDRdBcjmIau-r2N6jM-xu8Ls5i6w/s3648/20220912_105415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqAgYru34IgxWKzq9BSEYODJa5UTaJtIxmQfqIg7arnMxA6eq7XXDX41rrY55G0QY43_FHTT-_5rWdEBOBocH8B7yAhvewOEaUApp-nj-N_INANZIB4M7xvYvhDZrVqRIFM9i2Fpr0vkVShKP9dLZEqKSYDSDRdBcjmIau-r2N6jM-xu8Ls5i6w/w480-h640/20220912_105415.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan, Biris, Myself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDm9w0qZSCx8tqLBMsVMFWzrF9btS8J6iXw07XjBrYrRVMfdxzWpIwSeKkPrhpz4V302g-aPbnIzfWoqWIXd-uRqihlrgQb__Do6a9bXBQ50oCXJHW0jLhPOlcC1BramZwKBf7oN199t1IFL_TZEN506KZrGBVO-8nGqcqoWh7s0I9fvizsUjEw/s4032/20220912_105429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDm9w0qZSCx8tqLBMsVMFWzrF9btS8J6iXw07XjBrYrRVMfdxzWpIwSeKkPrhpz4V302g-aPbnIzfWoqWIXd-uRqihlrgQb__Do6a9bXBQ50oCXJHW0jLhPOlcC1BramZwKBf7oN199t1IFL_TZEN506KZrGBVO-8nGqcqoWh7s0I9fvizsUjEw/w480-h640/20220912_105429.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We were all a little confused about whether or not this was the walk, with me saying "We walked along the beach for no reason." Both were quick to correct me, as it wasn't for 'no reason' because even if it was not the walk, it was a nice walk along the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we stood on the bridge I Google mapped the walk and it was taking me back to the carpark to start the walk so we began our way back to see if we had missed the walk, or if that short walk along the beach simply was the walk.</div><div><br /></div><div>I commented that maybe I wouldn't want to swim in the beach now knowing that the PFAS would be washing the creek into there. </div><div><br /></div><div>"It would be that diluted." Tristan said shrugging it off.</div><div><br /></div><div>I began to talk about when I worked in Bush Regen with the two of them and we worked at a spot in Albion Park called 'Hargraves' right near the airport that, after working there a bunch of times got found to contain PFAS. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Oh yeah they still work there." Biris said "They just aren't allowed to right after the rain."</div><div><br /></div><div>"Fuck that," I replied "Working there, in that, all spraying all the Glyphosate around and our excessive used of chemicals is probably what gave me fucking cancer." I said, then telling them about the time I worked in Green Army doing Bush Regeneration at Killalea, I told them they did aerial spraying and then let us go back in and work, saying it was fine, but I told them the air was thick with a sweet lolly smell and I definitely didn't feel safe or comfortable working in there at the time (but did because I was poor, needed money and didn't want to lose my job).</div><div><br /></div><div>He said they had better systems now doing it with drones, as we talked about alternate methods of dealing with weeds. I mentioned steam (which Tristan and Biris said had had issues elsewhere due to people getting hurt by the steam and other incidents). I then mentioned Pine Oil, which I use at home as it's safe and dehydrates and kills the plants. Tristan argued with me that it 'didn't work', and that it 'stunk'. I told him it worked in my yard and that I didn't mind the smell and it was a much better option then dousing everything in Glyphosate and there was a reason the shit was banned in Europe.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we walked back we started to get the stench of some seaweed, drying up on our left that we hadn't smelt at all on our way down. The conversation then became about anti-vaxxers and their weird attitudes, especially in regards to certain people at work, before moving onto people believing weird conspiracy theories about 'chem-trails'.</div><div><br /></div><div>We soon made it back to the walk way near the entry point where a few more people had now gathered on the beach sunbathing.</div><div><br /></div><div>We made our way back to the road, confused about whether we had done the walk or not, with Tristan suggesting we could just drive to the opposite end of town to just begin the White Sand and Scribbly Gum walk. However we all looked up the road, wondering if just up a bit further the walk started. We stopped on the road, with Biris and Tristan having a smoke while I sat a distance away not to breath it in and ate some protein balls. The conversation soon became about the recent death of Queen Elizabeth and about the royals and where our country would do, all three of us agreeing it was likely in the future Australia would become a Republic, I told them that my Wife (of proud English heritage) loved the Monarchy and was so upset about the Queen's death she had been looking at houses in the UK we could move to (which I had dismissed unless we won the lotto). As they finished their cigarettes and I emptied all the sand from my shoes we continued up the street finding a sign to the start of the Hyams Beach walk, which was also known as the 'Bird Spotters Walk'.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHN5raOK2pIa41P5RO0_EQuXTq1kjz_VsaaCbnu1e7vsvOgc_1OOTCJzO8PKdfuW2zhk6LVqrOZfek3n0598cgfZkX9mbxJCaW9BM3G2aSxsElKEhi7HvNwSOq9_xwlWAMrQnZE00VL8VG7EQ8kGGtHfDq2svN768wtc1VsJN8MkQHAOBOvNmag/s4032/20220912_115351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHN5raOK2pIa41P5RO0_EQuXTq1kjz_VsaaCbnu1e7vsvOgc_1OOTCJzO8PKdfuW2zhk6LVqrOZfek3n0598cgfZkX9mbxJCaW9BM3G2aSxsElKEhi7HvNwSOq9_xwlWAMrQnZE00VL8VG7EQ8kGGtHfDq2svN768wtc1VsJN8MkQHAOBOvNmag/w400-h300/20220912_115351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> "Well we already did a bunch of it along the beach" I said, looking at where the track marked out. But we began walking into the bush anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Wou_bXGglahtsezxoc_v0_llogOcz4C7mVE0hoZQS32EzzMVzTkwPSrrHSyiRIjmSwWOhnyWVCQNZedsQWF6T4E2qmRBZbZciyHsbeuXfECDun_MsPF5zIWGFbj4glnKuJyppjtclfuCqAFPSgPXuZfg7Yn7-QNzOISr_bvvRiq-iuDU4kqclQ/s4032/20220912_115812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Wou_bXGglahtsezxoc_v0_llogOcz4C7mVE0hoZQS32EzzMVzTkwPSrrHSyiRIjmSwWOhnyWVCQNZedsQWF6T4E2qmRBZbZciyHsbeuXfECDun_MsPF5zIWGFbj4glnKuJyppjtclfuCqAFPSgPXuZfg7Yn7-QNzOISr_bvvRiq-iuDU4kqclQ/w480-h640/20220912_115812.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The conversation soon became about heritage and DNA, as I tried to convince Biris (as I do with literally every person I talk to, having already got Tristan to do it) to do his Ancestry DNA. I told him my mate Stuart had done it, also being of Greek decent from Cyprus, and that it had picked him up and identified that he was from Cyprus. I asked about where his Greek heritage was from with him letting me know it was from Lesbos and that he wondered if his DNA would pick up Turkish. I told him it probably would as my friend Stuart's had picked up some Turkish. Tristan didn't get why it mattered with me informing him that historically the Greeks and Turks had sort of hated each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>We continued along enjoying the change in scenery from the beach landscape we had been on, (with me especially enjoying a little shade). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqomEWO9_2v-VBFOdKV1edV6P8_sfWIR19K17add3wHE78U9Y2cfks6CX9cxyLBUHYuZTdPiiRtiRDW1hDg8-TS9BlDgss7csPO7Mtru1t2OxJVw-VzL-3td54f9oGEH_RBN8H9I_JA9w53IfL3FPD5dDo70NByay1ycGsSRNXKbt4c6dniadqw/s4032/20220912_120034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqomEWO9_2v-VBFOdKV1edV6P8_sfWIR19K17add3wHE78U9Y2cfks6CX9cxyLBUHYuZTdPiiRtiRDW1hDg8-TS9BlDgss7csPO7Mtru1t2OxJVw-VzL-3td54f9oGEH_RBN8H9I_JA9w53IfL3FPD5dDo70NByay1ycGsSRNXKbt4c6dniadqw/w480-h640/20220912_120034.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXHvzPblS1ifFQmeOTqPp-8MqKrPyh8GuJ3KEMlW1PFcP1z1EZyMkFVxr4r-S33jm4kX06VJ0Gqqx9bPKiOv5KqGp53g4hv47bYVfh5TxhLFGjiEYCV48wbSeXKwLnmFo3TANc7qHJJKQsvT3wvzo-0KMm9kY7OHgvdiib6abg_Y3Xst_-Cn60Q/s4032/20220912_120257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXHvzPblS1ifFQmeOTqPp-8MqKrPyh8GuJ3KEMlW1PFcP1z1EZyMkFVxr4r-S33jm4kX06VJ0Gqqx9bPKiOv5KqGp53g4hv47bYVfh5TxhLFGjiEYCV48wbSeXKwLnmFo3TANc7qHJJKQsvT3wvzo-0KMm9kY7OHgvdiib6abg_Y3Xst_-Cn60Q/w480-h640/20220912_120257.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqI7pb7Z8LNUapGLGgetQRo6zDAWDUquseF6BNra2EOyN5jaeqMy_u0F4gZ4VFndZr5l7ltg4gQ26DeS14UtJ1eIfMa5LEIAyxZXG_lR99c1ESrHcaxeEj3h54kr-VjaynozWoWVbq3eViEqMh3jgZ7TmdZ0c2qulNiR8tQ4ErKJPs1_ZMbJy5g/s4032/20220912_120507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqI7pb7Z8LNUapGLGgetQRo6zDAWDUquseF6BNra2EOyN5jaeqMy_u0F4gZ4VFndZr5l7ltg4gQ26DeS14UtJ1eIfMa5LEIAyxZXG_lR99c1ESrHcaxeEj3h54kr-VjaynozWoWVbq3eViEqMh3jgZ7TmdZ0c2qulNiR8tQ4ErKJPs1_ZMbJy5g/w400-h300/20220912_120507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAhrNzvptdja4GSEl2LSgwTWnOE7WB-mxLwF9WETkl72mwNPeys9OCGrP-pKyFixfrzBxE-do_0WDSLSUgl0PFk-N3qTR7YKvOzYQBWig6SoaVcpj_D4LXvIb9p6blNFi6rjmf64pMeIfJn-g7EQ3FJEu4bs-wKscTs5DgXowUVBQ_3DqJFHjnw/s4032/20220912_120513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAhrNzvptdja4GSEl2LSgwTWnOE7WB-mxLwF9WETkl72mwNPeys9OCGrP-pKyFixfrzBxE-do_0WDSLSUgl0PFk-N3qTR7YKvOzYQBWig6SoaVcpj_D4LXvIb9p6blNFi6rjmf64pMeIfJn-g7EQ3FJEu4bs-wKscTs5DgXowUVBQ_3DqJFHjnw/w480-h640/20220912_120513.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tristan began voicing his displeasure of people trying to build a 'brand' off of Instagram, people who just go take photos of hikes or hiking destination or walks. I quickly moved my eyes from side to side. "Yes..." I said.<br /><br />"Yours is different." He said. "You're writing a blog, you're actually doing something, you're not just doing what we're all fucking doing and trying to market it, there's time involved and you're actively doing something. It's not just an Instagram account." Biris agreed with him which made me feel a bit better. I began to sorta self justify saying my blog was really a sort of journal, and half the posts about walks or hikes were more like journal entries or my thoughts, talks and experiences. "So much of it is just shit fucking conversations and shit way say along the way." I said, proving myself 100% right with this very blog post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sXwnvP2CWpvcAFlxsK3CIbiP16ANC72aBLVDNxmNrHl4vomWhq5sM9lyr3O6l3L298np6Pp4W-TUvEZDyDnCeJlU84YY9C3Zerz4Eyhjp8uYGNwI7w3inN-qaFYNwbd5IO6_rt6PpLKQL09begUTMWV1Ewqy8Dx28oxkIkI-r17pthNwoEWbWw/s4032/20220912_121335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sXwnvP2CWpvcAFlxsK3CIbiP16ANC72aBLVDNxmNrHl4vomWhq5sM9lyr3O6l3L298np6Pp4W-TUvEZDyDnCeJlU84YY9C3Zerz4Eyhjp8uYGNwI7w3inN-qaFYNwbd5IO6_rt6PpLKQL09begUTMWV1Ewqy8Dx28oxkIkI-r17pthNwoEWbWw/w480-h640/20220912_121335.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then stumbled upon this lone Warratah, and all crowded around it to get photos of it, finding it beautiful. Three guys in love with flowers, who'd think of that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Warratah is the NSW flower emblem right?" Asked Biris.<br />"Yeah it's on your driver's license." I told him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then asked what the other states national flowers were.<br /><br />"I don't know," replied Tristan. "But I know our state bird is the Kookaburra."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"The best Australian bird is the Magpie." I said. With Tristan and Biris assuming I meant because they attack people, but I just find them really smart thoughtful birds and they have the most beautiful vocal sounds of maybe any bird I have ever heard, often telling my Wife it would maybe be the main thing about Australia I would miss if we ever moved overseas, the sounds they make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We passed a fork in the road with Tristan wondering if we should go left towards the beach. "Nope." I said, and just took the right fork continuing into the bush, wondering where the military zone had been from the beach. Biris commented that we would know if we started being 'fired upon'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon came to a section of the path that was covered in water and I asked if they wanted to go through. "My shoes will get drenched going through there." Biris said. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBRUgJ0JaEnXT_q2zVODthZrOPpSO8S1PmaNi2cjLXjfZMLxomTHRYmFb2v9ua6lZb6PVeqaQQrX0J3MGeIOEp9_4QZSmD9uKJsdW6ff5zH8ZVYceMzd904X2RPXt2UdzeCWTYuBB6hxmFAnOrWZn1Omuh-Xeee7iJsDZpiZpiK0pBpglSqmB0g/s4032/20220912_121718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBRUgJ0JaEnXT_q2zVODthZrOPpSO8S1PmaNi2cjLXjfZMLxomTHRYmFb2v9ua6lZb6PVeqaQQrX0J3MGeIOEp9_4QZSmD9uKJsdW6ff5zH8ZVYceMzd904X2RPXt2UdzeCWTYuBB6hxmFAnOrWZn1Omuh-Xeee7iJsDZpiZpiK0pBpglSqmB0g/w480-h640/20220912_121718.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had a look around an found know way around without having to go through it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walk at the start had just seemed to loop around back onto the beach we had already walked down so I wasn't going to demand the two walk through and get there shoes drenched. We turned back deciding to follow the split path Tristan had initially suggested we walk down. Passing a couple walking towards us on our way back Tristan asked "Should we tell them they're going the wrong way?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Well we don't know that's the wrong way, we just turned back." I replied. He agreed and we soon began down the other trail towards the beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon came to a big pole we had actually seen in the bush from our walk along the beach and saw a small trail that led back down to the beach from here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_lIpgNMJoIqczxsc3zV-P5I0v1iK6KRrES8yDifGYAXW_o2XoSjsDzzWlbExa8xt3gpcttsQymSBH_9H_HYtgndTKdrHpR_96OmTuMoYCgkdELxzhTDCcMVeG-cYXgyJON56kN7OlruvDVO40dWiED9-Wc8juwVEIOW4SEY-IHJY3q25BnNGTA/s4032/20220912_123120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_lIpgNMJoIqczxsc3zV-P5I0v1iK6KRrES8yDifGYAXW_o2XoSjsDzzWlbExa8xt3gpcttsQymSBH_9H_HYtgndTKdrHpR_96OmTuMoYCgkdELxzhTDCcMVeG-cYXgyJON56kN7OlruvDVO40dWiED9-Wc8juwVEIOW4SEY-IHJY3q25BnNGTA/w400-h300/20220912_123120.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Hfbkb7MlrUMncsAUDLdqeNG_Vev-lZclV3esgetAQjJbnW7APynUWtfqZL0O5LGBTOhVMOuBdvVUoernpijl6lWu8JVRKvyOmLZbW30AX4vPE70WRM_aq0ZlqVE-0Reb7j20VSkaVB2L0r8PJhIAxsCVIyseKpNuUu2C4oH6wRK47V9bbR6Yw/s4032/20220912_123218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Hfbkb7MlrUMncsAUDLdqeNG_Vev-lZclV3esgetAQjJbnW7APynUWtfqZL0O5LGBTOhVMOuBdvVUoernpijl6lWu8JVRKvyOmLZbW30AX4vPE70WRM_aq0ZlqVE-0Reb7j20VSkaVB2L0r8PJhIAxsCVIyseKpNuUu2C4oH6wRK47V9bbR6Yw/w480-h640/20220912_123218.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this spot was an older couple who Tristan said hi to. The older lady began explaining she was going to do something and was practicing with a compass. I hadn't heard what she said she was doing, and decided against asking Tristan what it was she said she was doing. If I, as blog narrator have no idea, then neither shall you, person reading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just back along the trail leading into this section and down the hill on our right was a spot filled with Melaleuca (Paperbark trees), that were semi submerged in a pool of water. I found it incredible to look at. There was something about the sight of it that really spoke to me, so before we walked back the trail to head of to the white sands walk we scuttled down the slope to sit along the water and take in the majestic beauty of these trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYt1Sfq1wEtMOGR7ZZvnZgrRybErl5x_9v3CHarav9FoX2MK2fImziutrR84TqdKQKUnGfQg63hBwlKZp6mXWm2Tgv8ff33HLP15fzaaMRTZqZH-FlZ1VFUhDiC5ulzdtSPF1Jz5Jp6Jko6XPNOLGZUSkieJ5pGXZK9o8CV51aOk1snQ_aDj4UQ/s4032/20220912_123318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYt1Sfq1wEtMOGR7ZZvnZgrRybErl5x_9v3CHarav9FoX2MK2fImziutrR84TqdKQKUnGfQg63hBwlKZp6mXWm2Tgv8ff33HLP15fzaaMRTZqZH-FlZ1VFUhDiC5ulzdtSPF1Jz5Jp6Jko6XPNOLGZUSkieJ5pGXZK9o8CV51aOk1snQ_aDj4UQ/w400-h300/20220912_123318.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVqvI-7vuJZOjJkZKp1hSJpaevZkbMqdLu9E8D-eir6yHZBkbsqRuTSbmaN9yjYl4SZBuykqLilPyrSTxyOAZx0eQ5PYOrLnYY8QsK16NA0qCivHKdmg_FWMDqC1pphidAHBRZSumXjNavUees12oRUtCH7EeEEwItqZ-vsVQBEAdeEzN6dEAQw/s4032/20220912_123324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVqvI-7vuJZOjJkZKp1hSJpaevZkbMqdLu9E8D-eir6yHZBkbsqRuTSbmaN9yjYl4SZBuykqLilPyrSTxyOAZx0eQ5PYOrLnYY8QsK16NA0qCivHKdmg_FWMDqC1pphidAHBRZSumXjNavUees12oRUtCH7EeEEwItqZ-vsVQBEAdeEzN6dEAQw/w400-h300/20220912_123324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT7BHryYmDJ8MPqm-eA5lTiUbEMvR1DYHHF-E-BN9ryDuir1xLaItb1NN2Yg9Wf9bX7K6aOElBwPUhP3r-LUu_lee_tWkf-jBkhYyRs7LaU_qAP2mx45tmx_-NY8ZRFc_GX2746A0wz7Ro-QvJ8iQdatqZuSw1jGsseDhy4MKPhxEbtZ6BOZ2Hw/s4032/20220912_124140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT7BHryYmDJ8MPqm-eA5lTiUbEMvR1DYHHF-E-BN9ryDuir1xLaItb1NN2Yg9Wf9bX7K6aOElBwPUhP3r-LUu_lee_tWkf-jBkhYyRs7LaU_qAP2mx45tmx_-NY8ZRFc_GX2746A0wz7Ro-QvJ8iQdatqZuSw1jGsseDhy4MKPhxEbtZ6BOZ2Hw/w400-h300/20220912_124140.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1ARntskloZFlCsVEzSHt9rzGDyggHMbGEnopzTj6KKJ_IdGQvyQ12nv0HU2KBbh6FUgB1L9DgTec3NaEIWN6HxllxRC0_E7Nd_dBj7CLcWJIK0EfPGMsRCv6sK6Pq00hCIAboTAdoAR9CmoNUZ4e8IcpxTucqmAU6kfVzqE7RMQ0XgO0hA9sKQ/s4032/20220912_124145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1ARntskloZFlCsVEzSHt9rzGDyggHMbGEnopzTj6KKJ_IdGQvyQ12nv0HU2KBbh6FUgB1L9DgTec3NaEIWN6HxllxRC0_E7Nd_dBj7CLcWJIK0EfPGMsRCv6sK6Pq00hCIAboTAdoAR9CmoNUZ4e8IcpxTucqmAU6kfVzqE7RMQ0XgO0hA9sKQ/w400-h300/20220912_124145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While we sat enchanted by the scene I asked if they had done the ABC poll to find out Australia's favourite tree. (Saying I had voted for Melaleuca, Mangroves and Wollemi Pine). Tristan had voted in it but Biris hadn't even seen it. Soon a bird of prey some sort of Hawk or Eagle began flying overhead (I was so entranced I didn't even try to get a picture).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finally decided we should head to the White Sands and Scribbly Gum walk and began making our way back. As we were nearing the road Tristan and Biris were complaining about their receding hairlines, with Biris saying he thought he had a few years left. I looked at his full head of hair before removing my hat to show him what true baldness looks like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He turned to Tristan. "Can't feel bad about anything around this guy." He said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"No, every time I go on a walk with him and I tell him to shut up and stop whinging about his cancer he writes it down in his blog and makes me look like a bad guy." Tristan said, knowing full well that in the context of the blog I do imply that it is his humour, not him being a genuine dick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Biris questioned me about the beanie and the hat wearing, asking me if it was a self conscious thing. I said that it was, sort of, as I do think it looks dumb, but also because my hair had grown back in between my first 3 rounds of chemo and not after my Stem Cell Transplant there was a bit of trauma, and that seeing myself as bald didn't make me always just think 'hey there's an ugly bald guy', but often was just a harsh reminder that I had spent so long laying in a hospital bed, believing I was going to die, and that it was a stark reminder of what I had been through and instead of moving on with life and forgetting the trauma it often brought it back for me. "I'll have to stop wearing it at some point, but it's really become a comfort thing to me, even though I know people at work judge and question me for wearing it all the time, even in the heat."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back at my car Tristan told Biris he could GPS us to the start of the White Sands walk as I began to drive. However the GPS soon began taking us out of town and I had to pull up while all three of us started looking at where the hell we were being taken. Tristan soon told us to ignore the GPS and began giving me directions through town with had numerous road closures and detours, which he told me to ignore telling me to go left, the right, then ignore my own GPS saying right and go straight. Soon we ended up right out the start of the walk pulling up to begin the second and final leg of our walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Part 2- White Sands and Scribbly Gum Walk</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELBFgszwoybmt4CTmbOqewvtxmnokzryLV0pK_VmxVEC0phAFkHmEuzD3jkByMlXTaHBU7KCzYCDCqxIpSeSuPeRvjPlCmeceGca-MIiaBdbEuaW6QJv29NHukQN5VzqbMOp-rNhqc7W9zB1LanPP3iF1XC9-6aDf-ili7NT-Ju5qIWDYP-u1xA/s4032/20220912_131213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELBFgszwoybmt4CTmbOqewvtxmnokzryLV0pK_VmxVEC0phAFkHmEuzD3jkByMlXTaHBU7KCzYCDCqxIpSeSuPeRvjPlCmeceGca-MIiaBdbEuaW6QJv29NHukQN5VzqbMOp-rNhqc7W9zB1LanPP3iF1XC9-6aDf-ili7NT-Ju5qIWDYP-u1xA/w400-h300/20220912_131213.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Dw8BPVO6xQgSx1gTgkS0zsecCoJTChZjegvZ_OxLzyN3IvxyiyGz1qm_h2eTJ6lldbQ1RQmxEERxxPmHcdRi8VMDoZ2V6PopnsXGgWXHePA6wusJ4ecLgb1kAK2giSxdWsyJ55vU6rCdMqBydmOMuvbUoEIoSdig-lXeXtDOQZ2uwhtwCnVTFw/s4032/20220912_131159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Dw8BPVO6xQgSx1gTgkS0zsecCoJTChZjegvZ_OxLzyN3IvxyiyGz1qm_h2eTJ6lldbQ1RQmxEERxxPmHcdRi8VMDoZ2V6PopnsXGgWXHePA6wusJ4ecLgb1kAK2giSxdWsyJ55vU6rCdMqBydmOMuvbUoEIoSdig-lXeXtDOQZ2uwhtwCnVTFw/w400-h300/20220912_131159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Looking at the map of the walk we saw Scribbly Gum was a little offshoot to the left along the White Sands walk but on the way back we could walk the White Sands walk back and not miss any.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As soon as we began walking we began seeing 'Scribbly Gums' with me asking Tristan what caused them. Turns out it's the larvae of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogmograptis" target="_blank">Scribbly Gum Moth</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SOlUcs8cxIt-pjisKaIq_6J9ERiN2LdeFUXHf4vmIch7pYVy5riueXqHBypAp5Wru2nkbJadj3sefQo2qZOAK5DiaQhBzszvMfizU3GAM1xMxoq5O4bOEFIynej79Nf-_bHLt7Adyd2ja-JtBi3gWJ3Yb0G4SfXAI7b5ujX_OTZGOq4Of4cuA/s4032/20220912_131333.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SOlUcs8cxIt-pjisKaIq_6J9ERiN2LdeFUXHf4vmIch7pYVy5riueXqHBypAp5Wru2nkbJadj3sefQo2qZOAK5DiaQhBzszvMfizU3GAM1xMxoq5O4bOEFIynej79Nf-_bHLt7Adyd2ja-JtBi3gWJ3Yb0G4SfXAI7b5ujX_OTZGOq4Of4cuA/w480-h640/20220912_131333.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder why it's called 'Scribbly'? (also, that's a joke)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon came upon a little creek along the path and stopped while Biris and Tristan again lit up a smoke.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRnuO1_LSvM19mh90zL2VaQT_MOcPxnFb8deVArDiJJuFPKdkzUqQMyv0_qwi5NSg45KWCCIqRWCC9FeV5ChlJVNKfoDWFbIZXzCSfAC0EmqNglpqLRyI2XI7GmVCIzmn4mUK0O_OFkZSUqtyKpir54lq8XVvdQMN2ep81B1SJ3SDizkktUvy0g/s4032/20220912_131820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRnuO1_LSvM19mh90zL2VaQT_MOcPxnFb8deVArDiJJuFPKdkzUqQMyv0_qwi5NSg45KWCCIqRWCC9FeV5ChlJVNKfoDWFbIZXzCSfAC0EmqNglpqLRyI2XI7GmVCIzmn4mUK0O_OFkZSUqtyKpir54lq8XVvdQMN2ep81B1SJ3SDizkktUvy0g/w400-h300/20220912_131820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started talking about video games and I said I had bought the Assassin's Creed games from Syndicate to Valhalla to catch up on (the other two being Origins and Odyssey). Biris mentioned he really wanted to play Origins which is set in Egypt. I mentioned I did too as it was Egypt during the reign of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra (being avidly into ancient Roman History). We both mention we we struggling to find the time to play video games in between work and our home lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued on with the walk with Tristan making fun of those Instagrammers again at a sign post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJNsAWx7cN-qG9aaRpOXkuM9WmgrzzNGHY8SZ8e7Iqr6yJ5Ejkh0sLY_WoxyQHq5BDUyt0fiOh3FmSOpOZqhLVWuXD63ZirCk6oJtNv7W2M4KPBAapyz3BWoH8qttCZFc7BjVVG_quEEEpQ959heUNJ-o8cBhsHi2tgsLKsxXoMVLiLgAm7phRQ/s4032/20220912_132659.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJNsAWx7cN-qG9aaRpOXkuM9WmgrzzNGHY8SZ8e7Iqr6yJ5Ejkh0sLY_WoxyQHq5BDUyt0fiOh3FmSOpOZqhLVWuXD63ZirCk6oJtNv7W2M4KPBAapyz3BWoH8qttCZFc7BjVVG_quEEEpQ959heUNJ-o8cBhsHi2tgsLKsxXoMVLiLgAm7phRQ/w480-h640/20220912_132659.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know if Chinamans Beach is totally PC</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we were reaching Chinamans Beach (I didn't name it), we passed a woman entering the trail from the beach with Tristan telling her 'Good morning!' she said 'Or afternoon.' as it was by now, the afternoon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"You know how I know someone's a dick?" Tristan asked. "If you say good morning to them in the arvo and they correct you."<br />"I think most people would have corrected you," I replied. "I would have corrected you."<br />"Yeah but you're a dick." He insisted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5nMh2gi94PsO-eMhgg9-0oWBafTxoFXNeZ8WTRoeCqy_inQar3Z7IgxN55lWCtmbfxF1pZseFxc6aDdWBg2CbAs5VZT2l8SQdVEdiErOhFTYrLKCRolk5hf-CmRh8hMLaNWC5E4WLX8bHYAlZi2R-XXbKWrcYUYsrxifohBix6I73_gXYgWXcw/s4032/20220912_132805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5nMh2gi94PsO-eMhgg9-0oWBafTxoFXNeZ8WTRoeCqy_inQar3Z7IgxN55lWCtmbfxF1pZseFxc6aDdWBg2CbAs5VZT2l8SQdVEdiErOhFTYrLKCRolk5hf-CmRh8hMLaNWC5E4WLX8bHYAlZi2R-XXbKWrcYUYsrxifohBix6I73_gXYgWXcw/w400-h300/20220912_132805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvIjC-aFYCn7cwj2d0-mxCkvpfKdj-7b2yJtC_m95wQoSC_Ri8-0zj5Dc_krdnS2wCf8brN0wQEn5Z3VOWmkfjZukdcvPB0Ss0vsf4fub4x7JNuugPxO9x_QQ9DzKVOSyhCa4AW6EHEVrlXjA1ePjzRJA8iw2fUViRSGTHPoyOjMuisVBlJgnyw/s4032/20220912_132803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvIjC-aFYCn7cwj2d0-mxCkvpfKdj-7b2yJtC_m95wQoSC_Ri8-0zj5Dc_krdnS2wCf8brN0wQEn5Z3VOWmkfjZukdcvPB0Ss0vsf4fub4x7JNuugPxO9x_QQ9DzKVOSyhCa4AW6EHEVrlXjA1ePjzRJA8iw2fUViRSGTHPoyOjMuisVBlJgnyw/w400-h300/20220912_132803.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77f-07LKeJaSbnzYWZ8QKchqfAd_6VsEugqYtHY7M8Zvs1pcal_FljEjMKG2ttkpZHZxPQyLcVFgCQIt-Aj0fSJY0OBaMtAGDMkEJtDbX-sbVUvWi1fy3ZvmWkjLCsl4XJ0f5Y05p7aYv83KXnflHOYXAU7paZCOnbNW-hufddUVzK5pkaur1CA/s4032/20220912_133020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77f-07LKeJaSbnzYWZ8QKchqfAd_6VsEugqYtHY7M8Zvs1pcal_FljEjMKG2ttkpZHZxPQyLcVFgCQIt-Aj0fSJY0OBaMtAGDMkEJtDbX-sbVUvWi1fy3ZvmWkjLCsl4XJ0f5Y05p7aYv83KXnflHOYXAU7paZCOnbNW-hufddUVzK5pkaur1CA/w480-h640/20220912_133020.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPNcck1Y0QHsBdMQjo-HbIbI-7yq6CNqsKoLedAHFopOjGB2BlxL3VAJFETYaXumgyWQ83Tl3DXhJCcNY2U_njeZcVy4Qaenc2bNCx0Qv-3KaXVGr5QkZHOqu64nmtubUPoalmTt5Z9vkCis1PMNxz3VslwmLKet2pCVHAAQ-_BH4l34yhdCZMw/s4032/20220912_133052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPNcck1Y0QHsBdMQjo-HbIbI-7yq6CNqsKoLedAHFopOjGB2BlxL3VAJFETYaXumgyWQ83Tl3DXhJCcNY2U_njeZcVy4Qaenc2bNCx0Qv-3KaXVGr5QkZHOqu64nmtubUPoalmTt5Z9vkCis1PMNxz3VslwmLKet2pCVHAAQ-_BH4l34yhdCZMw/w480-h640/20220912_133052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I made it across the sands and up the staircase I felt a tightness in my chest. I informed the two that over the last few weeks I'd had a tightness in my chest and some pain in my lungs and had struggled taking deep breaths. I said I didn't know if it was related to my treatment but that my Wife believed it was being caused by anxiety because of all the stress I had been under of late. I mentioned I had just done a blood test the previous Thursday and was due for a follow up with my Doctor, not that Thursday but the one after (which was now a one off public holiday due to the Queen's passing).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a short walk from the top of the staircase until we turned off left heading uphill along the Scribbly Gum walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjDAOMjrwr_ec8lruCrQimsT-kL5AOhMbOe_VxnhcCGdd5pw7gaB-KaPLGZxC-c8gBcVsdd-r0GDBOEikL84awLkG1mGbO-I5691uALtOFIaALSRJiXpho--hFbH0B5MCxr-TR-judG4leCWWVsGGEfFHYf55cV2NX-7nT1CPXcnmCRExdc8afg/s4032/20220912_133459.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjDAOMjrwr_ec8lruCrQimsT-kL5AOhMbOe_VxnhcCGdd5pw7gaB-KaPLGZxC-c8gBcVsdd-r0GDBOEikL84awLkG1mGbO-I5691uALtOFIaALSRJiXpho--hFbH0B5MCxr-TR-judG4leCWWVsGGEfFHYf55cV2NX-7nT1CPXcnmCRExdc8afg/w480-h640/20220912_133459.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ang1Vd4KzdUYGjqu_k-6XVj8skGzgNWmS5179uWl4SkhPFr5yh_am0h0N-q3ERdLRxK89Up5j7OkP5Z_iIioOA3IlQFHuhxK5D0MYZBwM17eG8bWa2hQ615WO9fBnMmr8AmVkRrSdCidfOrsZ8ILieexqQwEhNNL-tKqK8Uv-YGM4RWovLd3mw/s4032/20220912_133529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ang1Vd4KzdUYGjqu_k-6XVj8skGzgNWmS5179uWl4SkhPFr5yh_am0h0N-q3ERdLRxK89Up5j7OkP5Z_iIioOA3IlQFHuhxK5D0MYZBwM17eG8bWa2hQ615WO9fBnMmr8AmVkRrSdCidfOrsZ8ILieexqQwEhNNL-tKqK8Uv-YGM4RWovLd3mw/w480-h640/20220912_133529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wKqdt5KptpirxncGg_OR31QJ4qYF58Ock-Jnup6cPNUN1hmAaf-JDfDXRbufrDoofHUl3s8jh2_DTH1P9K1UHFIm9K27py3oXDQIBQX8NhXI2KOfkPMe2cuDyA6QVwfPzVt3I10mZJOpASmFpJ1FZJKe77J0cC657tTw5Wm9NzSdoXEdhWGkow/s4032/20220912_133747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wKqdt5KptpirxncGg_OR31QJ4qYF58Ock-Jnup6cPNUN1hmAaf-JDfDXRbufrDoofHUl3s8jh2_DTH1P9K1UHFIm9K27py3oXDQIBQX8NhXI2KOfkPMe2cuDyA6QVwfPzVt3I10mZJOpASmFpJ1FZJKe77J0cC657tTw5Wm9NzSdoXEdhWGkow/w480-h640/20220912_133747.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The two began discussing Bush Regeneration and work stuff as I walked along enjoying the view, while tuning out of the conversation a little and fixating in my head and worrying about my lungs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxQPT6rF-UnlyWxQ91Sq4ZJ9ljOH_n8Yu_eoJ-XAG8c2tWb5A6oHhscaWHjHhWmpzE-sLFIT0q7tq0ftht_--Toga9pdm_J7jXdF_MlzjmIQE3nRa60AJbUdv_mhBR_tzM25GnVFAs9CAEyCSJRVBfLKerysPIhldqqXmX8-D3UFRPOAOTUbe3w/s4032/20220912_134313.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxQPT6rF-UnlyWxQ91Sq4ZJ9ljOH_n8Yu_eoJ-XAG8c2tWb5A6oHhscaWHjHhWmpzE-sLFIT0q7tq0ftht_--Toga9pdm_J7jXdF_MlzjmIQE3nRa60AJbUdv_mhBR_tzM25GnVFAs9CAEyCSJRVBfLKerysPIhldqqXmX8-D3UFRPOAOTUbe3w/w480-h640/20220912_134313.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKXog0PpLt_2FjiJRB_mTQgkdCThJkOsJbEVU6VwJM6UWp_a56D3h8pgXkA8iXudBOuAfaA54-NKrRdpFt5iz0Wek-lL-d2DW-GHAHAAvNilwf5ipISRgLYwpByu64UHj_Jdvc8mv8ETbvzSr6ms10EYB8ZX7zhp0MZvtGV_EXK0cV7EhIN7M9Q/s4032/20220912_134730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKXog0PpLt_2FjiJRB_mTQgkdCThJkOsJbEVU6VwJM6UWp_a56D3h8pgXkA8iXudBOuAfaA54-NKrRdpFt5iz0Wek-lL-d2DW-GHAHAAvNilwf5ipISRgLYwpByu64UHj_Jdvc8mv8ETbvzSr6ms10EYB8ZX7zhp0MZvtGV_EXK0cV7EhIN7M9Q/w400-h300/20220912_134730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found myself really out of the conversation now and really enjoying being outdoors and in the sun. The scent of Spring was in the air. It's one of those things where if I were a better writer, I could poetically explain, but it's just all my years of being alive I could feel, and smell the change. I knew by instinct it was Spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzkqnEPxjCOHHydt6429qQrQj-rWSRz2U5oKVQ-UII6aICi0oo7MfcK0FgUx1xzutVMnalR-dghPGw3fLd9pAwJjIZeQ0OQ9RhABX3SL-hT4a3jko-45IGvA8Iqd-3Ldra57kvKVyFIE0pJUXgdDKADZEU-xjR0ztHJw6mf5x06jNle5v4mLPXw/s4032/20220912_134942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzkqnEPxjCOHHydt6429qQrQj-rWSRz2U5oKVQ-UII6aICi0oo7MfcK0FgUx1xzutVMnalR-dghPGw3fLd9pAwJjIZeQ0OQ9RhABX3SL-hT4a3jko-45IGvA8Iqd-3Ldra57kvKVyFIE0pJUXgdDKADZEU-xjR0ztHJw6mf5x06jNle5v4mLPXw/w400-h300/20220912_134942.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdEpDaJL2UROEXJv2uGhKpBY8zWOJ6-Nujsbwr43nnpVy9SX22hOGdyEocIaz0y4YTzzH6r3paZw3n9E9iEpsv4g9OEnGRKGvxu_3_mY3tz5mmM8h_gWZHvUV8ffCPbU78pMp1C2zk-j3t9jWJrSVC-5BgrNSHRzJ2hqDcCf9TpfYtzQ8RQ9ozQ/s4032/20220912_134947.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdEpDaJL2UROEXJv2uGhKpBY8zWOJ6-Nujsbwr43nnpVy9SX22hOGdyEocIaz0y4YTzzH6r3paZw3n9E9iEpsv4g9OEnGRKGvxu_3_mY3tz5mmM8h_gWZHvUV8ffCPbU78pMp1C2zk-j3t9jWJrSVC-5BgrNSHRzJ2hqDcCf9TpfYtzQ8RQ9ozQ/w400-h300/20220912_134947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon passed our first walker on this track and I pulled to the side out of her way as Tristan loudly said hi to her, to which she awkwardly responded. If I hadn't pulled out of her way I would have missed the sign above about sword grass which I stopped to read. Just ahead of us was a bridge of a little stream and Tristan and Biris stopped on top while talking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Move will you." I said to them wanting a photo of the bridge without the two of them in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30WDnkkplIC5Go2DQqyNbjkyCjwHFcttQGMinndvv018UNvpXRMHYwe84s4C_RQp0VtPc7iRb-LtliSPhpR-42lELqaWBOBW-Njv1V9By1wr-MtVuahmiwJipCeHwV2hlpH4nvxyyQzgX27fqQObk6X9llUmgVxx5ei43xDztj13MdJUnf990yA/s4032/20220912_135108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30WDnkkplIC5Go2DQqyNbjkyCjwHFcttQGMinndvv018UNvpXRMHYwe84s4C_RQp0VtPc7iRb-LtliSPhpR-42lELqaWBOBW-Njv1V9By1wr-MtVuahmiwJipCeHwV2hlpH4nvxyyQzgX27fqQObk6X9llUmgVxx5ei43xDztj13MdJUnf990yA/w480-h640/20220912_135108.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the bridge the path leaded of to the left and up before bending around again to the right and leading us into a picnic area near a carpark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpqdWAsNaipZi41FIXJ5am4EVBGCIgVGhmjPz77wXqMKGK-nQr7eefL_GNvMRIPpNZ95XZdbebpNh4etbxsBXf00ysG_vhbnxnLex0WQAiOoNR1o2bicvbYq8KN5fPt3ktn4WVdUhU248z6uxCB7QCWxpeH7LfkKceBX3ZGNFVsYUn3Gl3LBiRg/s4032/20220912_135132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpqdWAsNaipZi41FIXJ5am4EVBGCIgVGhmjPz77wXqMKGK-nQr7eefL_GNvMRIPpNZ95XZdbebpNh4etbxsBXf00ysG_vhbnxnLex0WQAiOoNR1o2bicvbYq8KN5fPt3ktn4WVdUhU248z6uxCB7QCWxpeH7LfkKceBX3ZGNFVsYUn3Gl3LBiRg/w480-h640/20220912_135132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_4SmtKC_5p9twNyaSrqNsZCNr7izagxjDV6IWGWd-BS8wEgiqOjpphdMc3jusOpgJe3xdCd9H4HgWkysiJFbvmiqLz_9D9RJU5-1JJkjfnF0hJPqlFuB-J1VHp-fodFG6BdjEowvOAMtfIGLDqOQWFGCeHHEURdOBIRwh-1Rc5oda3oKk0NkwA/s4032/20220912_135445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_4SmtKC_5p9twNyaSrqNsZCNr7izagxjDV6IWGWd-BS8wEgiqOjpphdMc3jusOpgJe3xdCd9H4HgWkysiJFbvmiqLz_9D9RJU5-1JJkjfnF0hJPqlFuB-J1VHp-fodFG6BdjEowvOAMtfIGLDqOQWFGCeHHEURdOBIRwh-1Rc5oda3oKk0NkwA/w400-h300/20220912_135445.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading this sign along the way (the other two had walked past it), I asked if they knew about the Rhizome of Bracken fern and that it was edible. Neither knew. I told them I had heard Bracken fern causes cancer and that farmers were worried about it breaking down in water and ingesting it. (I can't verify where I heard that or if it's true.) They mentioned they knew about the rubbing it on insects stings to alleviate pain though. I mentioned it would be nice to try the damper made from Lomandra seeds, and that I had heard of them being roasted into an almost sort of popcorn by an Indigenous Bush tucker guide who came to visit our team while doing Bush Regeneration at Killalea. I mentioned he showed us how to remove the seeds without getting spiked. Biris mentioned seeing someone doing that and being shocked that they didn't get their hands all spiked up. I mentioned I was planning to go to an Indigenous Cafe in Sydney for my birthday later in the year as my Wife had bought me tickets to go see my favourite stand up comedian 'Louie C.K.' in Sydney for my birthday. (And silently wondered to myself if they would have Lomandra flour damper there).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo63Ocac6brZd177Jf01Rs3riYySQ3C_bPy-15g3wDofyghkDdUOOz0E2B9cg9uf_NHV6iXl6q4xGHFK8BeFW2jdS6B8uMM2Z-mrImXsx-ePi1mr9Qnmt45i_Y5FiYUSKcA7FwfV4fXdBATybffg_4HwycJi7v2OJ52y4rnWaGDwsPwo8CWyHZA/s4032/20220912_135714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo63Ocac6brZd177Jf01Rs3riYySQ3C_bPy-15g3wDofyghkDdUOOz0E2B9cg9uf_NHV6iXl6q4xGHFK8BeFW2jdS6B8uMM2Z-mrImXsx-ePi1mr9Qnmt45i_Y5FiYUSKcA7FwfV4fXdBATybffg_4HwycJi7v2OJ52y4rnWaGDwsPwo8CWyHZA/w400-h300/20220912_135714.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5VjQeNE7VoHBs1-cP13uZ2FIAlK4jNoYCLge7bgx6OJdv4PoSEe1hIU_6npLO2lwIFj4DTIKhkeRLpM-0ogdNP4KTOrGr0muBJ1yB88LJ1CHl3KGI18IgX_Zr5rnuLbMeB-Up4NgyawEohQ7VELQzlxYzQiVyerWnuKZjXpS30vkFCQ4FWCm0A/s4032/20220912_135722.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5VjQeNE7VoHBs1-cP13uZ2FIAlK4jNoYCLge7bgx6OJdv4PoSEe1hIU_6npLO2lwIFj4DTIKhkeRLpM-0ogdNP4KTOrGr0muBJ1yB88LJ1CHl3KGI18IgX_Zr5rnuLbMeB-Up4NgyawEohQ7VELQzlxYzQiVyerWnuKZjXpS30vkFCQ4FWCm0A/w400-h300/20220912_135722.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we entered the picnic area I thought the grass area looked nice, taking photos of the ground just because I thought it would look good. I mentioned to the guys I had once made a damper (which I had always been raised to create using a beer, though some online recipes ask to use milk). I told them I once made it with a Guinness Stout and that it had 'tasted like an RSL club'. They didn't think that sounded very good at all, but I insisted it was.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7c4X_Ukby-zRPAuiYx0PbF3VYWBknZlO2z_SmZxQRFMuABFCCADAVacCuwdg2n5OMNGGZZkhEIJaZPjjSFyivhx8m-KTrkcmmHMP1KhAP4GHevai8KL8Soj0FUKuKWB7SZGj-_gTbOeSpsDsre19mudR-OyA6sYHSPD4Zq1zZU6UjnSLaJENnA/s4032/20220912_141414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7c4X_Ukby-zRPAuiYx0PbF3VYWBknZlO2z_SmZxQRFMuABFCCADAVacCuwdg2n5OMNGGZZkhEIJaZPjjSFyivhx8m-KTrkcmmHMP1KhAP4GHevai8KL8Soj0FUKuKWB7SZGj-_gTbOeSpsDsre19mudR-OyA6sYHSPD4Zq1zZU6UjnSLaJENnA/w400-h300/20220912_141414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We stopped to eat at this little shack and 'shit-talked' some more. There was a path back that Tristan was ready to walk down, but I pointed there looked to be a trail continuing on where the car park was and so we continued onwards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSJ5HMs27uVNXIcjieFX7pHbTnzE-03nlGfaR2aW3LsAnZLahyVVN5BwSAJap7kQYUkJBuANlo_I-b5we_kHMdPhvqx2KmaJhJqzi-ELF94gptULNeO6cEMllzCxrsTmokZ6YVhcjMVyDxa1mvSVw_h_TXD_dns9nCao6Y5ODTDNNj0D9_nUP0g/s4032/20220912_142523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSJ5HMs27uVNXIcjieFX7pHbTnzE-03nlGfaR2aW3LsAnZLahyVVN5BwSAJap7kQYUkJBuANlo_I-b5we_kHMdPhvqx2KmaJhJqzi-ELF94gptULNeO6cEMllzCxrsTmokZ6YVhcjMVyDxa1mvSVw_h_TXD_dns9nCao6Y5ODTDNNj0D9_nUP0g/w400-h300/20220912_142523.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we walked along with views of the water Tristan pointed in to our left, an Echidna that we would have otherwise walked past. It was at least 3 metres in the bush off the track, well hidden and I was genuinely impressed he had spotted it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OuqnUq38PRjXugvpgdMl2OxEFgEU0tI0OjTejid0HzrcIKmwvVVgbn4bdMrIQiEAKJHcrND_aVwf-EzOfoUpf-BSN6WyNhvyMcuH4zYhG9uvU6g7wDXwSkiEcuStdL0wIeF-ZnV0T2skKAAkHiXXQTxUQRRS_C86Y7QhIn-Z9rr38cMiSrJJnw/s4032/20220912_142623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OuqnUq38PRjXugvpgdMl2OxEFgEU0tI0OjTejid0HzrcIKmwvVVgbn4bdMrIQiEAKJHcrND_aVwf-EzOfoUpf-BSN6WyNhvyMcuH4zYhG9uvU6g7wDXwSkiEcuStdL0wIeF-ZnV0T2skKAAkHiXXQTxUQRRS_C86Y7QhIn-Z9rr38cMiSrJJnw/w480-h640/20220912_142623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We came upon another beach that we looked down at and angled ourselves to get a photo of it while avoiding getting sunbathing girls in the picture lest we look like creepers. I informed them I had had the same trouble once at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/04/carrington-falls-missingham-steps-to.html" target="_blank">Carrington Falls</a> and you want to take a photo of a beautiful spot, but have to try and avoid snapping photos of bikini-wearing females.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ5JFJR2J0jUWKQ3e1dllJar7tvVbIzmHeAGhVn88xhkSU-wZwzgo0IZ0bJDcWQTZytXWZLRaXvZvNEGeJmntIFClnD_SEyqfntW0vEo0p1PuVgKLawaI0LvFZ0NwoDFm3z_W0plXs3ea5LBLGub7RMwsuPVwh8GMLd7AXdmHlsQA9UKIOfsgmQ/s4032/20220912_142907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJ5JFJR2J0jUWKQ3e1dllJar7tvVbIzmHeAGhVn88xhkSU-wZwzgo0IZ0bJDcWQTZytXWZLRaXvZvNEGeJmntIFClnD_SEyqfntW0vEo0p1PuVgKLawaI0LvFZ0NwoDFm3z_W0plXs3ea5LBLGub7RMwsuPVwh8GMLd7AXdmHlsQA9UKIOfsgmQ/w400-h300/20220912_142907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No bikini's, just nature</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walk continued on around behind this beach (though there was a path down to it), we continued following the path that led to another car park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbD5WYvNnDv2NMQVzznXEgcKSfwuyXE3xD8GGMkjSDwJbyFElXT40FdA9IbVimRii_VrZ-nR6zQJ3vI4scUENhkCFeNJU3v67bGTh6TJCfLAsOnru_5al09oU7stQVc3bF1-Kry4ExdCLiiROL4u4eYLUMLZwWeD6ZUm-fNY9zSN95Rle18aADg/s4032/20220912_143441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbD5WYvNnDv2NMQVzznXEgcKSfwuyXE3xD8GGMkjSDwJbyFElXT40FdA9IbVimRii_VrZ-nR6zQJ3vI4scUENhkCFeNJU3v67bGTh6TJCfLAsOnru_5al09oU7stQVc3bF1-Kry4ExdCLiiROL4u4eYLUMLZwWeD6ZUm-fNY9zSN95Rle18aADg/w480-h640/20220912_143441.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pIHENnfsLnIZOh9piP9XFhzZULmrj2UWY4yXoLD2yNiTAN-3q-Wi1kqhIpn7JxELVvOmrykTtgdqRSvCSos3-2Zz381RDAjYk5UTK6yMZcqZzRR_yOGqNOW3kXOJ9yXLgaSh7rBW7MxReP9jpB0Mr7wK5OFogxfGFKDhjTmzuIFZVDoZtlXsrQ/s4032/20220912_143605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pIHENnfsLnIZOh9piP9XFhzZULmrj2UWY4yXoLD2yNiTAN-3q-Wi1kqhIpn7JxELVvOmrykTtgdqRSvCSos3-2Zz381RDAjYk5UTK6yMZcqZzRR_yOGqNOW3kXOJ9yXLgaSh7rBW7MxReP9jpB0Mr7wK5OFogxfGFKDhjTmzuIFZVDoZtlXsrQ/w400-h300/20220912_143605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were stickers placed in this car park on a couple of signs that were anti-mask and anti-vax making us laugh. The thought occurred to me and I asked Biris if he had had Covid yet, (know Tristan and I both hadn't). He mentioned he hadn't had it yet but had thought he would get it at The Hu concert but didn't. He said he had been very sick though from his kid going to day-care and that having a kid brings home everything and makes you all sorts of sick, but he had not had Covid. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I asked how many vaccines he'd had. "Just the two he said." Tristan had also only had two. Too afraid to get more after hearing how viciously sick I had gotten after my subsequent ones (having being Covid vaxxed 5 times due to my immune worries from the cancer treatment).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tristan again suggested to turn around but I insisted it looked like the walk continued on past this car park, and so we continued, coming to a little built lookout next to the entry to Stuart King reserve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FgAPWOr6xHLh14zdcdpVwRjoYDqzF-SX82D-8HhzbYQAZKTMCreCuVuXOzv9MsOBN5iAVJ8GdbNLgMLJvXzdVXZAWmSDZ65mxi7oAanoMoRhx-HHp77ocG5CjdK2_GMUWY_EWxVzVeknH3Pa78x4Ik-iylnPGRpE-Hc0xK8ZUDwYrprjl7Gpew/s4032/20220912_144130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FgAPWOr6xHLh14zdcdpVwRjoYDqzF-SX82D-8HhzbYQAZKTMCreCuVuXOzv9MsOBN5iAVJ8GdbNLgMLJvXzdVXZAWmSDZ65mxi7oAanoMoRhx-HHp77ocG5CjdK2_GMUWY_EWxVzVeknH3Pa78x4Ik-iylnPGRpE-Hc0xK8ZUDwYrprjl7Gpew/w480-h640/20220912_144130.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-5mPnZTFb8HrZeqpAqsUyBzwpQgZe3pstz4yXlI3Tdp35eIT_NCcu-F-PelC60he72ThJH_qtMtZp3H4_MZsZVOXvDsjA-HUn00QpVIWdBcWcQ4NGqYc6Aw_Te2B2GGAAwfyewnhWtQzeeuo8HW3j3jIBgREDO62XQDKe0w03_PFU8F8GsKu8g/s4032/20220912_144126.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-5mPnZTFb8HrZeqpAqsUyBzwpQgZe3pstz4yXlI3Tdp35eIT_NCcu-F-PelC60he72ThJH_qtMtZp3H4_MZsZVOXvDsjA-HUn00QpVIWdBcWcQ4NGqYc6Aw_Te2B2GGAAwfyewnhWtQzeeuo8HW3j3jIBgREDO62XQDKe0w03_PFU8F8GsKu8g/w480-h640/20220912_144126.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we continued along Tristan mentioned he was planning a trip to New Zealand with his girlfriend, or more, she was planning it for him, with an itinerary he would like. I mentioned that we had been planning to go to Japan at my 2 year post Stem Cell Transplant (having booked the trip before Covid cancelled it, but I ended up getting cancer anyway). But now my Wife had though Japan might be nice to go to with a kid one day, and now we were looking to go to Iceland. (Honestly it's been that long since I've travelled, I'd be happy to go anywhere).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon it a sign to Nelson's Beach and further continued on the trail with each mark post me having to convince Tristan to continue further along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp3k4BpmkbX42mes4yVAokqMBGfbeuzpzBhG62XqQ3IcRSJCyBhMXeSI0wRVgZNtswvCkaIC4-NRjyQfTYFQs2J0TQ0goLayNHdu1VpDo9fn3_WLC0T2_3koZ6VJAj9Ct1vK333HDbaYDcpcyLCVoskfTwvGRFd-GMAWdL1yStTGpIg07nCaYcA/s4032/20220912_144820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgp3k4BpmkbX42mes4yVAokqMBGfbeuzpzBhG62XqQ3IcRSJCyBhMXeSI0wRVgZNtswvCkaIC4-NRjyQfTYFQs2J0TQ0goLayNHdu1VpDo9fn3_WLC0T2_3koZ6VJAj9Ct1vK333HDbaYDcpcyLCVoskfTwvGRFd-GMAWdL1yStTGpIg07nCaYcA/w480-h640/20220912_144820.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued along with Tristan talking about he's too lazy to read and just listens to audiobooks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhhHFFpeYIaD7uP2DKqDRnO3qnhbFufCXlz939BnJAILuUpkuZuBfN0Gdd3D5gHrQikKnv5LWqGMDY62pyuvkdQ83d97a5jj_N1ITTpmndotohkfSWZAvntyXOsz3DxlR7726oDag_mo3XaivS0Cj_blwNT8Ebcub-lb9ysGRnyifTznT-Y7CUA/s4032/20220912_144822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhhHFFpeYIaD7uP2DKqDRnO3qnhbFufCXlz939BnJAILuUpkuZuBfN0Gdd3D5gHrQikKnv5LWqGMDY62pyuvkdQ83d97a5jj_N1ITTpmndotohkfSWZAvntyXOsz3DxlR7726oDag_mo3XaivS0Cj_blwNT8Ebcub-lb9ysGRnyifTznT-Y7CUA/w480-h640/20220912_144822.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93mmSt2unSEipusEcLoFfufHXKq3i5j30K5u8GTC_lmZLVXQCpK6T93Jx0HWcb5XAfgTH2GogHAQVd6_w9bBjKTjwSSvAtcf8PQSEUT_nKy3-gAGRiA8EDWOLuUZGUcEOyERjMAWBvoVEXDwsIWQ_6hrcZVhma2uU1Fe5uR44eJkK14aemy1bbg/s4032/20220912_144953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93mmSt2unSEipusEcLoFfufHXKq3i5j30K5u8GTC_lmZLVXQCpK6T93Jx0HWcb5XAfgTH2GogHAQVd6_w9bBjKTjwSSvAtcf8PQSEUT_nKy3-gAGRiA8EDWOLuUZGUcEOyERjMAWBvoVEXDwsIWQ_6hrcZVhma2uU1Fe5uR44eJkK14aemy1bbg/w480-h640/20220912_144953.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suggested he listen to Mythos by Stephen Fry (as I was an am currently reading it), explaining that it was retelling Greek Mythology (which was the very first mythology I got into as a kid, and reading the novel you can see what a massive impact on our modern world these stories have had). He said he had plus his other books 'Heroes' and 'Troy'. Which I had already marked down on my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32605098-steven-hudson" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> to have to read.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggELZy1lZFmgO129HA5JN5b133Yg1Fy9D6IVfMa7a6B6YzZAACDT-DQ2vnw5wO6_7u8MXxJfXvPcx3N8byt-SAlwKs3wGHDhUZuyoGysqQuP2ehJXf_vdvlsGPM5GU2YoNI-2Nc_F9GNTrXsG6Ra4D5i-ps4Ya8I-nO7JKJtlNNIYKvxYzsKSiIg/s4032/20220912_145355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggELZy1lZFmgO129HA5JN5b133Yg1Fy9D6IVfMa7a6B6YzZAACDT-DQ2vnw5wO6_7u8MXxJfXvPcx3N8byt-SAlwKs3wGHDhUZuyoGysqQuP2ehJXf_vdvlsGPM5GU2YoNI-2Nc_F9GNTrXsG6Ra4D5i-ps4Ya8I-nO7JKJtlNNIYKvxYzsKSiIg/w480-h640/20220912_145355.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IA_v1jNeBJjqSgjdkMUkBSEnNA4t9bCQUInIoznzxxqle11IfrHLmFs78S10iycOy9L5ZN7MW5570zHlgpNCdg4AOYBKNTuuIXhIm63P73tG7drxz9SiZjj3bbZgak6iXV1_tWlKAbotO_Kgw56heqQRW9L7Ioz0wfP1Key8nX7j-JbWg-rlAw/s4032/20220912_145400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IA_v1jNeBJjqSgjdkMUkBSEnNA4t9bCQUInIoznzxxqle11IfrHLmFs78S10iycOy9L5ZN7MW5570zHlgpNCdg4AOYBKNTuuIXhIm63P73tG7drxz9SiZjj3bbZgak6iXV1_tWlKAbotO_Kgw56heqQRW9L7Ioz0wfP1Key8nX7j-JbWg-rlAw/w480-h640/20220912_145400.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU8OeeAPapYjJtYuiG_VJs0TiAMU-VmtK3FA_SS7wso7SRlVf3UkUnc6HONmvwo7iTDEJnnjTAnlQiy7Rb3niDdxeReIOHEj98Ukmy0ATXTT7MmWtDrIXPLHPm1EWfs3oIAEdio1kPtDrTJ6G4RQ6cqVgLP3-YoiwGtzWaAYcePmCSQfTZe_RBg/s4032/20220912_145438.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU8OeeAPapYjJtYuiG_VJs0TiAMU-VmtK3FA_SS7wso7SRlVf3UkUnc6HONmvwo7iTDEJnnjTAnlQiy7Rb3niDdxeReIOHEj98Ukmy0ATXTT7MmWtDrIXPLHPm1EWfs3oIAEdio1kPtDrTJ6G4RQ6cqVgLP3-YoiwGtzWaAYcePmCSQfTZe_RBg/w480-h640/20220912_145438.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon we reached the actual end (or alternatively the beginning), of the White Sands walk. I looked at Tristan with an 'I-told-you-so' face and he turned to Biris and said "Could you imagine if we turned back when this guy wanted, we wouldn't have done the whole walk!"<br /><br />I scoffed at him, before the completionist in me convinced them to walk the extra 500m along a concrete footpath to 'Plantation Point'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"We drove all this way, might as well do it all!" I insisted. As we reached the area there was a big toilet block for us to go to the bathroom. I went for my whizz coming out to find no one around. I did a lap of the block before coming across Biris just out the front of where I had started my loop.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"I hate when you go to the toilet, and someone before you had pissed on the floor, and then you go to leave and someone comes in after you, and then they're going to think it was you who pissed on the floor." I said and he laughed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Or worse still, someone pisses on the floor, so to avoid standing in the piss you had to stand further back, and you piss more on the floor, and then it's and endless cycle."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We waited for a while and there was still no Tristan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"He's probably taking a shit." I said. "Let's leave without him."<br />"Oi!" He called out from inside the toilet block, able to hear our every word.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He soon exited and we were finally able to begin our walk back, Tristan commenting that we was hanging out for a 'Battered Sav' as it was '<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Savtember" target="_blank">Savtember</a>'. (A holiday I made in jest many years ago, the month of September but dedicated around the eating of the Australian Fish and Chip ship food, the Battered Sav).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Biris agreed he could go a Sav and I promised if we passed a fish and chip shop on the way home we would stop for Savs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJCZ7iJUNzT2pX--VRGq5MoqAD8ABAmRqnECC3VQaSRqj6PMT4gHV78STDjniuxYXVCBsi-H-2w1tFFVRCGDcC-B0IThV95lrpo9lk3Cj3ldg-5mmqeRI_IyqFoFS3cQQpBUCCDG4Ga6nZUwIJsIcUrj5ZOaPRsW6jGe-w9EK8w_kJ-kYHUGCZw/s4032/20220912_153704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJCZ7iJUNzT2pX--VRGq5MoqAD8ABAmRqnECC3VQaSRqj6PMT4gHV78STDjniuxYXVCBsi-H-2w1tFFVRCGDcC-B0IThV95lrpo9lk3Cj3ldg-5mmqeRI_IyqFoFS3cQQpBUCCDG4Ga6nZUwIJsIcUrj5ZOaPRsW6jGe-w9EK8w_kJ-kYHUGCZw/w480-h640/20220912_153704.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge heading back along the White Sands walk from the initial picnic ground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon found ourselves back at the picnic grounds and took the new track back towards my car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GzUX5CAQ5rnHANmUW1iyaE1Rdnw7kb0vX9od5Ph6ZztMknP1YiCoBFK3SaRScb1U-LEnLnG6hlS15JM3ME8qAIBEUPoGKrkLKKAH5i6RJUJ7WRbqdq7JOCWKZBA2fAWb5J4LD_DE-yappIoRz2h3TjsdUj7tRW5JrZt6Oh4TJuLSnqY9xMJpeA/s4032/20220912_153750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GzUX5CAQ5rnHANmUW1iyaE1Rdnw7kb0vX9od5Ph6ZztMknP1YiCoBFK3SaRScb1U-LEnLnG6hlS15JM3ME8qAIBEUPoGKrkLKKAH5i6RJUJ7WRbqdq7JOCWKZBA2fAWb5J4LD_DE-yappIoRz2h3TjsdUj7tRW5JrZt6Oh4TJuLSnqY9xMJpeA/w480-h640/20220912_153750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued talking (about god knows what, I can only remember so many conversations had in a day). Before finally arriving back at my car and beginning the drive home. Tristan, tracking our walking on his phone declared we had walked about 20km, which seemed excessive to me, because it definitely hadn't seemed so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arriving at Tristan's as he left he mentioned to Biris it was good to catch up, and hopefully there wouldn't be a three year wait next time. We agreed that the three of us definitely needed to catch up for more walks together, and I dropped Biris off home arriving home just as it was getting dark, taking my socks off to putrid smelling feet and eagerly hopping in the shower, feeling content with a good day out with friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com5Hyams Beach NSW 2540, Australia-35.1017041 150.6922288-63.411937936178845 115.53597880000001 -6.7914702638211537 -174.1515212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-79220228487490349752022-07-13T17:29:00.005+10:002022-07-13T17:30:33.743+10:00Kiama Coastal Walk (Minnamurra to Gerringong)<p>While organising a walk with my mate Tristan, as we had not been for a walk together since <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/11/jingga-trail-and-minerva-pool.html" target="_blank">November 2021</a>. We discussed new walks but due to the constant rain due to 'La niña', a lot were either rained out or were going to be sloppy muddy trails.<br /><br />I was eager to try something a bit longer to test out my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2022/05/gosangs-tunnel-and-mermaid-inlet.html" target="_blank">physical fitness and lung health</a> since returning to work full time following my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>. I thought of the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2015/08/kiama-coastal-disaster.html" target="_blank">Kiama Coastal Walk</a>, which although I had blogged about before it was just the last third of the walk, which I had done that first time with my friends (the disastrous walk I had written about). But I had done that final third numerous times since then, while Dog-sitting with my Wife, looking after her cousin's two Beagles, and once we got our own puppy <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue" target="_blank">Orla</a>. I had also done the first third only once, as a fun-run for charity (for the Red Cross), which I probably why I had been thinking about it, as I am now no longer allowed to donate blood due to my Leukemia. However I had never done all 3 sections of the walk in the one go and neither had Tristan, so we agreed that this 20km walk would be our goal, deciding to drive to Gerringong and park one of our cars their, whilst the other drove us to Minnamurra to begin the walk (so we didn't need to walk back and do a total of 40km).</p><p>Leading up to the day of our walk (19th June, 2022) the weather warned of rain and we were unsure if we would be able to go. Ultimately the morning came and the weather held and I began my drive to Gerringong after confirming with Tristan he was all set to go.</p><p>While driving past Kiama to Gerringong I began to think about how long the drive was taking, and questioned with this walk was the right thing thinking it might be insanely long. (When meeting up with Tristan he told me he had the exact same thoughts driving along there).</p><p>I took the turn off to Gerringong and in my head had been planning to just drive in the middle of town for a park. However I saw a sign pointing left to Werri Lagoon (the spot in which the walk really is meant to end), and drove down that way figuring it would be much nicer to come out from the beach and not have to walk far to the car. </p><p>I pulled up, screenshotting my Google Maps location to Tristan, realising we had never agreed on a spot to meet. He was further down, even closer to Werri Lagoon. He was walking up and jumped into the passenger seat of my car. "I guess I'm driving to Minnamurra?" I jokingly asked.<br />I began the drive back North, while a big trail of school boys (they were in uniforms on a weekend so I don't know) began the walk from the Gerringong end. Tristan informed me that he was getting me to drive to Minnamurra as he actually didn't know where he was supposed to go.</p><p>Turning off the main road just past Bombo train station I drove us past the golf course finally arriving at Minnamurra to begin our walk.</p><p>Leaving my car I began to work to the nearby toilet block near the tennis courts, with Tristan confusingly asking me if if I was going the right way. I had to let him know I was simply using the toilet before we began.</p><p>We made our way down to the water, looking out at a little island. Tristan asked if I knew if it had a name and I told him I had no idea. <br /></p><p>"You can look it up later." He told me.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WToLoVNnsYb7Un0WtJuJItw2beaN0NIuE11PyXKC1nG1FklhF6ams59xMrrr8STQ__sZptCisvNoSyD3NlfDn2zNyiVJMkqwuRE8Mo5cset5AzuUGAj7OtY8xhQacLfhJV_AveaeAr_nOtmaKcc8BHeI1DLReBD9konzPshwMhVLLBw9dBmgIQ/s4032/20220619_092617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WToLoVNnsYb7Un0WtJuJItw2beaN0NIuE11PyXKC1nG1FklhF6ams59xMrrr8STQ__sZptCisvNoSyD3NlfDn2zNyiVJMkqwuRE8Mo5cset5AzuUGAj7OtY8xhQacLfhJV_AveaeAr_nOtmaKcc8BHeI1DLReBD9konzPshwMhVLLBw9dBmgIQ/w400-h300/20220619_092617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I did look it up, and it is known as Rangoon Island or 'Stack Island' named after an 1870 shipwreck. After looking into it (and almost getting it confused with the SS Rangoon that shipwrecked in 1871 in Sri Lanka), I was able to find the history of it in a blurb on the '<a href="https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/2376" target="_blank">Discover Shellharbour</a>' website that read as follows: "<i>The barque 'Rangoon' was wrecked on Stack Island at the mouth of the Minnamurra River on 22nd March, 1870. The anchor is situated outside the Ocean Beach Hotel at Shellharbour on land formerly owned by Captain William Wilson. Wilson assisted in the rescue of the ship-wrecked crew of the 'Rangoon'.</i>" As for why it was named Stack Island I couldn't find any further information.</p><p>We stopped to look at two information plaques, one detailing the first third of the walk, and the second information regarding Minnamurra river.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTn0Pvp5vgG09jrpW900-4IiEdD2Tjr8x_ujrjk6YPeSHGJZw-UudtSycEMzaL4J4tusKohjaB0QPNyI4Jxvsjr7SJeuZUJhQk6n-1arID7rZ1GADf-XHEZF9im3diZwGtbSB_eC2zwlIAu4w8bV6kI9wtKVZfd9JsW4q7oExwm_710sMNUrXBQ/s4032/20220619_092537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTn0Pvp5vgG09jrpW900-4IiEdD2Tjr8x_ujrjk6YPeSHGJZw-UudtSycEMzaL4J4tusKohjaB0QPNyI4Jxvsjr7SJeuZUJhQk6n-1arID7rZ1GADf-XHEZF9im3diZwGtbSB_eC2zwlIAu4w8bV6kI9wtKVZfd9JsW4q7oExwm_710sMNUrXBQ/w480-h640/20220619_092537.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbvBV7f65fxHIHKVdsI6sop2pFELggNUhipiNK1IXuvLd3I0g-NCrSIcHHvwgm4ymUxEM69cxajNfnnKlbN8MThpemHp-lYwv1hFaUaDZNpJluaumQV_lSuyswFuBsfKFW5_Qw-WR-ZvR2rLDXAs-dqye29e0oiaCWmDFYTaf3Euiqqr7Bc9WLg/s4032/20220619_092542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbvBV7f65fxHIHKVdsI6sop2pFELggNUhipiNK1IXuvLd3I0g-NCrSIcHHvwgm4ymUxEM69cxajNfnnKlbN8MThpemHp-lYwv1hFaUaDZNpJluaumQV_lSuyswFuBsfKFW5_Qw-WR-ZvR2rLDXAs-dqye29e0oiaCWmDFYTaf3Euiqqr7Bc9WLg/w480-h640/20220619_092542.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We finally began the walk. I told Tristan I had never actually been this way, as when I started the walk for the Red Cross we had begun in a street that I felt like was on top of a hill (I couldn't really remember as it had been years before).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YxwQVVlzN05OwIqhHenjItVN2Hx_ZiZtoAv-fpubJieehnWqfq-kLQOlDvxTUQpvjui4TZYA-I5jD43xGbSKWR6YHAiiEe20PyadZS6TwaGTqz2t7oRUzBrEP_q_Hj5POCFpQ6Ua7jReEQLxcYPJw1ypnIqTD1i46a20v5BUhNoSDrpB0zhIaQ/s4032/20220619_092633.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YxwQVVlzN05OwIqhHenjItVN2Hx_ZiZtoAv-fpubJieehnWqfq-kLQOlDvxTUQpvjui4TZYA-I5jD43xGbSKWR6YHAiiEe20PyadZS6TwaGTqz2t7oRUzBrEP_q_Hj5POCFpQ6Ua7jReEQLxcYPJw1ypnIqTD1i46a20v5BUhNoSDrpB0zhIaQ/w480-h640/20220619_092633.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVCIOR5PF8lQZUGBgLEFJPXzND2HO1rAsX_4shJnfcT-FDUBHdOuyhoErdErawpiepPzAxTgR10QUNhk-osPGAwcNI1iYiv-bK_hbRTSLD_kp5-PaNY3TfvtK8z0nBUauaZZV2aWgd3Aaaz0DB7o-AJO_0GaOHJzO3P_aIMMfdmfshcMK2_HTw/s4000/20220619_092645.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVCIOR5PF8lQZUGBgLEFJPXzND2HO1rAsX_4shJnfcT-FDUBHdOuyhoErdErawpiepPzAxTgR10QUNhk-osPGAwcNI1iYiv-bK_hbRTSLD_kp5-PaNY3TfvtK8z0nBUauaZZV2aWgd3Aaaz0DB7o-AJO_0GaOHJzO3P_aIMMfdmfshcMK2_HTw/w480-h640/20220619_092645.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As we began our walk we instantly began catching up. I commented to him that it was our first hike since the previous year and that we hadn't even seen each other since then. However I then remembered we had caught up a month or two prior at the Shellharbour Civic Centre for a Nature Talk on Fungi, but hadn't really gotten to properly catch up during that time due to listening to the seminar.</p><p>As we came out the little forest of trees, a clearing opened up in front of us with a grass hill with two track mowed into it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QViBW6umzpko5wrp-Ug4Kt0T6kPi8wsrOPpjOOazvDgQWo_WFu8yUU3TyGUHLu_Aw56g0Un7D-7RjMybQwxh4Ws5K2cpMv5iR6jyxGzidM0s_9L6CpyKTM69uafg1Z_OnUCG-xMJWwX1F6jlIPtYcGlE67Q2YSO8gFdx1V9JmbXSmFSdcYg0rQ/s4032/20220619_092734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QViBW6umzpko5wrp-Ug4Kt0T6kPi8wsrOPpjOOazvDgQWo_WFu8yUU3TyGUHLu_Aw56g0Un7D-7RjMybQwxh4Ws5K2cpMv5iR6jyxGzidM0s_9L6CpyKTM69uafg1Z_OnUCG-xMJWwX1F6jlIPtYcGlE67Q2YSO8gFdx1V9JmbXSmFSdcYg0rQ/w480-h640/20220619_092734.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>On deciding which path to walk along we decided to go left and stick along the coast (both paths met up anyway)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbszNiZ5vxs3jVrnfkpEuQHjY632rRRiE9kNVGS3vqa7i7zDpN-6V6bIwPkodusF34BajECTV7t_k26wJDkpoASFwdj67uWjvbMZ49IgbLOTPYwY4kMAIBiLNVVToRd-SW2bzL3Fksb9MYj4BhGKR0YFVe0qsreM3fLmWkBDlN0zwiSzPXMWqXA/s4032/20220619_092739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbszNiZ5vxs3jVrnfkpEuQHjY632rRRiE9kNVGS3vqa7i7zDpN-6V6bIwPkodusF34BajECTV7t_k26wJDkpoASFwdj67uWjvbMZ49IgbLOTPYwY4kMAIBiLNVVToRd-SW2bzL3Fksb9MYj4BhGKR0YFVe0qsreM3fLmWkBDlN0zwiSzPXMWqXA/w400-h300/20220619_092739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Along this way was slightly muddy, I assumed due to the excessive rainfall in recent times, and we made our way slowly through it until it was nice solid grass again and continued the walk, with Tristan pointing out a painted rock (commonly called NSW Rocks), however it didn't say so on the back as they usually do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq468X8NuXZmFHwxy38CYlsb5P0_am5NdRPa4UAiBdbVV6mVJ9BKIiBo8bw2wpMfmZCGFgQqsJO-z0VhryYAk-KpTsB0hSfu5bOAxMOxcNc_ykLt_tS1ohMgfp5WYlGC6DPpLjOueeEfIkeH4k1gMKPvBrc67kcQMSSdRCkCtRlB3-Di999Llug/s4032/20220619_092831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioq468X8NuXZmFHwxy38CYlsb5P0_am5NdRPa4UAiBdbVV6mVJ9BKIiBo8bw2wpMfmZCGFgQqsJO-z0VhryYAk-KpTsB0hSfu5bOAxMOxcNc_ykLt_tS1ohMgfp5WYlGC6DPpLjOueeEfIkeH4k1gMKPvBrc67kcQMSSdRCkCtRlB3-Di999Llug/w480-h640/20220619_092831.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Our walk began to wind it's way uphill and gave a great view over the opening of the Minnamurra River.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZyNKjDHJbbIqw4Dq43xtFFGxzRtDJIdhUnAhmsddhGeLggMLZiFSlMSWQC8b0h9yHnRgKYuHrFV8pY7Eup6GlHmpXUxLySOO4ADKzUtXdke6mo8veMROR7QVwTDk7uAWCI0WmTrO9RJ0WAB15mzB7RMogO-RV9uf6yoAtLZJndOFvYVq5NY5sw/s4032/20220619_092919.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZyNKjDHJbbIqw4Dq43xtFFGxzRtDJIdhUnAhmsddhGeLggMLZiFSlMSWQC8b0h9yHnRgKYuHrFV8pY7Eup6GlHmpXUxLySOO4ADKzUtXdke6mo8veMROR7QVwTDk7uAWCI0WmTrO9RJ0WAB15mzB7RMogO-RV9uf6yoAtLZJndOFvYVq5NY5sw/w400-h300/20220619_092919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1blnJH-2KFQ0OpZuqlogiHIkv8vkVCS0eeLcbkYzqT4AmQWlFL62bRtsKpuDZ14-ha2JaCqHjxC39iDOQ-HW1OprzxehH__EjzfFqGaeGFBd_Px2ftXc6I8GlVsbWuPI2_wEsUqfh3eXUvUhYS_ukUeH8w8Q4kcA7h4voAeFBZVIAJCo378Gryw/s3648/20220619_093026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1blnJH-2KFQ0OpZuqlogiHIkv8vkVCS0eeLcbkYzqT4AmQWlFL62bRtsKpuDZ14-ha2JaCqHjxC39iDOQ-HW1OprzxehH__EjzfFqGaeGFBd_Px2ftXc6I8GlVsbWuPI2_wEsUqfh3eXUvUhYS_ukUeH8w8Q4kcA7h4voAeFBZVIAJCo378Gryw/w480-h640/20220619_093026.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Soon we found the walk led us to a footpath along the water getting our first look at Jones Beach in Kiama Downs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPjrcCJvELqrmm252iwpQqRS4nsIpXbkB3l8W-gvRr5kT9VrOUGcDw72ycnVoH-aaqlAKxcidGOhSDhJG7B7600feEi6ZlGJiKABzitJE-k5pKN7oXIw4RrNP_tvIMzvxOdVXl8T_347Pe3u3Mq_lX9OP1jYm8-qN3x9SmVjrT5X9RVWWjRTmMQ/s4032/20220619_093917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPjrcCJvELqrmm252iwpQqRS4nsIpXbkB3l8W-gvRr5kT9VrOUGcDw72ycnVoH-aaqlAKxcidGOhSDhJG7B7600feEi6ZlGJiKABzitJE-k5pKN7oXIw4RrNP_tvIMzvxOdVXl8T_347Pe3u3Mq_lX9OP1jYm8-qN3x9SmVjrT5X9RVWWjRTmMQ/w400-h300/20220619_093917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Before the walk turned to our right following a footpath along through houses there was a little lookout point filled with information on Whales, I assumed built for Whale Watching. We stopped here to read the information and I remembered I hadn't put on any sunscreen and so stopped to put some on (I have to be careful with skin cancer after my chemotherapy). I then swapped my beanie that I had forgot to remove for my hat (I brought the beanie in case the wind levels were too high and my hat kept blowing off).</p><p>As we began walking past houses I commented that it wasn't the best scenery to photograph for a blog post, but I was also relieved a bit to simply enjoy the walk and chatting with my friend. He filled me in on "all the hot goss" from his birthday night, that I didn't go to as at the time I was to stressed about Covid, given my immune system is still recovering (I've stopped stressing so much now that I've had 5 shots of covid vaccine, like there's literally nothing else I can do, however I still haven't caught it, yay me). I filled him in about how full on work had been for me, and the exhaustion I was feeling. I also let of some steam by angrily ranting about certain things.</p><p>"Shouldn't you be like zen?" He asked me, "Most people who go through these life events come out of the other side with like, greater appreciation, you're like, even crankier."</p><p>"I was zen when I was at home, in between treatments. But I'm back at work now and dealing with people. I've got no more fucking zen. All my zen is fucking gone." I replied.</p><p>Before I knew it, like no time had passed at all we were walking past the Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club. I pointed across the carpark to a fish and chip shop, telling Tristan that you could get deep fried mars bars there.</p><p>"Or at least you could. It was years ago I had one." I explained to him, just in case that fish and chip shop was no longer there, or no longer sold them. I explained that it was a weird thing to eat, as the melted nougat had a mozzarella like texture, but I had found out from a friend they were there and had made the trip down to try one (all years ago), because I didn't get the opportunity to try one while <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">I was in Scotland.</a></p><p>We continued along the footpath on North Kiama Drive, passing families out with their children. As we passed a park, we could no longer view the beach but where now walking again up a street between houses and the road began to incline.</p><p>We continued talking about a variety of things until we came to a fork in the road where North Kiama Drive split, to the right leading over the railway, however we continued along the footpath winding left onto Cliff road, continuing still past houses (at some point commenting something along the lines of: Fuck rich people, due to the large and probably expensive houses). Tristan began to fill me in on the girl he had been dating (for a while now), filling me in on the backstory of how they met, etc.</p><p>"If you write about it in your blog, mention she has a great ass." He told me.<br />"I'm not putting that in." I replied, apparently lying.</p><p>Soon Cliff road began to decline and the road in front of us opened up, to an a view of the ocean and Cathedral Rocks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fnWs908q_v3xd-Ha3tKN-rDhWJsUAdrKyTPBsVAWjb8noXhN4VrLIL2lYF0RWBwmx3xHDKuNkS3jBkr454Q9MVfa1Y0irL2ZtCAmF3FBd7h9g_clesG3Qpaf_gDNyDuBDRNayJ5P8qyx-Lw4b4bE7Og66tr_uXdXhF6TbVENyyie0lkHfbdqZQ/s4032/20220619_100846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fnWs908q_v3xd-Ha3tKN-rDhWJsUAdrKyTPBsVAWjb8noXhN4VrLIL2lYF0RWBwmx3xHDKuNkS3jBkr454Q9MVfa1Y0irL2ZtCAmF3FBd7h9g_clesG3Qpaf_gDNyDuBDRNayJ5P8qyx-Lw4b4bE7Og66tr_uXdXhF6TbVENyyie0lkHfbdqZQ/w480-h640/20220619_100846.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm49Aalxsz8XrTQsmASiDGTPlv6oz7AYLCkSgPBVR_1H0GEUqqzs6uONbgDeuI22xy1-xs0lFTspYEp4MJgT3U8rxgTxELtdebSmRsmLgusuSXKqLt3wxIReoMtGMgy27Dr6ojLNiKQvpXkx-J0Ye5sNIaXN8y1VNU7co-iJBaGEUqm3WF_oTgbA/s4032/20220619_101113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm49Aalxsz8XrTQsmASiDGTPlv6oz7AYLCkSgPBVR_1H0GEUqqzs6uONbgDeuI22xy1-xs0lFTspYEp4MJgT3U8rxgTxELtdebSmRsmLgusuSXKqLt3wxIReoMtGMgy27Dr6ojLNiKQvpXkx-J0Ye5sNIaXN8y1VNU7co-iJBaGEUqm3WF_oTgbA/w480-h640/20220619_101113.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"It doesn't really look like the picture." Tristan commented, referring to the photo on the plaque.<br />"Erosion I suppose." I responded.</p><p>The road began uphill again, as we passed an area known as 'The Boneyard Beach' and I told Tristan that I had done some exploring and Bush regeneration work there once while I worked for the Green Army at Killalea State Park (it has now recently become a National Park). The conversation become about why I didn't try and get back into bush regeneration work compared to the work I was doing, as I had commented that there was no uphill climbing in my job role and it was pretty stagnant and unfulfilling work. From there the conversation somehow got on to politics, as were spoke about the recent federal election and results. I mentioned a recent argument I had had with my Dad and our differing politics and how it had caused me to hang up the phone on him and that we hadn't spoken since. Tristan explained that was why he tried to avoid talk of politics with people.</p><p>We soon passed the Bombo Wastewater Treatment Plant (which thankfully didn't smell, as it always use to stink near there when I was a kid).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns1pKcfHaEwwUEwNqD9M8sReFzLk2SC215TW6g-9KMsaaY6yDbXVUks1nMNVTkyLs25OgoapsDt7Nmno8QyhEb1ogHtZNc-uSssITVb_7OuWySVrX6ctu1QhX3DiiqBNc76wCbYJfoacKdArv5Yu2-xVzEBb0NR-BbZ8AopIvit3C5dSjmnAvGQ/s4032/20220619_101950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns1pKcfHaEwwUEwNqD9M8sReFzLk2SC215TW6g-9KMsaaY6yDbXVUks1nMNVTkyLs25OgoapsDt7Nmno8QyhEb1ogHtZNc-uSssITVb_7OuWySVrX6ctu1QhX3DiiqBNc76wCbYJfoacKdArv5Yu2-xVzEBb0NR-BbZ8AopIvit3C5dSjmnAvGQ/w400-h300/20220619_101950.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we crossed the road I had to laugh at a sign someone had placed on the side of the road.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQIfQhrYwjBQsIpASnSH5c_m55yFrpnCGbhINQQB9tWu1STzc1YUMzI70YmnVQRwtUCqByXPobkvy-YBXGrh2fg0YO5hIyfvIU1Q9llvhfude-498PguGu-6rxwynwefumvrSu4O01St4hEAw6Wf0-OubbmNX6PiPMZVfTDJVnUlW1rPWf0yvyQ/s4032/20220619_102051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQIfQhrYwjBQsIpASnSH5c_m55yFrpnCGbhINQQB9tWu1STzc1YUMzI70YmnVQRwtUCqByXPobkvy-YBXGrh2fg0YO5hIyfvIU1Q9llvhfude-498PguGu-6rxwynwefumvrSu4O01St4hEAw6Wf0-OubbmNX6PiPMZVfTDJVnUlW1rPWf0yvyQ/w480-h640/20220619_102051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We walked our way down to Bombo Beach and I began having a snack of chips while Tristan offered me his Protein Ball recipe.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BJh1hBYt5tYn5ZXN1qEXQhSTUujKBnsoRJAl0JNQO76NbZIPOOpuaDSby3rqf4DlvoOR8TdBRHaWa_uqG1v2Otw2iRLgB7DZUrg03VvO6vNVza3M1jBaMVcPv_1OaOYT14Vfw3la1L8JzzNrH0ETqEWN-AVK6RikBAsffvLwXW5blmkAHnDzWw/s4032/20220619_102259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BJh1hBYt5tYn5ZXN1qEXQhSTUujKBnsoRJAl0JNQO76NbZIPOOpuaDSby3rqf4DlvoOR8TdBRHaWa_uqG1v2Otw2iRLgB7DZUrg03VvO6vNVza3M1jBaMVcPv_1OaOYT14Vfw3la1L8JzzNrH0ETqEWN-AVK6RikBAsffvLwXW5blmkAHnDzWw/w400-h300/20220619_102259.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we made our way along the road the wind began to pick up and I had to swap my hat out for my beanie. I pointed back at the rockface behind us mentioning to Tristan <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOuBml4Lz2I" target="_blank">the time I climbed it</a>.</p><p>We came to the little tunnel that cars drive through to park at Bombo Beach and we made our way up the stairs next to it to continue the walk along the side of the highway.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6Jy1NEOvbRe8PRjpu42l6xDxu8FadpjYpVBs_KjOjpK50MyEZYk_w4NSMz_GUaONaJoGBW9Yp7lWX_rvMyIabhQDzfspK-YhbhwNm-4K70vFpw36BN7AoUoibuZJofIFVR_d-XH6AF_MJFL8AYGYupqdheLVvhANNguhnYjuKUzZd2xUPqilw/s4032/20220619_103125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6Jy1NEOvbRe8PRjpu42l6xDxu8FadpjYpVBs_KjOjpK50MyEZYk_w4NSMz_GUaONaJoGBW9Yp7lWX_rvMyIabhQDzfspK-YhbhwNm-4K70vFpw36BN7AoUoibuZJofIFVR_d-XH6AF_MJFL8AYGYupqdheLVvhANNguhnYjuKUzZd2xUPqilw/w480-h640/20220619_103125.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDILBMeMOosj1xE3MfKP6fbNkeNjtkHrlSFEsZD3mTZUkTZgItp92pFclQ8WhXw24nkn4l9lfm-BWId4yeXuH7bkXmG6QgeiGZBGwGEkk5IaOA_E5YFQ8E8rxgwTQ8oEQE6fiUl95nRx0IhNWB-0XsQsllmWntv_V6RKs9QI3i6r-2RCfaXvRiw/s4032/20220619_103214.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDILBMeMOosj1xE3MfKP6fbNkeNjtkHrlSFEsZD3mTZUkTZgItp92pFclQ8WhXw24nkn4l9lfm-BWId4yeXuH7bkXmG6QgeiGZBGwGEkk5IaOA_E5YFQ8E8rxgwTQ8oEQE6fiUl95nRx0IhNWB-0XsQsllmWntv_V6RKs9QI3i6r-2RCfaXvRiw/w400-h300/20220619_103214.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back the way we had come</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As we passed Kiama Cemetery Tristan couldn't help but make lame Dad jokes about graveyards too me, so lame that they were actually funny.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLrv8vKLCnO0xeLFlQa5rwv8UkeNJIZ-yUxUl3NzuoTiACKF07F-9T3Y_0uu-SXexgSSToEcpdAq6t-kcu2u9H0fQjbc1MAhxvGV5jf4RUUU4l_6nEbHTvnJpq5-yNGgzEMVcxioW4-OEjC28QKF5WmkSAGRbjQ1_KGWERLYc4Ip5olM1aFr4Cw/s4032/20220619_103705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLrv8vKLCnO0xeLFlQa5rwv8UkeNJIZ-yUxUl3NzuoTiACKF07F-9T3Y_0uu-SXexgSSToEcpdAq6t-kcu2u9H0fQjbc1MAhxvGV5jf4RUUU4l_6nEbHTvnJpq5-yNGgzEMVcxioW4-OEjC28QKF5WmkSAGRbjQ1_KGWERLYc4Ip5olM1aFr4Cw/w480-h640/20220619_103705.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Tristan was blown away when he saw that the rail workers had a little food truck to cater to them. He was so blown away by the fact while I shrugged it off like it wasn't a big deal.</p><p>As we approached Spring Creek I pointed up at a big billboard for The Hungry Monkey, a food place in Kiama, asking him if he had ever eaten there. He said he had and it was good. I told him I wanted to go once, but knew it was always busy, I had wanted to reserve a table but had been told they only reserved for up to 6 people. I told him that the most I had to go there was four, and thus I was still yet to go there and try the burgers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Rbd_C0GSoZiypVPhfdwp8g_g92TfSlI41jr2VpLHiwab7HHDNpOCo4ZUBsBZD94JwE_tzJKqkd0l_DDsSQd8xjOVv3_-335ZlHhprqR08qkivHVh5oJhi4hTNf3VBBtIqGvuWvPRdAtFaXKVpYJL6kddQwE12mNuiZyz6_QU2gSwZgwi_smag/s4032/20220619_104005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Rbd_C0GSoZiypVPhfdwp8g_g92TfSlI41jr2VpLHiwab7HHDNpOCo4ZUBsBZD94JwE_tzJKqkd0l_DDsSQd8xjOVv3_-335ZlHhprqR08qkivHVh5oJhi4hTNf3VBBtIqGvuWvPRdAtFaXKVpYJL6kddQwE12mNuiZyz6_QU2gSwZgwi_smag/w480-h640/20220619_104005.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We arrived at the bridge over Spring Creek, with a sign letting us know we could turn left, and get to Kiama via the wetlands, or continue straight and enter Kiama via Gipp street. I told Tristan that when I had done it last time I hadn't even seen that sign and had just went straight. We both agreed that we were making good time and decided to go via the wetlands.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ_jm-YlR12JBlJ9L2iFEX0lWWy2oqw__LeS74vYi2Ajm6reRRIbHlA5JrZcP5JfDV0t9JCh_unYs-xzTblrEUS6w7r0YCC31m4RV4Plq4dTw0-MGJ4Ux6gpH34KS3_2PNVeLPn4fYw0w10-XavzNmLVHRMiwYRDrKsoDN34zoyKd53XG2_jpYg/s4032/20220619_104024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ_jm-YlR12JBlJ9L2iFEX0lWWy2oqw__LeS74vYi2Ajm6reRRIbHlA5JrZcP5JfDV0t9JCh_unYs-xzTblrEUS6w7r0YCC31m4RV4Plq4dTw0-MGJ4Ux6gpH34KS3_2PNVeLPn4fYw0w10-XavzNmLVHRMiwYRDrKsoDN34zoyKd53XG2_jpYg/w480-h640/20220619_104024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtzd1b8Qmy179NatwLBQkyf6talOno0-2wk852jeaz-DIwpKQBbzCzJ4sNFXm_-UIdkG59ngcibEVnnfK0yxUehjw7x4L8ZsDtXGeGnNNglmyP0nAJtdzP0QRu8Uztcte7aJElZghnhS0lvHlP7bOJ50mtwdF7u8vk233bYkGPvz3di8djqxTiQ/s4032/20220619_104038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtzd1b8Qmy179NatwLBQkyf6talOno0-2wk852jeaz-DIwpKQBbzCzJ4sNFXm_-UIdkG59ngcibEVnnfK0yxUehjw7x4L8ZsDtXGeGnNNglmyP0nAJtdzP0QRu8Uztcte7aJElZghnhS0lvHlP7bOJ50mtwdF7u8vk233bYkGPvz3di8djqxTiQ/w480-h640/20220619_104038.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We were wondering where this walk would take us, as it turned right underneath the bridge crossing to the other side of the highway, however when we rounded the bend we saw out path flooded in front of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio79b065VvXNjYzQQn5dGOzlLJjR1mU0OYWnt_6DxWyF3dX8gFOGYYreVHHWGyWZKv3998fV5xVUJxXcOB__ewUPsbqTH8fPy_7_uK_XwJDhYiptWZ75mf8JFRk29dBRnBXtJrHc22Nq0cMevhtl7d6xP1tjVWjzqZAPGQJrkyhWVjDvZgtib99A/s4032/20220619_104102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio79b065VvXNjYzQQn5dGOzlLJjR1mU0OYWnt_6DxWyF3dX8gFOGYYreVHHWGyWZKv3998fV5xVUJxXcOB__ewUPsbqTH8fPy_7_uK_XwJDhYiptWZ75mf8JFRk29dBRnBXtJrHc22Nq0cMevhtl7d6xP1tjVWjzqZAPGQJrkyhWVjDvZgtib99A/w400-h300/20220619_104102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I suggested making our way across the little ledge to cross this section, but we didn't know what the path ahead would be like, so reluctantly we walked back and followed the highway, turning in towards Black Beach and away from the noise as soon as we were able. While following Spring Creek we saw a little community garden in memory of Tara and friends. We thought about who these people were and what had happened for this to be made in their memory. It made me remember that the world is a huge place and there are a billion people and a billion different things going on at any given moment and we were there on the walk at this point in time thinking about people we didn't even know.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDSbpzu7nurhbobWcPA407I6JlkdYKP4MmxTcneqbySL-eAudcV2r4dYTRUb5T2MEgnpxswBq_OTmQTBG-o7-LEaxqJu_Q8vMxv2woIePkPLJfPRNkeul-9_zYfMfL8uKv9mBd86ev2h8dRDLJ7tFJnllY08Ockqr7X0T_aLiQ-B-7aMM9LDpuQ/s4032/20220619_104430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDSbpzu7nurhbobWcPA407I6JlkdYKP4MmxTcneqbySL-eAudcV2r4dYTRUb5T2MEgnpxswBq_OTmQTBG-o7-LEaxqJu_Q8vMxv2woIePkPLJfPRNkeul-9_zYfMfL8uKv9mBd86ev2h8dRDLJ7tFJnllY08Ockqr7X0T_aLiQ-B-7aMM9LDpuQ/w400-h300/20220619_104430.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We made our way uphill on Gipp St, while continuing to give insult and belittle each other. "This is the way"- I would comment if I were a Mandalorian.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPIrQ-lk1fnwgOA_BxzpPXVksOpqLGrma6JsaJFDAj7dOuxkt5NEvbCa1i18mCfJ_a43pHtCZTW1pZtRek5edAyRbZnRewdGNAo5U5chh8S69Z5cJuqEJaX2MhgtXfjdBdmB9wgpQC67WtlDdg2Ky7ekeXpwFAqX6eKPLmA0LTlOD2TqIBgKr9A/s3648/20220619_104845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPIrQ-lk1fnwgOA_BxzpPXVksOpqLGrma6JsaJFDAj7dOuxkt5NEvbCa1i18mCfJ_a43pHtCZTW1pZtRek5edAyRbZnRewdGNAo5U5chh8S69Z5cJuqEJaX2MhgtXfjdBdmB9wgpQC67WtlDdg2Ky7ekeXpwFAqX6eKPLmA0LTlOD2TqIBgKr9A/w480-h640/20220619_104845.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I began asking Tristan about shows he'd been watching, commenting that I had started the Obi Wan Kenobi show that was renewing my love of Star Wars having earned a distaste for the franchise following the new Disney trilogy of films, and sentiment he agreed with.</p><p>We took a detour into Kiama as Tristan was in the mood for a coffee, and made our way to funnily enough, the Hungry Monkey where Tristan began ordering a coffee, asking me if I wanted one. I told him I was all good.</p><p>"Do you not want it because you don't want one? Or because you don't want me to pay for it?" He asked.<br />"I plead the fifth." I responded, before he demanded my coffee order of a small full cream latte.<br />I noticed he ordered using oat milk and I commented on the fact to him.<br />"I think I might be lactose intolerant." He said. "Except for cheese, cheese is great."<br />I furrowed my brow.<br />"You're not lactose intolerant." I replied while the girls serving us seemed to look on with bemusement.</p><p>We made our way down to the harbour where we noticed the markets was on. Both our senses were going off due to the smells of barbequing and all the food stalls. While walking through Tristan debated on whether or not to buy a sausage sizzle, but there was also a million other things to be tempted by. Almost towards the end of the crowded market stalls just near Kiama Harbour Park, I noticed a food stall selling black garlic. Two cloves for $12, which I ended up buying having never tried it before and always wanting too. As we reached the end of the harbour I asked Tristan if he wanted to walk up and around the lighthouse to do the walk as a purist. He said it was up to me. I shrugged noting I had walked around the lighthouse a hundred times. </p><p>"Fuck it." He said and we cut across Blowhole Point road to Storm Bay and continued walking around Church Point. As we walked through I told him that myself and my Wife (and our Dog Orla), had come to Kiama the day before my cancer diagnosis. That we had done a walk around and I had seemed to struggle on the hills with my Wife excitedly declaring that she was getting fitter than me. (Nope, I had cancer).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEogNNXOZ-i4H8xFUyxVSmeGgclTI6BNdrdB6Iw5KisuD_OZ3dPODaR2raUBrs1z4Kp5itCoOUb2bwVPbEhgEOQ36gwpYDIVVe6T42ygHBJvxVe-ejGA4sPhoyKQtaI9svrbbNEkkicdmpkYtthmMT-W9u11YKIzw6DVUnsxq3IMdHWOxwjQqTTA/s1080/precancer%20day.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEogNNXOZ-i4H8xFUyxVSmeGgclTI6BNdrdB6Iw5KisuD_OZ3dPODaR2raUBrs1z4Kp5itCoOUb2bwVPbEhgEOQ36gwpYDIVVe6T42ygHBJvxVe-ejGA4sPhoyKQtaI9svrbbNEkkicdmpkYtthmMT-W9u11YKIzw6DVUnsxq3IMdHWOxwjQqTTA/w400-h400/precancer%20day.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Day before my Cancer diagnosis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOd8dqwalsqpI3lrqWG2_9HVolYd_Md8-dmrmGkxNxEg5tkvKLSLCI51TePTeryW5uT3aPadzh-b_RZVGW2DbYdQvH9K0_uLgziPoVrIwIdPeFZZKO56k_ZCscghZa3uv_fbg_-VSXWbhso0iHHQwHZrye1e9gnVT3kL4wY0cStBA9ZGp59yueg/s4032/20220619_111834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOd8dqwalsqpI3lrqWG2_9HVolYd_Md8-dmrmGkxNxEg5tkvKLSLCI51TePTeryW5uT3aPadzh-b_RZVGW2DbYdQvH9K0_uLgziPoVrIwIdPeFZZKO56k_ZCscghZa3uv_fbg_-VSXWbhso0iHHQwHZrye1e9gnVT3kL4wY0cStBA9ZGp59yueg/w480-h640/20220619_111834.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv4EnNDQNfALXFZbipwbxcpNfj5EdMzRgMf3yL1DK7gDrlEgApdFDpgYMaWfN8soqpnRvv3-teHTMWntN-w52oqmCmZE-y-az5kVIkqi6_7R_mZUfFMzlt8wrJbHUKVA9j82k6EQxppnowVTqBzHNSRdq5_iYoTx07y2IUk2tV-fqTfCePAXwRw/s4032/20220619_112051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv4EnNDQNfALXFZbipwbxcpNfj5EdMzRgMf3yL1DK7gDrlEgApdFDpgYMaWfN8soqpnRvv3-teHTMWntN-w52oqmCmZE-y-az5kVIkqi6_7R_mZUfFMzlt8wrJbHUKVA9j82k6EQxppnowVTqBzHNSRdq5_iYoTx07y2IUk2tV-fqTfCePAXwRw/w480-h640/20220619_112051.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY7vcNYpc68gmJp42PAsT4ZdQz1JDCp6Q2qHx4lv4opX47RPQTi4GxHWAD9PeOJSOS-msecx-hRsUHor4Fx6yxqnb9EuxR5s4LSaAAEF8UAeFGDDrGHhIzDvf3BvMhq54Y0jn0o0R3TzNmpOBj5mgbqLX6YRm4Svi6R1x0fikW_WTQgT0vhwZFg/s3648/20220619_112144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY7vcNYpc68gmJp42PAsT4ZdQz1JDCp6Q2qHx4lv4opX47RPQTi4GxHWAD9PeOJSOS-msecx-hRsUHor4Fx6yxqnb9EuxR5s4LSaAAEF8UAeFGDDrGHhIzDvf3BvMhq54Y0jn0o0R3TzNmpOBj5mgbqLX6YRm4Svi6R1x0fikW_WTQgT0vhwZFg/w480-h640/20220619_112144.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIrWGQUkaEgU-d5vAX2wvcDh-ZUNne-7xEI0PBbH-2KtOylGKcfcQwToVB6FL2uCaA6L_aa6NC-a94KqFwEUIKEa9ZsnDkXetBWd2JsIwuSXsjoQUI4vxvmc5UREWj7aceGTPhWVERiZNuGrJwrXBDSfEFyOnqoZe1yEitSOUqI7xAV4m4S_8kQ/s4032/20220619_112630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIrWGQUkaEgU-d5vAX2wvcDh-ZUNne-7xEI0PBbH-2KtOylGKcfcQwToVB6FL2uCaA6L_aa6NC-a94KqFwEUIKEa9ZsnDkXetBWd2JsIwuSXsjoQUI4vxvmc5UREWj7aceGTPhWVERiZNuGrJwrXBDSfEFyOnqoZe1yEitSOUqI7xAV4m4S_8kQ/w400-h300/20220619_112630.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking down to Coronation Park across from Kiama surf beach I quickly stopped at some chin-up/pull-up bars to do some pull ups to test my fitness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way around Kendalls Point, passing some of the school children we had seen as we were leaving Werri Lagoon to drive to Minnamurra. I began asking Tristan if he watched the Australian ABC TV Series 'Gruen' mentioning it had recently done a bit about the new McDonalds coffee the 'Australiano', mentioning that I wanted to try it due to the wattle seed in it, mentioning that wattles seed was used as a coffee substitute anyway (I ended up trying it, didn't mind the flavour but found it a bit too sweet). We then got into a bit of a debate about covid and covid lockdowns, as well as vaccine mandates. With my attitude being pro them, having experienced the entire pandemic being vulnerable due to being immunocompromised due to my chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant and explaining that people who were against vaccine were often "fucking morons" as I put it, and "anti-science", while Tristan didn't disagree with me he also didn't like the idea of enforcement, feeling like mandates were pressuring people to do stuff, something he was against. I disagreed saying there wasn't force, although I agreed there was some slight coercion explaining that it was herd immunity and these things were brought in to protect people from dipshit anti-science nutters, explaining they still had the right to not get vaccinated, but they suffered consequences because of that, and if they didn't suffer those consequences it would be other people (the vulnerable), who would suffer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way across Kendalls Beach and up a small track to Kaleula Head, passing the rest of these young boys in the uniform and some adults with them, pondering if if was some school or weird scouts thing (we still don't know).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKd4Ou7jlApN9BlsCb1K51eX-pg2B8Cd_1ta-diaUAinLk9Tc2FqUFD2TM3Hc9VYcwa8wXIMKz_9--5V3GWGIrYJfVerOnnLCrIdQMI4xdVLrgfqQrYqmYncAXVS57ffk83ecv8zz-9yILBBN8O8QwNfPEn_SK8BDY5XDV_3-X1y1e8-fcNbbAw/s4032/20220619_114925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKd4Ou7jlApN9BlsCb1K51eX-pg2B8Cd_1ta-diaUAinLk9Tc2FqUFD2TM3Hc9VYcwa8wXIMKz_9--5V3GWGIrYJfVerOnnLCrIdQMI4xdVLrgfqQrYqmYncAXVS57ffk83ecv8zz-9yILBBN8O8QwNfPEn_SK8BDY5XDV_3-X1y1e8-fcNbbAw/w400-h300/20220619_114925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL7aqn0PL4WadqwhnBLtd258RJBn7vh4ykIWyz4Fkcz2GZBJs4NTUSeXOTbAXPu8RpUUNz2oe_kEHvA9wh8WQuo7tQUmadhRl5m8yb4rIcLG1YCMRg29DIERWnVUmeMLkgKlFTWJ2KzPY9WW9QkTEfpa0zEE_kZAlideiq0WJ3yDY0L8KUb8IPw/s4032/20220619_115045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCL7aqn0PL4WadqwhnBLtd258RJBn7vh4ykIWyz4Fkcz2GZBJs4NTUSeXOTbAXPu8RpUUNz2oe_kEHvA9wh8WQuo7tQUmadhRl5m8yb4rIcLG1YCMRg29DIERWnVUmeMLkgKlFTWJ2KzPY9WW9QkTEfpa0zEE_kZAlideiq0WJ3yDY0L8KUb8IPw/w480-h640/20220619_115045.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_UY2Hpdp8lo30SQHFULvBcxrExrzEAXPWcwrCd7Kifkih90tNfGbBW1S0B4ROgDX_HoeDDtjq9BcYjVuUWTGC44Ds2EouU9_4kVsFfOYRYCOTRzJ87OMqrnDMCsFIdlJVyXR76eanZoXTWHKeKmRqOq4mqi7zQCzboBXx9KiQ5gOTNrDIX_Z7g/s4032/20220619_115200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_UY2Hpdp8lo30SQHFULvBcxrExrzEAXPWcwrCd7Kifkih90tNfGbBW1S0B4ROgDX_HoeDDtjq9BcYjVuUWTGC44Ds2EouU9_4kVsFfOYRYCOTRzJ87OMqrnDMCsFIdlJVyXR76eanZoXTWHKeKmRqOq4mqi7zQCzboBXx9KiQ5gOTNrDIX_Z7g/w480-h640/20220619_115200.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfAhB2Zni3GM6N5wnRkFfFxa5BhBQZFiRtCiir2S2gfmKulVXTGNk0Bk7VOWTsIycQia8szACytRERUrF94jw-TM94jp_XuuKD0ZhDArnpEtlvDu6rpeRRy_l4tsj9spok2TlYthi2Z7W_mBszoo-7BcLsUzQ7HBjY8tpHmDtmuvh2FnZtncclQ/s4032/20220619_115513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfAhB2Zni3GM6N5wnRkFfFxa5BhBQZFiRtCiir2S2gfmKulVXTGNk0Bk7VOWTsIycQia8szACytRERUrF94jw-TM94jp_XuuKD0ZhDArnpEtlvDu6rpeRRy_l4tsj9spok2TlYthi2Z7W_mBszoo-7BcLsUzQ7HBjY8tpHmDtmuvh2FnZtncclQ/w400-h300/20220619_115513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After walking over as grass hill overlooking the ocean the walk turned off into the streets of Kiama Heights as we made our way through Boanyo Ave, towards Kiama's 'Little Blowhole'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GTLpbqRRa85t5X_eCmT2WxXTPw9coVUFnnpbDKCzcTLoWtjPWj9BPSQBigA3tzEn3xFIFFN1kAbgfczDrFE8iBJ_eG6MyIu83CtGHmqACnYjyc2RIjrgo6CBlelPnI-Gxi34_ZLybBTC8Jiom9ZE_UszM7aAS5jDYB6b8EnGgqF9px1ewh9i8Q/s4032/20220619_115543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GTLpbqRRa85t5X_eCmT2WxXTPw9coVUFnnpbDKCzcTLoWtjPWj9BPSQBigA3tzEn3xFIFFN1kAbgfczDrFE8iBJ_eG6MyIu83CtGHmqACnYjyc2RIjrgo6CBlelPnI-Gxi34_ZLybBTC8Jiom9ZE_UszM7aAS5jDYB6b8EnGgqF9px1ewh9i8Q/w480-h640/20220619_115543.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walking up this along this street we continued talking about politics, with Tristan filling my in on his plan to have every political decision to come as a little voting poll in an app or website for all citizens to vote on to make the country a true democracy. We turned left up Tingira Crescent and eventually turned left going down to the Little Blowhole that had a bit of a crowd of people around it. Tristan went to continue walking past it but I told him we should stop to allow it to blow at least once before we continued on. After giving a burst of water up into the air, we continued on, quickly shifting through conversation topics at a whim. We followed the coast along Marsden Head, walking along the outskirts of Tingira Crescent, glad to be off the streets again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon got our first site of Easts Beach, which I had never seen or been to before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar4k5w5Jms-hfx7Jdlf4nJvE1kwsE4g9t0AuBfDdeYLW96HRAFrhxSVAgyDdMbqMHhoEoltcBIAPTcrPlX7Ln0VwwEvHbbv80XaHKlpKCGc-w1muXyI10ryCM1eDJ3tMqGA5mp0E93oVDmvfXRo6C8naOyO4aNqtiDeWVq3k7TyHF63RlICTCNA/s4032/20220619_121917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar4k5w5Jms-hfx7Jdlf4nJvE1kwsE4g9t0AuBfDdeYLW96HRAFrhxSVAgyDdMbqMHhoEoltcBIAPTcrPlX7Ln0VwwEvHbbv80XaHKlpKCGc-w1muXyI10ryCM1eDJ3tMqGA5mp0E93oVDmvfXRo6C8naOyO4aNqtiDeWVq3k7TyHF63RlICTCNA/w400-h300/20220619_121917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We walked down a tight fitting set of concrete steps down to the beach that was opposite Easts Beach Holiday Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBV0jNyYCvsB4ols_xV9p5nCFBPV3lTObZpNi-Ny_U469-8MmWcY6UBprHjGO36Bvcq4Taeoz1s-7U1_71bhPQCgTHxEBpNzg6eubb1H2O73KPKBHgRfhCEzaOitxNmQ8vskmH1k4GlcxVQKOb24Xnhbv2NjhVMOwz2hHSfd-Mv9TL0Zif3iB9g/s4032/20220619_122034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBV0jNyYCvsB4ols_xV9p5nCFBPV3lTObZpNi-Ny_U469-8MmWcY6UBprHjGO36Bvcq4Taeoz1s-7U1_71bhPQCgTHxEBpNzg6eubb1H2O73KPKBHgRfhCEzaOitxNmQ8vskmH1k4GlcxVQKOb24Xnhbv2NjhVMOwz2hHSfd-Mv9TL0Zif3iB9g/w480-h640/20220619_122034.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's that?"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmnqThft9VRzA8YeB74IhAt44t3_YIz2oCA7dwcESwLlTktwaC1gVtuhtG5GU5MOMeH4uC04FBsEom_geZ-Ha3dVmGFvL7SGjqhpILomW8iaNB9Fo4o3NMcMBI8A_JF4N6qNtigohdFX3hfbFuyKKSAkvvETkLHOk531wXieQEyG7FZICTOrKhA/s4032/20220619_122033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmnqThft9VRzA8YeB74IhAt44t3_YIz2oCA7dwcESwLlTktwaC1gVtuhtG5GU5MOMeH4uC04FBsEom_geZ-Ha3dVmGFvL7SGjqhpILomW8iaNB9Fo4o3NMcMBI8A_JF4N6qNtigohdFX3hfbFuyKKSAkvvETkLHOk531wXieQEyG7FZICTOrKhA/w400-h300/20220619_122033.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"A goal post?"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way along the sand, walking up to walk along the grass on the border of the holiday park. As we passed through we saw a toilet block which Tristan said he wanted to go to because he needed "toilet tissue" for a runny nose. However I didn't understand what he said, hearing something else the first 3 times he said it until he explained he meant toilet paper and my brain finally allowed me to comprehend him. (I took the opportunity to take a whizz and reapply my sunscreen while stopping too).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a little creek passing through the park and out to the beach. So we decided to walk into the park and over a little bridge to continue along the walk. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke8cEA28j47zsGlQHOORCMr58kcxJCqpTcwha_l08SSPGiQysuXSJ95u7dumjijxAv4t8Cg0UR2yCed5TQXRU8EiqIv02VuOCx_ewEmY_w4Ppfo68rc1mOGQY-xoPEeVZDWC93BmkCzYrXE1erwOIRAK-NF7Atfd--jrt9tAchhNQCwGryHQhQQ/s4032/20220619_122908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke8cEA28j47zsGlQHOORCMr58kcxJCqpTcwha_l08SSPGiQysuXSJ95u7dumjijxAv4t8Cg0UR2yCed5TQXRU8EiqIv02VuOCx_ewEmY_w4Ppfo68rc1mOGQY-xoPEeVZDWC93BmkCzYrXE1erwOIRAK-NF7Atfd--jrt9tAchhNQCwGryHQhQQ/w480-h640/20220619_122908.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I commented to Tristan that the park was really pretty, and that I hadn't really gone away to a park like this since I was a kid. (Dad use to take me and my brothers away all the time to Coolendel, Sussex Inlet, Myola, etc, so I have fond memories). I said that I wanted a holiday with my Wife and Dog, having booked to stay in a Dog friendly camp ground north of Newcastle after my holiday to Japan was cancelled due to the covid pandemic beginning. However I was diagnosed with my cancer shortly after booking it and we had a hard time trying to get a refund from that place, so were yet to have a holiday away. Tristan suggested we do a joint one (or at least invite him and his girlfriend over to our house) for everyone to meet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued along the coast around some grassland heading up towards the Kiama Coastal Walk Picnic Area and Lookout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a information signpost there for a fun-run, the 'Kiama Coastal Classic' to run, jog or walk either different sections of the coastal track, or all of it. "I'm not paying for that." I said, knowing I probably wouldn't have the fitness to run it anyway.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we continued around we got our first view of Loves Bay, the familiar section of the Kiama Coastal walk where I had started the last third from many times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We sat across the bay having a little lunch. I peeled my mandarin and removed my beanie letting the sunlight in my pale bald head, telling Tristan it needed some colour, but at the same time I had to be more careful of skin cancer due to the chemotherapy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5B1BCYwL_WyjGHaOzUBA6A4539AdB33tAztEsv4QNqFWY0PcUE1CIL6-XLYDsJB64Y0ez4ralSfl_2i_gXmUUc9esk5MNqO3fqgfcdMWobzVSccS1wGAbIJQMX838KaparBnTjuemRdpsbyrxrO4PfN5MD__Aq1Hrhkwy27tinYhJ-yuDskmxA/s4032/20220619_130111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja5B1BCYwL_WyjGHaOzUBA6A4539AdB33tAztEsv4QNqFWY0PcUE1CIL6-XLYDsJB64Y0ez4ralSfl_2i_gXmUUc9esk5MNqO3fqgfcdMWobzVSccS1wGAbIJQMX838KaparBnTjuemRdpsbyrxrO4PfN5MD__Aq1Hrhkwy27tinYhJ-yuDskmxA/w400-h300/20220619_130111.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tristan made some sort of reference to making love to each other (Loves Bay), and I probably said some filthy disgusting response to that, but I can't remember due to work being full on and taking way to long to get around to actually writing about our walk, plus I have chemo-brain).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f74dGxfrSJnZbW6GpYwUEKQP1URbLIkXTrB6s8AaFKUgQp-FZ3pjGJZZ3nCbuTlgaoHMkgzjdu_acqWSg61O6PtKFIceU2-uy7GCXWvFBcaPz1fUh_Wi8MrPPzokRznFdSkWyIG3rl_Q1XJHIRfCyRrObqGviUgtQBpSNxT11OhUGKyeiB9CHg/s3648/20220619_130700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5f74dGxfrSJnZbW6GpYwUEKQP1URbLIkXTrB6s8AaFKUgQp-FZ3pjGJZZ3nCbuTlgaoHMkgzjdu_acqWSg61O6PtKFIceU2-uy7GCXWvFBcaPz1fUh_Wi8MrPPzokRznFdSkWyIG3rl_Q1XJHIRfCyRrObqGviUgtQBpSNxT11OhUGKyeiB9CHg/w480-h640/20220619_130700.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVaP3I4fC46SZ5sEoEjdv1_LC27zwTMxzy8gKzBA6nDNrUlvUx2upuZfH4U2qW21ZOu5j3YB87s-QuXFle4J980cgYwu5sCaFKSOuL-gVKJ7GV4OQSs3sZkrHh9S1RGGA3MpVJV0TuP_wFp3f2QrLQwP5R2_LvjmJZOhdSryy_IVqGWiVviz_2g/s4032/20220619_130841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVaP3I4fC46SZ5sEoEjdv1_LC27zwTMxzy8gKzBA6nDNrUlvUx2upuZfH4U2qW21ZOu5j3YB87s-QuXFle4J980cgYwu5sCaFKSOuL-gVKJ7GV4OQSs3sZkrHh9S1RGGA3MpVJV0TuP_wFp3f2QrLQwP5R2_LvjmJZOhdSryy_IVqGWiVviz_2g/w400-h300/20220619_130841.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw7JCJwf-LGITrLLAViKdaEsaNEwJuI8lmPGjRPd4OT9q7kTeZfZPRvJUTJOCjBLSoi3DGkjwQF_RBTxF-6iHnsokLYsgZ-t7AQdau6bo7TlQEhCpACyd46qbWtaN-RT59V0P9wa6ebTqs5GxrwE5ymRmLMid2T5PdUCgaJFI2cgIP8BWddBeGA/s4032/20220619_131021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkw7JCJwf-LGITrLLAViKdaEsaNEwJuI8lmPGjRPd4OT9q7kTeZfZPRvJUTJOCjBLSoi3DGkjwQF_RBTxF-6iHnsokLYsgZ-t7AQdau6bo7TlQEhCpACyd46qbWtaN-RT59V0P9wa6ebTqs5GxrwE5ymRmLMid2T5PdUCgaJFI2cgIP8BWddBeGA/w480-h640/20220619_131021.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboviZozFGphBtCZGQcM_XfCxNafBZa_DLKAJATmkRa9uui90FGaMcLTDKcRbz5vwDmiUHR1L-EhPIhNCGohUH5HC7eDCqZKiM7h28As8ESV-Asa8foR5-NcJUu46Dd5BJTUZmF-v10E-6E6wr58o3yZkCrKTcCKxjUdG-2T_lYD5KstRAnM5NnA/s4032/20220619_131025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboviZozFGphBtCZGQcM_XfCxNafBZa_DLKAJATmkRa9uui90FGaMcLTDKcRbz5vwDmiUHR1L-EhPIhNCGohUH5HC7eDCqZKiM7h28As8ESV-Asa8foR5-NcJUu46Dd5BJTUZmF-v10E-6E6wr58o3yZkCrKTcCKxjUdG-2T_lYD5KstRAnM5NnA/w480-h640/20220619_131025.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCUbKpJ0ndkg1BvZxUVqEGdjDZixrq43LyfUcgUPGj2ODmjCYzD5Pc3EecaGd9ff_5c-vE9LTyq9_WEVpEXViMXySgiIQNyYuV103FQiV5znd94UjZTeV5mnKqbqywVo4EB9KB4cYkSzd2BNZJ5a5TT4tyniP4aTBPJSLnPWKrSybaBJWY7wZ4w/s4032/20220619_131540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCUbKpJ0ndkg1BvZxUVqEGdjDZixrq43LyfUcgUPGj2ODmjCYzD5Pc3EecaGd9ff_5c-vE9LTyq9_WEVpEXViMXySgiIQNyYuV103FQiV5znd94UjZTeV5mnKqbqywVo4EB9KB4cYkSzd2BNZJ5a5TT4tyniP4aTBPJSLnPWKrSybaBJWY7wZ4w/w480-h640/20220619_131540.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm09FL6bmc8BDJh18iLp2emYK4sb42Jd-yHbL0N-CkmIGSec18oVZAzTbAIz3wZRgNJMzFTHj3UI7Y4LDkrM0XLUDefEHgdQTwVt-sb4RdjN1Zld48_mP2P6C9RU-9P1VYGY2KkbXz37vk96ansqJqC_cvdIHbxmnCZUQ-BWkmlw0w67EXj3EPLw/s4032/20220619_131548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm09FL6bmc8BDJh18iLp2emYK4sb42Jd-yHbL0N-CkmIGSec18oVZAzTbAIz3wZRgNJMzFTHj3UI7Y4LDkrM0XLUDefEHgdQTwVt-sb4RdjN1Zld48_mP2P6C9RU-9P1VYGY2KkbXz37vk96ansqJqC_cvdIHbxmnCZUQ-BWkmlw0w67EXj3EPLw/w480-h640/20220619_131548.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way around the beautiful hilly coast, (which had always reminded me of the British Isles along there, I can't say why. Maybe the farmland or too many films?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0ly-tNIPK9H4gqQgczNIfrMKJW5ttgutvqu_3VAT-6akM5ls5AjY_FaeVpnXekLCjum73NnMxWkD1Bvc8cuhTEXag6TDtUQXfI8g_js1rjxSldi3b5AYAk3mOZCt5Lv5esJYhV5EqmQcZ27WgldUx241xUrC-tJaoooVt9UnBSwrHw2RGgz-AA/s4032/20220619_131836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0ly-tNIPK9H4gqQgczNIfrMKJW5ttgutvqu_3VAT-6akM5ls5AjY_FaeVpnXekLCjum73NnMxWkD1Bvc8cuhTEXag6TDtUQXfI8g_js1rjxSldi3b5AYAk3mOZCt5Lv5esJYhV5EqmQcZ27WgldUx241xUrC-tJaoooVt9UnBSwrHw2RGgz-AA/w480-h640/20220619_131836.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The joy of walking past farmland is occasionally there will be Cows close to the fence, and we were lucky enough to be close to a few of the gorgeous animals, including one scratching itself on a nearby tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzeBTtKqKgPkl_J8JpkwAOR4HHpinjxejrf4gGZ40fW7V3myFgMSV0VQu201w7PYF8KDUH5NuEiiyJlUkM8TufLTcbSXTtqeAuJe3yKKMkLkBBGl_IqFAiIpsJxCTkZIpJdRRfec_b8BNhc6PnM-RFrayur6-ZyKFFRhVb5B0XhAwkMF78Xe8xw/s4032/20220619_132747.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzeBTtKqKgPkl_J8JpkwAOR4HHpinjxejrf4gGZ40fW7V3myFgMSV0VQu201w7PYF8KDUH5NuEiiyJlUkM8TufLTcbSXTtqeAuJe3yKKMkLkBBGl_IqFAiIpsJxCTkZIpJdRRfec_b8BNhc6PnM-RFrayur6-ZyKFFRhVb5B0XhAwkMF78Xe8xw/w480-h640/20220619_132747.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJ6TtXjblMA4jA_UuCzYJSo6-ZqmASAnmh4VVQ1Ao2xKqyFq75DEyenvaCM4LwpaN3277HOHsro2-99bUoZQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could already feel a sense of satisfaction, of completion, but realistically I was just starting the start of the walk I would usually do (but thankfully I didn't have to walk back). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyelhSoSJZixy6YoUoN_g5ShCv7uT95u_KWZsqSUol7k2YgsdB8zvpz_rOtIrCrn9srmw8R-0zjeBTWJKDUZTB16U6v5S6QsrxiDzuQJQ0QmqE2jYxWAWmgMa0JvRP9z9SFG3cahaN7F6C6SsdVHOlFlWaEFefAgl4iIEGGUtDBgelsAABF457EA/s3648/20220619_134855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyelhSoSJZixy6YoUoN_g5ShCv7uT95u_KWZsqSUol7k2YgsdB8zvpz_rOtIrCrn9srmw8R-0zjeBTWJKDUZTB16U6v5S6QsrxiDzuQJQ0QmqE2jYxWAWmgMa0JvRP9z9SFG3cahaN7F6C6SsdVHOlFlWaEFefAgl4iIEGGUtDBgelsAABF457EA/w480-h640/20220619_134855.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xv8t4Gh24AMhVWyckdflfzDxP6NBmHUjz2BQ2xA_OF6hVIWThQcnsgOTOQH5uPhT9AwkVfJZBMWXvAxc78qtn7N3rzurdAI8owJ1SsbN1xW2E8QuLSj38YkZqkwO5ZI0plelskQVbbQvaU5dgfRr6BsUiOHXIaHJ9aMxDy8fVoBC-4HBjinNDQ/s4032/20220619_135505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Xv8t4Gh24AMhVWyckdflfzDxP6NBmHUjz2BQ2xA_OF6hVIWThQcnsgOTOQH5uPhT9AwkVfJZBMWXvAxc78qtn7N3rzurdAI8owJ1SsbN1xW2E8QuLSj38YkZqkwO5ZI0plelskQVbbQvaU5dgfRr6BsUiOHXIaHJ9aMxDy8fVoBC-4HBjinNDQ/w480-h640/20220619_135505.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We passed around a section of the walk called Bare Bluff, and I pointed at the small section of forest in the distance, telling Tristan you could walk down in amongst the trees that where remnants of an ancient rainforest known as 'The Long Brush'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Continuing on towards this we kept seeing different birds flying over head including sea hawks and others, which Tristan would point out and name only for me to annoyingly tell him it was a Seagull or a Pelican (it never was).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYJSbgReRPmpzRbPoKBvZ6tiL_YzFvUTLdxM3nw0X5PB-XmvQ3iiSUrkSXM5sIl19nQ48uu8n088Fe6qngQtHni92leWY_Npify0KCTAuFhT0dNCdIHe7IlEtudA0DpWCEFi2qyOzERVxIBs9pShHtiHhEzjvwaipcS0ow9lU1qtqhFpcOAKWcw/s4032/20220619_140700.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYJSbgReRPmpzRbPoKBvZ6tiL_YzFvUTLdxM3nw0X5PB-XmvQ3iiSUrkSXM5sIl19nQ48uu8n088Fe6qngQtHni92leWY_Npify0KCTAuFhT0dNCdIHe7IlEtudA0DpWCEFi2qyOzERVxIBs9pShHtiHhEzjvwaipcS0ow9lU1qtqhFpcOAKWcw/w480-h640/20220619_140700.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we passed the ancient remains of the forest an old couple sitting on the one section of seating offered it to us for us to have a rest. We politely told them we were just going to charge on, with Tristan commenting to me that he was shocked to encounter nice and polite people (a rarity these days, I know).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just had we had passed the forest, Tristan pointed out telling me he could see a Dolphin. I looked to where he was pointing and noticed that there was a whole pod of them, making their way north along the coast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxSqOIaYWGSoFv8vgZh6-DvdtJSF_Ni5mwA-eAIb_8gvNBRsvjwa7_9qS3eD5jGc_4rTQSKmfm9NhAchCMfTQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We continued along past a section known as Red Cliff, glimpsing our first view of Gerringong in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE6ZuiciSCKIaH6nFsYttxdVR6Icdrw72CftyC8inhFlv0DKGxnzn5xsyIk2-JIsBJRR6uAjgACfvDlNI830tRYazDP4AaQBOBvESUHAMDW-ju8tZjZ1nTripfhax88LRgAFxDTzOvVmpuTX25tVIVR3qXQZy9XitWaQHkxSZvvjxQz76vX7MXg/s4032/20220619_142121.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaE6ZuiciSCKIaH6nFsYttxdVR6Icdrw72CftyC8inhFlv0DKGxnzn5xsyIk2-JIsBJRR6uAjgACfvDlNI830tRYazDP4AaQBOBvESUHAMDW-ju8tZjZ1nTripfhax88LRgAFxDTzOvVmpuTX25tVIVR3qXQZy9XitWaQHkxSZvvjxQz76vX7MXg/w400-h300/20220619_142121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tristan began telling me about the big house located up on the hill, and the film it was used in. I knew about The Invisible Man being filmed in a house (Pebble Farm Cove, I learned as I looked it up), but Tristan was talking about another film, The Hollow Man. (I think I had tuned out and missed the start of his conversation, I think he was saying that they were similar sorts of plots in the films).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Continuing on we could see Werri Lagoon and we knew the end of the walk was a few minutes away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpijgIJkrQz6KqFOgp2YSjEujfwTd2gj4F_NwfuS8T2UivKth6oxYe1vrPVFX6VLXMKrqdRgmjfg8MkmTrPn_sXZJJ0GHfiPiewPLAj1ofg06-45S7wmeFsVO1zweizWu-R0ooiJytiNySiDtm-VVvLNW92LnGmtQPY60e-gajk1eOMYekjbjMkA/s4032/20220619_142745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpijgIJkrQz6KqFOgp2YSjEujfwTd2gj4F_NwfuS8T2UivKth6oxYe1vrPVFX6VLXMKrqdRgmjfg8MkmTrPn_sXZJJ0GHfiPiewPLAj1ofg06-45S7wmeFsVO1zweizWu-R0ooiJytiNySiDtm-VVvLNW92LnGmtQPY60e-gajk1eOMYekjbjMkA/w400-h300/20220619_142745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Passing the 'Meadow Marsh' we read a plaque informing us of the history and of the property, however we couldn't see the property it was talking about anywhere in front of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQZjXiTVMEu0zgFX4Ak2REyvMpYSgioZdpfHnWWPXWJ-9rGKubV_j2ZCa3gbx0PHcCMPrBt2x9KUUDgzdrxCTWzUW2W6-t1OavHJZg8-Tn9iUNs-iHIh-9xFqaA-nSX6-4HuYC5VOE9LEWV0ja576laENGCWpgoXQcB2OmaHt-ncKCURTnNMyoQ/s4032/20220619_143132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQZjXiTVMEu0zgFX4Ak2REyvMpYSgioZdpfHnWWPXWJ-9rGKubV_j2ZCa3gbx0PHcCMPrBt2x9KUUDgzdrxCTWzUW2W6-t1OavHJZg8-Tn9iUNs-iHIh-9xFqaA-nSX6-4HuYC5VOE9LEWV0ja576laENGCWpgoXQcB2OmaHt-ncKCURTnNMyoQ/w480-h640/20220619_143132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The path through past the lagoon towards the beach was still pretty flooded from the recent rains, and we made our way through slowly along the sides avoiding sinking into the slopping puddles of mud.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n2EYN87ijZcsofVvcS331sY5B_NzYuQOm4SpP3Yk0bg5q5rPQHoaN5kDuCHa2iNjLOO8-9Nm7c6DUlLNY_QXh8JHc7kFEfj6o9O_KbAHaAn5FMMU6uk7T4Pg5kpGAhHBOESEAaXAxvN7bph6Wy1UfAOKExUsQ4z6SBj_usdKY2IGHbYfKyS-4A/s4032/20220619_143537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n2EYN87ijZcsofVvcS331sY5B_NzYuQOm4SpP3Yk0bg5q5rPQHoaN5kDuCHa2iNjLOO8-9Nm7c6DUlLNY_QXh8JHc7kFEfj6o9O_KbAHaAn5FMMU6uk7T4Pg5kpGAhHBOESEAaXAxvN7bph6Wy1UfAOKExUsQ4z6SBj_usdKY2IGHbYfKyS-4A/w480-h640/20220619_143537.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfc8IfHm3PZ83X6akCaGrEIRFmXDEK3ULcB0rHkNljMCEWaxBGFKFPH_sw4Ix8FgSnB6ei6y2Dmi2XTBaQSRmb5iIUHFOex_TBUU9XsMNnhWXWbNU5cov0RXWXDc09mZFA80eEuOQkB8y2fF9Yrpa1F887AWk1o2uqvnPeMONZozElJKtn8xl1w/s4032/20220619_143850.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfc8IfHm3PZ83X6akCaGrEIRFmXDEK3ULcB0rHkNljMCEWaxBGFKFPH_sw4Ix8FgSnB6ei6y2Dmi2XTBaQSRmb5iIUHFOex_TBUU9XsMNnhWXWbNU5cov0RXWXDc09mZFA80eEuOQkB8y2fF9Yrpa1F887AWk1o2uqvnPeMONZozElJKtn8xl1w/w400-h300/20220619_143850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We made our way up the small section of beach in front of us to the end of Pacific Ave, on the corner of Werri Street, where Tristan had parked his car just in front of the public toilets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7IAlIqw0oWx5MvaNumcGXYTerIslpYuLLKYTkRZttKZCYQXzFxpdJdpQEMIaqzo6JwZS5w4C7Dx1LUglJByI6mk9GfowvNCOkAipPWEOno-iKrlvGrOqQ3lZx6AUljDwqjnBmewXkuSjpy9mfEecbUZ1JtKyxDFDQfvLOGx99QitmsrJ7KYEQg/s4032/20220619_144300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7IAlIqw0oWx5MvaNumcGXYTerIslpYuLLKYTkRZttKZCYQXzFxpdJdpQEMIaqzo6JwZS5w4C7Dx1LUglJByI6mk9GfowvNCOkAipPWEOno-iKrlvGrOqQ3lZx6AUljDwqjnBmewXkuSjpy9mfEecbUZ1JtKyxDFDQfvLOGx99QitmsrJ7KYEQg/w400-h300/20220619_144300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I appreciated the artwork on the toilets</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jumping into his car I was already talking to him about our next hike, as well as trying to get him to come bouldering with me at the local bouldering gym (he had pulled a muscle in his arm so needed to wait until it was feeling better). As I directed him back towards the carpark at Minnamurra I noticed the music playing from his car was 'Misty Mountain's Cold' from 'The Hobbit' he mentioned it was a cover from a guy who he listens to with a really deep voice, telling me I would probably like the artist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we arrived at Minnamurra the school boy group (again, I don't know if it was a school, that's just how they looked), was just arriving in the car park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We agreed to catch up again soon, both agreeing for a walk that was more surrounded by nature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com2Blowhole Point Rd, Kiama NSW 2533, Australia-34.671257 150.8597259-34.699489525034778 150.82539362460938 -34.643024474965216 150.89405817539063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-41390130723909712702022-05-11T17:43:00.002+10:002022-06-21T12:54:36.941+10:00Gosangs Tunnel and Mermaid Inlet<p> After my camping trip out to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/12/young-nsw.html" target="_blank">Young</a> before returning to work after a year and a half off due to my<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank"> cancer treatment</a>, I soon returned to work 3 days a week. I found myself instantly exhausted and questioning my future, coming home completely exhausted and telling my Wife I needed 'a desk job'. The days off in between work days I spent recovering from the previous day at work, laying on the couch watching movies or making my way through Red Dead Redemption 2 and Far Cry Primal. I began to get an incredibly sore blistered mouth and it soon became unbearable for me to eat or even drink food. Seeing a Doctor I was told I had Graft vs Host in the mouth due to my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>. I began a treatment of a steroid mouthwash and it soon improved. I was told it was a good sign however as late onset Graft vs Host was commonly linked to less chance of the cancer recurring. However I lost 7kg due to not being able to eat or drink properly. <br /><br />After returning to a normal diet and my Graft vs Host clearing up, my energy and stamina levels began to improve, and I moved back to 4 days a week at work. After many weeks I began to even feel my energy levels continue to improve. I began to start wanting to get back out on walks or even return to rock climbing. I made plans to go for a bushwalk at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/09/brokers-nose.html" target="_blank">Brokers Nose</a> with my Wife and friends Stuart and Megan on the Easter long weekend. However before that I had a lung test booked in at Wollongong Hospital to see if the chemotherapy had done any damage to my lungs (prior to this I had a Bone Density Scan that came back all good). <br /><br />2 of my 3 results were fine. However my third result came back poor. I was told that the gases between my lungs and blood were not passing through to each other correctly. Basically my lungs were not able to receive the amount of oxygen I needed, which was probably why while doing the Weddin Mountains out at Young I struggled so much. I was told it was possible the damage could be permanent but to retest in 3 months so see if there was any improvement.</p><p>While this upset me I was determined to improve my fitness making me more adamant to go out on the walk to Brokers Nose with my friends.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCk8yAUVfFElcuXUDU07KaCiCvZdMLtqiyegswEgpNB9b3fEMoDVNbsQoMgNiQ5elRhtDyq-CSg4VIODwBgbKRx3bAVFicGcyHPD7WkNkn0CyLdiCko8zEote3pV8Mq9xRa_wT7bf_7I0NZ2jJVJBUg-eUd7gyr1kAW91gmuzs-b7ql6Hi48Dbg/s2048/278594890_10160103026331810_5632519791483386528_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCk8yAUVfFElcuXUDU07KaCiCvZdMLtqiyegswEgpNB9b3fEMoDVNbsQoMgNiQ5elRhtDyq-CSg4VIODwBgbKRx3bAVFicGcyHPD7WkNkn0CyLdiCko8zEote3pV8Mq9xRa_wT7bf_7I0NZ2jJVJBUg-eUd7gyr1kAW91gmuzs-b7ql6Hi48Dbg/w400-h300/278594890_10160103026331810_5632519791483386528_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Brokers Nose Lookout</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I took my friends on the same trail that I had followed with my Dad and I didn't find myself struggling at all (until near the end when I did a run down an extra trail on my own just to inspect what was down there). Arriving back at the car Megan had received her first ever leech, truly an unforgettable experience.</p><p>I soon had my one year appointment with my specialist after my Bone Marrow Biopsy and was ecstatic to hear there was still no trace of the cancer.</p><p>Elated by having such a great time with my friends and my good medical news, I continued to try to organise a day of adventure with my Dad to visit Gosangs Tunnel and Mermaid Inlet (which we had tried to do numerous times only for various factors such as weather, and illness to get in the way).</p><p>Finally we set the date (2/5/22), the second last week of my being 4 days a week before returning to full time.</p><p>That morning I got up early, ready to leave. While waking myself up with a cup of coffee in the morning on the couch my Wife returned from her morning walk with our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/?hl=en" target="_blank">Dog, Orla</a>.<br />I rubbed her cute little face to say good morning to her and she yelped. I looked at her ear tip (which had been attacked by insects as a puppy and so the tips of her ears have not had fur, but instead been furless, an ongoing issue of us having to treat with bug repellant before putting her outside on days we went to work), and the tip was half hanging off. Alarmed I called in my Wife who had went of to start getting ready for work.<br />Shocked we agreed I would have to take her to the vet which didn't open until 8 (I was supposed to already be heading down to Currawong with my Dad by that time).</p><p>My Wife left for work and I waited around until 8 to call the vet. After a call they said the vet was in an operation, but asked if we could drop her to be left there for the day. I agreed, with my Wife agreeing to leave work early to pick her up from the vet if I was not back from my walk in time. I drove my poor little baby to the vet (she was excited the whole time thinking I was taking her to the beach which is usually why I put her in the car).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6ffBBC8i9EG8ZrR5qKIfoUORDQQLmDora4v1ag234BZkOoHCHRFVbqeZSr3rHA0nA9iYzFDv8P2xAWfSZGblYXIrcat98Ae33zBncnp7LUJBSi8S8XSh7La2k7ryNdwVdHs_yGNmlYhZhNY0V9l5HVR2JoKqva4XZTP5DMLRPlsFciuPWw--5A/s2944/20220503_082345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6ffBBC8i9EG8ZrR5qKIfoUORDQQLmDora4v1ag234BZkOoHCHRFVbqeZSr3rHA0nA9iYzFDv8P2xAWfSZGblYXIrcat98Ae33zBncnp7LUJBSi8S8XSh7La2k7ryNdwVdHs_yGNmlYhZhNY0V9l5HVR2JoKqva4XZTP5DMLRPlsFciuPWw--5A/w480-h640/20220503_082345.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After dropping her off, which was heartbreaking as she was so confused as to why I was leaving her and kept trying to come to me as I was leaving I had to go to my Dad's to pick him up and try to set my mind frame into one in which I could still enjoy my day.</p><p>I arrived at my Dad's and changed the music on my blue-tooth speakers to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)" target="_blank">Hamilton</a> soundtrack, to try to help lift my mood. I began informing my Dad about the situation as we made our way south. He began talking about all sorts of things, I nodded along half not paying attention, distracted both by the thoughts about my poor girly, and of the banger Hamilton tunes. My Dad began going on about how good Phantom of the Opera was when he went to see it and I slowly adjusted the volume to be louder, before he soon asked if I could turn it down. Towards Berry I began feeling the urge to wee, proabbly brought on by anxiety about my Dog, and turned off to use the public toilets at the playground just south of Berry.</p><p>As we pulled up my Dad began to tell me about how he bike rides up to Blackbutt Reserve in Shellharbour all the time, before I cut him off asking if he could tell me when I got back in the car as I was busting. I quickly jumped out and went to the toilet. As I returned to the car he continued his story about how all the public picnic tables in blackbutt were covered in white stones, so he investigated them and they were all advertisements for a Jehovah's Witness website, he pointed out to me that at this same rest area all the picnic tables were covered in white stones. I noticed he was right. He hopped out of the car and brought me back one, sure enough he was right, they were all down here too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB-I30T9eSDVFfACLRlnOv4pyXbW5hc5EShK6To_9IQezKijLAV_kA4Gn3ffvSnpUmtaNEkIggrSd6F3cjx7d4ImifbtP7D6x-6jE1Y2pIrtCI-WuIuZcVN1hGd2eFJbLYOJRox-qGVZJeRPbTJlDsx0hMXa6m2Q_b-LOgibHxscO3jqypFDF3g/s4032/20220503_092809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB-I30T9eSDVFfACLRlnOv4pyXbW5hc5EShK6To_9IQezKijLAV_kA4Gn3ffvSnpUmtaNEkIggrSd6F3cjx7d4ImifbtP7D6x-6jE1Y2pIrtCI-WuIuZcVN1hGd2eFJbLYOJRox-qGVZJeRPbTJlDsx0hMXa6m2Q_b-LOgibHxscO3jqypFDF3g/w480-h640/20220503_092809.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I told him about the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1799672490361808" target="_blank">NSW Rocks</a> fad that people do artwork on and that you collect and re-hide. I opened my car door and tossed the rock out, not wanting to keep it, saying I wasn't a fan of the Judeo-Christian Religions.</p><p>We continued our way south chatting with my Dad informing me that my step sister had caught Covid.</p><p>We made our way out past <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html" target="_blank">Numbaa</a> and my Dad began asking me if I remembered staying at Myola where we had stayed a few times at a Caravan Park when I was younger. I told him I did remember as we had eaten burgers and I was just beginning to get into my love of spicy foods, and I had poured and excessive amount of chilli powder on my mince before eating my burgers and then got fevers during the night after watching the anime TV series Fullemetal Alchemist and had fever dreams about alchemy and all the symbols from the show and me trying to transmute objects. My Dad had blamed it on the chilli, but I never believed it to be at fault.</p><p>I told him of my camping down at Currawong during my primary school years, I had went for school camp in year 5 and 6 (2002, and 2003), and we actually passed the camp ground on the way in to the walk.</p><p>Finally we arrived at the carpark at Bosom Beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZRA6Mhicy5dTzubT-ztca5sC5dPxeQlOyYEUJE80oyYamXnkgYFK8-GDJL9iNmm1Y6vB3czbtmXpvbI9bmFOLaUFOCMkjmF_IZ7wQ-H-3euM8ydAyO2SnhnrsdDgSqXXhwhZgVaD7PGr_E0BPPRLDj5hPfRlDoLI7S_Xa0-UgvRh5W4S8MmllQ/s4032/20220503_102619.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZRA6Mhicy5dTzubT-ztca5sC5dPxeQlOyYEUJE80oyYamXnkgYFK8-GDJL9iNmm1Y6vB3czbtmXpvbI9bmFOLaUFOCMkjmF_IZ7wQ-H-3euM8ydAyO2SnhnrsdDgSqXXhwhZgVaD7PGr_E0BPPRLDj5hPfRlDoLI7S_Xa0-UgvRh5W4S8MmllQ/w400-h300/20220503_102619.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I had looked on Google Map, and saw the road leading in to Abraham's Bosom Reserve, where the walk was meant to start. I said it wasn't that far and as we had already pulled up we could just walk from where we were. I was also unsure of the carpark at Abraham's Bosom, and didn't want to park tucked away as cars in spots like that are more likely to be broken into.</p><p>As we made our way along the road in to Abraham's Bosom Reserve I was glad to have parked where I did.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvqnN3sEcpEz-hGAOGG6bFR_ybsglXyFkofXUSetwWMCzNna7aDS1GWyf30yvnQoCmGKtelFDkzPrnStCbqZszz-yOv5bn1Qcqx0gK_ensgn5j56W_Zc5fER9LX8gpojrbKLw53TNbXozjETfq_VQCkGtsmPAH4XDbObqwTMqE4F2aoFU6sGF-A/s4032/20220503_103326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvqnN3sEcpEz-hGAOGG6bFR_ybsglXyFkofXUSetwWMCzNna7aDS1GWyf30yvnQoCmGKtelFDkzPrnStCbqZszz-yOv5bn1Qcqx0gK_ensgn5j56W_Zc5fER9LX8gpojrbKLw53TNbXozjETfq_VQCkGtsmPAH4XDbObqwTMqE4F2aoFU6sGF-A/w480-h640/20220503_103326.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't believe it would have been good for my car to drive through</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Walking through we passed a beautiful green swamp that we wouldn't have seen had we driven through to the carpark.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleo25PXWfRb-MaCvLuFA_dE3cXayjVcu6uWbyG33ke4k1QXla2HovlljtxmiA3xFlKJrpt5Er4P204j1CAtaCjU4gLtrVT8WkUvZYjt17TE4CFHE0gBJht7imHFC6geU5x4ZspUsEy4EVPztTIK6b6nzWEMBkxm9AXiexx-x249RYTtrElUbjzA/s4032/20220503_103524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjleo25PXWfRb-MaCvLuFA_dE3cXayjVcu6uWbyG33ke4k1QXla2HovlljtxmiA3xFlKJrpt5Er4P204j1CAtaCjU4gLtrVT8WkUvZYjt17TE4CFHE0gBJht7imHFC6geU5x4ZspUsEy4EVPztTIK6b6nzWEMBkxm9AXiexx-x249RYTtrElUbjzA/w480-h640/20220503_103524.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we entered Abraham's Bosom Reserve carpark there were far more cars than I had expected given the state of the road in, and it was a lovely reserve. We continued walking up to a bridge that told us we were heading the right way towards Gosangs Tunnel and Mermaid Inlet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLU15XTuWutPCQg9mrTNuCSYStZ-TZqp5XBhBB1PoaZw9QPZ37qhIaqxVw5oCNTr2m89vJ0CM5BUnmxiH-xqRm6TdqTY4Sn7hE4GWruNIjCDFrpWqo0xAue_VLlVN-IzViU2TiWV66Bg5T3aRclzoYIWKFEysUbXRzGzeMkk5V_oa0o6nS5D2bg/s4032/20220503_103610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLU15XTuWutPCQg9mrTNuCSYStZ-TZqp5XBhBB1PoaZw9QPZ37qhIaqxVw5oCNTr2m89vJ0CM5BUnmxiH-xqRm6TdqTY4Sn7hE4GWruNIjCDFrpWqo0xAue_VLlVN-IzViU2TiWV66Bg5T3aRclzoYIWKFEysUbXRzGzeMkk5V_oa0o6nS5D2bg/w400-h300/20220503_103610.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpIR6c2Gfg7Zy7akNcdTOd-w7q9O2Gn5pjMrNRdPGLoIFxsv0OyqGlwHI922-xp3-BxpHSr62OOg1gqBCD96E-bVGmsWHeROerzn7ybfrjsHM8eJel7DaQZC9NDdZmltO_aZcBR0J9FOx2O_H3yajoJwu6qkBhDrAFafCiD08290vIsY03-zvEg/s4032/20220503_103621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpIR6c2Gfg7Zy7akNcdTOd-w7q9O2Gn5pjMrNRdPGLoIFxsv0OyqGlwHI922-xp3-BxpHSr62OOg1gqBCD96E-bVGmsWHeROerzn7ybfrjsHM8eJel7DaQZC9NDdZmltO_aZcBR0J9FOx2O_H3yajoJwu6qkBhDrAFafCiD08290vIsY03-zvEg/w480-h640/20220503_103621.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we crossed the bridge we admired the beautiful tea coloured water below (due to bacteria feeding on iron from clay run-off apparently).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJpyGduqNm6Oa98a8DGI0V1r466obNKBXW3dLx4xpPX5wpOEL4iZJfnQLkErBL1UXCgJsOXAu_LMCSUUS64TXSBCN-9u1vJSkxfy_yyfXYFQ9u_SN4UC8uKj8__W2wMtBdHsXIwemNdynf-q9DYMT5hRdwta2mft2_oEhXQJWjJ6Bd88BNomSHQ/s4032/20220503_103653.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJpyGduqNm6Oa98a8DGI0V1r466obNKBXW3dLx4xpPX5wpOEL4iZJfnQLkErBL1UXCgJsOXAu_LMCSUUS64TXSBCN-9u1vJSkxfy_yyfXYFQ9u_SN4UC8uKj8__W2wMtBdHsXIwemNdynf-q9DYMT5hRdwta2mft2_oEhXQJWjJ6Bd88BNomSHQ/w400-h300/20220503_103653.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it as good as Bushells?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After crossing the bridge a dirt path immediately headed through the bush. Within a few metres upon starting I noticed someone had written on a wooden post for people to not poo in the bush.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfRS9HMI6ZX7ia1mgtk_9Yccwh3wTf6rwxX0e4WhVtOdIViuYgWzVcyU1DqJs57tFQJWh0gwrkpO8ct6wNVl7GyboJpXOj5i1SO6pKY-jyVLmWQWT8S1yYiTd2Qv_tDMUoh1bMF6YXGXrG52JdGdlBe7rcQq4eCNhcs-PQtPfXmhHFSMbZBTkqQ/s4032/20220503_103813.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfRS9HMI6ZX7ia1mgtk_9Yccwh3wTf6rwxX0e4WhVtOdIViuYgWzVcyU1DqJs57tFQJWh0gwrkpO8ct6wNVl7GyboJpXOj5i1SO6pKY-jyVLmWQWT8S1yYiTd2Qv_tDMUoh1bMF6YXGXrG52JdGdlBe7rcQq4eCNhcs-PQtPfXmhHFSMbZBTkqQ/w400-h300/20220503_103813.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued walking along the path before coming to an information post, again scribbled on regarding pooing in the bush.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv3VASj2zwihsyJyrQK94zDib_-xRmkHCQLeC6yNTHkJMVA3Y2vaLVzR419EK5ef0MdVaXsKuw_A2pD7x_D1a0fBAjSVj4pVqTB3i8Nhsyt2rP5ELdv21S___RsVcCdL9j4sEobFZCR8WGg7HGs58ZNji77g0_flV_8_QrRMLLqN6_Q7F2Jz5gA/s4032/20220503_103858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv3VASj2zwihsyJyrQK94zDib_-xRmkHCQLeC6yNTHkJMVA3Y2vaLVzR419EK5ef0MdVaXsKuw_A2pD7x_D1a0fBAjSVj4pVqTB3i8Nhsyt2rP5ELdv21S___RsVcCdL9j4sEobFZCR8WGg7HGs58ZNji77g0_flV_8_QrRMLLqN6_Q7F2Jz5gA/w480-h640/20220503_103858.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LAR6ryTHk1UnjA4IS_w-wXS9PGCBPAXMeSf-ph9oltr9Ypb0r7u_f3iCm8xllRLHg1wrK83dOp5k7NjhYpViWkyyU_bk4rqjzbTDIUlnJab2crYiNON4SO_vVeh7Bwwn5xae9Qz5g8ogOEcxCACVkkcE2PALLj4I-FAsjupX-faGclnA0XgscA/s4032/20220503_104106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LAR6ryTHk1UnjA4IS_w-wXS9PGCBPAXMeSf-ph9oltr9Ypb0r7u_f3iCm8xllRLHg1wrK83dOp5k7NjhYpViWkyyU_bk4rqjzbTDIUlnJab2crYiNON4SO_vVeh7Bwwn5xae9Qz5g8ogOEcxCACVkkcE2PALLj4I-FAsjupX-faGclnA0XgscA/w400-h300/20220503_104106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAHme6ri18YZ-6br1yxwym47OWBx78_GOfbvvOosmhTebSQHn7heVJTJYL0rdFSdybmds0bVN5qTCpEZ6r75ePE3aFcI1G4b3UrjInMLXaWk8IsC9BHkXvHXebdtfU1lh2rIvSYHx8AMqQts4eJSQiFCBNt1NNU-p2JDsVh635vpoxFU7SXiDGA/s4032/20220503_104110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAHme6ri18YZ-6br1yxwym47OWBx78_GOfbvvOosmhTebSQHn7heVJTJYL0rdFSdybmds0bVN5qTCpEZ6r75ePE3aFcI1G4b3UrjInMLXaWk8IsC9BHkXvHXebdtfU1lh2rIvSYHx8AMqQts4eJSQiFCBNt1NNU-p2JDsVh635vpoxFU7SXiDGA/w400-h300/20220503_104110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The path he was completely sloppy with mud. To our right was apparently an aboriginal rock shelter Dad and I were both curious to see, why heading down the left most path led to the beach and to an old shipwreck of the S.S. Merimbula which I remembered visiting on my school camp 19 years ago.</p><p>As we were about to walk down the middle path that led to Mermaid's Inlet some fishermen came up from the beach and my Dad enquired about how far it was to the Aboriginal rock shelter. The man informed us he had never visited it, as he was not a local, so he didn't know, he then asked if we were going to Gosangs Tunnel. We told him we were and he said it was 'awesome'. We thanked him and continued on down the track.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW7h-onGEANNkeZ1tZm9pexxr23VfW4l6WQjYdcCW4KePG_QMacuqPEZSVBqZatSLSsNPO8oES_co_NRxYk-pNmBhdBJv74_hyh2cC0Wm7YAWX-ruJxuiwNfTnKOHZZjqM7ZSto9HQLBc45IIG94kzNSyw-YFlpb_qnb3QeXp-IAZ_Narbj2aGQ/s4032/20220503_104224.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfW7h-onGEANNkeZ1tZm9pexxr23VfW4l6WQjYdcCW4KePG_QMacuqPEZSVBqZatSLSsNPO8oES_co_NRxYk-pNmBhdBJv74_hyh2cC0Wm7YAWX-ruJxuiwNfTnKOHZZjqM7ZSto9HQLBc45IIG94kzNSyw-YFlpb_qnb3QeXp-IAZ_Narbj2aGQ/w400-h300/20220503_104224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1AEZ9MMoX0DxYUR8SDYzdVlbnntL3AzdYbJULeYkAdeI7lmxlThOm_PTX3gB5TP802a9PI2cfa_jk5QYVBmJFnT6x4dE1DkO7pl86V-srhmA4PYrRql9k718ZSpbXCcOz_08aD49FP0u-yXQnXSd2kTVyanaDB1qZrJZ93dcYHzp0uFaT16Fgw/s4032/20220503_104532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1AEZ9MMoX0DxYUR8SDYzdVlbnntL3AzdYbJULeYkAdeI7lmxlThOm_PTX3gB5TP802a9PI2cfa_jk5QYVBmJFnT6x4dE1DkO7pl86V-srhmA4PYrRql9k718ZSpbXCcOz_08aD49FP0u-yXQnXSd2kTVyanaDB1qZrJZ93dcYHzp0uFaT16Fgw/w480-h640/20220503_104532.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While walking along Dad and I both commented about how the track reminded us of the walks up at <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html?msclkid=bd622ef7cf4011ecaf0bc6f9d19131df" target="_blank">Barren Grounds</a> (near Jamberoo).</p><p>We soon came to yet another turn off, leading to Wilson's Beach and Honeysuckle Point, but continued along straight to Mermaid's Inlet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hwdnSNtBQ37s1WEZs7GtnyvKcknhQ5NXsYdbrE9vGUFYp2s-6CD52Qsw6bPTqQddakn9j4zgOFGhIgdcw-fSjEtApK5lLMVOzMPSjdiV8FM8eAOL6IQn58p0g_MKEXjGj3jeOgxsRk4ZvAx_4zOE8Xv4ogrMjQ055RZ1edjoyB6bS9-ExI8vkQ/s4032/20220503_104856.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hwdnSNtBQ37s1WEZs7GtnyvKcknhQ5NXsYdbrE9vGUFYp2s-6CD52Qsw6bPTqQddakn9j4zgOFGhIgdcw-fSjEtApK5lLMVOzMPSjdiV8FM8eAOL6IQn58p0g_MKEXjGj3jeOgxsRk4ZvAx_4zOE8Xv4ogrMjQ055RZ1edjoyB6bS9-ExI8vkQ/w400-h300/20220503_104856.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Not even a few minutes later we again came to another turn off, this time heading down to Lobster Bay.</p><p>Continuing on the path didn't improve, but seemed to get wetter and more flooded, which really wasn't surprising considering the tremendous amount of wet weather we had had over the recent weeks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUhJIKc6WbKbselgECwAhB48BKy6iWiNZE-HSVJBF7HikwYYx4FPfIbrGqXPrUKds58OzbNNjXBo9TMdns_7lrxRz107Imj1AvpNnOG8ZiRkwYsbvAjUtLp_jPejhXljy7G4dSaY5q5so-1LwdjYEpUAACggcEi6Q-Sc05L3-r-kEe4p_PihUXA/s4032/20220503_105337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUhJIKc6WbKbselgECwAhB48BKy6iWiNZE-HSVJBF7HikwYYx4FPfIbrGqXPrUKds58OzbNNjXBo9TMdns_7lrxRz107Imj1AvpNnOG8ZiRkwYsbvAjUtLp_jPejhXljy7G4dSaY5q5so-1LwdjYEpUAACggcEi6Q-Sc05L3-r-kEe4p_PihUXA/w480-h640/20220503_105337.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Dad was almost preparing to take off his shoes to walk across when I noticed that people had stomped down a path through the scrub on the left side.</p><p>We made our way slowly through and again continued on the walk, trying to step in the driest spots we could, passing our first turn off to the right to 'Coomies Walk'.</p><p>The landscape began to change a little past this point. There were taller trees on the sides, offering a little shade, the ground was littered with leaves and small tree roots grew in various spots along the walking track.</p><p>We came to an intersection left to Gosangs Tunnel, and right to Mermaid's Inlet and we thought it best to get to Gosangs first before more people arrived. We could see the ocean just through the trees ahead of us. At this intersection there was a bucket in a tree and my Dad made a comment about it being a donation collection bucket (in jest).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFQjEkD2nWJCQKneDj9_GO4y4PuOo_4xVVBF2yMKQc67l0VxzjS3uIL-z8zQHlWxcZWE--bf98DZzjSrw3L0RwChChGXcXFTByYXPEXYOP-Q4eh77Vml7Sk-3FUylD3I-9SGPcaTFuvW0zjxpnQfNqsKijLbQNCmbfQ0_n6I60s-ZROW7qXniDQ/s4032/20220503_110609.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFQjEkD2nWJCQKneDj9_GO4y4PuOo_4xVVBF2yMKQc67l0VxzjS3uIL-z8zQHlWxcZWE--bf98DZzjSrw3L0RwChChGXcXFTByYXPEXYOP-Q4eh77Vml7Sk-3FUylD3I-9SGPcaTFuvW0zjxpnQfNqsKijLbQNCmbfQ0_n6I60s-ZROW7qXniDQ/w480-h640/20220503_110609.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Shortly after turning towards Gosangs we came to another fork in the path with no signage, and I instantly started walking up the left path, assuming Gosangs would be towards the ocean side rather than near the cove we had seen ahead.</p><p>This path began leading us uphill through the trees and we saw numerous trails coming off along the way that we were unsure if they were just random fishermen trails or animal trails or the actual path. We followed the most well worn looking one and soon reached the top over looking the ocean.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr5b2Snv1Yf8wTQdcmrxh6dd9jYXHBE9eCvPuwEE6IxCAIBjyYJTMunn_YS3HG5lh9P93UtJM-EiB-Vmt9tEjn9WKBSLUm3aVG6RTt4-nnyR7HcqbyDNoVOGNGJMYo9zCyk_0K2-kqqBra-oqhBX4WxHTmkY5WtWeZd9rnkcZJ4fY0j96UCsDzg/s4032/20220503_111107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikr5b2Snv1Yf8wTQdcmrxh6dd9jYXHBE9eCvPuwEE6IxCAIBjyYJTMunn_YS3HG5lh9P93UtJM-EiB-Vmt9tEjn9WKBSLUm3aVG6RTt4-nnyR7HcqbyDNoVOGNGJMYo9zCyk_0K2-kqqBra-oqhBX4WxHTmkY5WtWeZd9rnkcZJ4fY0j96UCsDzg/w400-h300/20220503_111107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued along the cliff face back towards the direction of Abraham's Bosom, trying to find tracks either heading down the cliff, or the opposite side to lead us to the tunnel, coming out over the opposite side off the cliff face on the picture above.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK07N7OXEXByLEkr7-27XHiIRDFNCYt1L8iw7YVAlSLhUBobrV-ALZ4XwpMEzrXgEN7ZPkgd3qNZ1rVq4SxOwRlzT1IpL3NiyZUxdfiBvEw1O3XbwQnKool9Kb9fJF0nkLU-v1AY2dTbGrqzEX7dWdrsi5F0-A9dk0798Myx52jUzEVjtynH-W5A/s4032/20220503_111527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK07N7OXEXByLEkr7-27XHiIRDFNCYt1L8iw7YVAlSLhUBobrV-ALZ4XwpMEzrXgEN7ZPkgd3qNZ1rVq4SxOwRlzT1IpL3NiyZUxdfiBvEw1O3XbwQnKool9Kb9fJF0nkLU-v1AY2dTbGrqzEX7dWdrsi5F0-A9dk0798Myx52jUzEVjtynH-W5A/w400-h300/20220503_111527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HGyHLCLjDPoi7Mfo6tnx1WL5nLgVqqgLu4Gy5s6rtMxUy6XfawIwh2cp7XpaR09hvnl9umMm_2YUmse6rrI_1115iOflgGp7AiTVO3uR9h_VAzhVKyD2WMDUHm0hocw5F1-A_ymUFV1v78oQJuEeZIubi7yXM8uKyewIVAHOqgodS7dEpKCuLw/s4032/20220503_111558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HGyHLCLjDPoi7Mfo6tnx1WL5nLgVqqgLu4Gy5s6rtMxUy6XfawIwh2cp7XpaR09hvnl9umMm_2YUmse6rrI_1115iOflgGp7AiTVO3uR9h_VAzhVKyD2WMDUHm0hocw5F1-A_ymUFV1v78oQJuEeZIubi7yXM8uKyewIVAHOqgodS7dEpKCuLw/w400-h300/20220503_111558.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTRQmZotEj8QEDZL7U6BQdDcYG7QG8cRP4lC2_8r0wCLbpWK_ZjvIDFF2_pdQ0ZbD10BeJNYl7mXhsJLjZ42SY18jdXzdIo9poW2s9oxjnq31N_Et5CVHb_kBqYuJ_aWvepODiMvq_Ya0UqlLzZLTTagvNCWdgkyxtKddD8cklxkyLSxtOyeG5g/s4032/20220503_111614.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTRQmZotEj8QEDZL7U6BQdDcYG7QG8cRP4lC2_8r0wCLbpWK_ZjvIDFF2_pdQ0ZbD10BeJNYl7mXhsJLjZ42SY18jdXzdIo9poW2s9oxjnq31N_Et5CVHb_kBqYuJ_aWvepODiMvq_Ya0UqlLzZLTTagvNCWdgkyxtKddD8cklxkyLSxtOyeG5g/w480-h640/20220503_111614.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon reached the far end of the cliffs and could see fishermen down below as well as the beach we had left from in the distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtICrLaG-dqezBEmGEnDcEiaChhiGMy6pvlJlx1Y2oi61UJOjBJeEM71_BqTMQFlQgBCJfj-vJCLTikOi3HMTyUb897gSE3wYw9wLYWsEqnUNpMLBbgVD4E9mXpYpO5NU6VWJY3RcfMQPKjhaYK7Y-Up58JcPPt664HK9hVecpLn8A0-kR7P4Dmg/s4032/20220503_112109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtICrLaG-dqezBEmGEnDcEiaChhiGMy6pvlJlx1Y2oi61UJOjBJeEM71_BqTMQFlQgBCJfj-vJCLTikOi3HMTyUb897gSE3wYw9wLYWsEqnUNpMLBbgVD4E9mXpYpO5NU6VWJY3RcfMQPKjhaYK7Y-Up58JcPPt664HK9hVecpLn8A0-kR7P4Dmg/w400-h300/20220503_112109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We had checked a bunch of trails by this point and probably spent at least 20 minutes exploring before I told Dad I think Gosangs must have been right at that first fork we had turned left at.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ii3VqyBYjB1rqK8STmyJxuO4tduY-GC1y9qcI0QpQLlCyZbfhRrtmbQ93jh-4m4vWhmRZwVmk4QkP0cwtdGTp6t5RNb0CkWmVWllGNl-At1yFb-Q2_Pxm9Dfu7gT_iYxHbU8RTuSsTZjZ0vSpXQpG-f3QGXE4xpO43UdxQYpsLEcJ0grxG3itA/s4032/20220503_112654.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ii3VqyBYjB1rqK8STmyJxuO4tduY-GC1y9qcI0QpQLlCyZbfhRrtmbQ93jh-4m4vWhmRZwVmk4QkP0cwtdGTp6t5RNb0CkWmVWllGNl-At1yFb-Q2_Pxm9Dfu7gT_iYxHbU8RTuSsTZjZ0vSpXQpG-f3QGXE4xpO43UdxQYpsLEcJ0grxG3itA/w480-h640/20220503_112654.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool plant I noticed while walking through</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We began making our way back through the scrub trying to recall the path we had taken.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz9I-KjmzuOxOvELPUvYH3vskMeRfXo3bk6Cj9zd_n-SLQrHgsMJfdIJPDp3V54pQCnGjijh8db1Sth_B7iHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We ended up taking ones we hadn't even taken initially and finally found our way to the first cliff-top we had reached but couldn't find the path we had taken to get up there. We ended up following many that came to dead ends looking down into thick scrub beneath us, and eventually we conceded we would simply have to climb down through the scrub and make our way through it until we found the path.</p><p>We both went separate ways (mine involved climbing down while Dad's was a more slopped path). Within a few minutes I heard my Dad call out that he had found the path and I proceeded through towards him, reaching the path and following it back to the original fork. In less then a minute we encountered the sign towards Gosangs Tunnel, lamenting the fact we had spent over 40 minutes looking atop cliffs and lost in the bush.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8Ac_5Po0uWK8ql-lHBYzoAXgHo-i9VqaFW2P6mnD23QSstlPIVlxlJn54gVRGUp6aEMoTw0J_m0g_M4vZTWNP_pfGrMmLkbw3Z1_gHjJAmz7tk2Jyuj8heKPAvA3Ga5OLk55D870dp_iDHzJqCAi8Da8P9ekk_hrYpp0762CheVZj5BQEeQIAw/s4032/20220503_114406.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8Ac_5Po0uWK8ql-lHBYzoAXgHo-i9VqaFW2P6mnD23QSstlPIVlxlJn54gVRGUp6aEMoTw0J_m0g_M4vZTWNP_pfGrMmLkbw3Z1_gHjJAmz7tk2Jyuj8heKPAvA3Ga5OLk55D870dp_iDHzJqCAi8Da8P9ekk_hrYpp0762CheVZj5BQEeQIAw/w480-h640/20220503_114406.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Walking in a short way, we saw our first glimpse looking down at the hole in the cliff face that was before us.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomfl59VnhgTXtPC2r-qHABzg_9ue1aqkEPqd_69cPp_bccUp3aMOX2tC_lwz1Uo7x3JMsh45nc9vlSWgAJqofdnbOwQZBCR5WijjksJupxMEkuc5b7s707rseWMY67eaj3rU9Ys6pG8pwUEL4UTANiOF4nmRi2Vvi6Vb32sDX_wW8PVUimCcqnw/s4032/20220503_114505.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomfl59VnhgTXtPC2r-qHABzg_9ue1aqkEPqd_69cPp_bccUp3aMOX2tC_lwz1Uo7x3JMsh45nc9vlSWgAJqofdnbOwQZBCR5WijjksJupxMEkuc5b7s707rseWMY67eaj3rU9Ys6pG8pwUEL4UTANiOF4nmRi2Vvi6Vb32sDX_wW8PVUimCcqnw/w400-h300/20220503_114505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeN-LBxSf7HtfE_wMWs5oQlGm7l2QTXcvk6bdlRTz29xqgTF_zPiSlHDzvh55aobe-4Po7Zno_W80_W7a-8QLeaGkCeE-VBzV1RmFCRTtCcST9M_ycVWt-Bw4f7kPSVPk_OL2cXGxN5PAgvsJK8kg2D9Ydg2Kv7vletjvBiv3-ncXp_Th0Vdwgg/s4032/20220503_114513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeN-LBxSf7HtfE_wMWs5oQlGm7l2QTXcvk6bdlRTz29xqgTF_zPiSlHDzvh55aobe-4Po7Zno_W80_W7a-8QLeaGkCeE-VBzV1RmFCRTtCcST9M_ycVWt-Bw4f7kPSVPk_OL2cXGxN5PAgvsJK8kg2D9Ydg2Kv7vletjvBiv3-ncXp_Th0Vdwgg/w400-h300/20220503_114513.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQn4m1McBT4cZRUdDOSpbA2H_vTnw-4t8p14_DoNVIXKYIp7BG6koM5-1ZA19o57a84DjVnx5KOtSl9CXiVJnBrjwxN9XUTLbpQRM-vv2iCPqbkEvb1NA2EkTYZ5XerSNAczmwX0EFQmcYCpHhJWtVumXYiJhNFOt97TZRdocWmXGNIDCUFuMUg/s4032/20220503_114531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQn4m1McBT4cZRUdDOSpbA2H_vTnw-4t8p14_DoNVIXKYIp7BG6koM5-1ZA19o57a84DjVnx5KOtSl9CXiVJnBrjwxN9XUTLbpQRM-vv2iCPqbkEvb1NA2EkTYZ5XerSNAczmwX0EFQmcYCpHhJWtVumXYiJhNFOt97TZRdocWmXGNIDCUFuMUg/w400-h300/20220503_114531.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We squatted down, trying not to scrap our knees on the rough surface and awkwardly waddled through the cave carrying our backpacks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5CABtI-q_TVcv9pqMSkBdu9aWK2H7at6HjualY2mcvrEwigu_XSAc5r0M-LpU5JX4O0eTTQPvnAsdBBVbX_fj3b4xg8drJGjir_u7vWLMUaPXdsLgP-QGmw5CKPuZUYHFT7G2XFUf16Rbs32jZgExGJzHt74L16UkYnBpVWmVDkNJB0GxfG_ZQ/s2944/20220503_114558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5CABtI-q_TVcv9pqMSkBdu9aWK2H7at6HjualY2mcvrEwigu_XSAc5r0M-LpU5JX4O0eTTQPvnAsdBBVbX_fj3b4xg8drJGjir_u7vWLMUaPXdsLgP-QGmw5CKPuZUYHFT7G2XFUf16Rbs32jZgExGJzHt74L16UkYnBpVWmVDkNJB0GxfG_ZQ/w480-h640/20220503_114558.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>There was a constant flow of wind howling through, and I had to use a hand to stop my hat from blowing off my head. My phone began to creep out of my side pocket from the awkward squatting position and my Dad told me I wouldn't want to lose it down the small crack that ran along the tunnel floor.</p><p>As the light grew brighter and we were again able to stand and walk out the cave, we got our first view of the open ocean and the side of the beautiful cliff faces on our left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqI3v0JNmbJtPjrVXshp6SpJwUJjAZ03sN8h0ZvWECp6xgzm5_NZDvYxmmDAweAIpkDG94aXI_WL0YedwTM4MF9ZI5Mu49Cc_KWEmUPad08FdB6Kk-9_Z7toKLQvNhEIN4H0MOI4ycQUcCltnvMBnfHG-N15ijCmNyMhNh4jf7gYzWaOjQMgpGA/s4032/20220503_114752.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqI3v0JNmbJtPjrVXshp6SpJwUJjAZ03sN8h0ZvWECp6xgzm5_NZDvYxmmDAweAIpkDG94aXI_WL0YedwTM4MF9ZI5Mu49Cc_KWEmUPad08FdB6Kk-9_Z7toKLQvNhEIN4H0MOI4ycQUcCltnvMBnfHG-N15ijCmNyMhNh4jf7gYzWaOjQMgpGA/w400-h300/20220503_114752.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We inspected around a bit, pointing to a bit of the cliff face to the right of the tunnel (if you were facing the ocean), that looked like a good spot to climb up, but telling my Dad <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">I didn't trust his ability to climb it</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiUsKHXTEJfjZ1kkvusf3rPTfSxs5iZRTNz4i_2UPwfme7ihznd9TGglp3GUwi1jhW51SZsz5z0J3eeAJSUwvQjep-bV-TNxzJwvbt4x2vmL_JjVmXy6yDXX2fPCioJPQ5v5JgkCelUh19WdfrARh9Cjy4noZ1f0OkdhkXCsi2xTDD_BYrdA5Dw/s4032/20220503_114905.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiUsKHXTEJfjZ1kkvusf3rPTfSxs5iZRTNz4i_2UPwfme7ihznd9TGglp3GUwi1jhW51SZsz5z0J3eeAJSUwvQjep-bV-TNxzJwvbt4x2vmL_JjVmXy6yDXX2fPCioJPQ5v5JgkCelUh19WdfrARh9Cjy4noZ1f0OkdhkXCsi2xTDD_BYrdA5Dw/w480-h640/20220503_114905.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We sat down in the shade overlooking the ocean for a drink and asked Dad if he wanted to have some lunch. He commented that it was too early so we shared some lolly snakes instead.</p><p>I noticed that the side of his arm was covered in blood and asked if that had happened in the tunnel or walking through all the scrub. He assumed it was from traversing through all the trees, but couldn't say for sure when it occurred.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbgJW6zmoeXJQJhEhfWnibEviw-Af5Ol4iMIe_8eW4iSsUH1kUnYxnfP5k7F8At9rNIP1VAtXU7-CtPYpB7R8Qy4LUB-wvsoRlS7JN0F_d7egMQ4t6cXBrEQBdsGQQGq6mBWhElUuNirqkfcFe6WpNoiavQsbr0LhTuccPidR3ipwJTzxVJIHyA/s4032/20220503_115039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbgJW6zmoeXJQJhEhfWnibEviw-Af5Ol4iMIe_8eW4iSsUH1kUnYxnfP5k7F8At9rNIP1VAtXU7-CtPYpB7R8Qy4LUB-wvsoRlS7JN0F_d7egMQ4t6cXBrEQBdsGQQGq6mBWhElUuNirqkfcFe6WpNoiavQsbr0LhTuccPidR3ipwJTzxVJIHyA/w480-h640/20220503_115039.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>After a while of sitting and enjoying the sights, more people began to arrive and we figured we should make our way to Mermaid Inlet. As we went to leave my Dad asked if I would climb up the top of the section I had pointed out before. With the wind how it was I told him I would feel alright getting up there, but that there was no way I'd feel confident enough to climb down it, and that I wasn't sure if there would be a way down on the opposite side.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQk0EUBFdAD6xSbzgVj7EEhDgBUBGfHnW6FNqPsKuZ7puXKmINAnzlauckEBEV28u-lyd2-DzOVGQzYOhUus1QcnmXQgt7QQ4XGgKEhSsN3vE8sb89kkgEfvHrgt-FI1tMWBOxjRic-YN-iTzOHyI3fhb0AIpRzW4hdVHoZiPDz3E7yNVHHscdA/s4032/20220503_120645.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQk0EUBFdAD6xSbzgVj7EEhDgBUBGfHnW6FNqPsKuZ7puXKmINAnzlauckEBEV28u-lyd2-DzOVGQzYOhUus1QcnmXQgt7QQ4XGgKEhSsN3vE8sb89kkgEfvHrgt-FI1tMWBOxjRic-YN-iTzOHyI3fhb0AIpRzW4hdVHoZiPDz3E7yNVHHscdA/w480-h640/20220503_120645.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the tunnel from the ocean side</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NF73i5HrjDj8jiSR_kIuaMg2w1OYz6jPdbO6jT4FbC6mp8L0XKPNgxvjxAjsP-oj7ADWciW8M1UBYEJRuSz1QoaDXWhlFuMSBfwTjhQ5WArQeotBSCq1vIgBYHhMA4-d7p4mCGJWReNdSE6jD8LzA7Yx_wde5yzm496-dg2ZhlcXvmypC55UA/s4032/20220503_120805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8NF73i5HrjDj8jiSR_kIuaMg2w1OYz6jPdbO6jT4FbC6mp8L0XKPNgxvjxAjsP-oj7ADWciW8M1UBYEJRuSz1QoaDXWhlFuMSBfwTjhQ5WArQeotBSCq1vIgBYHhMA4-d7p4mCGJWReNdSE6jD8LzA7Yx_wde5yzm496-dg2ZhlcXvmypC55UA/w400-h300/20220503_120805.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking in one last look</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we began to make our way past back through the tunnel a young girl came through on her own and my Dad asked if she had made it without bumping her head. She commented that she didn't before my Dad volunteered me to take some photos of her on her phone if she wanted them (which I really wasn't comfortable doing), she turned it down, probably finding the idea of posing for photos while some random took her picture insanely creepy, and I awkwardly told her to have a good day, wishing my Dad had not offered for me to do it. (Offer yourself, sheesh).</p><p>As we made it through the tunnel and came out the other side we explored to our left overlooking a little cove.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQX64cjSaRzJ25hNyJEcql2veCU4eFBOy-ZurgNgevcFuFu-mffXsb7XnJfOXbCfdAgvOwsdUKAWrPBEApq-Jm2QfbE8dwmz_i07l00VYYY8SjsCk6TEPKVDGn4Pi8CpN6NdbCP5cpgAArH39CZQJU3A3QLmCd3F6-FEP-b4vlBdO7SQ3khWqg/s4032/20220503_121218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLQX64cjSaRzJ25hNyJEcql2veCU4eFBOy-ZurgNgevcFuFu-mffXsb7XnJfOXbCfdAgvOwsdUKAWrPBEApq-Jm2QfbE8dwmz_i07l00VYYY8SjsCk6TEPKVDGn4Pi8CpN6NdbCP5cpgAArH39CZQJU3A3QLmCd3F6-FEP-b4vlBdO7SQ3khWqg/w400-h300/20220503_121218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We looked behind us and saw there was a way up to the top of the cliff and made our way up, stopping for some silly photos at a cool rock hole.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE29zFM3x4aMYwklvjooiG23DPaOKoLeyvpwfUoyN2H6NgxYEbbIqj9XQE33sbFMYO9KC8cCDIn3AGXjAiVxtD4PgpanI2L227H5QXYZWQmaGturN2gmqUH7ps7SFm-qPY9jl27Jo7dSbYXQln9khX0ZYl7_YzpnOK7ljGrIB_KIQnL1_2O3dqhQ/s4032/20220503_121356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE29zFM3x4aMYwklvjooiG23DPaOKoLeyvpwfUoyN2H6NgxYEbbIqj9XQE33sbFMYO9KC8cCDIn3AGXjAiVxtD4PgpanI2L227H5QXYZWQmaGturN2gmqUH7ps7SFm-qPY9jl27Jo7dSbYXQln9khX0ZYl7_YzpnOK7ljGrIB_KIQnL1_2O3dqhQ/w400-h300/20220503_121356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZu4fWzRIHjZoFr_sb6lz6a-H1obEmzLaSFmKhpCPsxuuiHzgmrWXXF0GnXJFLxpxV3o60qn-WWX5mSux39Fuf0qbi_nNJaMd4nRbIq4VwV6W6gExd1uFoVTHxRTNowTEpkKGRgPxf-PSBPtq94I0WE9yjOIWvDRxhRzJdX338CB1V6Tzfg2FJSQ/s4032/20220503_121911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZu4fWzRIHjZoFr_sb6lz6a-H1obEmzLaSFmKhpCPsxuuiHzgmrWXXF0GnXJFLxpxV3o60qn-WWX5mSux39Fuf0qbi_nNJaMd4nRbIq4VwV6W6gExd1uFoVTHxRTNowTEpkKGRgPxf-PSBPtq94I0WE9yjOIWvDRxhRzJdX338CB1V6Tzfg2FJSQ/w400-h300/20220503_121911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We found the spot at the top of the bit I believed would be good to climb up. We looked down on the area we had sat at to eat our lolly snakes. We made our way back down past the perfect rock hole and back to the 'donation bucket' to head to Mermaid Inlet.</p><p>When we got to it there looked to be a path down past the caution sign, but we followed the sign pointing away from Gosangs to Mermaid Inlet. We followed the trail down until it became a little overgrown, not well worn at all. It took us up on top of a rocky ledge with a cove on either side.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wtCtASu5U0Y1TQvKBOwAcXj1JU83BED9xh8XQ_YyVodnwbJOsK6VPsVyM2QTNs1REAZ529hzDfTlm29tsb-lriWX3paRcx8M1W9WccwrHIaR4H8ZPT7jzW2KtVCmAC0HLrq39lKbQoLTC1EoBaflVoABb-zNDSlc_eLFAR0yZsPnE9-425ko1A/s4032/20220503_123507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wtCtASu5U0Y1TQvKBOwAcXj1JU83BED9xh8XQ_YyVodnwbJOsK6VPsVyM2QTNs1REAZ529hzDfTlm29tsb-lriWX3paRcx8M1W9WccwrHIaR4H8ZPT7jzW2KtVCmAC0HLrq39lKbQoLTC1EoBaflVoABb-zNDSlc_eLFAR0yZsPnE9-425ko1A/w480-h640/20220503_123507.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little cove on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We continued in making our way through (as the path had disappeared), we bushed through the scratchy coastal plants, making our way towards the sea, all the while looking for the direction to Mermaid Inlet (or any way down to either cove).</p><p>As we proceeded through a drone began flying overhead and I could see a couple on the ledge opposite us (across the cove on the left, near my rock hole) and the man was wearing some sort of goggles. I explained to my Dad that it was probably a camera allowing him to see from the drone, which fascinated my Dad so much as he sat watching the guy I had to remind him to keep moving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIZRYgJDQvrHGiUzyIJPR_SJ3BQywjlP91BvDt1E1S5nfTV3_Zw7BmvASAhYXtd5YjMh9CQ0f7fcJYzXvMzRrO9Vs1HHz5km9rR2S5ujCpJojwaDzUBdbAcSaEySFjSzMMQWpW_SubNzl7UzWaa1uFtFXX_MJdcb7DWs9gOV1v0rDMVk5VfM4zQ/s4032/20220503_123511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIZRYgJDQvrHGiUzyIJPR_SJ3BQywjlP91BvDt1E1S5nfTV3_Zw7BmvASAhYXtd5YjMh9CQ0f7fcJYzXvMzRrO9Vs1HHz5km9rR2S5ujCpJojwaDzUBdbAcSaEySFjSzMMQWpW_SubNzl7UzWaa1uFtFXX_MJdcb7DWs9gOV1v0rDMVk5VfM4zQ/w480-h640/20220503_123511.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I eventually reached the tip and could find no way up or down the sides so suggested we go back as we might have missed the trail.</p><p>We again lost the path, (as there really wasn't a clear one in to where we were), but eventually found it again, making our way back to the area with the bucket. While walking through I noticed a poo with toilet paper covering it barely off the path, pointing it to Dad, reminding him of all the 'no poop' writing we had encountered at the start of the walk. I commented to him that I was reading on a hiking group about how the poop etiquette was changing, no longer were you to dig a hole and bury it, but take something akin to a Dog poo bag and take it out with you, as I explained this too him I had <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/04/road-trip-2009.html" target="_blank">vivid flashbacks of my diarrhea episode at Kosciusko</a>). My Dad began on a rant about humans walking the earth for thousands of years, "shitting everywhere", to quote him. I instantly regretting even mentioning it. </p><p>We arrived back at the bucket and I suggested to Dad that we follow the little trail in behind the caution sign. This trail was thin and incredibly muddy but eventually cleared and we found ourselves on a lower edge from the rock hole but still above the cove, but it seemed to be a way to somewhere as we encountered this sign:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxN5GXT-2XDJKQ0FFq5Qou2cMkfbZeTSEt0uiRgBvALliYL9ZmuuDqPXOGr7bgDZe4Al07INwuXhPMfKOp7eEEGgGjEwaUTExHOvTSk1EFHhb0sTYoFMkm3wA_mTSNwP-GlQJKZ0J-F8Pohs45s1o3D2UMidZS_g29qntf4iPIi4FEFoiWkb65Q/s4032/20220503_123904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxN5GXT-2XDJKQ0FFq5Qou2cMkfbZeTSEt0uiRgBvALliYL9ZmuuDqPXOGr7bgDZe4Al07INwuXhPMfKOp7eEEGgGjEwaUTExHOvTSk1EFHhb0sTYoFMkm3wA_mTSNwP-GlQJKZ0J-F8Pohs45s1o3D2UMidZS_g29qntf4iPIi4FEFoiWkb65Q/w400-h300/20220503_123904.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued following the path alongside the cliff.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3V274hBQznNKken1ctvvXS8mYH-QrDlbhoyP2DqzDdgP29Zey0pNN77CZa7gw4CE25Zs2lMdy2gQa_vIKt6UEFWaMgnKp1ahoIlyLq-uELWT2sWlahcjMg3VWHO9PI3pnu0hPj3LIbIeshCT4tv2bf6YrnC9T4iAHBlOH4cl27q8Oa7v6e_Q3g/s4032/20220503_123917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3V274hBQznNKken1ctvvXS8mYH-QrDlbhoyP2DqzDdgP29Zey0pNN77CZa7gw4CE25Zs2lMdy2gQa_vIKt6UEFWaMgnKp1ahoIlyLq-uELWT2sWlahcjMg3VWHO9PI3pnu0hPj3LIbIeshCT4tv2bf6YrnC9T4iAHBlOH4cl27q8Oa7v6e_Q3g/w480-h640/20220503_123917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we approached a bend there was an old steel object built into the rockface, right across from the tip of rockface I had walked to, in between the two coves.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZ4TQGO56oIvCaNtFcPM5AT3oUVop951g1aPRTT_22-KL20Kt-dY7zWPxUIts8aOZ8qiNeh4HfSERaR6jFQzN66lawNR_e5geBJDcqfPHHI2k3ft6GhW954paqAROp_e6eRqvm4PNnihGVLIyfUa-rrWDHP1XC1E4IfHgp4uwUpcXyEFqoVPRJA/s4032/20220503_124142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZ4TQGO56oIvCaNtFcPM5AT3oUVop951g1aPRTT_22-KL20Kt-dY7zWPxUIts8aOZ8qiNeh4HfSERaR6jFQzN66lawNR_e5geBJDcqfPHHI2k3ft6GhW954paqAROp_e6eRqvm4PNnihGVLIyfUa-rrWDHP1XC1E4IfHgp4uwUpcXyEFqoVPRJA/w400-h300/20220503_124142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC_1EvXijxcifV2c_OPqeIWPqsI5LSYrvcTkbcURlppfnP8NO41Y2s43BvahRz92bjJyCSCKskppiRK9IhhOucWBSPM6pjKM8roBG9hUbNZZG1ubd5UgIYKUpWVvLZi3ILz6NaPjU1PiLxETOjacASAp1tguQR8mxjzGkQXBP24gzppEX44z-cg/s4032/20220503_124149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEC_1EvXijxcifV2c_OPqeIWPqsI5LSYrvcTkbcURlppfnP8NO41Y2s43BvahRz92bjJyCSCKskppiRK9IhhOucWBSPM6pjKM8roBG9hUbNZZG1ubd5UgIYKUpWVvLZi3ILz6NaPjU1PiLxETOjacASAp1tguQR8mxjzGkQXBP24gzppEX44z-cg/w400-h300/20220503_124149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Just before we rounded the bend there was a sign, inserted by Shoalhaven City Council warning about rock fishing deaths, but also informing us we were about to reach Mermaid Inlet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLsBYdqAjmmvWXTuz25NECsfb_NmN_T4tOySRNjnddGFJt57N6g-KicXXL5m062jdtF2YqbY1b_N05iqdXZuY_I6LDUdBh_tEg8IA4SBWCFagd3wV8i6_yGwag5dAupwVwk8l53a4oq29OTWHpwNw-S9hDQmbVyGQn3q9CoU4M9Lloy9A79Q-A/s4032/20220503_124213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBLsBYdqAjmmvWXTuz25NECsfb_NmN_T4tOySRNjnddGFJt57N6g-KicXXL5m062jdtF2YqbY1b_N05iqdXZuY_I6LDUdBh_tEg8IA4SBWCFagd3wV8i6_yGwag5dAupwVwk8l53a4oq29OTWHpwNw-S9hDQmbVyGQn3q9CoU4M9Lloy9A79Q-A/w480-h640/20220503_124213.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SNrvvQTcmv-PHMRy_E6Sq-5Kwx39yUpUCMKW8_VFX6e0kHbQTFub3mDV9cdTJcTYeYbrWC8iW5uMx-ejjV-NWAvfBjK_db1pW22c94g8jCJ4YfWReBb7fSz-uiiKZ-0n6Ag2FG0Es7AolSg4Zre9LutRrdT4vDUTt5sP5FCqKvTd--7OQAXx1Q/s4032/20220503_124241.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SNrvvQTcmv-PHMRy_E6Sq-5Kwx39yUpUCMKW8_VFX6e0kHbQTFub3mDV9cdTJcTYeYbrWC8iW5uMx-ejjV-NWAvfBjK_db1pW22c94g8jCJ4YfWReBb7fSz-uiiKZ-0n6Ag2FG0Es7AolSg4Zre9LutRrdT4vDUTt5sP5FCqKvTd--7OQAXx1Q/w400-h300/20220503_124241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We rounded the corner and encountered a giant cave in the cliffside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO__mHffAvdRS-a4VdAitCOW0JVAhuGg7kkyrhtaLVc_VHa1c1yad7bJjRUJw_gvSeHiSRaRIUaRM2SyJyOCn7ivY2YCUdrB0lp2FTP9YqC2N9Y3sjtgKOGe4sfdgq_M-LUl-u-a6mUwT3ROuRFWSwseKj9XBTJQ-L1Wvkq7YheVo1F2YwNu-Yw/s4032/20220503_124507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZO__mHffAvdRS-a4VdAitCOW0JVAhuGg7kkyrhtaLVc_VHa1c1yad7bJjRUJw_gvSeHiSRaRIUaRM2SyJyOCn7ivY2YCUdrB0lp2FTP9YqC2N9Y3sjtgKOGe4sfdgq_M-LUl-u-a6mUwT3ROuRFWSwseKj9XBTJQ-L1Wvkq7YheVo1F2YwNu-Yw/w400-h300/20220503_124507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71Vag8RoTu5Qrz59Y1nzcqdejEnzGSlI-Rj1OVpZzpQdssACL98Y7cmSh4KLf9J1SPe0r-3biO0fYQSa4UBtYCudGDA-XkpxGsSVo7t4Iy8RgTbKVrdelYITswozyN4RQ5ie1-ka2wvmYWlJ5UNRL-6Z5zulWh3uNjKSHfkxCwSeZX8f8JbjjQg/s4032/20220503_124549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71Vag8RoTu5Qrz59Y1nzcqdejEnzGSlI-Rj1OVpZzpQdssACL98Y7cmSh4KLf9J1SPe0r-3biO0fYQSa4UBtYCudGDA-XkpxGsSVo7t4Iy8RgTbKVrdelYITswozyN4RQ5ie1-ka2wvmYWlJ5UNRL-6Z5zulWh3uNjKSHfkxCwSeZX8f8JbjjQg/w400-h300/20220503_124549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgaCmof3FfpLZ4HzY_tAbHbJ081d8WcixBjJTGdLi1DxDji-euEHNg9cfq6KrixH8cVgnELZgqxFl0t9dMvrG-QTU0G_aLLeF5_a2bsMTCs5Ngomt3HQXiaG_MxSntoIAqGfd4u9W_BpadkntMPn-qK_BOW_II9uTOBlsxznDm6PFjTWn24Tr7Q/s4032/20220503_124636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgaCmof3FfpLZ4HzY_tAbHbJ081d8WcixBjJTGdLi1DxDji-euEHNg9cfq6KrixH8cVgnELZgqxFl0t9dMvrG-QTU0G_aLLeF5_a2bsMTCs5Ngomt3HQXiaG_MxSntoIAqGfd4u9W_BpadkntMPn-qK_BOW_II9uTOBlsxznDm6PFjTWn24Tr7Q/w400-h300/20220503_124636.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we went in to explore there were remains of several campfires, but an odorous stench. We soon began finding many pieces of poo and toilet paper, left by people camping or rock fishers who came and stayed out all day to fish. I decided to leave the cave, and go sit outside in the sun to try and eat my lunch. I looked at my phone with a worried sadness about my poor Dog, as I was yet to hear from the vet, and began to wonder if I was best to call them or not. I attempted to eat my sandwich, but found with the anxiety about my Dog I could not stomach it.</p><p>We made our way back once more to the bucket area (beginning to head back to the car), passing through the small muddy path we again crossed path with the girl my Dad had volunteered me to photograph. I awkwardly nodded a hello again, whilst my Dad informed her of the big cave on the other side.</p><p>Shortly as we began up the path my Dad was looking in the bush to our left, at what we thought was a trail, wondering if it might lead down to the cove we had seen from the centre cliff. I told him it didn't look very well worn and was probably just random animal tracks in the bush (having already followed so many misleading paths).</p><p>I could see he was really curious and said we could follow it, thinking it would lead a short way in and go nowhere.</p><p>We followed it in and soon the path began to lead down, and I was proven wrong, as it led us down into that cove (which while looking up, later I found was called 'Little Mermaid Inlet').</p><p>The whole biome seemed to shift and it became almost like a tropical jungle down there, filled with a whole variety of mushrooms.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jp1nYz008NlxAqZP11ESKWwf1CWsJbcna0e5ETg0Vo0OAxZ-_G7tJpyd1gClXhmBz6qPhz8qclnvYBhVHb3xkBu9VlEjRcC-gXKhTCNUU17v1AROO0O1A4B4v8MZ82S_8U-9gEcuSjq5T5wSBjZWrbb4zyaxd8pkJXAwAvdTDj39f5BKjhEMrQ/s4032/20220503_130756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jp1nYz008NlxAqZP11ESKWwf1CWsJbcna0e5ETg0Vo0OAxZ-_G7tJpyd1gClXhmBz6qPhz8qclnvYBhVHb3xkBu9VlEjRcC-gXKhTCNUU17v1AROO0O1A4B4v8MZ82S_8U-9gEcuSjq5T5wSBjZWrbb4zyaxd8pkJXAwAvdTDj39f5BKjhEMrQ/w480-h640/20220503_130756.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsljYGcq_-asKEsQ5FcVwgx2cOfWIdWS-8ObcAY-Hmy9fIvO8nhKh2GZ9U9FCe1nM-nYm9iL4fwxUCGfYP6Fl9UHfUhvAecU0pHnqXffCgchLc6k8Ni8DsIMIrECqzPMEq-GPQXp9GM_rsd1GWsDgPXlHTZzkQYQZdh7q0ziqj15t6Z08le407Q/s4032/20220503_131928.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsljYGcq_-asKEsQ5FcVwgx2cOfWIdWS-8ObcAY-Hmy9fIvO8nhKh2GZ9U9FCe1nM-nYm9iL4fwxUCGfYP6Fl9UHfUhvAecU0pHnqXffCgchLc6k8Ni8DsIMIrECqzPMEq-GPQXp9GM_rsd1GWsDgPXlHTZzkQYQZdh7q0ziqj15t6Z08le407Q/w480-h640/20220503_131928.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL-wHk90ELlQloT5Z7gMrjmq1nIIeOxLnxmhRxWnOsB-amWC65v8NIrPXS1ChnMN7HOmsQzzVY68tkfDtNMLRxpvIluEv0q_pkQLvaxg4QwE-bhYkqg279svYzyryvXXxpmakgcuEs44Q8KaOkksu1Mf42mzgzM-NB5K1WwOVXnzBZBZv6EFtxg/s4032/20220503_132048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL-wHk90ELlQloT5Z7gMrjmq1nIIeOxLnxmhRxWnOsB-amWC65v8NIrPXS1ChnMN7HOmsQzzVY68tkfDtNMLRxpvIluEv0q_pkQLvaxg4QwE-bhYkqg279svYzyryvXXxpmakgcuEs44Q8KaOkksu1Mf42mzgzM-NB5K1WwOVXnzBZBZv6EFtxg/w400-h300/20220503_132048.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeQ2mFHzkI5GT2uAwxlabTZgvX_9xHrrrs0xtgZ0e_lrmwlPzGgUUyI492-vnlHYRo_mM4o4J0fe5bZxwMEvLo70Pg6mAjPBVxSxFx1ALVzwXoP1VmO_pIAoicrVMMsu0zDuLr4otiBvSYhgiLUCFu8QEjj8kh_RoD-kmSP_7hL4Kp2q8Lj7aeg/s4032/20220503_132054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeQ2mFHzkI5GT2uAwxlabTZgvX_9xHrrrs0xtgZ0e_lrmwlPzGgUUyI492-vnlHYRo_mM4o4J0fe5bZxwMEvLo70Pg6mAjPBVxSxFx1ALVzwXoP1VmO_pIAoicrVMMsu0zDuLr4otiBvSYhgiLUCFu8QEjj8kh_RoD-kmSP_7hL4Kp2q8Lj7aeg/w400-h300/20220503_132054.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We sat here for a bit, admiring the change in not only scenery but temperature too as we watched the water slowly crash and make it's way up between the chasm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb1YW3PmIbEb4tqy-pTlXVWVjWyzW8AAH9jvl70pHxoVPKwvDWx5MM8gPvTDCZ9BOqUBkcW3ngMX_qzkl06Tktx241Szo6Y702uRhc8zAi4DsdILL0x9PNkrmeKp2-mflxi6Q5V4bL0IeLC9e5xGmb-PzbF2IZxgcCnWHYlPgrXgELTljVrVIBw/s4032/20220503_130839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb1YW3PmIbEb4tqy-pTlXVWVjWyzW8AAH9jvl70pHxoVPKwvDWx5MM8gPvTDCZ9BOqUBkcW3ngMX_qzkl06Tktx241Szo6Y702uRhc8zAi4DsdILL0x9PNkrmeKp2-mflxi6Q5V4bL0IeLC9e5xGmb-PzbF2IZxgcCnWHYlPgrXgELTljVrVIBw/w480-h640/20220503_130839.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Off the cliffs surrounding us, water gently continued to drip create a beautiful ambience.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPr7-00E0fSRJJDwJ1JLmVco5T4_Lt_paEOmeP6ccf-dafbBdtnxZXGSiqCpkK-6TPO4RjWMc-WhL2B0XzNw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>We made our way back towards the car after my Dad had finished his sandwich (I had still not eaten). Just before we reached the section with the turn off to the Aboriginal Rock Shelter I decided to call the vet. They told me my poor girlie had not been seen yet, but that someone would see her soon and asked if I could be there (as my Dog was displaying a lot of anxiety when they came near her). I told them that I was over and hour and a half away but said that I could let my Wife know and she could come.</p><p>I then proceeded to attempt to call my Wife, but could not longer get reception. I tried and tried and tried, and even had no internet reception when I attempted to get through on facebook messenger leading to me getting frustrated and angry. I even tried restarting my phone and it was just deciding to not be able to reach. I asked my Dad if I could borrow his phone, and was able to get through to her straight away so that she could leave work to get to the vets on time.</p><p>Knowing I now wouldn't need to pick up my Dog, I felt a little bummed that we had not done the Coomies loop walk or seen the rock shelter, but just agreed that it would be a walk for another time.</p><p>As we arrived back to Abraham Bosom Reserve we decided to walk back along the beach, and go and see a rockpool right near the car park we had parked in (some guy had told me Dad about it while I was busy applying sunscreen after first arriving).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-rA-t7s272WtT4arMM3F66L572xe5N5LvRyFFooLxGzYnF2WV76BQU7X_PwQtirpkRzD-bFHFZNOM97A6Xol_g0c6Y_tKoKyOpOosP8dNWQ8RAnCfXOrsRZ2HZP0PyE01lihmt_Rd2plIp9iWTxnLrBTYFEV6zrgGhm6ddmCfjGh21hixpHEMg/s4032/20220503_141314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-rA-t7s272WtT4arMM3F66L572xe5N5LvRyFFooLxGzYnF2WV76BQU7X_PwQtirpkRzD-bFHFZNOM97A6Xol_g0c6Y_tKoKyOpOosP8dNWQ8RAnCfXOrsRZ2HZP0PyE01lihmt_Rd2plIp9iWTxnLrBTYFEV6zrgGhm6ddmCfjGh21hixpHEMg/w400-h300/20220503_141314.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjvFvXXDrMMhHgPnd5gz8lroat_5ldKlTmE4x0E6ia5n1x5Xl8HrK9_2WJYZRSfrV-Bx62xSZnO_UWabMjejAjsDYBRSaii5pwt5LH0n5hRKoNJqIVz-Oqqdp1h_2kQ2Fb8r7ickkmpkHU-SIOuzyH6EhFz95SX3quNpYuCL8qTmz0w4WbH9TUg/s4032/20220503_141308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjvFvXXDrMMhHgPnd5gz8lroat_5ldKlTmE4x0E6ia5n1x5Xl8HrK9_2WJYZRSfrV-Bx62xSZnO_UWabMjejAjsDYBRSaii5pwt5LH0n5hRKoNJqIVz-Oqqdp1h_2kQ2Fb8r7ickkmpkHU-SIOuzyH6EhFz95SX3quNpYuCL8qTmz0w4WbH9TUg/w400-h300/20220503_141308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I wondered if Orla (my Dog) would like swimming in a spot like this. Telling my Dad she didn't seem to like swimming pools, but enjoyed running into the water on the beach, and wondered if it was just the complete drop off into the water of a pool she didn't like, rather than the ability to gradually walk in.</p><p>We made our way back to the car, pulling up across from the bowling club and walking over the little wooden bridge to the caravan park/camping area that I had camped at in year 5 and 6. We went for a little walk through and although it looked incredibly different after 19 years I still had a lot of nostalgia flashback to my youth, remembering performing a little talent show with some friends while there, and remembering things I had forgotten about until setting foot there.</p><p>Returning to the car my Wife called to let me know our girl was ok. That although her ear tip had come off it hadn't bleed and they assume that tip must have been dead, so they didn't even stitch it and just said it would heal over. I swapped the music over to some White Buffalo to relax to on the way home, eager to give my pup a cuddle and a kiss knowing that she would have had an awful day, and felt the guilt of going out and enjoying my day out before resuming work full time.</p><p>Hopefully my cancer stays away, hopefully my lungs can improve, and hopefully I can look forward to more adventures in the future, and can continue to share them here.</p><p><br /></p><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com16XRRW+V8 Gosangs Tunnel, Beecroft Peninsula NSW 2540, Australia-35.0078373 150.8458448-35.035963588045178 150.81151252460938 -34.979711011954819 150.88017707539063tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-82484618185481881612021-12-20T16:40:00.001+11:002021-12-20T16:40:18.239+11:00Young, NSW <p>Anyone who knows me, or has read my blogs has probably realised I'm a bit of a History buff. However many years ago I began to wonder what my place in History was. I began to investigate my family tree and genealogy. Even going on a <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/10/bong-bong-pass.html" target="_blank">day trip out to Camden</a> to do some investigating on my maternal 'Sheather' side of my ancestry. My 4th great-grandfather James Sheather emigrated from England to Camden in 1839 to work in Camden Park Estate (with Sheathers Lane named in his honor).</p><p>However his son Spencer Sheather (who had emigrated too) ended up moving out to Young, NSW. My family on that side then stayed out their all the way until my late Grandad and my Nan moved to the East coast, living around Wollongong. So I have had many generations of ancestors living out in Young, NSW.</p><p>I had been planning a bit of a trip out there to explore around and see the area which so many generations of my ancestors on my Grandad (who I called 'Cloclo Pop' ever since I was a very young kid, because he was my Pop and once gave us Coco Pops for breakfast), and my Nan's side. However I usually do a bit of ancestry work weekly and had been stuck on my Father's side of my family tree. My 2nd great-grandfather 'Carl Franks' (who's name was apparently actually John Joseph Carl Franks) was a showman, performing in shows at the no longer existent '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderland_City" target="_blank">Wonderland City</a>' at Tamarama in Bondi, Sydney. He was apparently a 'hypnotist' and claimed to be an American (this was apparently false, and he was either a conman, or this was part of his 'persona'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwOWk04eBpno7mF3ZyHRtenbyZzKERuL8gJEzNLdLBR_frq_o21vg0-8T-3h1XvjNEN4ihRCEV2FenQ4Np9C9WeRaRHH7BQ8tOm1n03zrBS9aiCAnsn99Ry5hVvodEM4DQ8f-PIi9SCbA5RD7r-xn2I5DZ0ARUCZiYUKOGU4UaJleFH6k9Ir6Oig=s910" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="910" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwOWk04eBpno7mF3ZyHRtenbyZzKERuL8gJEzNLdLBR_frq_o21vg0-8T-3h1XvjNEN4ihRCEV2FenQ4Np9C9WeRaRHH7BQ8tOm1n03zrBS9aiCAnsn99Ry5hVvodEM4DQ8f-PIi9SCbA5RD7r-xn2I5DZ0ARUCZiYUKOGU4UaJleFH6k9Ir6Oig=w400-h289" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq9PvKYzytROrmczsDnTgghGCWOT3PZk0ZRi2PSLAsh5JkXEu1X7HkD1qGRlKg1nLzBDEepq1Kkx2-GOE32Ldp9FQOZ3kXb9cIaBO17vWeTwNmP4bJl3ReQT9UIcVcQm_9eRKNZ7zXn05HbMPujFDF-zgG_6GlBnKPRvE5d8H5-SuwKFSSvZ-rQg=s334" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="334" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq9PvKYzytROrmczsDnTgghGCWOT3PZk0ZRi2PSLAsh5JkXEu1X7HkD1qGRlKg1nLzBDEepq1Kkx2-GOE32Ldp9FQOZ3kXb9cIaBO17vWeTwNmP4bJl3ReQT9UIcVcQm_9eRKNZ7zXn05HbMPujFDF-zgG_6GlBnKPRvE5d8H5-SuwKFSSvZ-rQg=w400-h258" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikLE99ILF6whhEef3DgerbSNCU1Z4hQIP6m2bkppfcXQL9jxAsAPAZ4tUSAu6QhB4AJMTFU2lHCs0GCsHqRfisHrs7gzAeyjzZlba-11jubb7y7CxrOdAic_3OHu1wUsWSjTes_VZpg_qK7Gjk_ZA5tbTNnVUP5U5gtoYXxAkoB34DTZGPNCLLlQ=s492" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="257" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikLE99ILF6whhEef3DgerbSNCU1Z4hQIP6m2bkppfcXQL9jxAsAPAZ4tUSAu6QhB4AJMTFU2lHCs0GCsHqRfisHrs7gzAeyjzZlba-11jubb7y7CxrOdAic_3OHu1wUsWSjTes_VZpg_qK7Gjk_ZA5tbTNnVUP5U5gtoYXxAkoB34DTZGPNCLLlQ=w334-h640" width="334" /></a></div><p>I eventually tracked his family back, finding out his Great Grandfather Johann Gottlieb Franke was actually a German immigrant from Dresden in Germany, and after immigrating ran a German newspaper in Melbourne named the 'Germanica'.</p><p>However I had been stuck with no information on Carl's wife, Sarah Parker. I made my first discovery with a obituary in an old newspaper to a 'Henry Lawrence Drayton'.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLkFZpkbt77TLNCYdlhFb6LbS2E-AJw9gZ2kCHk1oepwXQ-uaAiblpMtYI0z0v-BE7PtjypL-1SQ30WFq_c7QSqOSLrbFXu39Z5KUlXxhSAZCW8wAfoeUMLXnLCyiD8AMUQd428wJ7kdjF2kRu_Ld7D5cV43qvElGYHUaqEW7YG24SigPHY_CVgg=s258" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="258" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLkFZpkbt77TLNCYdlhFb6LbS2E-AJw9gZ2kCHk1oepwXQ-uaAiblpMtYI0z0v-BE7PtjypL-1SQ30WFq_c7QSqOSLrbFXu39Z5KUlXxhSAZCW8wAfoeUMLXnLCyiD8AMUQd428wJ7kdjF2kRu_Ld7D5cV43qvElGYHUaqEW7YG24SigPHY_CVgg=w400-h121" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Placed there by Carl and Sarah Franks</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I knew Sarah's original last name had been 'Parker' and there were other Parkers mentioned. But I tried searching for Henry Lawrence Drayton in Google. To my surprise I had a hit on a site called 'WikiTree' an online public family tree site. The lady who had uploaded her tree included Sarah and I was able to finally find out who her family was.</p><p>I soon learned her Mother, Hannah Parker (born Myles) was born in no other than Young, NSW! Obviously the first worry I had was that my parents shared relatives, however I had no need to worry. As her father (Benjamin Abraham Myers) was born in Sydney, and died in Leichardt, and his father Emmanuel Myers was born in London and emigrated to Sydney. I also learned this family was the reason (after doing my Ancestry DNA, and my Father's too) that our heritage had some European Jewish as the Myers were Jews and Hannah was actually buried in the Jewish part of the cemetery in Young. I even found a newspaper article about her father, Benjamin Abraham Myers being held up by famous bushranger <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hall_(bushranger)" target="_blank">Ben Hall</a> at the no longer standing Bang Bang Inn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGUdJcTxz038zDFw7PgeKlubZajjeyUT_DZXmewRAkx1avulI0fk4b-kqvXz0Vt3WGxToP04MIi5lgfYvYYCXejhUUWmUmbKs4z-TM4Cz5bkPSK_eTaTxDRB9_GXre4CanBbrF8Dxru686Vb_NIwi_vYjfno--9luAqk4rR8_ZI16UBBsREFLN3A=s565" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGUdJcTxz038zDFw7PgeKlubZajjeyUT_DZXmewRAkx1avulI0fk4b-kqvXz0Vt3WGxToP04MIi5lgfYvYYCXejhUUWmUmbKs4z-TM4Cz5bkPSK_eTaTxDRB9_GXre4CanBbrF8Dxru686Vb_NIwi_vYjfno--9luAqk4rR8_ZI16UBBsREFLN3A=w566-h640" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p>I already had enough reason to go for a trip out to explore this town with the heritage from my Nan (Madden and Brennan heritage) and my Cloclo Pop (Sheather and Levett heritage). </p><p>Although I'm not one for planning, I really just wanted to drive out and spend as much time as was needed out there, doing some family tree investigating as well as just exploring the local town history and maybe do a few bushwalks while I was there, so I did a quick look through my family tree with newspaper articles trying to find some places to try and see. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjayu3Gk_7zDsJTR_P5IfuPu3cWzRXMxPp4ioriIS4XULKHJkN5kQZ8H98ISmZUGBOqSG8GFVzTURcAnD6oWj00gRgQ3vasVxHx7efRoZOJtmCDE6uDo63GofIo91TOdJyNJlZMh0kMJPm6eQ-c0ZlIBxvdDFfUH9RdMdElfMd9XHfLzupbxN9xnQ=s353"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="172" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjayu3Gk_7zDsJTR_P5IfuPu3cWzRXMxPp4ioriIS4XULKHJkN5kQZ8H98ISmZUGBOqSG8GFVzTURcAnD6oWj00gRgQ3vasVxHx7efRoZOJtmCDE6uDo63GofIo91TOdJyNJlZMh0kMJPm6eQ-c0ZlIBxvdDFfUH9RdMdElfMd9XHfLzupbxN9xnQ=w312-h640" width="312" /></a></div><br /><p>The above newspaper report about my Great Grandfather Frederick Sheather and his brother Leslie, reminding me of the time myself and my brothers had been playing a game with a bow and arrow (yes an actual bow and arrow), shooting the bow so the arrow would land near my brothers (they were blunt practice arrows, although I did have sharp ones too). I took aim across the lawn while playing at my Dad's house and release the arrow. It hit the ground, but instead of sticking in it bounced along it sticking right between my brother Scott's toes. Not wanting to get in trouble I told Scott not to tell our Father (who had an angry temperament when we were younger). We later when back home (as we lived with our Mum due to our parents divorce). Later that night my brother awoke in incredible pain and had developed a blood infection and had to be taken to hospital the next day. Whoops.</p><p>However getting the time to go out to Young would be the problem. I had wanted to go while I was still of from work (due to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">AML</a> and <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>), and was due to return to work in early January. While later December was not only Christmas and New Year, but my Wife's 30th birthday. I was also due to get my 8 month post transplant vaccines on the 16th of December, and received my third covid vaccine early December. I was also constantly having my birthday gift of a Stunt Plane experience constantly moved to the following weekend due to poor weather (it seemed to want to rain every Saturday), and then I had my Wife not wanting me to drive out if the weather was supposed to be poor. So I just had to sit and await my opportunity to begin my family history trip.</p><p>Ultimately I set a date to leave on a Sunday (on the off chance my Stunt flight did not get cancelled due to bad weather). To my surprise I received the call that the flight would go ahead, meanwhile I spent the Friday shovelling 1.5 cubic metres of dirt into a wheelbarrow and into my back yard to extend my veggie garden leaving me exhausted and physically sore for my flight the following day.</p><p>We drove up to the Banktown Aerodrome on Saturday afternoon (while that morning I ducked to the shops for some last minute camping supplies). We arrived slightly early, walked in and the place was empty, so we sat down in the waiting room.<br />Finally a couple walked back in with Sam, the guy I had been corresponding with over the phone, and they started to watch their footage of their flight (I avoided looking to not ruin my own experience.)</p><p>While signing the waiver I noticed a question about medical issues, and thought about adding my recent cancer and stem cell transplant (as my blood counts had still not returned fully to normal which was giving me some anxiety about the flight). I decided against it, as if you had any medical issues it wanted to be sure your Doctor knew and had OK'd it (my Doctor had no idea). He called me into another room to get into my flight outfit. I quickly popped an Ondansetron (anti-nausea medication left over from my chemo) to make sure I wasn't sick on the flight (as I had talked to a mate I use to work with, Aaron, who had done the less extreme flight that only reaches 4G, in the actual Red Baron Plane, and he had thrown up).</p><p>I got into my suit and made my way out to the plane for some pictures before the Pilot arrived to get in some too, instructing me on how to get in and sit in the plane properly (to not affect his ability to fly it).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaGlS6JVZ2FctI3WIQ6SVFFpoLACW3XCiCOQbIiWxbFDCgrSEf0hwcVgQzBY4SLup_q2mZkkwIVV37ViyxmKgi51LtAwFqhVcHYpG51cXTqaMsBp3_cJ0p9XnRU9cc2XzfsMlLiAFCUEq_NL0dVhiI4HRPyJ35nFlr1tolWg6Lu1RrHR81J-9LoA=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaGlS6JVZ2FctI3WIQ6SVFFpoLACW3XCiCOQbIiWxbFDCgrSEf0hwcVgQzBY4SLup_q2mZkkwIVV37ViyxmKgi51LtAwFqhVcHYpG51cXTqaMsBp3_cJ0p9XnRU9cc2XzfsMlLiAFCUEq_NL0dVhiI4HRPyJ35nFlr1tolWg6Lu1RrHR81J-9LoA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKb5is0VXxJ9eh5CA0gpePsXAewH7f6PVCPhxS9Um_ybe1T_EVp2ePNhi2iagl7SogLwy3a8x0AUZhJzD02XI-vbXct6tu_ibtikEUwvQzezLU0cRH6_T7CIY-4-yEFNG7-7J4L1ehtZapMNBGjEhhyOhB-SXO7b9Ufe4wgKZjZNYnVEevD6i9cw=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKb5is0VXxJ9eh5CA0gpePsXAewH7f6PVCPhxS9Um_ybe1T_EVp2ePNhi2iagl7SogLwy3a8x0AUZhJzD02XI-vbXct6tu_ibtikEUwvQzezLU0cRH6_T7CIY-4-yEFNG7-7J4L1ehtZapMNBGjEhhyOhB-SXO7b9Ufe4wgKZjZNYnVEevD6i9cw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While I was sitting in the plane he began to tell me about how 8G is what astronauts experience on re-entry to Earth atmosphere. He explained the the force of it can rush the blood away from your head and give you tunnel vision and you can even faint (this worried me as my blood count was still not normal from my Stem Cell Transplant). He told me it would be fine, and to just tighten my abs and glutes when that occurs and it helps bush blood back into the head.</p><p>We took off and began the flight and Stunts (which I loved). I'll share a video of the whole thing below synched up showing in the pit and the wing footage for context.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yx0vUUlnCD4" width="320" youtube-src-id="Yx0vUUlnCD4"></iframe></div><br /><p>I was fine for most of the flight, (besides the Ondansetron making my mouth so dry that I spent the entire time licking my lips desperate for saliva) right up until the end where the Pilot asked me to look out the side window at a bit of string and the plane began spinning around and the motion of this made me feel a bit a nausea. After this it became time for the 8G, which was stressing me out as I had already experience 5G in the flight (and found it pretty intense), not wanting to miss the experience I agreed and we went in to 8G and I began to squeeze while feeling the tunnel vision and worrying that I would pass out (which I thought would be embarrassing). I put my hand up to stop, but he acknowledged I had finished the maneuver anyway by the time I put my hand up. I probably wouldn't have if I wasn't still recovering from cancer, but getting the experience for my 30th was pretty special.</p><p>The next day I packed my little Toyota Yaris (not exactly the best travel or off-road car, but I can't afford that), and I set off towards Young with my GPS set for a pit stop in Goulburn to see the Big Merino (Australia has <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia%27s_big_things" target="_blank">big things</a> scattered over the country), and to have a coffee break. I set my phone bluetooth up to play <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_(singer)" target="_blank">Passenger</a> as I began my long drive out. Finally arriving in Goulburn while I grabbed a coffee and a selfie with the Big Merino.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVYVrXcf-e1dwQBpmDyERR8pgFEAobOCRb4_wloygZ7K2V3kQlJhpcA3Xsr8WqsowRbZLT1Dlw6M-fHtU0H0mQ579LUR5UHLf9cYeIb_IZbEWQc0_l-qF6hZAq2ZNTkg1Q7KwxZGiZNgkzQGRkYKNcWWQAJ0VcXg5VNPK4N3L9cPvJDRPMjEYTQA=s2944" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVYVrXcf-e1dwQBpmDyERR8pgFEAobOCRb4_wloygZ7K2V3kQlJhpcA3Xsr8WqsowRbZLT1Dlw6M-fHtU0H0mQ579LUR5UHLf9cYeIb_IZbEWQc0_l-qF6hZAq2ZNTkg1Q7KwxZGiZNgkzQGRkYKNcWWQAJ0VcXg5VNPK4N3L9cPvJDRPMjEYTQA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBi23CsucKMe6Cg7luS1ooKD3D5YJG9YazbFz1sPmRuGSx-vx97EO1qzh5_Gx2DWWPio6VY-i6x6z_HcmtIQS5SyjJtZq0VeTsRD00ZT54ydPG3J6Uqf7ef4VXFTJP_HUE3w9ZBO7U9q39XaQKF36hPj9w7Ynw1IecjwodxiZkKn4Z2tqa3olwnw=s2944" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBi23CsucKMe6Cg7luS1ooKD3D5YJG9YazbFz1sPmRuGSx-vx97EO1qzh5_Gx2DWWPio6VY-i6x6z_HcmtIQS5SyjJtZq0VeTsRD00ZT54ydPG3J6Uqf7ef4VXFTJP_HUE3w9ZBO7U9q39XaQKF36hPj9w7Ynw1IecjwodxiZkKn4Z2tqa3olwnw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it's big balls</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had seen the Big Merino many times before as a kid on road trips, but I could never recall an instance of stopping to actually go up to it. I was surprised by how busy it was around there, but figured it's probably a very popular spot for many people travelling west (and likewise people travelling east) to stop and grab food and coffee and stretch their legs after driving for so long.</p><p>I grabbed my coffee, and set out on the road again towards Young, changing my music now from Passenger to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_James_(musician)" target="_blank">Shawn James</a> (a road-trip needs the right tunes). My Dad and Step-mum had recently bought me a GoPro for my 30th which I hadn't had an opportunity to use yet and as I drove along past big hills with giant wind turbines I wished I had set up my GoPro in the car to capture some of the footage as I found it quite majestic.</p><p>Along the way as I had turned off from the massive highway and begun along back roads I passed a bunch of police and ambulance (getting a stretcher out of the back), and saw a car to my left had driven off-road into a ditch and was completely upside down.</p><p>I soon came to the end of Cusak road and onto Moppity which headed both left and right. With the right leading me to Young, and left to Harden. Harden was 23km and Young was 32km. I found this amusing as I have oddly found the number 23 coming up quite often in my life. So it was just a cute and amusing coincidence and I smiled to myself before turning right.</p><p>I soon arrived at Young, at some relative of my friend Tristan's (as I had agreed to drop off a present to them for him). I dropped it off and jumped back in the car to begin Google searching for fuel as my car was running incredibly low. The first petrol station I went to didn't offer 91 Unleaded, and I would have none of that, so I just looked on Google Maps for another one, finally filling up at the local Woolies service station. </p><p>I then drove to my first stop of the trip, the Young Information Centre where I had planned to get a booklet for a self guided tour of the town.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYdYDm7SqyI_RH1DdmKoZGgzVjYf4dESoplzoB4RoVHy6kP4sVA30CC1agrtlc8D1X45R8APCy5V-fVhvXkiZkTO5e1x4fozJ5I7TkUj-2FuxeXRyGpye6dWzNewriM7DZa7WRMNYQvFUOQu52-fuoqt76n3v0Z-kRYkfwSbzCVMrq5yPRLDvfAA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYdYDm7SqyI_RH1DdmKoZGgzVjYf4dESoplzoB4RoVHy6kP4sVA30CC1agrtlc8D1X45R8APCy5V-fVhvXkiZkTO5e1x4fozJ5I7TkUj-2FuxeXRyGpye6dWzNewriM7DZa7WRMNYQvFUOQu52-fuoqt76n3v0Z-kRYkfwSbzCVMrq5yPRLDvfAA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I noticed there were toilets outside (I hadn't gone since leaving home and had been on the road for almost 4 hours). As I came out I noticed the 'Big Cherries', which I had planned to see on my trip anyway, quickly walking over for a look.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUwThOrSMnei_KTikklsYeFG-5RIY7HmolI0RCmoCLN64400jev3Bhzy2YqPcCo2L-6HWK4GHGm67LlDF19KWrThf_i1fZhqhs9HpVEPLxynC6uH3In9ZzUf5KtyJwWthVeEcJjojc1RAWL-wbsw1ikmfkDc0ARhfCmrGWmneYBgTjB7bSaIa_Zg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUwThOrSMnei_KTikklsYeFG-5RIY7HmolI0RCmoCLN64400jev3Bhzy2YqPcCo2L-6HWK4GHGm67LlDF19KWrThf_i1fZhqhs9HpVEPLxynC6uH3In9ZzUf5KtyJwWthVeEcJjojc1RAWL-wbsw1ikmfkDc0ARhfCmrGWmneYBgTjB7bSaIa_Zg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I noticed the town centre was built on an old set of train-tracks (I've always found something endearing, or weirdly mystical about train tracks, ironic because <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">I quit being a Train Driver as soon as I could</a>).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg29C1oEupQZCJqedHMmVM0Np4J3MtRifoYelvVGfyUVf_gdp3nL18meIz3M43-2mhWcy5GncaWU8nOeVahaBSwQQV_r6fy3UfV9kUO0CnOC-hwHvR8ujQdS196qcptpztDMn5f8aha3tK5XsL8t4i708iAw8hoVbCG7NPG8yt7NByeV0k5dc3M-g=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg29C1oEupQZCJqedHMmVM0Np4J3MtRifoYelvVGfyUVf_gdp3nL18meIz3M43-2mhWcy5GncaWU8nOeVahaBSwQQV_r6fy3UfV9kUO0CnOC-hwHvR8ujQdS196qcptpztDMn5f8aha3tK5XsL8t4i708iAw8hoVbCG7NPG8yt7NByeV0k5dc3M-g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXF3ETB_9pQFSy4RJzmRd_pPAkA1pofneQn8zO8H7a7U7r140gCizUb9zOVgzzbsEK-qjEliQpnOIbejNbRHpk4bUnsenExZ3s61M4iUrbRgF05Ful3ddezGn7ihZGYN-k4eYbwLQ1xp5Q8H09YQaXBPBhdBBHRboTbAu15M5PvsXsmVZM21mRUw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXF3ETB_9pQFSy4RJzmRd_pPAkA1pofneQn8zO8H7a7U7r140gCizUb9zOVgzzbsEK-qjEliQpnOIbejNbRHpk4bUnsenExZ3s61M4iUrbRgF05Ful3ddezGn7ihZGYN-k4eYbwLQ1xp5Q8H09YQaXBPBhdBBHRboTbAu15M5PvsXsmVZM21mRUw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I then went inside the building, having to QR code inside (shortly before NSW scrapped all QR codes because they gave up on trying to control the Covid pandemic).</p><p>"Can I see your vaccine certificate?" A man quickly asked, also wanting to view my check in. I showed him my phone before asking about the self guided town and heritage tour. He gave me a pamphlet, I thanked him and left, avoiding as much social interaction as possible.</p><p>I began my self guided walk through the town (which had many information plaques through it that I took photos of, but decided not too upload as there were so many that people probably wont read anyway).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4aFSN6j4CY6lUg44j9l3gZ5aUgjR1O5qm3vwF8ANrFvedDPwuTbsb8gBjFk1WBdiKuPGxmlviauUgBgK1EjAL55Zi5aFYPhsY5ATDfgS948GlRp-vx3yF6ZzrRlnjYshuIKUNlM4Qy-9vHW0FzVdvUfG3-t0IAT6pB8S4QXbNph0nRUSJYLTdvg=s2943" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4aFSN6j4CY6lUg44j9l3gZ5aUgjR1O5qm3vwF8ANrFvedDPwuTbsb8gBjFk1WBdiKuPGxmlviauUgBgK1EjAL55Zi5aFYPhsY5ATDfgS948GlRp-vx3yF6ZzrRlnjYshuIKUNlM4Qy-9vHW0FzVdvUfG3-t0IAT6pB8S4QXbNph0nRUSJYLTdvg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I instantly regretted my decision to wear a beanie, as the heat was blistering<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I noticed for that a well established town with many shops it was oddly empty, and quiet. A strange sensation for me because you can't go out anywhere near where I live without it being packed. I wondered whether this was just country life, if it was because it was a Sunday, or if it was because of the Covid pandemic.<br />I made in through most the town reading the plaques and viewing the buildings before deciding to just skip ahead and head to the Arboretum by car so I could swap over to a hat. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPI93LGZu-Rjbom4enRAQzs_oePxXCekHwxoARB-U3zAfWRIh0mn0cOXbWG-LT2PRTKrM_UJytxNO6Fpp6wx8_R1ZwKzpNGp6MSluQzywz68ygIxzyRUuay-u3UOroctXT7Lx9FNxhn4TZVX8Aoi7NxuQSawhCAIFhp10s6s2FZehViqRzqZ4R4A=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPI93LGZu-Rjbom4enRAQzs_oePxXCekHwxoARB-U3zAfWRIh0mn0cOXbWG-LT2PRTKrM_UJytxNO6Fpp6wx8_R1ZwKzpNGp6MSluQzywz68ygIxzyRUuay-u3UOroctXT7Lx9FNxhn4TZVX8Aoi7NxuQSawhCAIFhp10s6s2FZehViqRzqZ4R4A=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkIWYpAxd_o_NJ5uvGG2I8lN-NN3CSIG-80KlL67l-2PEJ3hmzH81qH_Z-yWY-CViplr6r4pXSKVCDdSuLeYxFhT3UD9rR2N5Q1xsieYRdDHqFgc6NJieagb6PpWabS7liQnDWkcqjrqFO2aK2AVvvLW0aON2Q9VNnu7zdn2ZZVL5vTGVKxK-HRg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkIWYpAxd_o_NJ5uvGG2I8lN-NN3CSIG-80KlL67l-2PEJ3hmzH81qH_Z-yWY-CViplr6r4pXSKVCDdSuLeYxFhT3UD9rR2N5Q1xsieYRdDHqFgc6NJieagb6PpWabS7liQnDWkcqjrqFO2aK2AVvvLW0aON2Q9VNnu7zdn2ZZVL5vTGVKxK-HRg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiQgRGSTb9er2Ufsi54Y8I5N4iFWLtzaopZ3oS5ccgZocxTWbIMm99pu8n2PpjLYlLUNZ8vhAOrwUGmURXrdgOlnvWKl0iiyPhl0Kr9IITy5p6TbIypNMgc7QS3t-MbG2o5Wv9sWuDAbhAAYDssZ9-YOhH2U1yTRkFI1pjYhonIgNFMB5g_v-iAw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiQgRGSTb9er2Ufsi54Y8I5N4iFWLtzaopZ3oS5ccgZocxTWbIMm99pu8n2PpjLYlLUNZ8vhAOrwUGmURXrdgOlnvWKl0iiyPhl0Kr9IITy5p6TbIypNMgc7QS3t-MbG2o5Wv9sWuDAbhAAYDssZ9-YOhH2U1yTRkFI1pjYhonIgNFMB5g_v-iAw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMetE3M5XR6ogeY_Md_aMqbAf2ohr9bXwVSNKwXlLoyynVuc_3eh06SxIgWyR3YOEubtZjFHW0OWqXW15HuY1UfqWMGB9FbC_8KGf4O1Xs4P6OVy1cC8UxQ5PlikMNvUAiL1OV6aKl09DA8gXxif-j8IKPnNzV9xpXJsnP00S_Js2ezcPaQfT7w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXMetE3M5XR6ogeY_Md_aMqbAf2ohr9bXwVSNKwXlLoyynVuc_3eh06SxIgWyR3YOEubtZjFHW0OWqXW15HuY1UfqWMGB9FbC_8KGf4O1Xs4P6OVy1cC8UxQ5PlikMNvUAiL1OV6aKl09DA8gXxif-j8IKPnNzV9xpXJsnP00S_Js2ezcPaQfT7w=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div></div><br /><div>I was a little disappointed compared to my local Arboretum (in Albion Park), which I have always found particularly beautiful and even won a photo competition at work with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuJGaNjAdcb/" target="_blank">a photo I had taken there</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I walked most of the way down before deciding to check out 'Lupton's Lookout' instead. I made my way back to the car.</div><div><br /></div><div>As my GPS told me to pull up as I had arrived at Lupton's Lookout, not very far from where I was, and still in the middle of town I confusingly walked from my car to a sign post and found the lookout just looking over the Arboretum I had just walked along...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ovfUJH0gaTs9TrQocAI7GUxcntQL_ptHjRpUYMNSe94Z4SEPzheZbJdH_fbZpU7IgZnT9AA8-tCAyHkPpT6r3GhnVgW8P9QPoWxXsilxb99yKqTxO-uBF0SWfkhZAaqBDEpsLCE5opAR2azoST2B05cPNUBvcrWraEbSTueOaG8b9htC45AGxQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5ovfUJH0gaTs9TrQocAI7GUxcntQL_ptHjRpUYMNSe94Z4SEPzheZbJdH_fbZpU7IgZnT9AA8-tCAyHkPpT6r3GhnVgW8P9QPoWxXsilxb99yKqTxO-uBF0SWfkhZAaqBDEpsLCE5opAR2azoST2B05cPNUBvcrWraEbSTueOaG8b9htC45AGxQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>"Well that's a shit lookout." I thought to myself before standing back and reading the sign post that explained why it's 'Lupton's Lookout'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMxQ3-YjiLumk8P9JG8ddEQ3KPRQPdFxL4K5_AjftmqFrvFZjd7tYPYN1ae-GjGGbvVqyxfYtAsEkGd9UPexaJTs--CZTlnEbDvfJj66h25_5dBvmE63dZ9nevjhXV_mCp5SysCfrkPB0A6i8Qtx2GVQXFEsp-xycNitDaw7fFbWkkd6X46hk0bA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMxQ3-YjiLumk8P9JG8ddEQ3KPRQPdFxL4K5_AjftmqFrvFZjd7tYPYN1ae-GjGGbvVqyxfYtAsEkGd9UPexaJTs--CZTlnEbDvfJj66h25_5dBvmE63dZ9nevjhXV_mCp5SysCfrkPB0A6i8Qtx2GVQXFEsp-xycNitDaw7fFbWkkd6X46hk0bA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I wondered to myself if the tree was still there, or if they knew which tree it was. But found it an interesting bit of history none-the-less.</div><div><br /></div><div>The day was getting on, and my camp ground was still another 50minutes north so I decided I would make my way to Holy Camp at Weddin Mountains National Park to set up camp.<br /><br />Back in my car I guzzled some water and blasted my aircon and set the GPS to head north towards Weddin Mountains. While driving along I saw a Graveyard on my left and not missing an opportunity for some family history searching I quickly pulled off-road, into the unnamed graveyard (I search it for a name and none was around). I later, after getting home and finding some of the grave in their on the website 'Find-a-Grave' that it was Grenfell Cemetery.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhomqGjvjaXiEOlAEt_XVs2xO20laSd7bzkpRRLw8zUYVmgq39bbbg484ofp7EFFxUmRP5HcjFbfm3Xo0QZi2_JqBpMJEvnp8gQ3Rix68UfmI2EEMsrQfi5mT1Syx7pxA0vOACAFzd2Zubv-cnFR_xyLcsT1LNjZ4TZf-PuVEkYl9_8lNyWbgmg6Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhomqGjvjaXiEOlAEt_XVs2xO20laSd7bzkpRRLw8zUYVmgq39bbbg484ofp7EFFxUmRP5HcjFbfm3Xo0QZi2_JqBpMJEvnp8gQ3Rix68UfmI2EEMsrQfi5mT1Syx7pxA0vOACAFzd2Zubv-cnFR_xyLcsT1LNjZ4TZf-PuVEkYl9_8lNyWbgmg6Q=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I had a printed out list of Ancestors who's Grave I did not have photos of (many had been fulfilled by people on that 'Find-a-Grave' site), a great resource if you're looking into family history and genealogy.</div><div><br /></div><div>I soon began noticing last names that were ringing bells in my head and began taking photo's of the graves even if I didn't have them listed. I thought they might be other descendants of my Ancestors and thought that if they were not on 'Find-a-Grave' I could at least upload them for others who might not be able to make the journey, and who knows, some might turn out to be Ancestors (we have many!!).</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought about how sad it was, to have ancestors who have so many descendants who didn't even want to know they existed, to learn where they came from, content to just forget. So many people existing because to people deciding to have kids, and that just spreading and expanding down the line. Sites like 'Find-a-Grave' help stop people being forgotten. </div><div><br /></div><div>I kept coming across more and more ancestral last names (that I knew were from around Young), but no direct ancestors yet. I soon saw many Simpson graves and knowing Tristan had ancestry from out at Young I messaged him saying they could be his relatives (though sadly having both done our Ancestry DNA, we shared no mutual heritage). At one point a Crow flew out making it's typical sound and scaring the shit out of me. I think I actually went 'Oh fuck!' out loud.</div><div><br /></div><div>I soon stumbled upon my first actual ancestor, Margaret Madden (nee Givnan) my 4th Great Grandmother and wife of John Madden Jr. (<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/maddens-falls.html" target="_blank">Madden's being the whole reason for my walk to Madden's Falls with Tristan</a>)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq-PW7q4CVK_bzyShZBvbegb-Hl566jWqnMvVHvV3SNtxTWOiTB1rnMl9R_p4hqBFlIOhXu-TKbiC_mTm9uE_D0qbWiMyiN12kU6Pm-oy3Plpmjt4xThmeh1S-XehS0xoOggWhkmIONt9LTSf6BrFzLvaZznaYoQETa7voNyt8S2Er080JNIXffQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjq-PW7q4CVK_bzyShZBvbegb-Hl566jWqnMvVHvV3SNtxTWOiTB1rnMl9R_p4hqBFlIOhXu-TKbiC_mTm9uE_D0qbWiMyiN12kU6Pm-oy3Plpmjt4xThmeh1S-XehS0xoOggWhkmIONt9LTSf6BrFzLvaZznaYoQETa7voNyt8S2Er080JNIXffQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately broken, and already uploaded to Find-a-Grave, but I was able to see it in person</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>My Mum and her Mother eventually did their Ancestry DNA too, and my Nan, who was born a Brennan due to her parents not marrying, her father was Leslie Madden, the Great Grandchild of the Margaret Madden and John Madden who's grave I now stood at. Leslie and my Nan's mother; 'Flora Brennan' never married, and he moved away when my Nan was about 6 years old and she never saw him again. However through Ancestry DNA we learned my Nan had sisters she did not know about as Les had moved down to Melbourne and begun a family there with my Mother now connecting and in communication with cousin's she never knew she had, who were able to send and give us images of Leslie, who we had never seen before.</div><div><br /></div><div>I took some more photos of familiar last names before realising I had really lost track of time and needed to get to camp. I continued my way, now on dirt roads and hoping for the best in my little car, and finally made it to the camp ground, which I found empty (to my pleasure) and I pulled up giving it a quick look around before beginning to set up.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNGCZIM6ZT3Qu5rTYjmxUaXiaLujsJyMkYrLWi8_PjwqqWvA7WqDmttq9iY5wec6eM6Fc1YNkCxJnJktTW8jx_vsE-OEyCcJLiN2UrRYbnLyZqjlDgi4M6-sBE5QM4Tf2zViuOiYEyYp86aHIK_x-ep1MptjyUmbS2vSQ2dUm7voz4TMdkZw768g=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNGCZIM6ZT3Qu5rTYjmxUaXiaLujsJyMkYrLWi8_PjwqqWvA7WqDmttq9iY5wec6eM6Fc1YNkCxJnJktTW8jx_vsE-OEyCcJLiN2UrRYbnLyZqjlDgi4M6-sBE5QM4Tf2zViuOiYEyYp86aHIK_x-ep1MptjyUmbS2vSQ2dUm7voz4TMdkZw768g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCY-b9L8yVYniQMTVg4mpVy8QJx8SCuHAte4ItDEZKs7VE059-qz92dZssfakFcdGhM3gg0uyHnBDlE-HPzYnFeT2Ksnd3Ndsc6iHQ2mh7XjhzGhFkM94hIUZbclh-BwYamoZtShox81lmemNB1cwIluhpE4aHMo3ygJCwIz7qTDIctuIrsyPDcQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCY-b9L8yVYniQMTVg4mpVy8QJx8SCuHAte4ItDEZKs7VE059-qz92dZssfakFcdGhM3gg0uyHnBDlE-HPzYnFeT2Ksnd3Ndsc6iHQ2mh7XjhzGhFkM94hIUZbclh-BwYamoZtShox81lmemNB1cwIluhpE4aHMo3ygJCwIz7qTDIctuIrsyPDcQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd0CLe_wkGQIPV-PnL3fo_YxcalNmLW2zIKuW0OjNqRj-Yh8tOlAzmorHQKQZxGV62LRmRGlS8sWhLI0UGFhfYWxowfvFlbdPf8TwNvJFWNtiN4ynR_I4lXd6WFAoTIq5Hqgy-eTwafs3LiJoohzBQ51W_aaoJm5j3OhkA3NxWXbFS9v5z04YXjQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd0CLe_wkGQIPV-PnL3fo_YxcalNmLW2zIKuW0OjNqRj-Yh8tOlAzmorHQKQZxGV62LRmRGlS8sWhLI0UGFhfYWxowfvFlbdPf8TwNvJFWNtiN4ynR_I4lXd6WFAoTIq5Hqgy-eTwafs3LiJoohzBQ51W_aaoJm5j3OhkA3NxWXbFS9v5z04YXjQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The funny story with my tent was I own a 4 person tent, recently bought (and unused) for myself to go camping with my Wife and Dog (this never happened because of both Covid and my cancer diagnosis). So I didn't want to be going around having to pack and set up a 4 person tent so I asked my Dad if he had a 2 man one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He said we had given one by my late Uncle Johnny (my Dad's adoptive Mum's brother). Which seeing as this trip was a family history one I will have to unveil the family story there in a long exhausting fashion before coming full circle with the tent story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So my Nana Betty had an affair on my Dad's late father Jack Franks (John Lawrence) whom I never got to meet. Basically it was with an Italian man. So once she got pregnant she worried if it was an Italian baby that it would be obvious so she had no choice but to confess the infidelity to her husband. Ultimately he said they would see if he was his son or not (he was) but ended up giving him away for adoption anyway if not my last name would be Franks, and it's not (which is good cause I'm sorta attached to the one I have). Anyway, they ended up having 3 more children after my Dad who all got to live as a happy family, the only left living is my Uncle Mark, my Aunt Corinne dying from sepsis during her chemotherapy for Leukemia (maybe it's genetic?) However my Dad met and found all these actual family members before I was born, so I have grown up knowing them all.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, my Uncle Johnny, who was not blood related but I also grew up knowing, always reminded me of Willie Nelson. I don't know, he had a Willie Nelson look about him with that gray stubble beard and he was always wearing an Akubra. He was always health obsessed too, which as children we hated, cause we wanted junk food, so when he would look after us he would try to give us banana on bread which we all despised. He later in life moved to far North Queensland and we didn't see him much as we were older or before he passed. But the tent was a gift from him to us kids when we were young and had never once been opened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so I picked it up from Dad who insisted I do a trial run of putting it all together and stuff before my trip. However, lazy and impulsive as I am I only opened it up to make sure the pieces were there and figured I'd wing it when I finally got out there, and it turned out ok</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBm_KIlMdT_Jwx5ROOlpYMPEiTMG-fCkZ7BulMBWCgRrT2_hvXlQdv-CK7aW9enwjt4YTZz_mANOAUm7hBubP_lLzm2rqQqJQDH2vrVm5l1TTWFWZIR62j4P4WBbJ7QTXL9LQ5vt7efbrrJm0tp6ucjYETPCCF6R70aFW-W9aNhy1P9sxOb9IA5Q=s2943" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBm_KIlMdT_Jwx5ROOlpYMPEiTMG-fCkZ7BulMBWCgRrT2_hvXlQdv-CK7aW9enwjt4YTZz_mANOAUm7hBubP_lLzm2rqQqJQDH2vrVm5l1TTWFWZIR62j4P4WBbJ7QTXL9LQ5vt7efbrrJm0tp6ucjYETPCCF6R70aFW-W9aNhy1P9sxOb9IA5Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I finished setting up and sat there ready for a long night alone with no fire (as my Wife had told be it was an apparent total fire ban), I began to feel lonely and bored. I gave my brother Scott a call just to kill some time and we began discussing memories of our childhood at home. I finally cracked and lit the fire anyway while I was ravaged by mosquitoes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I finally started to feel tired and fell asleep with an axe next to my hand (as I've evidently watched too many horror films).</div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning I got up, ready to set out on the bushwalk Eualdire Walking Track that was right at my camp ground. I ate half a packet of uncooked instant noodles for breakfast before just not being hungry enough to finish, and taking my morning medications.</div><div><br /></div><div>I then, excitedly, set out on my solo walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJBgDBeVyIzLGlvJB8R5gGR_R1k_ICVLZAsYRQVePXj4ZOzDEZiiRT2DBTHsjWv6z-ClYdTl6syeePEwqsBkqjm6pTcyQnocGRh78GzMGdBKydg9tmntUrG5xWK-KE8R7Vx5Z89frNCKMQ-UlGqoCirRSxZBr2vooGBUnVOM_Ke5V-_gwTidAENg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJBgDBeVyIzLGlvJB8R5gGR_R1k_ICVLZAsYRQVePXj4ZOzDEZiiRT2DBTHsjWv6z-ClYdTl6syeePEwqsBkqjm6pTcyQnocGRh78GzMGdBKydg9tmntUrG5xWK-KE8R7Vx5Z89frNCKMQ-UlGqoCirRSxZBr2vooGBUnVOM_Ke5V-_gwTidAENg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfwWzbcFux1wgFIhWJVRfx6wc9dIQggrSU1FmEmxuHVwSD6E_xuiwxuSjfxC4vLjwwgfBUWsoVgVBP5TqqKm-1D_sEKOn5bZX6nF9mctUzMS-vUvIRC-TYg4lo_HLoF14ev7PFqLMvb_7sWFGL-8pa9K9HjybOmjp4ruhACsbbwDDi11oePabqag=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfwWzbcFux1wgFIhWJVRfx6wc9dIQggrSU1FmEmxuHVwSD6E_xuiwxuSjfxC4vLjwwgfBUWsoVgVBP5TqqKm-1D_sEKOn5bZX6nF9mctUzMS-vUvIRC-TYg4lo_HLoF14ev7PFqLMvb_7sWFGL-8pa9K9HjybOmjp4ruhACsbbwDDi11oePabqag=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijtt6npFOFZifE3duBn9B6X8PL3-Q5D2vMPERCETYEdb-zud5ME1yGJixWEQxVbGf_JpVUVciwC6XVfcQCxpjfISHmiyXRM6vwkEKFhH86tafqNRWn2QuxWqSwC7VbRNXR1nywEoMIBM3n8OuHKPjJyPgJdec9rjnMwavyqjEV8iVsrMrj_TuK7w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijtt6npFOFZifE3duBn9B6X8PL3-Q5D2vMPERCETYEdb-zud5ME1yGJixWEQxVbGf_JpVUVciwC6XVfcQCxpjfISHmiyXRM6vwkEKFhH86tafqNRWn2QuxWqSwC7VbRNXR1nywEoMIBM3n8OuHKPjJyPgJdec9rjnMwavyqjEV8iVsrMrj_TuK7w=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj00-qxSqzjiPPh-PhoQr9j_bltzckDOV2Rlfw8k2PhlliGP3bYUl_OwKiGt-cilXb-gh5xnsmDnPureOygKswN1dwzWVqSEhLpI8MqmyhzRqBXU5NwFSqjTSKbP7-gFL7dQV7hWj8UA_k7aY2zVm-HyXtjGyh4gykLDLv0bYRjNyzZ8dU6njJmig=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj00-qxSqzjiPPh-PhoQr9j_bltzckDOV2Rlfw8k2PhlliGP3bYUl_OwKiGt-cilXb-gh5xnsmDnPureOygKswN1dwzWVqSEhLpI8MqmyhzRqBXU5NwFSqjTSKbP7-gFL7dQV7hWj8UA_k7aY2zVm-HyXtjGyh4gykLDLv0bYRjNyzZ8dU6njJmig=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4LGG1IYw1JT4Ry8Yrqrz5g_M44woN0oJTEl6qW25umHtvX_vof_sx-rusGQ1XfL2XtddU-pgmvtXgRor-rdZTepjS9BFBpUzBC3A4l0j6cLylxsDmd_tT3DV0Nbe8C0S7KCxqK4_PuVqXz2l9ZcCDZKK5CK1EunXHM-hooQ-Uq4k32WQLUCYFBA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4LGG1IYw1JT4Ry8Yrqrz5g_M44woN0oJTEl6qW25umHtvX_vof_sx-rusGQ1XfL2XtddU-pgmvtXgRor-rdZTepjS9BFBpUzBC3A4l0j6cLylxsDmd_tT3DV0Nbe8C0S7KCxqK4_PuVqXz2l9ZcCDZKK5CK1EunXHM-hooQ-Uq4k32WQLUCYFBA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeE2KOQDiA1FJkoh65hwUN5o3qOq8tG-PCpKhUizQ9GogseEbvU9ImJ4eLL5lFtRQkzuof6dxg3y_EuMShiQurFqPB5J5XMnROFUIPsep1ztHX4PfzMn8W9e4S2N0so2SAbW4duxATVY8RGpuF0LK8iV5WyihRzom7NNDEuVS9M8rAq-8HFtpP5w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjeE2KOQDiA1FJkoh65hwUN5o3qOq8tG-PCpKhUizQ9GogseEbvU9ImJ4eLL5lFtRQkzuof6dxg3y_EuMShiQurFqPB5J5XMnROFUIPsep1ztHX4PfzMn8W9e4S2N0so2SAbW4duxATVY8RGpuF0LK8iV5WyihRzom7NNDEuVS9M8rAq-8HFtpP5w=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I stopped across from this rock, looking at the path continuing up to the mountain and already feeling the heat and fatigue. I felt a sadness overcome me, wishing I could be physically how I was before my cancer, back to that level of fitness where there steepest or longest hikes wouldn't bother me. I felt a little angry and then tried to calm myself, saying it would come in time and I would get there. I also had to appreciate the psychology of the situation. I was walking alone, in the heat, after cancer, while the path travelled progressively uphill (though by this point it was only ever so slight), and I didn't have that banter, that shared experience of hiking with Tristan or my Dad. I didn't have that motivation and joint experience. I was alone, so therefore I was always going to be more in my head about it. I had to get out of my head an appreciate that I was in a beautiful unique spot, away from the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had a drink and continued on as the dirt path slowly began to get smaller into more of a track, and I wondered to myself if I would see any snakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpmUbfhzLrwazB8wfyWhcbj_6ryD2hXMCu4wgLDeSMNpoUjifj3IEGJPgEYGPe9kYzbiRKEyyiCCZzap3yKnZMdXxFTA_oIvATwA_wcKUPxDK50AfvyH93ZKsQ2xMqhM1JwPvf-sH-JBIBfnENm2W7XKI5vCUP34ITG1SAx9NB_OUJ6hl7YZAxSQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpmUbfhzLrwazB8wfyWhcbj_6ryD2hXMCu4wgLDeSMNpoUjifj3IEGJPgEYGPe9kYzbiRKEyyiCCZzap3yKnZMdXxFTA_oIvATwA_wcKUPxDK50AfvyH93ZKsQ2xMqhM1JwPvf-sH-JBIBfnENm2W7XKI5vCUP34ITG1SAx9NB_OUJ6hl7YZAxSQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5hNCa9fNmB5PZqSwIPGchFN5cwTiSqf7Fe9N5rdaGWm2en73h9fwWAkB2Ue7mwSHu2odC_lQApkbsnWGyKL2PYU4D1c-yHI4lZ4bN4F6DKKcPCblR8fAmoHUXwLJjttgC-gV_zjOGiYMpeNZ_f9Z2KY_SbRxbwpFXqZ2nipq23jKN-qxoWZTQHw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5hNCa9fNmB5PZqSwIPGchFN5cwTiSqf7Fe9N5rdaGWm2en73h9fwWAkB2Ue7mwSHu2odC_lQApkbsnWGyKL2PYU4D1c-yHI4lZ4bN4F6DKKcPCblR8fAmoHUXwLJjttgC-gV_zjOGiYMpeNZ_f9Z2KY_SbRxbwpFXqZ2nipq23jKN-qxoWZTQHw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbfPcqVe0WcMwayD6EXmYQSJMCHmAaNM0IwHrYwZT3U51oQunSyaw_jhxHhVK90L0H9OSXCyZ38ZUrNzAgInxDaO6X5PB1ilfnXYD-XXuWpKe9px2BEdjaGw9omVjvwnVcZkcIMg7yjTov5cFMmVDEkChMvYCvyni7qmg1jvpAnxTibB0mhJD1xQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbfPcqVe0WcMwayD6EXmYQSJMCHmAaNM0IwHrYwZT3U51oQunSyaw_jhxHhVK90L0H9OSXCyZ38ZUrNzAgInxDaO6X5PB1ilfnXYD-XXuWpKe9px2BEdjaGw9omVjvwnVcZkcIMg7yjTov5cFMmVDEkChMvYCvyni7qmg1jvpAnxTibB0mhJD1xQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSXFxJvjsdEBmyiF63khmn3kqKsCAVW8ymsLrFyDXuvSRQKbbwHLhwQI6FrKtOtQpZBvqXEXXmv6CqdIS3CBV392c98STqTd2zZKq7yj42ROysHrEVrI3jmags7QUIpoSFqnk3lS9fjC8paimthDffJ7zMa2Nhqi829gOEsrKln09uF1xIKeCsTQ=s4032" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSXFxJvjsdEBmyiF63khmn3kqKsCAVW8ymsLrFyDXuvSRQKbbwHLhwQI6FrKtOtQpZBvqXEXXmv6CqdIS3CBV392c98STqTd2zZKq7yj42ROysHrEVrI3jmags7QUIpoSFqnk3lS9fjC8paimthDffJ7zMa2Nhqi829gOEsrKln09uF1xIKeCsTQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I walked along I kept thinking I was hearing running was before realising it was just the sound of wind through the trees. Every time I would stop for a breath or some water I would close my eyes and listen to that sound.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAoXZ4m6KYzaBgQ8rwpMkX7LD1ZwtMYdgeTimvr6JkeT5jblSf-NLheUhJzSpYRA8PE3ZeJpVH7wSX4HRaA0WwUAC_5ymTBjztZHWxGwOzpRCmOLtk27qqCMcbXwmWTtaqKdBe2MsA5TXSLRE3qGuDLQEW_0ZvYtB1IREggt-LY9IzZsLRyDxTug=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiAoXZ4m6KYzaBgQ8rwpMkX7LD1ZwtMYdgeTimvr6JkeT5jblSf-NLheUhJzSpYRA8PE3ZeJpVH7wSX4HRaA0WwUAC_5ymTBjztZHWxGwOzpRCmOLtk27qqCMcbXwmWTtaqKdBe2MsA5TXSLRE3qGuDLQEW_0ZvYtB1IREggt-LY9IzZsLRyDxTug=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC_2cf7xahHBEqll1KC8MJmb6Z246g2slK0c36r_ZteuCJ_eakQ_-8a8jKda7JCfSlPXPvgksuMpGE9z50zVHim-NWbK5vVCcwWD_QdC_BLH_Rr-R1ohMhHmj9qFk9DhwRuPEBsGdSDTSgt34gJmQlPxzb8jZIzEmWIqYarQYigkD5MlN--dZnSw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC_2cf7xahHBEqll1KC8MJmb6Z246g2slK0c36r_ZteuCJ_eakQ_-8a8jKda7JCfSlPXPvgksuMpGE9z50zVHim-NWbK5vVCcwWD_QdC_BLH_Rr-R1ohMhHmj9qFk9DhwRuPEBsGdSDTSgt34gJmQlPxzb8jZIzEmWIqYarQYigkD5MlN--dZnSw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The walk began to progress uphill more now, and I began to feel that self-doubt creeping in which I tried to shake away. I kept seeing sharp spiky looking plants along the track which I made sure to continuously avoid in case it caused stinging or itching. Eventually I stopped for the longest break I took on my walk. Right across from one of the spiky plants which I noticed had a fruit growing on it. I thought that it might be some form of nightshade, as it sort of looked like a tomato.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6p4goOpl1ETVsZHuuaQdob2p-AI93WixVf6yN2dXzdXW_RDHXZSqpLpTM0X8sKc-clsHhzE0WrjUUgn7siY_tNDkEf7UBa1dqsQLA-DrQGYkngj2Smeuskc_toNzD8VXy497OZ_C83b_9v4MoRuHNP2eepAlF5bqVgOK4OuLHrXN2HAZCYScWHw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6p4goOpl1ETVsZHuuaQdob2p-AI93WixVf6yN2dXzdXW_RDHXZSqpLpTM0X8sKc-clsHhzE0WrjUUgn7siY_tNDkEf7UBa1dqsQLA-DrQGYkngj2Smeuskc_toNzD8VXy497OZ_C83b_9v4MoRuHNP2eepAlF5bqVgOK4OuLHrXN2HAZCYScWHw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWW4N_G3j_Qvvrc7Mr1vQ5mZ75TBGDy_9ZlORJLa3ZXsLZd5Q3pCbOh7wxkcywtMSZebitbczcix8OeGVBKRiOZYdPH0uFk3Jm5auWJ0R0c3siXOw2Jf8p1b5J7uDP_cBEuswLutlvj4QRyOHjKQjyVhlUTa2ybc9lHa5FtO45HLdnCPDML6REw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUWW4N_G3j_Qvvrc7Mr1vQ5mZ75TBGDy_9ZlORJLa3ZXsLZd5Q3pCbOh7wxkcywtMSZebitbczcix8OeGVBKRiOZYdPH0uFk3Jm5auWJ0R0c3siXOw2Jf8p1b5J7uDP_cBEuswLutlvj4QRyOHjKQjyVhlUTa2ybc9lHa5FtO45HLdnCPDML6REw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQLTIocQwtuRiSE4Kf9PScecdlkdKIEXhnLvCXkcGz1JLQt1m4er2DdYzbIZ5-vYkjkxAaqtnw6oo0EoOb53W6dVMsCJkEqhuOP3M2RiTQCk7qdSGqWwr3DL19pZTE_uoqUc9ipWZeHN_4svsjWLg3kZgmkBrK-NOfdXPCufNGapsalf3lDAAICQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQLTIocQwtuRiSE4Kf9PScecdlkdKIEXhnLvCXkcGz1JLQt1m4er2DdYzbIZ5-vYkjkxAaqtnw6oo0EoOb53W6dVMsCJkEqhuOP3M2RiTQCk7qdSGqWwr3DL19pZTE_uoqUc9ipWZeHN_4svsjWLg3kZgmkBrK-NOfdXPCufNGapsalf3lDAAICQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>After my long break, which I just sat, staring blankly through the trees, just letting my mind clear, just enjoying the warmth of the sun, I stood determined and began the walk that was now very much up hill, heading inwards towards my left.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTBSvMxew4nlGoED_V8kib2r49YJYR_wq3m0kSb4EE_BaBfKcBwCYAOaC0GSuh9FAx1FYBeSEyqaFTjNZSC1c0QfutchfjKEDJ72LsDneeFxuwVbgLjRsGQAzkKHFCbI3g70-G1hzyX0n5vvJ1mrYA3aURfiX6OnfFwlKt5MVYDMsdD_R4zyTMkA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTBSvMxew4nlGoED_V8kib2r49YJYR_wq3m0kSb4EE_BaBfKcBwCYAOaC0GSuh9FAx1FYBeSEyqaFTjNZSC1c0QfutchfjKEDJ72LsDneeFxuwVbgLjRsGQAzkKHFCbI3g70-G1hzyX0n5vvJ1mrYA3aURfiX6OnfFwlKt5MVYDMsdD_R4zyTMkA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg39NyOIPTfyR2IYdGq7XvAjcEjLz8V4uBTUIwYbi_1FWiFZAsjiKCmnKnhfE4hKs4dfLcbqiC_9vxEHuhCmNeI3WDddo8SRglCNBay0Cr5rV9SsCbzvgJ27kqY-hlSiTH54kucAA8Ghnd4Wf2PzGIE3693eujih96eGz-5yhWMMS1vLK40bVL9NA=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg39NyOIPTfyR2IYdGq7XvAjcEjLz8V4uBTUIwYbi_1FWiFZAsjiKCmnKnhfE4hKs4dfLcbqiC_9vxEHuhCmNeI3WDddo8SRglCNBay0Cr5rV9SsCbzvgJ27kqY-hlSiTH54kucAA8Ghnd4Wf2PzGIE3693eujih96eGz-5yhWMMS1vLK40bVL9NA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKLX2a7BPlpjvgq7JiuDyFX2fUFCgnPPn9hEO6vSVdURXaDJu6rHFccJ_zFH6YAX5e-txm7qxfgqqJKwwfR_dsuFPsEliJ5BEjWtIBsl3ihJBxpMB63HThetX01kBvfLlnSSLY4jv12cMwmYzewZDi8fNIFF7RfMdgYT-xexU0kpOHeI1iAfAefg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKLX2a7BPlpjvgq7JiuDyFX2fUFCgnPPn9hEO6vSVdURXaDJu6rHFccJ_zFH6YAX5e-txm7qxfgqqJKwwfR_dsuFPsEliJ5BEjWtIBsl3ihJBxpMB63HThetX01kBvfLlnSSLY4jv12cMwmYzewZDi8fNIFF7RfMdgYT-xexU0kpOHeI1iAfAefg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2h-cLE8bkMvfEl5viOwAR5zSjpXmx6VM34oblA6PmC72yGfhJXR61WC9lxy5hXU_JXLRuG6dZnD9_6_EtVlBMFhVUDICiZXDTTwRkCGnemFrBHcTulxBXsuEVrysGqG2GNJiiE853zeO30lF5RxBnKdC87eosEjxPtgn1YJxz0ZMWSjAskPjyeg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2h-cLE8bkMvfEl5viOwAR5zSjpXmx6VM34oblA6PmC72yGfhJXR61WC9lxy5hXU_JXLRuG6dZnD9_6_EtVlBMFhVUDICiZXDTTwRkCGnemFrBHcTulxBXsuEVrysGqG2GNJiiE853zeO30lF5RxBnKdC87eosEjxPtgn1YJxz0ZMWSjAskPjyeg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbeT0xinvET4EWKBEH3gPx3L16NocIckBm7-vggrt1rjxCwryqTncHSdiyxxE-xKGMz_NjICXojoe7sF1PczWrz6VFWNQ_R7dq2b69s-MwJ9nwQaccdUzhj60vaob6094-5PFcga_2LRtds2DgY3X2W1lRQl2ZGdpREuNHzZ9LdIOjdRkc-Nckgg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbeT0xinvET4EWKBEH3gPx3L16NocIckBm7-vggrt1rjxCwryqTncHSdiyxxE-xKGMz_NjICXojoe7sF1PczWrz6VFWNQ_R7dq2b69s-MwJ9nwQaccdUzhj60vaob6094-5PFcga_2LRtds2DgY3X2W1lRQl2ZGdpREuNHzZ9LdIOjdRkc-Nckgg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I began to hit my stride, finding myself needing to stop less and getting into the groove of the walk both physically and mentally.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0HmCPWdcDfl-YUU3qRmyh-LsGET1C2udIciuJvsOnqBLZGJgPEKkjZTrH4YYpo80550SNAMjGrYO9luPpviTCtaUdbc65O9ulZ01f6XXUjaagnSHVygDSWTQFpaP1vbKlIDoeY0hPBUpt8dNJJpINRv0FnBh9PADvoF8TZ0oWDD_22MBtPyMemw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0HmCPWdcDfl-YUU3qRmyh-LsGET1C2udIciuJvsOnqBLZGJgPEKkjZTrH4YYpo80550SNAMjGrYO9luPpviTCtaUdbc65O9ulZ01f6XXUjaagnSHVygDSWTQFpaP1vbKlIDoeY0hPBUpt8dNJJpINRv0FnBh9PADvoF8TZ0oWDD_22MBtPyMemw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3HFf9aA2BPiFg5lSFGlsRlFw_IfbtdKU6ACbLhuUhVZpIrPtnVIujGTtM_tDo4eroG75-bX68lxtPSjhcTRD6NPQh6NYVZrB24NkaipV7NKaTSrpzqSq2_aVn9yA-1Htfj5wBPpNXDThbcRjJxo09JjBdfx6aQgWEqQ2pojF5BPu3C9Wd_XejYA=s2944" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3HFf9aA2BPiFg5lSFGlsRlFw_IfbtdKU6ACbLhuUhVZpIrPtnVIujGTtM_tDo4eroG75-bX68lxtPSjhcTRD6NPQh6NYVZrB24NkaipV7NKaTSrpzqSq2_aVn9yA-1Htfj5wBPpNXDThbcRjJxo09JjBdfx6aQgWEqQ2pojF5BPu3C9Wd_XejYA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6GSXm3V2mDS4MeE3WmkMeIWN23jVe6WiDX2-Tm66l8_WNnAboSrR8-X648pJpyJ3-oqHvfxYodkGkEnoMieKtyPwgca0mJj9wbyRBWS-trPbduTJ_uYQe2Y4eEkwPsy4WrV0TCicTroATw0gI2OZuZc7Lk73FpM5G2mjaRjVEVQE8a0bl5T_hHQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6GSXm3V2mDS4MeE3WmkMeIWN23jVe6WiDX2-Tm66l8_WNnAboSrR8-X648pJpyJ3-oqHvfxYodkGkEnoMieKtyPwgca0mJj9wbyRBWS-trPbduTJ_uYQe2Y4eEkwPsy4WrV0TCicTroATw0gI2OZuZc7Lk73FpM5G2mjaRjVEVQE8a0bl5T_hHQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNoB172Y-vnMu420GxG8f9RM_9H1_OqI-F9k8eSaVTYim-I9k9Rd4lsaMNvRwHZaGeFZkHegeeIvLARvPXuuCYKURC3RpduEb5hz-V_tpgdOqTAh00xi7iCvADEUGL7p41I3foocy9q3wkmnpDmnOjpgwiV6OLujfHYmva8j7aSBhZyu3S45P-8g=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiNoB172Y-vnMu420GxG8f9RM_9H1_OqI-F9k8eSaVTYim-I9k9Rd4lsaMNvRwHZaGeFZkHegeeIvLARvPXuuCYKURC3RpduEb5hz-V_tpgdOqTAh00xi7iCvADEUGL7p41I3foocy9q3wkmnpDmnOjpgwiV6OLujfHYmva8j7aSBhZyu3S45P-8g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I noticed the trees were beginning to change and I had reached a different area on the mountain. It was more shaded and their was more of a breeze now. I soon found myself coming upon the lookout, shocked and happy I had succeeded so easily before realising it was not the Eualdrie Lookout but, Peregrine Lookout. Which was a nice view along the way with only 900m to go to my destination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIXAM7rH8jJcU20SedLwE-Ul-gySREgvHsE0no6r7HWtAS1yjbfXsYkhNj0SgVx7qtq1wCw64lcPNYL3LT1H-d0p91NSmKlFutH15YgEjWcJo98NJF2MdDmOqj2lkt-BexruMwWGT00hlA5v2PJean6hZ28u0RM0TO3aqUIs7FNsUADnlFpAF9zw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIXAM7rH8jJcU20SedLwE-Ul-gySREgvHsE0no6r7HWtAS1yjbfXsYkhNj0SgVx7qtq1wCw64lcPNYL3LT1H-d0p91NSmKlFutH15YgEjWcJo98NJF2MdDmOqj2lkt-BexruMwWGT00hlA5v2PJean6hZ28u0RM0TO3aqUIs7FNsUADnlFpAF9zw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjdFwAxtJog_4BXdsZYcsUTT9ODV6maA6W4eKDzzrno30BNTZZgdMpMUlCdqWWY2odp35_OFzWnoEatAmyP6ffyWdwn_YNasd8yN5pqfPSA_IOz-1boJuRhcjCd51GwcGtD3Z3awb5eIRbf5_Ym9feuWc_Xg__Fu0OYY8TaCcEMHzziMJaARrGXA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgjdFwAxtJog_4BXdsZYcsUTT9ODV6maA6W4eKDzzrno30BNTZZgdMpMUlCdqWWY2odp35_OFzWnoEatAmyP6ffyWdwn_YNasd8yN5pqfPSA_IOz-1boJuRhcjCd51GwcGtD3Z3awb5eIRbf5_Ym9feuWc_Xg__Fu0OYY8TaCcEMHzziMJaARrGXA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIXAM7rH8jJcU20SedLwE-Ul-gySREgvHsE0no6r7HWtAS1yjbfXsYkhNj0SgVx7qtq1wCw64lcPNYL3LT1H-d0p91NSmKlFutH15YgEjWcJo98NJF2MdDmOqj2lkt-BexruMwWGT00hlA5v2PJean6hZ28u0RM0TO3aqUIs7FNsUADnlFpAF9zw=w400-h300" width="400" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR0s8uuFtSrKmFIMtuJjCC8j28JhEkwSbpzK_LYRkoi7fRCaQ-dIF5HghahqhV5W4pohF2X4bql476yaNQQT8b9kYf_-1D10NaUSOQ0HDIzmcFofgbILAgY6vm8PpDJBAtTtbAP6yK4g8uatTfNVYY5iT02RTvpnNrKa_v1C5ZvEZcYeLQD_UVAQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR0s8uuFtSrKmFIMtuJjCC8j28JhEkwSbpzK_LYRkoi7fRCaQ-dIF5HghahqhV5W4pohF2X4bql476yaNQQT8b9kYf_-1D10NaUSOQ0HDIzmcFofgbILAgY6vm8PpDJBAtTtbAP6yK4g8uatTfNVYY5iT02RTvpnNrKa_v1C5ZvEZcYeLQD_UVAQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSpUnNms7qpWycLuUw8laL9auihadYMfsR7QgLVvHv-5pKDRTYijXqNq7H3OkEja76mpKKEQRNFVlU4AgaXJ-BcO5MPWbGSLO2y8BPo5jXzyatGQNikfKrdbf761rLIEWFeJi-GyS9GGGBsmLRSvQlwbyR0V7Xv9OhXSFmwrrsC6c7_90Rz2lLMg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSpUnNms7qpWycLuUw8laL9auihadYMfsR7QgLVvHv-5pKDRTYijXqNq7H3OkEja76mpKKEQRNFVlU4AgaXJ-BcO5MPWbGSLO2y8BPo5jXzyatGQNikfKrdbf761rLIEWFeJi-GyS9GGGBsmLRSvQlwbyR0V7Xv9OhXSFmwrrsC6c7_90Rz2lLMg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walk flattened out for a short while travelling through the trees before once again turning sharply upwards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin_gz9H3QPFLOUDXg0hHsxTurbdzt2qgxdLtoPaGlqH37Znkh3G_QfMmJ9-I-negd5c8QbLXskHV3OMDrJ8sftfp6S4iTfRNcuj7IYC7iQQKlvmSpopIDy7ps4R52mSesCswXJlwPE6dtK7ZT1SwPm54st-K5xUh6poZq97Q6UrIzNjZs1hd9vKA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEin_gz9H3QPFLOUDXg0hHsxTurbdzt2qgxdLtoPaGlqH37Znkh3G_QfMmJ9-I-negd5c8QbLXskHV3OMDrJ8sftfp6S4iTfRNcuj7IYC7iQQKlvmSpopIDy7ps4R52mSesCswXJlwPE6dtK7ZT1SwPm54st-K5xUh6poZq97Q6UrIzNjZs1hd9vKA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2Tj3JQ5MUavOQG3ghvNjMUXuZUvi6N0CU5MZUGRPcykZ77OXab3acV2JEhd-OehDYanERNG4egw5mlQkGrsVLjWU_bwy2h3p0N3e3vDVtegSLCPv4qzRYRWnk1nz_cv0ySpIZQxs_DMgEIzlylDOqckEUnA0SQY02_MliEnFXFOe3JoaP08TSA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgA2Tj3JQ5MUavOQG3ghvNjMUXuZUvi6N0CU5MZUGRPcykZ77OXab3acV2JEhd-OehDYanERNG4egw5mlQkGrsVLjWU_bwy2h3p0N3e3vDVtegSLCPv4qzRYRWnk1nz_cv0ySpIZQxs_DMgEIzlylDOqckEUnA0SQY02_MliEnFXFOe3JoaP08TSA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfG5uPhMrrce9We_KLjTq4aWty13EIxu0HJ2QodvrNxzmttwRen9Eszd5OTE53rDEYpRZb1xHddYRbuWtY2qetyxYZxR5KfqBtbcADLpIZC0Hsmjo5eebz1-35qKsLKlrG-4K03tVbKTfUU_lsHRL08egY1-oMRQfvQy_DaNkE38aivPV-1lOrlA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfG5uPhMrrce9We_KLjTq4aWty13EIxu0HJ2QodvrNxzmttwRen9Eszd5OTE53rDEYpRZb1xHddYRbuWtY2qetyxYZxR5KfqBtbcADLpIZC0Hsmjo5eebz1-35qKsLKlrG-4K03tVbKTfUU_lsHRL08egY1-oMRQfvQy_DaNkE38aivPV-1lOrlA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I walked, I thought about this blog, and I questioned whether or not I want to do it anymore. I love hiking, I love travel, and I also love writing and the opportunity to share and tell stories. But I began to feel lethargic and put off by the idea. It is effort put in and for very little reward. I thought about stopping, maybe just giving it a break. But I thought as long as I get some joy, and the fun experience or story-telling and reliving a past adventure I would continue, if the time ever feels right for me to stop then I would.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I soon had approached the top, feeling proud of myself as I noticed a big monument build out of stones, and I wondered what it was for before noticing a piece of metal rusting next to it on the ground and figuring it was probably a Trig Station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbUI8HMmZiCdrWthJfoaq0aSZZOcsaiHFrGUObLM-fCBwjjRXDC1I2jyUeYyk3ie8m2MxFzT0lwKmMhCAQDqSeCkMW-U_3FwEwKoDwKPwihNhDp3WXFhMAXA_TlrfmN5hKUyxtxOZ6JWYZWyf1wExFZqPC7lMR8T9U2iMjt4O1gNiEjCJDtq9epA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbUI8HMmZiCdrWthJfoaq0aSZZOcsaiHFrGUObLM-fCBwjjRXDC1I2jyUeYyk3ie8m2MxFzT0lwKmMhCAQDqSeCkMW-U_3FwEwKoDwKPwihNhDp3WXFhMAXA_TlrfmN5hKUyxtxOZ6JWYZWyf1wExFZqPC7lMR8T9U2iMjt4O1gNiEjCJDtq9epA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR6PfedHJ7N9Ve_nw6Dc27oen5a_9VHskdAVLSHqzjLe3GOUh7FTFZRxfct3Oivi4JohPfSKpq6HcwCxk98_DGG2ye4HvhHEvPbjCvJ-MZnBhAOeeSqdZ3k5SvYPheJEc51kqNMzvsKhet7HnSA9ttE6dYVL0psxjUvuNhjp_7gnRpqPE6Sz5qiw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR6PfedHJ7N9Ve_nw6Dc27oen5a_9VHskdAVLSHqzjLe3GOUh7FTFZRxfct3Oivi4JohPfSKpq6HcwCxk98_DGG2ye4HvhHEvPbjCvJ-MZnBhAOeeSqdZ3k5SvYPheJEc51kqNMzvsKhet7HnSA9ttE6dYVL0psxjUvuNhjp_7gnRpqPE6Sz5qiw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2mJGzmgquH8viRKlKeo23d15tKgAnGL1QbOyV9Sk18oN-3SNwfEmKXY3Jvc2hcZn2iOuP01BSA1kKu0HPGGiMx1vcWUco1UqjyXs-guBASkAcW4a_ASegCoi-_EsfOYkAzD_s7EuEuEgU6vZcpbLCmPY-kgmw_Z3M8WAjgcSaN3mapyKeHqT-4Q=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2mJGzmgquH8viRKlKeo23d15tKgAnGL1QbOyV9Sk18oN-3SNwfEmKXY3Jvc2hcZn2iOuP01BSA1kKu0HPGGiMx1vcWUco1UqjyXs-guBASkAcW4a_ASegCoi-_EsfOYkAzD_s7EuEuEgU6vZcpbLCmPY-kgmw_Z3M8WAjgcSaN3mapyKeHqT-4Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDko1snTxWTYJtq1FWBKYHSb_jS3oe_wUpCevPLn24TXPa0luGEpCuIBz4eNpl7PYXNUucX3FbuJbPBkH_wc0Uj-fuPjoKx6TdUhA4dABaO5Ibpx3MFFR6BIDP8X27-uSLD_QWdGNHIMUhkChNQ3CdbVOZGzV-XnpNyq_jhswaRs4lFZVTp3CbQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMDko1snTxWTYJtq1FWBKYHSb_jS3oe_wUpCevPLn24TXPa0luGEpCuIBz4eNpl7PYXNUucX3FbuJbPBkH_wc0Uj-fuPjoKx6TdUhA4dABaO5Ibpx3MFFR6BIDP8X27-uSLD_QWdGNHIMUhkChNQ3CdbVOZGzV-XnpNyq_jhswaRs4lFZVTp3CbQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBxtsHypy7qmKwkQCHUBSPzpnAmcB_6OA3ubM84s7RS2tegMISV9Q0vt2Dt2rkn1-P0FMKfYcEQlvtW_k4il7akJ_vCpehMU0OvAIWEbE1bQ5CDzfwPk3AfzevMnJG5wRLhi8Vn6rvEPPccY29jXetqKknd97EIbCS_nx3LQep3SnxhfYvLdSAhg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBxtsHypy7qmKwkQCHUBSPzpnAmcB_6OA3ubM84s7RS2tegMISV9Q0vt2Dt2rkn1-P0FMKfYcEQlvtW_k4il7akJ_vCpehMU0OvAIWEbE1bQ5CDzfwPk3AfzevMnJG5wRLhi8Vn6rvEPPccY29jXetqKknd97EIbCS_nx3LQep3SnxhfYvLdSAhg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sat and enjoyed the view (with a lot of buzzing happening in the bushes around me, maybe bees?) I had brought no food with me but had some leftover fruit cake my Wife had made me for the drive still in my bag and so I ate a slice of that while looking over the expanse in front of me. I thought it would have been cool if I had been with someone else to continue the walk through to Ben Hall's Campground, which was where I was planning to go next as it had more walks available there, and after making it up to Eualdrie Lookout I felt motivated to continue and do some more walks. But with everything back at Holy Camp I made my way back down the mountain to decide what to do with the rest of my day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I arrived back down at the camp ground one car was just pulling in with a couple who sat at a picnic table having some lunch and reading the sign while I finished off the other half of my bag of uncooked instant noodles I hadn't finished for breakfast. I looked at my printed list of suggested things I had written for myself, such as the Bang Bang Inn near Grenfell. I looked at the distance, but decided I would instead pack up camp to move to the Ben Hall Campground, set up and do some bushwalks there and go to Bang Bang the next day (as that campground was closer to it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I packed up my tent (and all the stuff in it) and set out on the dusty road towards my camp ground. I soon encountered a problem. My car was having enough trouble on the old dirt roads all filled with potholes, but my problem was one I could not conquer in my little car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMdNdIQ0Mk6MlPazsW6Y4yT0Le3pgWBZUgb7-sjSomcNgydBHRRghu2-684z_4qEME9wIyys5uMH7OuGPmSExyNbv5So5iY3X8n68-MJP-3D3kiji-rFA8_gWC1t6HuHc_o3zMR06pR6lQAfW-Mkl7ijRBY6OVYE809_wBjOXUj028jH3TWncF3w=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMdNdIQ0Mk6MlPazsW6Y4yT0Le3pgWBZUgb7-sjSomcNgydBHRRghu2-684z_4qEME9wIyys5uMH7OuGPmSExyNbv5So5iY3X8n68-MJP-3D3kiji-rFA8_gWC1t6HuHc_o3zMR06pR6lQAfW-Mkl7ijRBY6OVYE809_wBjOXUj028jH3TWncF3w=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My only road both to Grenfell, and my camp ground was flooded. There was no way my little car would make it through. I looked at Google quickly, trying to think what to do as there were probably other amble dirt roads leading long-winded ways to my destination, however I was struggling to find any that didn't involve me driving hours out of the way. And I didn't want to re-pitch in the same spot and sit there for hours with nothing to do. Other than Ben Hall's Campground and Grenfell all I had left to do was more Graveyards around Young or further south when I went through Wombat, which I was just planning to do on the way home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That was all I could do, so unless I re-pitched, drove south for an hour driving around, and driving back to the same spot, all the while burning through fuel. I decided I would just head in to Young and Wombat, and do a little exploring and simply head home. It was out of my hands. (Making me wish I had a van so I could just pull up anywhere with a mattress in the back and just sleep, like I had back when I was homeless).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I began the sad drive back into Young, feeling disappointed. I questioned if naming my blog post Young, seeing as so little had actually taken place in the town. But I figured it was more like a hub, I had come out to Young as my ancestors where from around there, and it had been where all the things I had done were centered around. Soon sunscreen began to drip into my eyes just as I had made it back into town and I had to pull over on a random street trying to flush my eyes out with water. I sit my GPS to Wombat, just south of Young, where my Brennan ancestors (on my Nan's side) had been from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On my way through Young I saw another Graveyard and did an impromptu stop in and had a big look around, again finding many familiar last names. Even the grave of my great-grandfather's brother Leslie 'Tib' Sheather, who was mentioned being shot by my great-grandfather in the newspaper article I shared at the beginning of this blog post. But found many more ancestors at this graveyard (many I had on 'Find-a-Grave') but not Henry King which was a new one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB8zAw8-kUMwLiw-WOmigcJMZr90UnSFrJuwebdYr1K3uI6rhGbtMzGinkXMCxdTPBD7TcBDEuw_d0qlYArJZGHHJoy3bRe9-GwhMhT8ITbth-mZEfImCVLN2Mr2uIeCVALxWolrQjlm9pZvbCrSNvQ86QOH6TbWMBus5ecEbLDM5cX7IsUgAfTQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgB8zAw8-kUMwLiw-WOmigcJMZr90UnSFrJuwebdYr1K3uI6rhGbtMzGinkXMCxdTPBD7TcBDEuw_d0qlYArJZGHHJoy3bRe9-GwhMhT8ITbth-mZEfImCVLN2Mr2uIeCVALxWolrQjlm9pZvbCrSNvQ86QOH6TbWMBus5ecEbLDM5cX7IsUgAfTQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 3rd great-grandfather. Whose Daughter Isabella married William Brennan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflMFHp-p1PP39-Em_bLPWv0ovhuyL6gVf0dLUK_acWIf-ZMSDr-WpN7XSmz1IljPfAFE2DorLgqeJHi85Fjmvf56PUKLxpSN0eABk3Rq9WdsELd0oEXG9nZRuaspESXCLw4Zy7BC3k4g6OsPbJ8m8znBJ7Z6G65MPm6lAasKdUDK_vBjln4QFdg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgflMFHp-p1PP39-Em_bLPWv0ovhuyL6gVf0dLUK_acWIf-ZMSDr-WpN7XSmz1IljPfAFE2DorLgqeJHi85Fjmvf56PUKLxpSN0eABk3Rq9WdsELd0oEXG9nZRuaspESXCLw4Zy7BC3k4g6OsPbJ8m8znBJ7Z6G65MPm6lAasKdUDK_vBjln4QFdg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My 2nd Great Grandfather Frederick Levett I was very excited to see. Because when doing ancestry work sometimes you find names or locations and dates. Sometimes you find stories. I knew Fred had been in World War 1, in the 1st Infantry Battalion. I knew he had got injured during the Battle of Arras in 1917 but had made a recovery and later rejoined the war. I had many documents involving this including letters to and from his wife Amy Levett. I also knew their daughter Hazel Levett had drowned and had the newspaper article about her drowning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWaakaNbST3fzhVyv7Ug-fz6f6kNHi7Jf5d1a68V_ZdHhSiqjWp4BgC8mweIciBiuD3NfrNGuswk60A_i-nOlwm6JH3-nzw5liTUeka0IUhKPFspZVl-VDLVYrM2DTRLnnLedtMpSI0-af5u3jsKLM4Ke3Imz1_KRvIsqGwIukHCVkMvd0C5LEgw=s770" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="770" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWaakaNbST3fzhVyv7Ug-fz6f6kNHi7Jf5d1a68V_ZdHhSiqjWp4BgC8mweIciBiuD3NfrNGuswk60A_i-nOlwm6JH3-nzw5liTUeka0IUhKPFspZVl-VDLVYrM2DTRLnnLedtMpSI0-af5u3jsKLM4Ke3Imz1_KRvIsqGwIukHCVkMvd0C5LEgw=w400-h311" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjexTCtT-ucH2-ktCwFHY0GrbVdtryZMZ_il6_6avHwQC-l2MVLQZiuKrStjuzBIXG4JSWMHG7zBGTdm3QK67rWixALw1aK0X46nU8SVE8eB8Y_rRXriRmPKwl1OWbMobGlbwefCSPHsHcttdGCydLTK3rEBha30IO4qoNqBVaOhveVMSfIhVr0kQ=s163" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="78" data-original-width="163" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjexTCtT-ucH2-ktCwFHY0GrbVdtryZMZ_il6_6avHwQC-l2MVLQZiuKrStjuzBIXG4JSWMHG7zBGTdm3QK67rWixALw1aK0X46nU8SVE8eB8Y_rRXriRmPKwl1OWbMobGlbwefCSPHsHcttdGCydLTK3rEBha30IO4qoNqBVaOhveVMSfIhVr0kQ=w400-h191" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have so many documents that it could fill up it's own blog post, which is why I have often thought of starting a blog to tell the story of my ancestors, as one blog post someone had done had already told the story of <a href="http://campbelltown-library.blogspot.com/2015/01/john-madden.html" target="_blank">my ancestor John Madden</a>.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ3gjbll09AjZzw7dAIIIgftRQn6B_J2qtfPrRp4Z788CfPczHTK2DM2ZO-1jF3PjbAio_wMB4rexraDQOgzyMtCfZHsYnJGIcWHNgwGe0El-R0ld_AW2TMoxc6CvorzpG2vHD5F7EMjkksSdnWjT6i75uYKyDYL3gCho88UEjhHhkbPTsYvclSg=s4032" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ3gjbll09AjZzw7dAIIIgftRQn6B_J2qtfPrRp4Z788CfPczHTK2DM2ZO-1jF3PjbAio_wMB4rexraDQOgzyMtCfZHsYnJGIcWHNgwGe0El-R0ld_AW2TMoxc6CvorzpG2vHD5F7EMjkksSdnWjT6i75uYKyDYL3gCho88UEjhHhkbPTsYvclSg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">James O'Meley my 4th Great-Grandfather and his wife Mary Ann Fox my 4th Great-Grandmother honoured an pioneers. I am descended through their child James who married Sarah Jenkins and had a daughter Ellen O'Meley who married my 2nd Great Grandfather, Percy Sheather, who's sons, you guessed it, shot each other with the pea rifle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I soon had to continue on so was back in the car and making my way to Wombat past many Cherry Orchards, always tempted to stop in and hand pick some cherries or stop at a place selling freshly made cherry pie. I ultimately kept on the road. Finally arriving across from the Wombat Hotel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8GWs-qvfO9iT69xIVXnvioC91_MkJhPvT7gVinKMLHX6FCBwLu-7QbmHcTD-4QMAQQBdOCoBk6Q6L6Cn8yrig0Y0fa8p7ZYFgLXlwERALCIh4JBFCMSWqTVbrE1jQk9_fFXVO2ZZhKyko4S8H6nYd0fhP4-wLA7473y0d8hZShYY3pzfpnSRqMQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8GWs-qvfO9iT69xIVXnvioC91_MkJhPvT7gVinKMLHX6FCBwLu-7QbmHcTD-4QMAQQBdOCoBk6Q6L6Cn8yrig0Y0fa8p7ZYFgLXlwERALCIh4JBFCMSWqTVbrE1jQk9_fFXVO2ZZhKyko4S8H6nYd0fhP4-wLA7473y0d8hZShYY3pzfpnSRqMQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUGcA61AdQ7yIriyDt0XJIJLVOZtfaR-515oHOxmQhdbZN6sN-kYu4n9YawKYc5FYFELg7QQ3YJ9zB2nZ2SwPitwjw5edgQz54W06oc1xlMgnJodOPnloElIe7suUrSGs1o9PjmOhTkZK0qjXWzm4bicaEwsSWdxjCxlxKRuvGOpITOEYOCdW7ZA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUGcA61AdQ7yIriyDt0XJIJLVOZtfaR-515oHOxmQhdbZN6sN-kYu4n9YawKYc5FYFELg7QQ3YJ9zB2nZ2SwPitwjw5edgQz54W06oc1xlMgnJodOPnloElIe7suUrSGs1o9PjmOhTkZK0qjXWzm4bicaEwsSWdxjCxlxKRuvGOpITOEYOCdW7ZA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was right across from the Wombat Hotel a pub where my 2nd Great Grandfather William Brennan use to frequent and would apparently always get a 'Pony' of Beer, which is a measurement I had never heard of until I heard this story about him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf2QXNoiDMjVstwUTTb8Gmp5l0P648ii2D7IMyqRb3JZPxF8oRGuHAg0XinKV2mO5lygzUg7rZcyPEHqjlROMiXXLTtIe9UcM2JTTUeThBLRBO0cCJbnaWfvKMm8uAWnk33mXCY-XGg1mk0UCZos_8oxlhkwi8nXmJK4BMhNPce9cm9if-908-cA=s657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="493" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgf2QXNoiDMjVstwUTTb8Gmp5l0P648ii2D7IMyqRb3JZPxF8oRGuHAg0XinKV2mO5lygzUg7rZcyPEHqjlROMiXXLTtIe9UcM2JTTUeThBLRBO0cCJbnaWfvKMm8uAWnk33mXCY-XGg1mk0UCZos_8oxlhkwi8nXmJK4BMhNPce9cm9if-908-cA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of William Brennan with a beer in Wombat Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I haven't drank any alcohol since my cancer diagnosis, and I was trying to avoid people, otherwise I would have went in and asked for a Pony of Beer and seen what occurred. Instead I sat across the the Hotel underneath a tree and heated myself up some noodles before the overly long drive home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After I finished and new I was about to head home I set my GPS and the very first road I went past was Brennan lane! I had to quickly pull over and turn around to go back for a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjksZPulop95lyl2bjheg_i0MhmPRDfv8uK7AWVx_xi8OiCnADzGVpOqhlPCo794CbbYwHRW5Dl_dd8d5c6yuG4TCMh4vkrrmDiftgmekF5xxPo6SDgJ9Pd3Hs_ucmVY6Kn990Q-zvVhU5grs0A0845yHvEgxFpyZ2NNIAZRtvfu-W92oOon1aiQA=s2944" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjksZPulop95lyl2bjheg_i0MhmPRDfv8uK7AWVx_xi8OiCnADzGVpOqhlPCo794CbbYwHRW5Dl_dd8d5c6yuG4TCMh4vkrrmDiftgmekF5xxPo6SDgJ9Pd3Hs_ucmVY6Kn990Q-zvVhU5grs0A0845yHvEgxFpyZ2NNIAZRtvfu-W92oOon1aiQA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although I didn't get the trip I wanted due to unforeseen events, and being way to poor to afford a good off-road car I still felt like the trip was worth taking. Although I would have loved that bit more time to explore those bush walks and a few more places. But life is long (hopefully) and I might always make it back out to visit Weddin Mountain and the surrounding areas at some point in the future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Young NSW 2594, Australia-34.3134008 148.2979356-62.623634636178842 113.14168559999999 -6.0031669638211511 -176.54581440000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-13420585399049786042021-11-23T15:33:00.005+11:002021-11-24T12:49:57.018+11:00Jingga Trail and Minerva Pool<p>On Friday the 19th of November 2021, I turned 30. A big milestone in life (a moment please while I quietly have a midlife crisis). After having spent my 29th in hospital receiving chemotherapy to battle Leukemia my Wife told me she wanted me to do something big for my 30th.</p><p>So we paid for me to go up in one of those Stunt Planes that does all the flips and spins booking it in for the Saturday after my birthday. Meanwhile I made plans with my friend Tristan for a Sunday bushwalk to complete my birthday weekend. We decided to do the Jingga Trail, after seeing it on a sign when we went to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/maddens-falls.html" target="_blank">Madden's Falls</a>. On my birthday I simply <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWcLhE3vlB_/" target="_blank">took my Dog Orla to the Dog beach</a> to enjoy a relaxing day with no big fuss. However my flight got delayed due to rainy weather (moved to the following Saturday).</p><p>Tristan messaged asking me about the weather. I assured him I was still keen to go, and that we both owned raincoats. "It's more adventurey in the rain anyway." I said as I messaged him.<br />"Who's driving, me or you?" He replied back.</p><p>I told him I could drive, and soon began to Google Map where the walk actually was (assuming it was simply around the corner from Madden's). Turns out it was right near Campbelltown, and I screenshot some pictures on Google Map to send to Tristan so I could blue-tooth music in my car as we drove instead of needing to have GPS on.</p><p>He arrived to mine on a drizzly Sunday morning and we jumped into my car. <br />"Happy birthday bro." He said to me, handing me a piece of BWS paper with a printed itinerary for a road trip I was planning to take before I resume back at work next year.</p><p>I began the drive, mentioning it was my first time driving us to a walk since before we walked up <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a>. I began to tell Tristan about how my Stunt Plane flight had been cancelled and that I went to the movies to see Marvel's Eternals instead. I told him about how it was long and slow, not bad, but not a particularly interesting or memorable movie.</p><p>As we drove up Mount Ousley the rain began to fall very heavily and we could barely see in front of the car due to thick fog. As we made our way towards Appin Tristan mentioned if we passed a place for him to get a coffee along the way he'd appreciate it if we stopped so he could grab one. Lucky for him we passed one next to a budget petrol station on Woodburn Road as we turned to head towards Wedderburn.</p><p>"You want a coffee dude?" Tristan asked me.<br />"Nah I already had one this morning that gave me diarhea." I told him. Before eventually letting him buy me one.<br />As he was in the cafe I took the time to apply some sunscreen (although it was overcast and raining I still need to protect my skin as the medications I am on due to having gone through my treatment say to avoid excess exposure to the sun, and I had gotten a little burnt on my birthday at the beach).<br />After applying my sunscreen, I had a look at my printed road trip plan as Tristan came back to the car bearing coffee.</p><p>As we continued our way to the trail Tristan mentioned he too was planning a road trip, but with absolutely no plans other than going North, South, East and West and finding something cool in either direction, and thought it was funny that I had 2 pages of things to do.</p><p>"Well it's part road trip, part family history research, that's why that second page is just a bunch of ancestors and their Graveyards." I told him.</p><p>Soon we arrived at the walk, and stood underneath the cover of a national park information sign while waiting for me to finish my coffee. As I finished the rain began to settle, I reopened the car, placing my empty coffee cup inside and began our walk along the Victoria Road trail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dii610MiXCV78whv91ixuR-_AWOofpzryqpeOrAAea2IYW_3u3SEhZ1e2JQA9Ykxo3bPdSrwVStYHWttySiZnML9h-_qimlAhroEQcDUKqwQlkuX2_P4bpn-0FS-zmwv4m8Z8j4X6g/s2048/20211121_102143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dii610MiXCV78whv91ixuR-_AWOofpzryqpeOrAAea2IYW_3u3SEhZ1e2JQA9Ykxo3bPdSrwVStYHWttySiZnML9h-_qimlAhroEQcDUKqwQlkuX2_P4bpn-0FS-zmwv4m8Z8j4X6g/w480-h640/20211121_102143.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm703i2WK32RR7G5eq57bn0LP0_XoifAxZVu-UQnZPAsbQRT0csl7kuLTd4BxnSK7blT9l49JHr6Gfn6NvPflfbsN5W3WcBPfW7WtJo1nlITPbO-FY9_ZM1Q8Fk9BhuSRoV2OKirEHw/s2048/20211121_102206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkm703i2WK32RR7G5eq57bn0LP0_XoifAxZVu-UQnZPAsbQRT0csl7kuLTd4BxnSK7blT9l49JHr6Gfn6NvPflfbsN5W3WcBPfW7WtJo1nlITPbO-FY9_ZM1Q8Fk9BhuSRoV2OKirEHw/w480-h640/20211121_102206.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"So this must be the same National Park that Madden's is in," I commented. "Just on the opposite side."</div><div><br /></div><div>The coffee was soon through me, and I told Tristan that I had to do a wee, he pointed out a toilet block on our left not far from the beginning of the walk. I muttered something about corona-virus and unhygienic before simply taking a leak in the bush. We arrived at the first turn off to Minerva Pools, (which I had heard of often but had never been to, meanwhile Tristan had been there before). We continued straight heading towards the Jingga trail that we had originally come to do.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET4KqIeb6mKGXS1ywRjXCqNu7CJUOMKsBuk7oE1E2obmvjDod0WWovi6IJ_qa7mINZyWYxWaK7CAxlURuO0QVA-ogoDFxAnfZEh4Ax2Cm97-17nTgqEESOfJG-wxqmDdnDbFe_54nKA/s2048/20211121_102401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjET4KqIeb6mKGXS1ywRjXCqNu7CJUOMKsBuk7oE1E2obmvjDod0WWovi6IJ_qa7mINZyWYxWaK7CAxlURuO0QVA-ogoDFxAnfZEh4Ax2Cm97-17nTgqEESOfJG-wxqmDdnDbFe_54nKA/w400-h300/20211121_102401.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTsy1aD94i-6ygtUwuxiFNWuxcBCuqe8wdCduyAdlqI2Nvjhya-f3c1oe3PVlI43P5ddUB7mJcGUEuwRoMQaYE3NwUsEOmJeUAfJtFD4JujeX3lWS7XJ0fKWFy50xewSXGE7SkUnHnA/s2048/20211121_102422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTsy1aD94i-6ygtUwuxiFNWuxcBCuqe8wdCduyAdlqI2Nvjhya-f3c1oe3PVlI43P5ddUB7mJcGUEuwRoMQaYE3NwUsEOmJeUAfJtFD4JujeX3lWS7XJ0fKWFy50xewSXGE7SkUnHnA/w400-h300/20211121_102422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued on along the trail and I mentioned to Tristan that when I had looked up to find where Jingga was I had read that it was apparently steep and that it too led to water.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2sARH-WOb8I16_b92CGFXxkTHBb8mQo_DQtG-IYsK0Hrvd74sgvijZzUih2DJJWxUdY4zjyuwllTz1byZGwhw7Lip9VyVtVxttDJ-93V_lkI2pDUzumpmtMHh6-Lu9cwM8B3ImZI2w/s2048/20211121_102737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2sARH-WOb8I16_b92CGFXxkTHBb8mQo_DQtG-IYsK0Hrvd74sgvijZzUih2DJJWxUdY4zjyuwllTz1byZGwhw7Lip9VyVtVxttDJ-93V_lkI2pDUzumpmtMHh6-Lu9cwM8B3ImZI2w/w480-h640/20211121_102737.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj49qZSId_YkUeh7CxeJTIQyjyV9QZY3lIJT3jMohQyro4CEn1L3njiIWn2YWpC963R80NxjfcTmjQa66X-M59wJPYgGBuJLRYEt-SDxTSGM2DcTSYm11QcKGRv-6mx5f672l9jRfiYg/s2048/20211121_102744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj49qZSId_YkUeh7CxeJTIQyjyV9QZY3lIJT3jMohQyro4CEn1L3njiIWn2YWpC963R80NxjfcTmjQa66X-M59wJPYgGBuJLRYEt-SDxTSGM2DcTSYm11QcKGRv-6mx5f672l9jRfiYg/w480-h640/20211121_102744.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>After a very short while we arrived at the Jingga trail, but decided we would continue on to O'Hara's Lookout first.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j9OXDHAOVRHa9IkaZkREZr31P0SsL5dJ3IjuPG3Vdvl4AFWl0BDOAXbSZnANQKK4eermBkVTlAssKcZymr3lht7rH00wpxpyvOXY4JGVCAk0zskeQP-uipB3k6RqJTtnPraSwxMabg/s2048/20211121_102943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j9OXDHAOVRHa9IkaZkREZr31P0SsL5dJ3IjuPG3Vdvl4AFWl0BDOAXbSZnANQKK4eermBkVTlAssKcZymr3lht7rH00wpxpyvOXY4JGVCAk0zskeQP-uipB3k6RqJTtnPraSwxMabg/w400-h300/20211121_102943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQsmQjKwLjiDPzbGXQ9RYvgit3pH5OtjVPWFeVlrZ2DKQn0Qv_0-qErevlT-mdoG4eLjgIBU46GlfowyPeKn5eMnl9zR31ciBF1HcD1nQXo7gILvcC49DIfiZQ3_-jM_rcv2Yjd6bXA/s2048/20211121_102956.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQsmQjKwLjiDPzbGXQ9RYvgit3pH5OtjVPWFeVlrZ2DKQn0Qv_0-qErevlT-mdoG4eLjgIBU46GlfowyPeKn5eMnl9zR31ciBF1HcD1nQXo7gILvcC49DIfiZQ3_-jM_rcv2Yjd6bXA/w480-h640/20211121_102956.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The rain was heavily inconsistent. Swapping from short heavy bursts to a gentle mist. I pointed out how nice the droplets of rain looked in the trees, particularly he casurinas, Tristan agreed saying it made him think of Christmas trees, as the water drops lightly sparkled. "It almost looks like sleet." He said.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhhNNp6vdnGbxWGXG6_d-IU1-A1yfvrhgNvPbvodnTeRzHJturpiGQqwvQwqkSUXsfS5QpU6lPu_Z_A4o3PkzjJhNt492KNanH3xdpk5oidMS3zxIaWYyADwG2neUkKxxb1Q5exmyxQ/s2048/20211121_103320.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhhNNp6vdnGbxWGXG6_d-IU1-A1yfvrhgNvPbvodnTeRzHJturpiGQqwvQwqkSUXsfS5QpU6lPu_Z_A4o3PkzjJhNt492KNanH3xdpk5oidMS3zxIaWYyADwG2neUkKxxb1Q5exmyxQ/w480-h640/20211121_103320.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As I was taking this picture, a lone girl in a raincoat came walking down the path from O'Hara's Lookout, we politely said hello to each other as we walked past.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTA7SbLjioMPd39qL-GkYuWxZbJcHZdjRy0cWtqn5SQSVaK93M7_b-bMWcU3q2SNLH66LqCObwcdATzLN_Sv6hsRDepdTtUiYJHTq60ER0LcAwPJIbihEEfWEVBiYIxA-D73dVrbggA/s2048/20211121_103547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTA7SbLjioMPd39qL-GkYuWxZbJcHZdjRy0cWtqn5SQSVaK93M7_b-bMWcU3q2SNLH66LqCObwcdATzLN_Sv6hsRDepdTtUiYJHTq60ER0LcAwPJIbihEEfWEVBiYIxA-D73dVrbggA/w480-h640/20211121_103547.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J7Y1zgCD1_b-juJsh8QyBuOEt1jjUMzM-DI8bOIT_HV5UAD8Wte3Ew_5HPmiiKF_JEmgoqIaN1iQmX95kDqsKkskcyAirZ7MRoLKGGAeczIUwB6_Jx7ftnTnx6DKSG62uq63UL6ZTg/s2048/20211121_103635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J7Y1zgCD1_b-juJsh8QyBuOEt1jjUMzM-DI8bOIT_HV5UAD8Wte3Ew_5HPmiiKF_JEmgoqIaN1iQmX95kDqsKkskcyAirZ7MRoLKGGAeczIUwB6_Jx7ftnTnx6DKSG62uq63UL6ZTg/w480-h640/20211121_103635.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>"See, isn't it a nice change to walk in the rain?" I said to Tristan while he looked at me funny. "Lets jog for a bit."</div><div><br /></div><div>He looked at me incredulously. "Why?"<br />"Well I'm going back to work next year, and my fitness is terrible and I need to start working on it." I told him. "Come on, just up to the tree on the corner!" I said.<br />"Oh yeah, the tree on the corner, like there's only one." He said sarcastically.<br />"The one that stands out there on the corner, on the left, the gum tree, the one that's not a casurina." He continued to be sarcastic but eventually agreed and we began a slow jog towards the tree.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we reached it I commented that it was good to get the heart rate up a bit, before turning the corner and spotting a really nice gum tree I stopped to get a photo of, as Tristan walked ahead he called back and told me to get a photo from the other side, as he thought it looked better from that angle.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fZN_bxastJbiSPmPny-JnXw3N0VTWmjFO3AlD4kWi6SRfN8Q5Wpq20DLpx5DgB97e_tCwdTQf3puNIOBC0w1yykC7nU5AvNiR2vL_7HXeyc6D1aT66oqmAwQ6hrcSEdWucBvZiC_4Q/s2048/20211121_103757.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fZN_bxastJbiSPmPny-JnXw3N0VTWmjFO3AlD4kWi6SRfN8Q5Wpq20DLpx5DgB97e_tCwdTQf3puNIOBC0w1yykC7nU5AvNiR2vL_7HXeyc6D1aT66oqmAwQ6hrcSEdWucBvZiC_4Q/w480-h640/20211121_103757.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44VOSU7Zg7GzQFCST8lTnXQe_pwK3wT5kYnvwdQfd9sD4gZWp_zwUp0u6763lwznEyIf8DtIY0WVQtgCll_o5zmo0IpynqNDKVOdVvpyC6Th5I1jLVCWLaOprbTYtfI8eaQ7EqeursA/s2048/20211121_103810.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44VOSU7Zg7GzQFCST8lTnXQe_pwK3wT5kYnvwdQfd9sD4gZWp_zwUp0u6763lwznEyIf8DtIY0WVQtgCll_o5zmo0IpynqNDKVOdVvpyC6Th5I1jLVCWLaOprbTYtfI8eaQ7EqeursA/w480-h640/20211121_103810.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued along the fire trail, occasionally coming to big puddles we had to walk around on the side before coming to the turn of on our right to O'Hara's lookout, with the fire trail continuing on ahead while also looking like it branched off to the left. I wondered where it led and Tristan insisted it was just a fire trail to allow travel through the national park for dealing with bush fires. "Oh an you can edit your Madden's Falls blog post too." He told me, "The fire up there was back burning." </div><div><br /></div><div>I told him I wouldn't edit the post, but that I'd just mention in in this one. "My blogs carry on, they're all linked." I told him "It's like a journal, or diary but told through the guide of hiking and travel."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIIEIID3gISuS7dBgZSfbEL9uhqtP_j-mi5z_rl8FpcuI3_qsR6LpX_i2u0RO5T1Do9IlmRxkBJPXJ8XYjCuW-y9dcZyOP8zUQvEdolZ8E8zxvsV-XGWrWYUGp2J1XoOy894pHSlasQ/s2048/20211121_103945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIIEIID3gISuS7dBgZSfbEL9uhqtP_j-mi5z_rl8FpcuI3_qsR6LpX_i2u0RO5T1Do9IlmRxkBJPXJ8XYjCuW-y9dcZyOP8zUQvEdolZ8E8zxvsV-XGWrWYUGp2J1XoOy894pHSlasQ/w400-h300/20211121_103945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqojXcgOMAiff5kHqoePNagdgfbDJJVY9uGGQ8Jztrywn0N8GltJoa7V3ntujWSBO8POTbbIzzdBOGfaNjsEc1fg646YWiTgANFFIjslcn9CmzabCLqWfHKKpsSVVXeCYIlEjff8ZNSw/s2048/20211121_103937.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqojXcgOMAiff5kHqoePNagdgfbDJJVY9uGGQ8Jztrywn0N8GltJoa7V3ntujWSBO8POTbbIzzdBOGfaNjsEc1fg646YWiTgANFFIjslcn9CmzabCLqWfHKKpsSVVXeCYIlEjff8ZNSw/w480-h640/20211121_103937.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H1VpnnRH749nsSLbvxxmxlFQc8oVdS1OT82orGdwngAM27_CO3N-lzrvBeStvhOGB9hfJbwO5eSUZRMyy2rJMZ_M97IfDCpamqK23Mu1Q_ERlfH2-D5zU292BXbJJuDeTP03FYUvdg/s2048/20211121_103927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H1VpnnRH749nsSLbvxxmxlFQc8oVdS1OT82orGdwngAM27_CO3N-lzrvBeStvhOGB9hfJbwO5eSUZRMyy2rJMZ_M97IfDCpamqK23Mu1Q_ERlfH2-D5zU292BXbJJuDeTP03FYUvdg/w480-h640/20211121_103927.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The entire walk to O'Hara's Lookout was flat and incredibly easy, and not long either making it suitable for most people to get to. We turned down the path and I couldn't help but try to photograph the little flowers with water hanging underneath them. The misty rain was constant and made my phone screen wet and slippery, and I struggled to swipe the photo shortcut. My phone also struggled to get the photo in focus the way I would like. Later on during the day (sitting at Minerva Pool) I mentioned to Tristan how I would like a big proper camera for photography, but that that it just seemed inconvenient to take on bushwalks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizfnk3T9EGPEZI1YNiyZGQMxCXBL8pSkRoOAEjcMQEslM5TJ7RMNsapgGx-peZ1WnEW7Gt915FUJJrOPogDGAl_hHYzaQXqC8pdc5cQqGgwVCV2UqtTJRSObrHZ5XkthLjWlIflzXHA/s2048/20211121_104017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizfnk3T9EGPEZI1YNiyZGQMxCXBL8pSkRoOAEjcMQEslM5TJ7RMNsapgGx-peZ1WnEW7Gt915FUJJrOPogDGAl_hHYzaQXqC8pdc5cQqGgwVCV2UqtTJRSObrHZ5XkthLjWlIflzXHA/w480-h640/20211121_104017.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We soon approached the the lookout and got our first glimpse down at the valley below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-kzPlSBvAJKVqjaCve7xtQMx4swUXmCywMQdFzGgve8IoAqE0Ra4uYuV4B0NfgEq8lydI2JzgcSPaW1oTcrH585HJ8GjF7Tjre9pHdMXMXUtHZ4qiysIcj6DkTMxmOmxqBMvllPelA/s2048/20211121_104317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-kzPlSBvAJKVqjaCve7xtQMx4swUXmCywMQdFzGgve8IoAqE0Ra4uYuV4B0NfgEq8lydI2JzgcSPaW1oTcrH585HJ8GjF7Tjre9pHdMXMXUtHZ4qiysIcj6DkTMxmOmxqBMvllPelA/w400-h300/20211121_104317.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (particularly <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/7rtxlP1iijQrZeUASrioeg" target="_blank">Through the Valleys</a>) came straight into my head. I mentioned to Tristan that it looked straight out of Oblivion or Skyrim. He replied that it looked straight out of Lord of the Rings to him. <br />"Everything looks like it's out of Lord of the Rings to you." I said, recalling his Lord of the Rings comment he had made at <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/kellys-falls.html" target="_blank">Kelly's Falls</a>.<br />"I'm listening to the audio book now." He said, and we then had a discussion about how boring the Lord of the Rings books are, and how I hadn't read them, but I had read the Hobbit and not enjoyed the writing style. This went on for a while and after we stood in the cool breeze and just watched as the mist and fog blew through the valley.</div><div><br /></div><div>"I assume Jingga takes us down there." I said, looking down as we turned around and head back to walk down the Jingga trail, Tristan finding a nice stick that he picked up and took with him as a walking stick. I continued to notice new flowers along the way back. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWppfeQH98sZXfMah9F_XtsHYw00qLwHnpkE_0-iqonaWmgXSEEgK-u-MmBqWNS1Te-k-GtUY6TA7odPMK3NgIM3nFvJPhR0hpx1gmEm0OrKQI9jdSrEp4O9s4llnDG8UHoqA9MENlmw/s2048/20211121_105659.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWppfeQH98sZXfMah9F_XtsHYw00qLwHnpkE_0-iqonaWmgXSEEgK-u-MmBqWNS1Te-k-GtUY6TA7odPMK3NgIM3nFvJPhR0hpx1gmEm0OrKQI9jdSrEp4O9s4llnDG8UHoqA9MENlmw/w480-h640/20211121_105659.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC4Rpp5U5edGyt6I2-74JFyFywznN9LbZ-advP5oW4qy4BtAIDu-OasotlTVhLM1rhKQNuOsWyBR-5Avdtl_6xY96Imel3KbaECx3TI9wLLr57PMmfeK69BvSf5ZecanzDSKl34K4qg/s2048/20211121_105703.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC4Rpp5U5edGyt6I2-74JFyFywznN9LbZ-advP5oW4qy4BtAIDu-OasotlTVhLM1rhKQNuOsWyBR-5Avdtl_6xY96Imel3KbaECx3TI9wLLr57PMmfeK69BvSf5ZecanzDSKl34K4qg/w480-h640/20211121_105703.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>When we arrived at the Jingga trail the most obvious difference to us was that it was a dirt track.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdNrmFUAaL8LMmqHUhPzzRIPAtxezL5hwL_akwDVG6eRgy8_Pc3AEilkPAW8TkVulbfI0Nu7dtvjlDPmv_Wi6c4QfCQtzP4kxCq7qEWk-uFKb0k_4vWKl2MM4WM_evcJWzIMK8n9Maw/s2048/20211121_105844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdNrmFUAaL8LMmqHUhPzzRIPAtxezL5hwL_akwDVG6eRgy8_Pc3AEilkPAW8TkVulbfI0Nu7dtvjlDPmv_Wi6c4QfCQtzP4kxCq7qEWk-uFKb0k_4vWKl2MM4WM_evcJWzIMK8n9Maw/w480-h640/20211121_105844.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMWy0TiC2u-1yQGiPZ0oiXgJnzRKoDyLXZRImU-T3RV-WQnyYY5JsG2-zSnUq9AsuDDdmHc0Y34NojSrXw92pmjCkN5qLTDiUl1hMQJDUZaNnJwGRXqeiT1YCeiO6muF3_3SKd7yUCw/s2048/20211121_105917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMWy0TiC2u-1yQGiPZ0oiXgJnzRKoDyLXZRImU-T3RV-WQnyYY5JsG2-zSnUq9AsuDDdmHc0Y34NojSrXw92pmjCkN5qLTDiUl1hMQJDUZaNnJwGRXqeiT1YCeiO6muF3_3SKd7yUCw/w480-h640/20211121_105917.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We made our way around the puddle arriving at the gate but noticed a small track through the scrub on our right, and decided to follow it just to see if it led anywhere.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX4ncCzSh5h7xbhXeku6iiq-ORMWLJcUI9PnG7bovYeQkm0GFeaeRjVcMm8Wb32Q9e_-K3FfReDVoUtVQRGwDpMTdgIL-XU7BXeyZtj2LMDONbTZUCbP_bMONMcwcbNAOTDPlHYwXUQ/s2048/20211121_105951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX4ncCzSh5h7xbhXeku6iiq-ORMWLJcUI9PnG7bovYeQkm0GFeaeRjVcMm8Wb32Q9e_-K3FfReDVoUtVQRGwDpMTdgIL-XU7BXeyZtj2LMDONbTZUCbP_bMONMcwcbNAOTDPlHYwXUQ/w480-h640/20211121_105951.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I led the way, getting soaked as I brushed past all the low hanging branches, which got thicket the further in we got. It soon looped around and opened up directly behind the gate, with Tristan commenting that that was a waste of time (yet all part of the experience).</div><div><br /></div><div>We noticed some empty shells (they looked like sea shells) to the side of the track and thought that was a bit curious, wondering if they had been harvested from in the creek.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkNr-xCM5KArQU5pbPuE812iSJjR0tTMgNpWrDu29eczKV-wFvVhW6g2kDFHBI0fFxCITalvH1eNUfIubpI8-yfb4f8POIuJJcrJmLt83dZ-2ZB7U6RXD_P1CjuAxs-9obFB3dk1NAg/s2048/20211121_110056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkNr-xCM5KArQU5pbPuE812iSJjR0tTMgNpWrDu29eczKV-wFvVhW6g2kDFHBI0fFxCITalvH1eNUfIubpI8-yfb4f8POIuJJcrJmLt83dZ-2ZB7U6RXD_P1CjuAxs-9obFB3dk1NAg/w400-h300/20211121_110056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As we made our way along the Jingga trail the rain progressively began to get thicker and heavier.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5RjKZ_CutkiFOcAuCLE75oie5cimXOF8J72ubUL52w6FJj0vhuXi4m0eiJmmNhGC19S0l2JQcZQyPWouG-MKkLU0r9dCRxpbBTE1NQKlGRXRjzQkc3aqr0lqkrBZLbqW-X6m5LK9XA/s2048/20211121_110141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5RjKZ_CutkiFOcAuCLE75oie5cimXOF8J72ubUL52w6FJj0vhuXi4m0eiJmmNhGC19S0l2JQcZQyPWouG-MKkLU0r9dCRxpbBTE1NQKlGRXRjzQkc3aqr0lqkrBZLbqW-X6m5LK9XA/w480-h640/20211121_110141.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The track soon began a steep incline, which is maintained the whole way to the bottom while winding around corners.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOTNup_mf4h58nEXwMLvQySGPXRo1qRZHes-uqjCCkTKQ7svmtO9dJQzg9btIC5RE_dhnCN4qvyczO6Hu-3c1wFRqcrtxjR71iJcKFA59hiKdGKXXlIQ2gnZiqXruhIOT4up_pWGznQ/s2048/20211121_110811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOTNup_mf4h58nEXwMLvQySGPXRo1qRZHes-uqjCCkTKQ7svmtO9dJQzg9btIC5RE_dhnCN4qvyczO6Hu-3c1wFRqcrtxjR71iJcKFA59hiKdGKXXlIQ2gnZiqXruhIOT4up_pWGznQ/w480-h640/20211121_110811.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBsKHjQNoxZsV2wdZoi4kOgDgWpPDvqAxoJFUEvgy6WbOKdeFLlr71jEKdtMd76c6VdEiEO237LaqE0fK_N46C4mwbA4VNgrXZU8lD8Aq4lD1APbw3lHwPx8qg2JIky3lBtaVMSpBGQ/s2048/20211121_110219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBsKHjQNoxZsV2wdZoi4kOgDgWpPDvqAxoJFUEvgy6WbOKdeFLlr71jEKdtMd76c6VdEiEO237LaqE0fK_N46C4mwbA4VNgrXZU8lD8Aq4lD1APbw3lHwPx8qg2JIky3lBtaVMSpBGQ/w480-h640/20211121_110219.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9Xa7bYRg0I_Eh1XIsTTSyo5YL-VfW85znBZiFfwRwMcDFS5j8lD6x8UPJGrqplY1Q6yepGRobzPEHSwdK18p7MVUT8qFKcz-m3UB6l6-hpFAkAUDOkGLuBX3OKnrNm-ydJFgCtktLw/s1008/received_1072987750181372.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9Xa7bYRg0I_Eh1XIsTTSyo5YL-VfW85znBZiFfwRwMcDFS5j8lD6x8UPJGrqplY1Q6yepGRobzPEHSwdK18p7MVUT8qFKcz-m3UB6l6-hpFAkAUDOkGLuBX3OKnrNm-ydJFgCtktLw/w294-h640/received_1072987750181372.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div>I commented to Tristan that the photo's didn't really do it justice in terms of the steepness. We continued walking and Tristan asked me when I planned to do my road trip. I informed him I didn't have dates planned, because I had to get 2 sets of vaccinations in December (<a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">due to my Stem Cell Transplant</a>), which would have to be a week apart, and that I wanted to be home before the 20th to be here for my Wife's birthday. He asked if I could drop a delivery off to a family member who lived in Young (where I was planning to go) for him. I said that would be fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we progressed down we could see O'Hara's Creek through gaps in the thicket.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE13q9cFT12R8BzQSdTdNMpRlhGzbJy5JLX6WZcwFZW-eLmjjb-lZplrIlzSAsKyBQ7Y91-TdMFrrR042AxbPeN1g0xRiVPW2LrYmdk0-5yRLYiUbz08eYTk5mWm-xzyXbR2P_4nDj2w/s2048/20211121_111034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE13q9cFT12R8BzQSdTdNMpRlhGzbJy5JLX6WZcwFZW-eLmjjb-lZplrIlzSAsKyBQ7Y91-TdMFrrR042AxbPeN1g0xRiVPW2LrYmdk0-5yRLYiUbz08eYTk5mWm-xzyXbR2P_4nDj2w/w480-h640/20211121_111034.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>On our left we were walking alongside giant walls of stone, and at one pointed we came across a pocket in the rock and I instantly told Tristan to get inside.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdz72U1PVKtCKVxX13y8rKLOHYFovK4yyhvLpg0EDO3uA2BDlm7I39On_7TMrl_8hiS0Q4DO_kxAo6wcy8UwM0LR8IE5fxT2ZOvXLm020-K5cYXWVb8DL6Zr8CFI8MJpplXKxOR9b7w/s2048/20211121_111124.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdz72U1PVKtCKVxX13y8rKLOHYFovK4yyhvLpg0EDO3uA2BDlm7I39On_7TMrl_8hiS0Q4DO_kxAo6wcy8UwM0LR8IE5fxT2ZOvXLm020-K5cYXWVb8DL6Zr8CFI8MJpplXKxOR9b7w/w400-h300/20211121_111124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dm5SYH22jnbfO1j2WAKcydobn3tP89kaOvD9IaLnJuz1gMTu_u9xzWLa-VmqVwY-0Nvey3YSDcpBEPiyt6g4ehABIGCcud_A8ipi6yKjNyNjM3eXHV53F-GdpEhU7kXuohzvpJMpuw/s2048/20211121_111206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dm5SYH22jnbfO1j2WAKcydobn3tP89kaOvD9IaLnJuz1gMTu_u9xzWLa-VmqVwY-0Nvey3YSDcpBEPiyt6g4ehABIGCcud_A8ipi6yKjNyNjM3eXHV53F-GdpEhU7kXuohzvpJMpuw/w400-h300/20211121_111206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRiEe1eFpr-Q6RaufLO7ojy8H4HepMyxHUj1wmvsmQkelbQTeVvwm4Rz2cl1kdgrEKCaZtinfaf-QW-D3aIpiy-DgsR7PpUIWGXsBb0LeqjsmJgCC5eWz8JsahBXPancRPaDy7LGXeg/s2048/20211121_111352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRiEe1eFpr-Q6RaufLO7ojy8H4HepMyxHUj1wmvsmQkelbQTeVvwm4Rz2cl1kdgrEKCaZtinfaf-QW-D3aIpiy-DgsR7PpUIWGXsBb0LeqjsmJgCC5eWz8JsahBXPancRPaDy7LGXeg/w400-h300/20211121_111352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As we reached the bottom there was small shed we assumed was an electrical shed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcx1ob2d0EQBwOQiz9ytboIDZ6Y1vB9XAhpby_U9F3-1t6rNynOf2DcLQ6LoZflKbv9RXve20bukvRdOeNo5t3AOmd0BYLAR6qlxTlQEBZSs5FAGikfwUehDudiZrl8jyuNCVr145gg/s2048/20211121_111925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcx1ob2d0EQBwOQiz9ytboIDZ6Y1vB9XAhpby_U9F3-1t6rNynOf2DcLQ6LoZflKbv9RXve20bukvRdOeNo5t3AOmd0BYLAR6qlxTlQEBZSs5FAGikfwUehDudiZrl8jyuNCVr145gg/w400-h300/20211121_111925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We continued as the trail opened up to a huge waterhole with a weir just upstream.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhqYTxX5-Qlp5Uh2rI0xC1CwgYDNkoweTDUojxepzlWTSGMdLXHgTB4dSTaChMkYCJH6YE0_-VZKp3LNL5DiIh9BJNR0jxoFqTOzkkxEGa9I_v0LedXE-uGnIFFHjHAu54hKZxbcQ0Q/s2048/20211121_112102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhqYTxX5-Qlp5Uh2rI0xC1CwgYDNkoweTDUojxepzlWTSGMdLXHgTB4dSTaChMkYCJH6YE0_-VZKp3LNL5DiIh9BJNR0jxoFqTOzkkxEGa9I_v0LedXE-uGnIFFHjHAu54hKZxbcQ0Q/w400-h300/20211121_112102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kUCe7rHbB68OZZrsVfv7B52evMbOAWIv-t7SdRiHSDr8bnfUUwRF4-QaqaW1g5aLTET17VqCMYWtg35cxTkkrlPpBxpft2Lar-1I0Pn8I-ASi3zQdZQXF_LxvDrj9qs1znKD0uNUTA/s2048/20211121_112239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kUCe7rHbB68OZZrsVfv7B52evMbOAWIv-t7SdRiHSDr8bnfUUwRF4-QaqaW1g5aLTET17VqCMYWtg35cxTkkrlPpBxpft2Lar-1I0Pn8I-ASi3zQdZQXF_LxvDrj9qs1znKD0uNUTA/w400-h300/20211121_112239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE3Sj-2NGnBVXwBFp-4DTrHOUzG7h8RC6lPdDVxaU8V5Xs2Ml25OU3N6M-QOk7DvpzxAuqjeQO4PZXnHHVNZ5txIO2_e5KES4S3MBi6KogRrHMScTYqY_JwMA9AiD6wxgYevUmtrO7w/s2048/20211121_112652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE3Sj-2NGnBVXwBFp-4DTrHOUzG7h8RC6lPdDVxaU8V5Xs2Ml25OU3N6M-QOk7DvpzxAuqjeQO4PZXnHHVNZ5txIO2_e5KES4S3MBi6KogRrHMScTYqY_JwMA9AiD6wxgYevUmtrO7w/w400-h300/20211121_112652.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJt0wumauz0huLFry2sxXXXRjkSx0FrTWPUeMLR0iA7V9oNB0hAxZWvbGBy5v4aqwaq3T6LXIJqunyBTp0CnTcNEWfmg7oGLUF5oT6j7o-uNVKhJ7VFcHCIqM1oP8I_2ORlC1ph88Aw/s2048/20211121_112355.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJt0wumauz0huLFry2sxXXXRjkSx0FrTWPUeMLR0iA7V9oNB0hAxZWvbGBy5v4aqwaq3T6LXIJqunyBTp0CnTcNEWfmg7oGLUF5oT6j7o-uNVKhJ7VFcHCIqM1oP8I_2ORlC1ph88Aw/w480-h640/20211121_112355.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51fq2TPxW0ATzWlsgwebnqhVuMcXN2MKZCFxrhxwxg33wkc6jAztrEINbomQywCzgqkiJ3uzmciMbR-4RXdkio3sTeomxTtPL2xrnhNUuVCE5X9dUwjfWWBfLjwcSQd6gF2UlygH8cw/s2048/20211121_112446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51fq2TPxW0ATzWlsgwebnqhVuMcXN2MKZCFxrhxwxg33wkc6jAztrEINbomQywCzgqkiJ3uzmciMbR-4RXdkio3sTeomxTtPL2xrnhNUuVCE5X9dUwjfWWBfLjwcSQd6gF2UlygH8cw/w400-h300/20211121_112446.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7xwusaxBTsGeiMZLc1a8jZpV_8MivWdlSa1DeT-yFVo2gCiZ6AEtuTZMLMlfrDuGAOQPiv-poVt9gvDpmVdSbjQyXtNa4uDgyOwK9X_JEuHIM6SiIbdKcbrmfxdllfc6GqIaibeKkQ/s2048/20211121_112549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7xwusaxBTsGeiMZLc1a8jZpV_8MivWdlSa1DeT-yFVo2gCiZ6AEtuTZMLMlfrDuGAOQPiv-poVt9gvDpmVdSbjQyXtNa4uDgyOwK9X_JEuHIM6SiIbdKcbrmfxdllfc6GqIaibeKkQ/w400-h300/20211121_112549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT0rDfkp1Wf0X0-yBMlDWr04KL-hNnZ_wYkcNFt4ZK-sCora4JVTvpwJ9IxtRHZn6CBG-3E6miXMX9QkR9IuYIG7mXlcP6DiK8S8ywYXQkYWsbZhUTKGe3HGxrsbQ-tU4Y9B5t6UnQ/s2048/20211121_112554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bT0rDfkp1Wf0X0-yBMlDWr04KL-hNnZ_wYkcNFt4ZK-sCora4JVTvpwJ9IxtRHZn6CBG-3E6miXMX9QkR9IuYIG7mXlcP6DiK8S8ywYXQkYWsbZhUTKGe3HGxrsbQ-tU4Y9B5t6UnQ/w480-h640/20211121_112554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>While we were exploring the area, unbeknownst to me Tristan was snapping some photo's.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtKRFlft9ICEvRRWNd4cCyMvD_kDybl1EZv1oYXzmv26bJQReQjuPDXZHMmUhL8hbpUhlFcQykS9AcC3oCIwiLa9pnpuyPTRqexXbnhcmTTg9dMsiCAiQUrW6XN1s0nJ9u-R5d-YIVg/s1008/received_1803752649811796.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="1008" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtKRFlft9ICEvRRWNd4cCyMvD_kDybl1EZv1oYXzmv26bJQReQjuPDXZHMmUhL8hbpUhlFcQykS9AcC3oCIwiLa9pnpuyPTRqexXbnhcmTTg9dMsiCAiQUrW6XN1s0nJ9u-R5d-YIVg/w400-h189/received_1803752649811796.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I scuttled down the side of the weir while Tristan yelled at me point that there were steps coming down. I made my way across the water trying my best not to drench my shoes, though not fully successful as some spots were deeper than I thought. While I crossed Tristan climbed up a rock getting a good view down the creek and posed while I took a photo of him.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOKgpv6Gn6p1ishccQA4_Umw-mhwUQr5yDeRaf_0fFSRpQhQiY_Evrgqr3oDxvBiG4shWD5u_FPSxL07Hmv67eb9I1j6fA2MnV9biMpnSUZ9KDOCEMAA1igDORY9QhIrWEcZUUFhIPQ/s2048/20211121_112706_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOKgpv6Gn6p1ishccQA4_Umw-mhwUQr5yDeRaf_0fFSRpQhQiY_Evrgqr3oDxvBiG4shWD5u_FPSxL07Hmv67eb9I1j6fA2MnV9biMpnSUZ9KDOCEMAA1igDORY9QhIrWEcZUUFhIPQ/w480-h640/20211121_112706_01.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>It had started pouring with very fine rain, thin, almost invisible by also heavy, and in trying to take the photo of Tristan my hands slipped and slided along my phone doing all sorts of strange things, winding up with video of him, pictures in black and white and other weird colours, presumably done by filters, all completely by accident.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7VrCanRBNu98EQ3fkIZzN4FA8daJncmwh-0cSqIj_33psnYRgLDaMWShg15EZrhiNB1wWM-YX898GVPkwx9LZJMbGZJkHJtsaGH7WcdDZY5DMmqC7qTQrRlqRRHlZCEo6_nRM6gcsw/s2048/20211121_113216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7VrCanRBNu98EQ3fkIZzN4FA8daJncmwh-0cSqIj_33psnYRgLDaMWShg15EZrhiNB1wWM-YX898GVPkwx9LZJMbGZJkHJtsaGH7WcdDZY5DMmqC7qTQrRlqRRHlZCEo6_nRM6gcsw/w400-h300/20211121_113216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Every time I tried to take of photo Tristan ran in my way, doing a silly pose and mocking a mutual acquaintance of ours.</div><div>"You know I'm not going to be able to upload any of these photos or mention it?" I told him.</div><div><br /></div><div>We sat around admiring the view before deciding to head back up the trail to head to Minerva Pool.</div><div>I saw Tristan disappear under the rock I had photographed him standing on top of and saw that there as a little gap through it, so I squatted down and made my way through as well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgTi8mdqkWl4w8yKj5zeVbFjzCFHGb7_OSy5fezaSAN5b-t1RDaWXjY8VKJkmDa4-bIHTf3rayCTd3OP8TFAWqaYai8DBYr21DZQPfH_6fqOwuidGQHjnHT8CiCx3o78J_mxKHYJUyA/s2048/20211121_113552.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgTi8mdqkWl4w8yKj5zeVbFjzCFHGb7_OSy5fezaSAN5b-t1RDaWXjY8VKJkmDa4-bIHTf3rayCTd3OP8TFAWqaYai8DBYr21DZQPfH_6fqOwuidGQHjnHT8CiCx3o78J_mxKHYJUyA/w480-h640/20211121_113552.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As we crossed to the other side (and I took the stairs this time) we spotted a covered area of overhanging rocks just a bit downstream, we stood inside having a look and enjoyed the beauty of the swimming hole we were at.</div><div><br /></div><div>I knew Minerva Pool was 'Woman's Place' a sacred place for the Dharawal Aboriginal people and that only women and children were supposed to swim there. I wondered out loud to Tristan if this area was the same, (assuming it was on the same stretch of creek) as there had been no sign mentioning it. He assumed it wasn't but admitted he didn't actually know. I later learned on the national park website that Jingga means 'nice and sweet' in the Dharawal language and that while Jingga was on O'Hara's creek Minerva was actually on Stokes Creek that flowed down into O'Hara's Creek.</div><div><br /></div><div>We began our way back up and instantly I could feel myself getting out of breath. I commented to Tristan that we might have to stop a few times, and that it didn't feel like a lack of fitness, but when I did steep things I would just feel out of breath, mentioning that I will eventually have to get my lungs checked to see if the chemo did any damage to them (but hoping it was just fatigue due to my treatment). I stopped after not very long of walking trying to catch my breath, and then continued on again, this time stopping to get a photo of some hanging flowers, which I had to slightly climb up a slope on our right to get a photo of.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCgDEkl-9bnvP0lm6ulxVn2FbXo3l4sDJGc2Tle-g93_IYl0W_WaEOaQKG6K_6tPxGLpbqH65IpjpoKkSv2SwyO9qLxY6IcVwVBW60I6EixuAavY1iO7SX2JaflWD3BdjubV9GEfuEQ/s2048/20211121_115207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCgDEkl-9bnvP0lm6ulxVn2FbXo3l4sDJGc2Tle-g93_IYl0W_WaEOaQKG6K_6tPxGLpbqH65IpjpoKkSv2SwyO9qLxY6IcVwVBW60I6EixuAavY1iO7SX2JaflWD3BdjubV9GEfuEQ/w400-h300/20211121_115207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After getting the shot I jumped down onto the solid ground, panting. Tristan was shocked that I was exhausted from that. I told him I got completely exhausted building IKEA furniture a week prior.<br /><br />I finally caught my breath and we continued uphill. I began to explain the origin of my "internet name" Venso Howlie, and why it was my Instagram name among many other things. I went into a big rant about a Fantasy book series I had come up with when I was in year 7 of high school, explaining to him the plot of all of the books in the series. "I picked the wrong section to go on this rant". I said at one point, before instantly going back into the details of the stories.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0znctXeU1Vs63-Mz9TJSZJY_UGaKYmbuZgpc0qH3fuxJF8aTluE3fEnC-JL5X2a7KDz1ShonXCOHC_3aKQFYG9WLxjEJdugDZZo0_GaY8cWI-YygjgDs3oka-qkUEQf1pp3gSb8SvqA/s2048/20211121_115854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0znctXeU1Vs63-Mz9TJSZJY_UGaKYmbuZgpc0qH3fuxJF8aTluE3fEnC-JL5X2a7KDz1ShonXCOHC_3aKQFYG9WLxjEJdugDZZo0_GaY8cWI-YygjgDs3oka-qkUEQf1pp3gSb8SvqA/w480-h640/20211121_115854.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We finally made it to the top, just as I had finished the plot of my books, and I was impressed at the fact I had only had to stop twice. However I asked if we could head back to the cars before continuing to Minerva Pool (I had left my backpack in there because of the rain) for food and some water. <br />"Oh we're doing Minerva too," Tristan said, shocked. "Makes sense, no point driving back all this way when we're here now."</div><div><br /></div><div>I quickly ate a vegemite and cheese sandwich and downed one of my entire bottles of water. As we were eating two men arrived back from the walk (the car had been there since before we left) so we made the assumption they had been at Minerva, and made the assumption they had not been culturally respectful and had went for a swim.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Alright, let's go." I said, all finished. While Tristan was on his phone trying to catch a shiny Shinx because it was a community day on Pokemon Go.</div><div><br /></div><div>We made our way back to the start of the Minerva Pool walk and began down it, while Tristan continued to jump in front of shots poking fun at the acquaintance. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit65oi6wIULgegF2MGP_JCDsbU-eDLgNs2Uzdz4NIWlEiV4yrfhZP6Y8YgxGwag-bhxK8AsEXF2_EYc0z37lx9dIoyQYAtqKhJNkdypMOp8Rjmmw9zDkyHmzcgIFBypJkGObpcGAeR6w/s2048/20211121_123226.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit65oi6wIULgegF2MGP_JCDsbU-eDLgNs2Uzdz4NIWlEiV4yrfhZP6Y8YgxGwag-bhxK8AsEXF2_EYc0z37lx9dIoyQYAtqKhJNkdypMOp8Rjmmw9zDkyHmzcgIFBypJkGObpcGAeR6w/w400-h300/20211121_123226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We began to talk about friends, and how sometimes they come and go. While discussing it I couldn't help but remember my time in hospital. I remember through my various rounds of chemo laying in bed, sick and alone, with nothing but the sound of the machine pumping toxic chemicals through me beeping. I thought about the people who came to see me, or the people who cared enough to message me constantly, making sure I was ok and that I wasn't alone. I also thought about those that didn't. So called friends that I just didn't even hear from. Whether it be people I thought were close personal friends, or even people I thought were close work friends. I didn't say anything out loud to Tristan about it, but I did have a deep feeling of disappointment towards those people, in my mind they had shown their true colours, many I still have yet to hear from. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY3orwqCTqiO5iUPRMshJIjISC_lz01VikS2M3lzcOq-BbCbKcJ1VTYQJyiLCdZj9S7y8CqL3vXt2gESddGmcvISID1p-bOQXV_OfQoHKkhejiLzjY_aTgkmwt66e8SPrApsWDGYbow/s2048/20211121_123359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY3orwqCTqiO5iUPRMshJIjISC_lz01VikS2M3lzcOq-BbCbKcJ1VTYQJyiLCdZj9S7y8CqL3vXt2gESddGmcvISID1p-bOQXV_OfQoHKkhejiLzjY_aTgkmwt66e8SPrApsWDGYbow/w400-h300/20211121_123359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuha7ENSfsZVViOR2shnqk1Re7jbdB9pw7ffiBHW-2xaKureqZTl8qtZam_DZ8Go1AtF2G9pmR4WkFwm3iTCWs4psYmuUXSh_zDlxHPC3vboMtOQ6YAWsHDTZh24ESxmMNAPHNnNSXw/s2048/20211121_123314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuha7ENSfsZVViOR2shnqk1Re7jbdB9pw7ffiBHW-2xaKureqZTl8qtZam_DZ8Go1AtF2G9pmR4WkFwm3iTCWs4psYmuUXSh_zDlxHPC3vboMtOQ6YAWsHDTZh24ESxmMNAPHNnNSXw/w480-h640/20211121_123314.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The path continued winding as week spoke, and I remembering thinking about why it was called Minerva Pool, Minerva being the Roman Goddess of Wisdom (and a hundred other things). But forgot to ask Tristan (and was unable to find a reason online). But this got the idea of History in my head and our topic of conversation soon changed to History as I brought up the fact I had been watching 'Tasting History' on YouTube, a show about historical recipes/food with historical rants in between.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6MCMR1jsiUGKngF6GkxwvD5rQCZUJXNbs97CSN9MfxYKhinZPt1Gv-aklWDjG4RCMLfLt4lIAxOmt3heSH06LmMico6n3wWWiucBR5PKAtar16YPtYo13P72zBqYSlK13mUMFbBlAQ/s2048/20211121_123626.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6MCMR1jsiUGKngF6GkxwvD5rQCZUJXNbs97CSN9MfxYKhinZPt1Gv-aklWDjG4RCMLfLt4lIAxOmt3heSH06LmMico6n3wWWiucBR5PKAtar16YPtYo13P72zBqYSlK13mUMFbBlAQ/w400-h300/20211121_123626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>"Ooohhh, I wonder what's up that path." I said as we walked by two big concrete blocks.<br />"Private property." Tristan said, pointing to the sign hanging up in the tree on the right.</div><div>"Have you ever been to Mjolner?" Tristan asked me.<br />"The Viking restaurant? Nah I haven't."<br />"It's good food." He told me. I wondered whether or not they were historically accurate, or more 'inspired'.</div><div><br /></div><div>The whole topic of food got me hungry and I mentioned my Aunt Chungling had a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/koshigayakitchen/" target="_blank">Sushi restaurant</a> in Campbelltown. </div><div><br /></div><div>"You have an Asian Aunt?" Tristan asked.</div><div>"My Uncle Marks' Wife. So not blood related. But 3 my cousins are."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_wcxzv1U7JRt_RmSIH3VwBPyZD3w2s76tv2JZa7svDh35Ch9SV8o9vOOW-U9XQYvWg_EY7DVWCVccrR9_3og3Ck_ya3GExsLN3pU0YkvgIEwzaQqB-j_aAJdDulXITIJADUdHVvaJA/s2048/20211121_123630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_wcxzv1U7JRt_RmSIH3VwBPyZD3w2s76tv2JZa7svDh35Ch9SV8o9vOOW-U9XQYvWg_EY7DVWCVccrR9_3og3Ck_ya3GExsLN3pU0YkvgIEwzaQqB-j_aAJdDulXITIJADUdHVvaJA/w480-h640/20211121_123630.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VGqwBjY1auXqrXHuSTVnnuZc70DzijimaX17-oT8VK6jgYQRnm_eVfIzAf7hJ9zTlVlr0jKd9WYdQ3at8jkM355T-zRzhvqWwCGpDa2_4Xhs9p0c7iho4_WvgoIZ8snQyZlZCbGhAw/s2048/20211121_123805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqXAgSLA4i-XEPu0pl-u87_69CV-SaGKQz6grAsKEBwbgr2rgXDmL59PCHrk-vEsLnjU7XKxcVxOvKwVJ3834GzBB4AcLsJ4Gr55cbV8GF3PhqcdTIvt5r7WFHcS-j40dCRDSJo56MA/s2048/20211121_123746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqXAgSLA4i-XEPu0pl-u87_69CV-SaGKQz6grAsKEBwbgr2rgXDmL59PCHrk-vEsLnjU7XKxcVxOvKwVJ3834GzBB4AcLsJ4Gr55cbV8GF3PhqcdTIvt5r7WFHcS-j40dCRDSJo56MA/w400-h300/20211121_123746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6BzbBG8SS85RKkTdf-15qwmIwGjovSJlfCaj5RvOQu-AlYXLCfTEQXHCWxzdfhbm6rSk-Lslx3t_l6av0P5kqMB5ChT5Af1151DYxcilRgbFKxdRkX8W7aIpIAaomxfmIM-JBwxY-A/s2048/20211121_123805.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6BzbBG8SS85RKkTdf-15qwmIwGjovSJlfCaj5RvOQu-AlYXLCfTEQXHCWxzdfhbm6rSk-Lslx3t_l6av0P5kqMB5ChT5Af1151DYxcilRgbFKxdRkX8W7aIpIAaomxfmIM-JBwxY-A/w400-h300/20211121_123805.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As we reached a sign with a turn off to Minerva I wondered where the other track led, but just continued down the trail with Tristan beginning to get sillier and sillier.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwdKv25wiMDHZAlP2OuXRCFm1SP_QKakK55bhiAKdWxl0KBob9DUUcprnivAdSrO0ZHIHyum9xKSEjsYO05_A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>The track we followed opened up onto another fire trail heading both left and right but with the trail to Minerva still directly ahead of us.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o1pUKHvIAjd0-kjWhTHHOu9RMdfn0kF3mvw4pBavblbN8DDZkzNXekqEjbngJ_E3D51GGsSk1cfal5JKORLO3Y4U_CBrd9V_kJ09jlLAKBqLu8a1L63KuXXj2vWVUm7EL1lbaug7fw/s2048/20211121_124104.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_o1pUKHvIAjd0-kjWhTHHOu9RMdfn0kF3mvw4pBavblbN8DDZkzNXekqEjbngJ_E3D51GGsSk1cfal5JKORLO3Y4U_CBrd9V_kJ09jlLAKBqLu8a1L63KuXXj2vWVUm7EL1lbaug7fw/w480-h640/20211121_124104.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Tristan in parody mode*</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />We past through a section of burnt out bush and wondered if it was backburning or wildfire, eventually passing a little stream with concrete blocks placed to cross over.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GHJamsUJPxlkW-hIvHPcM-uwzStp9N1Md85DfCzP_ul2pOrsTGIMQ9x8LHzz6oQdAohYdBMMzJpJ9GyKfjkQJ9WoIct2qkoAIiJ2SUZOelzkTzeEbKUSp1apUNWK_9m6gPXaqUSe3A/s2048/20211121_124718.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GHJamsUJPxlkW-hIvHPcM-uwzStp9N1Md85DfCzP_ul2pOrsTGIMQ9x8LHzz6oQdAohYdBMMzJpJ9GyKfjkQJ9WoIct2qkoAIiJ2SUZOelzkTzeEbKUSp1apUNWK_9m6gPXaqUSe3A/w480-h640/20211121_124718.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ6NbsCbZDoQ3Cxt20H6Ao-32CwTORtqDvGmAlGuvRB6VmFDcGqNZ9DPyYswEG9DG1HDyXj7HujhoaTgOjXDe56lismkcDnyo7ruqfokCdqmJ2hs5gaTtQI0J0V8mMzRdYSYHX8hyphenhyphenkQ/s2048/20211121_124557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ6NbsCbZDoQ3Cxt20H6Ao-32CwTORtqDvGmAlGuvRB6VmFDcGqNZ9DPyYswEG9DG1HDyXj7HujhoaTgOjXDe56lismkcDnyo7ruqfokCdqmJ2hs5gaTtQI0J0V8mMzRdYSYHX8hyphenhyphenkQ/w400-h300/20211121_124557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IYZ6vlZIR-yPyabXCX8UiwG3EnCNDNeJ8fdOfoh8qIXUX8J2RjVe00zSpgCUe3UJNqxdvxGMZwJGbCJw8hjAqigvSnIEEVB0Wht4Ze5kWdTzj__dvU1OSCBrJd9M_pkmnd_YzvU0sg/s1152/received_419361903157910.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IYZ6vlZIR-yPyabXCX8UiwG3EnCNDNeJ8fdOfoh8qIXUX8J2RjVe00zSpgCUe3UJNqxdvxGMZwJGbCJw8hjAqigvSnIEEVB0Wht4Ze5kWdTzj__dvU1OSCBrJd9M_pkmnd_YzvU0sg/w302-h640/received_419361903157910.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div>Continuing along we could hear a dirt bike revving around us, off on other tracks but it sounded like it did a complete circle around us and we never saw it once.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx1sdBgC18LXMhViShE9gNdrkHngj0nUR3stjHAo6LVvXZ8bazPdozmtmrJfqro3fyX4-nvxwX9QWrrm3uRa6N0Vscs_I6evUF3rK6SBQcK7z0B10YmthYYmCJg9lYaAT6MoSHUPlgw/s2048/20211121_124941.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx1sdBgC18LXMhViShE9gNdrkHngj0nUR3stjHAo6LVvXZ8bazPdozmtmrJfqro3fyX4-nvxwX9QWrrm3uRa6N0Vscs_I6evUF3rK6SBQcK7z0B10YmthYYmCJg9lYaAT6MoSHUPlgw/w480-h640/20211121_124941.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>While the bike continued around us, Tristan decided he was going to do a wee. I mentioned how I wouldn't be able to go with the sound of the dirt bike so close in case it came upon us. He asked what was more shocking, a guy on a dirt bike, or coming across a man with his dick out.<br /><br />While he attended to business I walked through a little path to a clearing next to a giant boulder.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWi9H4f-H_9QUCNDSHqBhl7e8DwmaAEhurzEXHmPHYXiAsGXCTedqsKNnswA1WVa_2nXH4qnvxPBou0XxiitlHV_YAhjb86kFVqhO0olbGlGPxioGkYPPJ3Vw-ZAVWyv2yHsw0XSGFg/s2048/20211121_125454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWi9H4f-H_9QUCNDSHqBhl7e8DwmaAEhurzEXHmPHYXiAsGXCTedqsKNnswA1WVa_2nXH4qnvxPBou0XxiitlHV_YAhjb86kFVqhO0olbGlGPxioGkYPPJ3Vw-ZAVWyv2yHsw0XSGFg/w400-h300/20211121_125454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />Not far from here we came across a sign pointing left for Minerva Lookout and straight for Minerva Pool.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLj9Po2rgI1v1h8iwFI2p2Ml-iYbcEqEEB7wu08HxakeJ5tvP_4iqslpVATbomoVWWWP0MXp5kZOqyQKCqmhkNzmIpFO3swFz590OWd-jgBn9j9gtgEhLlFE5mhLREOdXMtxZf8CsrA/s2048/20211121_125740%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLj9Po2rgI1v1h8iwFI2p2Ml-iYbcEqEEB7wu08HxakeJ5tvP_4iqslpVATbomoVWWWP0MXp5kZOqyQKCqmhkNzmIpFO3swFz590OWd-jgBn9j9gtgEhLlFE5mhLREOdXMtxZf8CsrA/w480-h640/20211121_125740%25280%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We headed left to the lookout and I got my first view of Minerva Pool.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryx515Ofqlhp9qHZWXl_XBpbmqx24iuXwTXEB4pu_fpDEyT3lQSmV0DwW54h5wPBphVpc4I7Yoc6RCxfbkKWMv9lJyFavFmPBiQSGTEzS_IMuItw6Of4pyHE9nyHfw_GBQ4fKhHROyA/s2048/20211121_125858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiryx515Ofqlhp9qHZWXl_XBpbmqx24iuXwTXEB4pu_fpDEyT3lQSmV0DwW54h5wPBphVpc4I7Yoc6RCxfbkKWMv9lJyFavFmPBiQSGTEzS_IMuItw6Of4pyHE9nyHfw_GBQ4fKhHROyA/w400-h300/20211121_125858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We stood, looking down upon the watering hole, and I could see how a spot like this could have become sacred to the Dharawal. It reminded me of something I had mentioned to Tristan a few times on <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">different walks</a>, the idea of a the Celtic 'Nemeton' or 'Sacred Grove'.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tristan began walking to the right.<br />"Aren't we going to follow the track?" I asked.<br />"This leads there too." He said.</div><div><br /></div><div>And as we followed the cliff edge along we came upon a sign about the cultural significance of the site.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7MVLuYSixZG8BPABqXZ-DYCnOmcX6VFKV8DkJLY55aoIJm6QNji4qaD3cWlSpupLJfF-WoWalXO9ejT2OtqOmBbxWYw-9AMu51iPVz5j80MUcqYuBT_f_QmIj7yoDi3bC4P_DUI3mw/s2048/20211121_130150.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7MVLuYSixZG8BPABqXZ-DYCnOmcX6VFKV8DkJLY55aoIJm6QNji4qaD3cWlSpupLJfF-WoWalXO9ejT2OtqOmBbxWYw-9AMu51iPVz5j80MUcqYuBT_f_QmIj7yoDi3bC4P_DUI3mw/w480-h640/20211121_130150.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>Unfortunately you could see that people (probably men) had tried to damage the sign and scratch out the word 'woman' and remove and reference for men not being allowed to swim here. Tristan also took a photo so he could report the damage to the sign. We made our way down to admire the impressing beauty of the spot. I wondered about the deep ancient history of the area and stood on a ledge gazing into the deep.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRMeNF2vhItmKbkCXmj9WPxhVGzaS9K-MJL33HOg8D3138IGnOPTRxcKzQP_Z8yzS5fUD6GCrHxXynvPzjEAybI3J38lNHir-2holn8AWZVDz_c8jzri9uXNQ3FkFG37di8xWCHA_gQ/s2048/20211121_130409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRMeNF2vhItmKbkCXmj9WPxhVGzaS9K-MJL33HOg8D3138IGnOPTRxcKzQP_Z8yzS5fUD6GCrHxXynvPzjEAybI3J38lNHir-2holn8AWZVDz_c8jzri9uXNQ3FkFG37di8xWCHA_gQ/w400-h300/20211121_130409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Vl6tr4yszHblN8X8DhLOQ9NcAaydKgycmObmAOwebT-WHkPN5ikIC3y4NEpi0kXVje4HGD9dbZNIMp6N9XEJNLcpR5QrYlqNXLcjY2L3e0gcB26CgSEsvsXNtUuVlN7fHnAYbfqxg/s1008/received_186591743677748.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-Vl6tr4yszHblN8X8DhLOQ9NcAaydKgycmObmAOwebT-WHkPN5ikIC3y4NEpi0kXVje4HGD9dbZNIMp6N9XEJNLcpR5QrYlqNXLcjY2L3e0gcB26CgSEsvsXNtUuVlN7fHnAYbfqxg/w294-h640/received_186591743677748.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><div>I made my way down the rocks, while trying to avoid stepping in any water as along the way. Admiring the geological formations of all the holes in the rock, formed over thousands of years.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP5zPZaG8qPZ1NBaC92ODapldpn0BhP3H5K6WpkpDiAJX6TUXxiqY5dyJugGq_j-RUAAjfchM5pwtLRg6xzfsBWIWJ3VUXkdSGWVNAAjLWCBvqfZxOMWHp-Qib-RSmLjBbKoOKYYS4A/s2048/20211121_130527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRP5zPZaG8qPZ1NBaC92ODapldpn0BhP3H5K6WpkpDiAJX6TUXxiqY5dyJugGq_j-RUAAjfchM5pwtLRg6xzfsBWIWJ3VUXkdSGWVNAAjLWCBvqfZxOMWHp-Qib-RSmLjBbKoOKYYS4A/w400-h300/20211121_130527.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEp4yAii1XOlI5k_naHG5721sLoiPO9P-3fa0Qkp_MMN9rziNkzRFZHuZybi3aFcYIQYvlZm0VlsYvdw70Pq9DgrbDhlqPtUhCbcbE2m5D9Za7D_yrZ2s7E2b0qM6G7CNyZMsvx9RKg/s2048/20211121_130537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEp4yAii1XOlI5k_naHG5721sLoiPO9P-3fa0Qkp_MMN9rziNkzRFZHuZybi3aFcYIQYvlZm0VlsYvdw70Pq9DgrbDhlqPtUhCbcbE2m5D9Za7D_yrZ2s7E2b0qM6G7CNyZMsvx9RKg/w400-h300/20211121_130537.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4c_S1sxREFzylRQaqoIjeVDAfr2ynrRgYSGuTHWnuRoy38-_BYW12ZTCGdGBio-nOzf56loVbPDBB0zriVO9HeAIWlPkSXQavplSvTKf7ISSksdGklMc5HUfsgBN88RcCTEMvdeciw/s2048/20211121_130544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4c_S1sxREFzylRQaqoIjeVDAfr2ynrRgYSGuTHWnuRoy38-_BYW12ZTCGdGBio-nOzf56loVbPDBB0zriVO9HeAIWlPkSXQavplSvTKf7ISSksdGklMc5HUfsgBN88RcCTEMvdeciw/w400-h300/20211121_130544.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD13EZEqRcZoczdmsR1EQ-p_dA8JrceHSf7zfOcHq_y30Ni6_s8pNF5u9gxD_SXLpy_MY30AbA0gXo5SaKMthT7yl0vxRwJ7p_MfHbLI3AWMZu8SHCCk4KFk_OJjCwKF_uM1qPnC9MHw/s2048/20211121_130654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD13EZEqRcZoczdmsR1EQ-p_dA8JrceHSf7zfOcHq_y30Ni6_s8pNF5u9gxD_SXLpy_MY30AbA0gXo5SaKMthT7yl0vxRwJ7p_MfHbLI3AWMZu8SHCCk4KFk_OJjCwKF_uM1qPnC9MHw/w400-h300/20211121_130654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>As we sat on the opposite side watching the silent swimming hole Tristan removed two cold ones from his bag (he liked to bring celebratory drinks on walks when we made it to our destination). However as I haven't drank any alcohol since my cancer diagnosis, he was kind enough to buy me a non alcoholic beer. However it needed a bottle opener, something neither of us had.<br /><br />"It's OK dude, I'll open it back at the car using the seatbelt." I told him. (A trick my Father had taught me).<br />He was adamant to get it open, trying various keys on his keychain, a key with a knife on the end, but he finally got it open using a buckle on his backpack. He put his phone down on a timer, wanting a photo to remember the occasion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_rZGNLZNV_HbJ3E7nD6wzsdZ9LqhPGNED5s4tBM3pILFK0Hb8cyhortvY6_NCtnzN1ynO1UMRitQ6eUmOId23qUbZHX3E4c76lzASW9jXKpxg7akV_pvbXfBPQYBdyyNF-pRiL77nA/s1152/256396456_233261622096724_6415466562422414004_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="1152" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_rZGNLZNV_HbJ3E7nD6wzsdZ9LqhPGNED5s4tBM3pILFK0Hb8cyhortvY6_NCtnzN1ynO1UMRitQ6eUmOId23qUbZHX3E4c76lzASW9jXKpxg7akV_pvbXfBPQYBdyyNF-pRiL77nA/w400-h190/256396456_233261622096724_6415466562422414004_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>While drinking the beer, I noticed underneath the rock Tristan's phone was resting on were two beer bottle lids. "I better get them, I don't want anyone thinking that was us." I picked them up and put them in his bag. "Cartlon." I commented, showing Tristan the top of the bottle caps.</div><div><br /></div><div>I began to get cold, silently sitting, sipping my beer watching the water flow. A Sacred King Fisher flew overhead and landed in a tree. Tristan pointed it out and I told him I could see it. I took my phone out for a photo but just couldn't get a good shot, zooming in made it far too blurry. I put my phone away and we sat and watched. I thought to myself that in a Sacred Place it was cool to see the Sacred Kingfisher, admiring it's vibrant blue feathers. It didn't stay for long, and soon flew away. We finished our drinks, and continued to explore around the area. Just up from the swimming hole was more water.<br />"I wonder how much of this is the sacred area, like, can you swim in that bit?" I asked. Not that I wanted to, it was just sheer curiosity. Tristan said he wanted to message the land council to know more. We explored up around behind some boulders making sure to have a good look around the area.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCHMJhzSCbd5LrHsUnXeBusxgrs-jfkIgp4uhk3ibcu3nP8dlGJvNqmz6WPFdz0EXmOBbhm9gDoA92mwZ51ntBHfMX-0ArEsaPBWRqPtUnhTmraf-xTbV_ZcGK9A522vcduYvpNle6Q/s1152/received_1228574154304205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCHMJhzSCbd5LrHsUnXeBusxgrs-jfkIgp4uhk3ibcu3nP8dlGJvNqmz6WPFdz0EXmOBbhm9gDoA92mwZ51ntBHfMX-0ArEsaPBWRqPtUnhTmraf-xTbV_ZcGK9A522vcduYvpNle6Q/w302-h640/received_1228574154304205.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><div>As we came around a corner to an undercover section there was plenty of graffiti on the rocks. Because there's nothing like leaving nature alone. Some asshole has to write their name on a wall.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8844-af9kR6nzccQYCaXef5B5pLaPMDpU-4cJW3kNe4RM7jn_cd7mEXFIJeTU4QKAZCHbplqrY4hdJpmqhAgHt_hDpWYYBKVbwBu8qz4a9SwAZ0JpPLD-LLfGljuW6vebgPtH-qMnA/s2048/20211121_132932.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8844-af9kR6nzccQYCaXef5B5pLaPMDpU-4cJW3kNe4RM7jn_cd7mEXFIJeTU4QKAZCHbplqrY4hdJpmqhAgHt_hDpWYYBKVbwBu8qz4a9SwAZ0JpPLD-LLfGljuW6vebgPtH-qMnA/w400-h300/20211121_132932.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We climbed up a few boulders back up top and I noticed a hole in the ground where someone has tossed a can of the energy drink 'V'. Tristan climbed down to collect the rubbish.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjAw4asFwhouqFPMsJurBIZ_2oHWEicIzB4gmme2aueDHWmEltR0QTU3qZ1wN2fDSmjTwnvMNbLLtJns6ocTSxETy56syfFRB7R6rlyIcvO2r2g9pKt2ACHf1DNozo4igjJpEHIHizw/s2048/20211121_133309.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjAw4asFwhouqFPMsJurBIZ_2oHWEicIzB4gmme2aueDHWmEltR0QTU3qZ1wN2fDSmjTwnvMNbLLtJns6ocTSxETy56syfFRB7R6rlyIcvO2r2g9pKt2ACHf1DNozo4igjJpEHIHizw/w480-h640/20211121_133309.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUzCt3TURXno2XhwpQ9g2R0CyWZwDXth8ytfYG5TuEJ1GH0XHwcPmeiSvjZVAynuQDw85DibfVvBIc8KjYmdecqwyR1uqX8qqu5VToyUEYDdg0Zn9vI4V7DpTNxNqz8mxvQgpfZCYGQ/s2048/20211121_133317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUzCt3TURXno2XhwpQ9g2R0CyWZwDXth8ytfYG5TuEJ1GH0XHwcPmeiSvjZVAynuQDw85DibfVvBIc8KjYmdecqwyR1uqX8qqu5VToyUEYDdg0Zn9vI4V7DpTNxNqz8mxvQgpfZCYGQ/w480-h640/20211121_133317.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We made our way back to the top and began walking back along the track that we didn't come along the first time. I noticed a bottle of half full blue powerade in the bush and shoved my way in through the trees to grab it out and put in in Tristan's bag. Just as we were approaching the sign pointing off to the lookout we had taken last time, I pointed out and bag of Dorito's in the bush which Tristan used his stick to help pull out and take with us.</div><div><br /></div><div>We made our way back to the car with me swapping over from my bluetooth and putting in an Eluveitie CD (with Tristan making fun at me for burning my own CD's still). Arriving back at mine before parting ways he asked were our next walk would be. <br />"Royal National Park". I told him. Knowing that he had a bucketlist goal of doing all the walks in there, and even had a map where he coloured of the trails that he walked. "Let's start checking off your list, and start me on some longer walks. It's time for my fitness to get back to how it used to be."<br /><br />We said fair well for now, Tristan drove off as I unlocked my front door, both pondering the next adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYUgrat2b8d0NPG9pDUDmYJsrkHKTufKgGRs5FSHtf6WObNb7bt3TRbfon77_qNmj56E40KPGy_hSsgAAC4FnCkirxccPX-ZG5hCl3nVzqy09KVxxHSJBg-LRX5s0XhtgZjImafoMXA/s1152/received_938807886747221.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYUgrat2b8d0NPG9pDUDmYJsrkHKTufKgGRs5FSHtf6WObNb7bt3TRbfon77_qNmj56E40KPGy_hSsgAAC4FnCkirxccPX-ZG5hCl3nVzqy09KVxxHSJBg-LRX5s0XhtgZjImafoMXA/w302-h640/received_938807886747221.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com8Dharawal National Park, Wedderburn NSW 2560, Australia-34.1638644 150.8377622-62.474098236178847 115.68151219999999 -5.8536305638211559 -174.0059878tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-19004404594078832222021-10-31T13:45:00.003+11:002021-11-02T09:40:24.301+11:00Kelly's Falls<p> <b>Part 1- Kelly's Falls walking track</b></p><p>Immediately upon leaving <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/maddens-falls.html" target="_blank">Madden's Falls</a> to head to Kelly's Falls, after being unable to purchase a cider Tristan asked if he could stop in for a coffee as it was on the way. After pulling up Tristan jumped out of the car to grab a cup of coffee.</p><p>Soon he was back and we continued on to Kelly's Falls. Driving past the Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple Tristan commented he couldn't believe how packed it was.<br />"You'd think we're not in a pandemic anymore." I said.<br />"Yeah dude, but not everyone is in your situation, most people just don't give a fuck anymore, they just need to get out."<br />"I guess if I wasn't in the medical condition I'm in, and I was double vaxxed I would probably be like, fuck it, too. I wanted to go to that Hindu temple." I told him. "We drove past it I think of the way back from when <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/04/carrington-falls-missingham-steps-to.html?m=0" target="_blank">I went Hang-gliding</a>." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ74nI0bng96uVEYlFsz1Lxo84F3UxKrceq-l91NThpaYI04w0cBn4Cm31xWOWZUZDnFRTDXcmZC7mWlghlILgO4jp30PYCJMc_pEEZ7vIMsXciV1JCf3dbqQfyAWL4GV8sQHVUX5JQ/s2048/20211024_111740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ74nI0bng96uVEYlFsz1Lxo84F3UxKrceq-l91NThpaYI04w0cBn4Cm31xWOWZUZDnFRTDXcmZC7mWlghlILgO4jp30PYCJMc_pEEZ7vIMsXciV1JCf3dbqQfyAWL4GV8sQHVUX5JQ/w480-h640/20211024_111740.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon pulled up in the car park area. </p><p>"Now before you start having a go, I'm going to have a smoke." Tristan said as I immediately started criticising him and trying to get him to go the day without having a smoke, even using the cancer card on him, all to no avail as he lit it up.</p><p>I walked away to inspect the sign at the start where there were two tracks. To the left, the Kelly's Falls walk, and to the right, the Princess Marina walking track.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM1ZbJ5gHYfQHGnstqM9bWtk6L9g3BfR_f9swUnvpVAom7voLifnM1rCI-8483luHkTpUgenQb0OPp7Z43V0Y5S8kpV2AiEIt7gip3UTU7IEXD97h8N1_AcHvCYbkcijfKtV7kutuIQ/s2048/20211024_112000.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpM1ZbJ5gHYfQHGnstqM9bWtk6L9g3BfR_f9swUnvpVAom7voLifnM1rCI-8483luHkTpUgenQb0OPp7Z43V0Y5S8kpV2AiEIt7gip3UTU7IEXD97h8N1_AcHvCYbkcijfKtV7kutuIQ/w480-h640/20211024_112000.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As I was reading at least 4 sets of cars rocked up, making me a bit worried about overcrowding, as I was still trying to avoid exposure to people. As people made there way past I moved out of the way, standing awkwardly in the middle of the carpark out of people's way and clear of Tristan's secondhand smoke.</p><p>I had no idea which walk took you to the waterfall but going off the name I assumed Kelly's falls did. We started down the track at some a good interval as there was no one around us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Blz_gyYp3fe9s3-y6RfNkWlzbQIpNUzSdUi34M95kxXJw6JJNnGnw0O1wHXg09DSW6osCzAjfOPopNtEpZMVWRhN7-JY9X_uLLKBiJfeGXKMn6T7vIUXM_XTEn_6ODE36gsHThEVQ/s2048/20211024_112531.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8Blz_gyYp3fe9s3-y6RfNkWlzbQIpNUzSdUi34M95kxXJw6JJNnGnw0O1wHXg09DSW6osCzAjfOPopNtEpZMVWRhN7-JY9X_uLLKBiJfeGXKMn6T7vIUXM_XTEn_6ODE36gsHThEVQ/w480-h640/20211024_112531.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was a short walk before we hit our first cascade that the track continued over. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOslN5nW7H4ySg6u-2cMgVpnQCa-6joMIhKDKWQMLmwHNTeCaVpKeVYklTuNQ7p9v5cFKSydOqI-yOgQY_IOPqBSdYStYGyQikh4BJTA3bB7oIT_XBchjBtorlb8eINqy-bWGuxonDw/s2048/20211024_112633.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOslN5nW7H4ySg6u-2cMgVpnQCa-6joMIhKDKWQMLmwHNTeCaVpKeVYklTuNQ7p9v5cFKSydOqI-yOgQY_IOPqBSdYStYGyQikh4BJTA3bB7oIT_XBchjBtorlb8eINqy-bWGuxonDw/w480-h640/20211024_112633.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan at the cascade</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There was a ledge down below this and Tristan asked if we should attempt going down. I looked at the edge, finding very little grooves and noticing a decent height and extremely slippery surface and told him not to worry about it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxmVrhY-IuGD2ODqvyk-jrO2tcWWIx2hrApQ414e_EDikjyjMMHzaPav3ZbHOmjJDlgY-2aIZUQhRj6gIJZSZBiB1cfQeXYS1RtEzz1ISEhBnqJ1y0uK914PxbnIkvkB2aL565Fvwgw/s2048/20211024_112650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxmVrhY-IuGD2ODqvyk-jrO2tcWWIx2hrApQ414e_EDikjyjMMHzaPav3ZbHOmjJDlgY-2aIZUQhRj6gIJZSZBiB1cfQeXYS1RtEzz1ISEhBnqJ1y0uK914PxbnIkvkB2aL565Fvwgw/w400-h300/20211024_112650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>We continued the walk, which was beginning to get busy with families with young kids making their way along the tightly spaced trail. We moved into the bushes to let many of them past, nodding a greeting but secretly holding my breath each time. We reached a fence over looking the gully that the falls washed down into. It was just a sea of green curving around and leading out towards the ocean.<br />From here we could see a large number of people standing at the base of the falls, making me slightly wary as I wanted to be avoiding people.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx4sP1pEhVQp5bOeUqZ_OVW0DQaIgCbMO-1Rbsab7TANtG_zzheqQfnUrDVOj6qWRnxbiGTN-DVKZ8JNXRAut2GgkfrxLnUsCh2waDYSO-biwlx645KzKv-vFnThTJQE65MtjEWUfxA/s2048/20211024_112748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx4sP1pEhVQp5bOeUqZ_OVW0DQaIgCbMO-1Rbsab7TANtG_zzheqQfnUrDVOj6qWRnxbiGTN-DVKZ8JNXRAut2GgkfrxLnUsCh2waDYSO-biwlx645KzKv-vFnThTJQE65MtjEWUfxA/w400-h300/20211024_112748.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon reached another point with a stream gently flowing off over the edge.<br /><br />"This looks like a scene out of Lord of the Rings." Tristan said. "Can we come back dressed as Sam and Frodo and get a photo?"<br />"If you want." I replied.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuDdHQhv-zojP2ayN4uU1YOMT4eAMpD0YRumTYXLPdtdDlb6FxKvmUG_Qny4XQW4n8Ks-g_0Aew4OrD3Il6PC7ED7inESO1TIj9RE7vUd0dcJhyphenhyphenaRH-E_idvA_OHLZnEab4IXmF0uCQ/s2048/20211024_113051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuDdHQhv-zojP2ayN4uU1YOMT4eAMpD0YRumTYXLPdtdDlb6FxKvmUG_Qny4XQW4n8Ks-g_0Aew4OrD3Il6PC7ED7inESO1TIj9RE7vUd0dcJhyphenhyphenaRH-E_idvA_OHLZnEab4IXmF0uCQ/w400-h300/20211024_113051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPClePTkmOyKuF09s2wt60DPaK9VoMOyeB6xlBmIIQTp3DYjc8-NFV9wV5axkoyWm8kSzTF70DATsA-Srqf5liciKkC4cql6hlO4i5qFqhyphenhyphenpZ8QD3Ncj7p9Wh441F8fUdYOVVYAHJiQ/s2048/20211024_113058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPClePTkmOyKuF09s2wt60DPaK9VoMOyeB6xlBmIIQTp3DYjc8-NFV9wV5axkoyWm8kSzTF70DATsA-Srqf5liciKkC4cql6hlO4i5qFqhyphenhyphenpZ8QD3Ncj7p9Wh441F8fUdYOVVYAHJiQ/w400-h300/20211024_113058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We crossed over and continued along the trail moving away from the falls. Moving on we passed a random trail off to our left heading further away from the falls, I wanted to go up and explore it but Tristan was adamant there would be nothing up there as it moved away from the water. He said it was probably used for bush regen groups or led to property. He told me he had forgotten that on walks with me how excited I got over wanting to know where ever little path led, and asked if that's why I loved the <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore walk</a> we did together so much.<br />Continuing on we came across a group of 3 different couples all standing around up against the same fence looking back together at the waterfall, we made our way past them giving us some distance before stopping as we looked back and got our first glimpse in the distance of Kelly's Falls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcz055NSswZPyzmpnC8A_GyJvqtT-iySeA8KHC4m0UaD_yoBTlFwSN9nMQ7M2ddfpS0jT7vZqYG_gxDMIKaTdbjVIvY_2Z5ZHIkEwpKWA1PadlEst_qj_mKp2sYi6UH46jJtmmWdjJQ/s2048/20211024_113403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcz055NSswZPyzmpnC8A_GyJvqtT-iySeA8KHC4m0UaD_yoBTlFwSN9nMQ7M2ddfpS0jT7vZqYG_gxDMIKaTdbjVIvY_2Z5ZHIkEwpKWA1PadlEst_qj_mKp2sYi6UH46jJtmmWdjJQ/w480-h640/20211024_113403.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrriq9SrdA11OHfO4HJZ6MAjikxS4z5hJ-fdboat1igDiOUesSBcAh_A3m9_JEaqiMOuGAX1hgJyw6J0Tg8fGT4JIz95k8UuuLjm6XcdNdqXxRUFIEz1Vlac0CJfvi8BH64KF-d17TQ/s2048/20211024_113408.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrriq9SrdA11OHfO4HJZ6MAjikxS4z5hJ-fdboat1igDiOUesSBcAh_A3m9_JEaqiMOuGAX1hgJyw6J0Tg8fGT4JIz95k8UuuLjm6XcdNdqXxRUFIEz1Vlac0CJfvi8BH64KF-d17TQ/w480-h640/20211024_113408.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked on we continued talking, blabbering at 100 miles an hour, we soon passed a rock that I noted to Tristan reminded me of an area on the way to '<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-castle.html" target="_blank">The Castle</a>', he knew what I meant having first done the walk himself while I was in recovery from my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwjnrq_RYcLejKVzjAZXeJGQSOKsXFPBRxPOvf-hRkEJSdoF0cdHHkv5akh08uXVgcEz_9OKRySzuUJtbsFduMiDn5nzwtNDWuN7yX3EjxABpcSUZ_j8qsoLqOzPkdO-Yxukft2BIQ/s2048/20211024_113622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fwjnrq_RYcLejKVzjAZXeJGQSOKsXFPBRxPOvf-hRkEJSdoF0cdHHkv5akh08uXVgcEz_9OKRySzuUJtbsFduMiDn5nzwtNDWuN7yX3EjxABpcSUZ_j8qsoLqOzPkdO-Yxukft2BIQ/w480-h640/20211024_113622.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>"Dude what a walk." He said.<br />"Easily my favourite I've done." I told him.<br />"In my top 5 for sure." He replied.<br /></p><p>I told him the story of how when my Dad had first done it with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers" target="_blank">HASH</a> (Hash House Harriers) it had been pouring with rain, and the section looking like the photo above and people under it seeking refuge from the down pour.<br />I began to explain to Tristan that when he had done the walk I was at a point in my recovery where I was so sick, and that seeing people out and about doing stuff was just depressing me too much that I had to take a break from social media, stopping viewing what others were doing and just focusing on my recovery.</p><p>As we continued we noticed a strap around a tree signaling the way, I had assumed that this walk would somehow lead down and loop back to the bottom of the waterfall.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8NuEV4Yw80wF3pYUiFFhj61yDBsyseQR-AHCNG5Z6zUEAZ75p1JMXqnQjlNHyhiKjt7Fh-JyqeMb7j-xtXGsLl6uIce1EafJH8ZNuo8Zs9TkWqhT0qVTk2Jt-ny4hd4s3Ak07WzjgQ/s2048/20211024_114007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8NuEV4Yw80wF3pYUiFFhj61yDBsyseQR-AHCNG5Z6zUEAZ75p1JMXqnQjlNHyhiKjt7Fh-JyqeMb7j-xtXGsLl6uIce1EafJH8ZNuo8Zs9TkWqhT0qVTk2Jt-ny4hd4s3Ak07WzjgQ/w400-h300/20211024_114007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down into the valley</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveTRljX2UhSLhE8oN7P9A91aczYfZeD_thNJRRo7yuChEMajBlYMY4Nf-PAYb0xMWnJoU5Q2sruKEfKrMjoJV7u4uiIKepZrNo3OYhhafJroSXNKNmz05Cw5la4xRwgKu2DOALVQBPg/s2048/20211024_114135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveTRljX2UhSLhE8oN7P9A91aczYfZeD_thNJRRo7yuChEMajBlYMY4Nf-PAYb0xMWnJoU5Q2sruKEfKrMjoJV7u4uiIKepZrNo3OYhhafJroSXNKNmz05Cw5la4xRwgKu2DOALVQBPg/w480-h640/20211024_114135.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan, next to me, also looking down into the valley</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Just down from here the walk abruptly came to and end with a sign posted onto a tree in front of us.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuZcE3xkGH_gduPNFmy8xzsvo8XNrSFZjfbBtJOsnue4YYtG-hvV6AdGM8cDrWUOHHvFMD4yxtT_biJ08bfVXJBKnVBy819445RKWGknn_vK-OX7cPLKCOSmdrjjkQE39m5xFhky2FQ/s2048/20211024_114603.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuZcE3xkGH_gduPNFmy8xzsvo8XNrSFZjfbBtJOsnue4YYtG-hvV6AdGM8cDrWUOHHvFMD4yxtT_biJ08bfVXJBKnVBy819445RKWGknn_vK-OX7cPLKCOSmdrjjkQE39m5xFhky2FQ/w400-h300/20211024_114603.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> I began inspecting the map posted on the sign, to our left was a wire fence also displaying another two of these signs and a keep out sign.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDYf73RdmouhP47qmt8rAApIKoWDZoOJBHGtzZMsGBxDAcVlBEoF6hBeKwcVWAN7GlaFE6WhcAO5aOV7W-7FL-h-vEpRJ-Kp0ARHCbVACfB3X9urP6sNNIudJaPb9nHjsXPPhLtCo6w/s2048/20211024_114723.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDYf73RdmouhP47qmt8rAApIKoWDZoOJBHGtzZMsGBxDAcVlBEoF6hBeKwcVWAN7GlaFE6WhcAO5aOV7W-7FL-h-vEpRJ-Kp0ARHCbVACfB3X9urP6sNNIudJaPb9nHjsXPPhLtCo6w/w480-h640/20211024_114723.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"Is that it?" I asked, incredulous that the walk literally lead nowhere.<br />"I told you dude." Said Tristan.<br />"Why is it closed?"<br />"Well it's probably private property, maybe it didn't use to be so now you can't go any further."<br />"Well, where did it use to fucking go?" I said in frustration.<br />Tristan shrugged. "This really annoyed you didn't it?" He asked.<br /></p><p>It just felt unfinished. We began our way back to go and do the other walk.<br /></p><p>"Does the other walk lead you to the bottom of the falls?" I asked.</p><p>I felt like Tristan was skirting around a direct answer just to annoy me.</p><p>"I don't recognise this spot." He said.</p><p>I looked around a realised we had somehow walked a complete different way back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh954YB9zrZPGxrlr3TkQHzNwKv1_bB6CTO5ObSns07nnmYh3fVXyC-Oj95yTo0LfRJXpYba3YX4hL8QCLCAYiNmch1Z_RmwEilV6BE_IsQ2nW0X3GoqaUrhDj8SjaMIjnwWTTsgriS_Q/s2048/20211024_115602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh954YB9zrZPGxrlr3TkQHzNwKv1_bB6CTO5ObSns07nnmYh3fVXyC-Oj95yTo0LfRJXpYba3YX4hL8QCLCAYiNmch1Z_RmwEilV6BE_IsQ2nW0X3GoqaUrhDj8SjaMIjnwWTTsgriS_Q/w480-h640/20211024_115602.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Tristan pointed up, saying our trail was supposed to be "up there", but we decided to continue walking along it anyway, in case of some secret track to the bottom of the fall.</p><p>We soon found a bit of a cave that we mentioned would probably be a good place to camp under, although I said I didn't like the idea of camping under big rocks, no matter how sturdy, just in case they did end up falling.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9SO0uPDB4kVpF2g2Kk_a5E7L5u0aOjFfEkLHQHW-u80VeVgLquG_tK-TgCGdSdCHRZJadNHD14aNUocS9iQCqgH8d5PchWgRn9m_4YBiJKeE8VAQChEefkJB62F8-ByeKZULfH0rcw/s2048/20211024_115655.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9SO0uPDB4kVpF2g2Kk_a5E7L5u0aOjFfEkLHQHW-u80VeVgLquG_tK-TgCGdSdCHRZJadNHD14aNUocS9iQCqgH8d5PchWgRn9m_4YBiJKeE8VAQChEefkJB62F8-ByeKZULfH0rcw/w400-h300/20211024_115655.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't look too happy</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Somehow the topic got back onto my cancer, and I began complaining about how I didn't like being bald and how my fourth round of chemotherapy has been so harsh that it had damaged the hair follicles and so my hair would no longer grow back thickly on top, leaving me to now just constantly shave it. Tristan asked, "Do you even have cancer anymore?"<br />I explained that they could find no trace of it in my Bone Marrow after my Stem Cell Transplant, contrary to after my first 3 rounds of chemotherapy were they <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/mount-keira-ken-ashburn-track.html" target="_blank">still detected it in my marrow</a> even though I was in remission.</p><p>"So you don't have cancer then?" He insisted.<br />"Not that I'm aware of." I told him.<br />"Well quit whinging then!" He joked.</p><p>We reached a point where we could walk no further and headed back for the proper track. We bumped into a guy and a girl and Tristan started talking to them. He asked if they liked sticking to a path and the guy commented that he just liked going with the flow or wherever things led.</p><p>Tristan turned to me and said maybe I should walk with them instead. It took me a second and I turned to the couple and said "He's just cranky cause I walk off down every path." We wished them a good day and continued back. The fence where previously six people had been standing was no empty and we noticed a bird doing loops. Discussing what sort of bird if was I suggested a Falcon, while Tristan said it was a Sea Eagle, however in my mind I somehow thought he was saying it was a seagull, and was thinking he was losing it. We watched for a bit as a second Sea Eagle joined and the two flew around each other. I attempted to get some decent footage but every time they would fly out of sight.<br />The topic became bird centric with Tristan saying either the coolest bird (or bird name) was a Hawk. I mentioned that Hawk was a DC Character (having previously made a Falcon and Winter Soldier joke).<br /></p><p>We passed the unmarked trail and I again suggested exploring up it with Tristan insisting there would be nothing up there so I gave in and we continued back to the Lord of the Rings stream, while I was on a diatribe about how bad season 3 of the TV Series Titans was compared to the first two (getting on the topic because of fictional character Hawk).</p><p>I asked if he wanted to try exploring up stream a little and so we made our way inwards following the water up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYlBM5s2I_wyUMupMHPwEl5qe6FqrE9SFKyP4B_XOiiZXftSKLjPln5_tmelbXN5YEX7y6HTNtJ_e_c3MzR6tiGfpVoJjCxsKuSmU-LyHf1tdetMROvHt4Yc703cQKDZM4rcM79VHpQ/s2048/20211024_120746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYlBM5s2I_wyUMupMHPwEl5qe6FqrE9SFKyP4B_XOiiZXftSKLjPln5_tmelbXN5YEX7y6HTNtJ_e_c3MzR6tiGfpVoJjCxsKuSmU-LyHf1tdetMROvHt4Yc703cQKDZM4rcM79VHpQ/w400-h300/20211024_120746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we made it further up I questioned out loud whether or not that trail would lead to something that was upstream from here. Tristan still refused to accept it. Suggesting we bushwhack a bit off to our right. I followed him up a small dirt track that led no where as we began hearing two people talking. As we came back down to the water there was an older couple coming down from further upstream.</p><p>"I recommend going further up." The lady said. "It's worth seeing."<br />"Yeah?" We asked.<br />"A metre high waterfall."</p><p>We thanked them for letting us know, and both worked our way up the stream. Until we found the little waterfall she had mentioned.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cRyy55VKDxPVxOja2aNUJzMhzd3uou4HbfYyT1lADIAKyxAW-iqa8zyrMXZSxlqcIe733jt5ElY6F6eIFf1A0okwME-E4ftTS3i3Ac-fIDu-ucqJY6ZKyWFAEOHfXQ2OJFl2tLUuBQ/s2048/20211024_121246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cRyy55VKDxPVxOja2aNUJzMhzd3uou4HbfYyT1lADIAKyxAW-iqa8zyrMXZSxlqcIe733jt5ElY6F6eIFf1A0okwME-E4ftTS3i3Ac-fIDu-ucqJY6ZKyWFAEOHfXQ2OJFl2tLUuBQ/w480-h640/20211024_121246.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While I admired the little fall and took a photo, Tristan had already climbed up to the next bit on top of the falls. I looked to the right to where he had climbed up, and further to the right I noticed a little trail. <br /><br />I pointed to a path off to the right.</p><p>"I bet that was the trail you wouldn't let us go up, and I bet it leads here." I told him.<br />"I think you're right." He acknowledged.</p><p>I made my way over to climb up where he had.</p><p>"No listen." He said. "You're not going to hear this very often. I was wrong." He gestured to himself. "You were right." He gestured to me. </p><p>I climbed up and admired the lush scenery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQMX7c6ZYk3svsq-ZhTYaWScnca3WXyeJueIG0ebRB2z4RhcDJ5n4RxsnbsZ1Ib7Q8YyjZVECjWgKca1x0izJR8gLPSAdTYdDeKJCuycVqnmsbWU2pLgmU32fpwEg1gxB7pxjFpL47w/s2048/20211024_121449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQMX7c6ZYk3svsq-ZhTYaWScnca3WXyeJueIG0ebRB2z4RhcDJ5n4RxsnbsZ1Ib7Q8YyjZVECjWgKca1x0izJR8gLPSAdTYdDeKJCuycVqnmsbWU2pLgmU32fpwEg1gxB7pxjFpL47w/w400-h300/20211024_121449.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued upstream going separate ways. I went to the left while Tristan took the right. He reached a rock clearing that I was soon no longer able to get to.</p><p>"You went the wrong way bro." He said, before telling me to bush-bash to my left and make my way up and around to him, which I did keeping an eye out for snakes.<br /></p><p>I reached the clearing across from him but noticed wire fencing up ahead and started walking ahead from Tristan as he called for me to wait up. He soon caught up to me as I was looking at the wire fencing off the property, stretching even across the water as the ground was covered with horse manure.<br /></p><p>"He must bring his horses down for a drink." I mumbled.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm868bAQncN7rhqY9rezN1BK3fszORsohZQsdPgOCdhqpWBVAc8PNQp5ivbozlkHUYF_Epiy_UiQ11ujTmBYrhi2qvMo1sqi2xGOxiAGJpWQhliBf10Tt5DfTuyER0cTo8o0eergQKQ/s2048/20211024_121817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm868bAQncN7rhqY9rezN1BK3fszORsohZQsdPgOCdhqpWBVAc8PNQp5ivbozlkHUYF_Epiy_UiQ11ujTmBYrhi2qvMo1sqi2xGOxiAGJpWQhliBf10Tt5DfTuyER0cTo8o0eergQKQ/w400-h300/20211024_121817.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkTTlt1-3ZOZCxYWUbzdrzlZTsCFhE2cboxYNNpviqJJEJy6Hl-nTsfv-kz3uhh5eQV44Vq75NSQ8CfXQ65Xs4uLWGRVGNBW2WvsMaLHz0kNbIxiTSGKNYwwYpMTwiOkb2h2QagTyTw/s2048/20211024_121821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkTTlt1-3ZOZCxYWUbzdrzlZTsCFhE2cboxYNNpviqJJEJy6Hl-nTsfv-kz3uhh5eQV44Vq75NSQ8CfXQ65Xs4uLWGRVGNBW2WvsMaLHz0kNbIxiTSGKNYwwYpMTwiOkb2h2QagTyTw/w400-h300/20211024_121821.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I led the way as we went to make our way back along the path I had come up, before Tristan trust his arm out stopping me, nodding me to look down just to the right of the path where a Red Belly Black Snake was.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8NxZEahDY9Q58G5joqSBlfg5-nn3nri5Q1rIo2gbRMRMTCgSothPrvofaMDx7CE5bixG2lOVVXlujLjY3RdXdK8pT0ODOe1rzCfx3fTakm90Vli-C5PRSGTIeF7Me6KgnyL77-JF_Q/s2048/20211024_121954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8NxZEahDY9Q58G5joqSBlfg5-nn3nri5Q1rIo2gbRMRMTCgSothPrvofaMDx7CE5bixG2lOVVXlujLjY3RdXdK8pT0ODOe1rzCfx3fTakm90Vli-C5PRSGTIeF7Me6KgnyL77-JF_Q/w400-h300/20211024_121954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We decided not to go that way, instead crossing of the stream the way Tristan had come and making our way back along the trail to prove it linked up where I said it would.</p><p>It opened to a wide area absolutely littered with horse manure and for some reason it brought the lyrics of the song 'Jesus Ranch' by Tenacious D to me and I began singing:<br /><br />"I'm taking a walk in the woods, and it's nice outside.<br />Smells of shit.<br />Liggaguie, lig-a-gig-a-gig-a-guie-o-go.<br />I come upon a striped mushroom and I,<br />Fly-la-la-la-ly-la-ly"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj_C-1YV6hFmxj6MWUfQXK0bQNFucgFsQHHDWqE2K_mVC3JXO-Lv-ADYR0gx8C19M1z9cj834dEmFXHmVUOBku-t8Vn8KzuGuuyhIUG86lFvWZkbG-oqrDgQ9c5f8QUSDQDEg_JgzVA/s2048/20211024_122344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj_C-1YV6hFmxj6MWUfQXK0bQNFucgFsQHHDWqE2K_mVC3JXO-Lv-ADYR0gx8C19M1z9cj834dEmFXHmVUOBku-t8Vn8KzuGuuyhIUG86lFvWZkbG-oqrDgQ9c5f8QUSDQDEg_JgzVA/w400-h300/20211024_122344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I then started on a rant about my annoyance at the Super Mario Movie voice casting (because Jack Black will be voicing Bowser.) Before coming out at the exact trail marker I had told Tristan we should explore up, saying it was lucky we had bumped into the woman when we did or we might have missed exploring further up.</p><p>We were soon back at the carpark just as a new family had arrived and were looking at the sign. I didn't want to stop and have a discussion about whether or not to continue the walk or do it another day, so quickly started down the Princess Marina Trail.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Part 2- The Princess Marina Walking Trail</b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged4ARcGbXKFlkS2MMsGkz7n39irSyf-Wa4QmiTmZ_rLeHiN-8jr0AUNBADJ2Y7lBAISo9zGER_eX1zvGBalkLKY_poWOt2mVE28lz1TZ7FgoCQVUQN2s8ntxkP_3GtHdl7NI-v1Mpxw/s2048/20211024_123121.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEged4ARcGbXKFlkS2MMsGkz7n39irSyf-Wa4QmiTmZ_rLeHiN-8jr0AUNBADJ2Y7lBAISo9zGER_eX1zvGBalkLKY_poWOt2mVE28lz1TZ7FgoCQVUQN2s8ntxkP_3GtHdl7NI-v1Mpxw/w480-h640/20211024_123121.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I went to photograph the steps, Tristan joyously raced down in the way</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a short path and these not very long or very steep steps, Tristan spun around to look at me pointing in two separate directions.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg890a4adt9jtH-n-0AX9CTvq-WQL49tWETh7pTLV-EY282mrwk-jetScu9c7hzNSGx6-f-50SmMzNnOn7gwNVEDkYU6MYQqnah4e_A4zKiD0xZDi5dMo3R5iD-AbNPvVkEY9phuUwLBQ/s2048/20211024_123201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg890a4adt9jtH-n-0AX9CTvq-WQL49tWETh7pTLV-EY282mrwk-jetScu9c7hzNSGx6-f-50SmMzNnOn7gwNVEDkYU6MYQqnah4e_A4zKiD0xZDi5dMo3R5iD-AbNPvVkEY9phuUwLBQ/w400-h300/20211024_123201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>With his right hand he was pointing off the trail, on a path leading down to the waterfall's base. With his left hand he pointed along the Princess Marina Track. He told me I had to choose one, and that would be the one we would do (knowing full well it would annoy me because I like to do all the trails).<br />I stopped and thought for a bit, knowing the base of the falls would be the ultimate destination, in truth it was the one I wanted to go to more as well. So I thought, he probably would prefer to go to the bottom, so if I selected the Princess Marina track I could call his bluff. So I pointed down the Princess Marina Track.</p><p>"Fuck it we're doing both." He said as he started down the trail to the base of Kelly's Falls.</p><p>We went down a little and looped under an overhanging boulder back towards the direction of the Princess Marina track as Tristan explained he planned to do both anyway but just wanted to see what I would pick.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLdi7McQEFFpYIkwCoRCVxkW5iJ0Ih-ymzNFzGVTFw1Wm_EtAogWcPWEyhkSbMHzKE5a62hc667t2uVTx7uFC3syI3C9o3HKHzr-Xydl7fEQrt96HEE8mr1nkmXjLeFt1AYOBCM5xEg/s2048/20211024_123342.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLdi7McQEFFpYIkwCoRCVxkW5iJ0Ih-ymzNFzGVTFw1Wm_EtAogWcPWEyhkSbMHzKE5a62hc667t2uVTx7uFC3syI3C9o3HKHzr-Xydl7fEQrt96HEE8mr1nkmXjLeFt1AYOBCM5xEg/w480-h640/20211024_123342.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I explained my reasoning to him as we reached a section of rope going down.<br />"This is the most useless section of rope." Tristan said, making his way past without using it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaw8khXpLHFdOybiEkd1FnRDRo3kuAxmymAotCZPerH1-2sUaocutGyqE61NBq4KtS4gBxAYJ8aIokStd3JGMlnX4KAdYbmKwTOnPKWeSII-Y6YmVAhatq6azOMYnSIEvV8eA3cd_BQ/s2048/20211024_123432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghaw8khXpLHFdOybiEkd1FnRDRo3kuAxmymAotCZPerH1-2sUaocutGyqE61NBq4KtS4gBxAYJ8aIokStd3JGMlnX4KAdYbmKwTOnPKWeSII-Y6YmVAhatq6azOMYnSIEvV8eA3cd_BQ/w480-h640/20211024_123432.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Just below was another, much steeper section that had a rope too, but had a ladder placed over the top of it, leaning up against the rock wall. I went first, beginning my descent. The ladder didn't feel solid, the material it was made off made it feel like it was going to give out under my weight at any moment. It wobbled as I climbed down as the bottom of the ladder was sticking through a hole in a tree root. As I reached the bottom the the ladder I noticed the final rung of the ladder was gone and jumped down. I held the ladder steady at the bottom for Tristan to climb down (as he had done for me from the top).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvconLG8heayv-5Fh9E0qtCDDt_Ma4XoSazgedFODvLKyQ6xc25rSyCk5P0PwaPyiyR1ZZrlr3G2oACBWBwLl46Pjo5HT6a71HX38LdYec5sVAfsGa38Hr8HlKEWpGiYj0_u287usXBQ/s2048/20211024_123711.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvconLG8heayv-5Fh9E0qtCDDt_Ma4XoSazgedFODvLKyQ6xc25rSyCk5P0PwaPyiyR1ZZrlr3G2oACBWBwLl46Pjo5HT6a71HX38LdYec5sVAfsGa38Hr8HlKEWpGiYj0_u287usXBQ/w480-h640/20211024_123711.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued our way down, the path that reminded me of the walk to and from '<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/10/macquarie-pass-jump-rock-and-clover.html" target="_blank">Jump Rock</a>'. Look how far down we are Tristan said, pointing out the overhanging boulder we had looped around high up above us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qvx7QMf1cEPLOXsGAgE3FLk_IVa_7eS0z3-3gSae_Iss7oPVStwQxATDnHt5FS0BfYmSOL6UIkMt92xXoj5jYSaS6tg6uDKZP9HfAPb1k7c7hSlzG5-TKF9Nc_MwRB_Gzej2lhDcgw/s1008/246036691_415640093476623_5515615242342748973_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Qvx7QMf1cEPLOXsGAgE3FLk_IVa_7eS0z3-3gSae_Iss7oPVStwQxATDnHt5FS0BfYmSOL6UIkMt92xXoj5jYSaS6tg6uDKZP9HfAPb1k7c7hSlzG5-TKF9Nc_MwRB_Gzej2lhDcgw/w294-h640/246036691_415640093476623_5515615242342748973_n.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p>As the path bent back in towards the falls we reached a bit of tree branch to duck under just as we approached the base. I looked up (as I had been watching my footing) and in front of me was a girl, with her back facing us, attempting to put her bra back on. I looked up a bit more and standing just in the water at the base of the falls was a guy with her, standing and grinning at us. I nodded with an awkward smile and politely said with an awkward tone "Hey, how are ya?".</p><p>We walked past them and their camera they had set up, filming or photographing them and the falls. We moved over to the right to get a good look at the falls while the girl was still awkwardly trying to put her bra on.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHo59jiCXKP9jGrve3LP8unml_qUpfUygeFYSP02f5i9MTByJz5CIuoq9xs4bgcQ1kx8siHth80CZtW4DXScZEL8lFy-Uk5NEQHtLZ8geHcltgpCcYEZGYhcoceGK2F-UHjnmUIGYrg/s2048/20211024_124628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHo59jiCXKP9jGrve3LP8unml_qUpfUygeFYSP02f5i9MTByJz5CIuoq9xs4bgcQ1kx8siHth80CZtW4DXScZEL8lFy-Uk5NEQHtLZ8geHcltgpCcYEZGYhcoceGK2F-UHjnmUIGYrg/w480-h640/20211024_124628.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> After getting the photo and admiring the falls I began scrambling up rocks and boulders to see if I could reach where the initial water from the falls was landing, seeing if the waters impact had made little pools. I scurried over slippery wet and moss covered rocks soon making it as far up as I could, just shy of the spot I wanted to get too. I was surprised by my own stamina as I didn't seem to struggle at all. I looked and could see Tristan still standing down at the bottom, so made my way back down to him. I sat on a boulder just up from him as he stood next to it. Talking about the waterfall and admiring it's beauty. I commented that it was nice to see both this, and Madden's Falls gushing with water compared to our time going to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">Belmore Falls</a>. We soon decided to make a move, as being there with the couple who were a bit 'lovey-dovey' was a bit awkward.<p></p><p>As we begun our way back up I could now feel the fatigue, noting that I still had a while to go to fully recover and regain my fitness and strength.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT1oRRav1b1Ysg5SElC3CUQXVFVM5edJOy2N7I5y22tbDyT1LwXJ-iKRodTGAVqrQC5lyfpy3quWiklyh8hNxbiOsEh5HHwMG3LjaSop8aZvZ-ArKbmHzqAHXfWbAEdTTWbJZN0lI2Q/s1152/248548873_419338083131886_1667928802276899141_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnT1oRRav1b1Ysg5SElC3CUQXVFVM5edJOy2N7I5y22tbDyT1LwXJ-iKRodTGAVqrQC5lyfpy3quWiklyh8hNxbiOsEh5HHwMG3LjaSop8aZvZ-ArKbmHzqAHXfWbAEdTTWbJZN0lI2Q/w302-h640/248548873_419338083131886_1667928802276899141_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><p>I continued to struggle on the way up, just instantly feeling fatigued. I was determined not to break until we reach the base of the ladder where I stopped and finished off my bottle of water. We climbed back up and soon popped out at a different section of the Princess Marina track noting we had taken a different was back up. We had come up just opposite and big stone seating area, and Tristan quickly hopped over the fence to sit in it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNGY-HW5dlKpF-I-MSgCCPjYI0aIHV_i4Y4YVAUEXc7QwYBe6V6VV-KXsqGztm53bbqNVsdcbqN2BoE5r0s1w8rhhLdzcN86uvA40xcPGHOX3VOHm-WxGTx84C231mgNlRTyN9FiOog/s2048/20211024_130308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNGY-HW5dlKpF-I-MSgCCPjYI0aIHV_i4Y4YVAUEXc7QwYBe6V6VV-KXsqGztm53bbqNVsdcbqN2BoE5r0s1w8rhhLdzcN86uvA40xcPGHOX3VOHm-WxGTx84C231mgNlRTyN9FiOog/w400-h300/20211024_130308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we sat were could hear constant banging along the fence and a family with two young children walked past, one brushing the railings with a stick. Tristan wanted to continue walking but I was adamant we wait for them to pass before continuing. As we began walking again Tristan began running a stick along the railing and I instantly told him to stop, as it was super annoying. As we walked I could see old concrete of what I assume where bits of lookouts from back in the day that had fallen in disrepair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnvjn4xPqnSDXa8BCG-8DxMGRoz2-IYZXa1fe4QwRlkuhKlWY0w1VyRe1ljOU-S3zfB6hBOfxS8tvkSkVj2yiX7WJcyCp_y9vM9GddjuaOSNGmUkTjwEBdZwVwbDw6XlHnPCvcC1UoA/s2048/20211024_130833.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnvjn4xPqnSDXa8BCG-8DxMGRoz2-IYZXa1fe4QwRlkuhKlWY0w1VyRe1ljOU-S3zfB6hBOfxS8tvkSkVj2yiX7WJcyCp_y9vM9GddjuaOSNGmUkTjwEBdZwVwbDw6XlHnPCvcC1UoA/w480-h640/20211024_130833.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We reached a little indent in the ground that someone had either placed a plank of wood over (or it was left from a decayed wooden bridge), that I was more than excited to cross as I had a love of walking over things, probably instilled in me from watching cartoon adventure shows as a young kid.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9Ezjp47981sTL4yQwu_RrANh6CTQMyfNmE4h0jOZnrt03gqQVnO-kr1S3-Voha-NWu3XDVCVN0oiwuw5uiZLQtqDq_dvXKN7aZO0rdV8vHbXCnYSZBK5XawSKmlM8hn2N5MBxiZa_g/s1008/245309216_4654152364641919_5179267804081926990_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9Ezjp47981sTL4yQwu_RrANh6CTQMyfNmE4h0jOZnrt03gqQVnO-kr1S3-Voha-NWu3XDVCVN0oiwuw5uiZLQtqDq_dvXKN7aZO0rdV8vHbXCnYSZBK5XawSKmlM8hn2N5MBxiZa_g/w294-h640/245309216_4654152364641919_5179267804081926990_n.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked up a bit more along the trail I thought I saw blood splattered on the ground, calling Tristan back for a look.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyhzIyU5xrcmGpAwiDqAPe2as3xrAF8hDE_PGs-Tco3aViLxZ8bfHFR9qlXTkoOsNrMacGTpjoSrSib4p9g8Q_9R0srME11McGdm2_cmiZgWcky3Hvn1Fc8l2Pnv1OsHjJggzoI63ww/s2048/20211024_131431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyhzIyU5xrcmGpAwiDqAPe2as3xrAF8hDE_PGs-Tco3aViLxZ8bfHFR9qlXTkoOsNrMacGTpjoSrSib4p9g8Q_9R0srME11McGdm2_cmiZgWcky3Hvn1Fc8l2Pnv1OsHjJggzoI63ww/w480-h640/20211024_131431.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"Maybe someone flicked off a leech." I suggested as Tristan picked it up and gave it a sniff, saying he couldn't smell anything. He then suggested it was probably tree sap and we looked up at a big tree overhanging the area. "Ah yeah, that's probably a bit more likely then blood". </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIheVIAV1tFfSge_znw_BG-VGvzJW8eOSqL7rBlW4i_qJBaLkktnkFQrevTuL3y99QiJVmlQUhI9gpDt0bshdUz9fynFlCRFHdFmb3I9ERAtnItvTAFU3jmP2Z03UOb0aF95W6CockKw/s2048/20211024_131452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIheVIAV1tFfSge_znw_BG-VGvzJW8eOSqL7rBlW4i_qJBaLkktnkFQrevTuL3y99QiJVmlQUhI9gpDt0bshdUz9fynFlCRFHdFmb3I9ERAtnItvTAFU3jmP2Z03UOb0aF95W6CockKw/w480-h640/20211024_131452.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Angophora costata </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We arrived at another stone object as Tristan told me to be quite as he heard something rustling in the bush. I took a photo of the object and went up the stairs leaving him peering into a random spot in the bush.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmUKWl8xOxMpy2Xi8EcpAa6DO5tSKvPfpQLWNwC8sjL7SwucTwZxnl7SlJhUnA_Q4q3PZ8e68koCiAOLeYMbF1XE2qRafXAQ-O9VqsslBItI9pv_qMtkb_ZgZrwNDb2Ja907PlA8eEA/s2048/20211024_131715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmUKWl8xOxMpy2Xi8EcpAa6DO5tSKvPfpQLWNwC8sjL7SwucTwZxnl7SlJhUnA_Q4q3PZ8e68koCiAOLeYMbF1XE2qRafXAQ-O9VqsslBItI9pv_qMtkb_ZgZrwNDb2Ja907PlA8eEA/w400-h300/20211024_131715.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5ITAGzELdPClRTzlKfzU3VkjWhEikCuqWdJbg3-e72TGk_6ABokxNHMVthLOw_6oXaNooRMAjvYYy_MslOdlkp4KxYrvx4K5VSKovkbSsMdwW-T9-DF6b4Iq1Lq4JV-P3gmrZgIjtA/s2048/20211024_131721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5ITAGzELdPClRTzlKfzU3VkjWhEikCuqWdJbg3-e72TGk_6ABokxNHMVthLOw_6oXaNooRMAjvYYy_MslOdlkp4KxYrvx4K5VSKovkbSsMdwW-T9-DF6b4Iq1Lq4JV-P3gmrZgIjtA/w480-h640/20211024_131721.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOY3uFRU5J90V8fslto8bycwcILPoLLX8NmTsRDgXZILWGyCitqU6VMquJ9HBsTBT-CFa0EVn3KVYF_Zy3afmps0-FxziA1Q1YDj17akK2VrdvYEgGlqNg7fCr3xSuk83oRj3msG4Pg/s2048/20211024_131740.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOY3uFRU5J90V8fslto8bycwcILPoLLX8NmTsRDgXZILWGyCitqU6VMquJ9HBsTBT-CFa0EVn3KVYF_Zy3afmps0-FxziA1Q1YDj17akK2VrdvYEgGlqNg7fCr3xSuk83oRj3msG4Pg/w400-h300/20211024_131740.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Tristan finally came up, giving up from whatever he was doing. "Oh this is cool." He said.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2oYT7lDYJXEzc0NFYCJxQ-CjcH6ko_Xd_l6KSpygwx8JZz8nIHQlOCnAJEcHJEgYIrKhhHFWU5nnlMdubacGINLipgnCMyFLexG2Ev2bgwzCgSmb2tItP3c8IJxS901AvHPisbsoLw/s813/248008407_1495242797527936_613838086996710584_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="405" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2oYT7lDYJXEzc0NFYCJxQ-CjcH6ko_Xd_l6KSpygwx8JZz8nIHQlOCnAJEcHJEgYIrKhhHFWU5nnlMdubacGINLipgnCMyFLexG2Ev2bgwzCgSmb2tItP3c8IJxS901AvHPisbsoLw/w318-h640/248008407_1495242797527936_613838086996710584_n.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p>Suddenly there was a loud sound, a high pitched screaming. Like a woman being murdered, but in a single short burst. We both paused. "What the fuck was that?" I asked, as we stood silently. It happened again in a short burst, the same length. "Well that can't be someone actually being murdered, because surely they wouldn't scream in such intervals." I said, as it happened once more. I thought it could just be a random girl down the track but the way it was happening began to make us wonder if it was an animal noise, and we began to discuss what animal could make a sound like that. "A Quoll?" I suggested, having no idea what a Quoll actually sounds like.</p><p>I picked up a stick from the middle of our concrete area to continue our walk (as a precaution) I told Tristan, who instantly made sure to pick up a thicker and larder stick.</p><p>The track took us to the right of the stone seating feature and away from where the screaming had come from and we soon found feathers of a bird that had fallen prey to something scattering the path.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMDsAJPkHFk0FfKnRRhxgJVilcF9e7AUwBJJFSCzaVTQ6Un-2ICtzOBG83miHcEdJGvRBD8Z14dYqV3rZe8Yp1QNLMwHFPyMcjr-aFABjRKRbz6b0hwtLP3V9w0kBCrRdRfnFmSRiew/s2048/20211024_132205.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMDsAJPkHFk0FfKnRRhxgJVilcF9e7AUwBJJFSCzaVTQ6Un-2ICtzOBG83miHcEdJGvRBD8Z14dYqV3rZe8Yp1QNLMwHFPyMcjr-aFABjRKRbz6b0hwtLP3V9w0kBCrRdRfnFmSRiew/w480-h640/20211024_132205.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think that's actually blood there this time</td></tr></tbody></table><p>"My stick is bigger than yours." Tristan made sure to tell me.<br />"It's not the size that counts, it's house you use it." I retorted.<br />"Is that what your Wife told you?" He replied.<br />"No, it was in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood:_Men_in_Tights" target="_blank">Robin Hood; Men in Tights</a>." I said. Commenting, "That movie was my sexual awakening."<br />There was a little pause.<br />"Not the men in tights, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yasbeckamy/?hl=en" target="_blank">Maid Marian</a> in the chastity belt." I assured him.<br />He nodded in agreement.</p><p>We soon reached yet another stone monument, this time shaped like a bus stop with two love hearts painted on the side facing us, and a sitting area on the other side.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK2SL8d4N6fQ150Uc4_EcMzt9oEfAv83p2z_sYMuRPa6MkaS2iQrA_wjjurooDB7-AFqmuaCkGyc9jE0eUtJVGr8XBdQ0tiAyHHBdLQ7KDkl8phZHmvY6hNnfxRLiq_vo4j4H9u90lw/s2048/20211024_132234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK2SL8d4N6fQ150Uc4_EcMzt9oEfAv83p2z_sYMuRPa6MkaS2iQrA_wjjurooDB7-AFqmuaCkGyc9jE0eUtJVGr8XBdQ0tiAyHHBdLQ7KDkl8phZHmvY6hNnfxRLiq_vo4j4H9u90lw/w480-h640/20211024_132234.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5sPrRS2_P2pSEPSyYTmE5Iaa0Z_E2iKO-b557siKmQZZALfhyphenhyphenRzitoAIovdQNjdvnNMHuAzS_m37cQfHtDmftPCH2j34Ckp0hTvJuG0EBzorhHHn_v4ym1RL5bSnArrBXSUJ8ej02A/s2048/20211024_132246.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5sPrRS2_P2pSEPSyYTmE5Iaa0Z_E2iKO-b557siKmQZZALfhyphenhyphenRzitoAIovdQNjdvnNMHuAzS_m37cQfHtDmftPCH2j34Ckp0hTvJuG0EBzorhHHn_v4ym1RL5bSnArrBXSUJ8ej02A/w400-h300/20211024_132246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Just past here we heard another weird noise, Tristan asked was it was, I told him I didn't know but that to me it sounded like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carr" target="_blank">Jimmy Carr</a> laughing.</p><p>The bush soon opened up with the track expelling us on the side of a road across from this this:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzCg_u92TAu3d_VjrG8LsekfnMXt1lhCdsim22B77MUIQE5ut09hxRKkxNpYAvse0nu6FOU0M8MtIJLwwebV54FsS2AG_kbLhOBCtWejQIYopnUhFGzPFaEn9hwfVz7h7aIjt0LhoEQ/s2048/20211024_132623.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzCg_u92TAu3d_VjrG8LsekfnMXt1lhCdsim22B77MUIQE5ut09hxRKkxNpYAvse0nu6FOU0M8MtIJLwwebV54FsS2AG_kbLhOBCtWejQIYopnUhFGzPFaEn9hwfVz7h7aIjt0LhoEQ/w480-h640/20211024_132623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I told Tristan to throw away his stick as we both looked a bit suss standing on the side of the road holding sticks. He said he didn't care. "If that scream was a murder I don't need to be blamed for it." I told him as we threw our sticks into the bush.</p><p>Tristan decided we would walk back along the road (which didn't sound like that much fun to me). But I agreed and we began along the road to walk back to the carpark.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6stqMZL79deEUj43JuDEGsao5STTf8yGc3bMsnHOU8iiSCrxVTL9kXXr6RBa3p7RY02nnf5frpJXyocjcWfKpUGR-NlWLZ5oHxjxgPDxIWrvvoOEWAvtpxcwiMs1oMvT9leaUT6JIw/s2048/20211024_132642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6stqMZL79deEUj43JuDEGsao5STTf8yGc3bMsnHOU8iiSCrxVTL9kXXr6RBa3p7RY02nnf5frpJXyocjcWfKpUGR-NlWLZ5oHxjxgPDxIWrvvoOEWAvtpxcwiMs1oMvT9leaUT6JIw/w480-h640/20211024_132642.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We walked up a short way before there was a fire trail to our right leading back into the bush which we decided to walk instead as Tristan said he was already sick of the noise of all the cars going past. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jFO2LO8gFCc3hNoS8Ayt9xjzyiQE7vt5kAWyVPuPwYuwjKCtCU_mFO7O3YQU7Sv3UjUc9zVlmMWfebMlAN8ZjpGtAkhv8lrBmarc9nuyyyVo1AXeNftog2UzyOBIHTtagzV6g2DEbQ/s2048/20211024_132704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jFO2LO8gFCc3hNoS8Ayt9xjzyiQE7vt5kAWyVPuPwYuwjKCtCU_mFO7O3YQU7Sv3UjUc9zVlmMWfebMlAN8ZjpGtAkhv8lrBmarc9nuyyyVo1AXeNftog2UzyOBIHTtagzV6g2DEbQ/w400-h300/20211024_132704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I told him that it reminded me of walking to and from High School everyday along Tongarra Road from Albion Park Rail to Albion Park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IEoFYMq-34jfsMVIZidP_LMGgxhyphenhyphenNw87jYP4qsuks9nEHwIsdXRjnHebTyo37IimZUIdu9Jzs1Xd9Ztjbt2_6VxU8yQkbj5UcZJW4OHPBEgcsWstYvJrMghLlldVd9DUMDPZRpaWpw/s2048/20211024_132728.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IEoFYMq-34jfsMVIZidP_LMGgxhyphenhyphenNw87jYP4qsuks9nEHwIsdXRjnHebTyo37IimZUIdu9Jzs1Xd9Ztjbt2_6VxU8yQkbj5UcZJW4OHPBEgcsWstYvJrMghLlldVd9DUMDPZRpaWpw/w480-h640/20211024_132728.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGhYgzE2WVCjnk_jN4JAJkitc42GnqtBBOO7Q_IldUU8VU9c-tAlW8E9_NDEApVM3xq6Ko1dkUFaCGnndOU_Vx0_UlbCfvKgBHfSsWrmLizgS_LR06aVVr8lpy_y3gm_mYpb2kJMONA/s2048/20211024_133100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGhYgzE2WVCjnk_jN4JAJkitc42GnqtBBOO7Q_IldUU8VU9c-tAlW8E9_NDEApVM3xq6Ko1dkUFaCGnndOU_Vx0_UlbCfvKgBHfSsWrmLizgS_LR06aVVr8lpy_y3gm_mYpb2kJMONA/w480-h640/20211024_133100.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I then shared with him the story of how in High School I had been dating a girl who lived just on the other side of Tongarra Road, and after seeing her late one night I had walked back home along it only to arrive at school the following morning for her and a few friends relieved I was alive. I told him I was confused what all the fuss was about, being told by her and the friends that a woman walking along the same stretch of road that night had been hit by a car and killed. I remembered reaching the end of Tongarra road that night, just where it met Croome road, and walking past a woman (this was the middle of the night), it then clicked with me that I had walked past the woman that had been killed by the car.<br />"Shit." Said Tristan as I told him. "So you were probably the last person to see her alive."<br />"Yeah." I said.</p><p>Tristan then kicked out a random bit of newspaper from out of the bush and I asked him what he was doing. We noticed the paper was burnt around, like someone had done it on purpose. <br />"I wonder if this guy did something so people set him on fire out of hate?" I asked, but it's just another random thing we saw on our walk.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtYCt9m978V68BpptpC1oUUeaklX9rnGH0Dp7D26pLhJ4zk5gBfd6PxO5ofmTLyD2jVlvzsK3HEApi8_ZLzd4bDMEKsMLxRFn-GFlWFTPiKDoc89QdeuCFUt1jRKC5JBWgbDBCCABmQ/s2048/20211024_133149.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtYCt9m978V68BpptpC1oUUeaklX9rnGH0Dp7D26pLhJ4zk5gBfd6PxO5ofmTLyD2jVlvzsK3HEApi8_ZLzd4bDMEKsMLxRFn-GFlWFTPiKDoc89QdeuCFUt1jRKC5JBWgbDBCCABmQ/w480-h640/20211024_133149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Our topic of discussion changed to overnight hikes and wanting to do them in the future when I get a little better, telling Tristan I wanted to re-do <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-coast-track-otford-to-bundeena.html" target="_blank">Otford to Bundeena</a>, but in reverse as a test for my long term walking and to make sure I was definitely recovered enough before I started looking into those longer hikes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbGx0mxOPiGrQIWHCJ8GIjj_7tY-NN_pwTtXwJVeJYK0Nx7U6RZG7MkGansZZ7pRlhV4wy4miKfedRqNoVibDJ2VS87xyO2GFLMLkPV7quyW5lKKaEGLqMAx-LvbFWQsynsJu8pVOww/s2048/20211024_133324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbGx0mxOPiGrQIWHCJ8GIjj_7tY-NN_pwTtXwJVeJYK0Nx7U6RZG7MkGansZZ7pRlhV4wy4miKfedRqNoVibDJ2VS87xyO2GFLMLkPV7quyW5lKKaEGLqMAx-LvbFWQsynsJu8pVOww/w480-h640/20211024_133324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBu6Fiq5vAYD2tawWHQII-ego4ThTQps8yd3gmwekdydn5xZ0XU9eEmrL5F3PyGH2jHkUbGN1Q08KObQhtvZt6kbrVIv3vrNbx2YRbrZX5pSaTkQsLx4PIIDBPKv_BgqrmXlh21vChLw/s2048/20211024_133412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBu6Fiq5vAYD2tawWHQII-ego4ThTQps8yd3gmwekdydn5xZ0XU9eEmrL5F3PyGH2jHkUbGN1Q08KObQhtvZt6kbrVIv3vrNbx2YRbrZX5pSaTkQsLx4PIIDBPKv_BgqrmXlh21vChLw/w480-h640/20211024_133412.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The bush to our left soon became wired fencing and we noticed it was someone property. I saw an oddly coloured tree on our right, excited by the pretty colours before realising someone had simply painted it as I walked closer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrRsy9VXKW354EeJy8j8hpogrmzmeVfXa9gfYwcCIXjTBZvFbeVj8bYLlN3lcSVSy_II5U51ZFQFmsIsaFC_mYrrtGGYEJHA8Ywo2mhoFrMX7u_zR18ZZxSd-42TZxksBDoYSeHsvgw/s2048/20211024_133523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrRsy9VXKW354EeJy8j8hpogrmzmeVfXa9gfYwcCIXjTBZvFbeVj8bYLlN3lcSVSy_II5U51ZFQFmsIsaFC_mYrrtGGYEJHA8Ywo2mhoFrMX7u_zR18ZZxSd-42TZxksBDoYSeHsvgw/w480-h640/20211024_133523.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The walk soon churned us out at a picnic area with wooden tables directly across from where we parked.<br />"Well that worked out well," I said. "It's like a loop track, that's way better than just turning around and having to just walk back the way you came." I said, and Tristan agreed.</p><p>We were all ready to head home but Tristan stopped for another smoke while I ate a piece of banana bread my Wife and baked.</p><p>"You could have brought some for me." Tristan jested.<br />I told him my Wife had told me too, but I was meant to message asking if he liked it first (as I had previous brought something with chocolate for him, and weirdo that he is, he does not like chocolate). I told him I forgot to ask, and now he would get no banana bread.<br />"It's really good too," I said as I ate it. "It's got walnuts in it, they give it a nice crunch."</p><p>Finally we finished and jumped in his car to head home. On the way back Tristan turned to me telling me to look up the sound of a Rusa Deer, believing that was the screaming sound we had heard. I found a few videos and clips of that and a few other types of Deer screams that sounded similar, but just a bit off. We both agreed that it had been a Deer we had heard.</p><p>Finally we arrived back at mine, satisfied with the fun time we had and planned to go for bigger and more exciting adventures as my recovery continued.</p><p><br /></p><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com4Kellys Falls Track, New South Wales 2508, Australia-34.2119795 150.9838706-62.522213336178844 115.82762059999999 -5.9017456638211527 -173.8598794tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-72577251864785179252021-10-25T11:50:00.003+11:002021-11-23T10:13:35.661+11:00Madden's Falls<p> My recovery from my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a> has continued. My immune system has began to recover and I have begun to start receiving my childhood vaccines again. New South Wales was beginning to start opening up for those that were double vaccinated against Covid and so after not being on an adventure since before my treatment I begin to feel like it would be safe enough for me to catch up with another double vaccinated friend and had messaged my mate Tristan about the possibility of a walk soon.</p><p>While doing Ancestry research in my time of from work I had learned my 5th Great-Grandfather was John Madden (<a href="https://campbelltown-library.blogspot.com/2015/01/john-madden.html?fbclid=IwAR3NxqNPKlbGx0EWZmORxgTkA-QgGn-1q52HAa4fnZjuG3OhVpStY0TLgFg" target="_blank">story of his arrival to Australia linked</a>). Who lived at Madden's Hill along Menangle Road near Campbelltown. While trying to google it's location to see if I could go there 'Madden's Falls' kept appearing in my Google search.</p><p>I messaged Tristan if he had even been there and he said he had and that's where we should go as it was a relatively easy and short walk for my first attempt since my treatment. I explained to him about how I found out about it and he asked if it's naming had any relation to my Ancestor. I responded that I could not find any information on it's naming. He suggested we do Madden's Falls and Kelly's Falls both in the same day as they were both short walks. Excited by the prospect of some new sights I eagerly agreed, and we set the date to go on a Sunday (with a forecast for rain, hoping for less people to be out).</p><p>The week leading up to it I got stir crazy and rushed to do<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/10/bong-bong-pass.html" target="_blank"> Bong Bong Pass</a> again, as a test for my fitness. I struggled the entire way, unaware of just how absolutely weak, fatigued and out of shape I had gotten. I got three quarters of the way up before having to make my way down demoralised.<br />I messaged Tristan, asking if he was certain I would be able to do the two walks, explaining my failure. He assured me I would be alright.</p><p>On the Friday I again returned to a Doctor to receive another 3 vaccines, receiving 2 in one arm leaving it quite sore for the Saturday right before our trip.</p><p>Finally Sunday arrived and I packed my raincoat assuming it would pour down on us the entire time. I jumped into the passenger side of Tristan's car.</p><p>"Do you need me to put a mask on bro?" He asked, aware that I was still immunocompromised.<br />"Nah, we're both double vaxxed it should be ok." I replied.<br />I soon noticed his car stunk of cigarettes, as Tristan was meant to have quit smoking. I began to scold him, as all good friends do, before he told me of his personal stories, that I wont share, about personal stresses in his life and that he had quit but started up again. We began catching each other up on shit that had occurred during lockdown (for me this was mostly medical information).</p><p>Finally we arrived and I was shocked to learn it was directly across from Darkes Forest Cider Orchard, where I had been meaning to go on a date with my Wife for years (as I love Orchards, there's something a little mystical about them to me).</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76R0wDNSZlrwQFCZ8eoySYfLVton3zib8RE-bOcsm20YqxF7pc1Ykfo2ilPK8jPr5QXkPBaxHQbN9N1cXPnvmY-Ezf4mYbR2oX91hSuTHv6qW0yrPXVIdbB2E13o6kR7BQv0_8dIEkA/s2048/20211024_095321.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76R0wDNSZlrwQFCZ8eoySYfLVton3zib8RE-bOcsm20YqxF7pc1Ykfo2ilPK8jPr5QXkPBaxHQbN9N1cXPnvmY-Ezf4mYbR2oX91hSuTHv6qW0yrPXVIdbB2E13o6kR7BQv0_8dIEkA/w480-h640/20211024_095321.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Tristan said me and him should go in, which I was uneasy about seeing the cars parked around not wanting to expose myself to people, and I had also promised to go with my Wife. I told him I hadn't drank any alcohol since my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">cancer diagnosis</a> and he assured me there was a non alcoholic cider. </p><p>We stopped to read a sign at the beginning of the walk mentioning another walk nearby called the 'Jingga Walking Track' which we decided we would come back up to do another day. Three more cars had arrived in the time we were looking at it and a family was approaching so I stopped reading and set out on the trail to avoid any close proximity.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn1JJntjEKs4i_QOLSFeS2NJr3ONJkS1uxvnHwJwc5gy315JeiHTmN9_roOc8Wb6uDFVc9UxxLcc1o2GJewn1gS00dN_XgFkSNJQsONcITxJzB8ljSiwEJibF9n8AQCjVqz_VdX5E9Q/s2048/20211024_100020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn1JJntjEKs4i_QOLSFeS2NJr3ONJkS1uxvnHwJwc5gy315JeiHTmN9_roOc8Wb6uDFVc9UxxLcc1o2GJewn1gS00dN_XgFkSNJQsONcITxJzB8ljSiwEJibF9n8AQCjVqz_VdX5E9Q/w480-h640/20211024_100020.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walk begins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuDqsCfWscKUX30m2n8tDd6MYnsbjiWHXpfSFd_8948gHukj0DtasA27Hsj-3hbVP-l9sRW0-wDGEX14VGAhcJ1aqZv0N-3kmW3IvK985SKItlu-QvY1zbh86be84xefTgahti-BaGQ/s2048/20211024_100049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuDqsCfWscKUX30m2n8tDd6MYnsbjiWHXpfSFd_8948gHukj0DtasA27Hsj-3hbVP-l9sRW0-wDGEX14VGAhcJ1aqZv0N-3kmW3IvK985SKItlu-QvY1zbh86be84xefTgahti-BaGQ/w480-h640/20211024_100049.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>It was an incredibly short dirt trail before coming to a metal swing gate for vehicle access in front of us, and a purpose built walking track to our right.</p><p>"I wonder which way we should go." I asked, knowing the obvious way, but very curious what was down the other way. Tristan looked at me like I was an idiot, gesturing with his hands that obviously the right way was on the purpose built track. (But what I meant was which way should we explore first).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DGHYKTavU_JbldWVHicXM6eEZyLaTh4ieUGNgpXz5A5FkpFU0-KSlggTH9F_WrigL3bs7Co6tCy1_xdNJGPuTInN9lmDnCOfuYUEcHrgfa5r8fmJRrbouDgqozBoApXyFCTizOr32A/s2048/20211024_100223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DGHYKTavU_JbldWVHicXM6eEZyLaTh4ieUGNgpXz5A5FkpFU0-KSlggTH9F_WrigL3bs7Co6tCy1_xdNJGPuTInN9lmDnCOfuYUEcHrgfa5r8fmJRrbouDgqozBoApXyFCTizOr32A/w400-h300/20211024_100223.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I'm not a huge fan of tracks built up like this. Preferring to just walk on trails, and in my head I wondered if they were built for some sort of environmentally protective purpose, like to avoid stomping on endangered plants, or if they were just built to give people easy access as it was a steady even surface for a place with high visitor numbers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-Geckec_B0C7mdFHJ0JbkQlXnhoqVIAaDWxiDKGXZNYH3NoSB13czRiWipcYb3VngNAndTtb5IPHawSmUVqsK46ptHxcPkZgU0hOUbar6K4RakQIXVrqJN2rUxwbVQ-8GBVzMhksEA/s2048/20211024_100228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-Geckec_B0C7mdFHJ0JbkQlXnhoqVIAaDWxiDKGXZNYH3NoSB13czRiWipcYb3VngNAndTtb5IPHawSmUVqsK46ptHxcPkZgU0hOUbar6K4RakQIXVrqJN2rUxwbVQ-8GBVzMhksEA/w480-h640/20211024_100228.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueRisU_nNLDz45kqwLOa3m7Dg_VuurZAlo_7KcJsfrVS5tQeYIbiiBztIKlA7HMBFy4Q1VwKtH2CXJtwxQcSG8cLfV_IlrA_iQDvbwn1OJUqYBRrsRaF5-F22cc2QApfMSOipkHYo9Q/s2048/20211024_100303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueRisU_nNLDz45kqwLOa3m7Dg_VuurZAlo_7KcJsfrVS5tQeYIbiiBztIKlA7HMBFy4Q1VwKtH2CXJtwxQcSG8cLfV_IlrA_iQDvbwn1OJUqYBRrsRaF5-F22cc2QApfMSOipkHYo9Q/w480-h640/20211024_100303.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Just off to our left I noticed a dirt track leading to what we could hear was running water so I suggested we veer off course. There was a big puddle in the way and I crept my way around the edges trying not to soak my shoes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucn0sc6U90u51UadEIpW6Jo4Bl7xfGqOKZpULtzQhCy5Q40gh2GGNPqYvSq1y2ac4nEEBeGi1dd5ca0ruGgCkKTtqaHr_kW51ulFBoh4xudtb-MCGHyfQcvyKhKlvA5Dvqqm3I6wEug/s2048/20211024_100340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucn0sc6U90u51UadEIpW6Jo4Bl7xfGqOKZpULtzQhCy5Q40gh2GGNPqYvSq1y2ac4nEEBeGi1dd5ca0ruGgCkKTtqaHr_kW51ulFBoh4xudtb-MCGHyfQcvyKhKlvA5Dvqqm3I6wEug/w480-h640/20211024_100340.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>In no time at all we had reached the stream, to our right leading to the waterfall with a little weir directly to our left where we had come out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXn1aWB3Co9XYq_IVHiol-gpSC7JyVhuKf2XyXFoFNUUYZ9XLmsVeNTdLmAgS_46SGbf_Khg9vm7utWrdQ4i9UJ2NdK3YRuKVFXFp7SXj2xZlwNs7JdGb3AtBrYiIXIF-fcPQtZ8RAQ/s2048/20211024_100423.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCXn1aWB3Co9XYq_IVHiol-gpSC7JyVhuKf2XyXFoFNUUYZ9XLmsVeNTdLmAgS_46SGbf_Khg9vm7utWrdQ4i9UJ2NdK3YRuKVFXFp7SXj2xZlwNs7JdGb3AtBrYiIXIF-fcPQtZ8RAQ/w400-h300/20211024_100423.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking left</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgmlw5OLpx6EjZ0f0Tl8A1Shu-98iJpWRrvCFnPN5i9bRjLK1LSE6b1kg1HYaqhfA3rbkJC7m_kcS0mOfPnxhLT5hkHaGtVadabOL8UIbZlWAK9RCl7SAq1-qZn8ET-dF1ynfGKQzgg/s2048/20211024_100430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgmlw5OLpx6EjZ0f0Tl8A1Shu-98iJpWRrvCFnPN5i9bRjLK1LSE6b1kg1HYaqhfA3rbkJC7m_kcS0mOfPnxhLT5hkHaGtVadabOL8UIbZlWAK9RCl7SAq1-qZn8ET-dF1ynfGKQzgg/w400-h300/20211024_100430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I suggested we follow the stream along until we go to the waterfall for an added adventure, and we made our way downstream both on dry bits of rock and having to follow clearer tracks through the scrub. </p><p>I commented to Tristan this was one of the reasons I had waited until my Tetanus vaccine (which also contained Diptheria, Polio and Pertussis) before I decided to head out again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosjtkOZ6NgBuvRkIdEij8eHuB4EHyi1XdUQilkDoV5GjiZSWl458QTqas7A_zGoBuwj0pbuayRp90nnQaCBKtPb_NtbXxrFgNDI8wxzWe30JlNuodRvM8Y3UNLzrWhQZxRpmC-ufkwg/s2048/20211024_100518.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosjtkOZ6NgBuvRkIdEij8eHuB4EHyi1XdUQilkDoV5GjiZSWl458QTqas7A_zGoBuwj0pbuayRp90nnQaCBKtPb_NtbXxrFgNDI8wxzWe30JlNuodRvM8Y3UNLzrWhQZxRpmC-ufkwg/w480-h640/20211024_100518.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3cVwZOxQadX9hcFZHK61N5TXog0uA3i_SX9U4Ka-N6M3gXG4qQkocJas0XVyU2JZVfmgY5pl8l40s2g4BliyP_g6Sl7vKf63UfyhqCJbRXSoS0Tjp9AYfm_71SsMEU46oDe01ebxA/s2048/20211024_100551.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M3cVwZOxQadX9hcFZHK61N5TXog0uA3i_SX9U4Ka-N6M3gXG4qQkocJas0XVyU2JZVfmgY5pl8l40s2g4BliyP_g6Sl7vKf63UfyhqCJbRXSoS0Tjp9AYfm_71SsMEU46oDe01ebxA/w480-h640/20211024_100551.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We made our way through the scrub along what looked like a trail (whether man made or from animals).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTNXEOY7GJnQNSWb8T3q1L4GWJQUA9d9-Tw0IVfKTB7MTT2P-j1k8rZZvVbSFV5ZtVpas5JQFonOBEDGa6piXs-o3wEpT5YGm1WP4njZVWvwHb8hHItQO8ucsrkazVwqMQLWrH_ZxLQ/s2048/20211024_100736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTNXEOY7GJnQNSWb8T3q1L4GWJQUA9d9-Tw0IVfKTB7MTT2P-j1k8rZZvVbSFV5ZtVpas5JQFonOBEDGa6piXs-o3wEpT5YGm1WP4njZVWvwHb8hHItQO8ucsrkazVwqMQLWrH_ZxLQ/w480-h640/20211024_100736.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Before coming out at an open section of the stream again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hX5KItPZiJaJTiLSaHk8TevhNjyYPyKel8f9fY7iiB87_BEj5SqD5vXlKWwk-_c7ey9AaSqUWdVAA3jWWtPvs9BIPX0FK4FITwZRQfCBpXnO4XKsZTEFo_0x4Nc4X_HiPiK8fNQV5w/s2048/20211024_100931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hX5KItPZiJaJTiLSaHk8TevhNjyYPyKel8f9fY7iiB87_BEj5SqD5vXlKWwk-_c7ey9AaSqUWdVAA3jWWtPvs9BIPX0FK4FITwZRQfCBpXnO4XKsZTEFo_0x4Nc4X_HiPiK8fNQV5w/w480-h640/20211024_100931.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I talked to Tristan about feeling special connections to different spots in nature, like how some people really love the mountains, and for others it's the beach. I explained for me it was running water like creeks, rivers, and streams. I explained it was like a spiritual connection (phrasing it really well that it came out super poetic). <br />"Wow, that was actually really good, I have to make sure I put that in the blog." I said, before we both instantly forgot what I had said.</p><p>We were approaching the waterfall and towards the end made out way back inwards to an open area.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtKbd7o6-NxQQDx6oK2qxzXyHdOmmWpAQXthiSPDbxLygOsVVPZvE7plR1gWdAHoxXjO4fJYmts7cO-7XyaBTisUFxUXhDeXFwZ_6w3MKTQVx7U4WAB80xhfOVwsu3uHrtxregNio_g/s2048/20211024_101048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtKbd7o6-NxQQDx6oK2qxzXyHdOmmWpAQXthiSPDbxLygOsVVPZvE7plR1gWdAHoxXjO4fJYmts7cO-7XyaBTisUFxUXhDeXFwZ_6w3MKTQVx7U4WAB80xhfOVwsu3uHrtxregNio_g/w480-h640/20211024_101048.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan walking </td></tr></tbody></table><p>The area was just to the left of the end of the purpose built track lookout, and there was a few parents here with young children playing in the water. We kept our distance from them, and headed to the stream, having a peak over the waterfalls edge and looking for a way to cross to the other side without wetting our feet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mLe_K186r0ovLPs0XGH_hYOEoW7XPdoTYHe2jpoJRh7v2XAhlK41IbMGG7nvMtGJkyOpuQInmB2_dA8GWhWfgfJwYbWw_0Xvtn5hmyTyg5naE7TCNpcQY99voVxHa__e9Hpd3COheA/s2048/20211024_101328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mLe_K186r0ovLPs0XGH_hYOEoW7XPdoTYHe2jpoJRh7v2XAhlK41IbMGG7nvMtGJkyOpuQInmB2_dA8GWhWfgfJwYbWw_0Xvtn5hmyTyg5naE7TCNpcQY99voVxHa__e9Hpd3COheA/w400-h300/20211024_101328.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Though Tristan could in his more waterproof boots, I just slipped my shoes off and carried them across.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi300S3PkdfEu7FkswbFAQZB_Qoe96W0B-v-ufJUJYXgsqH9XKKWoZ8t16u-d4X_iO6zhl1YDU9_tHh6Pd4z38Tac9E8-yQjQbmMp0NxnyOvkzABbVOCQjio0aUtD7s4ir_x2rhZ74Ieg/s2048/20211024_101412.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi300S3PkdfEu7FkswbFAQZB_Qoe96W0B-v-ufJUJYXgsqH9XKKWoZ8t16u-d4X_iO6zhl1YDU9_tHh6Pd4z38Tac9E8-yQjQbmMp0NxnyOvkzABbVOCQjio0aUtD7s4ir_x2rhZ74Ieg/w480-h640/20211024_101412.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water felt lovely</td></tr></tbody></table><p>When we reached the other side we were startled a little by a young couple laying together on the rocks just hidden out of sight from where we had been. I turned around and snapped a photo of the falls from here before we made our way scrambling down to a lower point.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9AnZCXOpI0_A-mJIE2K6PXGegDyMYtbGQMRVuBGRNZZKWY_49vh8XMYLD3RkVRrzk2ioZd9Rf45Lx67a0vgypZniWIrYb-ekDkxkcaLbelnUYDLBdJXvI6GNR_1OB20ZTbvljje6-Q/s2048/20211024_101436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9AnZCXOpI0_A-mJIE2K6PXGegDyMYtbGQMRVuBGRNZZKWY_49vh8XMYLD3RkVRrzk2ioZd9Rf45Lx67a0vgypZniWIrYb-ekDkxkcaLbelnUYDLBdJXvI6GNR_1OB20ZTbvljje6-Q/w480-h640/20211024_101436.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2Sk3MCXiUCFFfUU7YAIJanIqocMWioK1EHUhq1pjcGCYKdX2WHVS7nHRJavJons5GaYFl9GaZXd80qua04pq4Sk4roTk-0RnGDykWcMvPTR7Ea6gMJ1qbD2LIgqeeKZWmmIrUZ0nZg/s2048/20211024_101554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2Sk3MCXiUCFFfUU7YAIJanIqocMWioK1EHUhq1pjcGCYKdX2WHVS7nHRJavJons5GaYFl9GaZXd80qua04pq4Sk4roTk-0RnGDykWcMvPTR7Ea6gMJ1qbD2LIgqeeKZWmmIrUZ0nZg/w480-h640/20211024_101554.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7LojgWeT9SiQFn1O9zx1F4eGAlqHhbqG-6ZxrNuBos09FuVDSrH8fFMRXILXi2dvUjeVq2bRD4zKxs9Orav5tjMjFyp0lRuBmav3IizSc2fDtDY6CEuKpbEbjs_T5_QlqY8OtCW2Kg/s2048/20211024_101616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7LojgWeT9SiQFn1O9zx1F4eGAlqHhbqG-6ZxrNuBos09FuVDSrH8fFMRXILXi2dvUjeVq2bRD4zKxs9Orav5tjMjFyp0lRuBmav3IizSc2fDtDY6CEuKpbEbjs_T5_QlqY8OtCW2Kg/w480-h640/20211024_101616.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>While making our way down Tristan had explained that he had been down here before on a date. He explained his dismay, as on the date the girl had asked him if he was "retarded."<br />After scrambling down to a flat area just below the waterfall, Tristan pointed down off the edge near us, spotting a Diamond Python soaking up the sun.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34K2FUlVZ0G0xK0uf1ihFAPyIDRyACTs2lq9W9D-s9MNr758G3aFLLNYXyBMnM9lalpIjNaRgEAqGPE8SapgZ6jIToL0V2ODqXbHTXEK9KqzFVQ3dpcFRGrJGyUdn_OtNKul_JaLbkg/s2048/20211024_101808.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34K2FUlVZ0G0xK0uf1ihFAPyIDRyACTs2lq9W9D-s9MNr758G3aFLLNYXyBMnM9lalpIjNaRgEAqGPE8SapgZ6jIToL0V2ODqXbHTXEK9KqzFVQ3dpcFRGrJGyUdn_OtNKul_JaLbkg/w480-h640/20211024_101808.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>The view of the waterfall from this spot was spectacular. As it was flowing brilliantly after the rain (compared to our visit to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/02/belmore-falls.html" target="_blank">Belmore Falls</a> in a drought and during insanely hot and dry weather).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN1VwlVPsnSngvH4Imk_fViDd-715Um_6OhOhUKF_hG9oQJuYuSQL9vdHjW19-MXoPPCXBsMMsWdk0ROlKwAornAt3fWWLpQpxDRC-kF28V2eVjddk-pJanFqiPi68DQ6EDXUT7_W1Q/s2048/20211024_102202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhN1VwlVPsnSngvH4Imk_fViDd-715Um_6OhOhUKF_hG9oQJuYuSQL9vdHjW19-MXoPPCXBsMMsWdk0ROlKwAornAt3fWWLpQpxDRC-kF28V2eVjddk-pJanFqiPi68DQ6EDXUT7_W1Q/w400-h300/20211024_102202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRKnuodZSBQvthHg6qh9N9bDf_zWLWut4imrno2QLkyr9pjtlheNyjuzR2tM9EfAOHc8yQ473vQuve1Uuef-rk6kmBF62iMsPEaFi-UvW0kefZOjPon5XJX184nQZ1yjupXBJ5o-5QQ/s2048/20211024_102215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRKnuodZSBQvthHg6qh9N9bDf_zWLWut4imrno2QLkyr9pjtlheNyjuzR2tM9EfAOHc8yQ473vQuve1Uuef-rk6kmBF62iMsPEaFi-UvW0kefZOjPon5XJX184nQZ1yjupXBJ5o-5QQ/w480-h640/20211024_102215.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>"This is a great spot for a date, right?" Tristan asked, not referring to us, but the girl who had suggested his mental ineptness.</p><p>We decided to go for a look behind the waterfall, saying it was lucky we had packed our raincoats even though the weather (though a bit overcast) was quite warm and sunny. We put them on and slowly made our way behind the nearest waterfall, making sure not to slip.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAsAX8dQfUEbLmUyRWvsHpMT3AwtOPdKf9o7o3dJGdsCfCPKwLh5ypR8166Ws_YFdQz48C8Ehmbv2H0oE62bbOCs1WbQocxFkkGrhUMRJzh1T2B06Ax9PlXO9lVb8pcWHZT46ZenGOg/s2048/20211024_102359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAsAX8dQfUEbLmUyRWvsHpMT3AwtOPdKf9o7o3dJGdsCfCPKwLh5ypR8166Ws_YFdQz48C8Ehmbv2H0oE62bbOCs1WbQocxFkkGrhUMRJzh1T2B06Ax9PlXO9lVb8pcWHZT46ZenGOg/w400-h300/20211024_102359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuuUUKuD41xdRr47pBexggCviUizsfdOC1eVreTqwofE-d4Wq8NXDB2bCIH0l0BH32DpdCCp5tKsX8mWLJoQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9DHqntNdmT6dF3LKeSW7NmDbkkG2li58yJ7i1Xa65fqX-6fvLcxpqalZajuWqW7oLv5UoXyMOsAYeYcKf0vw-1VRbUzYrBofJ8MLQBVbF6oEsRecBxLkwjFSKmY8ugvrqgvU2FRHig/s992/248538271_632391344438720_4972870692886679138_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="992" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9DHqntNdmT6dF3LKeSW7NmDbkkG2li58yJ7i1Xa65fqX-6fvLcxpqalZajuWqW7oLv5UoXyMOsAYeYcKf0vw-1VRbUzYrBofJ8MLQBVbF6oEsRecBxLkwjFSKmY8ugvrqgvU2FRHig/w400-h188/248538271_632391344438720_4972870692886679138_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We sat at the base of the falls for a while, soaking in the view, just behind me was a big boulder and I quickly scuttled up in for another great angle on the waterfall.<br />Tristan did a walk around it, shocked that I got up before finding where I had climbed and he came up too.</p><p>"I have a rule," I said "Don't climb up anything you can't climb down." </p><p>We made our way down off the boulder and began to scramble back up top, before Tristan went to a small ledge bit, suggesting we climbing up the short cut rather than, well, walk and extra minute. Being the dickheads we are I was totally in for it, climbing up the tiny, but very slippery surface. I made it to the top informing Tristan it was super slippering (including all the holds), and though it wasn't very large, I said I didn't recommend him doing it. He decided he would anyway. "Don't fall." I said as he began climbing, hoping this wouldn't go down like <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">another blog I wrote</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxZ3Ia155IxY-Qb656P6bFmWp5EBtV-qTKja0KPVaM62Hd0zlorQ7q9sKssVLufzDBiIuPHSaBGQwJBhi7tw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>After making it back up to where the young couple was (who had since left). I mentioned to Tristan I was still racking my brain to remember my quote about the spiritualism, he couldn't remember either and we were both upset to lose a great line. He enquired as to my star sign. I told him I was a Scorpio. He asked what element Scorpio was and I told him it was a water sign.</p><p>I took my shoes off once more, and again crossed over, as new people had arrived all staring at us from the other side.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMta_7Dg_khmykfiewIlt1eC-5OCQo_CHSiTVexWSJajMG3XIHAa7-pznqgJ4CqeYULuSZ2tXVo_NvIseIcRvNJ2nOKalErc0bI_T5j5S0JErGatWnu_P7NFd-Ppe96v7mc-1xosHrXw/s1008/245595148_933538494178416_6021153602276125530_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="464" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMta_7Dg_khmykfiewIlt1eC-5OCQo_CHSiTVexWSJajMG3XIHAa7-pznqgJ4CqeYULuSZ2tXVo_NvIseIcRvNJ2nOKalErc0bI_T5j5S0JErGatWnu_P7NFd-Ppe96v7mc-1xosHrXw/w294-h640/245595148_933538494178416_6021153602276125530_n.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p>We again avoided the people, jumping over the railing, to the now empty viewing platform to actually look at the waterfall from there.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1LuiW6lCdLWA2Tv6BSIDDMmbNqV7vs3tb9y4TgpM6MlDBFHD45BSkOhScZzswCFFOnlkXJWfvAOLCfbg8bpIAbyAJKcZO7sP9Zm0ScDuFVYef1oob8wRvpe-ealCOTV2zXPqJqg3Aw/s992/248275188_654185306024481_8875032931126250838_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="992" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1LuiW6lCdLWA2Tv6BSIDDMmbNqV7vs3tb9y4TgpM6MlDBFHD45BSkOhScZzswCFFOnlkXJWfvAOLCfbg8bpIAbyAJKcZO7sP9Zm0ScDuFVYef1oob8wRvpe-ealCOTV2zXPqJqg3Aw/w400-h190/248275188_654185306024481_8875032931126250838_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I want a selfie dude"- Tristan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDomBrHM-uk_jdmgzW9wkOfXw90aSbqjqPEN3feJ9SLrRr1qmr2MvOdVNA6kW1H8P3p_O2lGJQ3eW0gEbENgq-gjgbExIcws8gIQKO2-6ipfWEuakkHGZt6693XMdC5kM1PI7aUjfQYQ/s2048/20211024_104325%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDomBrHM-uk_jdmgzW9wkOfXw90aSbqjqPEN3feJ9SLrRr1qmr2MvOdVNA6kW1H8P3p_O2lGJQ3eW0gEbENgq-gjgbExIcws8gIQKO2-6ipfWEuakkHGZt6693XMdC5kM1PI7aUjfQYQ/w480-h640/20211024_104325%25280%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We decided to head back along the purpose built track, which had a gap of dirt trail in the middle anyway. It was a short walk and we were back at the gate.</p><p>"C'mon dude, let's go for a quick walk down there." Tristan suggested, knowing I would be disappointed if we didn't inspect what was down there.</p><p>We were on the tail of two men taking photo's which a much more expensive looking camera then our two phones, and we tried to keep our distance. The view opened up to a body of water with a big rusty machine mostly blocking the view directly in front.</p><p>"Oh that's where I left my motorbike." Tristan joked.<br />"It doesn't even look like a bike." I said, refusing his attempt at humour.</p><p>We inspected the left of it while the two men went to the right, scaring off an apparent snake. There where pipes coming from into and going into the water.</p><p>"I wonder what it was for?" I asked as it was so old now it didn't look in usage.<br />"Probably to pump sewage." Tristan again jested.</p><p>As we began to walk back toward the trail to head back to the car I heard one of the men point out a 'jump' and looked back and noticed the wooden planks all nailed up a tree on the other side for people to climb up and jump into.</p><p>We continued back and Tristan's joke about sewerage had reminded of the walk to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/07/forty-foot-falls.html" target="_blank">Forty Foot Falls</a>. I asked if he remembered how the water was like treated water, and that there was a sign about it. He remembered. I asked if he remembered me getting a photo standing directly under the falls. He did. I then joked that it was that sewerage water that had probably given me cancer.</p><p>"You just blame everything for your cancer don't you?"<br />"Yes."</p><p>We where almost at the carpark when Tristan mentioned he wanted to check with a friend of his about whether the burning around here had been back-burning or a bush fire, as his friend's Father apparently worked for the Fire Department (or something the like, involving fires).</p><p>As we reached the carpark Tristan was going to quickly chuck on a facemask so he could go in to the Orchard and buy himself a cider, but just as we reached the information sign at the start of the walk we heard a man yell to his friend.</p><p>"It's closed!"<br />"What really?!"<br />"Yeah, opens again on Monday."<br /></p><p>We then heard a loud groan. Tristan looked at me, "Well I guess that's that sorted." and we jumped back in his car to drive to <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/10/kellys-falls.html" target="_blank">Kelly's Falls</a>.</p><p><br /></p><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com5Madden Falls Track, Darkes Forest NSW 2508, Australia-34.2386979 150.9149845-62.548931736178844 115.7587345 -5.9284640638211528 -173.9287655tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-18407962570215009682021-10-14T12:25:00.003+11:002023-08-21T14:30:58.362+10:00Mount Keira - Ken Ausburn Track<p>So after not being able to go on a hike with my mate Tristan for ages due to scheduling (<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">and being in hospital</a>), he kept trying to find a date asking me about the 1st of February (2021). I told him I had a Drs. Appointment that day to find out the results of the bone marrow biopsy I had received on the 18th of January. </p><p>He sent me the walk, a 5km one that sorta looked like it went between Mount Keira and Mount Kembla. Assuming the walk would be easy enough to do in time I agree to do it the morning of, before I received my results which I was extremely nervous about. I told him to pick me any time after 9, as that was when I took my midostaurin (cancer medication).</p><p>He arrived to pick me up around 9:30am and we set off towards Wollongong.</p><p>"You don't mind if I grab a coffee on the way, do you?" He asked me. <br />I told him I was fine, and he offered to shout me one, but I told him about how much my medication makes me urinate, saying since taking it I had already gone to the toilet 6 times and felt like I needed to again. He pulled in at a shop in Brownsville and we continued on to Wollongong, rapidly talking about things along the way including my anxiety at my upcoming appointment. I told him I felt physically well, that I didn't feel like I had cancer (still feeling like I was in remission) but that I was concerned as I had many bruises over me (that I thought were probably from my Dog jumping on me in my sleep). He set up his GPS, and we made our way past Wollongong University pulling up ready to begin I sprayed my shoes with Bushman's (a bug repellent spray, just to keep leeches off). Tristan talked about how he didn't use things like that because of how carcinogenic they are, saying they absorb through the skin. I said I never use them either but just because of my condition I was using it just on my shoes to stop leeches climbing up me.</p><p>There was a bit of confusing as to the site Tristan had found the walk actually began the walk somewhere in the university. So this walk would only be about 1 and a half km from where we were actually beginning (near a roundabout connecting Robsons Road, O'Leary Road and Northfields Ave), linking in to the Mount Keira Ring Track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5cMy4Hq1HNy1RCTek8cosCyJhUhMfcA6FMXalWbmY2AHWCh7LW-x4cYW11PPQLT8U0dFXGefF5t75g9HWXR5UH8rudA_t_MUONnsU_z85LcHGvROOUpmkmEXIEJ58p4XnHBKrAUWqA/s2048/145069239_220103706452674_6844424589184920246_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5cMy4Hq1HNy1RCTek8cosCyJhUhMfcA6FMXalWbmY2AHWCh7LW-x4cYW11PPQLT8U0dFXGefF5t75g9HWXR5UH8rudA_t_MUONnsU_z85LcHGvROOUpmkmEXIEJ58p4XnHBKrAUWqA/w400-h225/145069239_220103706452674_6844424589184920246_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We followed a chain link fence along to the sign in the above picture, where I stopped to read about the walk. Nearby was another sign post, with a walkers code.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVfEjTHoREJmhA1jeFSSqtXGsPz9-alL5pOYli1yqZ2B6nbr0MlKUr0_Ls0mbadYuUCrkNhI5njDlPuwzPDnWvzcZrXLQtE0oG-zcbRt2xl-rCCaOO9rRYFgwZ0LZUge19Ya8pHlmFA/s2048/145180535_232190365167893_2992492925644037684_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVfEjTHoREJmhA1jeFSSqtXGsPz9-alL5pOYli1yqZ2B6nbr0MlKUr0_Ls0mbadYuUCrkNhI5njDlPuwzPDnWvzcZrXLQtE0oG-zcbRt2xl-rCCaOO9rRYFgwZ0LZUge19Ya8pHlmFA/w358-h640/145180535_232190365167893_2992492925644037684_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><p>All rather sensible rules. We entered through a doorway made in the fencing and began uphill with another chain link fence to our right, and the back of people's home to our left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0n6qX9SbzQfglNsuJEwAwHMLXuRlEf8fV6CK95rFtXbpJone5qmj0uzkF7jG-Hez8eHiUAPBJx77PR7m0thdG3apoVCryrsCs-JJKnPwylzlSiV-rGYCguYVMGLPz6ymcGeRxkaSWw/s2048/145212572_1063035100883322_8550470487662948122_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0n6qX9SbzQfglNsuJEwAwHMLXuRlEf8fV6CK95rFtXbpJone5qmj0uzkF7jG-Hez8eHiUAPBJx77PR7m0thdG3apoVCryrsCs-JJKnPwylzlSiV-rGYCguYVMGLPz6ymcGeRxkaSWw/w400-h225/145212572_1063035100883322_8550470487662948122_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we made our way up through past these houses Tristan and I talked about how my cancer treatment had been going, things I had experienced and our love of getting out on adventures. I told him I had a view from Wollongong Hospital during my second round of Chemotherapy, looking out over Mount Keira, and that I got to see it in the rain, and fog and sun and all I could think about was how desperate I was to get out into some fresh air and walk to the top.</p><p>On the way up we discussed (with my Bush Regeneration past, and Tristan's current career) many plants we encountered. With me trying to see how many I knew or which ones I remembered scientific names for, my knowledge no where near as impressive as Tristan's. (<span style="text-align: center;">Orange Thorn, or </span><i style="text-align: center;">Pittosporum multiflorum</i><span style="text-align: center;"> was probably about the limits of my knowledge. </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">There were some signs or plaques along the way to highlight certain plants and trees, with some information on the history of usage by White European settlers or by Indigenous Australians, however, often the tree they were at was missing.</span></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSTEFC19-cbCLy8FnIhDtn032F-1-fPcH61FS2V72pFKtc8Lpqh4A6FhQyPFp0fEL3P0CwWlt7SqSpvhGh8bHgMTRxQ4T6aI5zI_eGlosQunvh1ioBT9U9SyaMsVrlCVzV6PNUgl_yw/s2048/144809198_243034090686251_2180676052096985425_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSTEFC19-cbCLy8FnIhDtn032F-1-fPcH61FS2V72pFKtc8Lpqh4A6FhQyPFp0fEL3P0CwWlt7SqSpvhGh8bHgMTRxQ4T6aI5zI_eGlosQunvh1ioBT9U9SyaMsVrlCVzV6PNUgl_yw/w358-h640/144809198_243034090686251_2180676052096985425_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The ground was a little muddy, due to recent rains which put me on edge for fear of dreaded Leeches. Ever scarred from my one experience doing <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2015/08/sublime-point.html" target="_blank">Sublime Point in the rain</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyDecazYeqRsgo1_8G1Anbw0hkEC8ckF4VGxC77VLwiKJMtsBpv9xPVQYc5u9iPw44msoH9L6_IMLA2t_TtnUv2KoiV-piFfrouFztNKyZmXs0azM0WEFKzzfs4kOZp2zbL9jSSNehg/s2048/144675275_136421631658866_5338526451567893340_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyDecazYeqRsgo1_8G1Anbw0hkEC8ckF4VGxC77VLwiKJMtsBpv9xPVQYc5u9iPw44msoH9L6_IMLA2t_TtnUv2KoiV-piFfrouFztNKyZmXs0azM0WEFKzzfs4kOZp2zbL9jSSNehg/w400-h300/144675275_136421631658866_5338526451567893340_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>At one point there was a gap in the fence to our right, with no signage, and I questioned whether that was the way to go, but we continued straight up beside the houses until the path became uneven with tree roots and we could see a concrete footpath up ahead.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5YSWby7oNqmokKLqi528DYZqWr-t0sfj6zXoFKYzwwtEUNyMhRhiI8BcAspo2AaRtD7p_xCSWZmzE5fN92oo3NspGZGlXJ6P3FULNLrVcmGjgEKfAoi7VeZGAlLdJmDQQ8128nEcsA/s2048/144704809_171305504427470_5150430213978848890_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5YSWby7oNqmokKLqi528DYZqWr-t0sfj6zXoFKYzwwtEUNyMhRhiI8BcAspo2AaRtD7p_xCSWZmzE5fN92oo3NspGZGlXJ6P3FULNLrVcmGjgEKfAoi7VeZGAlLdJmDQQ8128nEcsA/w358-h640/144704809_171305504427470_5150430213978848890_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGTipBYNwnZATcOX3eJtRK_zbrXhCLA-9F7oTU6oe5YtbwW-jGcCKbNS9RQgpna6MIqXB3w4LXpsUZH4-TaKmLqw1NCvVWMXmkizlTXtGVQLC8UO1GoOOMdptWCSC4zVwpsebQ1ELkg/s2048/144694124_138400101439650_5503579999767459572_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGTipBYNwnZATcOX3eJtRK_zbrXhCLA-9F7oTU6oe5YtbwW-jGcCKbNS9RQgpna6MIqXB3w4LXpsUZH4-TaKmLqw1NCvVWMXmkizlTXtGVQLC8UO1GoOOMdptWCSC4zVwpsebQ1ELkg/w358-h640/144694124_138400101439650_5503579999767459572_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div>The weather was incredibly humid, making the uphill walk more of a struggle with the hot thick air. However after spending so much time in hospital (where one of my beds was placed directly under freezing cold air conditioning) I had grown to become less affected by warmer temperatures and more affected by the cold.</div><div><br /></div><div>The concrete path bent to the right and we saw some wooden stairs leading higher up just as a man jogged downwards past us.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPtlVd8qhP3Cwvf98nvMz3wklO0H_5xk_mH_dA-NC6iRozhbmsLgG4GnL_5Z5elh__UiYsFSi-jJWQztxll2XHpECcuA_ePrYKdwgH1bmJBqVzu7TKuz7TowJ4BTKxynOFA8GvuYawg/s2048/145467433_748289742472007_2177824344639280739_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPtlVd8qhP3Cwvf98nvMz3wklO0H_5xk_mH_dA-NC6iRozhbmsLgG4GnL_5Z5elh__UiYsFSi-jJWQztxll2XHpECcuA_ePrYKdwgH1bmJBqVzu7TKuz7TowJ4BTKxynOFA8GvuYawg/w358-h640/145467433_748289742472007_2177824344639280739_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div>While climbing the stairs I noticed a rock sitting their. A painted rock. NSW Rocks. Something I had been collecting as mentioned in my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore post</a> as well as my collection of collected ones saved as permanent story on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">my Instagram</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2se_749UnR61xJpCX_enLf-SHH6wbbcwsVYXiEN1ldoW-0TJqFDyfhKi7MKGfaH9k29_JJ9qM7lay3VJj2YKugBK4Th-YtmSOUE12uMEO9-Qwp0esWDSsxCUpvjKXWQ1TNNO08wS8g/s1564/145121633_163476768669257_7906515195217851520_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2se_749UnR61xJpCX_enLf-SHH6wbbcwsVYXiEN1ldoW-0TJqFDyfhKi7MKGfaH9k29_JJ9qM7lay3VJj2YKugBK4Th-YtmSOUE12uMEO9-Qwp0esWDSsxCUpvjKXWQ1TNNO08wS8g/w400-h400/145121633_163476768669257_7906515195217851520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>From the stairs I looked out and pointed to Tristan that I could see Wollongong Hospital, and felt a sort of melancholy. Knowing there might be someone sitting in there looking out to Mount Keira with the sadness and longing that I had felt, feeling the fear that the beautiful experience of life could soon be gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>We continued up, again the path transitioning to concrete a leading us to a big monument.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBZKmlyCmh5Pk1YzDYXm7x9LXIsxiJ0qh0uOb9eUfT1-y9amcWGSLp1YpntC61-PoHx2un3XhKJy9vc1B8lpyrG9or_8P_hE6RspyV-kGO7RMyld707GewPmvJTh6MeTOJWyEqMcekQ/s2048/145062465_455756198796275_5465640387935164430_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBZKmlyCmh5Pk1YzDYXm7x9LXIsxiJ0qh0uOb9eUfT1-y9amcWGSLp1YpntC61-PoHx2un3XhKJy9vc1B8lpyrG9or_8P_hE6RspyV-kGO7RMyld707GewPmvJTh6MeTOJWyEqMcekQ/w358-h640/145062465_455756198796275_5465640387935164430_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwJumFUjgMpHl4lgFwm-UdluBWhkmgrkvCD1k5Mm-wFZ2qUIrQOT5Jfg8-T33eC_Lm5LBLnDxdDF9GYYMtpCsiEt9dCUNhb7JMxFvBet_EkrLo9-49EvyNz5FUbGE5SQiTJM28m5zpQ/s2048/145197406_788064945133389_4888070705274712927_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwJumFUjgMpHl4lgFwm-UdluBWhkmgrkvCD1k5Mm-wFZ2qUIrQOT5Jfg8-T33eC_Lm5LBLnDxdDF9GYYMtpCsiEt9dCUNhb7JMxFvBet_EkrLo9-49EvyNz5FUbGE5SQiTJM28m5zpQ/w358-h640/145197406_788064945133389_4888070705274712927_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw0trcZJi6pw2GnAImgYJqWrlLeEFyoy805eo17DXMuFzzSyDlPyvdsvZ8shVV_9RWQw04F9gxqIjp1VuWqVNbeXocKx7H9C0E_sL6Jxv-WZRqqXjMH4MNcQXK6QAaLTV6g_G71O3qA/s2048/145057625_261019948715765_5403578148706308170_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw0trcZJi6pw2GnAImgYJqWrlLeEFyoy805eo17DXMuFzzSyDlPyvdsvZ8shVV_9RWQw04F9gxqIjp1VuWqVNbeXocKx7H9C0E_sL6Jxv-WZRqqXjMH4MNcQXK6QAaLTV6g_G71O3qA/w480-h640/145057625_261019948715765_5403578148706308170_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo was actually taken on the way back down. (False chronology, awful)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We both split to different sides of the path, hoping no one would come as we both needed to go to the toilet.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC-wlFTfjLfx9sLz0SLhg-ruzAiqHKPu_gapPsr3pkmfvF5IkSR8djMHE802fJMlDuMDQ6f1WcAQ9SAG7cfRLqsbciAsMRSxxccaP_tyKoHMPrcUa8uyB5qUzESPr3P2FJzuMz3RWcg/s2048/145286733_878605562898045_3530110821782913859_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC-wlFTfjLfx9sLz0SLhg-ruzAiqHKPu_gapPsr3pkmfvF5IkSR8djMHE802fJMlDuMDQ6f1WcAQ9SAG7cfRLqsbciAsMRSxxccaP_tyKoHMPrcUa8uyB5qUzESPr3P2FJzuMz3RWcg/w358-h640/145286733_878605562898045_3530110821782913859_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan looking for a pristine area to relieve himself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After emptying the bladder and looking around the giant statue from all different angles and discussing what it was ("Is it meant to be an Angel?" I asked). We found a plaque on the ground informing us that it was the <a href="https://ro.uow.edu.au/works/27/" target="_blank">Herbert Flugelman Lawrence Hargrave Memorial</a>. 1988-1989 from the University of Wollongong Art Collection. (Ahhh yes, all questions answered).</div><div><br /></div><div>We decided to continue on, on a bit of a schedule for me to make my appointment.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7_xztoRmWFh8XLxDTXdb0XHc6FcFeXdoJrmRDKj-pMyFaQOjhK2OTv05vmVnBoR4qOzJG5OnvYH6vbc0vrgoQsclEOCy92pWoMv3ASwrGAwqJSgxNsdXgfFlmXYVy4a8XO-HYY6u4A/s2048/144837228_262449408581664_5835030209330788097_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7_xztoRmWFh8XLxDTXdb0XHc6FcFeXdoJrmRDKj-pMyFaQOjhK2OTv05vmVnBoR4qOzJG5OnvYH6vbc0vrgoQsclEOCy92pWoMv3ASwrGAwqJSgxNsdXgfFlmXYVy4a8XO-HYY6u4A/w358-h640/144837228_262449408581664_5835030209330788097_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCuAf9iZl4aGUtNWiHydPdaYf64x_uVrhcMu5v88d2sTTpK_Cakhg8vtf7H3xHtUNdzhLHm166hnCiXrpD1g_wo81TCE_okhBgQjNg7jYfHN9manL3WVDFZmg1EPsBz4eiuknYPhoTg/s2048/145481414_467955247559590_7751804601632490743_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCuAf9iZl4aGUtNWiHydPdaYf64x_uVrhcMu5v88d2sTTpK_Cakhg8vtf7H3xHtUNdzhLHm166hnCiXrpD1g_wo81TCE_okhBgQjNg7jYfHN9manL3WVDFZmg1EPsBz4eiuknYPhoTg/w358-h640/145481414_467955247559590_7751804601632490743_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div>As Tristan turned around and I took a photo of him face on. I stopped. Looking at him with a furrowed brow.<br />"You look like someone." I said.</div><div>"Who?"<br />I stared at him longer trying to put my finger on it. Suddenly it came to me.</div><div>"Ben from Survivor!"</div><div>"Who?"</div><div>"He was a marine, he won season 35 (Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers) and was also on season 40 (Winners at War)".</div><div><br /></div><div>Tristan, never having watched Survivor still had no idea, so I assured him I would show him once I got home.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we continued into the rainforest the humidity began to get even worse, and we both began to sweat. But although I had seen leeches stretched up from the mud we had been able to avoid them.</div><div><br /></div><div>We walked past a few signs on plants and one detailing the history of transporting coal to Wollongong Harbour.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdVLpUoAJ2710No9w07bjDJXIY_GDOS911E-nIN2R2J0lxdVmPce39PMzuO9MVyYFUDXVmdv71g4vRlqHz2Nb2i6zD3RRJ8qvtLOAwBEu5TgeS60f8G2GH8NRYJWmIdjFBV0K86ygqA/s2048/144614953_821379825386310_2803788878092238174_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdVLpUoAJ2710No9w07bjDJXIY_GDOS911E-nIN2R2J0lxdVmPce39PMzuO9MVyYFUDXVmdv71g4vRlqHz2Nb2i6zD3RRJ8qvtLOAwBEu5TgeS60f8G2GH8NRYJWmIdjFBV0K86ygqA/w358-h640/144614953_821379825386310_2803788878092238174_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCsz30C_-5g3fXd_1-ZhKo3ekCktT66zGXynN6fafZcU9j87cMAXxofptxsfYEMHUoNSEahnzoYvn4AHSfituVhWhu8P_F7U239hxctcwvNPHgi6ZVz17xE5DFCtAgsQXFGHM9DSgow/s2048/145221522_165067725156152_9021995886330801271_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCsz30C_-5g3fXd_1-ZhKo3ekCktT66zGXynN6fafZcU9j87cMAXxofptxsfYEMHUoNSEahnzoYvn4AHSfituVhWhu8P_F7U239hxctcwvNPHgi6ZVz17xE5DFCtAgsQXFGHM9DSgow/w358-h640/145221522_165067725156152_9021995886330801271_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, a sign with no tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The area began to become dense with ferns and after crossing a wooden bridge there was a track down to our left leading to a fenced off area that had been forcibly opened.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1h21Nqln81FLX4yqijPTSY3bjEcmAD15I02GI1NA-dHamqq7Vk_haJ7cAZ-OjLMeruoC8pUcNB166ULE5wqO9WTPnN7tPaFkP6I7r_35cCQIXHB9G39zlxrPJT5HcO3_9Yf3AaZDXw/s756/245186878_280179460489493_5247790640451302346_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="756" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1h21Nqln81FLX4yqijPTSY3bjEcmAD15I02GI1NA-dHamqq7Vk_haJ7cAZ-OjLMeruoC8pUcNB166ULE5wqO9WTPnN7tPaFkP6I7r_35cCQIXHB9G39zlxrPJT5HcO3_9Yf3AaZDXw/w400-h225/245186878_280179460489493_5247790640451302346_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-m0cSM6fjTiH6kI2vHtepZ4b1d-_CMfsfkAIHdBgZszoqPPsv5VdAhyphenhyphenGwQJjKQ3Q4ecy-ml0R2onuanh4SsxlT9el801kLSraX7NNQIfPRLC4x0eDuR8ZS60wDT6Ygw6nTgBsbVF1w/s756/245599816_225425012904094_4066618786814257921_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="756" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-m0cSM6fjTiH6kI2vHtepZ4b1d-_CMfsfkAIHdBgZszoqPPsv5VdAhyphenhyphenGwQJjKQ3Q4ecy-ml0R2onuanh4SsxlT9el801kLSraX7NNQIfPRLC4x0eDuR8ZS60wDT6Ygw6nTgBsbVF1w/w400-h225/245599816_225425012904094_4066618786814257921_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIsMnlr9xcbqTkVh1rbi5DdCUAkXCTsbRozQ71eZExUXljKykn9PiP5a_T3I6AAPoYVeUeuD79AAi5mIJAB7cvR21rzJ0h8Eszim4L5V8Ar7LeE_wpAMB_EiF-V2njDU-CrBXOMc09g/s756/245232979_165511045738098_6239442989116386375_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="756" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIsMnlr9xcbqTkVh1rbi5DdCUAkXCTsbRozQ71eZExUXljKykn9PiP5a_T3I6AAPoYVeUeuD79AAi5mIJAB7cvR21rzJ0h8Eszim4L5V8Ar7LeE_wpAMB_EiF-V2njDU-CrBXOMc09g/w400-h225/245232979_165511045738098_6239442989116386375_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Tristan wanted to go in and explore behind the fence, despite the warning signs saying to keep out, and that there could be potential fines.<br />I was hesitant never liking to do the wrong thing (and also financially being off work because of my cancer I really didn't fancy a fine). Eventually he talked me into it and anxiously I followed behind him.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGFq-pmuw8WKr4JtWIJ-3huefzGvBK8yujGMQ1tnSEiSv6c1pGl2uxYBC78UeLPSYG5GwN3QXBVLn-uY5hSHIFb1vbltehrjj2SiuEl4wpYreRpnBnR7A251xyc3uQUBY3uklyGckEA/s2048/144746336_1314928608863316_2700303705246661974_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGFq-pmuw8WKr4JtWIJ-3huefzGvBK8yujGMQ1tnSEiSv6c1pGl2uxYBC78UeLPSYG5GwN3QXBVLn-uY5hSHIFb1vbltehrjj2SiuEl4wpYreRpnBnR7A251xyc3uQUBY3uklyGckEA/w358-h640/144746336_1314928608863316_2700303705246661974_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwuGt55prjBwXi_yTqpjx-FzHCCmvSGbrxQ9YoDEv1cFVrgw-PLkF6s72E7hLEpPr1szH5cSmQ6TUinwrg9Gsv23P9WrHq8DZclnoWvekiWpBa1YchOmHlIjypVPhdOc_U0WmLVJMtA/s2048/145069238_763185750967389_7484568360201637158_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwuGt55prjBwXi_yTqpjx-FzHCCmvSGbrxQ9YoDEv1cFVrgw-PLkF6s72E7hLEpPr1szH5cSmQ6TUinwrg9Gsv23P9WrHq8DZclnoWvekiWpBa1YchOmHlIjypVPhdOc_U0WmLVJMtA/w400-h225/145069238_763185750967389_7484568360201637158_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Honestly there wasn't that much to see, and the only reason I could see to actually keep people out is if they were climbing around on things, which the ones who are going to do that are going to do that regardless of keep out signs and it place should probably just be open with historic information signs for bushwalkers to read.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ctxOsHuGv9YK-WtoQ0J9F8Vx-nWbvWYfPqfGVgEL5Cetdzbnt-XKBhRBkIV16MimR-r9zHxaoq6rByHSPYYhaUiYL8jvDh4W2jOQ8kMN7fb9zSU7vBEefK54J2wNz3uZ6TZ-5N3uA/s2048/144726056_884505575681948_3014241690495519061_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ctxOsHuGv9YK-WtoQ0J9F8Vx-nWbvWYfPqfGVgEL5Cetdzbnt-XKBhRBkIV16MimR-r9zHxaoq6rByHSPYYhaUiYL8jvDh4W2jOQ8kMN7fb9zSU7vBEefK54J2wNz3uZ6TZ-5N3uA/w400-h225/144726056_884505575681948_3014241690495519061_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUh4IUpb6AFEmGkI2M72R_WMYiIQ9lUZ-YEmh5D5Y6Hbzt0SVXwABr-kRW4bVl4Wlqeg7S0tOtdcriSWEtimoYmQQT7nTTFPwyXz95pfPh_KFx8iCd5TXrTNaZfEDqULD86VxQlio8g/s2048/144891451_167205928511779_6507465615924803269_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUh4IUpb6AFEmGkI2M72R_WMYiIQ9lUZ-YEmh5D5Y6Hbzt0SVXwABr-kRW4bVl4Wlqeg7S0tOtdcriSWEtimoYmQQT7nTTFPwyXz95pfPh_KFx8iCd5TXrTNaZfEDqULD86VxQlio8g/w400-h225/144891451_167205928511779_6507465615924803269_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZachRLVRq09k8DvzYSpZZ0KIzH7XaJFSRfAXwmgBzLQyTlam2IFS6XybVCM452gbDZJh_9cP8XweJzRQD8nMRp0J48to-JCnoAQ76YayuvtSm2oex8cgrkRQanR_tYb5lEQziPkid3A/s2048/144936248_737863606865472_9196181887767127317_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZachRLVRq09k8DvzYSpZZ0KIzH7XaJFSRfAXwmgBzLQyTlam2IFS6XybVCM452gbDZJh_9cP8XweJzRQD8nMRp0J48to-JCnoAQ76YayuvtSm2oex8cgrkRQanR_tYb5lEQziPkid3A/w400-h225/144936248_737863606865472_9196181887767127317_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi8aX4uZ-8r0u6dTC1tFqexlEgc011GZsBBHKScZSaDmnfH9gnlOTJgsqqcA2kqwZfLh-9DT-0JQXRkHetEFoa1CExAeXO5VULU-a5Ani0XQlRtK43ZqkincC9ncyq0uJjLp24ooz0w/s2048/145402976_234969118122920_2748876434302464308_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi8aX4uZ-8r0u6dTC1tFqexlEgc011GZsBBHKScZSaDmnfH9gnlOTJgsqqcA2kqwZfLh-9DT-0JQXRkHetEFoa1CExAeXO5VULU-a5Ani0XQlRtK43ZqkincC9ncyq0uJjLp24ooz0w/w358-h640/145402976_234969118122920_2748876434302464308_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div>After a quick look around, we quickly skedaddled and continued along the dirt path leading us to a brick ventilation shaft with a sign explaining some history. After reading this Tristan began to tell me a story about his grandfather and his work in a factory... or mine... or something back in England. I honestly forget the story. (Sorry Tristan).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofnpMaspHmg9NbL_qxAO4AHvQPNIiyj5SiwS-2KbjhXx8J1iKIrgnIVdf9Y71GJwdBqU5s6RqvUC_Hi3or34a3CVdwDDRlWv8RsU5W2dmwcFkder17OoAa91kCl5rxiRCyusZiE3P2g/s2048/144710291_248971436764929_7519420082886685453_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofnpMaspHmg9NbL_qxAO4AHvQPNIiyj5SiwS-2KbjhXx8J1iKIrgnIVdf9Y71GJwdBqU5s6RqvUC_Hi3or34a3CVdwDDRlWv8RsU5W2dmwcFkder17OoAa91kCl5rxiRCyusZiE3P2g/w358-h640/144710291_248971436764929_7519420082886685453_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD1TESUiT9eMla2qYG5X1rugcJtoDgEQ-ychd8bhGVj_dfgSrWsstCr1Xo92owIu11XEzqZ81s0Xauz-wGzjPpfHdP5sZjT3f9zBxuDls9qY1lM6kH_qKxJ9DzqYyjvTZemSaMnLFqw/s2048/145919147_801463057117443_2232128235895288057_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFD1TESUiT9eMla2qYG5X1rugcJtoDgEQ-ychd8bhGVj_dfgSrWsstCr1Xo92owIu11XEzqZ81s0Xauz-wGzjPpfHdP5sZjT3f9zBxuDls9qY1lM6kH_qKxJ9DzqYyjvTZemSaMnLFqw/w358-h640/145919147_801463057117443_2232128235895288057_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div>The walk continued up with Tristan still telling his grandfather's story, before opening up into the Mount Keira Loop Track.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbVf3IMOr6qeoWG7ikT3CmuVuEFhLOAAGCQs3hLZN7etnTLf_QlrVOga7Mz08S_QpBu_AbypAhTwA-iAaqX07_g8RBWp5px-hDSrbXxSyp0a8avSRwfKbWl-n8_cELGKhluRjODM4Vw/s2048/144782832_477150086785428_478251722177361432_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbVf3IMOr6qeoWG7ikT3CmuVuEFhLOAAGCQs3hLZN7etnTLf_QlrVOga7Mz08S_QpBu_AbypAhTwA-iAaqX07_g8RBWp5px-hDSrbXxSyp0a8avSRwfKbWl-n8_cELGKhluRjODM4Vw/w358-h640/144782832_477150086785428_478251722177361432_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDovUZL1fjhAhFPaAZ8nwBhpDLLG6BHDq9H75w1Rw4QHzrBYZ-880BS-Hxcs3BgLunK0QaaO8N7dlHkYDMKvb4allnqJbzlL1IJ-NMjXuFfqXbqHUP2QO8CWAvNduu7Vb5yNTA1-Cw/s2048/144972294_442775006767069_4936217968720240536_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZDovUZL1fjhAhFPaAZ8nwBhpDLLG6BHDq9H75w1Rw4QHzrBYZ-880BS-Hxcs3BgLunK0QaaO8N7dlHkYDMKvb4allnqJbzlL1IJ-NMjXuFfqXbqHUP2QO8CWAvNduu7Vb5yNTA1-Cw/w358-h640/144972294_442775006767069_4936217968720240536_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj4wlG-rKApKa1akM8YWVbMlCG9OZotyTOxVcC3oZSJDI7QOivRKNi4-THDcfO4FUeMeYygeULHiclJlEYwoSIS7mNwLWPOLV7HSolRwW4PxZl5QULGNjRriufsyp5HtQfqF2T4gkfg/s2048/144651217_410040370105629_1738526105023765258_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj4wlG-rKApKa1akM8YWVbMlCG9OZotyTOxVcC3oZSJDI7QOivRKNi4-THDcfO4FUeMeYygeULHiclJlEYwoSIS7mNwLWPOLV7HSolRwW4PxZl5QULGNjRriufsyp5HtQfqF2T4gkfg/w358-h640/144651217_410040370105629_1738526105023765258_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking to our right along the Loop Track</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtuV182iKOxCwO7sVpRjzF5BLRzkEXOSeRj7hwKdRqtE88w7kijL6IgEK3StGf_ExGajCldH3uexXhNgD8jayOJ03NwQs0jwmu6k3YmFPYHiUk8mEvQxWYSBU_-CkKNO4vavKNVeIBQ/s2048/145131230_243670747247067_8149551343906922881_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtuV182iKOxCwO7sVpRjzF5BLRzkEXOSeRj7hwKdRqtE88w7kijL6IgEK3StGf_ExGajCldH3uexXhNgD8jayOJ03NwQs0jwmu6k3YmFPYHiUk8mEvQxWYSBU_-CkKNO4vavKNVeIBQ/w358-h640/145131230_243670747247067_8149551343906922881_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking to our left along the Loop Track</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Soon we were on our phones, mobile data switched on, looking at how long the Loop Track was, as I was very eager to continue the walk. I began telling Tristan I believed we had enough time to do it. But being the less impulsive of the two of us, he said he didn't want us to be rushed and that I still needed time to get home to shower and change to come back in to Wollongong for my Doctors appointment.<br />Soon I gave in to his logic, upset, pining to continue the trail.</div><div><br /></div><div>We soon turned around back down the Ken Ausburn Track.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfkU03ueO4C42OWADMKxpTTBeYBUTlZ3Qy6OzrYo7vQLE-UU1r2z_Oxa-RzedLxxiM9wBtT8zVHfa92Y92byna7HYGBoEhyphenhyphenvgZk0KyY3LL4CEi-EoQChBpsdnRFVN7Zr4AhSwF1eqxw/s2048/144601833_1091194868019021_1215111596894077152_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfkU03ueO4C42OWADMKxpTTBeYBUTlZ3Qy6OzrYo7vQLE-UU1r2z_Oxa-RzedLxxiM9wBtT8zVHfa92Y92byna7HYGBoEhyphenhyphenvgZk0KyY3LL4CEi-EoQChBpsdnRFVN7Zr4AhSwF1eqxw/w358-h640/144601833_1091194868019021_1215111596894077152_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view heading back down the track</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>On our way back down Tristan told me of his friend, and her brother's battle with bone cancer and how he beat it. I felt moved and stressed about my own outcome. Dreading my appointment I yearned for the simplicity of a bushwalk, the peace in nature. The burn of physical exertion, the thrill of seeing new sights and the fun of just hanging with my friend.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V7EL1MNtjPGsBMZO14slIg7Fw5MZq9XUwqUXaQ7DyZyHxNfjLEuWdrIqn9KdJyrIQBNdbdXYSDT6batmlq4o5o_xVluvudup0lAhNY0PNTGHJmEfC4Uz3MoiGLgcXsZTkxxnOJws1Q/s2048/145346368_259541622225454_6624434988401913493_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V7EL1MNtjPGsBMZO14slIg7Fw5MZq9XUwqUXaQ7DyZyHxNfjLEuWdrIqn9KdJyrIQBNdbdXYSDT6batmlq4o5o_xVluvudup0lAhNY0PNTGHJmEfC4Uz3MoiGLgcXsZTkxxnOJws1Q/w358-h640/145346368_259541622225454_6624434988401913493_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOOOOOOO</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Soon we had arrived back at the Angel, where we took a selfie together that I already shared, and made our way down towards Tristan's car. As we arrived I told him that although I would write this as a blog, I would save it as a part 1 and publish it after we had done all the other Mount Keira walks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After a shower and some lunch I made my way back to Wollongong for my appointment. Basically I was told that there was still trace amounts of Leukemia in my bone marrow (according to a really advanced test, though I was still in remission), which is what they had acknowledged could be the case. So all there was to do was to stay on my midostaurin to inhibit the cancer's growth and wait until the next year for my Stem Cell Transplant.</div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously since this walk I also wrote the blogs: <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html" target="_blank">Barren Grounds - Kangaroo Ridge and Griffiths Loop Track</a>, <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/gibbergunyah-reserve-walk.html" target="_blank">Gibbergunyah Reserve Walk</a>, and my post about my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/06/stem-cell-transplant.html" target="_blank">Stem Cell Transplant</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Due to being so busy with other walks and fighting cancer, I never actually wrote this blog post (which is why I struggle a bit with my recall).</div><div><br /></div><div>However I am now over 6 months post Stem Cell Transplant, things SEEM to be going well. However as many will know we had the outbreak of Delta Covid-19 in NSW, and as an immunocompromised person I really haven't been able to leave the house much, only for a little exercise here and there.<br />I have received both doses of my corona virus vaccine (vaccines are science if you're anti science you're an idiot, sorry, not sorry), and am currently awaiting getting all my other childhood vaccinations, with the possibility of a third covid shot. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But NSW is now opening up. I have just been taken of my immunocompromising medication known as Ciclosporin, and my immune system will begin to get better allowing me to do more things (and potentially get out and hike with double vaxxed such as my Dad or Tristan). <br />So in my self contained lockdown, I decided to do the Ken Ausburn Track as it's own post instead of as a greater Mount Keira post (which Tristan looks forward to doing with me in the future).<br /><br />I hope anyone reading this has kept safe and maybe we'll see you out there!<br /><br /><br /><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuu5qRPaoXx3ddb1-WXAB7SEnVEZwi3uv6s1f-ElGXHhrxsOL-Ir6S6R-CSlWCK1xMr9F6CcTFa56x1c8FcGEzWaydWqIqwpAXkkwihF8EKW7-svziNk-1eCeawNE5ZzmNCpPhuWoBQ/s1564/145016783_519568315685343_9021105111446250594_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuu5qRPaoXx3ddb1-WXAB7SEnVEZwi3uv6s1f-ElGXHhrxsOL-Ir6S6R-CSlWCK1xMr9F6CcTFa56x1c8FcGEzWaydWqIqwpAXkkwihF8EKW7-svziNk-1eCeawNE5ZzmNCpPhuWoBQ/w400-h400/145016783_519568315685343_9021105111446250594_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tristan alongside Ben Driebergen from Survivor</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com8Mount Keira, NSW 2500, Australia-34.4026988 150.8564661-62.997429398623581 115.7002161 -5.807968201376422 -173.98728389999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-47377772013437063792021-06-03T18:54:00.001+10:002021-10-25T11:53:49.443+11:00Stem Cell Transplant<p> <i>Warning: Contains Graphic Content</i></p><p>In August 2020 I was diagnosed with <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">Leukemia</a>. After my first round of chemotherapy I was in remission but still had to undergo another 2 rounds of chemo. In the meantime I saw a specialist from Sydney who advised my best option was a Stem Cell Transplant, given the type of Leukemia I had they believed it would probably come back unless I had this done, and that it had a 70% chance of getting rid of the cancer for good, with a 10% chance it could kill me. After my third round of chemo I was released from hospital on the 30th of November, my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/11/honeymoon-to-bali.html" target="_blank">Wedding Anniversary</a>. The initial round of chemo really effected me, both physically and mentally, but I coped much better with the following two rounds, finding myself bored in the hospital and just wanting to go home.</p><p>While in there my parents and 2 of my brothers were tested to see if they were matches for the Stem Cell Transplant (my youngest brother wasn't tested as we are estranged, and he apparently laughed when finding out I was diagnosed and consistently wished for my death, brotherly love huh?). My brother Scott was a 100% match but they decided against using him due to his schizophrenia, instead saying they had found a Male, German donor who was a good enough match (11/12, markers I was told).</p><p>When I finally got home I was feeling pretty good, and realised how low on energy I had been feeling leading up to my diagnosis, including on my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore walk</a> with my friend Tristan. I went on a few hikes while waiting for my Stem Cell Transplant, including <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html" target="_blank">Barren Grounds</a> and <a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/gibbergunyah-reserve-walk.html" target="_blank">Gibbergunyah Reserve</a>.</p><p>I had received a private instagram message from Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor Africa (season 3), wishing me well on my treatment and letting me know I would crush cancer (Ethan himself having been through a Stem Cell Transplant twice). I finally got my date to go in for the transplant, and worrying I would die without ever getting to go on Survivor I bought myself the poorly received video game for the Nintendo Wii.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoxAWyWzRLwZdyqjbIKZIlk3XXJcvYFpSRZZytH8smvJ78SgBzC8VA5fTpbYn1vtWcboNFNykqSI5KT5vzwqWwR2QOXmYNzF51O9nrT8mzF6Bdz88CW0P70ut75a6ipUJf6GX-Qx3qg/s2048/151350922_810238126196064_6186149478477253939_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoxAWyWzRLwZdyqjbIKZIlk3XXJcvYFpSRZZytH8smvJ78SgBzC8VA5fTpbYn1vtWcboNFNykqSI5KT5vzwqWwR2QOXmYNzF51O9nrT8mzF6Bdz88CW0P70ut75a6ipUJf6GX-Qx3qg/w358-h640/151350922_810238126196064_6186149478477253939_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a Fanboy</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Finally I went in for the treatment, making my way up to St Vincent's Hospital earlier in the morning to get a CVC (Central Venus Catheter) placed in my neck.</p><p>After waiting around all day for my room I was told the person was feeling to unwell to leave the room, and so I was sent to a different ward to find a bed for the night. I was instantly placed into a shared room filled with degenerate druggies. I quietly asked the nurse if I could speak to her outside, telling her that I did not feel comfortable staying in the room with these guys and that I was more than happy to just drive home, and come back up tomorrow for my room. However they did not want to let me do that due to the CVC in my neck (even though I had been at home for weeks on end with a PICC in my arm during my previous chemo). I insisted I would rather sleep in the hallway, feeling more comfortable there, then in the room with them (I've had bad run ins with junkies in the past).</p><p>The head nurse soon moved me into a reserved private room that was literally the next room over that was just being reserved in case of emergencies. I spent the night there, actually able to sleep without fear of getting robbed and was moved into my room in the cancer ward the next day to begin my treatment. I was given a breakdown of my treatments by day on a paper form so I could know what the days were set to entail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuT0hqSrnrCGcH6VU6RDvhhPAgG1ZVGae9B5OAhm3C0UdAvu7ibmuq-op9x6uCGqgnCuWJCVjhCkoGmFqAjAq6XHTKWaTS3uFY4ljZ5P33hqko5N_hZokgMK_vW54AsMYoUUbGn5PCA/s2048/158673740_480507006716757_4651622191095381957_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuT0hqSrnrCGcH6VU6RDvhhPAgG1ZVGae9B5OAhm3C0UdAvu7ibmuq-op9x6uCGqgnCuWJCVjhCkoGmFqAjAq6XHTKWaTS3uFY4ljZ5P33hqko5N_hZokgMK_vW54AsMYoUUbGn5PCA/w358-h640/158673740_480507006716757_4651622191095381957_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>I found the food in the hospital to be much more palatable than the food from Wollongong, (which I had a breakdown about when I returned home after my very first round of chemo).</p><p>I began gaining weight rapidly due to all the infusions being pumped into my body and very quickly found myself above 90kg (as my blood counts and weight where being recorded each day on a white board in front of my bed).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0acrC-Luhl8IJasjJ6QdfYslE3B9icrKsmz5b494GJFqULfnHoimMgVg0z6XSc9z2n9nF1NEPO8v7LxbbZzTzLJOHjejIladnKyHX2Hc_E1dMqAyKLouNVkw7LhbBvIM5ViO9jrJWhQ/s2048/155985124_235593748286975_8221389865591906714_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0acrC-Luhl8IJasjJ6QdfYslE3B9icrKsmz5b494GJFqULfnHoimMgVg0z6XSc9z2n9nF1NEPO8v7LxbbZzTzLJOHjejIladnKyHX2Hc_E1dMqAyKLouNVkw7LhbBvIM5ViO9jrJWhQ/w358-h640/155985124_235593748286975_8221389865591906714_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chungus</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The day finally came around. Day Zero. Stem Cell time. It happened really fast and with no fuss, just like a blood transfusion. I felt like I was fine after it, but soon after, the diarrhea began. I can't recall how long it took after, but holy mother of hell it was bad. I think when it began I was going 15 times in a day, it was like an acid hose shooting out of my asshole. They soon put me on some meds to try and stem the flow, but it didn't seem to help that much, as my asshole got more and more sore, from both the acid spray and the constant wiping.</p><p>Soon the fevers and what the nurses called the 'rigors' began, getting so cold my body would uncontrollably shake and spasm and no matter how many heated blankets were placed on top of me I could not feel warm. I had to get X-Rays and blood tests looking for infections but none found anything as these fevers continued to happen, one night sweating so much my bed was drenched and I had to have my bedsheets changed 3 times in the one night. Eventually the Doctors decided they were worried it was my CVC and so it was decided I would get a CVC placed in the other side of my neck and the one I already had in would be removed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K6_YhKT_vgaTEqB0CAJr1WD7va68WDBAdeBLGrW87GywUfiHSLHW5Mqtl1b-X0cryqaZn0bjaGmgcCTvrKBWFt2Q4sxReygdiYAE4IYuTIXvfshr4RIjZKGyHOe82Kat0qfa7P7bwA/s1920/156254916_1378834312492180_2958788899518717839_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K6_YhKT_vgaTEqB0CAJr1WD7va68WDBAdeBLGrW87GywUfiHSLHW5Mqtl1b-X0cryqaZn0bjaGmgcCTvrKBWFt2Q4sxReygdiYAE4IYuTIXvfshr4RIjZKGyHOe82Kat0qfa7P7bwA/w360-h640/156254916_1378834312492180_2958788899518717839_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>They also wanted to give me a feeding tube, as apparently many people going through Stem Cell Transplant get mucositis, which is like ulcers in your mouth, throat, stomach making it too painful to even eat. I agreed at the behest of the nurses and dietitians even though I had been having no problem eating as of yet. Having it put in was the most painful thing I've ever experienced (and I've had a bone marrow biopsy while awake with the green whistle twice), they injected me with morphine but I didn't really find it to help the pain which was so unpleasant, within a day they had to take it back out and just hope for the best with me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlG-OumcDLIYoSrF31VwG25W0VpIkQtyD-9UlTok_FVbYWMoeGrmPgYFaiZZ0JdpN3-bN0MvfghGVMsanYOTi3INDT4w0uKUtgZZDfj9mQT468Bdko4bodjOMZ9f0LvQ9b50UquWhSw/s2048/157386579_243327430832626_3163702390713602379_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlG-OumcDLIYoSrF31VwG25W0VpIkQtyD-9UlTok_FVbYWMoeGrmPgYFaiZZ0JdpN3-bN0MvfghGVMsanYOTi3INDT4w0uKUtgZZDfj9mQT468Bdko4bodjOMZ9f0LvQ9b50UquWhSw/w358-h640/157386579_243327430832626_3163702390713602379_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>Soon the mucositis began, and I could feel that the fruit juices I was getting every day began to burn and sting as I drank them. I tried to eat, but I found it a struggle among the nausea, diarrhea, fevers and mucositis I wasn't consuming very much. </p><p>My hair then began to fall out and rather than wait till I was released, I asked a nurse and she shaved my head for me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nEn9OeQC_zSQdKUkEuNrJzepc5neR73OuxRy8haCYzcklo-pagKWEQdYVvmaHsRLUixdR105Xw5JO4vf7cUzJ6Cr3Fm-1BI4c1vgGBT-Dtrnwy1r-EjnQggj2Ykf6KvCeve2hpbrFg/s2048/159806699_503940843929849_6341599820481885416_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nEn9OeQC_zSQdKUkEuNrJzepc5neR73OuxRy8haCYzcklo-pagKWEQdYVvmaHsRLUixdR105Xw5JO4vf7cUzJ6Cr3Fm-1BI4c1vgGBT-Dtrnwy1r-EjnQggj2Ykf6KvCeve2hpbrFg/w358-h640/159806699_503940843929849_6341599820481885416_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>As the fevers began to get less frequent and the diarrhea began to settle the mucositis got even worse, to the point where I was almost unable to eat. It didn't help the chemotherapy had ruined my taste buds so everything tasted awful too. The doctors tried injections of morphine as well as oxycodone pills before eating food to try and help me be able to eat, as well as milkshake like food supplements.</p><p>It got to the point where I was only able to eat 2 minute cup noodles, as they didn't seem to hurt my throat, so I had visitors bring them in to me, but as to not run out I was only eating 1 cup of noodles a day and still keeping the weight on from my constant infusions. I began to feel really weak, and run down just from my dietary input. As the doctors started talking about my release.</p><p>Upon release I would have rent free accommodation at the Quest in Bondi Junction. I was feeling so shit that I didn't believe I should be getting released. I had a test walk around with the physical therapy girl and a ride on a exercise bicycle and was told I would be getting released, but would have to travel to a local Sydpath Pathology for blood tests twice a week as well as come in for regular check ups at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre. I had my CVC taken out and was a little excited yet apprehensive about being released, but soon found myself loving the accommodation, being able to relax from the noise of buzzing and beeping.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsz8wG8mKTO9x_xc-I0Q4_eh4Fg9Ezn9Cp0m-9a304A4kRdsKkn-2OTI9YRYcZVPv_M5mNiFz4tONW47fOMn2jnRqeImtxQmVJlW80mf4Awuxlief_nwTk8aigQd4n2Cmp2rGE2eSQA/s2048/193339302_1190004278107666_6305503472894600241_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsz8wG8mKTO9x_xc-I0Q4_eh4Fg9Ezn9Cp0m-9a304A4kRdsKkn-2OTI9YRYcZVPv_M5mNiFz4tONW47fOMn2jnRqeImtxQmVJlW80mf4Awuxlief_nwTk8aigQd4n2Cmp2rGE2eSQA/w480-h640/193339302_1190004278107666_6305503472894600241_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At The Quest, Bondi Junction</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I began to finally get meals, and start getting some nutrition in my body, and although my taste buds where all messed up so nothing tasted any good I believe it did my body well.</p><p>It was decided that my Wife would stay up for the first 2 weeks with me, then my Dad would stay for 2 weeks and then my Wife would return.</p><p>After my first week I was finally able to remove the bandage of the holes on my neck from my CVC.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjViNqBMAr-v48Ia2QqxyUUtn2tZCY9pJBsTaSYeZgh6Pz9Dsj87MqNRdCzEejRH30Cns_4hkNZaqMYDMEYRymZcHeddV-aWOMcN6K6sSGKD_pSpeHk3vtBnqH6IGYPNk6ikx_gBZ3A/s1920/166709994_293952422090670_3309248405727186093_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjViNqBMAr-v48Ia2QqxyUUtn2tZCY9pJBsTaSYeZgh6Pz9Dsj87MqNRdCzEejRH30Cns_4hkNZaqMYDMEYRymZcHeddV-aWOMcN6K6sSGKD_pSpeHk3vtBnqH6IGYPNk6ikx_gBZ3A/w358-h640/166709994_293952422090670_3309248405727186093_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Leading up towards the end of my Wife's stay (the Easter long weekend) I began to get incredible pain every time I went to the toilet. This pain continued for a few days before little flecks of blood began to come out. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiO4b-oAjqtf3CJFzYn8ewvK3D0g6uvHucKwMpO0ivVP6toTraCg2hT2b5CvcASJPMyUfGIjDY05887JFah6sCiWUOQyESeYZ4brftET9keJGiFosMJvGl-SFl77wW1kiTlASurFX9Q/s2048/166705925_731451554187658_7630909481946314591_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiO4b-oAjqtf3CJFzYn8ewvK3D0g6uvHucKwMpO0ivVP6toTraCg2hT2b5CvcASJPMyUfGIjDY05887JFah6sCiWUOQyESeYZ4brftET9keJGiFosMJvGl-SFl77wW1kiTlASurFX9Q/w358-h640/166705925_731451554187658_7630909481946314591_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>At first I assumed I had kidney stones but my Doctor worried it might be a virus that can stay active in your body and could be causing it. The flecks of blood soon became bigger blood clots I had to pass, and even sometimes my pee would have have blood in it. Soon I was not having to pass blood, but big mucus like globules, some as big as marbles.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScaWfpgCbKnZ-YY_xzNKfh78l3lXr7JcGyhFv1S0AXD7MQEbOsVqlO-_zsWpp94GbkIW2S-dUTHJWXc2jNEHB1J79t8chXc6gFqFUXpAbnZSu_vdn8hGnNtg9gd6XOm78I3vRK3cucQ/s2048/193968742_208510154431151_4049442459949474483_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScaWfpgCbKnZ-YY_xzNKfh78l3lXr7JcGyhFv1S0AXD7MQEbOsVqlO-_zsWpp94GbkIW2S-dUTHJWXc2jNEHB1J79t8chXc6gFqFUXpAbnZSu_vdn8hGnNtg9gd6XOm78I3vRK3cucQ/w358-h640/193968742_208510154431151_4049442459949474483_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gross as fuck right? Imagine how I felt.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The Doctors decided to re-admit me to hospital on Thursday, the day before Good Friday as they were concerned with anything going wrong over the Easter Long Weekend.<p></p><p>In hospital they wanted to insert a catheter into my penis so that they could clear out my bladder from any potential blockages. The Doctor tried to insert it, in what was probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. My penis was like a horse penis, and not in the good large way, in the way where it wanted to retract completely inside my body (like a horses penis) out of fear. The process was painful, and ultimately unsuccessful as they couldn't get it into my bladder correctly and had to take it out (as the pain from the clots made me need to pee frequently, even though barely anything would come out).</p><p>My nutrition began to struggle again as I found the hospital food less palatable this time and struggled to eat, living off a piece of toast a day and some cans of lemonade. After an ultrasound of my bladder to check for potential blockages, they had decided that my bladder wall was shedding either due to the chemo or the virus. They decided they were not going to proactively do anything to help, so feeling annoyed with being in hospital I signed myself out, content to deal with the pain in the accommodation.</p><p>My Dad picked me up, having now swapped with my Wife and over the next few days the bleeding began to slow and eventually stop. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pXHOZtj0kZU3fvKjBNtjtmtc5XdW3j_R34hO9atLO-sKGShlODkE0r75RFsU0ikSX_6gnuj1oLGjLv8MmvNzGn-i1ggiJL6BpfzOm5YFE4smvYZgfQLfxyFFqkOSCDFgkGrvHvq-yQ/s2048/195036447_494406402006539_7366524544050807890_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pXHOZtj0kZU3fvKjBNtjtmtc5XdW3j_R34hO9atLO-sKGShlODkE0r75RFsU0ikSX_6gnuj1oLGjLv8MmvNzGn-i1ggiJL6BpfzOm5YFE4smvYZgfQLfxyFFqkOSCDFgkGrvHvq-yQ/w358-h640/195036447_494406402006539_7366524544050807890_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and all my medication (I got that shirt in <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">Finland</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />My taste also began to slowly return and I tried to get out on a walk and do some exercise and spend some time in the sun. Going for a walk one day with my Dad down to Centennial Park.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWVBU2XqdpzuVcgDnAIEplXko4HXCoNSU5JMMoqOmgDERnd2jZJow6m1aRLLFtEiyYdo1iQj3FZMYqdUPq7_DpDk3ccr4Y5N1GeH53qEdHUo26kd3XX_kPCHYjHHPt1vC9DK2HdrZiA/s2048/170546003_218198770098770_7010460507585017065_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWVBU2XqdpzuVcgDnAIEplXko4HXCoNSU5JMMoqOmgDERnd2jZJow6m1aRLLFtEiyYdo1iQj3FZMYqdUPq7_DpDk3ccr4Y5N1GeH53qEdHUo26kd3XX_kPCHYjHHPt1vC9DK2HdrZiA/w400-h225/170546003_218198770098770_7010460507585017065_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesQJBLZH2IEOsmz0ebS20mThJNhHgzyP0AJw1IykbXa2n6epBQx_1ZVdzFV_OSstbKtfI55Q9PMuMc8AW3YsEeV6uIYnk_FW3I-eraaG66nBMTsuCcwOjEr5iWm3OTqGh-eQ58r5dvw/s2048/171041595_162691109059731_6576463428157306394_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesQJBLZH2IEOsmz0ebS20mThJNhHgzyP0AJw1IykbXa2n6epBQx_1ZVdzFV_OSstbKtfI55Q9PMuMc8AW3YsEeV6uIYnk_FW3I-eraaG66nBMTsuCcwOjEr5iWm3OTqGh-eQ58r5dvw/w358-h640/171041595_162691109059731_6576463428157306394_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>My Dad found the accommodation pretty boring, so he would often go for big walks while I sat around flicking through the TV, finding a routine of watching trivia shows started with The Chase (UK), Think Tank, The Chase (Au), Mastermind, Jeopardy and the night it was on, Hard Quiz.</p><p>My Dad swapped with my Wife after his stint was done and we continued the monotony of life in the accommodation which we had began to find incredibly stifling (as my Wife had to work from home within the small confines of the accommodation). At some point during this time I had to get a Bone Marrow Biopsy done, while awake, with the green whistle. My Doctor saw my Wife and I afterwards and let me know that I had the glandular fever virus according to my blood test results, and that due to being on an immunosuppressant drug (to not get Graft vs Host Disease), my body wasn't fighting it off causing it to spread and become a type of Lymphoma. My Doctor insured us not to stress, as it is something that can occur with Stem Cell Transplants and that the counts had gone down a little so there was the chance my body would fight it off.</p><p><span>On the 22nd of April 2021 I was able to leave the Quest and finally return home, and 2 days later we celebrated the 2nd birthday of our gorgeous Dog.</span><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7OcyX9836D1jMGv4MgvtuN7kDC4rrQwio1jEZFXclA4R-f8R7gDQtS-I2ZsDrV0Ul9787GH2mp5NZDsoVq_ZzwS_dAB1oo-AbZxmUld1lcFwruYsz7nRfRhnx_k-9QV2trm789XyiQ/s2048/194881997_476159763612966_104646326927754276_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7OcyX9836D1jMGv4MgvtuN7kDC4rrQwio1jEZFXclA4R-f8R7gDQtS-I2ZsDrV0Ul9787GH2mp5NZDsoVq_ZzwS_dAB1oo-AbZxmUld1lcFwruYsz7nRfRhnx_k-9QV2trm789XyiQ/w358-h640/194881997_476159763612966_104646326927754276_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/" target="_blank">Orla</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span>Not long after being home my Doctor called to say they wanted me to go for a PET Scan so see about this Lymphoma. So I travelled backup to the hospital to have a PET Scan which should the inflamed Lymph nodes throughout my body. My Doctor said they would put me on a 4 week treatment of a thing called Rituximab to fight this off, insuring me that she believed that this was all that was needed to get it under control. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVZQkLUWirf149vLoj-pe_z8opxDWaEy6iRPQReS3blS0En2dJojXW8xgpJ2o4Ad7tPFlZtzG950LQj20Sq_3U9P9hdPACWWSDpLW_-tIlWua5J7hvq8KskgJAC6nYK0h5nItFE-qAA/s2048/194132610_510686850072078_7567322086218979985_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVZQkLUWirf149vLoj-pe_z8opxDWaEy6iRPQReS3blS0En2dJojXW8xgpJ2o4Ad7tPFlZtzG950LQj20Sq_3U9P9hdPACWWSDpLW_-tIlWua5J7hvq8KskgJAC6nYK0h5nItFE-qAA/w358-h640/194132610_510686850072078_7567322086218979985_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYBSXatdtlOyWMC1Qh6gvBO859TRYMef7JmuYArylJaezD9ZaawdFBM5SbpngbDIpSWXot689FYX1cTEVrZdDQNCejf3X4B57Yv8HCtqzi623dP7-JTF3Fq8ogrSjyHYFbgllmQf6Ng/s2048/184309392_777177116334836_1276411093231623681_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYBSXatdtlOyWMC1Qh6gvBO859TRYMef7JmuYArylJaezD9ZaawdFBM5SbpngbDIpSWXot689FYX1cTEVrZdDQNCejf3X4B57Yv8HCtqzi623dP7-JTF3Fq8ogrSjyHYFbgllmQf6Ng/w480-h640/184309392_777177116334836_1276411093231623681_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span>It was a pretty boring infusion, and very slow on my first treatment, increasing in speed after that, once they knew I would have no adverse reaction. While at home I focused on doing more family history stuff and binge watching Ancient Roman shows like Domina and Barbarians (and of course, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous Season 3).</span><p></p><p><span>While talking about history with my Dad on the long trips up to the city we often drove past Kurnell, where James Cook first landed in Australia my Dad told me. After my third treatment with only one treatment left we stopped in at Kurnell on the way home for me to explore some local, and National History of Australia (regardless of how you feel about the history, it is still part of history).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaGrq7IGmKf9CetdZ3m8JhZYH2LIO-0YkVZQHp3vvK_D-fyC-w3ZT5wDPemvZ8HkqiY0EfuHE2Vzl5rSx3IifsfLTB-klDKGF3QmU2PoRZ5OVqTAjAzqpd74Cl1pgEciZ3IdEIbZStA/s2048/187371093_10159441872656810_8655283705656148136_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaGrq7IGmKf9CetdZ3m8JhZYH2LIO-0YkVZQHp3vvK_D-fyC-w3ZT5wDPemvZ8HkqiY0EfuHE2Vzl5rSx3IifsfLTB-klDKGF3QmU2PoRZ5OVqTAjAzqpd74Cl1pgEciZ3IdEIbZStA/w400-h225/187371093_10159441872656810_8655283705656148136_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo9w8YJ9vprRXkupJjMZmHYb6EIYmFIHQrKrIbeAoywaNzNrPLhLtccdN0oprZ7wNKKYBIByNeZoG_r1LPjZlSPI720aaTWK24Kxw5y7amYdygt5HmesN_4H3H6tjRs_SVekoR0A2tA/s2048/186291827_10159441873796810_1027907173587488222_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo9w8YJ9vprRXkupJjMZmHYb6EIYmFIHQrKrIbeAoywaNzNrPLhLtccdN0oprZ7wNKKYBIByNeZoG_r1LPjZlSPI720aaTWK24Kxw5y7amYdygt5HmesN_4H3H6tjRs_SVekoR0A2tA/w360-h640/186291827_10159441873796810_1027907173587488222_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfviNC1uwKvH_STA6ZNZF2St_ufENF_OA82gcHPEi_3q2-CRWyS0I1a1ykCqKs5TazOAYx6VcniaHTsDXYd5b8Y-tv4C3rRyU6Q0XG0UQs2rSKKIFPsSBjz2vBiXBoErwjRI5xZ-g9_Q/s2048/185539820_10159441873496810_617451203627844608_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8JHc1hfZ5fNQQ_TOy_FGk4sUi2cQR00PmTs-MLdTv7MbUNgQ8OuEFBb4qZ_LKGIiAdWcVHterqm92EbXzpMjYYwEOluaWCYa43dr6lQtHofeh4da_mDuXBV4MWIQANePbssP0Hb6TA/w400-h225/187205372_10159441871786810_7735876817791441475_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthT2hG-LDH5fEq10d5MzWyDqe1Z7vTekkF-gzDAcMu8fZOelK4ARw0Jij7LHWswY999h2be3i2UwkqlA0-naKXZ4SHxKI8ERyLGxiOQdVB64lpf2uNUAgOlqqYJZz4XSxTdUcdGchNg/s2048/186558493_10159441872051810_2356375310154092558_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthT2hG-LDH5fEq10d5MzWyDqe1Z7vTekkF-gzDAcMu8fZOelK4ARw0Jij7LHWswY999h2be3i2UwkqlA0-naKXZ4SHxKI8ERyLGxiOQdVB64lpf2uNUAgOlqqYJZz4XSxTdUcdGchNg/w400-h225/186558493_10159441872051810_2356375310154092558_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWlCwSI4I4oNd9bHCTkyLqgGsGbFDC5NlBSAGYDtvAByzR4ngkJ-dqFCrDX9vCNmLqVh7NQlr9i0Ve2wmpl-fJLuyI71mGevcbLvHOQliQSBTBVoDIFyWtR6C6M6E4yleImI2x7WaIg/s2048/185930727_10159441872201810_3398681354058233414_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWlCwSI4I4oNd9bHCTkyLqgGsGbFDC5NlBSAGYDtvAByzR4ngkJ-dqFCrDX9vCNmLqVh7NQlr9i0Ve2wmpl-fJLuyI71mGevcbLvHOQliQSBTBVoDIFyWtR6C6M6E4yleImI2x7WaIg/w400-h225/185930727_10159441872201810_3398681354058233414_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span>After my forth treatment I had a following PET Scan, but was told to return to Sydney on the Thursday to see my Doctor for my results (which I was briefly told over the phone looked good) but also for my Day 100 post transplant catch up.</span><p></p><div><span>The night before heading up to Sydney, my stepmum called to let me know my Dad had been in a bike riding accident, having a head on collision with another cyclist, with a piece of the bike burying deep in his leg, so he was in hospital awaiting surgery.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogqJKQ3NL40BseTwafaqS4sC77J6H5R-v87I2gcUFIHQQoAYWyniI4CuCHlj5Z9A22JipH7GQuAxAUjEuKxoasFPnJWGrIqwskiND0pTXuhtRTIx6mUAG1GLWUgGlzR4LgyO-xJwsqg/s820/PART_1622627223555.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogqJKQ3NL40BseTwafaqS4sC77J6H5R-v87I2gcUFIHQQoAYWyniI4CuCHlj5Z9A22JipH7GQuAxAUjEuKxoasFPnJWGrIqwskiND0pTXuhtRTIx6mUAG1GLWUgGlzR4LgyO-xJwsqg/w480-h640/PART_1622627223555.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />The next day I saw my Doctor for my 100 day post transplant appointment. The doctor let me know my rituximab treatment had been successful and everything else was going well. We discussed that coming up in September I would receive all my childhood vaccinations and after that he would be happy for me to return to work. In the mean time I was told to exercise, get strong again and continue my recovery.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now before I end my post I would like to ask people from whatever countries they belong to think about giving blood, as it can really save people's lives, but a big thing I would like to ask people to do if they can is to join a Bone Marrow Registry, which not a lot of people know about or even think about doing. If you live in Australia here is a link if you would like to register. I really recommend it as you could one day save someone's life. <a href="https://strengthtogive.org.au/register/">https://strengthtogive.org.au/register/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com14406 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia-33.8804033 151.2203964-61.16439302221886 116.06414640000003 -6.596413577781135 -173.62335360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-72131535651923132352021-02-17T20:56:00.004+11:002021-10-25T11:54:14.642+11:00Gibbergunyah Reserve Walk<p>After <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/01/barren-grounds-cooks-nose-and-flying.html" target="_blank">my last walk</a> I was feeling good and eager to get back out for more. I had a bone marrow biopsy done on Monday the 18th January and had planned a hike with my Dad for the Friday, hoping by that time the pain and stiffness from my biopsy was fine and I would be all good to go.<br /><br />However I received a phone call from my step-mum, informing me she was in hospital with a suspected minor stroke, and would be staying in until more tests where done, with my Dad having to delay our hike. I was worried for my step-mum but at the same time felt a disappointment, desperately wanting to get out and do some more before I have to go back to hospital for my stem cell transplant that will keep e in hospital for about 4 weeks and leave me severely weak and immune compromised for about 3-6 months according to my Doctors. </p><p>My Wife, knowing I was disappointed, asked to find a walk we could do as a family taking <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orlatherescue/" target="_blank">our Dog: Orla</a>.</p><p>I have often struggled to find walks through the bush for Dogs, as Australia isn't particularly Dog friendly compared to other countries. But I had done two walks in the Southern Highlands with Orla and decided looking up there would be my best bet. After some research I can across Gibbergunyah Reserve and we decided we would go on Monday the 25th, the day before <a href="http://changethedate.org/" target="_blank">Australia Day</a>.</p><p>That morning I woke up and after taking my <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midostaurin" target="_blank">cancer medication</a>, told my Wife that I wasn't feeling to well, as my medication can sometimes make me feel sick, and asked her to drive. I went to the toilet twice before leaving as the medication after taken makes me often need to urinate. As we made our way up the twists and turns of <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/10/macquarie-pass-jump-rock-and-clover.html" target="_blank">Macquarie Pass</a>, commenting about how crazy packed it was, I could feel my stomach churning and felt myself getting sicker. </p><p>As we reached the top of Macquarie Pass my Wife remembered she had not brought her Drivers License, as I had backed the backpack and I had brought my wallet. She said she thought she should be ok, as she recalled being told you're allowed to forget it once on your full license. I questioned how true that was, and we talked about the change in unmarked speed camera laws in NSW. I told her I was busting to go to the toilet again, and mapped a free public toilet at Hampden Park in Robertson. I told her when we pulled up, I would take over driving as a precaution. After going to the toilet (yet again) I felt a little better (being on a non winding road helped), and I left the sound directions on loud and placed my phone down and we made our way to the Bowral end of Gibbergunyah Reserve.</p><p>As we arrived we saw a group of older people just heading out along the track. We sat in the car and applied our sunscreen and took a photo of Orla and set out on the walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GStVC0_VEMiVJD3kaxOCX4H7MZr73GoHibtPwPXsqN145Z3cpWvmPifrtlveexvMe2T8VI4Mp2y5BWe_tWBzf6aAIj7YV8mehJgxLV5Ke9bni8qVVHigAW-saA5pZrE-WkAMt_7KWQ/s2048/143282236_844253912809120_453918457441814645_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GStVC0_VEMiVJD3kaxOCX4H7MZr73GoHibtPwPXsqN145Z3cpWvmPifrtlveexvMe2T8VI4Mp2y5BWe_tWBzf6aAIj7YV8mehJgxLV5Ke9bni8qVVHigAW-saA5pZrE-WkAMt_7KWQ/w358-h640/143282236_844253912809120_453918457441814645_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>The track began in between two properties and we followed it down past a garden of agapanthus on our right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7Rul7hez74YDZbZOgWLQxkXAa7G-TuB9VbjM9Uy7zzhGQxjZgckX8PjgNQ0ZjGGD4skAyUSX4UFJXIxHjA1TkNNvJvdF8MJDU80lQSJDOJ_HUec55jj4v0-9mU5RGQi1Gr_Ptj3UKw/s2048/143387423_2836394596629311_4248965769315244329_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7Rul7hez74YDZbZOgWLQxkXAa7G-TuB9VbjM9Uy7zzhGQxjZgckX8PjgNQ0ZjGGD4skAyUSX4UFJXIxHjA1TkNNvJvdF8MJDU80lQSJDOJ_HUec55jj4v0-9mU5RGQi1Gr_Ptj3UKw/w358-h640/143387423_2836394596629311_4248965769315244329_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>The track veered left with a sign letting us know Gibbergunyah Reserve was in 500m.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZnVc0-MWnuFCsZTvt_kMmOpJhauVAOadhDvIhV3anbPJci3T1mBwGx4IVGABuBcE1hqck2SZlw4ulhEcFF_Bp6yr3OjJe0mS7dIWbWMTfQD6npjo9eZ6qE5KLSv2crXVchODqwbXYQ/s2048/143267244_453622769354351_8363976156999708411_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZnVc0-MWnuFCsZTvt_kMmOpJhauVAOadhDvIhV3anbPJci3T1mBwGx4IVGABuBcE1hqck2SZlw4ulhEcFF_Bp6yr3OjJe0mS7dIWbWMTfQD6npjo9eZ6qE5KLSv2crXVchODqwbXYQ/w358-h640/143267244_453622769354351_8363976156999708411_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>This trail continues past these properties, a gorgeous house property on the left with the righthand side opening onto a local golf course.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_urjSMijEqOnBFHC0W5Y5tybHdjzNWMhjhqD0HTMxOXpoQ38bLSaOFqGITL1qcBh2gMLI0cJpOuoua_egP8SjPgLcKw-sjqEM1he7p6tyNV2lbxQ33ldZDKE-ptSijHLh-Ab-uZNfkA/s2048/143383372_835622087014836_4340005288777543810_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_urjSMijEqOnBFHC0W5Y5tybHdjzNWMhjhqD0HTMxOXpoQ38bLSaOFqGITL1qcBh2gMLI0cJpOuoua_egP8SjPgLcKw-sjqEM1he7p6tyNV2lbxQ33ldZDKE-ptSijHLh-Ab-uZNfkA/w358-h640/143383372_835622087014836_4340005288777543810_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rfrua8VOJ4jje7wxYLwLaQuXZnwfQD9ljd3g20twCJWWqCy7W5fJIFo1bB8Rw7FQB_ACxrsRkIrTY5Car9t76HYVnBj_j-x9dunBvWmClafyh0AKelUn_AOqpqyhvXuLHUGTi0F7XA/s2048/143377897_466664791011736_7000919493533155970_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rfrua8VOJ4jje7wxYLwLaQuXZnwfQD9ljd3g20twCJWWqCy7W5fJIFo1bB8Rw7FQB_ACxrsRkIrTY5Car9t76HYVnBj_j-x9dunBvWmClafyh0AKelUn_AOqpqyhvXuLHUGTi0F7XA/w358-h640/143377897_466664791011736_7000919493533155970_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_RgSEITQnEyOaAOO-qVKU0gOn8Q9nMeC1MPalern8IWDA38yyezU5ykm08E_Xi-aMzlwAEbDoaIHUB4ekon0zRAxGQRG82eBJUu1EurnB_pn2k2LCqwYxm9a7VHpF30jY38qJNUsbg/s2048/143690715_1118041598638100_278652124437351202_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_RgSEITQnEyOaAOO-qVKU0gOn8Q9nMeC1MPalern8IWDA38yyezU5ykm08E_Xi-aMzlwAEbDoaIHUB4ekon0zRAxGQRG82eBJUu1EurnB_pn2k2LCqwYxm9a7VHpF30jY38qJNUsbg/w400-h225/143690715_1118041598638100_278652124437351202_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The trail turns in a bit though you can still see the golf course through a thin veil of trees. The track began to slightly incline and slowly the trees between the path and the golf course thickened. The trail began to incline a lot more and the track itself became bumpy with rocks and tree roots.</p><p>We came upon the group of older folks sitting at a point where the inclined trail increased a lot, sitting panting they asked me if this was the way to the Reserve Walk. I told them I thought we were on it but I didn't know for sure as I had never been here before. I wished them a good day as we continued up further with my Wife complaining about the heat and humidity as she was beginning to struggle. We reached the Moyengully Rest Area, named after a Gundungurra Warrior as we stopped for a short while for my Wife to catch her breath as she complained that she wished we were living in England.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5fPB2FVefjdMS9fCXdmn00LNaFAe7LVXfC7yjvakoOLnmOcP6AGoKHIQHcBs7TWOf-NRfAdZBcXyk9DulN5pESxHpFDkiJejKzw4JVMpKyMTAy4m7PmL5Kw1gI0sywubzHGDtA2f-g/s2048/142484701_321618109228135_8765143212790973944_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5fPB2FVefjdMS9fCXdmn00LNaFAe7LVXfC7yjvakoOLnmOcP6AGoKHIQHcBs7TWOf-NRfAdZBcXyk9DulN5pESxHpFDkiJejKzw4JVMpKyMTAy4m7PmL5Kw1gI0sywubzHGDtA2f-g/w400-h225/142484701_321618109228135_8765143212790973944_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWG_pM0Pp73ZlcDvtzx9zP_W4UlDJnobgSAslB3XCEb1iHC3a-ZOXdOj1Boew6yxSDUU2rC91_uASZqyZQbD7GFYpaUWOaeWG2jFmaXK51s6Yg2mtb-tk6IpixzNLoxHUKFxYQFFXlQ/s2048/142749440_271850474367101_2068953898706757523_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWG_pM0Pp73ZlcDvtzx9zP_W4UlDJnobgSAslB3XCEb1iHC3a-ZOXdOj1Boew6yxSDUU2rC91_uASZqyZQbD7GFYpaUWOaeWG2jFmaXK51s6Yg2mtb-tk6IpixzNLoxHUKFxYQFFXlQ/w358-h640/142749440_271850474367101_2068953898706757523_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>After a small break we continued uphill again as I noticed a few small little blue bugs with interesting patterns crawling along the trail.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRSaZJ9EBqfuAqRnrwAFuZhl4ojU71pSEYY-_YQViG-nauoh7J308_oCbz4KJsHjViQ2TZUj8rLyz2veKPBzOCiw607stWgzrKmBZL_rFdag-9UkeCM08T6Q50x4on6PxMZ6yfdTjg/s2048/142739834_424142822240324_7676387568302210263_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lRSaZJ9EBqfuAqRnrwAFuZhl4ojU71pSEYY-_YQViG-nauoh7J308_oCbz4KJsHjViQ2TZUj8rLyz2veKPBzOCiw607stWgzrKmBZL_rFdag-9UkeCM08T6Q50x4on6PxMZ6yfdTjg/w400-h225/142739834_424142822240324_7676387568302210263_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally we reached the top of the incline, reaching a sign of the Gibbergunyah Trails as well as a fork in the road, with a massive hill on our left and a flat trail to our right.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaanhNE2N6cfSElFz8N7jkzo6ZMAyK7hN1seziP1rK_qCUJuinLPBUwuiQfb1MtgIL5w7E1J6WQycV6fyKP7HlZDLVwilr8vyiNYan0mSzR9WfIpisZBlp-vqOK906a9pldp3H7gkBA/s2048/143422031_442152010529585_7901602358787133201_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaanhNE2N6cfSElFz8N7jkzo6ZMAyK7hN1seziP1rK_qCUJuinLPBUwuiQfb1MtgIL5w7E1J6WQycV6fyKP7HlZDLVwilr8vyiNYan0mSzR9WfIpisZBlp-vqOK906a9pldp3H7gkBA/w358-h640/143422031_442152010529585_7901602358787133201_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>Beneath the sign was a little wooden letterbox looking thing. I could see there was some paper inside and hesitantly I reached in and took one out to find it being a information brochure about the area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz24wzVbgCnnaamG7sW10S_cMvnTZ0hck2Eb__mN3APxlPcDA4SRrRiKveiCuy1E4z5WeGIXDKP4z2OtgwtkGM-n4scB6k043dany8VLycRX9OzUZLARtSXDqLd4C92Z8xjxb1eabaVQ/s2048/143112111_1030659387431155_8376097404239867681_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz24wzVbgCnnaamG7sW10S_cMvnTZ0hck2Eb__mN3APxlPcDA4SRrRiKveiCuy1E4z5WeGIXDKP4z2OtgwtkGM-n4scB6k043dany8VLycRX9OzUZLARtSXDqLd4C92Z8xjxb1eabaVQ/w358-h640/143112111_1030659387431155_8376097404239867681_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C5s9cB1ts9JxGa1z-_2yof_-8s7KxVZSBu_hkxeStAYJNVMPjknKySiAreGvvxbrG3320uNN47N_WwpMsBnnk3DUKOTWkIuw4Z2haFExq1sji1wtyvHc9hICqfGkRX2UHHwJP5Gw9Q/s2048/143299060_817158008869933_2588214098256872584_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C5s9cB1ts9JxGa1z-_2yof_-8s7KxVZSBu_hkxeStAYJNVMPjknKySiAreGvvxbrG3320uNN47N_WwpMsBnnk3DUKOTWkIuw4Z2haFExq1sji1wtyvHc9hICqfGkRX2UHHwJP5Gw9Q/w358-h640/143299060_817158008869933_2588214098256872584_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>My Wife was already struggling and Orla was crazy thirsty from the heat so we headed right along the Goanna Circuit, while constantly walking through invisible spiderwebs. I had a quick look around me and told my Wife I had to pee, yet again from my cancer medication. I quickly did a whizz off the path in the bush with my Wife commenting that I was lucky (ie, as a male) to be able to do that. I said if I wasn't I wouldn't even bother going hiking while on these meds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdKs0eXcPlpluQ91D6HcYbSg-ykDVoLTanRB_wcUBnJr4ZqrTysToDXpaf-U0TXQh0IL7UjVyH-WaUUaUNDw5TDbDlFvVAb8xEvbxQFzbmqqNypEWg1ichBX6X7RIhKnCWG7QO9UIbg/s2048/142912093_418851069232249_1884813431649784083_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdKs0eXcPlpluQ91D6HcYbSg-ykDVoLTanRB_wcUBnJr4ZqrTysToDXpaf-U0TXQh0IL7UjVyH-WaUUaUNDw5TDbDlFvVAb8xEvbxQFzbmqqNypEWg1ichBX6X7RIhKnCWG7QO9UIbg/w358-h640/142912093_418851069232249_1884813431649784083_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>As we went along the bush path I could see a hill through the trees in the distance with an orange dirt base with cars parked there and I wondered if it was a mine or something. We soon came upon a termite mound and I got a photo of Orla with it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTqSRu49-CJFihpNf0MpG3e7k4Q42-wVQck0CiQT50fn9z6Ybwp4t5Nq8JjEMozDvrZ5T185t9WWqUoYeVBXFzK_NeoG3RTKwlP9PH8a5BBcdIhOnH_MQElBj4w2aFuQdIbPyYQ1hvg/s2048/143228446_413766153068614_152945039391754003_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTqSRu49-CJFihpNf0MpG3e7k4Q42-wVQck0CiQT50fn9z6Ybwp4t5Nq8JjEMozDvrZ5T185t9WWqUoYeVBXFzK_NeoG3RTKwlP9PH8a5BBcdIhOnH_MQElBj4w2aFuQdIbPyYQ1hvg/w400-h225/143228446_413766153068614_152945039391754003_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The heat was blistering and there was no relief from it. My Wife and Dog both seemed to struggle and while I was hot I was surprised at how well I was coping due to <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">my condition</a>.</p><p>Soon my Wife screamed at me to search her as we had just walked through a spiderweb and she thought that she could feel the spider on her. I had a look but soon noticed the web had broke and swung and the spider was actually crawling up my leg. I quickly flicked it off, commenting that it was crazy how many spiderwebs were along the path, considering how big the track was, having done much smaller off tracks walks and never had to deal with so many. My Wife doubled down on her comments about moving to England which I jokingly shrugged off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwfIAE3Ec9MurnX7mVhNCLDuXO_Bvug5kYTb3H_GNiAXLO-eKmsMwRghaKahfd5y0jEWP6oJK7y0ICrwNkn6_LUO5Aa2K6bLDRd7dSTx3Egj5X7a0O7soOrfPafYeo8hjESwHd1C-7Q/s2048/143348065_435533567639494_9128844341929611700_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdwfIAE3Ec9MurnX7mVhNCLDuXO_Bvug5kYTb3H_GNiAXLO-eKmsMwRghaKahfd5y0jEWP6oJK7y0ICrwNkn6_LUO5Aa2K6bLDRd7dSTx3Egj5X7a0O7soOrfPafYeo8hjESwHd1C-7Q/w358-h640/143348065_435533567639494_9128844341929611700_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>Around the corner the path began to head downwards slightly, while in the heat I thought about how it was prime bushfire weather, with the area giving me flashback to doing Bush Regeneration work with controlled fires at Stoney Range, near Blackbutt in Shellharbour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CuwMzhg0qX89294yhKEnxc4q4VoMrn5onZS2ZBTNBoyhAWttlG8IH07n5NSWBh6EDC-U19HKSJT-aSFDJjSQYXN2v_Yup4H-ESZ_83O8i0XC_giMOZ4npTZ1GGwgRzsx73TvhXyZ1Q/s2048/142535879_842871343226642_3646159346143244048_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CuwMzhg0qX89294yhKEnxc4q4VoMrn5onZS2ZBTNBoyhAWttlG8IH07n5NSWBh6EDC-U19HKSJT-aSFDJjSQYXN2v_Yup4H-ESZ_83O8i0XC_giMOZ4npTZ1GGwgRzsx73TvhXyZ1Q/w480-h640/142535879_842871343226642_3646159346143244048_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We stopped again for Orla to have a drink of water, where she finished her entire water bottle. I told my Wife I was worried as she had already drunk so much and I didn't know how she would be in the heat (hoping the day would begin to cool down), as I thought it a breeze did begin, but not steady and not particularly cool, but enough to notice an effect. I photographed a caterpillar while walking along and we continued the trail until we reached 'Banksia Place'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUUy5q8J6Mw9tS_B4JbmQ2oXKf-YGrpLwNqT8rjYiXyTxd7stdo-93uoGBmsrDF5M_bBA7U-NetRA9gdtsYDw6QkA6O3J9tJg-9tfF0pq-lFFLWuUnvuFEpKzKJThRJcz92AzIO_RJw/s2048/143209653_3600476123403093_5019417022598311311_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUUy5q8J6Mw9tS_B4JbmQ2oXKf-YGrpLwNqT8rjYiXyTxd7stdo-93uoGBmsrDF5M_bBA7U-NetRA9gdtsYDw6QkA6O3J9tJg-9tfF0pq-lFFLWuUnvuFEpKzKJThRJcz92AzIO_RJw/w400-h225/143209653_3600476123403093_5019417022598311311_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn681X16VLpCb1KqYnCAGNOVBiEfoiKIvg-ePTT-55GGblp9h0zkD3-3Ci8egA3gevZAmmpCMOTF8hNsPrK7demLHKM0essnmUTPawrRCEKFmx4YFlwrpPHdm8Lzsn4O19FvuqV9Vsw/s2048/143704715_899349354224823_2563773314729312495_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn681X16VLpCb1KqYnCAGNOVBiEfoiKIvg-ePTT-55GGblp9h0zkD3-3Ci8egA3gevZAmmpCMOTF8hNsPrK7demLHKM0essnmUTPawrRCEKFmx4YFlwrpPHdm8Lzsn4O19FvuqV9Vsw/w400-h225/143704715_899349354224823_2563773314729312495_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor baby struggling in the heat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Banksia Place was on our left and continued the Goanna Circuit while the 'Glen Track' continued straight ahead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fJLOJfEgsNmBWUarJYx8tkhM8Nl-dZ-zEx5D7M42pRyX771x74BT4DHJLgh3rAZP7AvCXQzXgUNaA3NxknqfTO62MsdoBI-bqu0aqpUkAN6CcEOd_Nmciqy1WdKdD0IBHygkH_iQPw/s2048/143269183_231514341880071_7371013380200985629_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fJLOJfEgsNmBWUarJYx8tkhM8Nl-dZ-zEx5D7M42pRyX771x74BT4DHJLgh3rAZP7AvCXQzXgUNaA3NxknqfTO62MsdoBI-bqu0aqpUkAN6CcEOd_Nmciqy1WdKdD0IBHygkH_iQPw/w358-h640/143269183_231514341880071_7371013380200985629_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMqaWHpytfXjh46ReUB6cia4ToncZoA3lw7f7Vod9cX4emsZGGlfdyjWOqxROwQQFVeZ0eg9s91vDIh7G44uUyLpa8gX68T7e_-JkuBr2FAajnx_MRQozXRhHiEY5v4tBOORhybVsw/s2048/142975668_413159806570122_5851733655952633053_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMqaWHpytfXjh46ReUB6cia4ToncZoA3lw7f7Vod9cX4emsZGGlfdyjWOqxROwQQFVeZ0eg9s91vDIh7G44uUyLpa8gX68T7e_-JkuBr2FAajnx_MRQozXRhHiEY5v4tBOORhybVsw/w400-h225/142975668_413159806570122_5851733655952633053_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We sat for my Wife to have a break while I poured Orla water from our water bottles so she could have a drink. I told my Wife to have some water but she wanted to save it for me in case I needed it. I told her I was feeling fine and that I would walk Orla for now.</p><p>As we continued along Goanna Circuit we we blown away by the sheer amount of Monarch Butterflies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuU_pYKVWuk0kbfWJy6y6LuI-txqPxPAiQLyJiPzF4cqDeYW4b6uPTyNJNvxqZBd8kxdcsM1YKh-v0sO5QhJ45RkC7j1yg_KIswo7seyzmm5wQYLJJdekU365IoPkTk2x69_XoaHTcg/s2048/143393112_247035580324593_5869530626997904147_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuU_pYKVWuk0kbfWJy6y6LuI-txqPxPAiQLyJiPzF4cqDeYW4b6uPTyNJNvxqZBd8kxdcsM1YKh-v0sO5QhJ45RkC7j1yg_KIswo7seyzmm5wQYLJJdekU365IoPkTk2x69_XoaHTcg/w358-h640/143393112_247035580324593_5869530626997904147_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>The track continued on for a while, relatively flat though you could see it fell down into a gully on our right and sloped uphill on our left. Soon our path began to get hilly and my Wife began to really struggle in the heat, getting very dizzy and needing to sit down pretty often.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf54xxvsaL7OTP-E4-F9v7zxYXtbLs0inlJ1fmgS-5I9Axf6aKJ30CjzCSjKJR_BGKnpMhRFvws8tyt6eJkaGhCYjVRhSgCujPtffHhRup3XURUjvw7vwMzM_K0fsi_wCNg1ptxPcBJA/s2048/143106842_103763224960388_3906102895267697644_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf54xxvsaL7OTP-E4-F9v7zxYXtbLs0inlJ1fmgS-5I9Axf6aKJ30CjzCSjKJR_BGKnpMhRFvws8tyt6eJkaGhCYjVRhSgCujPtffHhRup3XURUjvw7vwMzM_K0fsi_wCNg1ptxPcBJA/w358-h640/143106842_103763224960388_3906102895267697644_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>Every other minute my Wife sat down struggling to continue as I repeated asked her to have some water (she kept refusing). I told her when we reach the where the path connects to 'Gang Gang Track' we'll stop for some food and just turn left back towards the car, which I said would probably all be downhill (given the path left at the start was such a sharp incline)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3g7FUcNDLK9wP8Gu3GM2064Pq1fm2MkFElBp098bAvWAdEjZnvQcMXMBI9JrNhIiviVl-Wip6iWWstCw9z9hcQLBy-4D0h5oVJtd0OCBzxCUtYCdstCs0WfgR7qOGbJz1oyxlVC1CA/s2048/143814347_340767293647811_5447473035435201257_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3g7FUcNDLK9wP8Gu3GM2064Pq1fm2MkFElBp098bAvWAdEjZnvQcMXMBI9JrNhIiviVl-Wip6iWWstCw9z9hcQLBy-4D0h5oVJtd0OCBzxCUtYCdstCs0WfgR7qOGbJz1oyxlVC1CA/w480-h640/143814347_340767293647811_5447473035435201257_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>My Wife was beginning to struggle to even get up from sitting down, saying she was spinning out due to the heat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEAObG6EFrQJ4AC2t3e7Imi9Wz9gjn3GBJWhBR4pMbeTPGidPSgVgOUKRKu1syRJWpUIIjDsQYLdYa_5-SIKqwHafqalYRuNGzIatT9nUSmXjQfu8mxM0kgGbgapy7_Wr1UfEJXCigA/s2048/142864075_913638772738317_5923005445903966126_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEAObG6EFrQJ4AC2t3e7Imi9Wz9gjn3GBJWhBR4pMbeTPGidPSgVgOUKRKu1syRJWpUIIjDsQYLdYa_5-SIKqwHafqalYRuNGzIatT9nUSmXjQfu8mxM0kgGbgapy7_Wr1UfEJXCigA/w358-h640/142864075_913638772738317_5923005445903966126_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>We finally reached the Gang Gang Track, with a sign pointing down the way we had come as 'Goanna Track', and my sat and I ate my cheese and tomato sandwich while Orla finished another bottle of water and started some of the third and final bottle. My Wife asked if I wanted to continue on to 90 Acre Hill Lookout. I told her with how she was coping and how Orla was coping it was better to just head back to the car. She told me she didn't want to ruin the day for me. I said it was fine and new it was a risk with the heat and that I was also very concerned for Orla and didn't want to push her. My Wife said she felt bad as it was such a long way to come to Bowral for not very long of a walk. I said it was fine and that I would just come up another day and do the rest of the walk, telling her it wasn't the first time I wasn't able to do the whole walk in the day, having to come back listing examples of <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a> and <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-castle.html" target="_blank">The Castle</a>.</p><p>She commented we could go back to her parents and go for a swim in the pool. I commented that we had no swimmers. She messaged her Mum and found they had some spare pairs we could wear. So we headed left back towards the car.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cB_ItH81Uxl_LjjFoLLlm0dA2qsCWJq3UuLGAGS7fUogIMNy-MyvVpVbfUYr-Qa156Vz2Vjt7IqGaB1jh0Gk6aPbBkP_vmx3SGBHaDSUSkeqVE79K28MTLWftmFsMZ14Ta3TIct0Xw/s2048/143104380_885090518910500_2884303243008393138_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cB_ItH81Uxl_LjjFoLLlm0dA2qsCWJq3UuLGAGS7fUogIMNy-MyvVpVbfUYr-Qa156Vz2Vjt7IqGaB1jh0Gk6aPbBkP_vmx3SGBHaDSUSkeqVE79K28MTLWftmFsMZ14Ta3TIct0Xw/w400-h225/143104380_885090518910500_2884303243008393138_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAGVSfhUFOPGqspiyI2G4iVfnH8ILWZf-rmYWXbGk_ZfbDZxMfZ4PmiO5TkbpXI6SgdKFp0KDgbvqi4lmo8v8PWkqKGtLf-hgIXU_xH9zAUUukbXdCh6CWPKS7tIOL7yU2Gsszdspzg/s2048/143129355_169198737966036_2024235987954818553_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAGVSfhUFOPGqspiyI2G4iVfnH8ILWZf-rmYWXbGk_ZfbDZxMfZ4PmiO5TkbpXI6SgdKFp0KDgbvqi4lmo8v8PWkqKGtLf-hgIXU_xH9zAUUukbXdCh6CWPKS7tIOL7yU2Gsszdspzg/w358-h640/143129355_169198737966036_2024235987954818553_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued along there we small little tracks into the bush that Orla kept trying to walk down, down one of them I noticed a few bike jumps reminding me of my childhood playing and riding around in Croome Road Bushland.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWN-qHTrgxpZhS6Z38K1TYMVgR1KgGkiGN52oxmbsUwbdRxAd_aPTQdYLOoTSYSerV3BRlLvYTvozVF9gJKxaQNxl4slLP4m_QASYK7lBzmeHpzin3Y5qhrLSZDs4R_wLwPaQi-ywUw/s2048/143164679_122611479659395_6009962820571303857_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWN-qHTrgxpZhS6Z38K1TYMVgR1KgGkiGN52oxmbsUwbdRxAd_aPTQdYLOoTSYSerV3BRlLvYTvozVF9gJKxaQNxl4slLP4m_QASYK7lBzmeHpzin3Y5qhrLSZDs4R_wLwPaQi-ywUw/w358-h640/143164679_122611479659395_6009962820571303857_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrong way Orla</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Soon we reached a property with a boundary fire trail heading right and a sign pointing left for the Goanna Circuit, leading us downhill towards the entry map. I saw a notification on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank"> my Instagram</a>, it was my friend Tristan's friend Tara messaging me to say sorry for stealing my hiking buddy (as I had also been asking Tristan to go hiking but struggled to find a good time for us both), she commented that he had twisted his ankle that day doing <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/09/drawing-room-rocks.html" target="_blank">Drawing Room Rocks</a>. I replied that it was ok, as Orla is much cuter than Tristan.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40o6xr0aM-van7OPnLPDEI4QSJY3X-FD96dzj9Ulc6uAUnBqFCIRAUsVYnRNZewTL1GNw9kv8-WJ34alkAnyjZyZNutYtNxeB11RwCPr_KZ97tyFAJiqtZ7HHiArzOxXxQaxIUCJgsA/s2048/142750909_1024564358069377_2549527710775353776_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40o6xr0aM-van7OPnLPDEI4QSJY3X-FD96dzj9Ulc6uAUnBqFCIRAUsVYnRNZewTL1GNw9kv8-WJ34alkAnyjZyZNutYtNxeB11RwCPr_KZ97tyFAJiqtZ7HHiArzOxXxQaxIUCJgsA/w358-h640/142750909_1024564358069377_2549527710775353776_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon headed down the hill to the map and back towards Moyengully Rest Area where I asked my Wife to walk Orla so I could climb a little ladder there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGyM2exKW44369Ne36KRFCyhEb1PfILC6CTOAEHONUpnHFxVBM9oBEl_-yz7C9iVnf13RLUpWC0_7jBR8Rn9guWbJBIUptO1DimheelWZ3uVTS53emu2fGQVhDZl1fmxUbzo2z5WU-g/s2048/143524708_1157023138085817_9171851569827687957_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGyM2exKW44369Ne36KRFCyhEb1PfILC6CTOAEHONUpnHFxVBM9oBEl_-yz7C9iVnf13RLUpWC0_7jBR8Rn9guWbJBIUptO1DimheelWZ3uVTS53emu2fGQVhDZl1fmxUbzo2z5WU-g/w358-h640/143524708_1157023138085817_9171851569827687957_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>She quickly asked me to stop before I climbed down the other side so she could get a photo of me from the front.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHGMPHH-n-eYeui0uEr26ZBKCM56srGri1jKc7Eb92OruZTS_AFrzzuKmujXI3DjBJ1Af46ZIN8zD-Z_vLcDtcbq3qNu9f0bTKv9rG6QAe5K0NYHcQRQxnUlJqShLXUvWokj-LIUmpQ/s2048/143538970_264286461716352_475582118789716598_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHGMPHH-n-eYeui0uEr26ZBKCM56srGri1jKc7Eb92OruZTS_AFrzzuKmujXI3DjBJ1Af46ZIN8zD-Z_vLcDtcbq3qNu9f0bTKv9rG6QAe5K0NYHcQRQxnUlJqShLXUvWokj-LIUmpQ/w358-h640/143538970_264286461716352_475582118789716598_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>By the time we got back to the car we noticed the car of the older people were gone, wondering if they had just turned back due to the intense heat. We then cranked the aircon and headed to my in-laws. When we arrived we snacked on fresh grapes and watermelon before getting changed to go for a swim.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqRerM2FwIU2Q98h8qOh-kv8qwYMP9f3ZcoNS_vkebYfFnvfELIv-O05-9zP5Ynq9fdDKBdx8BcRJACjbLxL9YdU0b4jitwocXODN4h8DtNbtWKNLk0fsYVKqGHUQhBJ9C2eAXqNPRg/s2048/142682325_450786612732307_6421349774646072126_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqRerM2FwIU2Q98h8qOh-kv8qwYMP9f3ZcoNS_vkebYfFnvfELIv-O05-9zP5Ynq9fdDKBdx8BcRJACjbLxL9YdU0b4jitwocXODN4h8DtNbtWKNLk0fsYVKqGHUQhBJ9C2eAXqNPRg/w358-h640/142682325_450786612732307_6421349774646072126_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the pool I have no neck</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I also noticed a beautiful red Dragonfly handing around the bird of paradise plant they had around their pool area (which had come from our front garden as I wanted to get rid of it).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZfpp1P2gaO1T5v-8mhdipa_vbYKjEhOsC_P1aZJJ0P2gFD9y7WsPRGUnjo_uuWfZSifesE9QJZcR9j2GHzPPZtOB88qDWmkgd6UBELPnaXlPrMyWPQ9xxaf1DkmStBiaLfqxJGzPhw/s2048/142862431_1443183262691885_7162625289048800051_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZfpp1P2gaO1T5v-8mhdipa_vbYKjEhOsC_P1aZJJ0P2gFD9y7WsPRGUnjo_uuWfZSifesE9QJZcR9j2GHzPPZtOB88qDWmkgd6UBELPnaXlPrMyWPQ9xxaf1DkmStBiaLfqxJGzPhw/w358-h640/142862431_1443183262691885_7162625289048800051_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>We spent the next day inside as we new everywhere would be packed on Australia Day, and just sat around binge watching season 5 of the survival series 'Alone'. While letting Orla out for the toilet I got another good shot of a Dragonfly on our wall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZrx_Vq73ivcbtisih0E2uDP2T2ff7kWm-_nOqGBfwYyWRO0Q6uctOIlNlZ7JdZ6my1oYkioxtEW1drCT808YDq34UFk-pHM2Al4jRd5KJqww-hT0KQNiyDRAQMV4xkk0DKvgz70q8w/s2048/142351524_805899043329741_2606747076147333807_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZrx_Vq73ivcbtisih0E2uDP2T2ff7kWm-_nOqGBfwYyWRO0Q6uctOIlNlZ7JdZ6my1oYkioxtEW1drCT808YDq34UFk-pHM2Al4jRd5KJqww-hT0KQNiyDRAQMV4xkk0DKvgz70q8w/w358-h640/142351524_805899043329741_2606747076147333807_n.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p>I planned to get up the next morning and head straight back to the highlands to do the rest of the tracks. However I woke up to an overcast day and after checking the Bureau of Meteorology that said Bowral had a 90% chance of rain I decided to spend my day writing this part of my blog, hoping to maybe get up and finish it later in the week. While writing and having no rain I questioned whether or not I should have just gone and done it, but when my Wife called on her lunch break from Wollongong letting me know it was raining there I felt I had at least made the right call, planning to explore the rest before my next stint in a hospital bed.</p><p><br /></p><p>After having gone on this walk, and written the first half of the blog above this point, there was a few weeks in between where I had some other adventures and <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/barren-grounds-kangaroo-ridge-and.html" target="_blank">wrote another blog post</a>. We also enjoyed a day Kayaking and Fishing in Minnamurra River.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MwDY6qeBNfgiV3e55-Eynrzr3G6Xn0JWm0EUVGPWy3HaITFPC_9QRLqOOZKnDvLhUoPwYGNkTYnDPdzHwqzL_rLNtrk3o1sC-x6vqEFubPFVRGjPLO1gib-ya90n10LYE9YrZdGxhQ/s960/147126491_3841552915903769_1804563442220775820_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MwDY6qeBNfgiV3e55-Eynrzr3G6Xn0JWm0EUVGPWy3HaITFPC_9QRLqOOZKnDvLhUoPwYGNkTYnDPdzHwqzL_rLNtrk3o1sC-x6vqEFubPFVRGjPLO1gib-ya90n10LYE9YrZdGxhQ/w400-h300/147126491_3841552915903769_1804563442220775820_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzr_0HHB6K-WjdyYvTWOoPfmRtPQfjXHAvFMx4oafWYRGpCWxZEnQgUsL5M2qWLtjooNuy9gwx2qpOEYwR-JLtBQWzVJmetFuWFywdoTKppS1aowQBtLZRFCzGVmoGAV4JqcYdckRAA/s960/147518840_3841552719237122_443575448250260163_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzr_0HHB6K-WjdyYvTWOoPfmRtPQfjXHAvFMx4oafWYRGpCWxZEnQgUsL5M2qWLtjooNuy9gwx2qpOEYwR-JLtBQWzVJmetFuWFywdoTKppS1aowQBtLZRFCzGVmoGAV4JqcYdckRAA/w400-h300/147518840_3841552719237122_443575448250260163_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I never learned to fish when I was younger, as my Dad had no interest, and I had tried a few times with my old High School friends when we were in late High School and the first few years following (very sporadically my few times fishing not even in the double digits). And had only been fishing with my Wife twice before, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/3n70HjLhXE/" target="_blank">once off shore</a> and the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKdIkMNjoU2/" target="_blank">second time, like this, in a Kayak at Minnamurra River</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzWdw6GDCk2IWhQJVL2zsMzMXxPpb4r9RvaFq_c_gu3WKORAg2fUcn_ZKgUDFAJdfVxJTvMUpmtJaymhh70Gg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>It was a fun day, and a beautiful location. Catching the biggest fish I had ever caught in my life (at 32.5cm) which I was pretty proud of. We cooked it that night with a lemon balm garlic butter and chillies, with the lemon balm and chillies grown in our yard. Luckily I had 1 anti nausea pill left over from my chemo, as that night with my cancer medication combined with the feeling of being on the water all day I felt like I would throw up. I took the pill and was able to get to sleep without being sick. </p><p>Finally the day came where we decided to go and do the rest of the Gibbergunyah walk, as I had been wanting to get back up and do the rest of the walk. I was due to go up to Sydney to sign all the paperwork for my Stem Cell Treatment and we didn't know when I would go back into hospital so my Wife agreed to go and do the bushwalk on Valentine's Day. I asked if she was sure about it, and double checked to make sure she would be well enough to do the walk (as the day before we had walked the length of the Dog Beach between Windang and Port Kembla, a decent walk in the sand). She insisted she would be fine as the weather was much cooler and the day was pretty overcast. </p><p>So Valentine's Day morning we set of up Macquarie Pass back to Gibbergunyah Reserve with light drops of rain occasionally hitting the front window of the car. We arrived and began our walk up to where the map of the trails was, this time heading left up the hill straight towards 90 Acre Lookout.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk06-KM1rNwkqxSe14hbBOt32AJ8LuX_hX4C-R9h5xx3sU0KPCmUjeoS8oencTkqs3577YAU1czA3HJMyKbr1ymGgBreXIGLeViMSzzEvcaXkItbY4MFiOvE4UiVKjaVvCK8kMoYJjg/s2048/20210214_114151.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYk06-KM1rNwkqxSe14hbBOt32AJ8LuX_hX4C-R9h5xx3sU0KPCmUjeoS8oencTkqs3577YAU1czA3HJMyKbr1ymGgBreXIGLeViMSzzEvcaXkItbY4MFiOvE4UiVKjaVvCK8kMoYJjg/w360-h640/20210214_114151.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appreciating the natural world around us as we walked</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We were moving at a quicker pace, helped by the fact that it was a much cooler, overcast day. The sun was not shining as bright and I could really see the colours of the plants around me, everything wasn't as washed out due to the raging Australian sun. There was a gentle cool breeze and I smiled as I walked taking it all in, feeling everything, feeling beyond happy to be alive and loving where I was.</p><p>We soon passed the turn off to the Goanna Track we had done the first time we attempted the walk, and continued onwards towards the Lookout, just passed a fire trail marked still in red on the map as part of the 'Gang Gang Track' we stopped to get a photo with our cute Dog and a termite mound.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13bQ_koT3G1fxoBDG9MvjxA1cGygV_S1MbnPaM1QTotHyfLBpEJBVcyEDz5tlwGjUJJ0wbAzKZ7MdpbNTaj9WmBHWi4saP0z4glOaqw6L7s9mjTRxsGAJC7J3k1YTHWa0llnkmSCg9Q/s2048/20210214_120001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13bQ_koT3G1fxoBDG9MvjxA1cGygV_S1MbnPaM1QTotHyfLBpEJBVcyEDz5tlwGjUJJ0wbAzKZ7MdpbNTaj9WmBHWi4saP0z4glOaqw6L7s9mjTRxsGAJC7J3k1YTHWa0llnkmSCg9Q/w360-h640/20210214_120001.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>We passed two fire trails leading along a farmland fence with a sign labelling in the 'Kurragang Corner'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhvAULIS9ipuEX7YyA9gGu6OXmg4I-Oq7RxiUItCFKQXoZYp32JsSxioLWZCnXAzZ0g_c0kfr-6Js05kG6EqVCIN60ptTeEPGyn-XWH9WXNLKlLXuPsxNt5M-p3Ht_2cjOheNwaOGLg/s2048/20210214_120337.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhvAULIS9ipuEX7YyA9gGu6OXmg4I-Oq7RxiUItCFKQXoZYp32JsSxioLWZCnXAzZ0g_c0kfr-6Js05kG6EqVCIN60ptTeEPGyn-XWH9WXNLKlLXuPsxNt5M-p3Ht_2cjOheNwaOGLg/w400-h225/20210214_120337.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Continuing along we came to a turn to our right, the 'Galah Circuit'. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DwmsIiw0bXXgoxWtjQGZIGPQNh4w7rkfoZZytXNDYwknm-uB8vsw0ycq-1Uc8a5QeOTuq7cWyl78PvDwY83OIvqtu10PY0KoI4CLC69GXaQlcuOLNQye3R3we94ooxTyZwRlHhirTg/s2048/20210214_120755.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DwmsIiw0bXXgoxWtjQGZIGPQNh4w7rkfoZZytXNDYwknm-uB8vsw0ycq-1Uc8a5QeOTuq7cWyl78PvDwY83OIvqtu10PY0KoI4CLC69GXaQlcuOLNQye3R3we94ooxTyZwRlHhirTg/w400-h225/20210214_120755.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjSDLQrlPFMC_RJiChLJGqgKY4WUDqRHgY4oT75N4IULobM_j-Gj3xJavuvVh805JKAV5spbcP6L3NHWMjKE2dvVmyZEUvbxlmkeUTZq19_YgFFar2ioTs09dzx5ShgTT2-PwXiKFcw/s2048/20210214_120810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjSDLQrlPFMC_RJiChLJGqgKY4WUDqRHgY4oT75N4IULobM_j-Gj3xJavuvVh805JKAV5spbcP6L3NHWMjKE2dvVmyZEUvbxlmkeUTZq19_YgFFar2ioTs09dzx5ShgTT2-PwXiKFcw/w400-h225/20210214_120810.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the 'Galah Circuit'. I approve of the edit to this sign.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />I had a quick look a picture I had taken of the map on my phone from last time. I asked my Wife if we should turn down here, loop back along the 'Gang Gang Track' to the Lookout, then back-track up the Gang Gang Track to do the Geebung and Glen Track. Not wanting to have to back-track as much she insisted we walk up to the Lookout, and then back down, then taking the Galah Circuit to where it looped up with the Geebung Track, cutting out much of the Gang Gang Track. I explorer in me wanted to resist, wanting to walk the entirety of each trail, but for my Wife and Valentine's Day, I reluctantly agreed and we continued up towards 90 Acre Lookout.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5heEd5_YeRiLe7JkNnETaRhtRnhzl4bHM-ao-tqiMqJ1unBq95W1ehMxTRNSkybaHsAK8p3OPnj6XU_yf-NcfmX5T7JJVtXT6HTKfwsdlf7NStsvsyXtqbYS-OK2Wz3YSYiIA9X1SKQ/s2048/20210214_121107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5heEd5_YeRiLe7JkNnETaRhtRnhzl4bHM-ao-tqiMqJ1unBq95W1ehMxTRNSkybaHsAK8p3OPnj6XU_yf-NcfmX5T7JJVtXT6HTKfwsdlf7NStsvsyXtqbYS-OK2Wz3YSYiIA9X1SKQ/w360-h640/20210214_121107.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon reached the turn off to our left to the Lookout, marked with an area named the Native Cherry Corner with a little... table or seat? Sign? To be honest I wasn't quite sure, but it was sitting beneath an big <i>Exocarpos cupressiformis </i>or Native Cherry Tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4yodrWUmWqCQ4I3hqDNZA_2sAAVW4hZQDNhAkht2a_7dQeoEmSF_McIebCiRe869ZR5XupK8XP3T9h0hp4VITebIKXeI8TAOvC3-jzWAyzwEauYeFG-u2nGvGkwT4BjwqWC0x_X1ig/s2048/20210214_121235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4yodrWUmWqCQ4I3hqDNZA_2sAAVW4hZQDNhAkht2a_7dQeoEmSF_McIebCiRe869ZR5XupK8XP3T9h0hp4VITebIKXeI8TAOvC3-jzWAyzwEauYeFG-u2nGvGkwT4BjwqWC0x_X1ig/w400-h225/20210214_121235.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF8vFK0O-jK83v_UrgSi43rRiIW0kyD4JxRphm1BfWwGI16Cht81x5hRBR6rlhOMyTgP8J4cW9qg7gGi_sSNRPCohr5Mcp6-H0x55HzVC8Q_2g1Quc36EF8fiy6fh5XeIABewh1v2xw/s2048/20210214_121311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF8vFK0O-jK83v_UrgSi43rRiIW0kyD4JxRphm1BfWwGI16Cht81x5hRBR6rlhOMyTgP8J4cW9qg7gGi_sSNRPCohr5Mcp6-H0x55HzVC8Q_2g1Quc36EF8fiy6fh5XeIABewh1v2xw/w360-h640/20210214_121311.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>Just while I was taking a photo a man and woman walked out from the lookout path. I nodded to them and we issued polite exchanged of greetings. They continued walking a little but he soon turned around and asked if we knew the area well, before telling us there was a lovely lookout just down the path. I thanked them and they went on their way and we turned in towards the lookout.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL-9iV1ai4KAmffnrFKTvpl8PprJaK31Vjo249eGsKqpwhjfY0gEy7BogtP3IxxayxvsvbtE6X1ytraY6epAB99iYsc4TGzcA1kUjm9zoCKX9arTXEZfIMd5n70Gil87l2uSH3elvvA/s2048/20210214_121339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUL-9iV1ai4KAmffnrFKTvpl8PprJaK31Vjo249eGsKqpwhjfY0gEy7BogtP3IxxayxvsvbtE6X1ytraY6epAB99iYsc4TGzcA1kUjm9zoCKX9arTXEZfIMd5n70Gil87l2uSH3elvvA/w400-h225/20210214_121339.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking ahead further along 'Gang Gang Track' that we didn't explore</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Just slightly down the path towards the lookout was a big rock formation you could walk up to on the right with a series of plaques expressing some history of the indigenous people of the area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd7J-08kBEn0i4X61sx2r_5vy9dqf1fLR5UlrK41VIhNfr1ZDp4-Na0_PqqxmJcWauQGM25z3RAQmbV8pXoWkRopdOJdIvBKeu_82f7ukgKiqRY5bzAL75ME3k3tUEzz_-EMOFnSLCA/s2048/20210214_121424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTd7J-08kBEn0i4X61sx2r_5vy9dqf1fLR5UlrK41VIhNfr1ZDp4-Na0_PqqxmJcWauQGM25z3RAQmbV8pXoWkRopdOJdIvBKeu_82f7ukgKiqRY5bzAL75ME3k3tUEzz_-EMOFnSLCA/w360-h640/20210214_121424.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow6c8RCYjuieqpIq6yxJQGK1_vZvjDD64SpoHt1mrp9_qd17EVAVU4Sw3tHHdACMdkC1K3sbWQtLml0gqDTo5lmXr8RIFBkDEv-UB8CuQfq2ukSeqs2dlhMNu1OIqdqjVBTTeibenPg/s2048/20210214_121414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow6c8RCYjuieqpIq6yxJQGK1_vZvjDD64SpoHt1mrp9_qd17EVAVU4Sw3tHHdACMdkC1K3sbWQtLml0gqDTo5lmXr8RIFBkDEv-UB8CuQfq2ukSeqs2dlhMNu1OIqdqjVBTTeibenPg/w400-h225/20210214_121414.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkwQPMVqjZaJ0bsExU1QmAWWqW0u9H18v7hjoNOkW41qpaDXt9Ou5yugP_FPvSwexAAefFfIlfSXjrxpYhIl84Ljwu75TD7jkDthLbtcAthfRyrqnws3e9IUsclLqEFMv2exRDZbVhQ/s2048/20210214_121515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkwQPMVqjZaJ0bsExU1QmAWWqW0u9H18v7hjoNOkW41qpaDXt9Ou5yugP_FPvSwexAAefFfIlfSXjrxpYhIl84Ljwu75TD7jkDthLbtcAthfRyrqnws3e9IUsclLqEFMv2exRDZbVhQ/w400-h225/20210214_121515.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaCMEoiQc3vR4eLqnFELaRUg-TxXu127HTm_ujfivNXsnfWhiqx0xAHhAzO9FZBCyFWuyOFL10o-cqh5TOPfzelXc3-mWQ-pnD8jy5a8Ft1lySeWo5Vmq25vSuTvmeRRoTd-3u6vGYw/s2048/20210214_122126.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaCMEoiQc3vR4eLqnFELaRUg-TxXu127HTm_ujfivNXsnfWhiqx0xAHhAzO9FZBCyFWuyOFL10o-cqh5TOPfzelXc3-mWQ-pnD8jy5a8Ft1lySeWo5Vmq25vSuTvmeRRoTd-3u6vGYw/w480-h640/20210214_122126.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attempting a photo isn't always easy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ1b6tdyuwttQIQfyJXsQU8kr4yZ_VlM_mcpRx8x44_a7WceU3y7F5KzEB8b_zQumWSy6GY8P9mhpYqZf_jk96wT6XwdDhGRWpciPFGb7hGTcjZFtLEIooaEvex3oPj18c131H8wOZA/s2048/20210214_121530.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ1b6tdyuwttQIQfyJXsQU8kr4yZ_VlM_mcpRx8x44_a7WceU3y7F5KzEB8b_zQumWSy6GY8P9mhpYqZf_jk96wT6XwdDhGRWpciPFGb7hGTcjZFtLEIooaEvex3oPj18c131H8wOZA/w400-h225/20210214_121530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I noticed a trail on the right hand side leading you on a walk up the side for a view overlooking the bush from on top of the rocks. I went for a walk up there enjoying a spectacular view.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uj1vXSAXGDEN-boTKJrW-C1Eig7qtGaFSKW1vSP2cpuyhz-sDO-iiRCMT9zpy8FhmHYoN1Ul-zVpmTgSzcWM0A9jEnH-oHO1fkxW2dyvs6YBmpE6LGVhGfutfmdd6SYdzPSQEdPekg/s2048/20210214_121717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Uj1vXSAXGDEN-boTKJrW-C1Eig7qtGaFSKW1vSP2cpuyhz-sDO-iiRCMT9zpy8FhmHYoN1Ul-zVpmTgSzcWM0A9jEnH-oHO1fkxW2dyvs6YBmpE6LGVhGfutfmdd6SYdzPSQEdPekg/w400-h225/20210214_121717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I worried while standing up taking in the view that I was on a sacred aboriginal spot. Although nothing was there to tell me so, but I got concerned anyway and returned down with my Wife snapping a family photo of the three of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBemajDc630JAXOCgptkuBmZ_8qzBUai81ToNp8mRSz3e6mQdlPZy3bd8uwf0ZtZHmYkWG61HIncwRB-U8FhFTn07CxtpDtrAUNRb1XtTKzBhh0DAhuSZxfSQXRWWQSTR3t79_r2WJlg/s2048/20210214_122247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBemajDc630JAXOCgptkuBmZ_8qzBUai81ToNp8mRSz3e6mQdlPZy3bd8uwf0ZtZHmYkWG61HIncwRB-U8FhFTn07CxtpDtrAUNRb1XtTKzBhh0DAhuSZxfSQXRWWQSTR3t79_r2WJlg/w360-h640/20210214_122247.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>We continued along, with a few stresses each time Orla ran too far to the left as there was a ledge down into a gully she kept running towards. We arrived at the lookout and sat for lunch and a drink.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMoncm757V055pLaDqmX63PE2RqPoX-pGo3FH5UgaDW3XNUsQAw1fESyfMRIynVYCvAAEjjjduqtFY5ndnpfbz0ciRy2qMuPwqpRFSRtjRWZpQBpdeZa-ziG5us463YLvqHlmxjbuJw/s2048/20210214_122132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMoncm757V055pLaDqmX63PE2RqPoX-pGo3FH5UgaDW3XNUsQAw1fESyfMRIynVYCvAAEjjjduqtFY5ndnpfbz0ciRy2qMuPwqpRFSRtjRWZpQBpdeZa-ziG5us463YLvqHlmxjbuJw/w360-h640/20210214_122132.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JiiO7PUJGVjO3cdUXJMHtJ0SQj5fxNgai8DwCyr4TMgoF_vWdW6KduXJ6_0DytqkQUExoiCfL0wGd1xaOXOg2ikpGN0_HvvS3W889tejZX6kACyLyfySVmsoUXt_xmhwFmdlIqm-Tw/s2048/20210214_122149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JiiO7PUJGVjO3cdUXJMHtJ0SQj5fxNgai8DwCyr4TMgoF_vWdW6KduXJ6_0DytqkQUExoiCfL0wGd1xaOXOg2ikpGN0_HvvS3W889tejZX6kACyLyfySVmsoUXt_xmhwFmdlIqm-Tw/w400-h225/20210214_122149.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_AVA5Nj9-KWx6tabg3GjoLBWwvL0P4cenHdQwhdPW7iyuuoWAhMLgbJSspgaZO-7KLlnq0-y_QitwRWw5_23zygP5Wa5pUCMgFlUW1qFLNkvu0ANrWYsfuyMb_J0twGi5ywGIuswPQ/s2048/20210214_123421.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_AVA5Nj9-KWx6tabg3GjoLBWwvL0P4cenHdQwhdPW7iyuuoWAhMLgbJSspgaZO-7KLlnq0-y_QitwRWw5_23zygP5Wa5pUCMgFlUW1qFLNkvu0ANrWYsfuyMb_J0twGi5ywGIuswPQ/w480-h640/20210214_123421.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD0cmLlsk4X2LmdisuvHBytr0SO1KyfJKJTng-HhNKOpC9oxVUTkpbwmZb1B8aFMn795xJ6uSr7HR_rIpJ6rJ3fc2LxcrxgDQHRZsw8swkQiIfPcGj9G3Ln_ZNswNPdae_dFqSfoqLw/s2048/20210214_122438.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieD0cmLlsk4X2LmdisuvHBytr0SO1KyfJKJTng-HhNKOpC9oxVUTkpbwmZb1B8aFMn795xJ6uSr7HR_rIpJ6rJ3fc2LxcrxgDQHRZsw8swkQiIfPcGj9G3Ln_ZNswNPdae_dFqSfoqLw/w400-h225/20210214_122438.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from 90 Acre Lookout, <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/06/mount-jellore.html" target="_blank">Mount Jellore</a> in the distance to the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After we had finished eating and were sitting just enjoying the view we noticed we were beginning to be attacked by mosquitoes and quickly got up to head back to the 'Galah Circuit', noticing a little rock cave to our left as we left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrHm5y-3CP2XuWZqj3QI_KKhPvaBRoKzIKjH098Git5cy5NzsUEYF9cavEHOwoV5m0K8S5NrlgDfevzJ_J2oMJBtSuNZenmNuTrrunKPDThtFjLYcNm7fu9wB66buFJ7mQQbBpLcrjQ/s2048/20210214_123218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrHm5y-3CP2XuWZqj3QI_KKhPvaBRoKzIKjH098Git5cy5NzsUEYF9cavEHOwoV5m0K8S5NrlgDfevzJ_J2oMJBtSuNZenmNuTrrunKPDThtFjLYcNm7fu9wB66buFJ7mQQbBpLcrjQ/w400-h225/20210214_123218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we returned to the Galah Circuit and began our way down I noticed the landscape was very similar to that of the Goanna Circuit. We reached a divide in the track with a fire trail off too our right marked on the map as part of the Gang Gang Track.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhds_UTlb6L3CgQ_o7M4aNuJANvQIAcyorHWgrlv7eB_JNPUEY0jMLLU4h7KyUiq3-zmZ3R_tQbHEiwVJ8Ucvgt9hbbFaFaD292NNaEu4YM6HcUt-BCehkXoXKlE1EM2QXi7KJSX1VJA/s2048/20210214_124011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhds_UTlb6L3CgQ_o7M4aNuJANvQIAcyorHWgrlv7eB_JNPUEY0jMLLU4h7KyUiq3-zmZ3R_tQbHEiwVJ8Ucvgt9hbbFaFaD292NNaEu4YM6HcUt-BCehkXoXKlE1EM2QXi7KJSX1VJA/w400-h225/20210214_124011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllkZEZfJIbIjWpK8MxWpme88nr5nvrdU5Ep9Od4sHwUsR81dfy4hrfl6jR3MXDKaJ_alhF9zoS3wNnCfMifHp8GxKyX70wHPQ6iuQNC4PY78vtzh7jvVnB8yCWpuOt-XgEoBu7ivfFg/s2048/20210214_124051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllkZEZfJIbIjWpK8MxWpme88nr5nvrdU5Ep9Od4sHwUsR81dfy4hrfl6jR3MXDKaJ_alhF9zoS3wNnCfMifHp8GxKyX70wHPQ6iuQNC4PY78vtzh7jvVnB8yCWpuOt-XgEoBu7ivfFg/w400-h225/20210214_124051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we continued a long the trail had a slow decline and the trees around slow began to merge to be more like a rainforest, before we soon began to actually go downwards.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTSEn2KrZGc4Obf89Ym_aqiwQg8FDqOmvv3jn9GRGdZyLWx7fSk8UIYbXvfFstsEgLvMdNIT2h-Va8oCO4H-BjB6nKRYtbLG1RSM3T5XTKlp_Y4JaQCr9obCTmZF_iZBJFfDqwdBzfA/s2048/20210214_124532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTSEn2KrZGc4Obf89Ym_aqiwQg8FDqOmvv3jn9GRGdZyLWx7fSk8UIYbXvfFstsEgLvMdNIT2h-Va8oCO4H-BjB6nKRYtbLG1RSM3T5XTKlp_Y4JaQCr9obCTmZF_iZBJFfDqwdBzfA/w400-h225/20210214_124532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHh3pocjU2mIqu4YBZrHt9S2sOpun1OjOHuZgidl8h93VQ_bKscuwfwWzLIonyEFQuk5IpeWrwM8_GDbsdEJ2NQ9ybiWmoLwCLqqYbIuOZlDsRtpjhFFP630qHrhdqNC3LmKvv98XmMQ/s2048/20210214_124604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHh3pocjU2mIqu4YBZrHt9S2sOpun1OjOHuZgidl8h93VQ_bKscuwfwWzLIonyEFQuk5IpeWrwM8_GDbsdEJ2NQ9ybiWmoLwCLqqYbIuOZlDsRtpjhFFP630qHrhdqNC3LmKvv98XmMQ/w360-h640/20210214_124604.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpcfD3Q48mso-mc51C0-YH8RXDsZUf1yQUpZzLRAtQvMlq83H_e9L1KKJRhrk2k9S2tvhWGV_SBQTYLxajCbSTptm6zJ6suPy0rDvZZix_vA9dRMFXcGGCboO18d-GYOkmYcb4H9xQ/s2048/20210214_124812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpcfD3Q48mso-mc51C0-YH8RXDsZUf1yQUpZzLRAtQvMlq83H_e9L1KKJRhrk2k9S2tvhWGV_SBQTYLxajCbSTptm6zJ6suPy0rDvZZix_vA9dRMFXcGGCboO18d-GYOkmYcb4H9xQ/w360-h640/20210214_124812.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This continued downwards until we reached the bottom where there were two signs, pointing uphill, both towards <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/11/mount-gibraltar.html" target="_blank">The Gib</a> Lookout and one towards the Geebung Track.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-dCgiKBnFvIElF_P4dXTAGWVzVOIdHTfg-oWDYE7OhwYZwFNCwndSgvp60sYgWM_-lvlwLfx3jI3lZkO9MvKyw2JwE-2_NMDuPV97dpM5oq-Mk4ORxOubmZKiHOe-XXTcWaz4CsSsQ/s2048/20210214_124902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-dCgiKBnFvIElF_P4dXTAGWVzVOIdHTfg-oWDYE7OhwYZwFNCwndSgvp60sYgWM_-lvlwLfx3jI3lZkO9MvKyw2JwE-2_NMDuPV97dpM5oq-Mk4ORxOubmZKiHOe-XXTcWaz4CsSsQ/w400-h225/20210214_124902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pt0jCAaX8GgqTSxvIrHHQEKBQF4ndhrWJaRgqB4KID7n3346Vh4FpTQTzUL4H8RPsxsf6ugXG490JeT5u7wUwRiunbRWq-zcBpC4qSt02klOPaBeNCoe6R0RGNZdlqJYvYF6yx8fhQ/s2048/20210214_124914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Pt0jCAaX8GgqTSxvIrHHQEKBQF4ndhrWJaRgqB4KID7n3346Vh4FpTQTzUL4H8RPsxsf6ugXG490JeT5u7wUwRiunbRWq-zcBpC4qSt02klOPaBeNCoe6R0RGNZdlqJYvYF6yx8fhQ/w360-h640/20210214_124914.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The path turned uphill here, and my Wife began to get over the walk, not a fan of walking uphill. At the base was a little stream and we began the walk up. The walk wasn't difficult but I believe my Wife was beginning to mentally get over the walk. As she was beginning to make comments 'in jest' about turning back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tqbTtUa6huEZk90uIpFlv37f0HHgtCLQ83Uugfs-qzohcUSiFPvTcMIWCFhs1ItRjE_q0VmKfqc8QjuMyhpdAkO0LNHG2gOfxAASj6qCqpiQSINU_SB3OmxEho8ev3EZgncEErsh3g/s2048/20210214_124944.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tqbTtUa6huEZk90uIpFlv37f0HHgtCLQ83Uugfs-qzohcUSiFPvTcMIWCFhs1ItRjE_q0VmKfqc8QjuMyhpdAkO0LNHG2gOfxAASj6qCqpiQSINU_SB3OmxEho8ev3EZgncEErsh3g/w360-h640/20210214_124944.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See, not so steep, just a lovely uphill walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not far from the top the path continued on forward but there was a little trail of to the right with a signpost notifying the way to '<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/11/mount-gibraltar.html" target="_blank">The Gib</a>' Lookout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P46r0cfoUPSXjKnqk-SeGudirmSUFL0NtNvxKSsYzHZUOQnQ_cWaEv1AUsUtyFpsYC2jAQmTmkyyFbQBuiastltoiX_kNij8one_BLsDYeq6GrLFTadeSdAuwRwCZLN07VDivQsYPA/s2048/20210214_125409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P46r0cfoUPSXjKnqk-SeGudirmSUFL0NtNvxKSsYzHZUOQnQ_cWaEv1AUsUtyFpsYC2jAQmTmkyyFbQBuiastltoiX_kNij8one_BLsDYeq6GrLFTadeSdAuwRwCZLN07VDivQsYPA/w400-h225/20210214_125409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We followed the path a short way along and came to the lookout, a small little area with not the best view of The Gib, partial view with many trees in the way, at not so great a distance, with a little broken wooden seat. We sat for a drink and for my Wife to apply some band-aids to her feet and <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/11/mount-gibraltar.html" target="_blank">reminisced about the time we had walked it for our one year wedding anniversary</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffz8Om0fy4V9DxFa8pcPq02lK0ydxOM-vb6I40RbXaY024ENiELSRTs17YZLyNdFbZp-E7nhQR9pVftUrGKCzZtIGlJnkucbsENCBx8FmFVU3C6m8XThXDDRl0bUl8pHDQhrkFuAWCA/s2048/20210214_125825.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjffz8Om0fy4V9DxFa8pcPq02lK0ydxOM-vb6I40RbXaY024ENiELSRTs17YZLyNdFbZp-E7nhQR9pVftUrGKCzZtIGlJnkucbsENCBx8FmFVU3C6m8XThXDDRl0bUl8pHDQhrkFuAWCA/w360-h640/20210214_125825.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD3l4E5CDN5C_AMSU67pM0gXUCwskSJFX9eIyfI1IIwEFRrN9GZtOvhHgKj3q8ssg0C7e0y5n64SsyzwZKSg6ABNPRQqfx7614R7IuZzmxeHn68aFpnWRWwQKax_K97gkZofL5Ehwzw/s2048/20210214_125853.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggD3l4E5CDN5C_AMSU67pM0gXUCwskSJFX9eIyfI1IIwEFRrN9GZtOvhHgKj3q8ssg0C7e0y5n64SsyzwZKSg6ABNPRQqfx7614R7IuZzmxeHn68aFpnWRWwQKax_K97gkZofL5Ehwzw/w360-h640/20210214_125853.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyABqq30DR7ssEXvpj1A2QKwHT8e83ONQTcL7U3aYWPjJtW1VVlQ-34NsSoV75mFhJkAy1-Djl4fyJIthPlGj4309ypQkrgD5Dh2HmmIbZOfs9EslQWwEUCSTfpF6hVpRUDP1teTFjQ/s2048/20210214_130709.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyABqq30DR7ssEXvpj1A2QKwHT8e83ONQTcL7U3aYWPjJtW1VVlQ-34NsSoV75mFhJkAy1-Djl4fyJIthPlGj4309ypQkrgD5Dh2HmmIbZOfs9EslQWwEUCSTfpF6hVpRUDP1teTFjQ/w400-h225/20210214_130709.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The breeze began to pick up cooling us off, while my Wife continued to make complaints, making it clear she was now well and truly over the walk. We returned to the Galah Circuit and the walk headed down a winding path, where I began to notice eucalypts missing their bark that where a striking orange colour and really stood out amongst all the other trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5r210aL9M5vk3srlg2vIekuuoYp9eaXERflOj6fMPvNgMOJoBdxzdcK6JHqPJJpuLpgTIqIlPZP9iHIbafgNXID9LVRGMNi8agdd5CShtC9uZwIkjku41r1wbj1hp_wdNQ5d7EfTfQ/s2048/20210214_131532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5r210aL9M5vk3srlg2vIekuuoYp9eaXERflOj6fMPvNgMOJoBdxzdcK6JHqPJJpuLpgTIqIlPZP9iHIbafgNXID9LVRGMNi8agdd5CShtC9uZwIkjku41r1wbj1hp_wdNQ5d7EfTfQ/w360-h640/20210214_131532.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we reached the bottom of the descending part of the track, Orla began to panic a little, and we were confused as to why. Soon two people passed us and we said good day to them and began now up the other side. Soon we reached a branch in the track to our right heading downwards; with a sign calling it Kennard's Track, with no mention of it on the map of the walks. We decided to keep walking uphill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8i-lVX6rihjkxloeZTlDeAk3-0Yud9gz-HaZQkfkTuNk7_YjL8sYAgUG4LF7P7yLHIs87qLDsGh068hMR69xOcFIwo24supcQ63v9zwyzSvGo-0MXmelmc_abxDf1lxE5WupAIoZ2w/s2048/20210214_131834.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8i-lVX6rihjkxloeZTlDeAk3-0Yud9gz-HaZQkfkTuNk7_YjL8sYAgUG4LF7P7yLHIs87qLDsGh068hMR69xOcFIwo24supcQ63v9zwyzSvGo-0MXmelmc_abxDf1lxE5WupAIoZ2w/w400-h225/20210214_131834.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The path climbed up in increments, you would walk uphill and come to a flat almost rest area, and this kept going leaving my Wife to complain about the uphill and say she could just meet me back at the car. I told her we would just take our time and have break every time we went up a slope. About 3 up my Wife needed a drink break and Orla did too, while giving her a drink I took some silly photo's of her wearing my hat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oMshQhayUvxUeBpZBDBoWKtnMjn8Bcb7vFd49FMXT3H9IZ7tPOhS8youwqwB0qQb97TN4H5QjqGgws6J4yChhqHXfD0rPCI4vMQkRaFlZhhqRUPB_vFSgFDhBaWJct-Kg2cv81cI9g/s2048/20210214_132756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oMshQhayUvxUeBpZBDBoWKtnMjn8Bcb7vFd49FMXT3H9IZ7tPOhS8youwqwB0qQb97TN4H5QjqGgws6J4yChhqHXfD0rPCI4vMQkRaFlZhhqRUPB_vFSgFDhBaWJct-Kg2cv81cI9g/w360-h640/20210214_132756.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After about the 4th hill I told my wife that we were almost there, as she was beginning to complain about having a migraine headache and was struggling on the walk, I commented about how much I loved it and how much fun I was having. It looked like the hills would end with one more slope so I decided to run up it with Orla, reaching the flat area in no time at all. I turned around to see my Wife at the bottom before noticing there was still another slope. I took a photo of a thistle to my side well in my head wondering how many hills there would be comparing the, in my head to Dante's Inferno and the layers of Hell, but instead 'the hills of Hell'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xDSk8Fskr8bRxUZuXWBljTBRUgvLRTZB_ldPET_8WpFApbJrT7MjFnbw6G0_M3rlRr5R1BZ5MRHa3k7HaMfhAaJx9yUd8X6d2h6Ih0Aet59A_MZW37a5bFI1r73Xh1hQvWlxA2_S4A/s2048/20210214_133234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xDSk8Fskr8bRxUZuXWBljTBRUgvLRTZB_ldPET_8WpFApbJrT7MjFnbw6G0_M3rlRr5R1BZ5MRHa3k7HaMfhAaJx9yUd8X6d2h6Ih0Aet59A_MZW37a5bFI1r73Xh1hQvWlxA2_S4A/w360-h640/20210214_133234.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF8xVp_OdhH9fsqf1b17oOKqHxCDBhz4WWsZpRvs5MJ0iaW2R9DqLutHxaBPtdW8D0MtqvLrDsySEQJj8aSkGz1D7V8Bsl1hf632qxpe_m5m8a5SJn0yXyV8eP2fBOCkgJie1z7_Pjw/s2048/20210214_133720.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGF8xVp_OdhH9fsqf1b17oOKqHxCDBhz4WWsZpRvs5MJ0iaW2R9DqLutHxaBPtdW8D0MtqvLrDsySEQJj8aSkGz1D7V8Bsl1hf632qxpe_m5m8a5SJn0yXyV8eP2fBOCkgJie1z7_Pjw/w360-h640/20210214_133720.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was one more hill as far as I could tell but my Wife was really over it by this time. "You said it was the last one last time!" She said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I quickly walked up the 6th slope and saw that here was one more small incline, much less of a hill before it flattened out, dubbing them the 7 Hills of Hell. My Wife proceeded up the 6th one, seeing the small slope of the 7th hill, I told her it was barely a hill compared to the rest and it was much shorter. We made it up there and the path flattened out and I noticed a series of rocks to our right all blocked off by a barbed wire fence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1TlzCaaUjgKtuH9QVTntl4s8L-ieuatK9nSYADpV85uC2ZabWqzN4WgHsNRK6aBaUSku0IX38N3UlIQvESQTDd6iQ1dl77M6rSPqCXe80u6FpT5XSAcaQLF9MVqrvAbwNPeWxczxlg/s2048/20210214_134221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1TlzCaaUjgKtuH9QVTntl4s8L-ieuatK9nSYADpV85uC2ZabWqzN4WgHsNRK6aBaUSku0IX38N3UlIQvESQTDd6iQ1dl77M6rSPqCXe80u6FpT5XSAcaQLF9MVqrvAbwNPeWxczxlg/w400-h225/20210214_134221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we walked along the flat sandy path a grasshopped jumped in front of us and I took a photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8NYXAjT-Qfcm3QlCuPbl5MctKiLofK5poYGxWdYB3vWB_yPi0Jvd9FvO_5BSxvZHi7L3V3SEUTrvI3TXd01OlpJBuLy_kM2oRpLiSE1bgpe34-nZFKJuvgnzGLuE-SikN2L02JkolQ/s2048/20210214_134400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8NYXAjT-Qfcm3QlCuPbl5MctKiLofK5poYGxWdYB3vWB_yPi0Jvd9FvO_5BSxvZHi7L3V3SEUTrvI3TXd01OlpJBuLy_kM2oRpLiSE1bgpe34-nZFKJuvgnzGLuE-SikN2L02JkolQ/w400-h225/20210214_134400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon we reached a point where an unmarked fire trail ran off to our right, heading down in the direction we had come up from, I assumed it linked in with 'Kennard's Track', just up a head was a path to our left with sigh pointing in, saying it was the 'Geebung Track' to Fern Gully, (something again not mentioned on the map), with the trail we were on still continuing ahead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7v1JhD5tvzGxpmTDlzQIy6K2S42WndtYY2koMAeV4PLJEoCnCki0MObWIqLRFdQWAvdFTkyy-Xg1PZAbV_flgEU9KIwLGpbkLPPFUrTUUlB1nzVBqzWAO-jAddtrk4B0CDwpNHkB1w/s2048/20210214_134720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7v1JhD5tvzGxpmTDlzQIy6K2S42WndtYY2koMAeV4PLJEoCnCki0MObWIqLRFdQWAvdFTkyy-Xg1PZAbV_flgEU9KIwLGpbkLPPFUrTUUlB1nzVBqzWAO-jAddtrk4B0CDwpNHkB1w/w400-h225/20210214_134720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just next to it was a cairn, with a little rock with an eye glued to it, I reached in to grab it just to see if it was one of the NSW Rocks I collect. However it wasn't so I placed it back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVS1wKmazzZJ67B9SDyooQLLYgTdfnxssEJE_FhouFT5yuEiBg2C9lcAPnqWXH3NSTRXIB4QHuTVNjAGWB_L9wOzJ3-f3fhGWr2fKP4JRaOFtiBTfKIBAB-t4L1ncUlRzLea9KQ28Kw/s2048/20210214_135030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVS1wKmazzZJ67B9SDyooQLLYgTdfnxssEJE_FhouFT5yuEiBg2C9lcAPnqWXH3NSTRXIB4QHuTVNjAGWB_L9wOzJ3-f3fhGWr2fKP4JRaOFtiBTfKIBAB-t4L1ncUlRzLea9KQ28Kw/w360-h640/20210214_135030.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Looking at the map on my phone I said that by this point of the walk, the 3 trails (Galah, Geebung and Gang Gang) were meant to intersect, however there was no Gang Gang Track. I wanted to go a little further ahead but I could tell my Wife was well and truly over it, getting frustrated with my OCD need to do the whole thing, she just wanted to turn down Geebung and head back to the car. I told her I would just run forward a bit, just to investigated. So with Orla clipped to me, I began running up the path, continuing to run for a few minutes surprising myself with my fitness, after 10 weeks in hospital and 3 rounds of chemo. I came to an area alight with bright yellow flowers on either side of the path and I was struck by the beauty of the area, however there was no sign of the Gang Gang Track in sight so I decided to suck it up and just head back to my Wife and begin the Geebung Track back towards the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGT8WMuUakkxhKelMBesoLF9kzivn4yOsFoHYnoWgXVh6BQhVlzEJB6ft90FPkIbzJR1r-qpPFRAmNDCP7ogCZ67ngSjg67O9OcKDOc1sjWBatbzVU73Du-1iMmxvwvtgnEECjVceog/s2048/20210214_135159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGT8WMuUakkxhKelMBesoLF9kzivn4yOsFoHYnoWgXVh6BQhVlzEJB6ft90FPkIbzJR1r-qpPFRAmNDCP7ogCZ67ngSjg67O9OcKDOc1sjWBatbzVU73Du-1iMmxvwvtgnEECjVceog/w400-h225/20210214_135159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We followed the Geebung Track, and it lead us inwards through the bush until following and edge to our right along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvk8US88CyYiMVG0fjVUQkkGFn3anJKU1h4iMH5ymr41Rq_M4uUhXQvm8WGSn1xduMIMt4M3UaWlGZtRcCQPPdUyNAvIN_QVxgyV1Ve3TgTFaNCtPH3gcKTuBMUUw8lt6smSufZz3vw/s2048/20210214_135818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvk8US88CyYiMVG0fjVUQkkGFn3anJKU1h4iMH5ymr41Rq_M4uUhXQvm8WGSn1xduMIMt4M3UaWlGZtRcCQPPdUyNAvIN_QVxgyV1Ve3TgTFaNCtPH3gcKTuBMUUw8lt6smSufZz3vw/w360-h640/20210214_135818.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuDvbcK1kPjcQT0tS_peIdzVS4dwleuzr6lzftZUi1cljrAm4VrJaQpOCmIeVl4UE4qoDQFk8rrL65URDENMLw5V9t2GUHSLKNAIgUjVBDG0yQKAn6ETOqc3Gxqlr7Qhyphenhyphen-50i2DEpEQ/s2048/20210214_135847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuDvbcK1kPjcQT0tS_peIdzVS4dwleuzr6lzftZUi1cljrAm4VrJaQpOCmIeVl4UE4qoDQFk8rrL65URDENMLw5V9t2GUHSLKNAIgUjVBDG0yQKAn6ETOqc3Gxqlr7Qhyphenhyphen-50i2DEpEQ/w400-h225/20210214_135847.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_XwABQDEUrTuv4rX-drMbnPrjJf_dYOk3MRZ__IUQP4JTFrIeHcs4g8c_AUtGA1fTWdENkM3I-MBfoR3uNgwYaEdba_s8RcP2nqkpObDMdx0r0T1sWMHxSwYz_f7j7M8uIPHsCBc_A/s2048/20210214_140109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_XwABQDEUrTuv4rX-drMbnPrjJf_dYOk3MRZ__IUQP4JTFrIeHcs4g8c_AUtGA1fTWdENkM3I-MBfoR3uNgwYaEdba_s8RcP2nqkpObDMdx0r0T1sWMHxSwYz_f7j7M8uIPHsCBc_A/w400-h225/20210214_140109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Soon the path began to wind down eventually opening up just in front of the turn off to 'The Gib' lookout. We noticed just down a small trail going back in continuing the Geebung Track and went through here, the trail taking you through ferns in what we could only assume was 'Fern Gully'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwy_UZHJChrSETDHCosI6Mkof29bAah-Yo1F96tOu3pliB3wusxi4Q42KK0nrAvsXRFyRsZL-GRlMCC_AH4jB-qF20frPOB-iPLrP8Hy75B8-PZSdxg8LAPQsQufwJuGG9jPyuy3v1A/s2048/20210214_140356.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwy_UZHJChrSETDHCosI6Mkof29bAah-Yo1F96tOu3pliB3wusxi4Q42KK0nrAvsXRFyRsZL-GRlMCC_AH4jB-qF20frPOB-iPLrP8Hy75B8-PZSdxg8LAPQsQufwJuGG9jPyuy3v1A/w400-h225/20210214_140356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HMAE568PJCqX5aHgGEogr7FwB76KjRP_f4KUuWBoAfxBU6W7Y3NfOzD2eVDj0MHorGVKZjihUAsrNw86MlqXjmCV5zPa5hQKn-giPaM1vSsV9YQVfHmOrDcSlzbNWAkm2KcHfxOwGQ/s2048/20210214_140610.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HMAE568PJCqX5aHgGEogr7FwB76KjRP_f4KUuWBoAfxBU6W7Y3NfOzD2eVDj0MHorGVKZjihUAsrNw86MlqXjmCV5zPa5hQKn-giPaM1vSsV9YQVfHmOrDcSlzbNWAkm2KcHfxOwGQ/w360-h640/20210214_140610.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rs5n9G4x2PVaxWluPxpqLuByv3QmSw7ShQcKAooF64ZBuE6Ro0kctbYc2ilFjIvVmp0sllD8RDgZlwPnGoHTs-MY9UA_R9GOxojWpxz1DvGFCSoyX-P9GA-VjYRw9_UMGbClAxZHpg/s2048/20210214_140642.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rs5n9G4x2PVaxWluPxpqLuByv3QmSw7ShQcKAooF64ZBuE6Ro0kctbYc2ilFjIvVmp0sllD8RDgZlwPnGoHTs-MY9UA_R9GOxojWpxz1DvGFCSoyX-P9GA-VjYRw9_UMGbClAxZHpg/w400-h225/20210214_140642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>My Wife began to get stressed walking through the ferns as it soon got to the point where you could barely see the bath as it was overgrown. She worried about ticks and snakes and as we walked on the edge of a hill it would be easy to take a fall, we also continually walked through spiderwebs. We soon came to a branch over the track that I quickly climbed over with my wife struggling to get around it. Eventually she did after deliberation over turning back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLxnP0jlaTeFdhqGUq_JiOUmK7AtmmErfW5zvHDUh38c2tL11Gx_alyezCVcR8Gjwgr5WQl0YVufduDDkefJgqWqZdDSu8mHMV42jNhumB7ahW2wO7dd7uyFvbwhrXNvsVsiqSl1TkA/s2048/20210214_141324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLxnP0jlaTeFdhqGUq_JiOUmK7AtmmErfW5zvHDUh38c2tL11Gx_alyezCVcR8Gjwgr5WQl0YVufduDDkefJgqWqZdDSu8mHMV42jNhumB7ahW2wO7dd7uyFvbwhrXNvsVsiqSl1TkA/w400-h225/20210214_141324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiBuVrdwZmyEEBoJevdHcypkhdZPQwNgH0TtSHoTmgKpzxwa1waIywnTC3LfK6I1UMJoTJYSob7H-WzywHUbdxZKazSLnUXYiOH-xaHeqvaIosYfJVwpqvE7B10Jv3ZMcZXOi1p5QTA/s2048/20210214_140927%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiBuVrdwZmyEEBoJevdHcypkhdZPQwNgH0TtSHoTmgKpzxwa1waIywnTC3LfK6I1UMJoTJYSob7H-WzywHUbdxZKazSLnUXYiOH-xaHeqvaIosYfJVwpqvE7B10Jv3ZMcZXOi1p5QTA/w360-h640/20210214_140927%25280%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiJhlzuSPv0bFDuX_L3QrpbaSIBXPbQ_oQmLv7EdOVWvVJEf1O5jkV9Aa7niW8HH2PVts87LSnx9LsjjKN2cmnGLtEEDcHxKejg3fNW7z5CeSSiCd8WTl2qrljA9NhDU8lEjsx3Uvyw/s2048/20210214_141321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiJhlzuSPv0bFDuX_L3QrpbaSIBXPbQ_oQmLv7EdOVWvVJEf1O5jkV9Aa7niW8HH2PVts87LSnx9LsjjKN2cmnGLtEEDcHxKejg3fNW7z5CeSSiCd8WTl2qrljA9NhDU8lEjsx3Uvyw/w400-h225/20210214_141321.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The track began to go straight down and on slippery muddy terrain it was a bit of a hazard with my Wife worrying about falling. I made my way down quickly and found ourselves out at the little stream crossing the Galah Circuit just before you walk uphill towards the Gib Lookout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQoaAXqX2CKAhednS7Q5mj4IMdVsr9dyM7lXeFj2ZQbcWvFLE1HpiIr1F-aGlQKcWT8MKq8IWM8Iv_lxXrEEerlmDunevzHCT5he0AYxdoDdRMBEc8PIZ_Chuy_522Zw5gLGVQvMeaA/s2048/20210214_141646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQoaAXqX2CKAhednS7Q5mj4IMdVsr9dyM7lXeFj2ZQbcWvFLE1HpiIr1F-aGlQKcWT8MKq8IWM8Iv_lxXrEEerlmDunevzHCT5he0AYxdoDdRMBEc8PIZ_Chuy_522Zw5gLGVQvMeaA/w360-h640/20210214_141646.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>We saw the path of 'The Glen Track' was just up heading back up the hill on the way back, and it was even more overgrown and full of ferns. We began to walk in but being even worse than the last one we made the call to just return along the Galah Circuit, to which my Wife angrily complained about having to go up more hills. Losing my temper over all her negativity I snapped, saying if we had done it my way we would have been walking back all this way.</div><div>She got angry with me saying something about me blaming her and I heatedly snapped. Telling her she hadn't wanted to ruin my day, but she had. I then stormed off with Orla. Hot and angry, having just wanted to enjoy a day out in nature exploring and having fun before I had to go to hospital for my Stem Cell Transplant, and the risk of death from that, and the scary thought of it not working.</div><div>I stormed off ahead for a while before calming down and realising I had been an asshole. I was stressed, had been having non stop nightmares, and was taking my anger out on my Wife who didn't deserve it. I waited until she caught up and apologised. She insisted she had ruined my day, and I told her I ruined it by just being my OCD self and not to worry about me. We made up and continued the walk back, turning left along the fire trail marked as part of the Gang Gang Track on the map, letting us at least walk a slightly new way back. We continued the walk, eventually making it back to the car.</div><div><br /></div><div>"Can we not play classical, I have a headache." My wife told me, referring to the classical radio station my car was set to.</div><div>"You asked for it." I said, hitting the CD button and blasting us both with Symphony X.<br />"Could we listen to something we both like?" She said.</div><div>I told her just to grab a CD out and play whatever.</div><div>She put in Paolo Nutini, and we began the drive home.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A few days later, I received the call letting me know I was going in for my Stem Cell Treatment on the 23rd. I headed to Sydney to sign the paperwork, with the looming risk of death, failure or hopefully, success at the treatment. </div><div><br /></div><div>So there is a chance this could be the last post I ever write, and I sure as fucking hope it's not. Because I know there's a million things I would love to do, and I have a life I would love to live. So hopefully you get to read more blogs from me in the future. But if not, and this website is one thing left for the world to remember me, I hope it has been an enjoyable read.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Gibbergunyah Reserve, Boronia St, Bowral NSW 2576, Australia-34.4656847 150.4118515-62.775918536178843 115.25560150000001 -6.1554508638211516 -174.4318985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-14880894379200269422021-02-08T16:26:00.004+11:002021-10-25T11:54:41.041+11:00Barren Grounds - Kangaroo Ridge and Griffiths Loop Track<p>So after going for a morning walk with my friend Tristan and doing the Ken Ashburn Track on Mount Keira (1/2/21), I received the results of my bone marrow biopsy indicated their were still <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">leukemia cells in my body</a>.</p><p>This really effected me, upsetting me and ruining my positivity towards beating cancer. I tried to get myself back into a positive headspace and decided I want to do a massive walk to take my mind off it. I had started 2 blogs in between <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/01/barren-grounds-cooks-nose-and-flying.html" target="_blank">my previous walk at Barren Grounds</a>, both that didn't get finished and a thus sitting as drafts until I go and complete the walks (I'll explain why they were unfinished when I write them). </p><p>So I decided a return to Barren Grounds to do the Kangaroo Ridge Track (while also completing the Griffiths Loop Track) would be the walk for Dad and I to do, so we set off back up to Barren Grounds (3/2/21).</p><p>After arriving I began applying sunscreen in the car while my Dad talked to two ladies who had pulled up the same time as us, saying they were just going to do the Griffiths Loop Track. He told them the story of how he believed he had seen a Quoll here a few years ago.<br />I finished applying my sunscreen and we set off to begin our walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUf7aWwqBwwDi80ud7QaH79e0QPvwbRcPTeP9E3pGnwCYVeXwKlL27wpOfeABt8caqGzNJZWoDgYb6pyaHC-u1AutaWwWFuEMlkUgqFr8-CXZE12PqlRTHGJoTsjYZYrhIe4Qfb8z0A/s2048/20210203_104605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUf7aWwqBwwDi80ud7QaH79e0QPvwbRcPTeP9E3pGnwCYVeXwKlL27wpOfeABt8caqGzNJZWoDgYb6pyaHC-u1AutaWwWFuEMlkUgqFr8-CXZE12PqlRTHGJoTsjYZYrhIe4Qfb8z0A/w400-h225/20210203_104605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we began my Dad commented that the path would likely be a bit flooded and wet, I commented that it should be fine, but shortly in he was proven right as we came upon sections of path still lightly coated in water.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp79lPwd_z66t0IOlcZBKKty0lSpC1ahLDXQ45HPn4OV5FWxBVzBKz0-DqBmVzsRBtD3xoY2xaIpXoBv_2qKPA1mTy4UEn0P_WPSVGPpEnVAZrAXX33okhXwWi42LdddWTngXy-h9xA/s2048/20210203_104945.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp79lPwd_z66t0IOlcZBKKty0lSpC1ahLDXQ45HPn4OV5FWxBVzBKz0-DqBmVzsRBtD3xoY2xaIpXoBv_2qKPA1mTy4UEn0P_WPSVGPpEnVAZrAXX33okhXwWi42LdddWTngXy-h9xA/w360-h640/20210203_104945.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not an Australian Bushwalk without a Termite Mount</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkWCvRWCv3X-xhyphenhyphen0qDURjQTd2LHPskSh6D6ocGVu9RMgPIkXNU9yh7m-l21fSDfkp2jPPZlnli-74Ky0Ok2CdHMuzuSJEIjN1LPPTTvXmvAWIITl58jvymUZLwhcxvhRNPkngGY2HeA/s2048/20210203_105133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkWCvRWCv3X-xhyphenhyphen0qDURjQTd2LHPskSh6D6ocGVu9RMgPIkXNU9yh7m-l21fSDfkp2jPPZlnli-74Ky0Ok2CdHMuzuSJEIjN1LPPTTvXmvAWIITl58jvymUZLwhcxvhRNPkngGY2HeA/w360-h640/20210203_105133.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>In 900m we came to a turn to our left to the Illawarra Lookout, which again we had been to many times. I asked Dad if he wanted to quickly duck down. He offhandedly responded no, to which I quickly insisted it wasn't far and turned our direction towards the lookout.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgst_Hrt_HZMADplWT_zV4zfIwggxC5SaNJevVwfkoUiPQmECbZ2ZwOnadzrtfYBFdidV-YC1hjMCk0GyvLLLgo1zR0Gb19FYez5ZcpsrsaEUr-7oT-bJJ4cvbeGji7dYohR7ji5vNxxw/s2048/20210203_105351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgst_Hrt_HZMADplWT_zV4zfIwggxC5SaNJevVwfkoUiPQmECbZ2ZwOnadzrtfYBFdidV-YC1hjMCk0GyvLLLgo1zR0Gb19FYez5ZcpsrsaEUr-7oT-bJJ4cvbeGji7dYohR7ji5vNxxw/w400-h225/20210203_105351.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the right of the turn-off, Barren Grounds scrubland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We made our way towards the lookout passing the two ladies my Dad had spoken to in the carpark who were returning to the Griffiths Loop Track. The path opened up to an area with a small wooden picnic table and a little fence made to stop people getting too close to the edge. We looked out over the Illawarra, Jamberoo below us, Lake Illawarra, Warilla Beach and <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">Windang Island</a> all visible.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXrXgwq-vd7XwvnA83Xa-IOdhKl_XH-SnGd4Q4ylldI9TttIxUrfOjCiijJrXPIiCaObcq9_-8nkW1BcXEbI1FA6VYKsl7FtZ6kuliqSjWCqtITweKcfQlQLwn-dSC79g5edHzbUm9A/s2048/20210203_110033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXrXgwq-vd7XwvnA83Xa-IOdhKl_XH-SnGd4Q4ylldI9TttIxUrfOjCiijJrXPIiCaObcq9_-8nkW1BcXEbI1FA6VYKsl7FtZ6kuliqSjWCqtITweKcfQlQLwn-dSC79g5edHzbUm9A/w400-h225/20210203_110033.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view looks better when not through the lens of a phone camera</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We returned to the loop track and made our way forward. Shortly after returning to the path my Dad received a call from his Wife (my step-mum) saying she had forgotten to take her lunch and had left it in the freezer, my Dad responded he thought it was for us and had packed it in the esky (which was sitting in the boot of my car). He began to tell her that the alcohol free beers she had packed for us to have when we finished actually contained alcohol (which I had pointed out to him at the car). She began to say it was trace amounts and I was being silly for not drinking it. I held my ground, saying I didn't want anything to risk not beating cancer. My Dad said it was 0.05% but I told him it was 0.5% so not much weaker than a light beer. He questioned if I was sure and I told him I was.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc0iW1Qyaq2c2yH_PqtzvbaEPlFEjIfZXbrSkju9cMYR1oaCUMJ7QTdHC_AGjewPrTkflT2m34V-bB54LdxYzO8KGyb3Q_yUNDQsvuB5tJqOX9XjXapbFeNuM2PcoaCu4wDf1SbmBvg/s2048/20210203_110712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc0iW1Qyaq2c2yH_PqtzvbaEPlFEjIfZXbrSkju9cMYR1oaCUMJ7QTdHC_AGjewPrTkflT2m34V-bB54LdxYzO8KGyb3Q_yUNDQsvuB5tJqOX9XjXapbFeNuM2PcoaCu4wDf1SbmBvg/w400-h225/20210203_110712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I commented on how beauty the landscape was, recalling how years ago the times I had done the walks I had thought they were a little boring, realising how I had grown up a bit through the years.</div><div><br /></div><div>We soon came to a bit on our left that was almost swamp-like leading me to believe it was an area constantly filled with water and not just because of the recent consistent rain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkIvkeRcNY9YZCbaVS9BbDqN_EtNVUtswricIX-6xmycAl4_iO5MUCNM6ZbSjPuWSuHqziOdMYbK98tyz4KxiRW_Znh92JhXu54H4vIkNxDKo46Dh1xevXR5X7pOhbtR1fD8ZxFvSyw/s2048/20210203_110855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkIvkeRcNY9YZCbaVS9BbDqN_EtNVUtswricIX-6xmycAl4_iO5MUCNM6ZbSjPuWSuHqziOdMYbK98tyz4KxiRW_Znh92JhXu54H4vIkNxDKo46Dh1xevXR5X7pOhbtR1fD8ZxFvSyw/w400-h225/20210203_110855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUSPUc9hz4fzH_SDT6p9L3H4Zo8V2cM-s_KC0IpG3KT86xz_B5WpZnYDbolhJlZsnwH9Ldy6Q35ntH9xmswOxLd3dBZKsx6558earBXHhY1c5v4KCthpF0qNMd9M_UjIHXhoKYLV6HQ/s2048/20210203_110858.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUSPUc9hz4fzH_SDT6p9L3H4Zo8V2cM-s_KC0IpG3KT86xz_B5WpZnYDbolhJlZsnwH9Ldy6Q35ntH9xmswOxLd3dBZKsx6558earBXHhY1c5v4KCthpF0qNMd9M_UjIHXhoKYLV6HQ/w400-h225/20210203_110858.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The path began to incline and the area around us become more dry, with the path also more rocky.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC1z9MDar4I2QN4EeHUj3j8SR54EWmiWk9uqx3ceuzzbm1KKEkN2YRNDYQ7Od1a_czBy_2aGhxYqDTZIKTkHcPzbmVc8aU0I9ni9SNA4GsW6HYtucmwRHb-7s0HKG3RV_3fJGxtOfXQ/s2048/20210203_111144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC1z9MDar4I2QN4EeHUj3j8SR54EWmiWk9uqx3ceuzzbm1KKEkN2YRNDYQ7Od1a_czBy_2aGhxYqDTZIKTkHcPzbmVc8aU0I9ni9SNA4GsW6HYtucmwRHb-7s0HKG3RV_3fJGxtOfXQ/w360-h640/20210203_111144.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>As the track continued to twist and turn it also continued up and down, with my Dad and I both commenting that we remembered the walk being very flat. Although none of the slight hills were particular arduous.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon the track entered a more covered forest area in which my phone camera either glitched and overly brightened each shot, or my screen had a thin layer of sweat over it because all the pictures I took look a bit misty.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ab6tdsIkCRgncC6axnpUjnW6tyRIuD6EBfyqDSFltehaJ6uZJkvf_dvDNoJTT3vcXdVoHLrF67mENdJOG8mV69iOVgpN179jjzmVIJxtO5x338zXcDa9fzFIn5sZcRqalDa9LbuslA/s2048/20210203_111316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ab6tdsIkCRgncC6axnpUjnW6tyRIuD6EBfyqDSFltehaJ6uZJkvf_dvDNoJTT3vcXdVoHLrF67mENdJOG8mV69iOVgpN179jjzmVIJxtO5x338zXcDa9fzFIn5sZcRqalDa9LbuslA/w400-h225/20210203_111316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQahKqpV7IhQmGQ5FkY8Gch96n0zACSJsVEgkeTpWEjnPlsWLMDJvmzCbSwDhsFsT48UFTDLrxucYob37I0eUSTmdE4WPgi_Kv9nY7_xtCUWPJvrh0LZK-zQ2zRja5Rxw1khz74kuuw/s2048/20210203_111504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQahKqpV7IhQmGQ5FkY8Gch96n0zACSJsVEgkeTpWEjnPlsWLMDJvmzCbSwDhsFsT48UFTDLrxucYob37I0eUSTmdE4WPgi_Kv9nY7_xtCUWPJvrh0LZK-zQ2zRja5Rxw1khz74kuuw/w360-h640/20210203_111504.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSLw0VKtkkrIOo1oGRmbrBupFwsZIz9ehdBE0hoPw1ohXkDjeKzkNkcs65fVVT8sfTDRhaLgrJEwv4uYm0J_pd_ewsjhY7oya37sx3ClKPbNiaX4Eo9DXVT-T7GtCxfzWCpL8ELsj_A/s2048/20210203_111948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSLw0VKtkkrIOo1oGRmbrBupFwsZIz9ehdBE0hoPw1ohXkDjeKzkNkcs65fVVT8sfTDRhaLgrJEwv4uYm0J_pd_ewsjhY7oya37sx3ClKPbNiaX4Eo9DXVT-T7GtCxfzWCpL8ELsj_A/w360-h640/20210203_111948.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXkrn_k2jloK9zmgZ3Monro2g4Zg1Yt2GV0uOqhxEk5TBDT0_JGwuKnPrAl92be52SP1y45xtBEn3XS4IbpO0zcXQp_iPMtx1BJtuF3a34crBbsz-uRB_sMTUt4BiBI4VYEgKfDa9xA/s2048/20210203_112044.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXkrn_k2jloK9zmgZ3Monro2g4Zg1Yt2GV0uOqhxEk5TBDT0_JGwuKnPrAl92be52SP1y45xtBEn3XS4IbpO0zcXQp_iPMtx1BJtuF3a34crBbsz-uRB_sMTUt4BiBI4VYEgKfDa9xA/w400-h225/20210203_112044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The path begins to head down and you enter a rainforest area that you continue through for a while.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3HhO0kGlSwMWdbQKh6cHB9otyY_1UoST4KpTJqNijXwZWYWZHSDJUStJSHnChUoHJTJv0xMd_YoItWkLedaZNYO8NmeXjlWjlNMLxGAuC5OffV1ijwzbhOLdZNgMLQacmAdMdppIDQ/s2048/20210203_112127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3HhO0kGlSwMWdbQKh6cHB9otyY_1UoST4KpTJqNijXwZWYWZHSDJUStJSHnChUoHJTJv0xMd_YoItWkLedaZNYO8NmeXjlWjlNMLxGAuC5OffV1ijwzbhOLdZNgMLQacmAdMdppIDQ/w400-h225/20210203_112127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sMpKmXtYcdFuUEagT6gWFQBwM8QEc2w9ED_WZ3G743lrVCLLLKluzzzpEZr28bqTENNGtxfbDmyi7H6KjXj6NCJq33GAEBj6PkauYR8oszHEfrv-aQqaAA0X72aRjwCr9_UZucjTdg/s2048/20210203_112145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sMpKmXtYcdFuUEagT6gWFQBwM8QEc2w9ED_WZ3G743lrVCLLLKluzzzpEZr28bqTENNGtxfbDmyi7H6KjXj6NCJq33GAEBj6PkauYR8oszHEfrv-aQqaAA0X72aRjwCr9_UZucjTdg/w400-h225/20210203_112145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaDohZagCNgRsC0rHMOdWi8WhDS9hkbQ5vIU3SY5yoh7VlX2mJUNeY7N13FHNzdswY1zhgC-kqb6Gxb0zTSBJ3odZVgy-BD-B81XPO-9i7-nFaaY-aKYM1kADWsq-r4Ri4TWnRdjv2g/s2048/20210203_112418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaDohZagCNgRsC0rHMOdWi8WhDS9hkbQ5vIU3SY5yoh7VlX2mJUNeY7N13FHNzdswY1zhgC-kqb6Gxb0zTSBJ3odZVgy-BD-B81XPO-9i7-nFaaY-aKYM1kADWsq-r4Ri4TWnRdjv2g/w400-h225/20210203_112418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09rRro3jp7SOxitfStTyAVliIojXEiR5cUVxqzawpep6J2A3DJaRz71cXN6Gkv_HdJT4-GmSISEwCRxH_E7MHZxT8ts8dKagVNmzF_3IF7a659y4FbxKVn2M1eUbk1ncq2c1ajWjNYg/s2048/20210203_112549.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09rRro3jp7SOxitfStTyAVliIojXEiR5cUVxqzawpep6J2A3DJaRz71cXN6Gkv_HdJT4-GmSISEwCRxH_E7MHZxT8ts8dKagVNmzF_3IF7a659y4FbxKVn2M1eUbk1ncq2c1ajWjNYg/w400-h225/20210203_112549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I had been waiting to come to this section with this fallen tree, as while doing this walk in 2014 with my girlfriend (now Wife) I had taken a photo that made it look like I was lifting it up, and I wanted to replicate the photo 9 years later, however it had obviously fallen completely and I was unable to replicate the photo as below the roots was a deep puddle of water.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG80FMMbaOE9r9yU0zgXfMj4qE600Jcchvm_8zuH2oYBhSA7F-6vt8X6lKcHAzWtGfns6BmHfbESHYOzhTdFW9FIhXsEmFM65sBRQncTn5QbAm8Webp7VbMzSl2grrcwBZkk12U6Bew/s960/tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG80FMMbaOE9r9yU0zgXfMj4qE600Jcchvm_8zuH2oYBhSA7F-6vt8X6lKcHAzWtGfns6BmHfbESHYOzhTdFW9FIhXsEmFM65sBRQncTn5QbAm8Webp7VbMzSl2grrcwBZkk12U6Bew/w480-h640/tree.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From 2014</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The path through the rainforest began to end as we once again began uphill.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuaokkXnt7dMQnVqf1NbeRGkomdPRzLGQj8_WbtYdo3YI08N0DQ0I1x4XGnFcY-S5MPWKDbLtCoO0Dwj9ZmSLuyDBQh204L4_fTRo3QM5palH9FtGx5EshEIfvGe54C2lfL3XYej1dA/s2048/20210203_112714.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuaokkXnt7dMQnVqf1NbeRGkomdPRzLGQj8_WbtYdo3YI08N0DQ0I1x4XGnFcY-S5MPWKDbLtCoO0Dwj9ZmSLuyDBQh204L4_fTRo3QM5palH9FtGx5EshEIfvGe54C2lfL3XYej1dA/w360-h640/20210203_112714.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pIHSWkp8NDc555i1MEumUnUdubnfYIL8SaNOHa8J6GnqV8HLQdOX1kHk0ISAe2-xME1nxrk5mumxJkAVfH7El-k5U9IjVej-X1FwlQM91D1XYo-thzlI8kbNGYVv3um7N3pbwCwZVw/s2048/20210203_113159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pIHSWkp8NDc555i1MEumUnUdubnfYIL8SaNOHa8J6GnqV8HLQdOX1kHk0ISAe2-xME1nxrk5mumxJkAVfH7El-k5U9IjVej-X1FwlQM91D1XYo-thzlI8kbNGYVv3um7N3pbwCwZVw/w400-h225/20210203_113159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>The landscape opened up again overlooking the shrubby bushlands and continued on a slight incline until we noticed the viewing platform just popping up over the scrub.</div><div>I remembered the viewing platform looking different, and being in a different spot and so did Dad. I questioned whether this was a new one and if the old one was on the path heading towards Saddleback Trig, or if this was a new one in the area of the old one, or if we were just completely misremembering the whole thing. <br />As we rounded the bend to the full view of the platform we noticed the two ladies sitting at a wooden bench across from it eating lunch. We walked up the platform for a nice view overlooking Barren Grounds and were happy for the cool breeze we felt while up there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A-BtukLIuQYsVealo0nSP7L5NLHS0Dx-OkaukugcmMktZB2hUSdOxts0BPiRtW8I9tqjXnrKcBxJJhhNl_H2CxtCDUoi6L58KGeSMMixowQlRoEfwbRYF7ymA1d4g-pcVOG-c56QcA/s2048/20210203_113942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A-BtukLIuQYsVealo0nSP7L5NLHS0Dx-OkaukugcmMktZB2hUSdOxts0BPiRtW8I9tqjXnrKcBxJJhhNl_H2CxtCDUoi6L58KGeSMMixowQlRoEfwbRYF7ymA1d4g-pcVOG-c56QcA/w360-h640/20210203_113942.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3KI56j3hhFN3hlfnHP7FLE03GUQSOwyanxPuYIjL7AytgwnTflIqt_6iepWqtYmf7ksjDmTuDlEmjMh39fKi0GI2WHmnv9_S7nb73bJJ9b3qX2_B7bTo6RCWT7qCDhzjGDk4xesk6g/s2839/20210203_114028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2839" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3KI56j3hhFN3hlfnHP7FLE03GUQSOwyanxPuYIjL7AytgwnTflIqt_6iepWqtYmf7ksjDmTuDlEmjMh39fKi0GI2WHmnv9_S7nb73bJJ9b3qX2_B7bTo6RCWT7qCDhzjGDk4xesk6g/w400-h156/20210203_114028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We had a drink and opened up some trail mix and decided to continue on, as we walked past the ladies they began to get ready to continue walking too.</div><div><br /></div><div>The track surface became very rocky and the shrub land around us even more low lying. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQyHsauNpC98qd4H6zBEhDDsP_5Mj8Gfe2eUMnHiq45gcrK0Ksy6uE7UAVG0Fs8suBqOu3KuHDFOYn2Ysr0PS7KZ7B92kn5NB1QtVmNzDBUDk8v-mpDTj4dGo-lJtaE0yQ2pjIaTtA/s2048/20210203_114321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQyHsauNpC98qd4H6zBEhDDsP_5Mj8Gfe2eUMnHiq45gcrK0Ksy6uE7UAVG0Fs8suBqOu3KuHDFOYn2Ysr0PS7KZ7B92kn5NB1QtVmNzDBUDk8v-mpDTj4dGo-lJtaE0yQ2pjIaTtA/w360-h640/20210203_114321.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>We were in the middle of talking when Dad told me he saw something on the path up ahead. I looked up but couldn't see anything, as we walked up we saw what he had seen close to the ground on our left. A little Echidna eating a bunch of ants.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOYZWkBeDJhAC2Z1nNF3Szql2rdI1Ck_OcCyseyjYIZG5WPtzBdI4UlXMdJldh30pjsRmBVi44PFhmCW0yW5xwBr-qsihSb7hfeNDFmriqZCgrKPOXKtutFvFK9my9eqM8a7D_ipecQ/s2048/20210203_114721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOYZWkBeDJhAC2Z1nNF3Szql2rdI1Ck_OcCyseyjYIZG5WPtzBdI4UlXMdJldh30pjsRmBVi44PFhmCW0yW5xwBr-qsihSb7hfeNDFmriqZCgrKPOXKtutFvFK9my9eqM8a7D_ipecQ/w400-h225/20210203_114721.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Of course my Dad, character that he is, calls out back to the ladies to let them know about the Echidna. I would have kept walking, socialising as little as possible. He was almost going to stay standing there to point it out to them but I told him they would see it, and we continued walking.</div><div><br /></div><div>We soon rounded a bend and came along to another sign marking directions and distances. I didn't properly read it, just quickly took a shot of it with my phone as too men were walking up the hill and getting close to the sign. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWSb63DqgpEIasfdgRoc976HA2-14xHVxrKv_QV_mF02SnsHa7Jj7dtpelDWgOgaYUgeOL-K3I6VPnE0iT-k_hPbw6xOvEUtS22ALRNeLUExxzs0gqXoDAIAD473JARB_o-x-sXbwgw/s2048/20210203_115328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWSb63DqgpEIasfdgRoc976HA2-14xHVxrKv_QV_mF02SnsHa7Jj7dtpelDWgOgaYUgeOL-K3I6VPnE0iT-k_hPbw6xOvEUtS22ALRNeLUExxzs0gqXoDAIAD473JARB_o-x-sXbwgw/w360-h640/20210203_115328.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>They said good day, and talked about how it was a nice day for a walk. The two man carried big, heavy, expensive looking cameras and asked how much further it was to Saddleback Trig. I told them it wasn't far and that they would reach a lookout and the turn off to it would be on their right. My Dad talked to them a little, also letting them know about the Echidna, and we made our way down the hill, the steepest part of the walk so far. I commented to Dad "No wonder they were asking how long, after just having to walk up here". (To not be rude, but the two gentlemen were pretty heavy-set).</div><div><br /></div><div>We continued down the rocky path, while I recounted stories of some of my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank">adventures in Europe</a> to him. The path down the trail was pretty sodden and we talked about how we had both been watching the survival show 'Alone' and discussed the contestants and survival in general.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bhV0eMGJV0sEkwd-kRg_YIpRTpvL55EqC0GRQM9o-ziw-D2-H7nb5JLhKfKKP35YHJmEzOIRurZ6sw2412J43RC-rlWG2b1Qon0QdE_y5wJOfBsYWQ-ppixDaLiSs9xW7yiuoQ3mRQ/s2048/20210203_120212.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bhV0eMGJV0sEkwd-kRg_YIpRTpvL55EqC0GRQM9o-ziw-D2-H7nb5JLhKfKKP35YHJmEzOIRurZ6sw2412J43RC-rlWG2b1Qon0QdE_y5wJOfBsYWQ-ppixDaLiSs9xW7yiuoQ3mRQ/w360-h640/20210203_120212.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSN6BWD4cE3xeWzF2tlh0fFt7jCPN08UXFNITOVBETcdc7tkjF8Mdlk6SZDB63Upuj10p5Vl4Yl9vQhWy1ZDSgYfjfOxqth1pYsSzhxMsy-7eKSmEF7q9KDhwbc9PmQ5S-Xko8DzApg/s2048/20210203_120358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSN6BWD4cE3xeWzF2tlh0fFt7jCPN08UXFNITOVBETcdc7tkjF8Mdlk6SZDB63Upuj10p5Vl4Yl9vQhWy1ZDSgYfjfOxqth1pYsSzhxMsy-7eKSmEF7q9KDhwbc9PmQ5S-Xko8DzApg/w360-h640/20210203_120358.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZMjeCJfAEmBeHuo25zT32sn36HdAlZAO8hwZaUoQ2cwI_d443s99IycX1vWcCvEDmKIcKHPZq0KWCJ3QANAgTEkOEY_ot6KIqwYtLCfoUMWPp9GZKONBSFdTG3aYgU8R_4wjq6LPBw/s2048/20210203_121138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZMjeCJfAEmBeHuo25zT32sn36HdAlZAO8hwZaUoQ2cwI_d443s99IycX1vWcCvEDmKIcKHPZq0KWCJ3QANAgTEkOEY_ot6KIqwYtLCfoUMWPp9GZKONBSFdTG3aYgU8R_4wjq6LPBw/w360-h640/20210203_121138.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuhiuS0LEW_RZa1vuJEccebAmcki_0-cv6-ryp48pBgKhMJhDu4S04I29tuO0OwD0EDVD2uDdgbDbEBPJb8SO9DwC36pj7BE1p-V71WL7cPiD0UCe7RUEVJIF27QFMujG-0m_IMDq1g/s2048/20210203_121213.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGuhiuS0LEW_RZa1vuJEccebAmcki_0-cv6-ryp48pBgKhMJhDu4S04I29tuO0OwD0EDVD2uDdgbDbEBPJb8SO9DwC36pj7BE1p-V71WL7cPiD0UCe7RUEVJIF27QFMujG-0m_IMDq1g/w360-h640/20210203_121213.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>I felt like the walk was completely different to what I remembered. Remembering a bit just up a hill where you can sort of overlook everything. But everything looked different than I recalled, even the path. Dad pointed out a rock on the ground with beautiful colours inside. I took a photo and placed it back where he found it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf-PFNggMVexvYTv_BDgIzAU0mRiTbJ8iNG4b9Vt9_MZw-iTCsn5y-hRToCkbNK0q5_9ZxC1WFD4caD67nInPHmd-YG80GHauwoIRIOQlRRv8FKma_fso7GlKoXbfnQ8Dg9qqOh8NyQ/s2048/20210203_121346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf-PFNggMVexvYTv_BDgIzAU0mRiTbJ8iNG4b9Vt9_MZw-iTCsn5y-hRToCkbNK0q5_9ZxC1WFD4caD67nInPHmd-YG80GHauwoIRIOQlRRv8FKma_fso7GlKoXbfnQ8Dg9qqOh8NyQ/w360-h640/20210203_121346.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>The path continued down the entire time, and eventually we began to hear running water, to my complete confusion, when we came across a sign post...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_oNvxmquNFwOCKTAIzovqi3iqrDsp2zno1AebEaakuKO5npdmH4RYNNLfrc24ftKnPtE-M_lZgnE4lp1FsndgLtwhQ5WZKeCvhjsiiFmbbJSAAatOwqo-fIClG539bRcnw1_s5j0IQ/s2048/20210203_121400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_oNvxmquNFwOCKTAIzovqi3iqrDsp2zno1AebEaakuKO5npdmH4RYNNLfrc24ftKnPtE-M_lZgnE4lp1FsndgLtwhQ5WZKeCvhjsiiFmbbJSAAatOwqo-fIClG539bRcnw1_s5j0IQ/w400-h225/20210203_121400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBsZd4_jVzb7GbYasP0xkXtC4cQPILhKEzo_crZ8y5wnDkTz2aPpXHq-FmKvSVTNAUGYewNPlrc9PXqxwz9r3saU2OU_6W0HaprebV1U6fGKJU21Iqu1NcyoGmqakL9cj7vARsMnv8Q/s2048/20210203_121741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBsZd4_jVzb7GbYasP0xkXtC4cQPILhKEzo_crZ8y5wnDkTz2aPpXHq-FmKvSVTNAUGYewNPlrc9PXqxwz9r3saU2OU_6W0HaprebV1U6fGKJU21Iqu1NcyoGmqakL9cj7vARsMnv8Q/w360-h640/20210203_121741.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div>We had completely missed the turn off to Kangaroo Ridge, having not even seen it as it was exactly where we had ran into the two men. We had now walked 1.6km in the wrong direction, which meant 1.6km back up hill. I felt completely bummed and a bit demoralized, deep down questioning if I could do that walk back up and then the rest of the walk to Kangaroo Ridge, still not back to my old fitness precancer. We decided to continue down the 20m to the running water to eat our lunch while I internally debated whether or not to bother walking back up to do the Kangaroo Ridge walk.</div><div><br /></div><div>We sat and watched the dark running water (that looked like black tea) and ate our vegemite rolls.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi215AOQ-rG6u_pOeXRZeNWgtCJ4HvSv0rWcl7KHyDXgHLfJVtPna80brJZ1rUmwoEOX_jbnYC6TCPTYchhuxQ72mvrr4OKSi5gOUyK0IjQBBd9TjgcJAF7p6Tz4XqqgbmnJN8peDoxJw/s2048/20210203_121920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi215AOQ-rG6u_pOeXRZeNWgtCJ4HvSv0rWcl7KHyDXgHLfJVtPna80brJZ1rUmwoEOX_jbnYC6TCPTYchhuxQ72mvrr4OKSi5gOUyK0IjQBBd9TjgcJAF7p6Tz4XqqgbmnJN8peDoxJw/w400-h225/20210203_121920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhCmYIuOqR9dOAtw6Sav1Z6kqVBHnOulTPwlfRsJSyxvt7Ebwy3bRbv33enF2ie7-RGFMJ-pLOIPMTYQ8M82hx6ULm690A4-D-yFus6rSRpUUM2ANOCPcxbTcy4N3WrpbK3SFpSJfOA/s2048/20210203_121931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhCmYIuOqR9dOAtw6Sav1Z6kqVBHnOulTPwlfRsJSyxvt7Ebwy3bRbv33enF2ie7-RGFMJ-pLOIPMTYQ8M82hx6ULm690A4-D-yFus6rSRpUUM2ANOCPcxbTcy4N3WrpbK3SFpSJfOA/w400-h225/20210203_121931.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHydaj9GZCoFZ3TPBqlp3VX0fwNaqsTVhLt82LpTeKCvgz-lYOmVOZ-u_lRzNvKdr8XBZnJ3mGXeafWdO4MiZdjAXNiLPB4ExJ4unJDavSREmEXrU3kUtMO2OoEFIpVBzk1q1WFPW5g/s2048/20210203_121958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHydaj9GZCoFZ3TPBqlp3VX0fwNaqsTVhLt82LpTeKCvgz-lYOmVOZ-u_lRzNvKdr8XBZnJ3mGXeafWdO4MiZdjAXNiLPB4ExJ4unJDavSREmEXrU3kUtMO2OoEFIpVBzk1q1WFPW5g/w400-h225/20210203_121958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfc0oSl4UEtDPE99L5vUyNQ5w42azyR4nvbDduBOE1vlM0D7ggl98n9IIdaoP8Ie8cd6foiw6XQtzRiSUwHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Finally after shooing away a big fly that was pestering Dad and I, whilst looking forward at the easy way forward and short loop back to the car, I made the decision to work our way back up hill and do the Kangaroo Ridge walk.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GLV6ctjKxA8Y6TM_fgvrO_zTVKHNheKEhWzhwItY7pUff8KHv-IB5gy6WGhyphenhyphenQrGfFydulUzow2oV4OF6RpkNKchpYH3Qscifm55KTQwLef7Dh29BVTSZwg86b5cBCgfWdaS-Rh22EA/s2048/20210203_121951.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GLV6ctjKxA8Y6TM_fgvrO_zTVKHNheKEhWzhwItY7pUff8KHv-IB5gy6WGhyphenhyphenQrGfFydulUzow2oV4OF6RpkNKchpYH3Qscifm55KTQwLef7Dh29BVTSZwg86b5cBCgfWdaS-Rh22EA/w400-h225/20210203_121951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just 2km back to the carpark, so tempting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B2IgKO59arNbg9UXr28Duu4XN319QulQLJoqCH-LleV7Tn6oJ41hxPLi3xoNnA9lI46INgf28FvSIb3QIz9t9r6DfSZoqzu-l0X0_TDPEfSwQgKOuLPsyohxgnHyEIOt3gGfihJ-jA/s2048/20210203_122600.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B2IgKO59arNbg9UXr28Duu4XN319QulQLJoqCH-LleV7Tn6oJ41hxPLi3xoNnA9lI46INgf28FvSIb3QIz9t9r6DfSZoqzu-l0X0_TDPEfSwQgKOuLPsyohxgnHyEIOt3gGfihJ-jA/w400-h225/20210203_122600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoo fly, don't bother me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtS7MeMF6c3WSk6FpLAspgMzsQ5qLt_CuPwiEAFYXrFdlOZ2Lud7zBcPZ8KUqic5ipi_NcWReQ0XxarFf1WOp2hAIEgLAeofh05HJqVrtzPXggAdGB90td1Zot-yhP6WjXAxR6leEOQ/s2048/20210203_122844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtS7MeMF6c3WSk6FpLAspgMzsQ5qLt_CuPwiEAFYXrFdlOZ2Lud7zBcPZ8KUqic5ipi_NcWReQ0XxarFf1WOp2hAIEgLAeofh05HJqVrtzPXggAdGB90td1Zot-yhP6WjXAxR6leEOQ/w360-h640/20210203_122844.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overjoyed to be backtracking...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After walking our way back to the turn off to Kangaroo Ridge, it was easy to see how we missed it while distracted by the two gentlemen, but it didn't help make us feel any less stupid and annoyed at adding an additional 3.4km onto our walk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyjX3-y6Z1EOCdmWn639tu_L6s5pUF_U3LtV6IZtxigwnBlVvw1ah-NK_dj2Xm0bsVoou-D_aaqg4nA7ynE2yU1A66ezSDWnxOXPGcNypFj3rRrp7pbADa6WJeBHy0isxSP2qD8WrZQ/s2048/20210203_125325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyjX3-y6Z1EOCdmWn639tu_L6s5pUF_U3LtV6IZtxigwnBlVvw1ah-NK_dj2Xm0bsVoou-D_aaqg4nA7ynE2yU1A66ezSDWnxOXPGcNypFj3rRrp7pbADa6WJeBHy0isxSP2qD8WrZQ/w400-h225/20210203_125325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qFOgzeKEbEr3Lp0prt1nspJ7Gkd8Djb0p7er3Nflf9JdveWpr5xinDJhuKHb43zCCKZ_CB5iO11gsnynKOIN01ZrKcHktsPke46Tj2Cgj4xFiyYQrJorTzAyRKBdMapZ_LKQS46NGw/s2048/20210203_125902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qFOgzeKEbEr3Lp0prt1nspJ7Gkd8Djb0p7er3Nflf9JdveWpr5xinDJhuKHb43zCCKZ_CB5iO11gsnynKOIN01ZrKcHktsPke46Tj2Cgj4xFiyYQrJorTzAyRKBdMapZ_LKQS46NGw/w400-h225/20210203_125902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>If my Dad was worried about how wet the rest of the walk was he must have been bothered now, as the walk was instantly squelchy, muddy, damp, and every step was wet to varying degrees. Not long into the walk my Dad told me his socks where already wet.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb3aOYStt_SU7RYv1_iEg6iGI4Y8DVZXUylMCuc2bdhmbpbRYCFLrlSR-bNtvSPFR3O52LVbixhHAHRp3byTdsZjnjps89HUZjEV5eu2kw86PtULe3rs9-a53A1seGlKV7Wce_218HA/s2048/20210203_131136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb3aOYStt_SU7RYv1_iEg6iGI4Y8DVZXUylMCuc2bdhmbpbRYCFLrlSR-bNtvSPFR3O52LVbixhHAHRp3byTdsZjnjps89HUZjEV5eu2kw86PtULe3rs9-a53A1seGlKV7Wce_218HA/w400-h225/20210203_131136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHD_g1GCmMdptxyQj0K4_MvA7lXDChjtHkH18cIiXp_7ebXagHHRqXjyNW1i7OMQvZytBbfOc18XKDxLipLhyphenhyphendBbN5RefBVZcD4g8MlVYzaHya1Jp5IeNKhjoL8_Y8GtbTRbJuthBUg/s2048/20210203_131232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHD_g1GCmMdptxyQj0K4_MvA7lXDChjtHkH18cIiXp_7ebXagHHRqXjyNW1i7OMQvZytBbfOc18XKDxLipLhyphenhyphendBbN5RefBVZcD4g8MlVYzaHya1Jp5IeNKhjoL8_Y8GtbTRbJuthBUg/w400-h225/20210203_131232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PNFFDtnLVUY50GvZxEnbhR6xQ3kL7IIl2fjNmV7vJXG4neVj8ZgoZ0vD_0wijfXVtZSuYj4MB3AAZ86ecXrtEHF2UOMvvuucKIILFFQAuVg4vvHF-WVRj1byQsE6j_503Hn43QLGcA/s2048/20210203_131925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PNFFDtnLVUY50GvZxEnbhR6xQ3kL7IIl2fjNmV7vJXG4neVj8ZgoZ0vD_0wijfXVtZSuYj4MB3AAZ86ecXrtEHF2UOMvvuucKIILFFQAuVg4vvHF-WVRj1byQsE6j_503Hn43QLGcA/w400-h225/20210203_131925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>After a long walk through the sloshy wet terrain, the trees formed a barrier on either side reminding me of the first time I had done the walk with my girlfriend, we had been walking for hours (albeit at a pretty slow pace), and reached an almost tunnel bit of trees but got concerned about the time (having started the walk later in the day) and turned back. It wasn't till a few years later where I first went with Dad on Father's Day where I got to the end of the Kangaroo Ridge walk, to tell my (fiancée or wife by this time?) that we had been a mere 5 minutes away from finishing the walk.<br />However I knew we were not up to that section of the walk yet, and soon the path opened up, to a track through the small scrubland again, and the slight hill but I had recalled sitting and resting at (that I was confused about not reaching while wrongly walking towards the Stone Bridge).</div><div><br /></div><div>We stopped on a large flat rock even with the ground on the top of this slight hill, looking at another hill through the scrub, facing away from the path, with Dad saying out loud that there was surely some way to walk to the hill. I told him there was, but it meant traversing through thick scrub.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5kt3_t8TxBZLH7lf1OOU-3YuZobih0xvQs1BIiT06oRivbgXQq40r1kMKjtpqA2L_YgyEioZqTfkiIDMn6LRsnrD75hd5Kfd-tCRf3dXiGdTH-ntlcWLd9-83no_qPMycpcdpLLLUg/s2048/20210203_135201%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5kt3_t8TxBZLH7lf1OOU-3YuZobih0xvQs1BIiT06oRivbgXQq40r1kMKjtpqA2L_YgyEioZqTfkiIDMn6LRsnrD75hd5Kfd-tCRf3dXiGdTH-ntlcWLd9-83no_qPMycpcdpLLLUg/w400-h225/20210203_135201%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y8a4hUHN4KTH8cHYJ-z_9RrXkUYMcXsDa7AwgbFgXaEph52TqdzpmNGcPTk73GGtefIZQbzVzPpFy8unjIEbjLJpsCocdTnwGAMBa5KwjnT79fKw5kK4yCSE3uAk_xLfi0oRlC6ZWA/s2048/20210203_135729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Y8a4hUHN4KTH8cHYJ-z_9RrXkUYMcXsDa7AwgbFgXaEph52TqdzpmNGcPTk73GGtefIZQbzVzPpFy8unjIEbjLJpsCocdTnwGAMBa5KwjnT79fKw5kK4yCSE3uAk_xLfi0oRlC6ZWA/w360-h640/20210203_135729.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv-1IJ4vK24cRCC2uhMsKi5C-7Up5CxbzLUizZsyoXi9XTaGpYbcxjFT8qj6C8mp3ELPILdsE-cPocRyQ99P2ldvrX2UbakjkkmPJyyxnIo2sb8QUkBYMltbLA4H6f5D_WDokmUc9kg/s2048/20210203_140248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv-1IJ4vK24cRCC2uhMsKi5C-7Up5CxbzLUizZsyoXi9XTaGpYbcxjFT8qj6C8mp3ELPILdsE-cPocRyQ99P2ldvrX2UbakjkkmPJyyxnIo2sb8QUkBYMltbLA4H6f5D_WDokmUc9kg/w400-h225/20210203_140248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uniyu7Oz9i3xvRFqimsI6yD8IluuZPwV35oT-JsIdkAnsMYZSQzoCdCm3DhTzUBUmQdKcA-jb9MDFS8GFj86JLnpzwsLDM6duv1sm4IGUhqRsU_-gv36uN_1SZLLnCIUK4CZnb4i9g/s2048/20210203_140322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uniyu7Oz9i3xvRFqimsI6yD8IluuZPwV35oT-JsIdkAnsMYZSQzoCdCm3DhTzUBUmQdKcA-jb9MDFS8GFj86JLnpzwsLDM6duv1sm4IGUhqRsU_-gv36uN_1SZLLnCIUK4CZnb4i9g/w400-h225/20210203_140322.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We soon rounded a bend to the left where the trail quickly veered off to the right, but we could see through the trees another trail which we followed a short distance that gave us a view over the Shoalhaven. I asked if the beach was Seven Mile Beach and my Dad agreed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1z1u4J0bFMOkJs0i_MK2h03MhpTIh62PZjQk5qA5d-vygryjk1Yzlb4-o_MOcMG-MxEUHJyNNtxXI29-f4fRGdW6Y7jSOGgHghb5tMkHVa7R8OO_w8lGqEIb1OudJn5qzbvIClaFEw/s2048/20210203_141215.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1z1u4J0bFMOkJs0i_MK2h03MhpTIh62PZjQk5qA5d-vygryjk1Yzlb4-o_MOcMG-MxEUHJyNNtxXI29-f4fRGdW6Y7jSOGgHghb5tMkHVa7R8OO_w8lGqEIb1OudJn5qzbvIClaFEw/w400-h225/20210203_141215.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQrccehcn_3oYjKmaSGpA_FzwrXgjmKTTj8_7qEjTcJKAHbb3Hfzv8JzVtWu_r7jioCMTDDugRC7GeQ8GPO-v4iMK6x2a2WMHcbaEpGxwhjlnW1vt44kZEdxPj_W-AbTXirg0XllXWA/s2048/20210203_141306.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQrccehcn_3oYjKmaSGpA_FzwrXgjmKTTj8_7qEjTcJKAHbb3Hfzv8JzVtWu_r7jioCMTDDugRC7GeQ8GPO-v4iMK6x2a2WMHcbaEpGxwhjlnW1vt44kZEdxPj_W-AbTXirg0XllXWA/w400-h225/20210203_141306.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ryu4hnk7ABsBoczZoozB8EOCyaAqtuAfplswPqUYQeVei9xCifWsiGpX6F-mXIxbvR-BgctGVyern7w8eqBOPrjI3AwAeS0L8QtQ15E9s2oBqxAhC3E_ibf_n0ZHUsiXmgC8fP3caw/s2048/20210203_141329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ryu4hnk7ABsBoczZoozB8EOCyaAqtuAfplswPqUYQeVei9xCifWsiGpX6F-mXIxbvR-BgctGVyern7w8eqBOPrjI3AwAeS0L8QtQ15E9s2oBqxAhC3E_ibf_n0ZHUsiXmgC8fP3caw/w400-h225/20210203_141329.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>We tried to see Shoalhaven Heads and Comerong Island, as we had been on an adventure to Comerong Island just 5 days earlier (which I will write about at the end of this blog post). We finally agreed we could see Comerong Island from the lookout, seeing the opening at Shoalhaven Heads and even being able to see the break-wall. We made our way back to the path and continued on, feeling now that we were close to reaching our destination and I felt a bit of pride, as the walk hadn't even felt that long to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Soon we reached the bit of the walk I remembered turning around in back in 2014.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uHmicIiMF18wiE94P_6Aqvwjl3BR7wydC6eu9j68TI_3k2pWxidJluBCnc3nr7hnmQ5Ybq7C0k9y_4hPWcMSVpzSLVXyoeE7y-zMhC32BKddMxH92aYReFWGhYwwNeGZ_eQhUUA-4A/s2048/20210203_142034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uHmicIiMF18wiE94P_6Aqvwjl3BR7wydC6eu9j68TI_3k2pWxidJluBCnc3nr7hnmQ5Ybq7C0k9y_4hPWcMSVpzSLVXyoeE7y-zMhC32BKddMxH92aYReFWGhYwwNeGZ_eQhUUA-4A/w400-h225/20210203_142034.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>While walking through a branch got caught on my shoelace causing me to slightly trip while flinging up and lightly cutting the front of my leg, one of those annoying parts of walking. We came to the end of the track where there was an area that looped around a tree and bit of bushland, almost like a roundabout, obviously designed for fire vehicles to be able to drive through and turn around. Just behind this was a short track through the trees, which gave me a lovely face full of spiderweb, and then we were there, at Kangaroo Ridge, with a similar view to the lookout we had seen just a bit earlier.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_X5lFrnSP6of_RjXSITlEeIRD-x3-GVVChN816SNjldGKqugq-MmGnbySOl9x_lWrgl97Y4AlBUQHh4uGQf9XHcXEitAxpfOmvh9cJC7ZBCLhIRi5W0-As-Si5g_Iyai48UYYij48g/s2048/20210203_142912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_X5lFrnSP6of_RjXSITlEeIRD-x3-GVVChN816SNjldGKqugq-MmGnbySOl9x_lWrgl97Y4AlBUQHh4uGQf9XHcXEitAxpfOmvh9cJC7ZBCLhIRi5W0-As-Si5g_Iyai48UYYij48g/w400-h225/20210203_142912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VVdCXld1EuG7jVKEofi4Y53J7m6BfnTELCwRb-gusdOsWqGP2SRD_VSZWJCWd5fKgj9aBMDaS6V47tkDvn0n3syVH97T6yxL1Qa96NciiDGOeld1I8fZCR0PzBVsYMAwJ70bSrcmDA/s2048/20210203_142938.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VVdCXld1EuG7jVKEofi4Y53J7m6BfnTELCwRb-gusdOsWqGP2SRD_VSZWJCWd5fKgj9aBMDaS6V47tkDvn0n3syVH97T6yxL1Qa96NciiDGOeld1I8fZCR0PzBVsYMAwJ70bSrcmDA/w400-h225/20210203_142938.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VmOIf4Ofwj82cfyOHFkCuVqA27jjpE03O5ZGKXnur_MI7DRWhXem8pt-oORNftUVyZXM6wl_gdrYqGGjqS89tc6G2Ud814Tjef4fXqXBRDDR27j8p8YxrWSUXx2iATE0aoO1_m6Frw/s2048/20210203_142951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VmOIf4Ofwj82cfyOHFkCuVqA27jjpE03O5ZGKXnur_MI7DRWhXem8pt-oORNftUVyZXM6wl_gdrYqGGjqS89tc6G2Ud814Tjef4fXqXBRDDR27j8p8YxrWSUXx2iATE0aoO1_m6Frw/w400-h225/20210203_142951.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0AzxkPXcqcRuCBm2MxPkYEhaaCW8Dpgn5l4nAgHoBcU0kHZUaej536PBuHPiYxZo3h05ICOFerpzxAXRAmkWr-uiRFh_ApXlHL-I-P8tMRm-edxzwzUqM71qxQLtnhIJSD01tjKGLg/s2048/20210203_143136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0AzxkPXcqcRuCBm2MxPkYEhaaCW8Dpgn5l4nAgHoBcU0kHZUaej536PBuHPiYxZo3h05ICOFerpzxAXRAmkWr-uiRFh_ApXlHL-I-P8tMRm-edxzwzUqM71qxQLtnhIJSD01tjKGLg/w400-h300/20210203_143136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I felt a sense of gratification. I had been meaning to do the Barren Grounds walk since 2015 where it sat in my draft folder until I had completely forgotten anything about the walk and never ended up writing it. Then I had planned for it to be my first walk with my Dad after he recovered from his <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">rock climbing accident</a>, but then <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/07/berrima-river-walk-and-stone-quarry-walk.html" target="_blank">I broke my ankle</a>, which when it recovered we were planning to do the walk, but then <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">I was diagnosed with cancer</a>, and then last time I didn't have the strength or fitness so <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2021/01/barren-grounds-cooks-nose-and-flying.html" target="_blank">we just did the Cook's Nose walk</a> and I was planning to use old photos to write about Kangaroo Ridge, only to find I really didn't even have that many saved photos of the walk. So to do it, and get there, and feel ok, was all a great sense of satisfaction. </div><div><br /></div><div>We walked around the cliff face further onwards and sat for a drink and some snacks at a bit of rock that reminded me of the rock formations at <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2018/09/drawing-room-rocks.html" target="_blank">Drawing Room Rocks.</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AlClSjrjjdroGNHXrq3y4OBYFWdeDSFhl-QOy8fkVaYydDQjsDxbkC9z1HvCofSzhumo7HLXU1l740gopB3TUnR1CvZXNr-Ae8R21Ncev_ncr4sTP9CFEJKHemA4zLgT5jpd0gnD-w/s2048/20210203_143216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AlClSjrjjdroGNHXrq3y4OBYFWdeDSFhl-QOy8fkVaYydDQjsDxbkC9z1HvCofSzhumo7HLXU1l740gopB3TUnR1CvZXNr-Ae8R21Ncev_ncr4sTP9CFEJKHemA4zLgT5jpd0gnD-w/w360-h640/20210203_143216.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF71K6EWqAiRpAp8bmnbUf9SKnArpaxU3vviile3rLxTWj0rJP1Gt3Z_BWnn2RW83xOcljM4OHXuqvgUMFc83G_p8x-SUAvXKw9kvpxAp-7Sp4-EOjhv8HRHbdrxw9srqS547TUSTGA/s2048/20210203_143248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF71K6EWqAiRpAp8bmnbUf9SKnArpaxU3vviile3rLxTWj0rJP1Gt3Z_BWnn2RW83xOcljM4OHXuqvgUMFc83G_p8x-SUAvXKw9kvpxAp-7Sp4-EOjhv8HRHbdrxw9srqS547TUSTGA/w400-h225/20210203_143248.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We began our walk back, which always feels much longer. I began to feel bits of my body starting to fatigue and hurt, it was definitely not use to doing so much after my 10 weeks in hospital not including intermittent times in between being neutropenic and laying around at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I began to tire of the walk, being keen for it to be done, mentally I had accomplished what I wanted, but need to do the return journey.<br />I complained to Dad that the extra 3.4km didn't help. We finally made it back to the sign post and began the walk downhill to the Stone Bridge... again...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About halfway down my feet began to severely ache, the sides of my feet next to my big toe felt like sandpaper was scratching my skin off with every step I took. Eventually I said I couldn't do it anymore, and took my shoes off to carry them. My Dad told me not too as the surface was so rocky. I said I couldn't continue to wear the shoes, and that I had done the whole walk at Comerong Island barefoot too.<br />The walk was much slower barefoot, having to be even more careful where I stepped, but much less painful. When we made it to the Stone Bridge my Dad told me to wash off my feet and he had some band-aids I could place on the part of my feet that were hurting. We did this, and it definitely took of a lot of the pain, although it still did hurt to walk, we could now move quicker as all I wanted now was to get home and have a lie down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcPQzZstBwYelS9ZF6OKJYaRhG9xsLilELGKYmpSXqacIUd4IkTnpUomHOhu7mHhJsjzFbdNQHyA5vw0ntRoQ5iSFgwHNyYbCJb60mqbBfSh2zOPllEJs28nnu40zrxu5Y8XWzxcOKg/s2048/20210203_163145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcPQzZstBwYelS9ZF6OKJYaRhG9xsLilELGKYmpSXqacIUd4IkTnpUomHOhu7mHhJsjzFbdNQHyA5vw0ntRoQ5iSFgwHNyYbCJb60mqbBfSh2zOPllEJs28nnu40zrxu5Y8XWzxcOKg/w400-h225/20210203_163145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just at the top of the stairs on the other side of the Stone Bridge was another wooden picnic table, and a sign pointing towards the Cook's Nose walk and the carpark in 2km.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDNPTV1lRGvNdszLOp4aYIA_Y2Kw4Gyo-bxfPGMTAURagkdNTpg_4Z7Z8crZAwpyvOdwAglzNe7yA5qNxHIH6jpOr93A5Fgm7HpnNFMKWxaFa3dNENLh4viuOzWf7Y8a36-HsGYr2DQ/s2048/20210203_163428.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDNPTV1lRGvNdszLOp4aYIA_Y2Kw4Gyo-bxfPGMTAURagkdNTpg_4Z7Z8crZAwpyvOdwAglzNe7yA5qNxHIH6jpOr93A5Fgm7HpnNFMKWxaFa3dNENLh4viuOzWf7Y8a36-HsGYr2DQ/w400-h225/20210203_163428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZqY7eZ59ivjAvvtDOzfov8p6k4Ntdooa6rXxN4hYoCQRNht-1BP1MC6cgmrcUYfDY7uQfNagBbqzWOQUHcPbM4u1_DMTSGJblh30hPtbP40hGnsk74YzG3yUVjrCi5H-Uic1HohalA/s2048/20210203_163927.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZqY7eZ59ivjAvvtDOzfov8p6k4Ntdooa6rXxN4hYoCQRNht-1BP1MC6cgmrcUYfDY7uQfNagBbqzWOQUHcPbM4u1_DMTSGJblh30hPtbP40hGnsk74YzG3yUVjrCi5H-Uic1HohalA/w400-h225/20210203_163927.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While walking through I stepped down and sunk as I stepped, turning around a noticing a my footprint sunken in the mud. We finally made our way through to where the track left took you to Cooks Nose and the track right to the carpark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9UBpGWKcoKXerwcnZawl90HoAZtE9ck41uxM4RC0ScFwQ4KSBvkmv3LyPTAUaFBK-i814Lfe9DB3ofG8k0zyXsjNZCIjGVMCd49E6H7aGviJpTE7EGC7-KQ_pQmLryyNF1k9KWsoEA/s2048/20210203_164206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9UBpGWKcoKXerwcnZawl90HoAZtE9ck41uxM4RC0ScFwQ4KSBvkmv3LyPTAUaFBK-i814Lfe9DB3ofG8k0zyXsjNZCIjGVMCd49E6H7aGviJpTE7EGC7-KQ_pQmLryyNF1k9KWsoEA/w360-h640/20210203_164206.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpA_UDUc4nVGGovDSR4K0neDp-Au_9aYZWThS1PCJsLiqJM58SNCyHpdpjSA0b3vqzYwRkdtCoQApRCeae8SG6PDhdOX9K4_JuLBYrYkwfosRjKQAz9hCDcGIRKkiPtkVonVpMGpvHcw/s2048/20210203_164444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpA_UDUc4nVGGovDSR4K0neDp-Au_9aYZWThS1PCJsLiqJM58SNCyHpdpjSA0b3vqzYwRkdtCoQApRCeae8SG6PDhdOX9K4_JuLBYrYkwfosRjKQAz9hCDcGIRKkiPtkVonVpMGpvHcw/w360-h640/20210203_164444.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS-ZYFchjlyH6yDD0GqUJJiQBUHvPFTX48rxvr0_zwIMRwDI9OZDq3JK3xqMIsm1amcOQ4orVGP6H5CFhNqOiDmRhsGwfg0h4QWIxtaEmPxsWqtRcnkx3fiLn6ZMhu6SFfnary7Zn5g/s2048/20210203_164454.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS-ZYFchjlyH6yDD0GqUJJiQBUHvPFTX48rxvr0_zwIMRwDI9OZDq3JK3xqMIsm1amcOQ4orVGP6H5CFhNqOiDmRhsGwfg0h4QWIxtaEmPxsWqtRcnkx3fiLn6ZMhu6SFfnary7Zn5g/w360-h640/20210203_164454.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyisnKhjxtaEMWGgEhRxKTIaENIvAmMIX5dMxLzbUAti_Rt3WZLqrRKVLRPW7vqkJ2FfOPjSqGFlE4-8NJm9Y_cWGaSS9pnHkjehZFveMEh-ys3fKC-zNsUiZvbRekEhJdji-ejXHuYw/s2048/20210203_164746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyisnKhjxtaEMWGgEhRxKTIaENIvAmMIX5dMxLzbUAti_Rt3WZLqrRKVLRPW7vqkJ2FfOPjSqGFlE4-8NJm9Y_cWGaSS9pnHkjehZFveMEh-ys3fKC-zNsUiZvbRekEhJdji-ejXHuYw/w400-h225/20210203_164746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiy6Qo-Olqe-ny-RSfaeYwEW2CDDdswA3wyYaa_skuxh9TZEvZinmgBqt5XYu5GPvlsv0vSwplSrj8NGBdZjtWZuHECkXrnvQoeqoDoL3np3s5XdQShpgQG2U3V4_RWkPy1L11VPlgg/s2048/20210203_165117.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiy6Qo-Olqe-ny-RSfaeYwEW2CDDdswA3wyYaa_skuxh9TZEvZinmgBqt5XYu5GPvlsv0vSwplSrj8NGBdZjtWZuHECkXrnvQoeqoDoL3np3s5XdQShpgQG2U3V4_RWkPy1L11VPlgg/w400-h225/20210203_165117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along the way back we saw another Echidna, almost in the same spot we had seen it when we had done the Cooks Nose walk a few weeks earlier. When we got back to the car Dad wanted to sit around and eat, it was past 4pm and I said it was almost dinner time. He ate a roll from the esky and on of his alcoholic 'alcohol-free' beers, which I was right about being 0.5% not 0.05%. I drank an iced coffee while I drove us down Jamberoo Pass dropping my Dad off home and getting home after 5pm feeling tired and sore. Later that night noticing a giant blood blister on the back of my right heel. Not surprising after a 22km walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeShJzbeljveNtCmMyyLaU7e9fcAgbEOChC6atdeQJseorY3_MfOlf7Du1LQOlmx_iqjQjQauw5DEuni2Z8fPC8okWf0Hb1cOREIotzPmx27xjYlmIHce0hOw-2oJsqefsagq0Me_Ag/s2048/20210203_231606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeShJzbeljveNtCmMyyLaU7e9fcAgbEOChC6atdeQJseorY3_MfOlf7Du1LQOlmx_iqjQjQauw5DEuni2Z8fPC8okWf0Hb1cOREIotzPmx27xjYlmIHce0hOw-2oJsqefsagq0Me_Ag/w360-h640/20210203_231606.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Extra tidbits! - Comerong Island Adventure 29/1/2021</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />While off work due to my cancer I have been investing a lot of time into trying to research my family tree, which I have been doing since 2011 and have made a lot of good progress (especially on my Mother's Side). My Dad's side I have done well on his Mother's heritage, but I have really struggled with his paternal ancestry. My Dad was adopted out due to infidelity, as his Mother was having an affair. She came clean while pregnant when she worried that my Dad would come out Italian (the man she had the affair with was Italian), so my Dad was adopted out even though we now believe that my Nan's Husband was indeed his Father (until proven otherwise I suppose, but my Dad and I are not of Italian descent).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Anyway, I believed I had found ancestors on this side coming over from Ireland and living in Numbaa (near Nowra in the Shoalhaven), and that he was Mayor of Numbaa at some point, so we decided to go on a day down to Numbaa and also explore the nearby Comerong Island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We initially stopped at a farm in Berry (where you can get married or they do Yoga there) as another ancestor on my Dad's Mother's side, Issac Walton and previously owned the land the farm was on according to my Dad who told me he had viewed the land records at a museum in Berry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You had to cross train tracks to visit it and I got a good shot looking up the tracks reminding me of my favourite film 'Stand By Me' and a<a href="https://steventure.blogspot.com/2015/08/kiama-coastal-disaster.html" target="_blank"> terrible adventure with friends </a>I had when I was younger in 2011.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWm6szU14ZfutEWZ-hlY2bJhbWzt1dJCpV3bCOPZ9ZuxPYo1GMsfnMNgPs1FpPQ62fdRuwI316PfUGn8xozjtaKC68_Pbq4kF72bQAHOQbZIloiBi5l0aKF7Ika8JVeOpmhfLE0VM4w/s2048/20210129_102504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWm6szU14ZfutEWZ-hlY2bJhbWzt1dJCpV3bCOPZ9ZuxPYo1GMsfnMNgPs1FpPQ62fdRuwI316PfUGn8xozjtaKC68_Pbq4kF72bQAHOQbZIloiBi5l0aKF7Ika8JVeOpmhfLE0VM4w/w360-h640/20210129_102504.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From here we drove to Shoalhaven Heads as my dad believed the entrance was closed up and had been for years, although I told him that it hadn't been when I was looking up Numbaa and Comerong Island on a map. We arrived in the rain and set out along the beach towards Comerong Island, looking up at Coolengatta Mountain in the rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAdTiNo-uD40B1BswmlC9kFsEgvF29YLV0xQg9DGSGVjRZUC0gIWKhh3norxUoS50CXeYohE9D6Qd2kREG-7f5iX8BlQPLMDt23coyU3YlrM52tnKwMnDzbT3TXiN3I4_kWZuL_5EwQ/s2048/20210129_110057.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAdTiNo-uD40B1BswmlC9kFsEgvF29YLV0xQg9DGSGVjRZUC0gIWKhh3norxUoS50CXeYohE9D6Qd2kREG-7f5iX8BlQPLMDt23coyU3YlrM52tnKwMnDzbT3TXiN3I4_kWZuL_5EwQ/w360-h640/20210129_110057.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm43rENxI76W1jBhKXkyhRzSpJTWEewEMHNDmcdFrrmbPYTznNL0zrtzsYEDSf02UeH7Owa0TGoZFdsMA54Ynrou1QLsS20p0PyxCo2y6XOtEcH9ENKO1WIxN4XbwO3DAe76nijc-xQ/s2048/20210129_110127.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwm43rENxI76W1jBhKXkyhRzSpJTWEewEMHNDmcdFrrmbPYTznNL0zrtzsYEDSf02UeH7Owa0TGoZFdsMA54Ynrou1QLsS20p0PyxCo2y6XOtEcH9ENKO1WIxN4XbwO3DAe76nijc-xQ/w400-h225/20210129_110127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyp6voAM03qcxoge0TqloCbU99klvvpyeWnzMUjpEjbaWMT1Db94zv0zMpRQZ62XNEs6emWWhlYLsMFNI8ZcA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We soon got there to find, low and behold, the entrance was open with deep running water. My Dad went up to talk to one lone fisherman to ask about when it opened up and we made our way back to the car to drive out through Numbaa to catch the Ferry over.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was excited driving through Numbaa, past huge farms full of corn fields. We waited for the Ferry to come from Comerong over and drove on, talking to the ferryman about local history and ancestry as he was a local for generations and seemed very interested.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The ferry arrived on the island and we drove through past lots of farmland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzGQLyFC7ZQKSqbhpqlO2a6TSdd34Icm6EKP8_ToBYu96RXJM_FQ8OLCd93ntHjpHT-cpF33mTbXtLA2MTgNA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We pulled up in a spot while my Dad recounted a time he had been here before with my two younger brothers. We walked up through the bush eventually reaching the beach which we found a few feet down an embankment from where we stood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMOrZE_hJxvmxnnti7oI3YXo_LsPAnUsJcTA5j9Vv0Kqg-VgDennL7yC91lmH7ZEke5qualyugNNfYQcWcJRAJlT3lmPIjjuaggNK-HA6JgKP6224dYiOmwugbe7nUEJAUoyzHxCUaw/s2048/20210129_122920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMOrZE_hJxvmxnnti7oI3YXo_LsPAnUsJcTA5j9Vv0Kqg-VgDennL7yC91lmH7ZEke5qualyugNNfYQcWcJRAJlT3lmPIjjuaggNK-HA6JgKP6224dYiOmwugbe7nUEJAUoyzHxCUaw/w360-h640/20210129_122920.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila_doulxNsKuah8Bt_3Z9YzkGkXEplYwkhkDj4aZ3nq33srbDi4Uo_QDaZqvcaib72OVDxLO8kzSsa_n3OompoM5Fa2p_7JlRuuZrK_25ReqTPxH3MYUYvLteE7go36j0V09zXXrblQ/s2048/20210129_122912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEila_doulxNsKuah8Bt_3Z9YzkGkXEplYwkhkDj4aZ3nq33srbDi4Uo_QDaZqvcaib72OVDxLO8kzSsa_n3OompoM5Fa2p_7JlRuuZrK_25ReqTPxH3MYUYvLteE7go36j0V09zXXrblQ/w360-h640/20210129_122912.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpnKhn1p0IZpmsKSLYzioccL8sUrOZuzml7USsXihVFlFUMQvARv6YnAvXSd48RWLaDOKbob2-kt5nzBbBhcEJPJGfTsH32rXsJHqNceezpsqDhNecIL2zuhoE66_MxoOtCme52itCg/s2048/20210129_123538.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpnKhn1p0IZpmsKSLYzioccL8sUrOZuzml7USsXihVFlFUMQvARv6YnAvXSd48RWLaDOKbob2-kt5nzBbBhcEJPJGfTsH32rXsJHqNceezpsqDhNecIL2zuhoE66_MxoOtCme52itCg/w400-h225/20210129_123538.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdipZRimNV20e-FstlTeYFH4OJAfuxlX-HSgUFMCsnFOdWzx8asANtUBiuIqJwlz8ziqUoKOB8bV0orLByKCjXdbeT5oAgZ7nTqSGtVJQtkZ5f0tiP9vXV_AZNngS4UZW0ynXRYoCUIw/s2048/20210129_123646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdipZRimNV20e-FstlTeYFH4OJAfuxlX-HSgUFMCsnFOdWzx8asANtUBiuIqJwlz8ziqUoKOB8bV0orLByKCjXdbeT5oAgZ7nTqSGtVJQtkZ5f0tiP9vXV_AZNngS4UZW0ynXRYoCUIw/w400-h225/20210129_123646.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_xWFYWbBG_ktkC_YKRN4k8mvhcSbfbFL3QOnWBRhNm3crl9N1G1IoG5Li87EMZijY0pYu8fIag6Oqq3iLzLEovK95kb87vBxQAMHB6nK1axDduxddrsDlBxfiksYL-kEO8qhIdppaQ/s2048/20210129_124156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_xWFYWbBG_ktkC_YKRN4k8mvhcSbfbFL3QOnWBRhNm3crl9N1G1IoG5Li87EMZijY0pYu8fIag6Oqq3iLzLEovK95kb87vBxQAMHB6nK1axDduxddrsDlBxfiksYL-kEO8qhIdppaQ/w400-h225/20210129_124156.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Hr1nvhU5mzqoEEda11w0YqFPN6Vk2XgFkOOtNY_Xu9cyCBIlw8f4DCsyYBQHkJLuC0c9ObHW1CsrhfsdFmwEmiTETGQFxhhUIK5YRub43QT9RvivTZQN1S-RjN-j0U-Rw-p76RRLDA/s2048/20210129_124250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Hr1nvhU5mzqoEEda11w0YqFPN6Vk2XgFkOOtNY_Xu9cyCBIlw8f4DCsyYBQHkJLuC0c9ObHW1CsrhfsdFmwEmiTETGQFxhhUIK5YRub43QT9RvivTZQN1S-RjN-j0U-Rw-p76RRLDA/w360-h640/20210129_124250.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had to stand on the edge and let the sand crumble away and almost surf the sand down to reach the bottom (with it being higher than the photo makes it look).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dad was determined to walk to the break-wall so we set out in the rain walking the long stretch of the beach littered with a lot of rubbish and thousands of washed up blue bottles (Portuguese Man O' Wars).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG_NOXQrhOxdDQlLB7YL2_CiCI7b09kQkthSwWKRFeXGIct2WSfySSAPI7ZenRaVY-P1GUrxuxWJus3PhQrehttGyvlcWq3iKAelUr7FPGsymAuJHZQzr6iGCx1OuZvaZkSF7fpbE-A/s2048/20210129_124422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG_NOXQrhOxdDQlLB7YL2_CiCI7b09kQkthSwWKRFeXGIct2WSfySSAPI7ZenRaVY-P1GUrxuxWJus3PhQrehttGyvlcWq3iKAelUr7FPGsymAuJHZQzr6iGCx1OuZvaZkSF7fpbE-A/w400-h225/20210129_124422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmbagMTGkMnoUqX0D_l3CoZoI-yohrDVMzhQdQiTUbWdYBf87HCzNQWdGZZJhPvW3d5PNwoXnmnedqBAW-0r7g1YswL1ZaUTLsPqi7WxHtTXH2BcLrzHJWjK0GNjUv7ZiEZNfbhAu9Q/s2048/20210129_124424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmbagMTGkMnoUqX0D_l3CoZoI-yohrDVMzhQdQiTUbWdYBf87HCzNQWdGZZJhPvW3d5PNwoXnmnedqBAW-0r7g1YswL1ZaUTLsPqi7WxHtTXH2BcLrzHJWjK0GNjUv7ZiEZNfbhAu9Q/w400-h225/20210129_124424.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwy7C3MxJsnyP49yu_jlw0n-hoWLv_lViVNxAUv-6hjfk_T2f6J21lRntLFi2RrvRVDPgREzo7Em4hZtPz9hA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwCWQu4kvvdkLN8UaDYacheF8-s-9bN7TCxT0KVCxCgHlaC5rJpes6uzMrRYUZaIiMjTGE-jWQNRYvwfidmWQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After walking the length of the beach in the pouring rain we finally reached the break-wall but could not find a path inwards (as my Dad had said there was another carpark you could park at the end here, and he wanted to walk back on the dirt road through the interior of the island). After some bush-bashing we found the Breakwater Track, realising it was just up and embankment and would be easier to find if we had came out that way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigOK3rbBmKR8DKAQi7RSoXB702-FnKMn9OcIiomqsuzom6hhF_uQj6s-8Oq1tld8TVxjfaFe5tEz2RizgaDvSK51pAMALc35sjSfTNvju9cJX01eyfgPHUdITYmdux-9prK1q4yEFVw/s2048/20210129_134005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigOK3rbBmKR8DKAQi7RSoXB702-FnKMn9OcIiomqsuzom6hhF_uQj6s-8Oq1tld8TVxjfaFe5tEz2RizgaDvSK51pAMALc35sjSfTNvju9cJX01eyfgPHUdITYmdux-9prK1q4yEFVw/w360-h640/20210129_134005.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFzDsvej6K1tI1fBpJLvt61Ka-Py8_s_I1Hj46nd-90qhZhD51o7B9btWvvakmSiFxChLn0dDClknBb5jTENXEecQ9JxxdlZWftY0I_SWYcYSoo9Wa3U33dW1uQ6JbbKNzFIdQwn9w/s2048/20210129_135040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFzDsvej6K1tI1fBpJLvt61Ka-Py8_s_I1Hj46nd-90qhZhD51o7B9btWvvakmSiFxChLn0dDClknBb5jTENXEecQ9JxxdlZWftY0I_SWYcYSoo9Wa3U33dW1uQ6JbbKNzFIdQwn9w/w360-h640/20210129_135040.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYyyGXm3QdafUjKDsFMoVy3Yj4qqHHeYDAMlDuKEyjw6bvskYa1ihVjsrjugnee1fSHxVFGAsxVuWdgQVTBIdF4DkAddJm11aX-uCeDnNKrGbm2jXYBiPmUAxk5wb2Unm7sKottCnWA/s2048/20210129_135144.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYyyGXm3QdafUjKDsFMoVy3Yj4qqHHeYDAMlDuKEyjw6bvskYa1ihVjsrjugnee1fSHxVFGAsxVuWdgQVTBIdF4DkAddJm11aX-uCeDnNKrGbm2jXYBiPmUAxk5wb2Unm7sKottCnWA/w400-h225/20210129_135144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4gVM4rAk0svwSNW0Tlt3p7rwkPYZ8yNHjlGP-L1Ezm7Y4bzw5q7NjYhdWdFl2T60h8BIJOdSwLCY60aiASsHeSwa7Q7MaisW8SOmBpNnH9MHGkDDfpNb2mKZonox8Q7co-2e8D6SWw/s2048/20210129_135920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4gVM4rAk0svwSNW0Tlt3p7rwkPYZ8yNHjlGP-L1Ezm7Y4bzw5q7NjYhdWdFl2T60h8BIJOdSwLCY60aiASsHeSwa7Q7MaisW8SOmBpNnH9MHGkDDfpNb2mKZonox8Q7co-2e8D6SWw/w400-h225/20210129_135920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was one lone car at the car park but no one around and we began our walk in the rain along the dirt road (Coal Wharf Road) through the island. I found the whole situation very cool and couldn't help picture Jurassic Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxvsZPkeQhoQ_ByWM8AvcevBJu_WDjWjPzGheHbinbBvMxpLQ6wD8LgxIozXqmegbxqUmirMxxdbjIkyHpROw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walk seemed to take twice as long as the road twisted and bended through the island.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RTfU_eGjNBL3edkCdYc05YypM-WTayMX-2XCk5H_8be8-bzn7Jk-R92_kzZmaK75WgPQPC3ITP_bYvFA8-zvAK8R6QxwIjQKl4tndB190eU__XS7sXQupQu-yGM1JiUsCWPy_nHwdg/s2048/20210129_140517.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RTfU_eGjNBL3edkCdYc05YypM-WTayMX-2XCk5H_8be8-bzn7Jk-R92_kzZmaK75WgPQPC3ITP_bYvFA8-zvAK8R6QxwIjQKl4tndB190eU__XS7sXQupQu-yGM1JiUsCWPy_nHwdg/w400-h225/20210129_140517.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rain came in waves, light and incredibly heavy. Soon the lone car came around the corner on it's way out. Driving past a puddle splashed us to which my Dad was a bit annoyed but the car pulled up just in front of us. The man inside offered us a lift to which my Dad responding we were having a walk asking if the man had been fishing. He said yes and that he had caught some and wished us a good day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As the walk continued my Dad began to question on whether or not we should have accepted the lift as we were both walking barefoot. I thought it was pretty nice to offer two soaking wet strangers a lift.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon we reached a turn off to the carpark, walking down into it however there was no car, my Dad began to panic. Then we realised it was the wrong carpark so had to walk back out and continue following the road until we finally reached the car, using a towel to clean our feet we jumped in and had to begin our way home as my Dad had taken my step-mums car and was meant to pick her up to take her to coffee with a friend. However the walk had taken so long he was due to pick her up in 15minutes and we were still in Numbaa. She called his phone to see where we were before angrily hanging up on him as the drive to her was at least and hour away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She tested saying to just pick her up at 6pm as she was just going to work back instead. So we turned back from Nowra and Dad took us to Greenwall Point to point out a place that served the voted best Fish and Chips in NSW and told me about how when he was young and lived in Bomedarry everyone use to go to Greenwall Pub on a Sunday, as pubs used to be closed on Sundays but some stayed open but you could only visit if you were a traveler and as they lived more than 20km away that was their go to Sunday pub.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We returned to Numbaa and I got a photo with the street sign I believed was named after my ancestor and the Mayor of Numbaa (if I do more research and this is not the case I will feel a little dumb, as all other ancestors I know for a fact).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyozgCZ0htxMOk1w15CXR3pUVJdb2A_qI0ILd1Dpx0y7NgCbuEdpixUa1tKtAPuNXG_oKO9c6xZ1gkDToYBG0SndThkWlZjzp0goEfg4KPB5z-779xRDPDdTsMlZZwX7ZBgPy6YiJGQ/s2048/20210129_162911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyozgCZ0htxMOk1w15CXR3pUVJdb2A_qI0ILd1Dpx0y7NgCbuEdpixUa1tKtAPuNXG_oKO9c6xZ1gkDToYBG0SndThkWlZjzp0goEfg4KPB5z-779xRDPDdTsMlZZwX7ZBgPy6YiJGQ/w360-h640/20210129_162911.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went for a drive along Ryan's Lane to try and find a bed and breakfast that was on the road, but it was very flooded and muddy dirt road and we got about halfway before we had to turn back and we headed home after a fun day out exploring.</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Barren Grounds NSW 2577, Australia-34.6749818 150.711785-62.985215636178843 115.55553499999999 -6.3647479638211522 -174.13196500000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-32036851970678814412021-01-18T15:11:00.007+11:002021-10-25T11:54:59.730+11:00Barren Grounds - Cooks Nose and Flying Fox Pass<p>So before I begin, a little update, as I was <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/09/acute-myeloid-leukemia.html" target="_blank">diagnosed with Leukemia on the 24/8/2020</a>.<br />My blog detailing this, ended with my first round of chemo finishing.<br />I was out for 2 weeks, before having to go back in for my second round of chemo, after spending the night in hospital my neutrophils dropped, and I was released home for another week.<br />I handed my second round of chemo better than the first (I was in remission after the first round). Maintaining my weight and eating by people bringing me in anything other than hospital food.<br />I was released the morning of my <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2017/11/honeymoon-to-bali.html" target="_blank">Wedding Anniversary</a> <br />I had my third round of what they call 'consolidation' chemotherapy and was released on the 30th of November, 2020. After 3 rounds of chemo. Laying in bed for 10 whole weeks, and having not done any exercise for longer than that due to my ankle fracture while rock climbing in June 2020 I was more than out of shape, and pretty worse for wear. My bone marrow transplant is booked in for late February and I have been at home resting and recovering, doing light exercise to try and build back up my strength. <br />Before my bone marrow biopsy on the 18/1/21 I decided it was time to try a light walk, deciding there were some pretty flat and nice walks up at Barren Ground Nature Reserve (and also because I had previously done the hike with the intention to write about it, and left it too long, having being sitting in my drafts since 25/8/15.<br /><br />So on the 15/1/21 I booked it in with Dad, our first walk together since <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">his rock climbing accident</a> and we set off up Jamberoo Mountain Road to Barren Ground.</p><p><br /><b>Cooks Nose</b><br />Knowing the sort of walks at Barren Ground, and knowing how the chemo had made me very sensitive to the light and heat I sun-creamed up, packed my Akubra, and an over shirt for if the sun began to feel like too much for me. We pulled up with no idea of the path we would take, as the last time I had done Barren Grounds with my Dad we had done all of them. We decided to head up the Griffith's Loop Trail towards Cooks Nose Lookout, as I had parked right next to where this trail began.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCf1sHlb0a2De_4oIIwG-hOtRHgdTXl37FWjq2uzdwALQuOx8-ZyhxPWflKVK1I1nbpE9_Q7dpDV7drqYha6ep3xL15tHBrUYZ2xA29KXsjsN9EBP0D_uHmVs2pdrqZSNp7q2QIRTcg/s2048/20210115_102230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCf1sHlb0a2De_4oIIwG-hOtRHgdTXl37FWjq2uzdwALQuOx8-ZyhxPWflKVK1I1nbpE9_Q7dpDV7drqYha6ep3xL15tHBrUYZ2xA29KXsjsN9EBP0D_uHmVs2pdrqZSNp7q2QIRTcg/w360-h640/20210115_102230.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>We began walking up this way, while I told my Dad I was busting for the loo as I had not to long ago taken some of my cancer medication. "Midostaurin" which I told him after I take it, makes me need to frequently urinate.</p><p>We soon reached the cabin while I said I would head down a little path to the right of the cabin called 'Redbank Gully' a 1.1km return service trail to relieve myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz8yZz3uZsuiPcAOajwOe9Va-7KzwPJLu-aLPpKH22Xmnzd_hgtVZFl5iZVNi5Vc2LCsvmbT136FRuDXyqVKgeuxCO6FD0gV4rZFopUs4twVlGz-Nw8B21obJs1cTEcP_An_RbKqTdw/s2048/20210115_102410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz8yZz3uZsuiPcAOajwOe9Va-7KzwPJLu-aLPpKH22Xmnzd_hgtVZFl5iZVNi5Vc2LCsvmbT136FRuDXyqVKgeuxCO6FD0gV4rZFopUs4twVlGz-Nw8B21obJs1cTEcP_An_RbKqTdw/w360-h640/20210115_102410.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFOSxA5A3KsmwqcjzMHf817Dz5G2zvgznVMp5IkLg33lHyHnVQsR-GJb9jThdYsAz1XmjrToJC_iJagQFewCzk6DyvhhazDAq2cOEdAdPVN13DIdbXWrq7o7jr3i5GtM4oBndH66M3g/s2048/20210115_102417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFOSxA5A3KsmwqcjzMHf817Dz5G2zvgznVMp5IkLg33lHyHnVQsR-GJb9jThdYsAz1XmjrToJC_iJagQFewCzk6DyvhhazDAq2cOEdAdPVN13DIdbXWrq7o7jr3i5GtM4oBndH66M3g/w400-h225/20210115_102417.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDm9q1oObLP1RmDcudYx8sBA7qO6Da3dBv1V430XI6IM8L_OaJsX00M7tsq3jPFv1fQ1-mYW6JYFcFqraug6XFAoKtKnWjXQZNR5DJmzUirSuXYkkIqjKXVlUXGjjRZyQj0w5_aUhsQ/s2048/20210115_102606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDm9q1oObLP1RmDcudYx8sBA7qO6Da3dBv1V430XI6IM8L_OaJsX00M7tsq3jPFv1fQ1-mYW6JYFcFqraug6XFAoKtKnWjXQZNR5DJmzUirSuXYkkIqjKXVlUXGjjRZyQj0w5_aUhsQ/w360-h640/20210115_102606.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>After relieving myself and feeling the blistering heat I called my Dad to come down the Redbank Gully Trail, feeling like I would test the waters of the 1km walk to see how my body felt afterwards.<br />We began walking down and I think I appreciated more than usual the beauty of my surroundings, having been so long since I had been able to get out on a walk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhHZRrSWwp1Jz8YmAo3xHLGBWflNl1-bFktc78u_Hp9O21c_6f0VKyhyLdO5x-PdsaHS6ELFge7p2rSpYvV6yVwNHCGVViSjyLL5xbAVAymXgHvShYG84dIsTJuYwE5AnkVp24vrbnA/s2048/20210115_102814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhHZRrSWwp1Jz8YmAo3xHLGBWflNl1-bFktc78u_Hp9O21c_6f0VKyhyLdO5x-PdsaHS6ELFge7p2rSpYvV6yVwNHCGVViSjyLL5xbAVAymXgHvShYG84dIsTJuYwE5AnkVp24vrbnA/w400-h225/20210115_102814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeQ9eZg2GlVK3KhHLu5UENUOyn2AZWxf74ASzPu3TpWb27IBKbN3Rl3nHVpY8ZDgqD-YD1A-Dh4AkUXQo6IEhrxDZ5jCP5eZcZ4ToXFbxgcmGlOycjaTym6C1tpEnbIzcxXdX9p0RNw/s2048/20210115_103137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeQ9eZg2GlVK3KhHLu5UENUOyn2AZWxf74ASzPu3TpWb27IBKbN3Rl3nHVpY8ZDgqD-YD1A-Dh4AkUXQo6IEhrxDZ5jCP5eZcZ4ToXFbxgcmGlOycjaTym6C1tpEnbIzcxXdX9p0RNw/w400-h225/20210115_103137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>As we walked along I pointed out some Sundrew (a flypaper plant that stick prey to the hairs on them to consume, as I have a fascination for carnivorous plants).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlysmVN7bO0B6Ta2q-nps-iRH3SZfI9vJOan5AxXjiBWeP40vVelCikw5tn1pZDMW73ULqLDOq0gXikC01R04tproP1IPHg5V3pU2PbIR4MGeBus5Fh76OsWbtGiYzH434z4mGX1-eA/s2048/20210115_103228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlysmVN7bO0B6Ta2q-nps-iRH3SZfI9vJOan5AxXjiBWeP40vVelCikw5tn1pZDMW73ULqLDOq0gXikC01R04tproP1IPHg5V3pU2PbIR4MGeBus5Fh76OsWbtGiYzH434z4mGX1-eA/w360-h640/20210115_103228.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX2SwbkbzF07ac_mJYCvdjev36efLUFrdsu5LK0anoMwdvd1RAeXG-NEIBQ57CHdvXC6oBPjUDvYv3C0IQYqFE5C7rosFnYLi3IyzDufzX2l10wgRPAMujGEGw25C1Tib8X89w9-_rg/s2048/20210115_103335.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPX2SwbkbzF07ac_mJYCvdjev36efLUFrdsu5LK0anoMwdvd1RAeXG-NEIBQ57CHdvXC6oBPjUDvYv3C0IQYqFE5C7rosFnYLi3IyzDufzX2l10wgRPAMujGEGw25C1Tib8X89w9-_rg/w400-h225/20210115_103335.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The walked turned slightly downhill and before we knew it it had ended at a little creek. We turned around and began walking back to the cabin. I could feel the sting of the sun still and decided to take out my over-shirt I had packed in my bag just for a bit of extra protection, particularly on my neck which always seems to burn quite easily.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKM3YKDnhc9kvL_UjbgBI8WfIQHr3gxUfviecQkZoOveghkdHBGqKwi0lOfpJHjXgw0Z-ApPNeWpt2_ao6WDSZ7cJV_FxK9rIWf9pqxX_xV1tQfu0ZPwNO-hqqy28EKRhBbtWgNlSzQ/s2048/20210115_105036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKM3YKDnhc9kvL_UjbgBI8WfIQHr3gxUfviecQkZoOveghkdHBGqKwi0lOfpJHjXgw0Z-ApPNeWpt2_ao6WDSZ7cJV_FxK9rIWf9pqxX_xV1tQfu0ZPwNO-hqqy28EKRhBbtWgNlSzQ/w400-h225/20210115_105036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We returned to the cabin and continued upon Griffith's Loop Trail spotting a beautiful little Echidna crossing the path.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWca4cU598uGwjsEnsQ384p3fDW-WOf7SWQHOQqFZ86ljZ3MGikSLgPjorEIS3lfbNsomiMELsrHASPDJWblSeidcW0PFTmpLNdgMe0pAUDeGDsM6ER7R4hyyTX5eAW0G1OTpVu4tdw/s2048/20210115_105239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWca4cU598uGwjsEnsQ384p3fDW-WOf7SWQHOQqFZ86ljZ3MGikSLgPjorEIS3lfbNsomiMELsrHASPDJWblSeidcW0PFTmpLNdgMe0pAUDeGDsM6ER7R4hyyTX5eAW0G1OTpVu4tdw/w400-h225/20210115_105239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZhwoAyxZfPMe986J1l6Klga_hOJ7MGFt9YmCsRL-Qv7FfItirbIINO9UfQGxABPTIx8z5Zishk3vxUhpvKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>As we continued a long a slight breeze began, and the sun became a bit less intense and I was able to remove my over-shirt. We walked past an elderly couple taking photo's and said hi, my Dad inquiring them on whether or not they had seen the Echidna, letting him know they hadn't and we continued walking.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDkzPqhdOSwh_o0M5PuGIwsvzmClLAj_GFOFq2CiqfOkt6h6UMBTBMZO5FCYai6KFHGmnRyrDn_TvKmlGqj2Z9WZoAOh_qF6Qb0UGZUT9xjlgFOEb64l_-l-QN6ooA-gekHQroK_Pdg/s2048/20210115_105712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDkzPqhdOSwh_o0M5PuGIwsvzmClLAj_GFOFq2CiqfOkt6h6UMBTBMZO5FCYai6KFHGmnRyrDn_TvKmlGqj2Z9WZoAOh_qF6Qb0UGZUT9xjlgFOEb64l_-l-QN6ooA-gekHQroK_Pdg/w400-h225/20210115_105712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We soon reached the turn off on our left that continued the Griffith Loop track that linked around to the other trail start from the carpark that leads to a lookout at 1km, a viewing platform at Saddleback Trig, and the start of the Kangaroo Ridge walk, the longest trail at Barren Ground. All of which we have done before and I have included the photos and description of those in a story at the bottom of this post. However, we continued forward towards Cooks Nose and Flying Fox path.</p><p>As we walked and talked I couldn't help but feel lucky. After all the time in hospital I just appreciated being where I was, and I was so acutely aware of everything. Every little bird call, the changing temperature on my skin as I felt the sun as I walked through the shaded branches of the trees, every little time the wind increased and it's cool gentle blowing on my body. Just the look of every little bit of nature around me out in the sun. It was like life felt more real. There was a time, when I had first been told about my cancer diagnosis where my thoughts were just of my death. I thought that was it, I'd never be out here experiencing this, seeing the beauty of all around me. I had flashbacks to being a kid and just running around outside, swimming, just being a greater part of the world around me. You don't feel that laying in a hospital bed, staring at your phone, wondering what the future holds, thinking about your own death and the things you'll never experience. Feeling so lonely... But I was outside and I felt great, and I knew I had my upcoming stem cell treatment but I didn't want to think about it. I was just happy to be alive here and now.</p><p>Bits of the trail were still wet, and we walked past a little puddle filled with tadpoles and into a slightly more shaded area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmNotpph3kaH_Y7rdKtmkzAhk-C2IHgZbGY0FRRLUsREH7c3BE8YE3o5p6d4tzNHRqrDxoy2h2vSob944rEEmlCN26S-5S51QunJDwiEN4Aibw1iFgZdqHjBE2N2P2fIiJUld8hU51w/s2048/20210115_111329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmNotpph3kaH_Y7rdKtmkzAhk-C2IHgZbGY0FRRLUsREH7c3BE8YE3o5p6d4tzNHRqrDxoy2h2vSob944rEEmlCN26S-5S51QunJDwiEN4Aibw1iFgZdqHjBE2N2P2fIiJUld8hU51w/w360-h640/20210115_111329.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tUHdY6vXKqg1SAg2X5Fo-w0TLYkeYKTDP7nTjRBHWVDgacYarVORFTy0U6izaZG7c_fq39V_VeIL8rZAEP99qU08N-iT0xD3V2KjjON_ERGKYhyW7iy6oRqa72j0ycxiFkj6GDO-ag/s2048/20210115_111139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tUHdY6vXKqg1SAg2X5Fo-w0TLYkeYKTDP7nTjRBHWVDgacYarVORFTy0U6izaZG7c_fq39V_VeIL8rZAEP99qU08N-iT0xD3V2KjjON_ERGKYhyW7iy6oRqa72j0ycxiFkj6GDO-ag/w400-h225/20210115_111139.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11AeEME4V0xF_lsz2ynDirpBrRHNxppIGRE2Ku2TGKnCvwqIHSJBoeb12YPYfhS0MRnZp5RjdCb5Judk9SvM4SiAO40eYcAQFHZfrHc2bebF54thVxiO6vPVjxEoFTGbWD4YL8iutg/s2048/20210115_111359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc11AeEME4V0xF_lsz2ynDirpBrRHNxppIGRE2Ku2TGKnCvwqIHSJBoeb12YPYfhS0MRnZp5RjdCb5Judk9SvM4SiAO40eYcAQFHZfrHc2bebF54thVxiO6vPVjxEoFTGbWD4YL8iutg/w480-h640/20210115_111359.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>We reached the fork were the track split between Flying Fox Pass and Cooks Nose. I could remember from last time that there wasn't much to see at Flying Fox Pass (the site of a former cable-car that transported timber from the valley), just some old bits of cement. Dad recalled this too, though neither of us could really remember Cooks Nose, so we turned left towards Cooks Nose which from this turn off was a 4.4km return, while Flying Fox Pass was a 2.9km return.</p><p>The path began to have a slight incline, and I was surprised by how well I was handing the walk, giving everything. I could feel a little pull on the muscle of my previously broken ankle but I was surprised by how well it felt too.</p><p>As we reached the top of the incline the path began to drop but where we were we could see the tops of the hills of the valley above the trees.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-HjeksUj446u4kW8ZHTVQ4e52lXa3QMOjf0K-Z8lxPKRhxu4uOTeLInUd9TFF84qJK1JJEZhCoMtWvYdPQz9UMidBJ4J_1D_aceMvfTwBU-EFLzVJFLvUpQzK12l3QiykBTVCHSpvA/s2048/20210115_113049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-HjeksUj446u4kW8ZHTVQ4e52lXa3QMOjf0K-Z8lxPKRhxu4uOTeLInUd9TFF84qJK1JJEZhCoMtWvYdPQz9UMidBJ4J_1D_aceMvfTwBU-EFLzVJFLvUpQzK12l3QiykBTVCHSpvA/w400-h225/20210115_113049.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We reached another sign post pointing us through a small walkway amongst the trees but could also see an obvious, but unmarked track off to the right. Dad wanted to check down there, and I said we would on the way back and began through the trees.</p><p>We passed another sign letting us know we were arriving at Cooks Nose, and I wondered about the history of the name. Why was it called Cooks Nose? I stopped thinking about it, thinking I would look it up online later an detail why in my blog. A quick google search unveiled no answers for me. As we approached the lookout we were both hit with the recollection of the last time we were here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ642b_HftC6zoASKH1bdOrpzHBmoxL0kQReY8s7YXuFWtqeVayK0dDRYlkHM_3BpSPEAfCQKh86BYdzKA-BWIxc743q6HfDj3YCXCHcdwWH3YMYCdr4iyVd0pLNvEp6faAsir5YbZgQ/s2048/20210115_115413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ642b_HftC6zoASKH1bdOrpzHBmoxL0kQReY8s7YXuFWtqeVayK0dDRYlkHM_3BpSPEAfCQKh86BYdzKA-BWIxc743q6HfDj3YCXCHcdwWH3YMYCdr4iyVd0pLNvEp6faAsir5YbZgQ/w400-h225/20210115_115413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We sat and ate a small packet of trail mix, admiring the view. I reapplied my sunscreen and we looked around the area, my Dad fascinated with a deep hole he said he would love to explore, saying no one had probably ever been down there before, and then the dark thought of "Could you imagine falling down there?"<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3pYJApPG0TlwNuDSSgOkX7_vstLDtg7MylecSXMCkqnfSW_PrYTRmmhrasB1m6WOtBgLYJHBA0paLkmQG8Ijb7IuGvG-ru4c-A4qFpUGyFaqDdmj3OFTKLPKzou2BzaVtIChElC8BQ/s2048/20210115_120832.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3pYJApPG0TlwNuDSSgOkX7_vstLDtg7MylecSXMCkqnfSW_PrYTRmmhrasB1m6WOtBgLYJHBA0paLkmQG8Ijb7IuGvG-ru4c-A4qFpUGyFaqDdmj3OFTKLPKzou2BzaVtIChElC8BQ/w360-h640/20210115_120832.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><p>We made our way back out and took the unmarked trail through the scrub. It was a short walk and led down past some beautiful rocks in the ground just to a cliff edge overlooking a house down in the valley but with no particularly good views.</p><p>We made our way back to the Flying Fox Pass split, and asked if we should also walk down that way (feeling great being outside and walking). My Dad didn't want it to be too much for me, and suggested that be enough for the day. So we began our way back to the car.<br /></p><p>I thought I would be able to detail the entirety of the walks at Barren Ground, assuming I had ample photos of the other tracks from previous walks, however it turns out that I had overestimated my documentation of those walks, with nothing but a few poor photo's done on a very old phone. Here are just a few simple photo's on the way to Flying Fox Pass.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRhQ5XgbiwobnnA0AAVLUoV9hldLtPdxI-4kDHGr5WFnxMTAeKPhi5AT_8PFxPxQqy3aS4EwvjtH7yZoXcJS3nuzxohLX6VB8_euR0J68kFmeqzC7zCj82uwFiBf4v3K0_a2fS8tXFg/s960/10743759_10204418424556264_1078895043_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRhQ5XgbiwobnnA0AAVLUoV9hldLtPdxI-4kDHGr5WFnxMTAeKPhi5AT_8PFxPxQqy3aS4EwvjtH7yZoXcJS3nuzxohLX6VB8_euR0J68kFmeqzC7zCj82uwFiBf4v3K0_a2fS8tXFg/w400-h300/10743759_10204418424556264_1078895043_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfNCV4YxzW0Aim0uRmuc8XvPMS3s2PaLZc4FjjFpkZOMua3ub9Nwwi6mq0dQbjL4bsLhLUSBS06AOayEFladCW2ONpSoblu4wDTZOg80kYZ6oVXCvwgeLRzHJ15OdzWG2FkJ2Bdi4mg/s960/10733582_10204418424716268_1288825544_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfNCV4YxzW0Aim0uRmuc8XvPMS3s2PaLZc4FjjFpkZOMua3ub9Nwwi6mq0dQbjL4bsLhLUSBS06AOayEFladCW2ONpSoblu4wDTZOg80kYZ6oVXCvwgeLRzHJ15OdzWG2FkJ2Bdi4mg/w480-h640/10733582_10204418424716268_1288825544_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU172XGROUlLhMqzUq7LhHhv1mCkDhRFbh22ZY8HB8phkoVg6V3QNlApZzVtcqvimDDQ_D_cnahTIVUkiOEB42Bw62FqjiOPv4xseGxovUw3QmF0CuEFdWPUgL19Dh7D3BFr6PEZ28Eg/s960/10721271_10204418424436261_975885233_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU172XGROUlLhMqzUq7LhHhv1mCkDhRFbh22ZY8HB8phkoVg6V3QNlApZzVtcqvimDDQ_D_cnahTIVUkiOEB42Bw62FqjiOPv4xseGxovUw3QmF0CuEFdWPUgL19Dh7D3BFr6PEZ28Eg/w480-h640/10721271_10204418424436261_975885233_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Which is a little disappointing and left me feeling like I should have pushed to also go down Flying Fox Pass again. Although we only ended up doing just shy of 8km my body definitely felt the strain of it over the next few days. So instead of cramming the rest of the Barren Ground walks into one blog this left me making it as the one walk. </p><p>We arrived back at the car and I felt mentally great. The walk had done wonders for my mental health, and now before my stem cell transplant in February I am determined to go and do the rest of the tracks once more to properly detail them in another blog.</p><p>I had a bone marrow biopsy today (as I write the latter half of these blog post) on the 18/1/21 to make sure I am still in remission and all good to go forward with my stay in a hospital in Sydney for the stem cells. So I am determined to get out there and do more hiking before my 4 week stay in hospital and potentially even longer recovery time, so please check back in!<br /><br />I will bookend with a few photo's taken in 2014 (a very long time ago) in which I documented some maps and details of the Barren Ground, Cooks Nose and Flying Fox Pass walk information signage available at the carpark.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fUCyCVc0S8irLLL9gBX8x3X6whmtPFnCNj5I9SM5ZWng3BRT0j-ZxhxAcTFRyeTYbGxR8UdbnXjhTKDjiAOwwNduGwMRdduR5TNDwa079WuZgxXFOB-UZxLjA0Zr4GSHS45fDMSX5w/s960/10733674_10204418425356284_524749904_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fUCyCVc0S8irLLL9gBX8x3X6whmtPFnCNj5I9SM5ZWng3BRT0j-ZxhxAcTFRyeTYbGxR8UdbnXjhTKDjiAOwwNduGwMRdduR5TNDwa079WuZgxXFOB-UZxLjA0Zr4GSHS45fDMSX5w/w480-h640/10733674_10204418425356284_524749904_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You Are Here taken from Barren Ground Carpark -2014</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkzeYSrMukxitVwehq-18rvHrxiM7-qNpuvAa8jhYB0IMp9ayDHnteB7Vu_OO_8fAKefSDqVifCsbynoTUzvRePA44Rgf7cOLWqFHzgTJsucMEfojM_YTW54OFc7ayH0GJpsbMWpyw/s960/10743437_10204418425196280_1862761962_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkzeYSrMukxitVwehq-18rvHrxiM7-qNpuvAa8jhYB0IMp9ayDHnteB7Vu_OO_8fAKefSDqVifCsbynoTUzvRePA44Rgf7cOLWqFHzgTJsucMEfojM_YTW54OFc7ayH0GJpsbMWpyw/w400-h300/10743437_10204418425196280_1862761962_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ccvOwKI-KRBhPqdfaN-DubZrL5m9hSCPcxFG8TskRX9166L5p-MRNNx-GMnBSJKAs39KduNPAZP1tcKlME9QdvJvRSx_FMwBsmEUkY4fHWxkCSqP64_pIQ0FIFKl5CeCxYk-qC15Q/s960/10723161_10204418425596290_57884026_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_ccvOwKI-KRBhPqdfaN-DubZrL5m9hSCPcxFG8TskRX9166L5p-MRNNx-GMnBSJKAs39KduNPAZP1tcKlME9QdvJvRSx_FMwBsmEUkY4fHWxkCSqP64_pIQ0FIFKl5CeCxYk-qC15Q/w400-h300/10723161_10204418425596290_57884026_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0cZ2sVDcGiLjhmgacsaZNqcVt5bLCOswLalZGMtq8eSQcBzW0a5M-clL9NyIsUpvVIg1D9ahkTOx3SWSepJ0VJz3ExbEY8UwasWNBRBd3MLW1X0HBK4zWHeCCN-NdQbodGN-vBjtWw/s1920/139042416_521765078757387_7588484718410103240_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0cZ2sVDcGiLjhmgacsaZNqcVt5bLCOswLalZGMtq8eSQcBzW0a5M-clL9NyIsUpvVIg1D9ahkTOx3SWSepJ0VJz3ExbEY8UwasWNBRBd3MLW1X0HBK4zWHeCCN-NdQbodGN-vBjtWw/w360-h640/139042416_521765078757387_7588484718410103240_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad and I on the walk</td></tr></tbody></table>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com1Barren Grounds NSW 2577, Australia-34.6749818 150.711785-62.985215636178843 115.55553499999999 -6.3647479638211522 -174.13196500000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-261694796921414172.post-67704412186564702352020-09-23T12:20:00.004+10:002021-10-25T11:55:24.605+11:00Acute Myeloid Leukemia<p> So back on the 21st of June 2020 I suffered an <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2020/07/berrima-river-walk-and-stone-quarry-walk.html" target="_blank">avulsion fracture on my ankle while at a Bouldering Gym</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGEmZG_-KyqdqN3dhe1eaLBRgYdsEz_cL_2wvVVFrcafRM-iBEPpAQM9AF0H5KahhLFViH1ruydSlaXDcyNzj_c9A0icVZ4Hu0dLDLYgRkrHiCIRSAmDLm8IxOhnfkxxlRedvZFjpQQ/s480/dynomite+ambo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="352" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGEmZG_-KyqdqN3dhe1eaLBRgYdsEz_cL_2wvVVFrcafRM-iBEPpAQM9AF0H5KahhLFViH1ruydSlaXDcyNzj_c9A0icVZ4Hu0dLDLYgRkrHiCIRSAmDLm8IxOhnfkxxlRedvZFjpQQ/w470-h640/dynomite+ambo.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><p>I spent a bit off time off from work, before eventually going in three times a week on half days while my Wife was working from home during Covid. Eventually when I was able to drive, though still on crutches I returned to work 5 days a week for half days. My injury seemed to be taking ages to heal and the bruise under my foot took ages to go away. After many weeks when it disappeared I was finally able to put some pressure down and in a short amount of time I was walking (with a bit of a limp). I eventually got medical clearance and was finally able to return to work full time, glad to be up and walking around stretching my ankle muscle and looking forward to getting back in to hiking. </p><p>I had noticed some small bruises on my arms but put it down to where the crutches had constantly been rubbing on my arms. I had called my Dad and was wanting to organise hiking at Barren Ground as my first hike since my injury, and first hike with him since his <a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/04/incident-on-windang-island.html" target="_blank">rock climbing accident</a>. I thought it was a good walk for the two of us as it was a long and mostly flat walk. I had also really wanted to finally blog about it, as I had actually done the hike a few times and at one point photographed the whole thing in preparation for a blog post. However time got away from me and I forgot the walk or anything to write about sitting with a folder of photos and a draft blog from 25th August 2015, which if I had wrote it would have made it my blogs fourth ever blog post.</p><p>However random bruises kept appearing on my body, and I began to get concerned (although I only thought it was a Vitamin D deficiency from being stuck inside due to my ankle). I booked a Doctors appointment for the next Monday as my Wife was concerned about a freckle on my back and locked in hiking with my Dad for the weekend.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7TFxoBwz4n-IFPfeEf6BlSBU4n2q6R07LF-XlyaNX1VK72Ohy7im7kP_wXcHNHrUCSVDewKygWXicEoTeEf0w6YGcgf3YackGwtut1X9tndhyphenhyphenO9WwQNs-l21p-QjzjkwLeIiLQQdQg/s2048/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7TFxoBwz4n-IFPfeEf6BlSBU4n2q6R07LF-XlyaNX1VK72Ohy7im7kP_wXcHNHrUCSVDewKygWXicEoTeEf0w6YGcgf3YackGwtut1X9tndhyphenhyphenO9WwQNs-l21p-QjzjkwLeIiLQQdQg/w358-h640/1.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuHTHn33LeJ7kU7Vrk-LJ4WM3L5NyTjUKIZu1E3syNrm_uN209aZsBRtc-fQLQsSzI6qBaBsE1eHQxYNF32w0h6_nGHAQyGIlxC5hrFUf8m3DiYZIMZGLDJDxuckIxTsIP0h0Fyt6sA/s2048/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1146" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuHTHn33LeJ7kU7Vrk-LJ4WM3L5NyTjUKIZu1E3syNrm_uN209aZsBRtc-fQLQsSzI6qBaBsE1eHQxYNF32w0h6_nGHAQyGIlxC5hrFUf8m3DiYZIMZGLDJDxuckIxTsIP0h0Fyt6sA/w358-h640/2.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTezzHMWP_tAvEhCP8bBnUUFlNQtG_wlZDTrKTDcHaihd3v7O8y96RaVEkuThJJdmGScSivIrtjouztfJzuGFQsdo-lnZPg5ToyLRmeRCQSClVIBp5AOXrkRgIr50wLv3DuiFkK0hWQ/s2048/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="2048" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTezzHMWP_tAvEhCP8bBnUUFlNQtG_wlZDTrKTDcHaihd3v7O8y96RaVEkuThJJdmGScSivIrtjouztfJzuGFQsdo-lnZPg5ToyLRmeRCQSClVIBp5AOXrkRgIr50wLv3DuiFkK0hWQ/w400-h224/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dnuZ58nzFMkrzYZ5BGrI_LlmH0OI_2kt7L5QC5cuf0Ozkorh2xHZPWZdeBoGtSl2L8KIP8sYkkIuVd3z9-qE0hVibQy-f9APjEfsRVXWiPnsOtf09KLmQtKRU7gieoXX_WV-TRw3xg/s2048/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dnuZ58nzFMkrzYZ5BGrI_LlmH0OI_2kt7L5QC5cuf0Ozkorh2xHZPWZdeBoGtSl2L8KIP8sYkkIuVd3z9-qE0hVibQy-f9APjEfsRVXWiPnsOtf09KLmQtKRU7gieoXX_WV-TRw3xg/w480-h640/4.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Before the weekend came my Dad called to inform me my Nan was in hospital with pneumonia, which she has been in hospital for 4 times the previous year. He was going to travel up to Woy Woy to visit her and I asked if he wanted me to come. He told me not to worry because of Covid restrictions. My Nan ended up recovering.</p><p>I enjoyed a nice weekend with my Wife and Dog before returning to work Monday the 24th August, where I went to the Doctors on my lunch break. My back freckle was fine but I was sent for a blood test about the bruises.</p><p>I continued my day at work when around 4pm nearing the end of my work day my Doctor called saying my results where concerning and to go to a hospital straight away, this threw me completely and I barely remember the call, going numb and fuzzy. As I went to my desk to try to collect my bag I tried to tell my team members I had to go to hospital, breaking down as I said it. My work colleague ran after me as I left telling me I couldn't drive in my condition as he drove me to Shellharbour Hospital. </p><p>I called my Wife who was very upset and her and her parents came, as they needed to collect my car. They did a bunch of tests and eventually the Doctor told me it was Leukemia. I broke down crying, saying I was going to die and even if I beat it, it would come back and kill me.</p><p>Eventually they transported me to Wollongong Hospital, while I sat stunned and dazed feeling pretty defeated. I was taken into a room where I guess more tests where done as it got very late into the night and my Wife eventually had to leave. I was left on this long chair over night with all the loud sounds from the emergency department and all the lights. I eventually passed out from exhaustion.</p><p>The next morning they had a bed for me in the emergency department where they did tests on me and fed me a sandwich. My Wife eventually arrived and was able to be with me. I was taken into a small children's room to get some bone marrow taken and given the green whistle. The nurses and doctors were all friendly but as soon as the needle was put into me I sucked hard on that whistle, which tasted like paint smells. Eventually that ordeal was over and I was moved into the hematology department into a bed and a room to myself (after many tests including heart scans and X-Rays). I was introduced to the Doctor and his team who explained it was Acute Myeloid Leukemia and explained about chemo therapy. It was organised for me to go to Concord Hospital in Sydney, to store semen for the future as chemo has the possibility to make you sterile. They wanted me to go three times, however I only went twice and it was enough to get the amount they needed. I began my chemo the next week. One called 7/3 or 3/7 or something. One was attached 24/7 for 7 days while the other took about 15 minutes and was bright pink and changed the colour of my urine and making me, cytotoxic. I managed to make it through the chemo, though it gave me some bad nausea and I began to struggle with the hospital food to the point where I was barely eating.</p><p>My friend and often hiking buddy <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_3stan/" target="_blank">Tristan</a> straight away offered to donate his bone marrow. I told him they will only test close family and he went and signed up at a registry anyway. He also started a go fund me page for me, which I insisted I didn't need (not wanting to take peoples money). He didn't care he said it was for peace of mind seeing as I would be off work and just to ease that mental stress about bills. I told him no one would donate anyway, but he promoted and even shaved his head and vowed to quit smoking if it reached it's target (which it eventually did).</p><p>I also got back in contact with my<a href="http://steventure.blogspot.com/2019/06/euro-trip.html" target="_blank"> estranged Mother</a>, telling my Wife life was too short to stay bitter about the past.</p><p>I tried a video call early on to see my Dog, but it just broke me and I began crying.</p><p>A facebook memory came up of me visiting my Aunt Corinne in hospital 3 years ago to the day as she was in for Leukemia too. This made me very sad as my Aunt had died of sepsis.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTJrmC8Y0qe5CgLS3NE62n1zOfucZM8vPoTR-YYAcFiLc_QpDkjphooZ1IT-VLeO_WdY1QzBulzY1vMd-yfJb9jGHujA6psHifwxy7ZJ5o7wSCZGQVjn4NdkDzm2PGIxwDE6MbqcZFw/s960/5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTJrmC8Y0qe5CgLS3NE62n1zOfucZM8vPoTR-YYAcFiLc_QpDkjphooZ1IT-VLeO_WdY1QzBulzY1vMd-yfJb9jGHujA6psHifwxy7ZJ5o7wSCZGQVjn4NdkDzm2PGIxwDE6MbqcZFw/w480-h640/5.jpg" title="Fuck Cancer" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8th September 2017</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The dietitian eventually saw me and changed my menu to the 'kids menu' and I began eating pies, sausage rolls and chicken nuggets with supplement drinks called 'ensures'. I was weighed and I had lost 7kg. After the chemo finished I felt a little better but began on some new medication to inhibit the cancer cell growth called 'Midostauren'. Which was fine at first, but the more I took it the more it progressively made me sick, to the point the smell of the pills made me want to throw up. However I finished my treatment of those managing to keep them all down. Soon my hairs began to fall out, starting with my pubes and then my beard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKUEfKQQdEMUIizlsKNP7Vcn26vXInnq4Sx4pjwHGNLdSiQQAKvT4GT6Ha4GqOW6qVkGcRwCC87kMfbDMUgd8utabWHQGPuD_fBDEfXVLauI7Fzy5kMZ6dccBApfR68yrPSU31TQSqg/s2048/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKUEfKQQdEMUIizlsKNP7Vcn26vXInnq4Sx4pjwHGNLdSiQQAKvT4GT6Ha4GqOW6qVkGcRwCC87kMfbDMUgd8utabWHQGPuD_fBDEfXVLauI7Fzy5kMZ6dccBApfR68yrPSU31TQSqg/w480-h640/6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN03xr1K_ZnnBk7mTmqNLwa-d0SkYSRXWtGA_UylehkGZXyBA-F5r_LTILMRPFylQO2fh-DE4gzj8SOuL-lW9l9recUwWKY4Bl4m9e4-OJmwsSaaHaFkSjJiflmIY5ukYK1xlv8LbDkA/s2048/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN03xr1K_ZnnBk7mTmqNLwa-d0SkYSRXWtGA_UylehkGZXyBA-F5r_LTILMRPFylQO2fh-DE4gzj8SOuL-lW9l9recUwWKY4Bl4m9e4-OJmwsSaaHaFkSjJiflmIY5ukYK1xlv8LbDkA/w480-h640/7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeWBUVlngcKy-BKeMGcOEVgCKcH_0cY2ExZVUwn0CX2KbuS6qYhDe8Pe1AYb1ZOWIY2BKrrqqYTnHWAwlQt5pEWLfZpA4mLoR57VCXwaJctxaxFeJVv0xI0N3gHRUJ_sLPSHT5Jxplw/s2048/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeWBUVlngcKy-BKeMGcOEVgCKcH_0cY2ExZVUwn0CX2KbuS6qYhDe8Pe1AYb1ZOWIY2BKrrqqYTnHWAwlQt5pEWLfZpA4mLoR57VCXwaJctxaxFeJVv0xI0N3gHRUJ_sLPSHT5Jxplw/w480-h640/8.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Soon my hair began to fall out as the Doctors talked about letting me go home for a bit before my bone marrow biopsy (to see how chemo went).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_0y6G9sCBd7RumEF8xiAZZsDLN9QTD8cCL5Rbk7pR7lXvzMZeSGlRkn3tEw3sCkWaZRrehidt-wYN4bASIGMtSp4EOpRea_m4ahTf_1_J9172i0oiIVeh2yHAIZjeW_6BqaIpaX-yQ/s2048/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_0y6G9sCBd7RumEF8xiAZZsDLN9QTD8cCL5Rbk7pR7lXvzMZeSGlRkn3tEw3sCkWaZRrehidt-wYN4bASIGMtSp4EOpRea_m4ahTf_1_J9172i0oiIVeh2yHAIZjeW_6BqaIpaX-yQ/w480-h640/9.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>I began to struggle severely eating the hospital food as well as my mental health, being in a single room for a month and really wanted to be home with my Wife and Dog. Eventually I was released. For 10 days. Currently on my third day home as I write this, with much more in store for me and an uncertain future. Only wanting to beat this thing and enjoy my life with my excellent family and friends and enjoy the beautiful adventures life offers.</p><p>By the time I got home I was so excited to see my Dog, however after a month she didn't seem to recognise me and I had a breakdown, crying, my most extreme one yet. Being home I could just think about how much I had to lose and how badly I wanted to beat this thing. It was my lowest point yet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5LpEBRbhdpM99xEjVf7JsYmobXUDEidzs1Hoy-DnFnUX7R4AftHbbVU6CYyTeBmmnB5LgPoIMwM5emgKkCGuPF7fGvJDT_kJeUCc-xe_GayYa61hemSXZF7GlSLfMlgEDXutAINGTw/s1920/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5LpEBRbhdpM99xEjVf7JsYmobXUDEidzs1Hoy-DnFnUX7R4AftHbbVU6CYyTeBmmnB5LgPoIMwM5emgKkCGuPF7fGvJDT_kJeUCc-xe_GayYa61hemSXZF7GlSLfMlgEDXutAINGTw/w360-h640/10.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p>Eventually I calmed down and tried to focus on just enjoying being home with the family, and finally shaved my head.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmypXra9kDJJPqbbN6Wnr2d8UoaQmfkvORdxz64g9za4-7i7RxsA33GuOxGyGBbvJO9cDxqmaJapAHxsb86ozeEA3_imVH06B9eweE73E9tLfuzp0Ix8vpIJYlqI4DpkYQBZoeIuBdew/s2048/11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmypXra9kDJJPqbbN6Wnr2d8UoaQmfkvORdxz64g9za4-7i7RxsA33GuOxGyGBbvJO9cDxqmaJapAHxsb86ozeEA3_imVH06B9eweE73E9tLfuzp0Ix8vpIJYlqI4DpkYQBZoeIuBdew/w480-h640/11.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need to defeat Superman</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I have to go back in today for a blood test (to see if I need any blood transfusion or platelets), Friday for the same (plus my PICC Line bandage change), Monday for the Bone Marrow Biopsy and then backin hospital Wednesday for more treatment. There's a lot ahead and I'll keep everyone informed and we can just hope I can beat this and be back out on the trails having a Steventure. But for now I'll enjoy the quiet time with my lovely Wife, cute Dog and just watching the new Jurassic Park cartoon on Netflix.<br /><br /><br /></p><div>If you have enjoyed this post, or my blog in general, please follow it, or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steventure-515821145623275/" target="_blank">like my page on facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vensohowlie/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>. </div><div>Thanks for reading! - Steven</div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215765271915660953noreply@blogger.com20Loftus St, Wollongong NSW 2500, Australia-34.4246464 150.8828118-62.734880236178846 115.72656180000001 -6.1144125638211548 -173.9609382