Madden's Falls

 My recovery from my Stem Cell Transplant 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.

While doing Ancestry research in my time of from work I had learned my 5th Great-Grandfather was John Madden (story of his arrival to Australia linked). 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.

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).

The week leading up to it I got stir crazy and rushed to do Bong Bong Pass 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.
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.

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.

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.

"Do you need me to put a mask on bro?" He asked, aware that I was still immunocompromised.
"Nah, we're both double vaxxed it should be ok." I replied.
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).

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).

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 cancer diagnosis and he assured me there was a non alcoholic cider. 

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.

The walk begins

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.

"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).

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.

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.

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.

Looking left

Looking right

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. 

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.

We made our way through the scrub along what looked like a trail (whether man made or from animals).

Before coming out at an open section of the stream again.

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). 
"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.

We were approaching the waterfall and towards the end made out way back inwards to an open area.

Tristan walking 

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.

Though Tristan could in his more waterproof boots, I just slipped my shoes off and carried them across.

The water felt lovely

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.

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."
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.

The view of the waterfall from this spot was spectacular. As it was flowing brilliantly after the rain (compared to our visit to Belmore Falls in a drought and during insanely hot and dry weather).

"This is a great spot for a date, right?" Tristan asked, not referring to us, but the girl who had suggested his mental ineptness.

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.

 

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.
Tristan did a walk around it, shocked that I got up before finding where I had climbed and he came up too.

"I have a rule," I said "Don't climb up anything you can't climb down." 

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 another blog I wrote.

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.

I took my shoes off once more, and again crossed over, as new people had arrived all staring at us from the other side.

We again avoided the people, jumping over the railing, to the now empty viewing platform to actually look at the waterfall from there.

"I want a selfie dude"- Tristan

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.

"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.

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.

"Oh that's where I left my motorbike." Tristan joked.
"It doesn't even look like a bike." I said, refusing his attempt at humour.

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.

"I wonder what it was for?" I asked as it was so old now it didn't look in usage.
"Probably to pump sewage." Tristan again jested.

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.

We continued back and Tristan's joke about sewerage had reminded of the walk to Forty Foot Falls. 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.

"You just blame everything for your cancer don't you?"
"Yes."

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).

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.

"It's closed!"
"What really?!"
"Yeah, opens again on Monday."

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 Kelly's Falls.

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Thanks for reading! - Steven

Bong Bong Common

So I had been looking round for a hike to do that was dog friendly, which seems to be incredibly hard where I leave, with the only real walking being the Kiama Coast Track (which I have already done a couple of times with my Dog). I decided to look into the Southern Highlands for a walk and stumbled upon one called 'Bong Bong Track' which looked a bit more like a bush walk than a generic footpath. I showed my Wife who was excited to be able to take our gorgeous Doggy on a more off road walk.

We drove up Macquarie Pass, my Wife sitting in the back with our little girl hoping she wouldn't get car sick (that last time she had been for such a long drive was when we brought her home from the RSPCA in Sydney (and she threw up all through the car). It was a bit awkward because no where could list a starting location of the walk (which was meant to go from Moss Vale to Bowral) so I just Google Mapped to where the trails seemed to end and said we would look for a starting location and somewhere to park as we arrived.

As we arrived in Moss Vale, we drove down Suttor Road, where the bike track started (the walk was meant to be a mixture off off road and bike track). There was no signage, so I pulled up along the bike track asking if we should just start. My Wife turned on her Google Maps, and asked what Bong Bong Common was. I quickly loaded up mine and seeing that it was a sort of park I decided to start from there, as it was just a short way up the road. I turned onto Argyle Street and quickly turned off down into what seemed to be the car park, with many people going for a walk or bike ride.

We headed down the path and Orla was beyond excited to go for a walk somewhere new.

At the end of this short path the bike track looped right, while there was a dirt trail heading left along the Wingecaribee River, which we believed was the 'Bong Bong Track' we had come to walk.

It was a nice path along the river and we were all excited to continue along, stopping to read little information signs along the way while Orla happily sniffed and explored.

We noticed holes in the ground and my Wife commented it was a Wombat hole. I suggested it could be a Rabbit Warren to which she replied that the holes were smaller. I pointed to one not far down from the one she had been looking at which was a much tighter squeeze. She agreed it could be as we noticed a bunch of digging spots around agreeing that it was probably Rabbits.

We continued on and soon came to a fence in our path, blocking us off and telling us no Dogs were allowed further along the path. We were both pretty upset, because we had questioned whether Dogs would be allowed as maps did mention it was national parks, but the site online had told us it was Dog friendly showing us cool photos of the walk along. I gazed longingly down the dirt track before we turned around to head along the concrete cycle track of Bong Bong Common.

My Wife was pretty disappointed, we had just wanted a bushwalk we could take our Dog through and she once again expressed desire to move to England where there was much more Dog acceptance, not only in nature, but in bars and pubs too.

We agreed to just enjoy the walk, happy to at least be somewhere new and be out of the house and local area.

It wasn't a bad location, with my Wife commenting it sort of reminded her of Macqaurie Rivulet "before it became dodgy" she said.

I heard a zipping noise overhead and looked to see a remote control airplane zipping around. A few metres up we came across a sign informing us the area was used for people to fly these.

We continued along the path with the river to our left and my Wife groaned every time I stopped to take a photo of a sign, asking why I needed to do that. I told her that they contained information and history on the locations you visited and that every spot and path had a history to it.

Orla didn't mind that it wasn't a bush walk and happily walked along the path with blissful enjoyment.

As we rounded the corner with no one coming along the path we stopped for a quick family photo.

Although it wasn't the bush walk we were hoping for we found ourselves enjoying the beautiful spot none-the-less with the gorgeous winding river to our left and great expanses of farm-land to our right.

Orla stopped to 'go toilet' and we both commented about how we were both busting for a wee and that hopefully there would be a toilet somewhere along the cycle track as down our way there usually is.

We passed many people walking dogs and Orla often wanted to play. "She needs a friend." My Wife often tells me, an excuse to try and get a second Dog.
At one point we crossed a group of three older men walking a Labrador and it pulled across the path and the two began sniffing each other all around getting the leads tangled. We soon untangled them and continued with Orla all happy with her bit of Dog on Dog interaction (which she hasn't been able to have due to some sort of Dog disease in the Illawarra so she hasn't been getting as many walks lately for her safety, plus Corona Virus and all that!)

There were markers at various points on the track letting us know how many kilometres we had walked but also one on the opposite side so we knew how much further we had to walk.

The path winded right and then left and we began walking behind huge beautiful houses, the sort that made you wish you were less poor.

We could see a group of 4 women walking towards us in the distance. Three middle aged, and one young lady walking her Dog on the far side away from us. The three middle aged women were spread across the path, as we continued towards them I told my Wife "I bet you they don't move off the path for us". She agreed that they wouldn't stating they're probably "Posh rich and entitled people".
As they got closer they still hadn't gone in front or behind each other, taking up the whole path and ignoring the 'share the path rule'. My Wife and I on our side of the path walked right towards them, determined not to move for rude inconsiderate people. As they reached us the ladies were ready to barge right into us, however the young ladies Dog began barking and lunged across right towards Orla. The older lady directly in front of me did and over the top shock reaction at me, placing her hand over her chest in shock, before slightly stepping aside and continuing her conversation with them as if nothing had happened. I was pissed, because if I were a less polite person I would have told them off about sharing the path, but my Wife just complained about people who get big dogs they can barely control, particularly if they are aggressive towards other dogs. However she was happy with Orla's reaction to jump away rather to be aggressive back.

Soon the path split and there was a path going right up between houses that we believed just led up to a street. We stayed straight, continuing the winding track along the river. The sun was out now and we were beginning to get quite warm in our jumpers as our need to pee only continued to get worse.

The path became surrounded by trees on either side offering a bit of shade, that we were very happy for. Many friendly walkers or cyclist passed saying hello and good-day to us. The ones that spoke I said hello back to, while to other we simply nodded at each other, and with others we simply walked past, happy to mind our own business.

We were approaching the end of the walk which was 4.5kms and by this point our need to pee was becoming a 'wee bit painful'. See what I did there? Ignore me.

We reached the end of the river walk, although the bike track continued up hill to our right. There was no toilet in sight and my Wife asked me to google map if any were nearby. The closest I could find was at Burradoo Park, that required walking through the streets to get to. I asked if she wanted to walk there or just head back.

My Wife decided to walk to Burradoo Park as it was closer than walking the entire way back to the car to then have to drive around to find a toilet anyway.

We continued along the bike path up railway road with the rail tracks to our left eventually passing Oxley College on our right.

We turned right up Sullivan Road, again admiring all the stunning houses around us.

My Wife had also used Google Maps and wanted to turn down Holly Road. I was also looking but suggested to continue on and turn down Osborne Road instead as it would take us out right across from Burradoo Park. By now we were both hurting pretty bad, and I had told my Wife I would hold it for her (as a Man I have the benefit of being able to pretty much go anywhere which didn't seem fair to my Wife).

As we reached in my Google Maps showed us moving the right way towards the park. However we soon realised we had reached a dead end, and the GPS had been playing up and we had went the wrong way down Osborne Road, turning around and heading back an extra kilometre to head down the other end of Osborne Road.

By this point my Wife, waking Orla, stormed off ahead of me, and I was left to walk (at a slow pace due to being absolutely busting) on my own all the way to Burradoo Park. While I walked on my own with my Wife abandoning me as she marched ahead bitter resentment festered in my head. I was only not peeing for her and I thought it was mighty rude for her to storm off without me. I had thoughts of telling her off, saying that I would never go on a walk with her again due to her rudeness. As I reached the busy Moss Vale Road and finally managed to cross and finally relieve myself a lot of that anger and tension faded, and as I went to sit at the park bench with my Wife and Dog she quickly apologised, saying that she just couldn't hold it and needed to go. I felt bad for my thoughts and apologised for being so slow saying I couldn't walk any faster while busting. We sat on the bench under some beautiful trees having our first drink and a sandwich and some hummus while giving Orla a big drink and a whole carrot as a treat.

Orla got a little stir crazy so I took her for a jog throughout the trees and I quickly ran out of steam long before she did.

We began our walk back, feeling much better than on our way there. Orla kept pulling and my Wife told her to 'go toilet' she quickly did a poo and my Wife picked it up in one of our biodegradable and compostable doggy poo bags. I questioned why dog poo wasn't fogo-able and my Wife mentioned about Dog disease, saying at least in this bag in a red bin it would all break down organically anyway.

We reached the Bong Bong Commons again and through our bag in the bin and began the walk back as I noticed some cool mushrooms.

On our way back our hips, feet and arms and backs began getting sore, and I felt very tired. Strangely so as I often do long and more arduous walks than this. We were happy when we within distance of our car, Orla seemed very exhausted and two young children commented saying they thought she was cute. I noticed a historical memorial I hadn't noticed in the car park and we had a quick look.

The trees were missing but the stump on one still remained. We set off home, working out overall we had done 13kms. A pretty solid walk for us, and for Orla. While not the sort of off road, bush walk adventure we thought we were going to do we ended up enjoying our family walk at Bong Bong Common none-the-less.


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Thanks for reading! - Steven