Colo River

Mermaid Falls with Russell

Hike through Shoalhaven Gorge

I spent a lovely weekend spent with South Coast Campers, hiking along the Shoalhaven Gorge.  I love hiking along rivers where you can swim anytime and this was an absolute beauty.


Highlights of the weekend included ...

• Lovely people as always on South Coast camping trips including the wonderful regulars; Kim, Chris, JC, Anne Marie.
• My first delicious swim in the river after our hot descent into the gorge from Longpoint Look Out.
• The amazing place where we had our first group swim - a huge expanse of water, so deep we couldn't touch the bottom.  The only drawback of this perfect spot was the boiling hot sand that scalded our feet!
• Doing several exciting river crossings. On the first day, many of us did it bare foot (ouch, the rocks hurt!) but on the second day, we wizened up and kept our boots on (much better!!)
• Our great camp site in the trees on soft grass by the river.
• Launching ourselves down a little stretch of rapid on Jimmy's lilo; a lot of fun!
• The relief of sitting my burning posterior in the river after sitting on the top of an ant nest and being bitten to smitherines!
• Great French movie recommendations from Rahima.
• A great night's sleep - I don't usually sleep so soundly in my coffin of a tent!
• Very wisely getting up early (6 am) to get an early start on Sunday morning to try to avoid the coming heat (35 degrees by noon!)
• The beautiful reflections in the river as we hiked.
• A last dunk in the river to cool ourselves down for the mega climb ahead.
• The elation at the end of the steep and exhausting 90 minute climb out of the gorge in the sweltering heat. 
• The stupendous view from Badgery Lookout, looking down on the big climb we'd done.
• A delicious (and very good value) meal at the pub in Marulan and feeling so dehydrated that I forsook delicious cider for copious glasses of orange juice.
• Laid back Ben, who looked like Ryan Gosling's younger brother.  Sorry, Jo, he's taken!
• Some great philosophical discussions with Howard.

All in all, another fantastic weekend.

The hike into the valley from Lonpoint Look Out

Arriving at the Shoalhaven River.  I was the first in!

Enjoying the river, eating our lunch.

The Spring flowers, still out in abundance

Our first group swim at a perfect swimming spot.

 

Hiking on to our camping spot.

Our first two river crossings, sore on the feet!!

What a great spot to camp!  Just don't sit on the ant nest!

Local wildlife. The blue dragon flies were exquisite, but I didn't manage to get a great photo of it unfortunately.

The section of river where we camped was fast flowing ..

... perfect for some fun in the rapids

Beautiful reflections in the river.

Crossing the river on the second day, wearing my boots this time.  

Kim wearing her yellow socks, Rahima crossing the river

The hot, steep climb out of the gorge.

The beautiful view from the top (Badgery Lookout)

Rahima, me, Sara

Mermaids Pools and Tahmoor Gorge revisited

I did this hike in June and so loved it, I thought I must invite some friends along and do it again.  Gavin, Liz, Srini and Zante came along and we had a wonderful day in the sunshine. The highlight was an extremely brisk swim in one of the rock pools, warmed up after by some of Gavin's delicious tea which he'd brought in a flask.  A fantastic day with a beautiful group of people.

Potholes

The beautiful Mermaid Pools

At the top of Tahmoor Gorge

Walking through Tahmoor Gorge

A very brisk but invigorating swim