Mount Jellore

We had a fun 10 km hike to the top of Mount Jellore. It wasn't particularly high (495 metres) but the climb felt epic in the heat.

Highlights included:

• The hiking gang together again.
• Introducing Gavin to his first ever Meet Up group.
• Not having to drive (so relaxing!)
• Losing our way on the way to Mount Jellore, and the relief of finding it when we thought we might need to turn back.
• Spring flowers still out in numbers.
• Some lovely views from the top of Mount Jellore.
• Some great leaps at the top too.
• Lovely people as there always are at South Coast Campers events.
• Some steep hills that required ropes to help us keep our footing.
• A lovely cup of Malaysian tea at the end (thanks Gavin!)
• The deliciousness of a cool drink and an ice cream at the service station on the way home.

 

Enjoying a nice cup of tea at the end (thanks Gavin!)

Our intrepid group

Lockleys Pylon to Victoria Falls via Blue Gum Forrest (Overnight Camping)

Wow, what a stupendous weekend this was.  A pristine blue gum forest, gorgeous waterfalls, breathtaking outlooks, fun camping and an amazing group of people. Doesn't get better.

Here are just some of the highlights ...

• An exhilarating drive with Graeme (what a cool name, and spelled correctly too) in his brand new Land Rover along steep mountain roads to the start of the hike while he told us the story of how he rolled his previous Land Rover !
• The beautiful spring weather and the stunning flowers.
• The breathtaking views from Lockley's Pylon across the valley.
• The sense of achievement after the end of the gruelling, steep, hot hike down into the valley.
• A refreshing swim in the beautiful river and some fun leaps with Srini.
• The indescribably amazing Bue Gum forest. Serene and sacred, especially with the sun filtering through.
• The reflections of the trees in the river - like an impressionist painting.
• The setting sun lighting up the valley sides in a rosy glow in the later afternoon.
• The moon rising over the valley in the early evening.
• The elation after reaching our cosy camp site after the long hike.
• The cute family we camped next with three lovely young kids - almost made me want one of my own!
• The easy, jovial banter around the camp fire (linear fires rule!) and pigging out on all the chocolate that got handed around.
• A cup of red wine - how civilised!  (thanks Srini)
• Trying my one man hiking tent again.  Fine as long as I don't want to spread out!
• Walking along the valley the next day in the cool of the morning, enjoying the tranquillity of the river.
• The gorgeous series of waterfall and and cascades that is Victoria Falls - and getting to enjoy another leap.
• The relief at getting to the top after a hot hike out of the valley.
• A celebratory ice cream after a 6 kilometre hike back to civilisation along a fire-track. Ice cream has rarely tasted so good!
• Delicious flat head and a refreshing drink at the pub in Leura.

All in all, a wonderful weekend.

Tired, but happy at the end of the hike ...

Related links
My previous visit to The Blue Gum forest  (Jan 2011)
My previous visit to Victoria Falls  (Jan 2012)
Meet Up link

Muogamarra Nature Reserve

Chrisèl and I enjoyed a lovely walk at this nature reserve.  It's open only for 6 weeks of the year when it becomes a celebration of beautiful spring flowers.

Some highlights of the day ...

• The friendliness of the rangers and staff, mostly volunteers.
• Taking photos of the flowers and the bees, all putting on a marvellous show for us.
• Discovering what a Trig Beacon is.
• The stunning view from the trig beacon over the Hawkesbury River.
• The strange, cobbled rock formations in a few parts of the park, they almost looked man made.
• A delicious meaty pie and cool ginger-beer at the famous pie shop next door; the in place for bikers  to strut and show off their stuff.