Walk 5: Artarmon to Middle Head

Walk 5:  Artarmon to Middle Head 

June 26, 2012   The brave and the beautiful walked in the rain.
Rain fell as we rounded the Oval heading towards the path winding under and alongside the Freeway.   Yes, wet we were but  surprisingly warm on a bleak silver light grey day.  Five of us on an easy concrete path before eventually exchanging suburban sounds for the whoosh of rushing creek water cascading downstream after much rain towards Middle Harbour, an occasional whip bird, some cockatoos chipping above, melting mud and pool puddles everywhere.
We were embraced in the magical canopy of this forest world.  En route we sighted the delightful aboriginal mural art map,  Henry Lawson's Cave and the little ampitheatre, the Naremburn Falls, the She Oaks, shiny green  bird-nest ferns,  a creek stone crossing and then up, right in front of us suddenly, looming,  against a grey sky the dramatic suspension bridge.   This is the only way to truly enjoy and admire this  bridge from our vantage point below.  Someone said "I will never think of it the same way again whilst driving across it"


Walk by Donna, Kate, Pippa, Moira, Carolle

Rain drops

Walk 4 Cremorne Point

Walk 4,  Cremorne Point,  proved to be quite delightful on a clear blue sky sunny day.   Cremorne Point remains one of the most popular Sydney walks with   marvellous wide  views over the water to the Bridge and to the Opera House.   

It was noted that the council (North Sydney) does a fabulous job in keeping the area in pristine condition.   The little side-walk gardens alongside the path were  started in 1959 by Ruby and Lex Graham after a chance planting of an elephant ear bulb which naturally grew and grew thus encouraging further plantings of all sorts. Now the public walking by are able to enjoy the profusion of   bromeliads, ferns, the  elephant ears and whatever else the local garden owners choose to plant alongside the walk.  

 The loop walk affords a mix of bush and formal gardens, spectacular views, historical sites and a children's  playground.

We were delighted to have Kate join us.   We wound up for coffee at the Mosman Bay Ferry Wharf before returning to our cars in Bogota Road.

----------0----------0-----------0-----------0----------0----------0-----------0--------

Now,  Next One:  No 5!   Take a little water along.

For a number of reasons the idea of a  Lane Cove National Park walk has been abandoned.

Instead:

5.  Artarmon to Middle Harbour Walk  which is an interesting walk with some  history, evidence of habitation some 6000 years ago. Although we begin with much surrounding concrete do not be deceived as soon enough the city simply melts away and disappears from being! Some points of interest:  Naremburn Falls, Griffin Incinerator, Henry Lawson Cave, Flat Rock Bridge, 'Fatty' Dawson's ruins, the Suspension Bridge.

 Click on the link below for a great photograph. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Northbridge_Flat_Rock_Gully_Reserve.JPG

Meet at 9.20 a.m. at the end of Burra Rd in Artarmon.  Funny little road with a left point  to Artarmon Bowling Green while the right  arm heads into the Artarmon Oval where I hope we can park.   Otherwise in or near Burra Road.

Wendy will miss this one as it is her Musica Viva day and we are holding thumbs that Jane has enough time for a last walk before she boards her ice-breaker heading to the Arctic.

See you there, hamba kale

Carolle

----------oOo----------oOo----------oOo----------oOo----------oOo----------oOo----------oOo----------

Walk 3: Balls Head Reserve and Berry Island

Walk No 3 - Balls Head Reserve

Tuesday was the day of threatened stormy violence from the skies which certainly eventuated as predicted but not before five of us had notched up a delightful walk around Balls Head Reserve.   This is a place once home to Aboriginal people  but then  slowly taken over  by Eueropean settlement in the 19th Century.

 A coal loader was built, boat buidling, stone stores. We saw some old piled up stones  and crumbling walls, remnants no doubt of early industry and dwelling places.   Balls Head itself is open forest, lushly green this winter day due to abundant rainfall for many months.   All too soon we emerged from the track to head back towards the road towards Waverton Station and our Coffee shop.  Five of us, not too weary but well satisfied.

Walk by Donna, Jane,Moira, Wendy,Carolle

Walk 2: Gore Cove Track

Rain threatened our second brave walk,  Gore Cove Track which started at the little footbridge
over  the gully at Greenwich.  Down we went into a fairytale of fern, patches of rainforest dripping tears after the night rain, mangroves, a creek of fresh water hidden from busy Sydney merely meters away but seemingly miles away.  
The track guided us along the side of the creek which at one point widened to a shallow dam revealing an old long forgotten sandstone wall.  Who built that, so silently and mysteriously there, so long ago?.   We ascended gently a little way to emerge on the Road at the Fisheries Department.   Fisheries, the fish, the fishermen, hook, line and sinker?   Oh where are they?   Alas our working harbour with romantic fishing boats of yesteryear has long gone.   Up into the sunlight to the Berry Island loop walk with its splendid views of Sydney skyline and harbour shores, bobbing silent boats with the occasional Welcome Swallow swooping low.
Did you know that the recreational lawn we see today was  created in the 1960s when the mudflats  and the isthmus were filled in with car bodies and other rubble?
Back to Shirley Road again, uphill most of the way enticed by thoughts of coffee and health drinks at the delightful Wollstonecraft Cafe.  A little breathless,  satisfied  Walk No. 2 was done..

Over coffee possible walk suggestions piled in.   There are many ahead of us with the whole of spread out Sydney to explore.   The list , like Topsy, grows.   Some extraordinary ideas have been put forward which may take extra determination but for now we have chosen  Balls Head next for the next week walk.
Donna  pronounced, a good  cafe IS available at destination  end   Next week then, Balls Head.
More walks, more foot-steps, good health.

Hamba khale then, Carolle.

Walk by Jane, Donna, Moira,Wendy,Carolle