A couple of weekends ago, after a week of seemingly non-stop rain, the grey clouds continued to hang over the city. We woke up on the Saturday to a few droplets of rain spattering against the window, but it didn't seem too bad, and definitely not cause to change our plans to walk up near Elvina Bay, a remote suburb north of the city.
We made a picnic, packed our waterproofs, and set off on the 45 minute drive north.
Just as we were coming up to the carpark where we had planned to start our walk, the heavens opened - with horizontal rain. We were prepared we we going to get wet, but there is a limit.
And it would be nice to see some of the scenery rather than walking along with eyes squinting against the rain. The carpark cost $12, which would have been fine were we going to spend all afternoon walking, but with the rain as it was, we couldn't justify it as in all likelihood we would be back at the car within half an hour.
We made a picnic, packed our waterproofs, and set off on the 45 minute drive north.
Just as we were coming up to the carpark where we had planned to start our walk, the heavens opened - with horizontal rain. We were prepared we we going to get wet, but there is a limit.
And it would be nice to see some of the scenery rather than walking along with eyes squinting against the rain. The carpark cost $12, which would have been fine were we going to spend all afternoon walking, but with the rain as it was, we couldn't justify it as in all likelihood we would be back at the car within half an hour.
So we drove back towards home, annoyed the rain had stopped play.
On the way back we stopped off at Curl Curl beach to eat our sandwiches in the car overlooking the swimming pool at the end of the beach. A wet picnic in the car was one step better than eating it back at home.
On the way back we stopped off at Curl Curl beach to eat our sandwiches in the car overlooking the swimming pool at the end of the beach. A wet picnic in the car was one step better than eating it back at home.
As we left Curl Curl, the rain stopped and the sky brightened. Still up for a walk, we decided to go to Manly Dam, as it was a route we had been meaning to do for a while and was just around the corner.
We parked up and off we went, envisioning a gentle, picturesque route around the lake - which was just what we wanted. Lack of sleep and aching joints meant we didn't want to do one of our mammoth brisk hikes, instead wishing to meander and take in the scenery and wildlife.
We had only been walking less than ten minutes when we met a jogger coming in the opposite direction.
"Be careful, there's a swooping bird up there." he warned us.
We got our water bottles out of the rucksack and walked on, armed and ready for any swooping birds which might attack us.
Australian wildlife is by far the most challenging we have encountered...
We had only been walking less than ten minutes when we met a jogger coming in the opposite direction.
"Be careful, there's a swooping bird up there." he warned us.
We got our water bottles out of the rucksack and walked on, armed and ready for any swooping birds which might attack us.
Australian wildlife is by far the most challenging we have encountered...
The track was dotted with large puddles. We started off jumping over them, tiptoeing on the grassy verges, leaping onto stones or mounds of earth sticking out of the middle of them, clinging onto branches, but then, with one slip too many our feet were soaked, so there wasn't much point avoiding wading through them. The climate it generally is out here, we hadn't thought about walking in anything but trainers.
At least it was warm...
At least it was warm...
The plus side to all the rain was that there were some wonderful waterfalls along the way.
On we continued, following the path as it wound its way upwards, the stream next to us, Curl Curl Creek, quickly flowing down the hill. Our feet didn't get even the briefest of changes to get dry - just when we thought we had seen the last of the puddles, we would turn the corner and be greeted by an even deeper one to wade through. It was one of those times when the thought of turning back and going through all we had been through kept us moving forward.
We climbed further up, scrambling over rocks, quickly dashing through mosquito covered puddles and sheltering against the rain showers. Hands were needed for holding onto branches, so our water bottles were put back in the bag and we just had to hope we had passed the nesting site of the swooping bird.
There is a mountain bike track around the dam, and we crossed this - following the footpath signs - glad that we had seen it and weren't totally in the middle of nowhere.
There is a mountain bike track around the dam, and we crossed this - following the footpath signs - glad that we had seen it and weren't totally in the middle of nowhere.
We hadn't a clue where we were in relation to the lake - that had disappeared along time ago.
We crossed the stream - which was by this stage quite narrow and not as fast flowing, and continued to climb higher and higher.
Where were we?!
Eventually, we saw a footbridge in the distance!
When we reached it however, it was purely to get over the water pipe. Once over, there was no sign at all giving any indication which way we should go. Looking both directions, neither gave a clue as to which we should take.
Where were we?!
Eventually, we saw a footbridge in the distance!
When we reached it however, it was purely to get over the water pipe. Once over, there was no sign at all giving any indication which way we should go. Looking both directions, neither gave a clue as to which we should take.
It felt so isolated up here, so far away from it all; despite knowing full well we were in the city and there would more than likely be a house just behind the trees.
We walked alongside the pipe for 10 minutes or so, and sure enough, the bush to our left thinned slightly to reveal some buildings. Then we finally reached a main road, and with it a bus stop, so we could get our bearings as to where we actually were. Allambie Heights - an area I knew pretty well, but I also knew that it was not where we should be.
We checked our phone for which direction to head next. We saw there were some tracks which should connect us back to the route we should be on, so we walked, squelching as we did so, to them. Eventually, we met up with the cycle track, passing another guy - who was also lost, but decided on going the opposite direction to us - before reaching a sign signalling the footpath.
Down many steps, through many more puddles (by this stage our wet feet and trainers meant we had blisters), and we reached a fork in the track. With no signs (again) which way to go, we had to chose between up the steps, or along the lake shore?
Our aching legs meant we chose the waters edge, and followed the board walk around the corner, coming to an abrupt halt when greeted with this:
Down many steps, through many more puddles (by this stage our wet feet and trainers meant we had blisters), and we reached a fork in the track. With no signs (again) which way to go, we had to chose between up the steps, or along the lake shore?
Our aching legs meant we chose the waters edge, and followed the board walk around the corner, coming to an abrupt halt when greeted with this:
I was all ready to turn around, but T kept on going, so it was either follow him or be stranded there.
I followed.
The board walk sinking as we walked across it, I ran-but-pretended-I-wasnt-scared-and-it-was-just-a-quick-walk before we reached solid ground again.
Phew.
A few steps, and then the path dipped down into the water; the inlet full of twigs and dirt which had been washed into the lake. As wet as our feet were, it was not appealing to step into that brown sludge. So we balanced on a fallen branch, holding onto the top branches as we inched our feet along the bottom ones.
We made dry land!
After ten step or so, we turned the corner, to see that the path went straight into the lake.
Aargh!
There was no choice but to turn around, back across the branch, back along the sinking walkway, and take the other route, up the steps.
I followed.
The board walk sinking as we walked across it, I ran-but-pretended-I-wasnt-scared-and-it-was-just-a-quick-walk before we reached solid ground again.
Phew.
A few steps, and then the path dipped down into the water; the inlet full of twigs and dirt which had been washed into the lake. As wet as our feet were, it was not appealing to step into that brown sludge. So we balanced on a fallen branch, holding onto the top branches as we inched our feet along the bottom ones.
We made dry land!
After ten step or so, we turned the corner, to see that the path went straight into the lake.
Aargh!
There was no choice but to turn around, back across the branch, back along the sinking walkway, and take the other route, up the steps.
We emerged from the bush path onto a track, the sign for the carpark pointing right. We turned right, and were met with this:
Thinking maybe the path wound its way along the waters edge, we walked down to the water.
We peered to the left: no sign of a path. We looked to our right: and were surprised to find a man sitting on a bench - the legs of the bench in the water. As we tried not to stare, we became aware there was a pair of new trainers, at the edge of the water, carefully placed, not washed up or abandoned.
Strange.
We turned around and began to walk back up the track not quite sure what to think about it all, when a guy came running towards us.
He showed no sign of stopping or indeed slowing down.
Had he not seen the vast lake right infront of him??!
"G'day guys, It's going to be a wet one today." He said, as he ran full pelt into the water, turning to the left and disappearing around behind the overhanging trees. We could hear his splashing steps for a while until we could only presume he had made it to dry land.
Bemused, we looked at each other. Aware of the man sat on the bench in the water to our right, we fought back the giggles which wanted to escape us, totally bewildered at the strange folk around these parts.
We peered to the left: no sign of a path. We looked to our right: and were surprised to find a man sitting on a bench - the legs of the bench in the water. As we tried not to stare, we became aware there was a pair of new trainers, at the edge of the water, carefully placed, not washed up or abandoned.
Strange.
We turned around and began to walk back up the track not quite sure what to think about it all, when a guy came running towards us.
He showed no sign of stopping or indeed slowing down.
Had he not seen the vast lake right infront of him??!
"G'day guys, It's going to be a wet one today." He said, as he ran full pelt into the water, turning to the left and disappearing around behind the overhanging trees. We could hear his splashing steps for a while until we could only presume he had made it to dry land.
Bemused, we looked at each other. Aware of the man sat on the bench in the water to our right, we fought back the giggles which wanted to escape us, totally bewildered at the strange folk around these parts.
We walked up the track and found another path back to the carpark, crossing the dam.
Sopping wet feet, blisters, walking 6 km more than the we had expected to, and it taking 3 hours rather than around an hour...
So much for our relaxing and pleasant ramble!
So much for our relaxing and pleasant ramble!