This was a pleasant walk organised by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. On the walk, as well as Brian was Faye, Sharon, Janet, Bob, Mike, Sheila and myself.
The Lagoon, Glenbrook Ck
We met at Springwood Station and then set off on the 15 minute walk to the start of the track on Sassafras Gully Road. Immediately, once in the bush, we were surprised at how dry it was. Normally the rainforest in the valley floors is at least a little moist – but now it was bone dry. All the leaves would crackle as you walked over them.
The dryness off course meant no fungi would be out. But it also seemed to contribute to a lack of orchids. I did manage to spot an old and dry Cordyceps fungi (Ophiocordyceps robertsii) that I had observed months earlier – they seem very robust.
But it was very nice walking weather. At the Lagoon, the big pool at the junction of Sassafras Gully Ck and Glenbrook Creek, we stopped for a morning tea break. We then walked out onto the interesting rock slab in Glenbrook Creek. We looked at a few grooves that looked very much like Aboriginal riding grooves. But we concluded that it was unlikely that there were. They seemed to all lie along the flow direction and be of different sizes. So probably water worn was the consensus.
We continued on the track down to the Perch Ponds where Magdala Creek joins Glenbrook Creek. There we met another party of walkers. The had just finished their lunch and were doing the same walk as us, but in the opposite direction. This seemed a good opportunity for us to have lunch.
We then walked up back to Springwood via Magdala Creek. At Martins Falls – the waterfall was a minute trickle. Not worth a long stop or even a photo. This waterfall is named after the politician Sir James Martin, former Prime Minster (of NSW) who was a prominent landholder in the Springwood district in the mid 1800’s. Martin Place in Sydney and at Linden and Faulconbridge, are all named after him.
A short distance upstream, we passed Magdala Falls. Further upstream the creek was even drier – completely dried up for long sections and stagnant pools in others. I have never seen this creek in such a condition.
White-browed Scrubwren
We soon arrived at the back streets of Springwood, behind the shops, and then made our way to the station for the trip home. A pleasant walk with a great group of people. Thanks to Brian for organising.