With the relaxation of the lockdown, I was able to resume my weekly walks with Bob. We headed up the mountains for the first time in many months. The weather was bot great – misty and wet, so we diced to do a walk that would be nice in the rain – from the Golden Stairs on Narrow Neck along the track to the Ruined Castle and back.
A friend and fellow bushwalker, Phil Foster, had recently been to the Ruined Castle and had reported some stunning Waratahs in flower. That would be another reason to head out that way.
We set off down the track in misty conditions. It was nice and moody, and not cold. For the first bit of the walk the rain held off.
The Golden Stairs had bee closed for a while recently due to a landslide. It was good to see that the National Parks and Wildlife Service had been able to fix up the track.
Once we were down on the lower track – Federal Pass, it was beautiful walking in the mist with the trees and tree ferns.
We made good time, and soon arrived at the turn off to the Ruined Castle. But, a rain squall hit us, and we found a convenient shelter in the convenience located near the turn off. When the rain eased we resumed our walk up to the Ruined Castle. We didn’t have to go far to see the Waratahs.
On the way up, it did look like the mist was clearing, but it rolled back in when we reached the top.
We then headed back down to the Waratahs.
When we reached the Federal Pass Track, we continued along it to the Ruined Castle Campsite.
Here is a rather bedraggled Donkey Orchid –
At the campsite, we had lunch in the covered area near the water tank.
We then walked back, the way we had come to the Golden Stairs. on the way we spotted a Lyrebird foraging in the leaf litter.
And here is a White-browed Scrubwren –
On the way back up the Golden Stairs (the biggest uphill I have done for a while!), I was pleased to see some Sprengelia monticola –
And near the top, one of several Caladenia sp Orchids.
Despite the somewhat restricted views, it was great to get back to the Blue Mountains. And the Waratahs were certainly worth seeing. A beautiful spectacle.