I joined a group of friends (Stu, Enmoore, Brent, Su Li, George and others) for another morning of bush regeneration at Barrenjoey. We walked around the headland on the coastal side to get out of the wind and then started weeding. We were removing bitou bush and asparagus.
It was also an opportunity for some whale watching. I only saw one whale – a long way out. But we did see a pod of dolphins cruise past. Continue reading
I spent three days up in the Mountains walking from Blackheath to Leura via Govetts Leap, Blue Gum Forest, Lockleys Pylon and the Mt Hay Road. This was almost the opposite to a walk I completed earlier in the year. On that trip I experienced a big storm while on Lockleys Pylon and found good shelter there in a small camp cave. I used a nearby cave on this trip for the second night.
I started from Blackheath Village and walked down to Govetts Leap Lookout. This took about half an hour. Then without delay, I continued down the steps to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. Continue reading
I caught a bus out to The Gap at Watsons Bay for some whale watching. I walked out to the lookout at the south end of South Head near the naval base. I spent a while looking with binoculars without seeing any whales, so moved back to The Gap Lookout. Here I struck more success. One whale was breaching – a fair way out in the sea.
I took a few photos, but soon a whale watching boat approached the whale and blocked my view. Then the whale went quiet. No more breaching. Continue reading
I headed back down to Bola Creek to see how the fungi was going. After my last trip, I and high expectations as on that trip I had only looked at a small area.
However, this trip was a bit disappointing. Strong winds and sunny, dry conditions during the week had dried out things. A lot of the fungi I had seen the previous weekend had deteriorated a lot – and were now, not worth photographing. Also, not very much new fungi had appeared. Continue reading
Bob was keen on a daywalk in the Blue Mountains. Forecast strong winds limited our options a bit, but we eventually decided on a walk out to Lions Head off Kings Tableland and then down the pass to the old Kedumba Farm (Now Kedumba Campground). From there we intended to walk out via Kedumba Pass or the nearby Goat Track Pass.
Bob admiring the view on the way out to Lion Head
It is easy walking out to Lions Head, and there are great views of Mt Solitary, the Kedumba Valley and much of the Greater Southern Blue Mountains as well. The cold strong wind meant however that we didn’t tarry too long enjoying the views. Continue reading
I wandered down to Royal National Park yesterday to see how the fungi was going. I started off at the Palona Creek Picnic Area, and then went back to Bola Creek.
Both places were very good. I found many beautiful Hygrocybes, Mycenas, Jellies, Cup and Corals.
Palona Creek has a hidden picnic area with two most covered picnic tables hidden on the side of the creek just upstream from where Lady Carrington Drive crosses the creek. I parked my gear here and wandered around seeing what I could spot. Continue reading
I had another recent look for fungi along Wolli Creek. A few weeks earlier I and been along the creek and handn’t even unpacked my camera. Since then it has been wetter and colder. But perhaps not wet enough to bring out a lot of fungal fruiting bodies?
Things had improved, but not by a huge amount. Some fungi was out – including a few nice clusters. However there was nothing compare with the colour and variety of fungi I and seen on recent trips to Bola Creek and Lane Cove Bushland Park. Continue reading
Bruce Cameron has just published his second edition of his book on the Blue Labyrinth. The first edition was published way back in 1992 and this new edition is a major revision with a lot more photographs (many in colour) and a lot more information.
It is called “A History of The Blue Labyrinth, Blue Mountains National Park”. The Blue Labyrinth is that part of the Blue Mountains south of the railway line, north of Lake Burragorang and between the Nepean River and as far up the mountains as Wentworth Falls. It is nearly all part of Blue Mountains National Park. It includes Kings Tableland, Glenbrook Creek and Gorge, Euroka volcanic neck, other volcanic necks such as St Helena and Tobys Glen, well know walking tracks such as Sassafras Gully at Springwood, Terrace Falls at Hazelbrook, Adelina, Junction, Federal and Cataract Falls at Lawson. Many aboriginal sites including the well known Red Hands Cave. Picnic and camping areas such as Ingar. A few small sandstone canyons. Through the heart of the Labyrinth flows Erskine Creek – wild and remote! Continue reading
I had a book launch to go to at Warrimoo. It was a nice day, so I thought it would be good to walk to the venue from Blaxland.
I started down the Pippas Pass Track, which leaves Blaxland from just behind the library. This is a good track down a nice valley. At the first creek crossing I was pleased to find a series of Aboriginal axe sharpening grooves. Continue reading
I recently visited this small park three times to check out and photograph the marvellous fungi found there.
My visits were on 6 June (clink links for more photos), 10 June and on 15 June I was on a field activity run by the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc to the Park (and also see this link). This was organised by Ray and Elma Kearney who have a long association with the study of the marvellous fungi in this park.
The Park is famous for its Hygrocybes – a genus of fungi noted for bright coloured fruiting bodies. Continue reading
