Sturt Gorge Walk 6-3-18

Walking back up the hill from our shady morning tea break beside the gurgling creek. 

Yesterday we walked in Sturt Gorge.
A group of 18 walkers headed off for a lovely walk in just about ideal conditions (a lovely 23 degrees C was predicted)
Gary was our leader and he took us past some of the spots we have orienteered and into some countryside we have never seen before. I had no idea there was a huge lake just below Craigburn Park.

our route (in red)

We have found this walking group to be very pleasant company and there is always someone to chat to as you walk, or you can just enjoy being out in the open countryside and the ever changing views. 

We parked at Blackwood Football club and shuttled to the start of our route, finishing the walk back at the football club and then moving on to Gary's home where he showed us his amazing "bike shed man cave'' with choice of bikes (he is a riding fanatic) and entertained us on his lovely shady deck. 

Today we met Dianne (who manages the walking roster) and Richard (who manages the money) along with Leila (who is a lovely french lady). 

We are starting to remember names, but spent some of the walk checking with each other and practicing who was who. 

There is always a back marker to make sure we are all OK as well as the leader at the front.  I'm not sure what would happen if someone was badly failing to keep up. 

We started the walk heading uphill fairly steeply (there were lots of zig zags which the keen ones cut off just for fun). Here the gorge was to our left as we walked, and construction of new housing was to our right. Some of the latest additions will be very close to the walking track we travelled on. The track was clear to walk on, though you did have to watch for uneven surface which was a bit of a trip hazard. Grass had been slashed on either side, or stood chest high if not yet slashed, but we didn't pick up any grass seeds due to the cleared tracks. 

Early in the walk.

looking back along the gorge - can't see much due to vegetation

 the moon still showing over the lovely old trees

 all smiles about walking down to the creek for morning tea... a bit of a climb back up afterwards to this spot.

morning tea beside the creek

 lovely trail

Which way will we go next? 

 The Lake

 heading on after lunch

beautiful gum blossom

We surprised this fellow up in the tree.  He just wanted us to go away and leave him alone again. 

Another very enjoyable time spent with a lovely bunch of people seeing some of our wonderful countryside.