Hiltaba day 4- 26/5/21

Today we walked the Mark Bonnin walk.

We both walked as C walkers. All vehicles took the same road out approximately 17 km from the homestead. The vehicles for the B walkers stopped at the turnoff from the road and they walked from there. The C walkers drove in to the car park and started from there.

To start with the track was beautifully clear of rocks- the work of families who have helped out on working bees. Later we had to cope with the rocks.

There are a couple of waterfalls ( not flowing today) with impressive rock formation and some beautiful stands of black oak and bullock bush mostly. There is also a significant Myall tree ( many hundreds of years old).

• 

• 

• 

We had morning tea looking out towards the south, where Wirulla sat some 70 km or so away. We couldn’t make it out in the distance despite the fact we thought it should be visible through the gap in the hills and wide valley below us.

At one stage the lead group came across a group of goats. The Billy goat took exception to the walk plan and came charging angrily. Luckily Kevin quickly grabbed a rock and threw it at him, encouraging him to turn back. Whew!!

• 

• 

• 

Before lunch we had to walk/ climb/ clamber our way up a very rocky gorge. Here there was a heavy load of both animal droppings and old bones. Mostly goats we think.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Lunch was enjoyed all together at the top of the gorge before the B walkers took off for the lookout ( and then back), while the C walkers went directly back to the car park. Trevor and I had shared Bob’s car for the drive out and drove it back to the B walk finish point to wait for him and ensure that he had a lift home.

The drive home was via a scenic route – a highlight was more wombats and a huge man kangaroo who showed off his scary muscles.

• 

• 

What we saw today:

• Rocky Gorge
• Angry billy goat ( and other goats)
• old myall tree
• Strange chrysalis things in ground
• Bob’s vehicle
• Native apricot tree ( pittosporum)