On Thursday, March 18, Ray and Noreen Baxter led 20 walkers on a 9.4 km circular route in the Bodalla State Forest. A good shower of rain during the night had not only freshened up the vegetation leaving that wonderful smell of the bush but also softened the litter underfoot, which made walking easier.
Starting from the junction of Whittakers Creek and Mitchells Ridge Roads they proceeded along Whittakers Creek Rd to just short of the Whittakers Creek Ford before taking Derraquin Rd.
After climbing over a large fallen tree they continued along what was Derraquin Rd but now, for most of its length, is just a foot track. It seems hard to visualize that this overgrown track was once a well-used roadway that joined the Princes Hwy.
Along this section a number of wild flowers were in bloom and a single Gang-Gang Cockatoo was sighted. Continuing parallel to the Highway for a short distance they turned back into the forest passing through an area that was once a pole storage site and gravel pit.
Crossing Mitchells Ridge Rd they continued on another little used track to the top of the ridge on the northern side of Lawler's Creek. The highest point, in the immediate area was selected for a lunch stop and this afforded a view down into the valley of Lawler's Creek and as far south as Wagonga Hill.
After lunch it was only a short distance back to the starting point. It was a most enjoyable walk but everyone was appalled to see many piles of rubbish of all description, including some very insidious garden waste that had been dumped just off the tracks.
On Saturday 20 March, twenty-five walkers gathered at Lavender Point Rd for a walk led by Heather Ferguson and Jan Thomas. Starting from Paradise Point Farm the group was led around Freshwater Bay through bushland and onto the access road to Black Bream Point from Riverview Rd. After following Riverview Rd for a short distance they turned west and commenced a steep climb to disused section of Kianga Forest Rd where stopped to admire the views over Clarks Bay and Barlows Bay and across the Inlet. Turning south they followed the now overgrown and meandering section of Kianga Forest Rd, to the small bay, opposite Honeymoon Bay, where they enjoyed lunch by the waters edge. Lunch was followed with another steep climb that eventually took them up and onto rocky outcrop being the highest feature on Paradise Point. On the way they passed by a Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum) with a girth so large that it took six walkers holding hands to surround. From the top of Paradise Point the panoramic view of the Inlet was truly magnificent. From there it was all down hill, much to the relief of many of the walker, on a track that took them through a large area of unspoiled rain forest and back to Paradise Point Farm. This will be one of those memorable walks not for the hills but for the diverse environment and scenery.
u Anyone wishing to become a member can contact Joy Mapson, Walk Organised, on 44761158. NB: If anyone who left a message re membership during the last few days could they please call again.
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