Past adventure.
ADVENTURE REPORT
After a 7 week break, eleven of our tribe were back on the track last Sunday morning. We met at a cafe in Thornleigh in excited preparation for our continuing journey along the Great North Walk. We headed out in drizzly rain undeterred. With a skip in our step, and a few suburban streets traversed, we were soon in the bush and enjoying life.
We walked along narrow bush tracks and wide fire trails. We followed and crossed many streams and creeks, and scrambled up rocky slopes and bottom slid down others. We admired rolling forested hills from a high clifftop pass, and walked under huge overhanging rocks and fallen trees. We past through forests of vibrantly coloured ferns, and along trails shrouded with tall gums reaching for the sky. The scenery was amazing.
As we enjoyed the beauty, quietness and remoteness, we soon learnt we were not alone out there. And we couldn’t stop for long. Why? What was going on? We were under attack !!! An attack by unwanted creatures of our moist track. Leeches !!! They were out in full force, and they were very very determined.
Two days before when I did the recon, the track was fairly dry, there were only 2 water crossings of any merit, and only one leech waving the flag. But after reasonable overnight rain, dry streams and gullies burst into life, existing ones got wider and deeper, and the little track vampires were awake and on a feeding frenzy and we were on the menu.
Despite this irritation, the walk was very beautiful, varied and technical in spots, and a lot of fun. Our biggest challenge was the creek crossing I called the washing machine because of its churning water through a mini rock slalom course. A little daunting at first, but all bar two crossed from rock to rock with dry feet, the remaining two choosing to wade across upstream instead. The walk finished with a crescendo of 239 steps (thanks for counting Carmel). These were the Heritage or Depression Stairs, a community benefit project built with unemployed labour during the 1920s depression.
Looking a little disheveled and underdressed, we rambled on to the local RSL where we shared a well earned celebratory drink, some food, and continued to find and discreetly evict our unwanted stowaways. A bit of scratching, and a few antihistamines no doubt were taken, in the days that followed.
All in all, it was a great walk enjoyed with great like minded friends … Alex, Eileen, Carmel, Sue, Farhad, Joanne, Marian, Dick, Steph, and Sharon. Well done guys !!!
Until next time …
Yours in adventure Nick
DETAILS
CHANGES MADE 21 Mar 25 are in blue below.
A continuation and our stage 3 of the Great North Walk. A beautiful 12km mainly bush walk from Thornleigh Station to Hornsby Station. It’ll take us about 4 hours. Be sure to bring your hiking poles
Afterwards we can rehydrate & dine at the Hornsby RSL, or have Vietnamese or Indian, if there is interest. Choices 😂.
The walk starts and finishes at railway stations so public transport to & from would be a good travel option.
MEET at The Monday Morning Cafe (opens at 7am) just across “The Esplanade” on the north west side of Thornleigh Station. Tap the Meetup Button below for directions on Google Maps. If you’re coming by car, I suggest you leave a little earlier and park at the Hornsby RSL a short walk from Hornsby Station, and catch the train back to Thornleigh Station. It’ll make for a quicker get away at the finish. Still meet at “The Monday Morning Cafe” at Thornleigh.
BRING … snacks, water, poles & Opal card.
Recon done Fri 21 Mar 25. Beautiful walk. Rocky climbs & descents in spots. All do-able. Stairs towards end.
Our route on Komoot.