Risdon Vale (2)

Today we were supposed to walk to Gunners Quoin, leaving from Risdon Brook Dam. However, when we got there the gates were closed and a Track Closed notice because of bad weather was showing. We certainly had a fairly wild night at home, with wind and rain, but it was sunny when I got up. Never mind, we decided to do the Risdon Vale track we did back in March as it was very close by.

Leaving the car park

We left our cars by the Oval and walked along Risdon Vale Creek until we reached a fire trail. Following that -part of which had disappeared from my memory- we found the turn off up hill. I've marked the section of the walk on the Report below. After a good climb, we reached another turnoff for the caves and Morning tea. This was had in Bob's Cave, named for our leader.

Risdon Vale

Up the track

It appears there was a fire reduction burn recently

Getting ready to turnoff to Bob's Cave

Wallaby footprint & my boot toe

Looking at distant view

Getting close to the caves

Bob's Cave & Morning tea

View from cave

Back down to another fire trail, we walked gradually up until we reached the first flat area. A couple of our walkers hadn't been back in March and found the hollows in the rock shelf very interesting. We explored several theories as to how they were made. Some said there had been flowing water in the past and the basins were caused by rocks being swirled around, wearing the rock away. I said it looked like something had dropped into the soft mud or whatever the rock had been when soft, as the edges of the holes were slightly raised. A mystery.

First rock shelf, sharp drop on right

The drop. Looks worse in real life

Required artistic shot

Panorama of second rock shelf

Discussion of another walk in the hills beyond

From this point we walked to another shelf with similar hollows, then down and around to look at the caves underneath. David found a 5 cent piece while walking down the short, sharp slope, and refused to share.

One of the caves below

View of Grasstree Hill in distance

Walking a little way back we picked up another track that would lead us to our lunch spot, same as last time. We were lucky with the weather, no rain but the wind did pickup and drove the temperature down. We were all prepared, so it didn't bother us greatly.

Question: How many retirees does it take to do up a coat?
Answer: Sorry, I promised not to tell.

After lunch we tackled the Slippery Slope which those of us that had gone before remembered very well! There were several "whoops" moments on the way down but we all made it safely. That left only the walk back to the houses and back the way we had come to the cars.

Slippery Slope. I asked them to smile!

We had 7 walkers and walked just under 9km in 3.3 hours. My GPS tracker tends to jump around when we stop for lunch or morning tea, so I've knocked a bit off of the distance.

I've marked the 2 steepest sections

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We had 7 walkers and covered 9.17km in 3:33 hours.

Click here to download GPX file