Today you get our special two for one offer. That's right! Two walks on one post!
Walk 1
The best laid plans of mice and walkers etc. All dressed up and no way to go. Dead battery (reading light left on for 48+ hours), waiting for RACT. In the meantime I phoned Tas and he took his camera.
By the time I left, I was running over an hour late, but decided to go to Risdon Brook on the off chance I would catch up somewhere.
On arrival I started out walking counter clockwise, but could see no sign of any group passing this way, so I decided to take a walk on my own.
I turned off at the top end of the reservoir through the gate on the right and found a large arrow drawn in the dirt. All my years watching and listening to the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, Smokey Dawson etc. told me this was not a new mark but several days old. Tonto would have been proud. Since I wouldn't catchup with the others, I decided to follow and see where it was pointing.
We've been this way before, but usually in the other direction. A good open bush walk. I'll let my photos tell the story.
 |
| Looking back at Risdon Brook Dam |
 |
| I've turned off to the right and looking back at the gate |
 |
| The first arrow, I decided to follow it |
 |
| A glimpse of Gunners Quoin |
 |
| Another arrow |
 |
| Going up |
 |
| Cairn marking a turnoff |
 |
| I'm pretty sure we've walked up here in the past |
 |
| This goes up. Really up |
 |
| Looking back. We've come up over that fence in the past |
 |
| This wasn't here last time. Perhaps a good place for lunch on the way down |
 |
| Up at the top now, heading for a stone cairn/construction I know of |
 |
| Found it |
 |
| Just to prove I was here. That's Grasstree Hill in the background. We walked to this point before and you can read about it if you click on "Bob's Grasstree Hill 2014" |
 |
| Heading back down I crossed the fence to see where we came up in 2014. But I couldn't quickly find it and as it was running late I decided to retrace my steps. |
Walking back down towards the reservoir, I set a cracking pace and once back on the path around the dam I passed several people including a couple of old blokes who wanted to know if I had killed a snake they passed earlier. No.
After leaving them behind, I walked on and began to imagine I could hear voices off to the left. I wasn't sure if they were real or in my head - they sounded different from the ones in my head. Moving on, they got louder and I could see some movement up and off to my left. Yep, I had caught up with the others for the last 5 minutes of the walk!
I never did find out where the arrows led, they just stopped.
 |
| There they are! |
 |
| My walk |
 |
| My Walk |
|
|
Walk 2. Now we move on to the official walk led by Bob to Madmans Hill. Tas and Peter have kindly sent me photos of what looks like a good walk and one I will look forward to doing in the future.
Photos by Tas:
 |
| Getting geared up in the parking lot |
 |
| Crossing over Risdon Brook Dam. They went the opposite way I did |
 |
| A local |
 |
| He's wondering where all the noise is coming from |
 |
| You might this is a romantic photo of Tas enjoying the view. But... |
 |
| ...it's all about his NEW PACK! |
 |
| Great views on top |
 |
| Peggy, Bob & Jenny |
 |
| Going down |
 |
| Gordon waiting for the rest |
The following photos and captions were supplied by Peter.
 |
| Bob's Kookaburra Cairn |
 |
| Gunners Quoin |
 |
| Bob Leading the way up Madman's Hill |
 |
| Artistic Tree |
 |
| Lunch |
 |
| Mushroom hiding under a log over the track |
Many thanks to both Peter & Tas for supplying these photos. Looks like everyone had a good walk.
There were 9 walkers. Someone suggested numbers were down because of the combination of Bob leading the walk and the name of the destination. Madmans Hill. I'm sure it wasn't that!
