Sand River Gorge - 19 March 2024

Today's walk in the Sand River Gorge is one we have done before. We start on one side of the gorge, make our way down to the Sand River and then climb to the rock formations on the other side of the gorge. It is a mixture of easy walking tracks and difficult rocky climbs - this combined with a forecast temperature of 29 degrees should make for an interesting walk.

Leaving Sand River Road we find that due to the poor condition of the access road we are unable to drive all the way to the car park - so we start today's walk earlier than expected.

Putting on our boots and starting the walk

Close up of the large potholes in the road

We reach the car park and continue through light bush

  

Not long after we start our decent to the Sand River

 

We get a glimpse of the cliffs towards which are heading

As we get lower down the trees in the forest are now predominately dogwood

And as we reach the river it's time for morning tea

Although there was no flowing water in the river Ingrid was able to find this stagnant pool

Morning tea over we now start to climb towards the cliffs on the other side of the gorge. The temperature has risen and is now close to the forecast maximum of 29 degrees - making the climbing harder

We're getting close to the cliffs

We reach the cliff face and have a breather

We explore the area below the cliffs

After all that exercise it's time for lunch

We're not lost - Lorna and Sally are only discussing the surrounding countryside

A light rains starts to fall just as we finish lunch - so we put on our rainwear

This photo shows one of the spectacular rock formations in the area

In order to get a better view we decide to climb to the top of the cliffs

 

Is this a lizard poking his head around the corner?

View from the top

We make our way back down to the ledge below the cliffs

Once we're on the ledge we continue our decent back to the Sand River

At the river we decide to have another breather.

During the walk Sally fell injuring her shoulder. It was later found that she has a broken bone. We all wish her a speedy recovery.

Sally has a wardrobe malfunction

Noticed this tree which has had its bark stripped by birds trying to find grubs

Today 16 walkers covered 4.5kms in just over 4 hours.  Although it was a short walk a couple of steep climbs and the hot weather made it appear to be much further.

 

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