Return to Mt Barney Lower Portals.

 Tuesday 4 April

The stars finally aligned for a return to the Lower Portals of Mt Barney. Three of the Gaiter Girls had hiked this trail in June 2017. I had always wanted to return and explore further along Barney Creek. I was again thwarted by time and terrain in this endeavour, but we all agreed that the day had been brilliant.

In my memory, the previous hike didn't seem like seven years ago. My memory did recall how hot the hike was, even in winter, but alas my memory didn't remind me of how strenuous the trail was. 

Alas, my memory only recalled a hot, reasonably level, but not easy-to-follow trail into Barney Creek. 

I should have believed the reports about the trail that I perused, as I prepared for yesterday's trek. I should have reread my blog post about the 2017 hike. I wouldn't have changed my mind about going, but I wouldn't have been saying all the time, "I think they have moved the track."

The beauty of the hike really only unfolds, after 3 1/2 kms of undulating, bush trail.

Mt Maroon, climbed in July 2021.

LHS - 2017. RHS - 2023. There is significant growth but it's still bent! Or perhaps my memory serves me wrong and I have two different trees!

On reaching Barney Creek, we took our boots off and waded across the refreshingly, chilly stream to the opposite bank, to walk a further 100 m to the spectacular Lower Portals and rock formations.

The final access to the Portal is through this narrow gap. We left our backpacks on the ground and scrambled through.

Photo from 2017.

The view before us was definitely worth the scramble, and unknown to us, an even more difficult scramble was to come, to leave this magnificent spot.

Nature's sculptures.

A short rock hop took us to the edge of the waterhole. It was an impressive sight, surrounded by giant boulders and a taste of Mt Barney, far above.

Time to move on and reach upper Barney Creek for some rock hopping. Not so fast! Seven years on we weren't flexible enough to reverse the narrow gap. We searched for another option. Alas, the only one was straight up the ridge on a faint trail. We made it up high enough to find a safe way back down to the packs.

LHS - Going up. RHS - where we had come from and could now traverse across to an open slope.

Backpacks lifted, we found the track to take us to the top of the ridge and down to upper Barney Creek. The view at the top was impressive.

Mt Barney

Our energy levels had been sapped by the scrambling and hot walk-in, so the consensus of opinion was to head back down to the creek crossing for a swim, before returning to the carpark.

There was even time for some synchronised swimming. I hope you are impressed with our style.

Life is good!

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Fingal, Part Two - More Waves

 21st - 24th March

I hadn't planned to, but I was awake at 5am and was stepping onto the beach at 5.30 am, on Thursday morning. It wasn't raining, but the sky was still heavy with clouds making an eerie beach scene. 

Someone was on my headland before me!

The walk from the beach to the headland. 

At the top were two quite stunning Pandanus trees. Bottom right, the Pandanus trees along the shoreline. These photos were taken on the return leg. Going up, I had to use a torch light.

Arriving at the top, I found 2 more people who were early birds - a photo shoot.

And so another glorious morning unfurled before me and the waves continued to mesmerise.

7 am

Happiness!

10 am coffee on the headland.

I could hear my favourite little Fairy Wrens chirping but it took a long time to actually locate them. They were mostly flitting through the Pandanus branches. They are never still for long. When I spotted them on the ground, I clicked furiously on zoom. Very few images were worthwhile, but I was surprised and delighted to discover these Zebra Finches.

Back in camp, three Bush Stone Curlews were stalking my site.

Late afternoon, I joined Matthew and his aunt for a BBQ at Duranbah Beach. Here the waves gently rolled in, with a backdrop of soft pastel blue and pink sunset colour.

Friday's early start - 5am.

I had actually been awake since 4 am and as it was pack-up day, I could see no reason to waste 

'wave-watching' time, by lying in bed. I had to turn my iPhone light on to cross the dune to the beach, as it was so dark. There were numerous signs alerting one to be aware of possible snakes. The previous morning, as I arrived at the headland path, I had heard a rustling, and looking down, watched a large brown snake [very poisonous] slither across rough vegetation into the undergrowth. He was going in the right direction, so I wasn't at all frightened. It is when you startle a snake that it will attack.

Safely on the beach, I quickly made my way to the headland for an hour of total serenity. The only other human was a lone surfer below, catching his first wave.

And then there were two, bottom R.

As 7 am neared, I very reluctantly walked back to camp for breakfast and the organising of my decampment. Not only was my very special time here over, but Matthew would be flying back to Graz in just 24 hours.

The beach still captivated me with its special beauty. I would have loved to have spotted a crab emerging from one of these huge holes. 

The seaweed glistened in the morning light.

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