last updated 14 Dec 21
2020 Cancer Recovery Walks – S/E. Short walks as I recover from a blood cancer.

Further Information

I have been blessed by family, church and bushwalking friends support, including taking me on short outings.

Photographs

Available via the link for each walk on this Post.

Walks

Walk 14 – 6 September 2020: Mt Stranger from Pine Island
A CBC walk led by Peter C. This Sunday afternoon walk heads south from Pine Island on tracks and off-track through grassland, past Stranger Pond and then over the top of Mt Stranger. It returns by the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track. Pleasant urban fring walking with some quiet green spaces and good views from Mt Stranger. The most difficult part is getting through or over three fences. Ankle-high or knee-high gaiters recommended to avoid grass seeds in your socks.
Distance: 5.9km | Climb: 120m | Time: 2.40pm – 4.30pm (1hr 50mins) | Grading: S/E; E(6).
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Walk 13 – 30 July 2020: Mt Pleasant, Duntroon Dairy and Campbell
Rudy and I drove to Duntroon and up General Holmes Drive, only to find the last few hundred metres of road to the lookout at the top gated closed. So we walked to the top, then down to visit the Duntroon dairy. We then walked on firetrail the NW flank of Mt Pleasant, across Northcott Dr and along a greenway into Campbell. Returned via Gellibrand St to the Mt Pleasant Nature Reserve, back across Northcott Dr and back to the car. 2 walkers.
Distance: 5.7km | Climb: 185m | Time: 1.05pm – 2.50pm (1hr 45mins) | Grading: S/E; E(5).
Photos
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Walk 12 – 24 July 2020: Coornartha Nature Reserve Ring Trees
A walk put on by Mike B to visit a ring tree at a location given by Philip G. An early meet in Tuggeranong, then a drive to Cooma and around Numerella to pick up Richard S. Then back to the Coornartha NR. 3 walkers.
Distance: 8.0km | Climb: 190m | Time: 10.05am – 3.00pm (4hrs 55mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
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Walk 11 – 19 July 2020: Xanthorrhoea Loop and Rock Valley Homestead at TNR
Another little outing at TNR with Peter and Rudy. This time we parked at Dalsetta and walked the Xanthorrhoea Loop. Then drove to Rock Valley Homestead and had a look around there – the gardens are lovely. 3 walkers.
Distance: 2.5km | Climb: 85m | Time: 1.15pm – 2.35pm (1hr 20mins), including a short drive between walks | Grading: S/E; E(4).
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Walk 10 – 18 July 2020: The Pinnacle
Meet at 2pm at the end of Dungowan St, Hawker for a walk through the Pinnacle Nature Park with views of the Brindabellas.
A CBC walk led by Stan M. We followed fire trails S then E to The Pinnacle. Then SW to the border with Kama Nature Reserve. Through a gate to a knoll with more views over the Molonglo suburbs, particularly the close at hand Whitlam. Returned via fire trail to the cars. 16 walkers.
Distance: 4.2km | Climb: 130m | Time: 2.05pm – 4.00pm (1hr 55mins), including a couple of short breaks | Grading: S/E; E(4).
Photos
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Walk 9 – 4 July 2020: Narrabundah Hill
Meet at 2pm at the entrance to the Narrabundah Hill Reserve just east of the junction of Eucumbene Drive and Warragamba Avenue. There is an off road parking area. The walk goes along the western and southern boundaries of the park and then back to the cars over the hill.
A CBC walk led by Stan M. We walked west along the northern boundary of the area,then south to a fire trail. A little cross-country to another fire trail which took us NE to the top. A short break to admire the view, then NE down the main trail back to the cars. 8 walkers.
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Walk 8 – 28 June 2020: Bendora Arboretum and Bulls Head Picnic area
A long drive for a short walk in to Bendora Arboretum, with lunch at the Bulls Head Picnic area. I drove and Peter and Rudy came. A blue-sky day with no breeze, so the temperature was bearable. New Arboretum signage near Bendora Hut. We visited the hut, then followed the arboretum walk which wends its way through various plots. The European Larch were bare – the only deciduous pine. Much interest in the Big-cone pine. We walked back to the car and drove to the Bulls Head Picnic area for lunch. Rudy and I strolled SW along the watershed and fortunately came across border marker G52.
Distance: 5.2km | Climb: 200m | Time: 11.05am – 1.35am (2hrs 30mins), including 15 mins of breaks and driving between | Grading: S/E; E(4).
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Walk 7 – 27 June 2020: Aranda Bushland
Meet at 2pm in the car park accessed via the lane beside 57 MacKellar Circuit, Cook (go through the gate) and we will walk through the Aranda Bushland and return to the cars via the Aranda frost hollow. Leader: Stan M.
We walked NE to join the bike path then SE under Bindubi St. Next generally NE on a footpad up a gully to the back of Aranda. Then generally S on management trails, through the fence at the southern end of the NR and down to the carved seats overlooking Aranda Frost Hollow for a short break. Returned N through the fence then NW on management trail to the Bindubi St underpass and so back to the start.
Distance: 4.3km | Climb: 140m | Time: 2.15pm – 4.00pm (1hr 45mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4)
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Walk 6 – 20 June 2020: Wallaby Rocks and Church Rock Loop at TNR; William Farrer’s Grave
Another walk put on for me by Lauren O, accompanied by great friends Meghan B and Julie H. I’d not been to Wallaby Rocks.
We drove to TNR and walked up to the grass trees. I little further up the fire trail we peeled off and down to Wallaby Rocks, having a good look around. Back at the car, we drove to the start of the Church Rock Heritage Trail and completed it. Having a little in reserve and the girls not having been there, we visited William Farrer’s grave on the way home. 4 walkers.
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Walk 5 – 14 June 2020: Colinton Railway Tunnel
I’d walked through the Colinton Railway Tunnel on 30 Oct 18. But Peter had found an easier and shorter approach. Ring Bush Heritage Australia, the owner of Scottsdale Reserve on 1300 628 873 (office hours only – don’t leave it to the day of your weekend trip!) and obtain permission to drive into the railway line. Drive the Monaro Highway to a couple of km north of Bredbo and look for the turnoff to Scottsdale Reserve on the right – a dirt road with a drive around the entrance gate when we did it. This puts you a mere 1.3km south of the tunnel and provides an easy walk to the feature along the disused railway track. A lovely brick structure. Coffee and cake at the Bredbo General Store. Thanks Peter and Rudy. 3 walkers.
Distance: 2.7km | Climb: 50m | Time: 1.00pm – 2.30pm (1hr 30mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
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Walk 4 – 8 June 2020: Cascade Trail at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and De Salis Cemetery
My brother-in-law Peter H and partner Rudy H have gotten into the good habit of visiting places of interest around Canberra and environs, so I decided to take them to see the beautiful tree ferns and cascade on Mountain Creek at TNR. We parked at the Mountain Creek car park and did the Cascade Trail. A bit of a huff up the hill for me. A great new metal viewing grid has been put in at the point of interest. Always a lovey spot. Having a bit more in the tank, we drove to Tharwa, had a coffee and cake at the Store, then did the De Salis Cemetery walk. A nice afternoon in good company got me out and about. 3 walkers.
Distance: 4.8km | Climb: 230m | Time: 12.50pm – 4.30pm (3hr 40mins), including driving between walks and coffee and cakes and the Tharwa Store | Grading: S/E; E(4).
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Walk 3 – 30 May 2020: De Salis Cemetery
Another walk put on for me by great friend Lauren O, who had press-ganged Robyn H to come. I was not well today and the short walk was about as much as I could manage. But the love did me good! We walked down to the confluence of the Gudgenby and Murrumbidgee Rivers and a few tens of metres up Spring Station Creek to return to the cemetery. Lovely Autumn colours in the poplars. Thanks heaps Lauren. 3 walkers.
Distance: 3.3km | Climb: 70m | Time: 9.50am – 11.15am (1hr 25mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
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Walk 2 – 28 May 2020: Farrer Ridge
A short walk for me put on by my excellent friend Phillip S. From our meeting point beside Sulwood Dr we walked east then north up the track to Farrer Hill. NW from there to the back of the houses on Hawksbury Cres, then SW back to the cars. Enough for me that day. Thanks Phillip. 2 walkers.
Distance: 2.6km | Climb: 120m | Time: 1.50pm – 2.40pm (50mins) | Grading: S/E-M; E(5).
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Walk 1 – 24 May 2020: Urambi Hills Nature Reserve and Murrumbidgee River
Meet at the informal carpark beside 40 Meredith Circuit, Kambah, at 9am for a half day walk through Urambi Hills Nature Reserve to Red Rock Gorge on the Murrumbidgee River. After morning tea at Red Rock Gorge, we will return to the vehicles along a tributary of Tuggeranong Creek. This is a reasonably gentle walk although the grass is long, gates and fences will need to be negotiated and the final descent to Red Rock Gorge is rough and rocky. Your reward is the peace of the river and the feeling of being a long way from the city.
A CBC walk led by Derek S. We walked west from Meredith Cct over a slight rise and down to meet various trails and through a gate. South down to meet the CCT/Kambah Pool to Pine Island Walking Track, then downstream to the lookout for a short break. We doubled back and followed the track upstream until a short cut across country (for my sake) presented itself. Generally east into the Urambi Hills NR, then north up a drainage line to the start. 3 walkers.
Distance: 7.2km | Climb: 260m | Time: 8.50am – 11.20am (2hrs 30mins), including 15 mins of breaks | Grading: S/E-M; E(6).
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