last updated 31Dec21
2021 Cancer Recovery Walks – S/E. Short walks as I recover from a blood cancer and autologous stem cell transplant.

Further Information

I have been wonderfully supported by family, church and bushwalking friends from the Canberra Bushwalking Club, including taking me on short outings.

Photographs

Available via the link for each walk on this Post.

.gpx File

From the AllTrails trip report, activate the blue Download Route button in the Stats section, choose the format you want (eg. GPX Track, Google Earth KML) and activate the Download button. If no AllTrails trip report, activate the .gpx file for this trip link on this Post.

Walks

Walk 34 – 31 December 2021: Big Monks, ‘Little Monks’, Black and White Mine, Banks Track *
A Canberra Bushwalking Club early morning stroll. Up the Banks Steep Track to Big Monks. Mt Tennent and Booroomba Rocks prominent in the view. Across to ;Little Monks’, down to the Black and White Mine. Continued down the W, NW spur and to the SE corner of Banks. Returned via the Banks Track. 9 walkers.
Distance: 4.85km | Climb: 276m | Time: 1hr 48mins moving | Grading: E/M; E(6).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 33 – 29 December 2021: Big Monks, ‘Little Monks’, Black and White Mine, Banks Track
Banks Steep Track to Big Monks. Over to ‘Little Monks’. Down to the Black and White Mine. Return down the hill to near the SE corner of Banks and back the Banks Track. First time I’ve done this trip with no pause on the ups.
Distance: 4.80km | Climb: 275m | Time: 1hr 45mins moving | Grading: E/M; E(6).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 32 – 28 December 2021: Point Hut Pond, Point Hut East, Stranger Pond
From my old folks home, half way round Point Hut Pond, then down to Point Hut East. Along the Murrumbidgee river walking track to Pine Island South. Around Stranger Pond then back to Point Hut Pond and so home.
Distance: 11.55km | Climb: 192m | Time: 2hrs 20mins | Grading: M/E; E(6).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 31 – 24 December 2021: Namarag
A little stroll on a hot day with the Sydney and Kingston families.
Distance: 3.3km | Climb: 20m | Time: 1hr 20mins | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 30 – 16 December 2021: National Rocks, Lindsay Pryor Arboretum, cork oaks *
A little lap of the area. Arboretum newly mowed and mature trees looking good.
Distance: 4.46km | Climb: 54m | Time: 1hr | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
AllTrails trip report

Walk 29 – 15 December 2021: Around Stranger Pond with 15.9kg
More training for January.
Distance: 6.1km | Climb: 102m | Time: 1hr 38mins including 6mins of breaks | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 28 – 14 December 2021: Mt Rob Roy
Some steep climbs on hard management trails. Little view from the top but it’s a long time since I’ve been here.
Distance: 8.9km | Climb: 467m | Time: 2hrs 30mins | Grading: S/E; E(6).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 27 – 12 December 2021: Around Stranger Pond from Woodcock Drive
All this recent activity is to see if I’m capable of a 4 day overnight trip in early January. This was my first effort with an overnight bag of 9kg. Will have to do better!
Distance: 5.63km | Climb: 74m | Time: 1hr 11mins moving time | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
AllTrails trip report

Walk 26 – 11 December 2021: Urambi Hills and the Murrumbidgee River recce
A recce for a possible CBC walk. Walk over Urambi Hills with grand views to the western ranges. Continue NW on soft management trails and onto the Canberra Centenary Trail paralleling Kambah Pool Road. Return SE along the Murrumbidgee River Track, up Tuggeranong Creek and the Tuggeranong Stone Wall.
Distance: 12.93km | Climb: 333m | Time: 3hrs 12mins moving time | Grading: M/E; E(7).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 25 – 6 December 2021: Pine Island, Mt Stranger, geocaching from Woodcock Dr
A recce for a possible CBC walk. From the entrance off the bend in Woodcock Drive, along the Bicentennial National Trail a bit, then down to the Pine Island to Point Hut Walking Trail. At Pine Island South, follow a track and across Stranger Pond. Return and follow management trail across the SW side of Bonython, across a fence and up through thistles to the Stranger trig. Wend S then SW back to the start.
Distance: 6.21km | Climb: 138m | Time: 1hr 47mins moving time | Grading: S/E-M; E(7).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 24 – 5 December 2021: Bluetts Block, geocaching, Denman Prospect
A walk from the white gate on Uriarra Rd along the NW ridge of Bluetts Block for some geocaches. Then down the long straight management trail (a do not enter construction site) to the Molonglo River and the bend opposite Namarag. Paralleled the river for a while, with a detour to a rocky high point overlooking the water. Returned over Craven Creek Pond, past the Denman Prospect duck pond, wiggled through the construction site (do not enter) at the end of Holborow Ave, then generally WSW on management trails and a little off-track between trails to the start.
Distance: 10.92km | Climb: 284m | Time: 3hrs 14mins moving time | Grading: M/E-M; E(7).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 23 – 4 December 2021: Molonglo River Reserve *
Walk from Weston Creek Pond following the Molonglo River downstream to a lookout east of Denman Prospect. The going is a mixture of (a little) bike path, management trails and footpads. Marvellous views to the river and interpretive signage. There is shoulder-high grass in places, so gaiters would be handy to keep your legs dry if wet, or snakes at bay if dry. Around 13km and 250 vertical metres, 3-4hrs. Whet your appetite at https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/molonglo-river-lookout-plus-1377e22 . Please book to get meeting time and place. 9 walkers.
Distance: 11.62km | Climb: 222m | Time: 3hrs 29mins | Grading: M/E; E(7).
AllTrails trip report

Walk 22 – 2 December 2021: Theodore Hills and the axe grinding grooves *
An evening stroll. From the saddle in the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve walk over Theodore Hills and down to the axe grinding grooves. Return via management trail. Panoramic views over Canberra’s southern suburbs and to the Brindabellas. Around 5km and 150 vertical metres. Meet at the car park at 27 Callister Crescent Theodore at 6pm. Bring a torch just in case. No need to book. 12 walkers.
Distance: 5.18km | Climb: 182m | Time: 1hr 36mins | Grading: S/E; E(5).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 21 – 1 December 2021: Around Lake Tuggeranong
A lap of Lake Tuggeranong.
Distance: 5.87km | Climb: 74m | Time: 1hr 3mins | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
AllTrails trip report

Walk 20 – 30 November 2021: National Rocks, Lindsay Pryor Arboretum, cork oaks recce
Another recce for a planned CBC evening walk. A tour of the National Rock Garden, north to a lovely grove of eucalypts, south and around the Lindsay Pryor National Arboretum, then SW beside the bike path to the small area of cork oaks.
Distance: 5.22km | Climb: 64m | Time: 1hr 9mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 19 – 29 November 2021: Black Mountain and the ‘Hat Band’ recce
Getting even more brave, a recce for a planned CBC evening walk. Black Mountain Summit Trail, a loop of the ‘Hat Band’ track, up to the top. Return via management trail. Needed a pause on the way up the Summit Track.
Distance: 5.74km | Climb: 261m | Time: 1hr 35mins | Grading: S/E; E(4).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 18 – 27 November 2021: Namarag *
It’s been more than two years since I put a walk on the Activity Program. I think I can manage this one. Come and explore the new Namarag-Molonglo River Reserve area. Easy walking all on well made tracks, with lookouts, sculptures and interpretive signage. Around 5km and less than 3 hours walking. Opportunity to extend your walk downstream on either bank of the Molonglo River if you want. Further information at https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/molonglo-river-reserve/namarag . Drive yourself to meet at the southern car park on John Gorton Drive/Coppins Crossing Road at 9am.
Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather – 13 walkers turned up. I was so excited that I forgot to AllTrails the walk!
Distance: 4.6km | Climb: 40m | Time: 9.10am – 11.05am (1hr 55mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 17 – 21 November 2021: Molonglo River Lookout plus recce
Getting braver, a recce for a planned CBC walk. The Molonglo River Lookout trip (a curated AllTrails entry) with a few detours. Down to view the Molonglo River a couple of times and return over Holdens Creek Pond wall and the west side of Weston Creek Pond. A wet November 2021 with grass shoulder high in places.
Distance: 12.47km | Climb: 248m | Time: 2hrs 54mins | Grading: M/E; E(7).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 16 – 18 November 2021: Big Monks, Little Monks and the Black and White Mine
A couple of things with this trip. Another hill to try to improve the hill climb. I’d heard of the Black and  ite Mine, but never visited. The maps I use in OxiExplorer, NSW TopoView 2006 and OZRaster NSW, are getting dated. I was currently without a very servicible GPSr. So I got my head around AllTrails, the website and iPhone app. Great, up-to-date maps (Open Street Maps and satellite imagery), easy to use mobile phone recording (although I wasn’t up to speed with that and used the GPSr gpx file to upload into AllTrails, hence no times in the Stats). Just perfect for the urban fringe trips which are all I can manage at the moment. Well priced 3-year Pro version which gives a few useful additional functions. Anyway, had to stop every 100 paces on the trudge up the sealed road, but made it in the end. A visit to Big Monks, ‘Little Monks’ (the kurrajong tree) and down to the mine. Not wanting to walk back up to the top, I contoured back round to the management trail on a vague footpad.
Distance: 4.38km | Climb: 266m | Time: 12.55pm – 3.00pm (2hrs 5mins) | Grading: S/E; E(6).
Photos
AllTrails trip report

Walk 15 – 17 November 2021: Tuggeranong Hill
Trying to get my legs going uphill, I took a stroll up this hill. Many stops for breath on the way up. A little off-track on the return. Then up and over the Theodore Hills and return via management trail.
Distance: 6.2km | Climb: 260m | Time: 12.35pm – 2.45pm (2hrs 10mins) | Grading: S/E; E(6).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 14 – 16 November 2021: Narrabundah Hill
A walk over Narrabundah Hill in Duffy with my sister. A little off-track return.
Distance: 3.5km | Climb: 70m | Time: 11.20am – 12.50pm (1hr 30mins) | Grading: S/E; E(5).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 13 – 15 November 2021: Namarag recce
The Canberra Bushwalking Club has been very good to me over my walking years and it was time to put something back again. But my confidence is shot, so I decided to do a little recce and put a short walk on the Club’s Activity Program. Namarag is a newly minted area in the Molonglo River Reserve. Information is available here. I parked in the temporary carpark off John Gorton Drive and had a wander around. Quite a change since I counted kangaroos in this area around the old, disused sewerage ponds. The ponds are no more! The area is new and raw, but has huge potential. I’ll take my Grandson here over Christmas.
Distance: 5.2km | Climb: 20m | Time: 1.05pm – 2.30pm (1hr 25mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 12 – 3 November, 9 November 2021: Around Lake Tuggeranong
Ever concerned about my welfare and recovery, a couple of trips around Lake Tuggeranong with John H.
Distance: 6.0km | Climb: 10m | Time: 1.55pm – 3.10pm (1hr 15mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 11 – 27 October 2021: McQuoids Hill with Lauren
She provided the inspiration, I provided a pretty uninspiring repeat of McQuoids Hill.
Distance: 2.9km | Climb: 120m | Time: 1.50pm – 2.45pm (55mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 10 – 26 October 2021: Cypress Pine Lookout
Inspired by the previous walk, I decided to do more uphill walking. My bloods aren’t much good and don’t pump oxygen around my muscles very well. Mt Tennent ended at Cypress Pine Lookout today, but I did see a Rosenberg lizard on the track.
Distance: 5.0km | Climb: 160m | Time: 2.35pm – 4.10pm (1hr 35mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 9 – 23 October 2021: MacArthur Hill Toddlers Toddle
This was probably the shortest walk I’ve ever done. But it was a watershed moment as Linda G from the Canberra Bushwalking Club encouraged me by asking me to co-lead. Really great to see the kids and carers exploring the bush. We conquered SH709 (‘MacArthur Hill’)!
Distance: 0.99km | Climb: 30m | Time: 10.00am – 11.05am (1hr 5mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 8 – 20 October 2021: Tuggeranong above rail wander
Yet another good mate, Mike B, took me on a little explore from Gilmore, under the Monaro Highway, across the railway line and up into the bush. I was a bit off my oats on this day.
Distance: 1.6km | Climb: 60m | Time: 2.00pm – 2.45pm (45mins) | Grading: S/E; E(5).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 7 – 7 October 2021: Over McQuoids Hill
Another walk with John H, this time over the hill!
Distance: 2.8km | Climb: 120m | Time: 2.25pm – 3.20pm (55mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 6 – 25 September 2021: Around McQuoids Hill
Another excellent friend John H, who has kept a close eye on me, took me on this little walk. I couldn’t walk up over the hill, so we went around it. A wet Canberra Spring-Summer, so the area was green.
Distance: 2.8km | Climb: 30m | Time: 3.25pm – 4.05pm (40mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 5 – 21 September 2021: Farrer Ridge
My excellent friend Phillip S took me on this little walk. I even (just) made it up Farrer Hill.
Distance: 3.8km | Climb: 110m | Time: 3.20pm – 4.50pm (1hr 30mins) | Grading: S/E; E(5).
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 4 – 22 April 2021: St Mark’s – Centre for Christianity
Did Rudy suggest this little walk, or me? Anyway, I’d never been to this area before. We started from the Kingston Foreshore, walked the edge of Lake Burley Griffin through Bowen Park, crossed Wentworth Ave and did a lap of the area. Great gardens with plant signage, nationally significant remnant grasslands area.
Distance: 3.4km | Climb: 20m | Time: 2.10pm – 3.20pm (1hr 10mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 3 – 27 March 2021: Black Mtn NR and Botanic Gardens
A lovely walk with Lauren through the Botanic gardens and an attempt at Little Black Mountain, which I couldn’t make. Coffee and cake afterwards.
Distance: 5.0km | Climb: 50m | Time: 9.30am – 11.20am (1hr 50mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 2 – 16 March 2021: Stirling Park, Scrivener’s Hut, Parliament House, Old Canberra Brickworks
A walk with Rudy. I don’t think I’ve walked on Stirling Ridge before. We viewed the ventilation tower and the Westlakes Buildings site. Returned via the edge of Lake Burley Griffin and Attunga Point.
Distance: 5.2km | Climb: 60m | Time: 10.25am – 12.10pm (1hr 45mins) | Grading: S/E; E(4).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

Walk 1 – 8 March 2021: Birrigai Time Trail
Lauren took me on a wander along the Birrigai Time Trail. Great to get out after a bit of a tough time.
Distance: 3.2km | Climb: 60m | Time: 10.20am – 11.30am (1hrs 10mins) | Grading: S/E; VE(3).
Photos
.gpx file for this trip

26 January 2021: Order of Australia Medal