Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Wednesday 4 September 2024: Dowling trig and Sherwood daffy-dils ! – M/E. A quick out and back to see the blooms.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 9.45km | Climb: 305vm | Time: 2:10 moving + 0:38 of stops = 2:48 | Grading: M/E; E(7).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

Trip Report

I’d read on socials that the blooms are at their best. I’d booked on a CBC trip there on 15 September, but suspect they may be past their prime by then. So gathered some friends and went for a look-see. The combined club’s E-Mm Wednesday Walk was also visiting Sherwood today, coming in off East West Rd and returning via Blur Range Hut. But I suspect there could be up to 30 walkers!

An annual pilgrimage for me, having visited on 31 Aug 23, 11 Sep 22, 5 Apr 16, 30 Mar 13, 6 Mar 12, 19 Apr 11, 29 Apr 01. 

You’ll find some great background information on Sherwood here. My POI info here.

We parked just off Mountain Creek Rd, the first vehicle there today. By the time we returned, at least 10 cars there. A puff (for me) up the fire trail, up the fence line from near the dam and a left curve up to Dowling trig.

The view is a bit treed in from the trig.

Huge views going S and SW from the high point, especially to the Tidbinbilla Range.

The route turns west on fire trail for a while, with views to Blue Range. And power lines and pine trees.

Then down towards the open area of Sherwood Homestead site and the daffodils. But first a crossing of Uriarra Creek and the blackberries.

Uriarra weir is one of several on the eastern fall of the Brindabella Range. Read all about the 18 Brindabella weirs.

A couple of Buttercups about in the damp area, they love wet feet.

A good flock of sulphur-crested white cockatoos at the Sherwood site, enjoying beheading the daffodils. They could not read a nearby sign asking visitors not to pick the flowers.

Some more info from the signage.

This is a delightful place!

The four of us enjoyed a quiet smoko.

The jonquils are starting to fade.

The ACT Heritage Council’s info says these are remnants of the Sherwood Homestead, now fashioned into a barbeque.

We visited Uriarra Creek just down from the flowers.

Then across to Ropers Hill to the grave site.

The replanted oak tree doesn’t look too impressive. The original was burnt in 2003.

We exited to the north then east, “Phillip’s route”. There was much interest in the party to visit my Pig rooting waypoint. Thankfully, the area has recovered although the bumps of the upended grass clumps can still be seen. Some nearby fresh rooting satisfied the party. The E leg handrails a fenceline.

Crude wooden crosses at a site near SH747, perhaps pet burials.

S of SH747 we passed under the powerlines. A necessary blight on the vista.

A convivial chat wit Derek S and his small party.

Popped out at the dam.

Just past it, high up in a tree, we spotted a mud bird’s nest with occupant. The bird was black, magpie-sized. Had me stumped till I got home and my dear wife queried Google and found chough. Well, not really a chough, but that will do and that’s what I call them (or Twelve Apostle Birds).

One last nostalgic visit to the rubble pile near the cars.

Thanks for your company folks. First daffy-dil visit for one of us.

Party

4 walkers – Mike B, Andrea C, Sandra T, me.

AllTrails

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog FaceBook Page

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Additional Trip Reports

As I age, I’m doing a few more simple hikes. I don’t always produce a full trip report. If you’re interested, you can find details of them on the Completed Walks tab. There you can access the trip’s map segment, download a gpx file, see the distance, climb and grading, and link through to the photo album. Additional metrics are available by looking at the start waypoint on the map segment – moving time, stopped time, total time.