Blue Mountains Journal

I took one last look from above the falls to the valley beyond before beginning the climb back to the top. That finishes this walk. I'll be back in a couple of weeks with another one. In the meanwhile, a new adventure in the central west begins on Sweet Wayfaring today -- I hope you will join me over there. Words to walk with: From Deep Pass Gorge by Mark O'Conner " ... the slow stone mason whose chisel carves round ponds. One day the mountains of time will fall, leaving a world of rubble on which new streams will work."

At the stepping stones at the top of the falls, is the beginning of the National Pass track which works its way around the cliff face then down to the base of the first drop of the falls followed by the inevitable climb back up again. If you look closely towards the bottom of the photo you can see the railings for the track. I took a great shot from there a couple of years ago but that is about as far as I have gone. I'd love to walk the National Pass but worry about my fitness to do a long steep walk. Words to walk with: From The Edge by Mark O'Connor "The steel railing nudges below your hip's fulcrumn; you are alone on the edge. with a million years of monkey ancestors, watching a thistledown blow up a hundred metres in a minutes And your heart cries that you could fly."

It's hard to capture the scale of the drop, this is only the top section. Those little people at the top are on the stepping stones I showed a couple of days ago Words to walk with: From Wentworth Falls by Mark O'Connor "-- pearls against the sky, processioning down. to turn invisible in the shade, and batter the shubs with cold hard jolts

The warning sign on the fence says this is the start of a 100 metre drop. Words to walk with: From Falling Pearls Cliff by Mark O'Connor "Pearls of soft fluid in zero-G contained in a skin of self attaction. whirl on the upwinds of valley heat and cliff-top bluster, floating out to rain on the valley below."

Here we at the stepping stones across the top of Wentworth Falls. The fence is there to keep people away from the edge. Words to walk with: We went down to the city to worship at the cathedral this morning. I was touched by the General Thanksgiving "Most merciful Father, we humbly thank you for all your gifts so freely bestowed on us. For life and health and safety, for power to work and leisure to rest, and for all that is beautiful in creation and in the lives of men, we praise and glorify your holy name. But above all, we thank you for your spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing; through Jesus Chris out Lord. Amen

Wentworth Falls are just around the corner from here. Words to walk with: Epilogue by John Masefield "I have seen flowers come in stony places And kind things done by men with ugly faces, And the gold cup won by the worst horse at the races, So I trust too.

Looking back you can see a view of Weeping Rock from a more elevated position. Words to walk with: Tis good the - the looking back on Grief by Emily Dickinson 'Tis good—the looking back on Grief— To re-endure a Day— We thought the Mighty Funeral— Of All Conceived Joy— To recollect how Busy Grass Did meddle—one by one— Till all the Grief with Summer—waved And none could see the stone. And though the Woe you have Today Be larger—As the Sea Exceeds its Unremembered Drop— They're Water—equally—"

After the poignant beauty of Weeping Rock we continue along the circuit to Wentworth Falls. Nature's garden everywhere I look, all fresh from the rain. Words to walk with: Lingering in Happiness by Mary Oliver "After rain after many days without rain, it stays cool, private and cleansed, under the trees, and the dampness there, married now to gravity, falls branch to branch, leaf to leaf, down to the ground where it will disappear — but not, of course, vanish except to our eyes. The roots of the oaks will have their share, and the white threads of the grasses, and the cushion of moss; a few drops, round as pearls, will enter the mole's tunnel; and soon so many small stones, buried for a thousand years, will feel themselves being touched."

With the recent rain the rock is draped in water. I took a photo of the rock in drier times two years ago. Doesn't it have an evocative name -- I wonder if it's weeping in the sense of "seeping" or "sadness". Words to walk with: From Childe Harold's Pilgrimage by Lord Byron "They mourn, but smile at length; and smiling, mourn: The tree will wither long before it fall; The hull drives on, though mast and sail be torn; The roof-tree sinks, but moulders on the hall In massy hoariness; the ruin'd wall Stands when its wind-worn battlements are gone; The bars survive the captive they enthrall; The day drags through though storms keep out the sun; And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly live on."

We are on our way to Weeping Rock but I love to just look around at the trees and keep an eye out for birds flitting around their branches. It is sooo good to be out walking again even though this track is taking me down more steps than I remembered from last time I was here.

Like Amy, Paul, Jacob, Nahi, Savana, Clem, Jane, Kylie and Will I passed this way. It really doesn't matter that I am walking where others have enjoyed before, it's all discovery to me. Words to walk with: Quote from Mark Twain. "What is there that confers the noblest delight? What is that which swells a man's breast with pride above that which any other experience can bring to him? Discovery! To know that you are walking where none others have walked."

This is the view from the lookout. It's lovely, but there is no fun staying at the top. We headed down the track towards the falls.

We went for a drive to Wentworth Falls. A lot of work has been done on the tracks and amenities in this area recently.

After my rest I crossed the bridge, to climb back up to the top and go home.

I dallied by Junction Falls a while longer enjoying the water music.

The name for the twin waterfalls is Junction Falls.

I walked along the path to the place where two waterfalls meet. I was pleased to see it through the trees as I planned to rest here.

I kept an eye out for fungi. There is always fungi in the rain forest but with the autumn rains there are many more. Words to walk with: Sleeping in the F orest by Mary Oliver "I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her pockets full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed, nothing between me and the white fire of the stars but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths among the branches of the perfect trees. All night I heard the small kingdoms breathing around me, the insects, and the birds who do their work in the darkness. All night I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling with a luminous doom. By morning I had vanished at least a dozen times into something better."

The burble of water over rocks was much louder than usual. The recent rains are refreshing the streams and adding drama to the waterfalls. Words to walk with: From Water by Judith Wright "Water in braids and tumbles, shells of spray, heaves of clear glass and solemn greeneyed pools, eel-coils and quick meanders, goes its way fretting this savage basalt with its tools."

What joy! What peace! Walking through the gum forest to visit my favourite waterfalls. There are few flowers at this time of year other than banksias . But the angaphora trees have shed their bark so looking warmly orange. Words to walk with: From The Gum Forest by Les Murray "Delight to me, though, at water-smuggling creeks, health to me, too, under banksia candles and combs. ... I go my way, looking back sometimes, looking round me; singed oils clear my mind, and the pouring sound high up."

Wentworth Falls lake is a pleasant water playground and has some interesting sandstone sculptures around the shoreline. I have shown several examples of these in earlier posts .

It's raining, raining, raining so no walking today. Instead here is a picture taken on a sunny day at Wentworth Falls lake.

Hooray, my job arrangements have changed as of today. I expect to have more time working from home and hence some time to walk my beloved bush paths again. For the theme day I have chosen a banksia. These are in are in flower in the forest at this time of year. I can't wait to get out to see them. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants