Blue Mountains Journal

It's unbelievable - the highway widening is finished with four lanes all the way from Emu Plains to Katoomba, the streetscaping is done and all of the machines, witches hats and stop-go men have packed up and gone away.   They have been a part of our life for 35 years!!! And another thing to celebrate, we've been Wayfaring.  The trip starts today at Sweet Wayfaring … see you over there for a week or two.

We are back up in the dry with the scribbly gums and back near civilisation.  That's the end of this walk.  I'll try and get back again soon.

I still for a little while loving the mountains with Maisy and Bob before heading back to civilisation.

Here's map.  We have followed the path to the left until the track crosses the creek.  I will have to come back another time to pick up Federal Falls and Junction Falls.

Soon we are back at the signs and the steps back up.  No we are not going that direction back to Lawson, that is the loop path that would take us past the rest of the falls.  I will show you the map of where we have been when I get back up at the top.

I sit for a while on a stone where the water falls over a little cataract, before retracing my steps.

Looks like a moss water fall.

There is some lovely weathered rock just off to the side here.  And here's some more of natures rock work that I picked up on this walk.

We've found the next lot of stairs,  time to turn back.  By the way, the trees are a bit different here.

This one reminds me of a dinosaurs foot. And this one the big yellow pole that tilts over the freeway in Melbourne.

Sorry CDP bloggers.  No bicycles down here so I can't participate in this month's theme day. I like those spotty trees behind the rocks.

Even though the creek is still running beside me the water is barely whispering now.  The path, soft with leaf litter, muffles my steps and the ferns grow in abundance … a perfect spot of fairies.

 I was going to go back up now but the track looks level and is beckoning … Ok will keep walking until the next flight of steps.

The falls aren't that great but looking about it's a very pretty spot. Makes we wonder why I leave it so long between visits.

Some more steps and we reach the bottom.  I like the sense of history on these tracks.

I often think, of the aboriginal people when I step past rock shelters.  It looks like it is not that long since someone has lit a fire here.

That's nice.  About the mid point there is a little branch track where you can get a nice view of the tumbling water.

I am grateful for the people who long ago cut these paths and laid the steps that let us enjoy the delights below.  Let's hurry along, I can hear the water tumbling and calling.

The track cuts across the creek at top of the falls.  Ooops it's not in good shape.  I take it very gingerly. Don't want to fall through and find myself slip sliding over the top of the falls.

It is not long before we come to a little lookout where we can get the first glimpse of the falls through the trees.  There is a bench here too  "In loving memory of Maisie and Robert who loved these mountains" But it's too soon to sit down  … let's keep on walking.

It's like the last walk -- banksia and wattle in flower, dry first then going down to the rain forest.  But it won't be long, I can already hear the water falling.

It's confession time.  I've been lazy and driven down to the southern car park.  There are some old fire places here.  Would be nice to have someone barbecuing sausages to eat on the way back.

It's chilly outside but should be good for walking so let's go down and find another waterfall.  I have remembered to take my hiking stick this time which will make it much easier on the rough downwards steps.

Let's take a little rest here before we trudge back home.    That's the end of the walk, I will see if I get up the energy to visit some more of the waterfalls soon.

  I think these colours and textures are wonderful.

We are back at the top in the dry land.

Up we go.  Already the waterfall is a fading shhhhhush.

We pass by the mossy bits.   Little native violets are often found in these parts but none in flower today.

It's time to climb out again, up where those trees are reaching.

At the foot of the falls the water pounds relentlessly on the stone below before rattling it's way into the creek.

The water splashes and sparkles.