New Norfolk Wednesday 24th October 2018
A lovely walk along the River Derwent, past towering cliffs and along leafy avenues, with flowers and birds to enjoy.
We emerged into the township (what a contrast) and made our way to Patchwork Café for lunch. A stroll through the historic artefacts before return via Lachlan River track. This river was extensively damaged during the recent floods and the footbridge had been washed away.
A funny little episode unfolded at the end of the walk where the leaders missed the turn off to get them back to the cars. It was wonderful! Congratulations to all involved.
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Assembling, sorting lunch and setting off..
Around Tynwald Park
To the main footbridge
Coot
Once over the bridge we followed the path beside the river and up above to a rocky outcrop with lovely views of the River Derwent.
Hawthorn in flower
The rocky platform
A bit of a clamber back up to the level of the footpath.
Irises in a garden, unusual maroon and a soft pink.
Pink flowering horse chestnut tree
The steps down to the river bank are steep and twisty, but easy enough for all of us.
A handy little gap in the cliff
Intriguing rock formation
The Esplanade
Leafy avenue of oaks and other trees.
He was looking for a loo. I wonder if he found one.
Patchwork Café
The buildings of the New Norfolk Mental Asylum. A sad past and quite a sad sight today though some people are trying to help it live on.
and grounds...
The Ladies' Cottage (sounds so charming, but it wasn't)
These vehicles have so much history
Heading back, we go past the community garden, which is flourishing.
The Lachlan River used to be choked with vegetation, now it looks quite pretty with water bubbling over the cleaned rocks.
The little return footbridge has been swept away and some walkers were stranded on the wrong side (having sped away in front of the group)
While we waited for them to wander back Tom embarked on building some stepping stones.
And they worked!
This is the correct way to come back to the cars...but not as much fun.
Off home...
Map is pending
In the meantime here is a contribution from a walker on this day
NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF A GOOD STORY by Anon
After an enjoyable lunch at the Patchwork Cafe the group set off on the final journey. This should have taken around half an hour, and would have if it hadn't been for the errant leading group who, preoccupied with their own thoughts and conversations, completely ignored their instructions to turn off at the road, and went straight ahead through the bush.
They rambled along admiring the view and soon could see our parked cars in the distance, beyond the fast moving river. All they had to do now was to continue on a short way until they came to the bridge - or at least that's what they thought. On and on they went but no bridge was to be seen. Before they knew it the path had ended and they were trampling through long thick grass. If there was no bridge how else were they going to cross the river? Soon they came to a cable which went across to the other side and was low enough to be reached (at least by Stuart). However the thought of each one of them clinging to the cable with their hands and feet, propelling themselves horizontally across the river, didn't bear thinking about so this idea was soon dismissed.
On they went, getting further and further away from the cars, the women becoming worried with every step as to what was going to be below their feet (and the men too if they dared to admit it). Eventually Stuart took out his mobile phone and sheepishly phoned one of the main group. Putting his phone back in his pocket he admitted to the rest of the errant group that they should have taken the high road, not the low road, and they would in fact have to turn back.
Outer clothing was being removed as the sun burned hotter and hotter and the path seemed no less dense despite it having been walked through on the way. It seemed like hours since lunch and it was with great relief that the group could now see the cars in the distance. However, they knew that it would still be a long time before they found the road and made their way back.
Just then someone spotted the heroic Tom actually in the water. He was picking up large flat stones and dropping them onto the riverbed. Did this mean the group was expected to ford the gushing river with the help of these stones? When arriving there they were told that this was in fact the intention. The group weighed up the two alternatives and Jay decided that, although she appreciated Tom's efforts, she had a better chance of survival if she made her way back to the main road. The rest of the group decided to give it a go .It was logical that the biggest person should go first to 'test the waters' so, grabbing a big stick, in went Stuart. The force of the water almost unbalanced him but Tom led the way and soon they were both on dry land. This gave the rest of the group sme confidence and in went Marcus, with an even bigger stick. However, halfway across he gallantly stopped, stuck his stick in the water with his left hand and held his right hand out to help the next person across. Off went Maggie, followed by Sylvia then Donna and before long all the women were safely at the other side. That just left Addie who was stripping down to his underwear, not wanting to travel home in soaking wet clothes. With his clothes and shoes held high above his head he tentatively stepped onto the first rock and a big cheer went up when he and Marcus climbed onto the river bank.
It had been decided that nobody would go looking for Jay, as one lost person in a day was enough. We all waited patiently at the riverside and, before dusk, a figure was spotted in the distance. She had made it! There were cheers and whistles as she was reunited with Wayne and we all knew they would have their own celebrations long into the night.
Hot, tired and wet, but relieved and happy, the group made their way back to their cars for the journey home. Who wouldn't be in U3A?
...and the moral of this story is, well I can't actually think of one.
*****
