Bushwalking

When our furniture arrived from the US, we were met with some disappointment as several pieces were damaged beyond repair. We did what anyone does when they need to buy large quantities of furnishings on the cheap. Head directly to IKEA. Let’s just say Peter was cooped up indoors for days assembling loose parts of particleboard with primitive tools. The outdoors were calling us so we plotted our escape.

After a hour of googling we found a trail called the Hornsby Blue Gum Walk. The Australians consider any undeveloped land “the bush.” So when you are hiking through the bush, you are “bushwalking.” Take it a step further and you are “bushwacking;” fighting through dense vegetation off the path. This hike fell under the bushwalking category, however there were some stretches that involved walking waist deep though fern groves. Don’t think my mind didn’t wander to all of those poisonous critters that inhabit this wild continent. It would have been smart to wear long pants.

We took the train for about a hour north, walked through a wooded neighborhood and were on the trial. We passed prehistoric looking plants, architectural stone formations, dramatic waterfalls and crazy bird noises. Seriously the birds were so loud they sounded like very angry, caged monkeys. We were questioning if there was an animal refuge center nearby. Nope, just the birds.

Australia had been experiencing a huge heat wave and there were signs posted everywhere warning about bushfires. We lucked out in that there was a slight drizzle keeping us cool and out of harm’s way. The biggest concern, mosquitoes.  I packed my Aeroguard spray, tropical strength (It’s the Aussie summer not the mozzie summer)! This bushwalk was the perfect set of training-wheels for more intense adventures down under.