Sunday, October 3, 2010

"Koala Bear Grilles"

Well, its the long weekend and its pouring. So here was our choice- sit around, or get out and do a bush walk. No contest! Time for a bushwalk. Disclaimer:- The area we walked in is dangerous. People have died and have been lost in this area. Last year an English tourist did the walk we have done but ended up lost in Cedar Valley.Its important to:- 1. Plan your walk and never exceed your fitness level. 2. Tell people where you are going, including family, friends, the authorities eg police, national parks. 3. Walk with a minimum of 2- preferably 3 walkers. 4. Always carry water, enough food for emergencies, fire lighting abilities, first aid kit, and carry the correct clothing. 5. Never exceed your abilities and, if in a group, NEVER walk off, or get ahead of the slowest walker. 6. If you get lost- don't panic, rest, think and relax. The best outcome is one without panic. These basic skill will help you survive and enjoy our rugged wilderness. I hope you will take these following videos in the light they were made!


Our walk commenced at the Golden Stairs descending into the Jamison Valley, following the old railway track towards the 600m ascent to the Ruined Castle. What most people are unaware of is the history of this region and if you look carefully you can see the remains of buildings, fireplaces, and shale mines. There is even one mine you can crawl through from one side of the Narrow Neck cliff line to the other side emerging into the Megalong Valley, its hundreds of metres long and is for experienced cavers only!


It was not too long before we had reached the top with rain bucketing down, wind and clouds racing across the sky. A quick snack of oranges and an energy bar, and we were ready to return, all our clothes and belongings soaked and boots full of water. We picked off leeches when we got home. A top way to spend a few hours!

22 comments:

  1. Ummmmmm did you forget the videos Simon?

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  2. haha so fun... you are just like survivor guy
    ~laura

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  3. Kiwi- please dont refer to me as Simon when I am in koala bear grilles mode- ( whisper- yes I did and they are blurry because of the pouring rain!!)

    Laura- yes thanks!!! ( haaha)! google bear grilles for the pommy survivor guy & I hope you get a laugh :o)

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  4. Sounds great - can we do that in April, mate?

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  5. We have done it mate!

    Pooch its an "Englishman"- we call them "pommies" here

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  6. Hi Simon
    Always fun to see the comments back and forth with aussie slang... and 'pommies'!!! hehehehe

    Bloody internet has been on the blink.. have a temporary reprieve!!! ciao xxx Julie

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  7. oh yes always fun Julie- Get that internet happing!!

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  8. Simon you can't avoid entertaining even in the middle of nowhere !!
    poor David looks frozen !
    it reminds me of the walk i had to do with my parents !
    always pouring, always boring !
    and my parents did not make me laugh at all.
    Unlike you :o)
    xx

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  9. ahahah- david LOVES it for real 100% x

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  10. " This reminds me of my younger days at the Surete police academy.
    The parallel bars... my speciality."

    you'd have say that in front of the hence :o)
    I see the picture !

    "I was known as the Pavlova of the parallels.
    Oh, yes.
    Yes, it's all coming back now.
    Yes, I remember it..."

    ahahahah !!!

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  11. I admit to being a fair weather walker. I don't mind it cold or cloudy, even snow, but not lashings of rain!
    I like the videos, btw.

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  12. Oh, you'd make a great wild-life presenter, this was so much fun (especially the Taj Mahal bit)! My sis' used to live at the foot of Ben Nevis, and knew the rescue crews there - some of these folk that get stuck up there are simply unbelievable. They set off in flip-flop's and shirt sleeves, and take their kids along with them - sheesh!

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  13. Ellee- its not always like that

    Shrinky- yes some people are nuts!

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  14. i watched him fishing catfish. he is craaaazzy
    ~laura

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  15. Laura- I think that a lot of what he does is for the "shock factor"

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  16. I really envoy your adventures in nature...

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  17. Hey Simon, Matt from NoVisibleLycra here. Love your Koala Bear Grylls post and love your blog. Is that really a python in your back garden. Scary stuff! My wife would hate it! Those videos were good, although it looked a bit wet wherever you were. Assuming that there are plenty of wild animals in your woods, unlike ours over here in Blighty! Loved that poem too. Hope this comment finds you well. God knows what time it is over there, but over here it's 1739hrs, time for me to knock off work, well, in about 20 minutes or so.
    All the best.

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  18. Hey, Simon, how's it going? Just to say how much I enjoyed your Koala Bear Grylls post. Looked a bit wet in those woods and I'm assuming that if there's a python in your back garden that you're gonna find some pretty wild animals out in those woods too. Did you camp there? I think my wife would take the first flight back to Blighty if she saw that python in her back garden. No wild animals in our woods, apart from mice and badgers. Loved that poem too in your most recent post. Nice blog all round, by the way, and those pix of al a carte food are making me hungry. Gotta go, it's time to stop work and eat. Hope you're well. Matt (NoVisibleLycra).

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  19. Matt! Hi! I posted both your comments- thanks 100%

    Yes thats a python- she has been with us for 7-8 years now. Lives in the roof above the kitchen and comes out abut this time of year after hybernation. Tell your wife not to worry- they eat mice, and frogs and other things like that. We are close to the bush here so its good to have a "cleaner."

    As for the walk- it was pouring to the point where it filled up my pcokets with water ( waterproofs dont drain! Did not camp though, but do often.

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