[SUBW-A] Trip Report - Xmas Walk to the Coxs River and Dalpura Canyon

[David Noble]

Trip Report - Xmas Walk to the Coxs River and Dalpura Canyon

Many of the people in the party visited Dalpura Canyon on the way to  
Blackheath

Dalpura Canyon

Party - Albert, Kim, Alicia, Mary, Wendy, Pete H, Peter B, Nazih,  
Helen, Joan, Nigel, Jessica, Ricarda, Lana, Tom, Pauline, Jamal,  
Dave, Armando, James, Warner, Rob and Dave N

Photos -

http://www.david-noble.net/canyoning/2008/Dalpura/Dalpura.html

We met up at North Richmond outside the bakery and then the convoy of  
cars  travelled to near Bell where we met up again and got gear ready  
for a shot daytrip down the canyon. The start of the track was hard  
to find. It was a little overgrown and vague after recent bushfires.  
But is was not too bad and the big party made fast progress to the  
creek and soon got into the canyon section. This starts with a short  
abseil into a pool. With a large party - and not enough harnesses -  
we had to pass gear back up the rope a few times. A few of the party  
became impatient and decided to jump down the drop. Thanks to Albert  
(Al-Bear) for helping everyone with clipping on the rope and Rob and  
Lana for some bottom belaying.

After the abseil, we continued down the canyon - including a few  
wades (and no swims) - to reach the end of the canyon where the creek  
flows into the Grose Valley. Here the party enjoyed some nice views  
(although some enjoyed them for too long......) and then we headed up  
onto a nice pagoda for lunch. Then back along the ridge through a sea  
of wildflowers - back to the Bell Rd and the cars.

Then we drove to Bell and Blackheath and down to the Megalong Valley  
for the second part of the trip -

Xmas Walk to the Coxs

Party - Albert, Kim, Alicia, Mary, Wendy, Pete H, Peter B, Nazih,  
Helen, Joan, Nigel, Jessica, Ricarda, Lana, Tom, Pauline, Jamal,  
Dave, Armando, Warner, Rob, Ashley, Jo, Ben, Tom G, Adrian, Roger,  
Audrey, Digi Dave, Robert S, Lou Lou and 2 friends (Seamus and ?),  
Greg and Dave N

Photos -

http://www.david-noble.net/bushwalking/Xmas08/Xmas08.html

It took about an hour from the SixFoot Track car park in Megalong  
Valley to reach the campsite on the Coxs River. Most of the party  
reached the campsite around 5 - 6 pm. Then it was decision time - a  
cool beer or a cool swim? Roger solved the problem by cracking open a  
beer ad taking it with him while he had a  swim. The water in the  
river was very pleasant for swimming but the water level could have  
been higher. It was lot higher than it was two years earlier but far  
lower than it was last year. One party member claimed it was a bit  
like the level back in 93, but I thought it was more like the 87  
level. But one thing that was different - was that this year there  
was a  crocodile in the pool as well as a dalmatian (see the  
photos...) This time - many of us in the party warned Armando - not  
to dive in head first. He seemed happy to follow this advice (there  
seems to be no permanent brain damage after an incident a few years  
ago.....)

Then it was time to sit by the fire and prepare food. A large platter  
was available for people to contribute to and enjoy and it was well  
received. As were Kim's chocolate balls that she provided for  
dessert. Food was washed down with some fine wines. Wendy celebrated  
twenty years in Australia with some champagne (which we kept cool on  
ice) - and then Roger L pulled out his twenty year bottle  of Bin  
389.... so it was a very good night.

Lots of people joined in singing songs - including a long rendition  
of the Wild West Show (including some new verses ...."in this corner  
ladies and gentlemen is the Monkey..." and we saw in midnight with a  
spirited performance of the "National Anthem". After that - no more  
singing - it was time for the "traditional" midnight swim - which  
many of the party took part in...... (thankfully the water was not  
too cold)

On Sunday morning we all woke early (around 9am!) and enjoyed jaffles  
by the fire, more swimming, photographing, reading the paper etc.  
Ashley was pleased to meet up with his old mate Rogo who wandered  
past on a bushwalk. Most of the party left in the early afternoon. On  
the way out, some of us met up with Fester, who was in SUBW in  
Roger's day many years ago.

Thanks to all those who came along and made it such a fun trip.

Dave Noble

Note - some people have lost gear - eg one guy lost an mp3 player.  
Please send an email to the chit chat list if you have lost something  
or have some lost property.


________________________________

David Noble
dnoble at ozemail.com.au
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble
http://www.david-noble.net