Lockleys Pylon – Blue Gum Forest Walk – 27-28 October 2012

It was Su Li’s birthday celebration and she chose a great place – Blue Gum Forest. We walked there via Lockleys Pylon from the Leura to Mt Hay Road. In the party were Martin , Col, Mark, Disco Stu, Albert, Su Li and myself. At the campsite at Acacia Flat we were joined by Rik and Wendy who had walked in via Evans Lookout.

On the way out to Lockleys Pylon the wildflowers were magnificent. Particularly in the heath country near the Pylon. One interesting plant we spotted were a couple of white fringe lilies (Thysanotus tuberosus) – the flowers are usually a mauve – purple colour.

We had lunch on the cliff tops in a nice shady spot just before the track descends down the Du Faur Buttress.

We soon arrived at Blue Gum Forest and then made our way to the nearby Acacia Flat campsite. When we got there the place was pretty quiet – only four other campers. But three more parties turned up later in the afternoon.

After setting up our camp – we headed back to Blue Gum Forest for a wander. And it is a great place to wander through. To look up in wonder at the giant trees. To soak in the atmosphere. To appreciate the grandeur of nature. A magic spot. A natural cathedral.

I have tried lately to get some good photos of the forest. I still have not succeeded. I think some more visits are required. If I am lucky I may get some decent light on a future trip. It is a good excuse to return.

Back at Acacia Flat – we celebrated Su Li’s birthday with a great shared feast of food and drink. It was strange to sit around a few stoves rather than a campfire though.

No astro-photography this time – a full moon ruled out star gazing. And in the late morning we had a little rain. I got up early praying again for good light. The light was not what I hoped for but it was still rather special to walk alone through the forest.

After a lazy breakfast and another forest walk, we headed back out the same way we had come in. As we were waiting at the Big Tree (the track junction for Perrys Lookdown, Blue Gum Forest and Lockleys Pylon) – I was astonished to see a few daywalkers who had jsut descended from Perrys Lookdown, they arrived at the bottom, checked their times and then headed off up the valley towards Junction Rock and Govetts Leap. Strange! Why walk all the way down there and not walk through the forest? Blue Gum Forest is one place you cannot visit too many times.

The walk out for us was nice. Our packs were a fair bit lighter with all the food and drink gone. The blue sky had yielded to grey clouds but rain did not threaten. It was a lot cooler than Saturday.

The wildflowers were just as great as they had been the day before on the tops but the softer light made them easier to photograph. I spent a bit of time looking in vain for more white fringe lilies. The flowers from Saturday had gone – they only last a single day. There were hundreds of the purple fringe lilies out and many many other wildflowers on display.

It is a good time of the year to be in the bush.

More photos are on my website here.