Day 60 Manning Gorge

 After testing out the waters in Manning Creek yesterday, and knowing it was somewhat rather chilly, we opted to do the walk a bit later in the morning, in a vain attempt to hope the water would be warmer. The group ventured to Manning Creek, and there were blue plastic 100L drums that had been cut in half, that we could use to ferry across the water your shoes and backpacks. One of the other people in the queue for the drums, kindly swam to the other side to bring them across. We loaded our gear in the drums and I climbed into my blown up tyre inner tube, and we all took deep breaths as we stepped into the freezing waters, and Matt pushed the inner tube with me in the middle, trying to stay dry, to keep my central venous line from being submerged. Poor Matt, it wasn’t hard while the water was shallow enough for him to wade in, but then there was a sudden drop off and it became very deep,  and he had to paddle and push me. But we all made it across the creek, safely to the other side. We dried off and Matt went and hid the inner tube, for the return trip. We headed along the 5km return track to Manning Gorge. We clambered up rocky sections, where there were several stacks of rocks that you could add to as you walked past, through sections of tall grasses, with a few holly grevillea, wattle, and gum trees. When we were high enough, if you looked behind, you could see a rocky escarpment in the distance. There was no evidence of any gorge if you looked in the direction we were heading, it was well hidden. Eventually the path involved a lot more rock and we were going up and down small rocky hills and valleys, until we were  near the gorge and then it was all downhill, slowly, slowly, with big steps over the rocks. As we entered the gorge, we had bigger rocks to climb down, we passed some faded Indigenous rock art, and then finally reached the rocks beside the water. They were dark brown and black and very smooth, and quite slippery. There was a waterfall, and large deep, rock pools with deep green, clear waters, a sandy beach and smaller cascades heading down the gorge. There were several groups of people sitting on the rocks in the middle, soaking up the sunshine and the beautiful waterfall, and the relatively short rocky gorge cliffs around us. Kids were jumping in from a rock ledge, people were sitting under the waterfall, others floated about in the water with pool noodles. If we thought the water in Manning creek was cold, then this water was much cooler again, but Matt and our friends braved it, and went in for a swim. I enjoyed just looking our for floating logs in the lower pool, and just again enjoyed absorbing in the atmosphere and surroundings. Matt was more than happy to step out of the water and join our mate Ian and myself and sit on the rock in the sun. Matt’s favourite red dragonfly was flittering about, so he was able to get a good photo this time, as it seemed to not be fearful of him at all, and let him even touch its wings. Matt had his lunch and we took our selfie, before heading back. 

We had to climb up the rocks we had climbed down, and through all the rocky hills and valleys. It doesn’t take much to make me bruise, so my shins are all colours of the rainbow from all the little knocks and bumps against the rocks. It wasn’t too hot and the walk was quite pleasant, but my energy was waning, so I was glad when we did reach Manning Creek, for our return trip across. Matt retrieved the hidden inner tube, and some people also about to cross, were jealous of me, but we explained it was to keep a medical device dry. People are just usually polite and nod blankly, and don’t ask anything further. I was able to paddle backwards until I bumped into the big rock in the middle, and Matt then turned me around and pushed me along until we reached the other side. I climbed out and waited with our gear, while he paddled back to the other side with the blue plastic drum for the people on the other side, but luckily someone had met him half way and took them from there.

We returned to Bridget for a welcome ice block and afternoon rest. Matt meanwhile worked on troubleshooting an electrical charging issue in Ian’s Trailways. Another relaxed afternoon after our big walk, and dinner together around the fire. Some people we had met today and yesterday joined us for the conversation after dinner around the fire. A lovely evening spent hearing their stories and you discover things like the seven degrees of separation, and one of them had worked with one of my cousins in Tamworth Base Hospital. We have met some interesting people and heard some great stories on this trip.