Trip report
| 2004-03-13 | Caving & canoeing at Nangawary & Basin View |
| Trip report: | |
| The club decided that they should use the area knowledge of Pete Brown, albeit being about 20 years since he visited Nangawary on a Kates’ trip. The Burton, Bowman, Davies and Hamel vehicles left Sydney on Friday night all about the same time, 6:30pm and arrived at Basin View a tad after 10:00pm. The TC missing Wool road by a 1K or 2, being tail gated by another 4wd! “Looks like a full house Rod!†Several tents went up out on the grass up the side. The campers were harassed by Kangaroo’s later in the night because their track was blocked by the tents! The Basin View group had arrange to meet the Saturday morning arrivals @ the Navy Jet in Nowra. Problem was the TC did not know the old jet had been removed yonks ago! Oh well there is always the Jet Helicopter just over the bridge! Seeing it was Rick’s idea to meet @ the bridge, he offered to drive back and look for PB. Sharon, Kim and boys wandered off for a tour of the local cemetery. (Graham) “Ouch. There’s something in my shoe!†(Kim)â€Show me.†“Take it off†“Ah that’s where my earrings got to!†After finally rounding everyone together we set off to find the caves at the end of the fire trail. Spreading out the group searched the cliff line whilst the water skiers zipped past on the river below. Entrance to N5 and N3 were located first. Then Phoneey’s Cave-N7 about 20m East. PB rigged a hand line into Kangaroo Cave and Glen and Sharon helped showed the visitors into a harness. It is an amazing sandstone cave system. About a 300 – 400m long natural rift running parallel to the cliff edge. It was great being able to split up extra large group and almost be caving all at once. Phil and Glen found the cliff line entrance into N7 and met up with Dave T, Sharon and Simone. Back on the surface the TC waited above N7 seeing if Rod needed a hand to help Mike back up the rift. After much grunting and pushing Mike appeared looking a little knackered. The TC went in N7 to look for Charley and Phil almost stuck in the tight rift. Then we convinced Sharon and the girls to venture into N7 down the 60-degree slope. Well into the tight rift.(Simone to Sharon) “How did you squeeze through there so easily?†“I just did it.†(Sharon) “I’m not really a caver! Just married to one!†After about four hours of exploring all the rifts and extensions the group met back on the surface for some lunch. Phil caught a baby Goanna scurrying away up a nearby gum tree. The girls convinced him to let it be free! After lunch Rod and Glen tied in all the cave tag numbers on the sketch maps and searched for the Western entrances that PB mentioned. We noted N1 & N2 on the cliff line below the large rotten fig tree. The TC checked out some rock climbs for the next visit. Back in Basin View after visiting the shops in Nowra the club lazed around Rod’s mums place having pre-dinner drinks and cups of tea and coffee. PB had picked up some maps and trip reports from Evelyn Crabb in Nowra. Found a map on a sandstone cave area near Bomaderry. Ron found out he had locked his car keys in the boot! A phone call for rescue was needed. No not the NRMA, the good wife back in Sydney! “Honey can you drive down with the spare keys?†Sunday morning was spent out on the Lake canoeing around in various types of craft. Next time we will rig the Catamaran up go for a blast across the lake! A great weekend all round. Thanks Rod B! See you all at Bungonia Caves. Glen B (TC) | |