Trip report
| 1999-04-24 | 4 caving areas in one weekend at Big Hole, Marble Arch, Bendethra & Wyanbene |
| Trip report: | |
| Friday night ....ah yes,,,, a crisp clear night,.,.,. cold....blowing steam clouds,,,,very cold.....most of the team have arrived and after brief greetings we toddle off to bed. Saturday dawns as it usually does down here,,,,,cold.....very cold,,,,,,frost even.....the Shoalhaven is a winding snake of mist,,,,and as usual the Wombats have been busy, balancing their cubic night soil on the slenderest of projections! Similtaneously we defrost the boys, have breky and chase the largest patches of sun around. We head off for a look at the Big Hole,,,,very gingerly crossing the river with pack and Murray (4yrs) on shoulders......the water still looks very cold and now we know why Susan brought her wellies!!! The Hole now sports a big viewing platform courtesy of NPWS and some interpretive signs although I would suggest they got the kilometreage wrong on the Marble Arch trip. The Hole looks the same as ever and we didn`t spot resident Lyrebird. There is now a walking track cut to the Arch, (OK...Its been a while) which pops out on the steep ridge above the Arch. No water flow in the creek but the small cave to the right before the arch had a nice amount of flow. No water flow through the Canyon although the pools were full and slippery,,,,very slippery....bum wetting slippery...eh Kim. The wall efflux cascadey thing was flowing nicely. Lunch and a bit of a cave look. Little to note, no fauna, no rubbish, no vandalism. Wandered back to camp to collect some wood before dark. The night was cold and dark with patches of light towards dawn. Up early (silly really, its still cold) and off to Bendethra for a day. The road in although 4wd (high clearance req'd over 'speed' bumps) is in very good condition and the river crossings are tame compared to some years ago. The cave parking area was very full. About 25 vehicles or about 60 to 70 people. We walked up after lunch and by the time we arrived most people were out of the cave. Noticed some survey tags (ISS?) and surprisingly little rubbish which was duly taken out. (Not the rubbish , just the tags.....hahaha). Strangely enough a pair of bats seen! And after the noisy bunch with the guitar....Spent a fair while wandering around the chamber, looking at old and not so old graffitti. Had dinner in the now deserted carpark and drove out in the dark and played chicken with the kamikaze wombats. Monday saw us wander through the front section of wyanbene for a few hours while the kids played in the shoalhaven. A very relaxing weekend Ta all Rick | |