Two day walks were scheduled on the weekend of 13th and 14th July so I decided to join both walks.

The Saturday walk was one of Charles and Lee's regular monthly walks. The Cascades walk had just recently been reopened after sustaining damage during a rain event earlier in the year so Charles decided to do that walk for this month. I usually try to get to the meeting point on time but left in a bit of a hurry and forget the camera. I realised I had forgot the camera on route to the visitor centre and that I could be late if I returned home then walked to the visitor centre. So I phoned Charles and asked if he could advise my lift provider to pick me up along Erskine Street.

We met the leader and the rest of the party at Thungutti Campground where we completed the formalities before setting off along the Tea Tree Falls Track to Toms Cabin. We followed the link track to join the Lyrebird Track along the escarpment. The day was overcast but clear so we had some views over the valleys of the Bellinger and Macleay Rivers along the way. We stopped for a break where the track drops off the escarpment and follows the cliffs then continued on to Robinsons Knob Trail and the seat commemorating John Williams who explored the areas botany and discovered new species including the rare Silver Sword Lily (Neoastelia spectabilis) which is now only found along Five Day Creek where we were heading to.

We followed the Cascades Track through the Cool Temperate Rainforest with many large Antarctic Beech Trees. As the track descends towards Five Day Creek there are a few Coachwoods which grow in Warm Temperate Rainforest. It felt a few degrees warmer in the Warm Temperate Rainforest and along Five Day Creek. We stopped for lunch where the track meets the creek. We then continued along the Cascades Track following Five Day Creek upstream past the Silver Sword Lilies and the sections of the track that had been damaged by fallen trees. Some sections along the creek were slippery so we exercised extreme care not to slip and be injured. The track eventually rejoins Robinsons Knob Trail which we followed back to Thungutti Campground where we thanked Charles and Lee for another great walk before driving back to Armidale.

On Sunday Julie had a much smaller group of four. Three of the group met at the visitor centre then drove to Dangars Falls where we met Meg. We then set off across the footbridge and followed the track to the first lookout where we could observe Dangars Falls plunging over the cliffs to the pool below. Recent rainfall meant the falls were running well. We then continued along the track stopping for a break near the log seat which provides a good view of the gorge of Mihi Creek. We then continued along the track descending to the saddle and the knoll which provides a good view of the gorge of Salisbury Waters downstream to Long Point in the distance. We then descended the steep track down to Salisbury Waters where we enjoyed lunch under the Grey Myrtles and the nearby River Oaks. It was also a bit warmer down in the gorge as well.

After lunch we returned to the car park the same way ascending the track to the first saddle then to the track junction near Sarum Hill Lookout. We continued along the track gradually regaining our elevation until the track drops down to the footbridge then up the final ascent back to the cars. We said farewell to Meg and drove back to Armidale.

So here is a little trivia quiz for our members. The theme of the story is a weekend amongst the Fagales. So who can identify the Fagales which were spotted on both days. The Sunday Fagales look quite different to the Saturday Fagales but when examined closely they do have similar features. Take a look at my post on the club's Facebook page and leave a comment for the photos you think might be the Fagales. The answer may not be immediately apparent and may require a closer look to identify the Fagales in the photos. Both species are mentioned in this report along with others which are not Fagales using only their common names.

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