Steventure @steventureau - Tumblr Blog

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

Kingfisher Pool

I was walking along, just enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, as I noticed something in my peripherals. I saw the stripy tail, the colour pattern.

'Oh a blue tongue lizard.' I thought, walking ahead not slowing down.

As I got closer my brain seemed to clock on to the fact that the tail was far too long, and then I realised that it was actually the lower half of a snake as it began to slither.

I jumped in the air with an audible "Jesus fucking Christ!", and my legs did that movement, like trying to run up invisible stairs, as I jumped over it and it slithered away into the bush.

Avon and Nepean Dams

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

Road Trip to Queensland

"The glass house mountains story

Tibrogargan and his wife, Beerwah had nine children, from Coonowrin the eldest down to the youngest, now known as Wild Horse Mountain.

Because Beewah was heavily pregnant, Tibrogargan asked Coonowrin to look after his brother and sisters. But Coonowrin was easily distracted and wasn't paying attention when a large wave swept the baby Wild Horse away. Fortunately. Tibrogargan saved his little son but he and Beerwah were sad about Coonowrin's behaviour and cried tears that formed little creeks.

When Coonowrin saw this he was so ashamed he decided to show his family that he could be a responsible grown-up. He went to the country of the Maroochy people to steal one of the women of that group. But Ninderry, the headman of the Maroochy people, was waiting for Coonowrin and attacked him with his mighty club. Coonowring was lucky to escape with a crooked neck.

Coonowrin's family were impressed with his brave attempt, and welcomed back their young hero.

Today, as we look out across the Glass House Mountains, we can see the eleven members of Tibrogargan's family."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

The traditional custodians of Lake Parramatta Reserve are peoples of the Burramatagal clan of the Dharug language group. Some relics of Aboriginal occupation exist on site in the form of remnant shelters, hand-stencils, flaking scars and midden deposits. Today we welcome you to the reserve and ask that you acknowledge indigenous cultural values, particularly having respect for Earth and all its creatures.

Completed in 1856, the Lake Parramatta reservoir was the first large dam built in Australia. It was made of sandstone blocks quarried onsite as seen today from the Dam Wall Lookout.

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"A scarred tree or scar tree, also known as a canoe tree and shield tree, is a tree which has had bark removed by Aboriginal Australians for the creation of bark canoes, shelters, weapons such as shields, tools, traps, containers (such as coolamons), or other artefacts. Carved trees may also be created as a form of artistic and spiritual expression by some Aboriginal peoples, to mark sites of significance such as burial sites."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Until 1970, between 10% and 30% of all Aboriginal children - up to 100,000 in total - were taken forcibly or under duress from their families by governments, churches, police or welfare officers. Most were under 5 years old. They are known as the 'Stolen Generations'."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

While I walked along, I couldn't help trying to conjure the image of Charles Darwin walking along here back in 1836. I wondered what he had thought about this beautiful area.

I had recently read first the first two books in the Australian History series (Girt and True Girt) by David Hunt which had talked about Charles Darwin hating Australia. "Farewell Australia, I leave … without sorrow or regret." He wrote in his diary.

But as I walked this lush walk, named for the famous naturalist, I thought that surely, he must have enjoyed his stroll along this very area.

Then again, I thought, who's to know what this site looked like 188 years ago. It could have simply been overgrown and look nothing like the lush walk was now, with it's wide-open trails.

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"I stopped in the middle of the little creek, admiring the running water as I watched it flow, looking in both directions. I felt the way I always feel around running water. A weird surreal spiritual connection. A comfort and peace. I wondered where it stemmed from.

Was it my childhood camping holidays every year down in Coolendel and swimming in the rapids? I couldn't give you a reason, maybe there was some sort of inherited instinct, but then, why do we feel the way we do about anything?

The way people view the beach as their church. They love the sand, the waves, the salt water and the sound of gulls. That was how I felt around creeks, rivers, streams and running water."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Looking over the Kedumba River to Mt. Solitary.

Mum-mi-ee is the Gundungarra Aboriginal name for this feature.

The plateau that forms the Blue Mountains has been deeply cut by streams and rivers. The vertical cliffs are made of sand deposited here during the Triassic age (about 250 million years ago). Directly below the cliffs are layers from the Permian age, which include coal deposits formed from about 250 million years ago. Exposed in the depths of the valley are rocks from the Devonian age (about 400 millions years ago). The Blue Mountains is a geologically stable environment, which has allowed the development of unique habitats and micro-climates, home to many plants and animals found nowhere else in the world."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Whibayganba

Whibayganba is a place of cultural significance within the local landscape of Mulubinba.

Whibayganba was an island. Its beginnings and traditions a complex cultural narrative. Stories originating from a past where ancestral beings created Country, and shaped the law and relations between all living things. Their memories are retained, etched, and spoken of in Country, a legacy that links the Dreamtime with the present.

Local lore tells of a great kangaroo concealed in the island who would thump his tail causing earthquakes.

The island was originally a closed off site, surrounded by rocks and turbulent waters. The strong gale force of the winds that batter the island enabled this place to be a suitable refuge to confine a giant kangaroo. The kangaroo remained hidden in Whibayganba.

In 1855 the top of the island was lopped off by the English, and in 1846 they had completed the construction of a breakwater that was started in 1818. The breakwater attached the island to the mainland creating open access to Whibayganba, access that had been denied for thousands of years.

The alterations are against Aboriginal principles of respecting country, maintaining balance and equilibrium and ensuring protections and conservation of sacred places."

'That's a sad story.' I thought, surely one of many very familiar ones around the country.

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Fuck!" I screamed. "FUCK!" At the top of my lungs, pure psychopathic rage, had anyone seen or heard me they would have thought I was insane.

You may think this is a bit of an overreaction, given the day I was having. But this wasn't just about the day. It wasn't about the pie, or the traffic, or the closed walk, or my phone screen. These were today's issues. But this was a build-up. Pent up frustration, anger, anxiety and resentment.

This was years in the making. From the covid lockdowns, to my fractured ankle, to my cancer diagnosis and treatment (all during the pandemic), to returning back to work, which had progressively gotten worse, with no career progression only more work and responsibility with no more pay, with a cost-of-living crisis and issues with my own home life. I had just been thinking to myself lately, what exactly did I beat cancer for? To just be constantly kicked and knocked down? To just continually struggle with only the rare opportunity to travel and adventure. It was the build-up of all these frustrations that caused me to scream alone in my car like a maniac.

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Bomaderry Creek cuts through sandstone to form a spectacular gorge with cliffs and overhangs. The vegetation ranges from lush rainforest in the gullies to dry, open eucalypt forests on cliff tops. The sandstone flora is particularly colourful in spring.

The walks through the park include steps and creek crossings and there are unfenced cliffs.

Please supervise children at all times.

Dogs are allowed in regional parks but must be kept under control and on leashes at all times."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"Why is the Nepalese Peace Pagoda at South Bank Parklands?

The Nepalese Peace Pagoda was originally commissioned and installed at South Bank for Expo 88. Following its success, it became a coveted item, with several international bidders vying to keep it. It remains here today thanks to a generous donation from philanthropists Frank and Myra Pitt, in addition to contributions from Brisbane locals, the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council."

Adventure, travel and hiking blog

"I stopped to admire a scribbly gum tree to my left, always left in awe of them and their scribble patterns. I realised that I could travel the world, I could even move overseas. But the sights, sounds, and smells of Australia would always remain with me. Growing up camping, bushwalking in, hearing its sounds, it had become a part of my soul."

#bid bid creek #bid bid creek loop #currambene state forest #bushwalk #bushwalking blog #bushwalking #steventure #nowra #adventure #travel #dog friendly walk

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Steventure