Barren Grounds for Illawarra Views : May 23 2024

Been mulling over a few different places to walk. Settled on Barren Grounds Nature Reserve which is accessible from Broughton Vale down below and Jameberoo from above. Did the drive around to the top up Jamberoo Mountain. Only ever cycled down this road - it is steep and risky.

The idea was to walk Griffiths Trail which is a 7 km loop along the top and dropping down to Stone Bridge. Decided to walk clockwise to take in Illawarra Lookout first.

Termite mound on the way out

Sundew flower is a clue about the ground. It is a large flat plateau which is quite wet. Not a lot of topsoil on top of the sandstone base

No shortage of mushrooms - these small ones catching the afternoon sun

A few banksia flowering

Surprised to find epacris longiflora flowering - there were a few

2nd clue about how soggy - drosera base

Did find a seeded orchid - looks like fringed midge orchid. Too bad I did not soend time to get a photo in focus. But it could be the closest to an orchid

Views from the lookout looking north - the TV mast is on Mt Keira above Woolongong

Looking east over Jamberoo toward Kiama

As the path dropped lower it was a bit more rainforest - not surprised to find chiloglottis orchid leaves - ruffled edges and lack of buds suggest chiloglottis diphylla

Tree blown over. The diameter is 20 foot across and the roots are shallow. Sandstone base again tells the story. On the right is a sawn of trunk. This is smaller than the trees down. This tree has come down from the track above and taken the big tree out

A tiny flash of purple also in a wet terrain. It is a carnivorous bloodwort

Service trail access to the north offers another view of Mt Kiera - the TV tower

Walking in the bush so much hones the eye - this caterpillar in the light less than an inch long

This one surprised me - an upside down flower in flower. Photographer did turn it right side up

Saddleback trig beacon. This struck me as a bit change. When I was in the army we depended on paper maps and compass navigation. For this we looked for the trig beacons. This one is now completely obscured by the bush. Nobody could see it to take a bearing. All done by GPS now - fine if one has signal. There was here.

View south from the lookout. The curve of the beach is Seven Mile Beach.

Looking north to Mt Keira and the Southern Tablelands

Chose not to walk this way- could run out of daylight

Progress report - 3kms done and now to walk back

Were a few trigger flowers out - a bit late

Lots more chiloglottis orchids on the way back but no flowers

These growing right in the middle of the track behind a rock

Puffer mushroom

A brown mushroom in the open showing its shape

The mates nearby were pushing through the strimmed grass

Wattle flower - cotton candy

Back to the map. Next time I will hesd down this way to the Stone Bridge and double back

Just off the car park was this building called The Lodge. It is recently made up with new bunk beds - no mattresses suggests it is not used. Pity as it would be a very peaceful place to stay in for a weekend.

Not exactly a walk for orchids but good to out and free. Spring will be amazing

Stopped at Berry Markets on the way home. Bought some fruit and veges and a bottle of local gin. One of my favourites called Sublime from South Coast Distillers

Dinner: Airfryer tapas plus pizza.

Trade action: Uranium - YCA.L, KAP.IL, FUU.TO.

This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io

Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking, Shopping