Roberts Irwin Quarry, Thurs 28 Apr 2022, 8:15

It was a cool start, but it didn't take long to warm up. 

Ian's becoming quite the expert on using his phone delay timer! 

There were a few rocky bits....

....and lots of hills.

Kerncliff McNally Side Trail, Mon 25 Apr 2022, 8:45

Once again, we beat the forecast of rain and had a pleasant dry hike -- although it was warmer than expected and the result was much stripping of clothes. There was evidence of new growth and also wildlife at work, from chewed trees to a honeycomb apparently abandoned by a hairy-footed digger bee (so says the app Seek) to a Dekay's brownsnake (also Seek). And of course, there were lots of Homo sapiens at play. 

There were many clumps of bloodroot in their glory

More rock than mud

Some critter had done a thorough job here

Our leader Karen takes a break

Gathering round

Abandoned honeycomb

RBG North Shore Extended, Mon 23 April 2022, 8:00

 17C and the predicted rain never materialized. 10 hikers joined Richard for an awesome wildlife day: three snakes, five deer, two frogs, a turtle and birds galore! 

On the boardwalk

Richard regales us with one of his jokes
"....... and give him a $"

Some of the wildlife our sharp-eyed hikers spotted.

Capturing the first magnolia blossoms of the season.

Indian Ridge - Taplow Creek, Thurs 21 Apr 2022, 9:00

 It was about 10C and many of us questioned our decision to hike as the rain came down on the drive to the trailhead, but as is often the case, the rain stopped as we emerged from our cars. 

 

"We finally found something older than us"

We were a little early for the spring flowers.

Rain ponchos made for a colourful group.