Bucolic Paddle

Lately my days off have either had temps in the high 30's or been wet. A blue sky day with temps in the low 30's and time for a paddle on the Wingecarribee River at Moss Vale. I put in behind the weir at Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve and paddled upstream. Not sure how far I could get but a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

After the lake formed by the weir the river narrowed down to a willow lined meander through the paddocks. 

Until the way was stopped by another dam across the river with the flow piped through. This was about 4.25klm from the launch point making a 9klm return paddle. 

Taking a break and walking up the embankment showed another pondage with the river diverted to an overflow. 

A rustic blue sky paddle 

What are you looking at,you donkey. 

Back at Cecil Hoskins. 

Newcastle to Blacksmiths

With an early start after about 5 hours sleep, I drove to Blacksmiths and caught a bus into Newcastle and was walking by 0830. The forecast temp was to be under 30 and the day started out cloudy. I had not however expected the strong southerly wind which I was pushing into all day. 

The Hunter River 

Nobbys Beach for my morning coffee to kick start the walk. 

Then under Flagstaff Hill to Newcastle Beach. Last time I had walked here in may 2015 big seas were breaking over the Newcastle Baths. Today they were closed and full of sand. 

looking back over Newcastle Beach as I head up through Prince Edward Park to Shepherds Hill 

The Anzac Walkway on Shepherds Hill 

Views from the walkway back over Newcastle Port 

and south to Bar Beach and Merewether  

The headland on the horizon is Red Head and the half way point of this walk. 

From Merewether looking north to Shepherds Hill 

Then on to Burwood Beach 

which joins Glenrock Beach. 

A exposed coal seam and whats left of an old railway on the edge of the beach. 

Glenrock Lagoon

Little Redhead Point at the end of Glenrock Beach. 

Starting the climb ip Little Read Head looking back over Glenrock. 

Through a stunted Spotted Gum forest 

and down to Dudley Beach 

Dudley Beach rock platform with Shepherds Hill and Flagstaff Hill on the horizon. 

Through Awakabal Nature Reserve at Red Head 

Finally down to Red Head beach for some nice fish and chips for lunch at the kiosk.

Leaving Red Head its a long walk south to Blacksmiths on Nine Mile Beach with the wind still strong from the south.

Looking back to Red Head 

Crokers Creek lagoon 

The end is in sight. The wind had dried the sand  and it was a hard "soft" walk on the beach. 

The breakwater at the entrance to Lake Macquarie 

Looking across at Swansea Heads 

From here it was only a short walk back to the car at Blacksmiths and the end of this 32klm section of the coast.