Bangalee

I had bought an inflatable boat and the plan was to paddle up the Wollondilly River at Goodmans Ford. But as usual plans are made to be broken. Predicted temperatures were to reach 40* so Plan B was  to head to the coast and paddle up the Crooked River at Gerroa.  Driving down after work, I spent an uncomfortable night at a lookout over the Kangaroo Valley after strong, gusty winds forced me out of the cot tent and into the car to try to sleep. Next morning at Gerroa the wind was so strong that I couldnt have paddled in the inflatable. The car was actually rocking in the wind when I parked on Black Head at Gerroa.

So, a quick rethink, and I headed off to Bangalee on the Shoalhaven River for a walk of 5.9klm. Temps still in the high 30's but not too bad in the wind. 

Bangalee is an area of old settlements on the Shoalhaven River. The walk starts at a nice picnic area with a wharf before heading down river through a track cut through the weeds and lantana on the river bank. 

It then climbs and follows the ridge  with views back over the Shoalhaven River. 

Two small cemeteries of the pioneering families are on the loop. One up on the ridge in very rocky and dry forest/scrub and the other under the ridge in more of a rainforest area. 

The loop then crosses the road to another lookout on the cliffs over the forest. 

and down to a lovely forest glen along a creek (dry). 

Coming back to the river under the ridge cliffs, a very picturesque fig tree. 

Not bad for a Plan C walk. Would be better with a little less weed and a little less dry.