The Great North Walk 2006: Day 3 - Hornsby to Berowra Waters (Ursula)

In order for you to appreciate my thoughts on day 3 of the Great North Walk you will need to know a little bit about day 2 for me as it was my first day . Unfortuantely I wasn't able to participate on day 1 as at that time there wasn't any vacancies. Thanks go to the walk co-ordinator, Anne, for allowing me to join in.

Having not been on many bush walks of this magnitude I though I was up for the challenge so of course like most of you, have enrolled to complete the full course.

In anticipation of my first walk I had packed and re-packed my backpack several times over with the belongings I thought I needed. I must have been so excited I found I could hardly sleep. I woke up every couple of hours as a I had a fear that I would sleep through the alarm. When it was time for the alarm to go off I was already awake, staring at it. I managed to crawl out of bed and get ready. I was able to catch an earlier train, an express from Wyong only I didn't incorporate the reduced travel time. Normally, this would be a benefit to most communters but it is was a hinderance to me as it meant that I had arrived 50 minutes early at Hornsby station. Due to missing the briefing and Day One, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting any of my walking companions prior to this day. Therefore, I found that I was pacing up and down the train station, ready to question any person who had a obvious backpack. My apologies go out to all the backpackers that I mistakenly assumed were bushwalkers. Relief ensued when I finally found one of you.

After introductions and a discussion concerning walk requirements I realised that I didn't have enough water so I purchased another litre just in case and loaded up the back pack a bit more. MY GOD SUCH OBSTACLES and the walk hadn't even started.

Day 2 of the walk was every thing I hoped it would be, challenging, exhausting, beautiful and a very social event. My only complaints, were a sore toe and shoulders. I can live with that.

Now to Day 3.

I gained many valuable tips about appropriate gear so on day three I was armed with a new backpack with hip and sternum straps, so I didn't have to endure any more shoulder pain, a pair of zip off pants so I didn't have to carry shorts and some gaiters, simply to keep out leaches.

On the Friday evening, prior to my walk, I had visitors so I decided that this time I would even have a glass of wine. My visitors left in the early hours of Saturday morning so I had very little sleep. This time when the alarm went off I certainly wasn't ready for it. I fumbled around in the dark trying desperately to turn it off when I managed to knock it onto the floor where it broke apart, but still kept going off. In the end, I decided it was easier to pull the cord out from the socket, when that was over I tripped on the vacuum on the way to turning on the light and dropped a bottle of creme on the bathroom floor. I had the hide to say my husband was noisy in the morning!!!!!!

Today the walk was from Hornsby to Berowra Waters so train travel was not an option this I was kindly given a lift by Linda, Melissa and Anne. There kindness was much appreciated. I found this section of the walk to be more challenging than Day 2, particularly for my feet as I had bandaged my toes, utilising another great tip gained from day 2. Due to this I didn't make allowances for the blisters I would gain on my heels as my shoes were that much tighter. Relief was found when I was provided with blister packs during the walk. For those that don't know these are like padded gel bandaids and are certainly an essential item to carry in each backpack.

I was quite suprised to see so many individuals and groups also on the walk. i was amazed to see two roosters that are apparently a regular sight at that part of the walk and have apparently been there for a number of years.

Morning tea was gained only when you reached the top of a large hill that opened out into a camp ground. After a short break we continued on leading down to Cross Lands. On the way we saw ducks and numerous schools of fish. If only I had more time and a fishing rod!!

Our well earned lunch stops was had a Crosslands which is a larged grassed picnic area where it is a beautiful and tranquil place for families to come and relax, eat, BBQ, canoe, walk and maybe fish.

The end section of the walk was certainly the hardest section, once I found out that we had another 7-8 kilometres to go!!!!

There was a large section of uphill terrain so at the top of one section numerous lollies were consumed by all, to provide an instant energy boost. We made it to the top and the view was well worth all the effort. This in my opinion is the most spectacular view of the scenery so far. the remainder of the walk was somewhat easier, but still hard going as it was all downhill. At the top you could look down and view the boats moored at Berowra Waters and it was pleasing to note that they were getting closer as we were nearing our destination at Berowra Water's ferry. Our guide offered beers to the first ten people to make it down and whether serious or not, it certainly made people to pick up the pace so much so that I tripped but managed to stay up. We all made it safely to the bottom after a slight hiccup in directions and regained the track.

Beers and icecreams and cool drinks were consumed by all.

We are all looking forward to day 4 which promises to be the hardest day of the whole walk. God help my poor toe.

Ursula