For a long time now I have been wanting to introduce Millie to an overnight bushwalk. In October we organised the kids to be looked after with the grandparents and headed into the Blue mountains loaded with gear. I wanted to walk down into the Blue gum forest in the Grose Valley near Blackheath. I had good memories of the walk from years before, although I couldn't remember it in much detail. I did have some advice that it might be a bit hard for a first walk, but I thought that it would be ok.
Our plan was to park the car at Govetts Leap (a leap is a name for a waterfall) and then walk around to Evans lookout and down into the Gross Valley. Unfortunately the track was closed due to a landslide, but we didn't find this out until we had reached Evan's lookout. It was a bit discouraging getting back to the car for lunch 3 hours later only to be beginning the walk. I tried to be positive about the experience as it was a really nice walk, but I am not sure that Millie was convinced.The walk down Govetts leap is quite steep and a bit slippery, especially with a heavy pack. You can just make out the path along the cliff in the photo below. It really is a long way down and when you get to the bottom of the falls you are only at et beginning of the journey downwards. Unfortunately I was carrying a bit more than I normally do and the constant downhill was really playing with my knee. MIllie was getting very sore ankles from her boots, which were not worn in properly. No amount of first aid work was able to stop the pain so it was pretty difficult going. I have to say that she did quite well despite the pain. There were quite a few times where I questioned the choice of walks. The difficulty of the walk into blue gum forest is that you need to walk back out. There is not other way out but to climb out one of the steep ascents. I did wander how it was going to be possible to do it in her condition.
