More caching adventures today
I headed out to the Z bend for a very interesting couple of caches and some drama.
Currently I am visiting Kalbarri during the school holidays.
Today I have decided to visit the Z bend in the national park.
On my way I stopped at the now re-opened lookout at Meanarra. This had been closed due to upgrade works and the track from the carpark is now a concrete wheelchair access path. There are also now shelters with seats to enjoy the view and a toilet.
After taking some photos I continued on to the national park entry and on to the Z bend car park.
I first walked down along the 4 ways trail to the river. This is a really beautiful trail and down at the river I found a nice spot in the sun to have my lunch and rest.
I explored the nearby area taking photos then headed back up the trail to the carpark.
I refilled my water bottle and set off on the river trail, first diverting to the lookout to enjoy the magnificent views down to the river below.
There is an earthcache at this spot so I was able to get the required information to complete the questions.
Signs of ancient life at Z-bend GC7KPGQ
I continued on the river trail bringing me to a series of steep descents into a narrow rock crevice, at times using provided ladders.
Above loomed overhanging rock ledges dripping water down into the narrow crevice. Negotiating tight twists and turns, scrambling down steep steps and over scattered boulders, the path soon opened out into an amphitheatre filled with tumbled boulders and some gnarly old gum trees whose roots spread out, desperately clutching onto the rocky ground through any crevice they could find.
The multi layered cliffs loomed overhead and the river lay before me with the afternoon sun lighting up the cliff face on the other side.
I pulled out the phone to take some photos and opened up the App to see that the cache was not far away but across the other side of the river. After reading previous logs it seemed I would need to climb up quite high to reach the cache.
To cross the river I made my way upriver looking for a safe crossing and an access which did not require a difficult climb up the sheer cliff face.
I came to an area where I could rock hop across and make my way up the cliff to a large flat shelf then make my way back towards GZ.
As I got closer I was able to scramble up some smaller rock faces and through a some scrubby bushes to GZ. A short search revealed a tell tale rock pile in a crevice and the cache was soon located. It's always nice to find an ammo can and they always get a favourite point from me.
From GZ I could see up to the lookout point and some of the viewers were calling out into the valley.
With the log book signed and the cache replaced in its hidey hole the sun was now getting lower in the afternoon sky so it was time to tackle the tricky return trip.
I was able to weave my way down, crisscrossing along the cliff face picking the easier way down. At the bottom I could rock hop across and begin making my way back to the carpark.
I had negotiated the crevice and begun the less difficult part of the trail. I was feeling quite exhausted from such a strenuous day of walking rocky trails, climbing up and down steep cliffs and rock hopping over rivers, my legs were struggling to keep up the work but I was now not far from the carpark and pushed myself on.
A slightly larger step presented to me and I lunged up but my tired leg gave out, I lost my balance and started to topple back down. I thrust my left leg out to stop my fall and instantly feel a sharp pain in my upper leg and something snap in my hamstring. It feel like I had been hit with a stick and my leg collapsed under me, I was able to steady myself by falling back onto the step I had been trying to climb up.
The pain in my leg surged and I felt faint and dizzy, I forced myself to take long deep breaths until the pain started to subside.
Movement caused the pain to shoot through my leg and I sat and wondered how I would make it back to my vehicle.
As I sat waiting to see how I would be able to continue, another walker was returning from the bottom and asked if I was OK. I explained what had happened and he offered to help me back to the carpark.
Using his help I was able to hobble back to my car and back to my accommodation.
That evening I sat on an ice pack and with the help of some panadol I was able to make my way around but I could see that I would have a few days of very little activity ahead.
Despite my mishap I had a very enjoyable day and was glad to be able to log a couple of more smilies on the map.
I headed out to the Z bend for a very interesting couple of caches and some drama.
Currently I am visiting Kalbarri during the school holidays.
Today I have decided to visit the Z bend in the national park.
On my way I stopped at the now re-opened lookout at Meanarra. This had been closed due to upgrade works and the track from the carpark is now a concrete wheelchair access path. There are also now shelters with seats to enjoy the view and a toilet.
After taking some photos I continued on to the national park entry and on to the Z bend car park.
I first walked down along the 4 ways trail to the river. This is a really beautiful trail and down at the river I found a nice spot in the sun to have my lunch and rest.
I explored the nearby area taking photos then headed back up the trail to the carpark.
I refilled my water bottle and set off on the river trail, first diverting to the lookout to enjoy the magnificent views down to the river below.
There is an earthcache at this spot so I was able to get the required information to complete the questions.
Signs of ancient life at Z-bend GC7KPGQ
I continued on the river trail bringing me to a series of steep descents into a narrow rock crevice, at times using provided ladders.
Above loomed overhanging rock ledges dripping water down into the narrow crevice. Negotiating tight twists and turns, scrambling down steep steps and over scattered boulders, the path soon opened out into an amphitheatre filled with tumbled boulders and some gnarly old gum trees whose roots spread out, desperately clutching onto the rocky ground through any crevice they could find.
The multi layered cliffs loomed overhead and the river lay before me with the afternoon sun lighting up the cliff face on the other side.
I pulled out the phone to take some photos and opened up the App to see that the cache was not far away but across the other side of the river. After reading previous logs it seemed I would need to climb up quite high to reach the cache.
To cross the river I made my way upriver looking for a safe crossing and an access which did not require a difficult climb up the sheer cliff face.
I came to an area where I could rock hop across and make my way up the cliff to a large flat shelf then make my way back towards GZ.
From GZ I could see up to the lookout point and some of the viewers were calling out into the valley.
With the log book signed and the cache replaced in its hidey hole the sun was now getting lower in the afternoon sky so it was time to tackle the tricky return trip.
I was able to weave my way down, crisscrossing along the cliff face picking the easier way down. At the bottom I could rock hop across and begin making my way back to the carpark.
I had negotiated the crevice and begun the less difficult part of the trail. I was feeling quite exhausted from such a strenuous day of walking rocky trails, climbing up and down steep cliffs and rock hopping over rivers, my legs were struggling to keep up the work but I was now not far from the carpark and pushed myself on.
A slightly larger step presented to me and I lunged up but my tired leg gave out, I lost my balance and started to topple back down. I thrust my left leg out to stop my fall and instantly feel a sharp pain in my upper leg and something snap in my hamstring. It feel like I had been hit with a stick and my leg collapsed under me, I was able to steady myself by falling back onto the step I had been trying to climb up.
The pain in my leg surged and I felt faint and dizzy, I forced myself to take long deep breaths until the pain started to subside.
Movement caused the pain to shoot through my leg and I sat and wondered how I would make it back to my vehicle.
As I sat waiting to see how I would be able to continue, another walker was returning from the bottom and asked if I was OK. I explained what had happened and he offered to help me back to the carpark.
Using his help I was able to hobble back to my car and back to my accommodation.
That evening I sat on an ice pack and with the help of some panadol I was able to make my way around but I could see that I would have a few days of very little activity ahead.
Despite my mishap I had a very enjoyable day and was glad to be able to log a couple of more smilies on the map.
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