Day # 162 - 164

---

Walking shoes on and feeling fit we tackled the Fletcher Bay to Stoney Bay Track. This track was a lot busier than I expected. Most of the walkers had been dropped off by shuttle at either end and were only walking one way. But we were feeling fit (or perhaps stupid) and thought we would do the return trip (DOC sign says 3 ½ hr one way). The track leads over some fairly nice farmland before it then heads into bush and zig zags its way to Stoney Bay. Just over the hill from Port Jackson is a small bay that looks out to Square Top Island. Today a fisherman was out on the beach trying to catch his dinner. Further on and after a steep descend you end up in Poley Bay. This part of the track is probably the worst of the track and quite a grind out on the Fletcher Bay side. From here it takes about an hour to the lookout then another hour and half to the beautiful Stoney Bay. The DOC camp at Stoney Bay was empty, obviously Port Jackson and Fletcher Bay are the preferred camps in this area. Overall a well maintained track with lovely views out to Great Barrier, Cuvier Islands, and another good track for the adventurous runners. For all the mountain bikers, there is a track for you that forks off from the walking track by the hut (Fletcher Bay side) and ends up in Stoney Bay. It’s a grade 3 according to DOC but there are some strong warnings regarding slippery conditions and steep drops (no backpacks?). The track ended up taking us 5 ½ hours which included a quick lunch break and some photo stops. I think we don’t realise how much fitter and faster we are getting, we passed a fair few dawdlers today but they perhaps didn’t have to worry about time as they were only walking one way.

Day 164

My backside muscles have seized and it’s been a day of recuperating and eating. Lance has been fine tuning his scone making skills so a batch of savoury scones is on the menu. The weather is still blowing and the sea still too rough to get out boating. Looks like it’s time to pick up another book😊.

---

Comments

[Tim]

Photo credit
Nice pis, please drop an email regarding this photo when you have a sec.