Cromwell Explore
1st-2nd October 2016
Saturday started with fog over Lake Dunstan but soon a bright clear Central sky came through for the day. Jac and Karyl walked the Cromwell – Bannockburn Lakeside Walk starting from Old Cromwell. Bev, Dave, Bill and I did the Cairnmuir Track starting on Pigeon Rock Rd on Cornish Point. The DOC track follows several ridgelines up the Cairnmuir Range. When the ground is barren – the smallest flora and fauna become larger in perspective. Thyme, Bidibid, California Poppy, Kowhai and Hebe were all in flower. Dave spotted a Yellowhammer sitting on a rock. Over 3-4 metres, Bev saw a lot of black fluffy caterpillars which possibly were the caterpillars of the Magpie Moth, which we had seen earlier in the day. Bill sniffed out an old water race enroute – a short cut to the hut. It took 3 hours to reach the large Cairnmuir Musterer’s Hut, it contained a table and no bunks. The hut is still in good condition. We got back to the vehicles by 4pm and after dropping off Bill, we went back to camp to catch up on Jac and Karyl. On Sunday, we went for a short walk out to the Bannockburn sluicings on Felton Rd. Here we were humbled by the sheer hard labour that went into gold exploration.
Many Thanks for your company Karyl, Jac, Bev, Bill, and Dave.
Bess
