Caves to Caves - Part IV – Boyd River

Our camp at Boyd River was beautiful, but at 1250 metres above sea level was rather chilly.  We set up camp quickly decided that we would spend the afternoon inside the tent playing games and reading the Muddle Headed Wombat.  The rain was now coming down in a good steady way, and our relief at being at the top of the plateau after our journey here was immense.

I reflected on our previous few hours and realised that perhaps we had bitten off a bit more than we could chew by coming along the Kowmung River Fire Trail, but the satisfaction of taking on the track and emerging triumphant was intoxicating (or was that the celebratory beer or two?).  Jo confided in me that although our situation wasn't exactly pleasant, she was comforted in the fact we had the Personal Locator Beacon in the glove box.  We also were trialing a SPOT Messenger and my parents had lent me their satellite phone for the trip.  She was extremely confident that if all went to custard, at least she could get the kids (and her too no doubt) into a nice warm bed for the night...

The following morning we adventured to Kanangra Walls.  The spectacular escarpment highlighted the difficulties faced by the early European explorers as they tried to find a pass over the mountains.  The views were simply stunning, and well worth a few moments contemplation on how old Australia is.  The sandstone is about 400 million years old, the same age as the limestone that forms the karst systems at nearby Jenolan and Wombeyan caves, long before the age of the dinosaurs - mind boggling numbers.  We tried our best to represent the time-frame on the 400 metre walk back to the car park.  The little tykes could barely understand that each hundred metres represented a hundred million years, the last metre a million years, and a piece of hair off their heads represented about a hundred years.

Simply spectacular.  We're hanging on to the kids though - no safety rail!

On the way back to camp - we diverted down Morong Creek Fire Trail, and enjoyed a snack at Morong Creek.  The Little Fisherman had been desperately keen to wet a line since leaving home, and thus far had been thwarted at every opportunity.  The special birthday present lure was carefully attached to the line and successfully snagged at the first cast.  The water wasn't deep, wasn't wide but was definitely chilly!  Lure retrieved we returned to camp for a leisurely afternoon.

Just enough to wet a line... and get a snag!

With the weather closing in, we decided against heading to Jenolan Caves and instead retreated into the camper for the afternoon.  It was not a great time to discover the Windows 7 Starter does NOT have a DVD viewer as standard, after promising the boys we would watch a movie.  Instead we amused them reading out of Bill Bryson's "Down Under", playing a great lego game called Creationary (think Pictionary with lego) and colouring in.

At least it isn't hailing any more!

The weather continued to get worse, with lots of showers passing through.  The temperature kept falling with first hail, then sleet and finally flurries of snow falling.  The snow was beautiful, and kept falling for a good fourty five minutes or so, just starting to settle on the ground.  The Little Helpers and Mum ran around in the snow trying to catch drops on their tongues and generally doing their best to get thoroughly soaked.

I caught one on my tongue!

It was frightening how quickly the little ones went from having fun to suddenly realising their hands and feet were frozen and being unable to help themselves. They were unable to even help take their wet and cold clothes off, and just stood shaking and crying, unresponsive to requests to hold their arms out.  Thankfully within a few minutes of warming up inside the tent they were back to their chipper selves.  It certainly highlighted the necessity of keeping a dry set of clothes available at all times when out and about and how quickly kids can get dangerously cold.

Some poor mug had to keep the fire going to cook dinner on!

Friday morning was still bitterly cold.  We put the kids in the car straight after breakfast whilst we packed up in near record time.  Jo nearly wept for joy when I produced a pair of wool lined riggers gloves, and whilst her hands were still cold, they were functioning which assisted greatly in not just our haste, but morale also!  In our desire to get somewhere warmer, we inadvertently left our long handled shovel at the camp - but I think it was a small price to pay, and our only missing in action item all trip.

It was time to return to civilisation and make tracks north west to Dubbo and the highlight of the adventure, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo.  Jenolan caves would have to wait for another time.