After speaking of the fact for more than 6 months (I kid you not, this was raised I think around the same time as High Tea 2013), we finally got our act together and headed  for our first bushwalk (ever  / for the year / for the season / in the north...)!

Today's hike was the Blue Gum Walking Track (Joe's Mountain Circuit) in Hornsby. At times, it is hard to believe that a 5-10 minute drive from the train station and main shopping district takes you to such scrubby bushland, nestled with tall trees and mountainous terrain. Too much of a city girl..

We met at Donna's this morning and after some tea, fruit and toilet break, it was time to head out to Hornby. It was about a 15-20 minute drive to the end of Rosemead Road where there is a park where the Trail starts. We started our walk probably around 11:20 this morning and the weather was perfect. Not too warm and dry.

Well marked and easy to follow, the track takes you up and down some beautiful scenery and the unofficially named Fishponds waterhole about halfway into the walk.

Plenty of steps both up and down, flat paths, a water crossing and some narrow passes, this was a moderate difficulty walk that gets your heart rate up but doesn't completely burn your thighs afterwards (think Giant Stairway in the Blue Mountains). Pleasantly tiring and takes just over 2 hours with a mini 10 minute break.

The last 20 or so minutes of the walk were the most scary. We had to walk through fairly damp, waist (possibly taller) high green germs (beautiful but I did not want to stop there!!!) where leeches lived. Ew ew ew ew ew! Mandy slipped at one stage and we found out later that one got onto her pants. Luckily came no where near the skin but gross nonetheless!

It was a relief to see a wide path again and was constantly feeling my legs to make sure no creatures had somehow managed to find its way through my leggings and two pairs of socks! Lucky for me, none did. P h e w . . . . . 

It was just after 2 when we got back into the car and drove to one of the local cafes for some much needed food and coffee. The girls picked the Wagu Burger and I had some fish and chippies. Was okay. Food tastes a lot better when you're hungry. Chips were amazing. Coffee average (although mine was decaf).

Went back to donnas for some mario-ing. As usual, I sucked but was still fun. The homsies and O M G what is with Sydney traffic on a Sunday evening???

I think I'll sleep very well tonight... bring on another week and plans for another walk :)

Climbing the sandstone for the fun of it (was it to get a better view of the creek?)

Miss Cutiepie at the beginning on our walk. They had stepping stones!

Looking kind of serious here not long into our walk.

Some of the scenic things we saw on the way