Eggbert's Travels

Thursday 31^st May

SHE SAID:

It was a chilly -3c start today & we were up with the frost...well, 7.30am! I wanted to go to the Mummel Gulf National Park, which is about 90 minutes south east from Arding.

So with a picnic & flasks of hot water packed we headed out. Of course, it wasn't plain sailing finding the entrance, "Hell Hole Road", off Thunderbolts Way (We assume some ****head had stolen the road sign). But we eventually found the track, no thanks to the Garmin GPS, Google Maps, or Navmii.... yes, the little paper map was the best help!

The reason for the drive, of course, was to look for orchids. Our 3^rd stop, with a warming cuppa in hand, yielded minor results, with Geoff spotting a couple of different orchid basal leaves & several drying out orchid flowers. The next random stop I called, we "hit" the spot. Well, I found one small greenhood in flower....that sadly was the total for the day! Though many more basal leaves of orchids were seen; at least 4 types.

We stopped for lunch at the New Country Swamp; a picturesque spot. There were a couple of hardy campers huddled around a small fire at one end of the camping area. We too braved the 5c temperatures to eat outside! Then it was off on a 300m forest loop walk; plenty more orchid leaves, no flowers. Back in the car we had a cuppa to defrost & headed back to a comparatively balmy Arding...it was 9c on our return!