Cape Cleveland 2019

3^rd to 4^th August 2019

11 walkers

Saturday

Started walking 0710. Unsure who leader is, I asked “who is leading this?”. No answer, so I said “ok, whoever is out front is leading” to which several in front of me stopped and milled about, and suddenly I was in front. Oh well, I will lead just for a little bit. Brisk walk along the beach, wind blowing strong, rough sea. Over the first hill, easy traverse with the track now cleared and marked. Down to Bray (middle) Beach, we usually have morning tea here but too early, only 0800, so move on. Up the next hill, track good and easy to follow here as well. Down into Paradise Beach, along the beach, then the steep climb to top of Castle Rock at 0910. Strong winds up here, wind gusts to 52 kmh (BOM) although some gusts up on exposed ridge and at the cape must have been stronger. The “virgins” were told they have to climb on top of Castle Rock, which they did, despite the gale blowing. We had morning tea here. Aaron produced homemade scones, a welcome snack. Wilfred and I drooled over the ridgeline other side of valley to the west,  we have been eying it off for years.

We followed the usual route, along the rocky ridgelines, great coastal views. But out to sea rain could be seen. We got to lunch rock at 1100 – too early for lunch. Then light drizzle pretending to be rain arrived. We keep moving along the ridgeline, to where we had good view towards the cape and lighthouse. Then down the ridge to Red Rock Bay, and had lunch sheltering amongst rocks by the bay side. More light rain passed over. We moved on, to the Telegraph Line track, and followed that to the lighthouse arriving 1400. That must be a record and earliest we have arrived. The wind was howling, making it hard to stand straight.

Went up to the old houses, met Ray and company. Then the fun of erecting tents in a  howling gale on exposed headland. We spotted numerous green turtles at the base of the cape. But no whales anywhere.

Most of us went for a walk down a fictitious track to the front of the headland, which was a good way to get close to the turtles and crashing sea. But a track it was not ! Steep clamber over scree stuff back up to the helipad. Then some went down to Pebble Beach to do a cleanup. It was too rough to consider swimming or snorkel at Pebble Beach.

Back at the lighthouse houses, we have cheese platters, and fine drinks. Phil catered for a sausage sizzle dinner for us, and he did the hard stuff of preparing and cooking our dinner. It was a nice night at the cape. We watched the light show on Castle Hill which was visible from the cape. As usual the night seagull flew by every 8 seconds around the cape.

Sunday

I was still leader apparently. We started the return walk at 0810 (no whales, so no point staying). We headed back to Red Rock Bay, then over the ridge and into the valley. I gave the mob a 30 second rest along the way. We were on a mission. Wilfred and I decided to take the group over that inland valley ridge – exciting, daunting maybe ? At 0950 we are the base of the ridge, looking up. It  looks ok from here.  We climbed up though long grass, around granite outcrops to reach first hill top. Fine views over Cleveland Bay, the valleys, and to the cape, so we had morning tea here. Then keep climbing, a steady gradient, to reach the top of the ridge.  Follow the ridge, easy going, to reach granite outcrop that was a good lookout. From there the way looked likely blocked by a gully and cliffs, but a saddle presented itself for an easy traverse. Then short climb to reach the real top of the ridge. Excellent views from the top of the large sloping granite ridge side, with Paradise Beach in the distance. We then surveyed what would be best way to Paradise, and followed a grassy ridge down to the four black boulders (which we know from past walks), then the easy downhill walk to reach Paradise Beach at the lagoon. That was a 2 hr 20 minute traverse from start of the ridge to Paradise Beach, an easy but very good walk. The wind was gusting hard (gusts to 41 kmh), and sand blowing fiercely on the beach, so we sheltered in the forest just after start of the track from the beach for a lunch break. Then it was the walk over the two hills back to the cars, collecting rubbish and flotsam off the beaches, to arrive at the cars at 1445 – another record time. Then it was off to the roadhouse for the usual ice creams. Another good weekend at the cape.