The Making of "The Nepean" - Day 5
First Shown: 29 November 2018 on YouTube
After thoroughly researching our first location for today, the Gulguer weir, we knew it was going to be difficult. There appeared to be no easy way to reach it other than crossing private land. There were three possible ways to reach this site. The first required a lengthy walk of 3.3kms along the Gulguer Trail from Bents Basin then another half a kilometer through thick bush and over a possible cliff on the estern side of the valley. I ruled this path out completely.
The second route enabled us to drive to a farm at the end of Rapleys loop Road in Werombi, but we needed to get the farm owners permission to cross his land. If agreed, we had to drive across paddocks, through gates in fences and follow transmission lines, then walk 200m and over a cliff on the western side of the valley. This looked manageable.
Third option was quite obscure. It appeared there might be a path from a farm house at the end of McKee Road, Theresa Park, but topographically, it looked like we had to cross a creek and who knows how difficult that might be. We elected for route two.
So, first stop was the farm house at the end of Rapleys Loop Road. We stopped for coffee before driving too far as we had a 32kms trip ahead of us. Adequately caffinated we arrived at the end of the road and recorded our daily intro, after which it started to rain lightly. Yep, the road to the farm house was dirt. No problem my four wheel drive could handle it. Besides the ground was dry so it was soaking up the rain.
Mr Gabriele Tedesco greeted us at his door. Nice man, a tomato grower from Italy. We chatted for a while and after I explained why we were there he declared that there was no way for us to get into the valley from his farm. The cliff was too steep. I looked disappointed. He then suggested there was an easy way to get to the weir via another property he owned at the end of McKee Road. I laughed out loud and explained that we had ruled that way, out. After exchanging phone numbers we headed off to this other property to speak with his tennant living on it.
Dimity and Jamie lived at the 'Serengeritty' Farm as we found out when we arrived. Jamie was away working and Dimity would not agree to our proposal without her husbands approval. We explained that we had the owners permission to cross the land and even gave her his phone number to call, but she got no answer. We were stumped. I gave her my phone number, asked her to get Jamie to ring me and left the property, resolute we would return another day.
With most of the day left I decided we should have lunch at the Wallacia Hotel after which a trip to Nortons Basin might be in order. I had scheduled Nortons Basin for a full day trip because it required a lengthy walk down (and back up) a steep trail. With our tummies satisfied and our thirst quenched with a beer we decided to try Nortons Basin, so off we went, not realising that this was going to be an exhausting trip, especially for me. Like most of the places we have visited during the making of my documentary neither Jeff nor I had ever been to Nortons Basin. It was, sort of, on my bucket list but I never really gave it any priority. Now it was a reality.
As usual it seems, we turned off Silverdale Road and shortly after passing the last farm we drove onto dirt. Just over a half a kilometre of dirt, most of which had large corregations across it that made travelling a tad bumpy. We were pleased the drive was short and arrived at a rather well made area fenced off for vehicles. Yes, easy so far. But we were about to embark on a walk of 445m downhill all the way to the bottom of the valley.
The first 270m was steep but the last 175m was really tough, especialy getting back up. Jeff made it to the 270m mark, a horseshoe bend in the road (if you could call it that) but the downhill climb the rest of the way scared him off. So, I left him there and set off, but not before him trying to get phone reception. "Why do you want a phone connection", I asked. "Triple zero!".
How hard could this last 175m be? Going down was easy and once in the basin I completed my task of videoing the area. Its a very beautiful place. Except for the small amount of rubbish the basin looked untouched. When you watch this episode see it you can spot the guy fishing. I walked around the rim of the pool to a rock ledge that appeared to cross the valley where the water entered the basin. It made a nice little waterfall.
Now it came time to climb back up to Jeff and further to the vehicle. For me, getting back to Jeff waiting at the road, was the most difficult. I'm not an athletically fit person. I only have walking fitness not climbing. So, by the time I reached Jeff I was exhausted. You'll see my condition in the video, I didn't leave it out. I had to rest for quite a while before continuing on. The day was hot so I overheated as well.
I'm so pleased I had the opportunity to visit this place. Enjoy the video.
