Grieving for losses: Fire in Crowdy Bay National Park: Part 2

It was cold when we awoke, but to a blue sky with almost no clouds. The necessary task of washing was accomplished before we set forth to return to Crowdy Bay National Park to walk the 4.8 km Diamond Head Loop Walk (which we have done previously on another trip).

This walk was just as enjoyable the second time around, although we did it in reverse this time. First we climbed upwards to a track junction where the loop joined (and did this without puffing, so we must be becoming fitter), and elected to cross to Indian Head Camping Area via the forest first. This took us through a variety of vegetation – stunted coastal woodland where Banksias reigned and patches of rainforest in sheltered gullies where we crossed tiny running streams (once by rock hopping).

After reaching Indian Head Campground the track took us briefly through more rainforest before emerging at a lookout point with spectacular views back up to Crowdy Head. Then it hugged the cliff line (but not at the very edge) and took us to side tracks to views over The Arch and a grass topped almost island far below us. Along the way we met a couple from South Australia whom we had seen yesterday at Crowdy Head searching for Fish and Chips for lunch. They had now berthed their A-Van at Diamond Head Camping Area and said that condensation had dropped on them last night and the firewood was too damp to burn.

We left them to their bird observing (and we had noticed a number of varieties as we walked) and, after more spectacular wild coastal views from cliff tops, crossed through a gully and ascended from Indian Head onto Diamond Head and here took in the macro views both over the coast and inland to The Brothers. An information board next to the track gave us a slightly different version of The Brothers creation story in that only two of the brothers were killed by the witch and the third brother killed the witch. We reached a trig point, after which we began to descend, initially with views over both Crowdy/ Kylies and Dunbogan Beaches, and later we passed by large patches of Trigger Ferns amongst the coastal scrub.

As we walked this track, I reflected that it was really good to spend some time on one headland to break our pattern of dashing into and out of beaches and onto lookout points on headlands.

Remember: You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force. Publilius Syrus