Sydney -Day 6 -Wet behind the ears.

DToday was a bit of a down Tim day. Well a little bit anyway. 

Following breakfast with dark skies looming we ventured out from the caravan park into the Lane Cove National Park. This park runs east west along Sidney the creek through this part of Sydney. Kerrie had plans to visit the site of the oldest cache in Australia, a virtual now that caches are banned in National Parks. 

We headed down a track from the caravan park south towards the creek.  A steep track ending in a spectacular view of the creek causing Sarah to freak out about Tim walking close to the edge of rocky cliffs.  Heading west we worked along the creek, Emily on the lookout for water dragons which seem to have taken quiet a liking to her. 

This part of tHr parks seems to be fairly unmaintaned.  This could be because of the early season, but there are a number of tables and benches that have fallen int ruin. It looks like the park have been around since the early nineteen hundreds. There are a number of old sandstone steps and route markers that date from that time.  

There are a number of picnic areas along the creek and many with notable name like echidna and commandment rock. 

At the western end of this section of the park is an old boat house that is still in use hiring out row boats, canoes and paddle boats. We watch with some amusement as an older grandmother took out a couple of younger kids in a paddle boat.  She was quite concerned about how to steer the boat.  Last we saw they were getting along quiet well. 

Further west is a weir allowing us to cross the creek to get to the National Park Headquarters, a destination that was suddenly fairly urgent as the sky's that had been threatening all day finally decided to release their fury. We settled into the visitors centre to wait out the storm.  We were a little concerned about the van, whilst we had closed the windows we had left the roof vents fully open so expected some water to be inside. 

Whilst the storm played out the kids occupied themselves with drawing and reading the displays on the centre. After about 45 minutes the rain let up enough to allow us to move on. 

We went back across the weir and using the road this time we headed back to the caravan park.  It is amazing how much difference some rain can make to the bush. The walking paths were heavenly puddled and the colours were a lot stronger.  Emily was having a ball trying to shake rain off the trees onto me. I think she got herself most of the time. 

Back at the caravan park we had avoided any damage, with only a little water on the floor from the hatch.  Bangers for lunch, Emily cooking. 

The afternoon was given over to housekeeping, blogging and a little shopping. Dinner was burgers followed by a nighttime spotlight walk with one of the park rangers.