Woy Woy To Gosford via The Koolewong Fire Trail - Sunday 31 January 2021

Well what a day! We had all sorts of weather thrown at us, but the troops soldiered on to the end!  A heart starting morning coffee at a local Woy Woy cafe got everyone motivated for the trek ahead.  After a pleasant walk by the water's edge we then headed over the Spike Milligan Bridge then under the bridge to the start of the Koolewong Fire Trail and our first scary uphill challenge which we all managed until we reached the next really scary uphill challenge - and what a challenge it was but it got the old heart pumping!  The fire trail then took us along the ridge with the most stunning views over Brisbane Waters.  We then took the Coorumbine Creek Fire Trail with our next challenge being the concrete hill with Molly deciding to walk up backwards (different but it worked!).  We then took a detour down to the creek to view some aboriginal carvings.  We then headed back to the main trail to pick up the Milyerra Fire Trail - a beautiful walk through the rainforest but alas after a pleasant overcast and cool morning the rains came!  At the end of this fire trail we were back in civilisation and then met up with the Bungaree Reserve a beautiful waterside trail following the banks of the mangroves.  Our pace stepped up a little when the rain started again so we hightailed it to the local soccer field where we found shelter on the verandah of the clubhouse (good timing).  Following lunch we then continued on the Bungaree Reserve trail and then took a short detour around the Carawah Reserve Mangrove Boardwalk loop. From here we continued into the Gosford Town Centre going past the Central Coast Stadium where the Central Coast Mariners were playing with flocks of fans heading into the stadium all decked out in their team colours - it was a sight to behold!  We then decided it was time for a coldie - and headed into the local pub for a well deserved recovery ale!  Then it was on the train for our journey back home!  Our trekkers included Leah, Linda, Len, Molly, Katherine, Geraldine, Jan, Robert, Daniel and Bryan.