• I havn't been through there before
• It exits down the Wollongambi #2 (which I have done once before, so I know the way out)
• It's an easy round trip, with short abseils, jumps and swims.
• Sean, Geof and Richard did it a few weeks ago and had a great time

On the road by 8am, I thought I had plenty of time to get to Cathedral Reserve and be walking by 10 (ish). I didn't count on the woefull number of 'holiday w/end' drivers though, all driving well under the speed limit and seemingly with no specific destinations in mind. Even the bakery at Richmond was packed with day travellers as I bought my breakfast, lunch (and dinner).

I did manage to make the reserve a little after 10, and having packed everything the night before, took only a minute to swap a jumper for a T-shirt, lock the car and walk off. (The first time DOH!). I managed to do a quick loop the loop - turning uncertainly onto a left hand track heading downhill. I realised my mistake, but followed the track anyway (as it was heading back to the main fire trail, and following it and starting again seemed easier than slogging back up the hill, I hate slogging up hills!).

The second time around I confidantly strode past the offending road and walked on enjoying the sunny surrounds and light chill in the air.

Following the track northward along the ridge I kept an eye out for any sign of a foot pad leading down to the west and into the creek. Although two spots looked like they might have had people through there recently, I saw no sign of the 'bloody great highway' Sean mentioned. Eventually ( and too late! DOH!) I turned off the track (just past the end of the barbed wire fence) and headed West(ish) down into the gully.

A dry scrubby bush bash followed down a steep littered creek bed, which abrupty ended with a significant drop into the canyon. On the ground in front of me around the base of two small gum trees was a new'ish looking sling. An obvious abseil point.

I could hear the quiet sounds of a couple of people ahead of me down in the canyon. Just the occasional faint voice and some splashing. I guessed they must have entered the canyon higher up and walked under me while I approached from above.

After setting the rope I had 'one of those' uneasy feelings that the rope had not reached the bottom. (Again Sean's voice rang through my head... "We saw these guys coming in from WAY HIGH on the right hand side!!!)..

Hmmm.... You know that feeling you get when you're baout to make a mistake ?.

As I backed carefuly over the edge I looked down and could see the ends of the rope swinging gracefully some meters above the tops of the ferns growing below. DOH ! "Not to good" I'm thinking !

To cut a long story short, I scrambled back up to the belay, pulled the rope up, tied my 10m hand line to one end and tried again. This time I could see the rope ends had made it through the ferns below, and was probably only just off the ground, but now I had a knot to abseil past.
A minute later, hanging uncomfortably in my prussicks just above the knot, I was suddenly aware of how vunerable I had made myself. Several meters below the lip of an overhang. Still some 10 or so meters above the ground. And by myself. Even my flat mates, back at home, didn't know where I was today.

Annoyed, hot and frustrated with myself, I pulled the rope back up again and tied it to my pack harness and lowered it to the ground. This at least allowed me to sit upright in my harness, ready for the next trick. Getting past the knot!. This proved pretty easy and in a few minutes I was on the ground pulling the rope down and keen to get moving. (Away from this scene of frustration).

Fortunately I had joined the canyon at an exceptionaly pretty spot. Huge ferns towered over me as I ambled down the creek, blocking out much of the days sunlight. Comming in from where I did, as I had, had made the transition from light to dark quite marked. In one spot I was almost wishing I brought a decent torch. (instead of none at all ... this minimalist canyoning approach has got be adjusted!).

Wading through several pools was enough to convince me that putting my wettie on soon would be a good idea. They were pittifully cold. I suited up at the first waterfall.

Standing at the base of the first waterfall I was so cold, that I no longer looked forward to the long swims ahead. Even in my full wetsuit and even with a layer of thermals underneath, I was COLD.

The next waterfall is the one I remembered from Sean's photos and I was tempted to jump. Then, on thinking about where I was and, the fact that I was alone with no-one knowing I was here, opted to abseil instead. Probably a wise descision, as the pool was not very deep at the base of the falls. (If you do jump this one, make sure you jump out!).

Very shortly further on, the 3rd drop beconed. I jumped this one and swam gingerly through the slot and around the corner. Bright sunlight and a rocky arch greeted me as I rounded the bend and scrambled up onto warm dry land. Crossing the creek from right to left under the arch, and following the ledge there, put me on a large rocky outcrop with views of the Wollongambi just below me. (Too far to jump though). Keeping to the left I found an easy route down which put me about 1-2 meters above the absolutley crystal clear water.

The sunshine was glorious. Occasionally I thought I could hear the sounds of people upstream, but maybe not! It was 1:30 pm. I wanted desperatley to put my polartec on, under my wettie, but the bloody wetsuit zipper had stuck and I was doomed to travel as I was. Disconsolatley I zipped it up on the outside and prepared myself for the long swim ahead.

I had brought two dry bags with me. One contained my spare dry clothing, 1st aid kit and lunch. The other now had a use. I used it to store the rope and my shoes. This provided me with extra flotation as well as stopping those items from soaking up water and becomming water-logged and heavy.

With my wetsuit booties on over my socks and my flouro yellow fins in neoprene gloved hand, I jumped in.

Surprise!
It's not cold!
(It's not warm, but it's not freezing cold either) ... Hooray ! I'm not going to die after all !

Swimming down the Wollongambi has got to be one of life's simple delights. Paddling along by myself seemed to add an unreal dimension to it. Floating silently along in the current is a pleasure that can't be beaten.

My fins (designed for sub-sea use) were a little ungainly over the few shallow rocky bits, but on the whole, worked well as a method of gentle propulsion along the river. Finning gently and using my pack for flotation, I reached the exit point at just on 3:00pm.

Once again I couldn't undo my wetsuit, and so steeled myself for the walk up the ridge whilst, 'cooking-in-my-own-juices'!

A quick cup of hot-chocolate from my thermos was all I needed to get going up the hill, but that spurt of energy only lasted about half an hour. Time to stop for a late lunch of hot-cross buns, cold sausage roll and more hot drink.

It was just before 4:30 as I dropped my pack at the car, and approached some strangers on the other side of the reserve, for assistance with my zip. (Lucky I have a strong bladder or there might have been trouble!) ....

Serendipty is a great (and easy) canyon and a sensational way of getting into the Wollongambi. Just make sure you get in high enough up the creek.!