A gorge-ous time - May 5th

Hold onto you hats folks I'm going to attempt not one but two class
5 walks today in the Weano recreational area. Our first walk to Hancock
Gorge takes us down a steep class 4 track which includes ladders, which
turns into a class 5 track. I'm a little nervous about this
especially after having first walked to a lookout where 3 gorges meet.
At that point is a memorial to a rescuer who lost his life attempting to
save someone during a flash flood. Regans pool is named after him and is
a reminder that while the scenery may be breathtaking, caution is still
required. I also have my secret weapon against turning red, a patch that
guarantees to keep cool for 8 hours which is placed on the back of the
neck or the forehead. I suppose I should have thought more about it as I
put on sunscreen and then stuck on the patch. It's instantly cool
and I'm sure I'm on a winner. That is until I go to put on my
bathers and as I bend down the patch falls to the ground. Should have
read the instructions first, but undeterred I pick it up and whack it
back onto my neck.
We head first to Kermit's pool and apart from one slip where I end
up on my backside a very refreshing swim is enjoyed by us both.
We climb back up and head straight over to walk part of Weano gorge
heading to handrail pool. All goes well until we reach the point where
you need to strip off your clothes and shoes. Who should be there,
thankfully already out of the water and dressed, but naked lady from the
day before. She instantly recognizes Gavern and starts chatting about
whether he should take his camera with him. Just as well I'm
wearing the patch otherwise the steam coming from my ears, as I'm
ready to charge her like a stampeding bull, would have been rather
evident. I shoot him the death ray stare ( which I must confess I'm
rather good at) and he hurriedly says his farewell. It's easy to
see why it's called handrail pool as that's exactly what has
been placed into the rock face to enable people to enter the pool.
It's extremely slippery and you are required to straddle the hand
rail and climb down steps cut into the rock. Just to even things up
Gavern lands on his backside on the way back and compare bruises later.