[FULL] SUNDAY BL – THIRLMERE LAKES Botany Hike

Sick of hanging around engineers?
We’ve got the solution so dry up your tears.
Come for some ecology with Leo and I,
And on this botany hike we will try,
To ID the critters and plants we encounter,
And its spring so things will be in flower.
It’s a leisurely stroll of 9.2 ks,
Around the lovely Thirlmere Lakes.
If you want to turn your brain off and relax,
Too bad, I’ll also be teaching you hydrology facts.
We’re all nerds here, you see,
I even write my trip posts in the form of poetry.

Need I say more?

Actually I do. Leo (the MVP of plant ID, your favorite plant book-wielding, mud-collecting, t-shirt making, bad-facial-hair-rocking ecology fiend) and me (Margot, your favorite hypothetical-loving, freestyle-rapping, toxic, sandal-wearing eater of any plant put in front of me) will be leading this hike around the Thirlmere Lakes on Sunday of Boree Log.

Thirlmere Lakes Track: 116 Reviews, Map – New South Wales, Australia | AllTrails

It is about halfway between the Kangaroo Valley and Sydney, and we will head back to Sydney afterwards. Its 9.2 kms and is flat so should not be very strenuous. The idea is to take the walk slow and to try to ID plants as we go, maybe find some edible ones. Leo will share his cool plant facts and I can tell you about the hydrology of the lakes, which are a pretty unique system. It should be a fun day, and we should be done and headed back to Sydney by mid afternoon.

You’ll need:

• Sun protection
• Comfy shoes
• Water
• Lunch
• Swimmers (?) I’m unsure if we can swim but it might be an option

If you are keen to come along, let me know in the comments:

• Where you sit on the spectrum of “massively stoked to check out cool plants” to “I just want to haul my hungover ass back to Sydney on Sunday and this trip seems like the least strenuous” (which is okay too).
• If you’ve got a postal vote for the referendum
• If you have a car, where you will be headed back to on Sunday night (to make sure well be okay with lifts)

Also, for my own research purposes please let me know in the comments:

• How many toddlers (3yo) you could fight in the colosseum with no weapons
• Whether you are baptized (its not for religious discrimination I promise, I’m just keeping stats for a bet)

You need to be approved for the main Boree Log event to attend these trips. Please sign up for only ONE trip per day. If you get rejected you can then sign up for another trip, this just makes it easier for volunteer trip leaders. Please be aware that as the weather is unpredictable, trip leaders may need to alter trips accordingly.