October 10 Reminder

There won’t be a regular walk on Thursday, October 10, due to the camp in Bendigo.

The next walk will be held on Thursday, October 24.

 September 26 Mt Helen

Mt Helen 26/9

 
14 walkers met at Boak Ave in cool conditions. We set off past the partially renovated Pompeii Cafe, promising wood fired fare on its reopening.
Along Main Rd we also had an elevated view of the new housing development taking place towards Olympic Ave.
The flowering shrubs and trees along the hilly Landale Ave and Pindari Dve were at their best.
We then refuelled for the climb up Jones Ave past the Weinrich winery and the property of local luthier Ian Noyce.
The top of the climb is dedicated to the former local trail runner Tony Benson who represented us at the 1972 Olympics.
Just before the end of the walk our attention was drawn to the sad sight of an ex-tall tree, some SES tape and a tarpaulin patched preschool roof. A story there!
Thanks Marlene for the planning and guidance along such varied terrain.
Chris Charleson.

Walk for September 26th Mt Helen/Mt Clear Loop

We will meet at the small group of shops along the  Geelong/Buninyong Highway in Mt Helen, at the Boak Avenue turn off.
Meeting time is 9.20 for a 9.30am departure.
The walk will commence going north along the Geelong/Buninyong Highway on the pedestrian path to Heather Avenue in Mt Clear, then along Lylia Avenue and Pindari Drive to Jones Avenue.
This takes us into a lightly populated area and pine plantation.  There is a hilly section along Jones Avenue which might be slippery, so a walking pole could be useful.
This leads into Shire Avenue, and then back to our cars in Boak Avenue.
We can then proceed to Buninyong for coffee, or an early lunch.

Grade B.        7.5 km.     Bring a snack and drink.
Leader    -    Marlene Bell

Walk Report September 12.

Kyneton Daffodil Festival Walk.

 

It was an elite group of 9 that set off from the Quarry Reserve in Kyneton, to investigate the Sculpture Park, before joining the path along the Campaspe River, named by Major Thomas Mitchell, after Alexander the Great’s concubine, 

We stopped for morning tea at the 1936, swimming pool weir, where the water was cascading over the wall, next to the bluestone buttresses of the old footbridge to the railway station. We then entered the Botanic Gardens, Est. 1858, to be greeted by swathes and patches of glorious daffodils of several varieties, that continued throughout the gardens, in keeping with the town’s 10 day Daffodil Festival.

Lunch was taken in the sunshine at the toilet, picnic and playground area, after which we further explored the gardens before exiting at the 1936 Commemorative Gates, onto Mollison St. Entries in the Festival Scarecrow competition were to be seen in several front yards as we made our way to the historic, Old Auction House, with its arts studios, shop and gallery, to view the Daffodil Festival Art and Photography Prize Exhibition.

After our perusal and purchases, we walked to, then along  Ebdon St., with its many historic buildings, to

Piper St., where we decided coffee and cake was the order of the day, so we indulged at Duck Duck Goose and Larder, one of many dining options in the vicinity.

As we strolled along Piper St., towards our cars, some of us popped into the Stockroom Contemporary  ArtSpace, in the Old Butter Factory, to view a very different exhibition, before most of us took the rather pretty drive back to Ballarat, arriving at 3.00pm.

This was a most pleasant walk of nature, history and culture, made even more enjoyable by the group who participated. Many thanks to Marlene, who stepped in as Whip.

And many thanks to Helen McD for a very enjoyable walk and day out.

  Kyneton Daffodil Festival Walk. September 12.

Led by Helen McDowell and Maria Grigg

 

After a 70min. drive, we will cross the bridge and park in the Quarry Reserve car park, off Campaspe Cres., adjacent to the Sculpture Park. 

We will follow the Campaspe River past the Botanic Gardens, then return to the Gardens’ toilets and picnic facilities for lunch. We will then walk to Mollison St., at the eastern end of the Gardens and onto the Old Auction House. This is an arts precinct and exhibition space that will be hosting the Daffodil Festival Visual Arts and Photography Exhibition. There will be artists at work and quality items to purchase.

We will then cross to Ebden St. then North to Piper St,. with its cafés, for cuppas and cake before heading back to the cars. 4.5km. walking distance.  Except for a short scramble up some rough steps, the walk is on paved or well formed gravel paths.

Depending on time spent with food and art, we should be back in Ballarat by 3.30pm. 

Meet at Llanberris Netball Courts car park at 9.15am. for 9.30am. start.

Car pool $8. B/L, Code A. 

 

Walk Report August 29

 

What a fabulous walk this was! 15 of us assembled at the Surface Point picnic area, in the Enfield State Forest. This was the site of the old Chinese Camp, beside Mount Misery Creek. This was once a small, thriving town with dwellings, stores and other enterprises, supported by gold and market gardens. A single tombstone at the start of the walk is dedicated to the Chinese community.

The Mount Misery area was extensively mined and the evidence is everywhere. White quartz is scattered over the ground in the pock marked terrain and washed away stream beds with eroded banks are indications ofdredge mining in search of alluvial gold. The remains of stone structures and a dam wall are also present.

This was a real bush walk, along single file tracks beside water races and up and down steep hills and gullies. It was certainly testing at times but everyone rose to the challenge. We all enjoyed the “banana” break in the sunshine, out of the wind.

The bush was fairly dry and comments were made about the lack of White Heath, that should be prolific in the area at this time. There was some Pink Heath, Prickly Moses Acacia, Prickly Acacia/Kangaroo Thorn, and other acacias, beautifully off set by the complimentary, vibrant, purple of the trailing  Hardenbergia. A  most pleasant surprise, in a dry exposed area track side, was a patch of Nodding Greenhood orchids, with a few Tall ones nearby.

At the completion of the nearly 8km. Long Gully loop, we settled down for lunch at the picnic ground before heading back to Sebastopol – tired, but with big smiles on our faces. Thank you, Jean, for a wonderful walk. We all appreciated the effort that went into its organisation, including the information relative to the Mount Misery Creek area. Thanks also to our Whip, Chris, who stepped in for Graeme, who was unwell. 

 

Helen Mc.