Next Walk Thursday Nov.28 Easton’s Dam, Creswick

 Meet at 9:20 for a 9:30 departure at Llanberris Reserve car park Golden Point.

We will travel to St George’s Lake for a toilet stop and then gather at the eastern end of the lake to commence the walk.

We will use bush tracks- some reconfigured to facilitate cycle travel. Graded B/C. Walking sticks would be useful on some sections.

We will pause at the old orchard and the near concealed embankment of Easton’s Dam. Morning tea by Cosgraves Reservoir. We then return to St George’s Lake for our picnic lunch stop.

Coffee stop at Smokeytown Cafe for those interested.

Led by Chris Charleson and Tim Bosher in Brin Hay’s absence.

Note that there is a short walk scheduled for Dec 12 at NBCC to be followed by our end of year treats and walk schedule planning for 2025.

Walk Report Linton

 Walk Report November 14.

16 walkers, in six cars, arrived at the gates to the Linton Cemetery to commence our walk. Under the expert guidance of Leader, Heather and Whip, Dale, we set off into the very dry forest and an area of recent fire reduction burn. Signs of the gold rush are everywhere, with old shafts close to the track. We traversed apleasantly green, open area before heading back into the forest and our “banana break.” Wild flowers were few, with the Chocolate Lily, Matted Bush Pea and Narrow Leaf Bitter Pea the most obvious.

The track took us to the site where, on Dec. 2, 1998, five fire fighters lost their lives in a raging forest fire. Two trucks, from Geelong City and Geelong West, were trapped and engulfed in flames after a savage, unexpected wind change. The Geelong City crew, with more water on board, were able to protect themselves. The Geelong West Crew of five, with little, or no, water left, all perished.

There was a large group of fire fighting personnel at the site of the tragedy and we met two representatives from Forest Fire Management and the CFA, who explained that these gatherings were repeated several times each year to educate new recruits and various services, about fire behavior, human responses and outcomes.

We proceeded to the site of a very moving and poignant memorial, where the names of the five victims are engraved on a granite pedestal – the oldest was 47, the youngest, just 17. It sits there, out in the bush, with a few memorial seats, providing a place for reflection and privacy for grief.

In a somewhat more sombre mood, we continued our walk back to the cars, glad of the sound of birds calling and chirping in the treetops on this fine spring day. Most of us then adjourned to the delightful, Thru the Gate Café, in Smythesdale, for lunch, coffee and delicious cakes.

This is the last time we will be guided by the dynamic duo of orienteers, Heather Bice and Dale Gordon. The pair have planned, and led, innumerable walks in the bush and forests of Ballarat and surrounding areas for many years. We are enormously grateful for the enjoyment, education and experiences they have given us. Thank you.

 

Helen Mc.

Photos Linton

 

 Thursday, Nov 14 - LINTON

Meet at 9.20 for a 9.30am departure from Victoria St. Sebastopol, west of the small Coles car park. Directions issued at the meeting point.

8.1km, Grade B, one big hill

Easy walking conversational width tracks. Open Eucalypt forest. On the way back we will pass the Linton Firefighters Memorial.

Bring morning tea and lunch, water, sunblock, hats.

Thru the Gate Cafe is recommended for lunch or a cuppa on the way home.

Led by Heather B and Dale.

Black Hill

 

Latest Walk Report Black Hill

 Walk Report October 31.

 

On All Hallow’s Eve, the lucky 14 gathered on Chisholm St., Ballarat, for the walk up Black Hill to the look out. 

Unfortunately, Shirley was injured, so Mark sallied forth in the lead, with Libby stepping in to keep us in line.

On the way we popped into the delightful garden of the Jeffers. “Rob’s Garden” , is a well laid out, compact mosaic of colour and form with roses in full bloom and a line of spectacular, hybrid lavenders with their large, perfumed, flower heads in shades from light pink to dark purple.

Off into the parkland leading to the top of the hill where we took in the spectacular views to the South and West, with Lake Wendouree in the distance and the” brown barn”, of the Gov Hub, dominating the foreground. Markthen led us down the steps to the bottom of the cleft, in what was once a large hill of gold bearing quartz. Thecoloured clay ridge is all that remains  - an inside-out hill! 

This area is very popular with mountain bikers, enjoying the purpose built, series of tracks, varying in difficulty from mildly daunting to OMG! We followed, or crossed, several on our way down to the Yarrowee Trail, where we could really see the scar of the Black Hill Mine on the hill. The walk along the Yarrowee was quite a contrast with lush green grass, the occasional splash of yellow from late flowering wattles and the clear water running down the River.

After a Banana Break , we headed back towards the city, via a Graffiti Gallery under a bridge. Upon reentering suburbia for the  moderate climb back to the cars, we passed some charming miners’ cottages, impressive gardens and reminders that we needed to beware of, “Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night”.

Thank you Mark and Shirley for scoping the walk, Mark for his leadership and Libby for her whipship, on a walk that was much enjoyed by all and left plenty of time for some to get to the Tutors’ Lunch.

 

Helen Mc.