WALK REPORTS
Two Winter Walks
1. Steiglitz to Fridays Picnic Ground. Thursday July 16.
Walkers: John Lee, Hilary Prideaux, Glenda Oakley, Tony Wright, Angus Hartshorn, Richard Slade, Rosemary Faris, Gemma Statton, Cath Vassie, Philomena Slee, Joe Gilks, Beth Gilks (leader)
The walk started at the Bert Boardman picnic ground just south of Steiglitz on the Maude-Steiglitz road. A track leads west to Wrixon Street, passing a huge mulloch heap. We stopped at the pine tree that has an historical association with the formation of the GBC. We then followed the Deadman’s Loop markers to the Meridith road. Crossing it we followed the Burchell Track markers to the Crossing Picnic ground where we had lunch in pale wintery sunshine.
We followed Hut Road east until we joined Native Youth Track. We walked north for about 2 kms until we joined Yankee Gully road. The remains of Kinglock Mine were passed before we turned south on Mulrooney,s Track and followed it to the Durdidwarrah road. Turning north we followed it to Friday’s Picnic Ground which has recently been enlarged to have designated camping spots.
This is an interesting 12km walk with lots of gold mining history. There is pretty new-growth forest, some shy kangaroos and lots of raucous white cockatoos in the overhead trees.
2.Wombat State Forest: Barkstead to Sailor’s Falls. Thursday July 30
Walkers: Marg Bethune, Frans Bregman, Pamela Bregman, Kathryn Graham.
Hilary Pridaux, John Lee, Michael Williams, Pam Nurnaitis, Daphne Sands, Glenda Oakley, Ina Costin, Rosemary Vince, Tony Wright, John Hofstele, Joe Gilks, Beth Gilks (leader)
An early start was needed to drive to Barkstead (off the Ballan-Daylesford Road) and do a car shuffle to leave cars at Sailor’s Falls.
The first section of the 16km walk was Anderson’s Tramway walk. This is part of The Great Dividing Trail: Wallaby Track section. The walk criss-crossed the tramway track through the forest until we reached Wombat Station for our banana break.
We followed the disused railway line, climbing down a steep embankment to look at a well preserved red brick culvert running underneath the track.
Lunch was had at White point Road where there are a lot of old shafts marking the White Point diggings. Entering the Hepburn regional Park about 5 kms later, we then ascended to Sailor’s Falls . We passed a couple of springs before going up a steep flight of steps to arrive at our cars.
New growth forest, a few pink heaths, damp leaf litter, gold mining relics, a winding track, the inevitable white cockatoos screeching overhead and brisk winter weather all make this a great walk.
Beth Gilks

Geelong Bushwalking Club Thursday 16th July

Hiking in the Brisbane Ranges again! To fill a gap in the program we were asked to lead a walk, so we followed part of Deadman's Loop, part of the Burchel Track, Native Youth Rack and Mulhooney's Track to reach Friday's Camp site. The only photo we took was at the Anakie Village roadhouse where we enjoyed refreshments before returning to Geelong.

Hip-Hip-Hooray. We are first round winners

Great news yesterday. The 50 chosen teams for the Taiwan Best Trip promotion have been announced and we are on the list. Already we have plans in motion with our 4-day itinery set for August 10,11,12,13. Peter and Yu Ting will come with us and there is a very real chance that Alex, Michelle and Hannah will climb Yushan (the Jade Mountain) with us too. Now we need to track down good airfares and delay our walking on the Bibbulmun Track for a week or two. Our thanks to the 290 people who voted for us and helped us across the line. We will keep you all posted. We are very excited.

Keeping fit and Taiwan Best Trip update

Yesterday was cold and frosty, so the bike ride to Fyansford was a bit chilly. There we met other GBC walkers and started the 12km river walk - very pleasant as the day turned sunny. The walk finished at the Fyansford hotel where coffee and other drinks were enjoyed before we rode our bikes home. The exciting news when we got home was to find that we had been mentioned in the Taipei Times last Saturday. Follow the hyperlink below and you will see what we mean.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/07/04/2003447846

The Best Trip in the World - TAIWAN

Great News! Our oldest son, Peter, and his wife Yu Ting, have decided to come with us to Taiwan if we are selected as one of the 50 teams to follow our 4-day itinery there. We hope that this will give us the opportunity to visit and spend time with our lovely daughter-in-law's family in Kaohsiung. But are things getting out of hand? Our second son, Alex is saying "why don't I come with Michelle and Hannah too?" He has reminded us of our hike together in January 2008 when we hiked to the top of Australia's highest mountain together. You can see the seven of us in the photograph at the summit. Whatever happens, we remain a team of two (The Senior Australians). It does mean that we may extend our holiday and see more of the beautiful island as three generation travelers.

From l to r:-Peter, Beth, Hannah, Alex, Yu Ting, Michelle, Joe

Thursday walks

We had wet and windy weather for our walk at Warnambool yesterday.

- despite this, a good time was had by all.

Whereas, last week, the Lake Elizabeth walk, it was much better.

Taiwan Best Trip

It won't be long before the 50 teams selected to follow their 4 day itineries are announced and we (The Senior Australians) are hoping to be one of them. Now that we have got this far, our son, Peter, and his wife, Yu Ting, are suggesting that they would like to return to Taiwan with us to act as our camera operators and interpreters. If they are able to come, they will not join our team, but their technical support will be grately appreciated. It is a little while since they have seen Yu Ting's parents in Kaohsiung, so it may be too good a chance for them to miss. If you were one of the many (mostly unknown to us) who voted for us and left comments, with thank you very much.