Please note that we posted a draft version of our "Holiday Highlights" on 24/08/09. We have a greatly improved 5 minute video which we urge you to watch ou youtube. We have two links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0zaVV1Oc8c
and
http://www.taiwanbesttrip.net/group/arthur-j-and-beth-f-gilks/final/the-best-trip-to-taiwan-of-the-senior-australians?lang=en
The first link takes you to what we want as many people around the world to watch, so if you are able to help us with this, we will be most grateful. The second is a text summary of our trip with extra pictures.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Otways Waterfall Walk
Yesterday, Rosemary Vince led a magnificent walkto the Allambee Beek and Staircase falls in the Otways. The recent rain made the falls even more spectacular. The photos, taken by Kim Attard, show us at the Allambee beek falls and crossing the Cumberland river on a fallen tree. An excellent day.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Video of Highlights
We have prepared a draft version of the video clip of our holiday highlights. We expect to make a few changes before we upload to the Taiwanbesttrip website. Please let us know your reaction to it.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Taiwan - best holiday ever
We have been to Taiwan since our last upload to the blog, and what a great holiday it has been. Very sadly, typhoon Marokot devasted the southern part of the island causing extensive loss of life. The number who died when mudslides completely buried a village may never be known, but a death toll of 500 is expected. We were quite safe and were able to donate a substantial part of our prize money to a typhoon diasaster relief fund.
Our planned 4-day itinerary had to be changed because all roads to the mountains were cut by the landslides. But we would ask you to follow our exploits (video clips and text) using the link: http://www.taiwanbesttrip.net/group/arthur-j-and-beth-f-gilks/intro/group-introduction-of-the-senior-australians?lang=en
And we also ask you to vote for us by registering on the taiwanbesttrip website. Here is a photo of us having breakfast at the start of Day 1.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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.
Friday, July 10, 2009
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)