There’s a rumour going around the club that some of the ‘mature’ ladies will not go on any walk lead by Mark– because he goes off track, into the bush where no wallaby would go and then in the middle of nowhere looks perplexed about how to get out.  I’m here to say I survived the experience and to claim it’s all true!

It’s not a rumour!

For the 2nd walk in a row, I was with a group in which men out numbered women!  (See Yvonne’s report of walk on Wednesday 7th!)  12 men and 4 women arrived at Seawinds to accompany Mark and Michael on a pre-walk for the Federation weekend.  After a car shuffle to Baldry’s Crossing we set off after introductions: another Mark, Michael, Robert, Hayden, Lorraine, Fiona, Mei Lin, Christine, Richard, Ray, Greg, Marty, Stef, Tony and your correspondent. Read more

We had a picture perfect day for the Rye to Portsea bush walk. Nearly 20 walkers met at London Bridge car park, from there we car shuffled to No.16 Beach carpark in Rye.

We started walking along Lifesaving track which winds its way through beautiful coastal dunes. This track was used by lifesavers in the early days to help rescue people from ships that became shipwrecked along this part of the coast. As we got closer to Sorrento Back beach we walked along the Coppins track. Coppin’s lookout had magnificent views of the sea. Read more

Rainy, windy night but arrived 9am at Yarra Flats to overcast skies.  A day for coats and umbrellas – about 17 people I think.

Walked along meandering paths through bush land, tall trees, over and alongside the Yarra River.  Nice to see it really flowing and we could see how high it had flooded with rubbish still up in the trees along the banks.

Black Cockatoos and ducks aplenty, along a newish boardwalk winding the Yarra bank.  Lots of cyclists and runners too.  Through Westerfolds Park for lunch at Eltham Lower Park.  Much to our delight the miniature railway was running, lots of waving and carriage appreciation!

Continued up to Eltham Station ‘round the footy in progress’. Nice train ride back to Heidelberg where we had coffee and cakes then shortish walk back to the cars.

Very lucky, no rain, some wind and a walk I had not been on before.

Thanks Helen and Alex.

After walking  the Baw Baw Village Trail and Link Track to Phillack Saddle, seven of our group of twelve chose to walk with Michael along the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) to Mt Whitelaw Hut ruins. This pretty undulating track through spectacular snow gum forest was recently cleared and widened by the local Parks Victoria Staff and Gippsland based bushwalking clubs that made for easy walking. Or up to a point at least.

All of a sudden the well defined track became a bush bash through the scrubby heathland.  In fact some of the not so tall walkers in the group could barely be seen in the understorey. After a short period, evidence of track maintenance again made for easier walking and Michael assured us the ruins were not far away. We arrived there right on schedule at 1pm. Read more

Leader: Paul Bucknell

12^th Feb-19^th Feb 2011

Koala at Cape Otway

Each person who came for “a walk” took a turn at writing the days’ walk notes. Here are our thoughts:

Sat 12^th Feb-Apollo Bay to Shelley Beach

The day started at 6.30am – well actually 5.30am when my alarm went off. Three eager walkers, Carla, Cheryl and Paul arrived at my place (Michael’s), packs in the back of the truck and on to pick up Julie. An easy run then to Colac and a bakery stop. Who should walk in but Bill and Barb, the rest of our walking party.

We drove to near the 12 Apostles where we were to leave the cars for the week and right on time was Abby, the shuttle bus driver, to take us back to the start of the walk at Marengo (near Apollo Bay). Paul and Abby were having some in-depth discussions on the effect of the moon on the earth etc, etc on the drive. Read more