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Meetings: Held the 4th Thursday of each month (excluding December), at Leongatha Community House, 16 Bruce Street, Leongatha.
Next Meeting: 22nd April, 2010 at 8.00 pm
| Other Meetings: |
22nd April 2010, General meeting at Leongatha Community House, 8pm |
8th June, Committee Meeting at Chisholm’s, 8pm
27th May, General Meeting, Leongatha Community House, 8pm |
Editor’s Report
Whether you’re reading about your own adventure or someone else’s, or planning a future expedition, there should be plenty to interest you in this edition of our newsletter. Many of our members have been to New Zealand or Tassie, or even as far as Canada, in the last few months, and others have enjoyed themselves more locally.
My apologies to Steve, whose report on New Year’s Eve I forgot to include in the last newsletter. It is in this one (see below) - better late than never.
Please note my email address in the above Club header. Some people are still using my old DCSI address which will not work for much longer. Also, a reminder to send your items in a format which can be read by Word 2003.
Paula
Trip Reports
The Oaks to Inverloch
New Year’s Eve - a hot, hot, hot day. Cool change with thunderstorms forecast, but no sign of it yet. Nine hardy individuals with an age range from six to sixties set out from The Oaks carpark about six pm. So that’s hot, hot, hot, 666, a hellish sort of day? Not at all. Great company, blue sky, blue sea with white frilly bits around the edge and a low tide with lots of rock shelf and rock pools exposed. A truly fantastic and, at times, challenging walk, with some scrambling, some boulder hopping and a few slippery bits - showcasing the stunning scenery of the Bunurong marine park, rockshelf, cliffs and beaches. Age proved more resilient than youth in the trying conditions with the younger folk (+ Charlie) dropping out at Shack Bay while the senior cits division completed the walk to Flat Rocks.
A pleasant BBQ tea followed with the usual drinks, chatter and scrumptious fat food desserts (the real reason I organized the walk), enjoyed on the deck amongst Paula and Steve’s native garden. Our numbers seemed to have increased somewhat at feeding time. Mother Nature, not content with the birds and evening frog chorus, turned on a spectacular sound and light show shortly after dark. There was another not quite so spectacular distant fireworks display at midnight as another year of club walks drew to a close.
Steve Horton
Walls of Jerusalem Walk - Feb 2010
Peter Hosking, Melinda Martin, Rob James, Paula and Steve Horton
Our Tassie hike viewed through a few rhymes.
Taking it slowly, just one day at a time.
Day 1
Driving into the mountains, they’re hidden by a white shroud.
Drizzle at first, then steady rain pours from the low lying cloud.
Warm and dry in the car, we discuss all of the ifs and buts.
It’s not high mountains weather, we decide to hike to Lees Hut.
We meet two mounted cattlemen; Ron Morgan, John Howe.
Riding out of the past in drizabone coats, maybe the past is now.
Cattle, horses, bushwalkers, the hist’ry of Lee’s hut; we chat.
Wet cattle dogs nuzzle our legs, all they want is a pat.
Rain is falling steadily as we arrive at Louis Lee’s hut.
Strip off wet coats and boots, and then fire the Trangias up.
We cook, eat and sleep in a heritage cattlemen’s site
Dry warm and cosy: rain rattles the roof through the night.
Day 2
Wet moss, lichens and ferns under gnarled myrtle beech.
Perfect conditions, for the small native leech.
Looping up our gaiters, or down into wet socks.
A nice juicy leg, or a warm sheltered crotch.
Our blood’s what they want. They need a good feed.
In fact it’s essential if they’re going to breed.
At first they’re quite small, just five or six mil.
But my how they grow when they’ve had a good fill.
Lots of other hikers must have passed here before.
‘Cos there’s not one or two: they attack by the score.
Day 3
Mount Pelion East, or should we climb Ossa?
If I flipped a coin would I be a tosser?
United we stand, pond’ring what we should do.
Divided we conquered, not one peak, but two.
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Day 4
If you ever, ever go where the Mersey River flows
Through The Never Never, then be sure to take it slow.
For the river is meandering and over cliffs its tumbling.
The track for ever winding, at times is hard of finding.
There’s no bikini babes on beaches, there are some friendly leeches.
There’s beauty in the button grass and ancient myrtle beeches.
And there is a satisfaction and a sort of inner glow
Found in The Never Never where the Mersey River flows.
Day 5
Junction Lake campsite and I’ve now turned sixty.
With a loaded pack I don’t feel too frisky.
Though my ego still thinks that I am quite gutsy
The spring in my step feels stretched and quite rusty.
Meston Lake north campsite, an early stop,
‘Cos the senior cit feels ready to drop.
With balloons and a badge it’s party time
Chocolate cake with candles rounds off this rhyme.
Day 6
A string of lakes linked by a walking track
A spectacular walk as you carry your pack.
First Junction Lake just above Clarke falls.
Next Meston and Adelaide, then climb to Lake Ball.
Through Jaffa Vale is the way we now go.
Mount Jerusalem and views of the central plateau.
Lakes and tarns for as far as the eye can see.
And numberless peaks all the way to the sea.
Melinda would love solitude and peace.
But we play a game called ‘name the peaks’.
“Cradle mountain. Ossa. Is that Frenchman’s Cap?”
Compass bearings, arguments, we’ve got no map.
Back to our tents for a very late meal
Totally buggered is how we all feel.
Day 7
Final day in the Walls of Jerusalem
Breakfast then break camp at Dixon’s Kingdom.
Solomons Throne is a short but steep rocky climb
Between towering cliffs for a view that’s sublime.
Paula and Steve head next for King David’s peak.
The young folk all fear that their knees are too weak.
They climb instead, with their lunch, up the Temple,
While we do a knee jarring endless rock scramble.
We all meet again at the Pool of Bethesda.
Through Herod’s Gate, then some tent platform yoga.
Steve
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| Lee’s Hut..a welcome refuge in the rain |
Signing-in at Reedy Lake |
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| Rob on Pelion Plains with Mt Oakleigh behind |
Pauls atop Mt Pelion East |
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| Melinda on her way through The Never Never |
Rob and Peter at the not real McCoy Falls on the
Mersey River in The Never Never |
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| Lunch at Lake Meston Hut |
Balloons, badge & ‘dehydrated’ birthday cake for Steve’s
60th Birthday party |
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| Morning mist at Lake Meston |
Paula, Steve, Rob, Melinda and Peter
on
the summit of Mt. Jerusalem
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| Melinda on Solomon’s Throne |
Pool of Bethesda with The Temple behind |
Fish and Chips - Feb 19
Marg, Val, Charlie, Rob, Ros, Joanna and I met at Rainbow Park for our annual walk to Townsend Bluff followed by fish and chips. We slowly walked and talked towards Townsends Bluff along the beach and through the caravan park. Joanna decided she would wait at the bridge and the rest of us continued to the top to take in the views.
Charlie made his stay short as he was on baby sitting patrol for the rest of the evening. On our return we collected our prepaid chips and enjoyed each others company with food and a few drinks.
Thanks everyone for a great afternoon. Keep walking and talking.
Josie
Lawn Bowls Evening - Feb 28
On the 28th Febuary at the Korumburra Bowling Club, six excited people
who had never bowled before, as well as Ross, Charlie and Joanna (from the Victorian Bowls Team) met for a social game. After a quick lesson we paired into teams: Joanna and Marg v Charlie and Angela, Josie and Rob v Annie and Paul. Ross watched carefully and coached from the side lines. After some great bowling (and sometimes not so great bowling!) everyone headed to the middle pub for some Thai food.
It was a great night of food and bowls, even though some were better at the eating part!
Thanks everyone for supporting these two great sports.
See ya on the green next time.
Joanna
Queen Charlotte Sound Walk (NZ) - March 5 2010
Having had this trip on my ‘bucket list’ ever since watching a ‘GETAWAY’ show on T.V. quite some time ago, it was a dream come true when 10 of us lined up to board the water taxi at the Picton jetty N.Z. on Friday 5th March to begin the Queen Charlotte Sound walk of 71kms.
David and Kerry, Judy and Max Speedy, Ian and Val, Chris and Kee and Philip and Julie all met the evening before after varying adventures prior to the walk. We had travelled from Christchurch by train to Picton, following the coastline most of the way for 5 hours. This was a relaxing and enjoyable way of getting us into the holiday mode and experiencing some of the beautiful views of N.Z.
Our walking trip was over 5 days, with 4 days of walking and 1 day of rest, although one of our fellow walkers suggested it ‘should have been 1 day walking and 4 days rest’ but I won’t mention who it was D...
The packed lunches provided each walking day were a pleasant surprise but the ‘piéce de résistance’ was the yummy carrot cake. The accommodation each day was in very comfortable cabins and meals were delicious at the Bistros or Restaurants.
We were surprised at the lack of bird life but did see plenty of Wekas especially when we were eating our lunch. (A weka bird is a chook-size bird, flightless with no tail feathers) Most days our ears were ringing from the trill of cicadas but we did become immune to the noise.
Some of the special treats at Portage (the rest day) were the chance to have a relaxing spa, kayak or just sit and relax in the sun, reading/sleeping or even having a swim in the pool.
We were all proud of Val’s husband Ian who had planned to walk only the first 2 days due to health problems, but through sheer persistence and endurance he managed to complete the whole 71kms. Well done Ian!
At the end of the 5 days the water taxi picked us up at 4pm, at the Anakiwa jetty for the half hour trip back to Picton. We all enjoyed the experience so much and can only look forward to more such adventures. There are certainly many such walks, bike rides, kayak trips or even horse riding in N.Z. to entice one back.
Thank you to all in the group who made it such a fantastic 5 days with lots of laughs, fun, enjoyment and fellowship.
Julie Johnston
The Well-travelled Hairdryer
Kerry and I arrived in Christchurch two days ahead of the group walk organised by Julie Johnston. In case the coming 71 kms would prove insufficient we spent most of the afternoon walking along the Avon River ending up at the Botanic Gardens and, later, walked back into town to eat rather than go downstairs from our room to the hotel restaurant. Next morning was an early pick-up to catch the Transcoastal train to Picton. This proved to be a very picturesque trip and involved very little walking. By good fortune the food and drink bar was in the next carriage. In Picton we met up with some of our group and ended the day at the backpackers’ with a whisky nightcap, courtesy of Kee and Chris.
Next morning our group was fully assembled on the quay. An hours boat ride took us to Ship Bay where we started our walk UP A STEEP HILL! Julie never mentioned this when she sold the trip to us. About 4 hrs - and 14 kms - later we arrived at Furneaux Lodge. This was when we discovered the first of numerous hairdryers supplied by the accommodation totally negating the need to cart one the length and breadth of New Zealand. (Did I mention that Julie had brought her hairdryer from home?)
Next day was only a short - 12km - walk to Punga Cove. Mostly flat and uneventful except for our meeting with a Japanese woman who was travelling alone and proved exceptionally lively (you had to be there). She was a school teacher who also held an amateur boxing licence. Her entire luggage for her trip was in one backpack weighing 6kg (Julie fainted upon hearing this - her hairdryer weighed in at 5kg). Yosie turned out to be the closest we came to any wildlife on the trail - not counting the Wekas which lost their charm after the first encounter. We arrived at the resort to find that we had to walk up ANOTHER BLOODY STEEP HILL to get to our cabins. Then we discovered that Judy’s luggage had gone missing. We all searched in vain and, in days to come, with no other clothes Judy became affectionately known as “Whiffy the Pooh”.
During our evening meal we chatted to a similar sized group of Kiwis from Wellington. In the interests of continuing diplomacy they challenged us to a game of volleyball during our rest day, two days hence. I thought tiddlywinks would have been a safer bet.
Day three was the long one - 24.5km and NUMEROUS BLOODY STEEP HILLS. All told, about 7 hrs. We all made it, successfully, and clamoured to lend Judy deodorant as her bag had still not turned up. I think it was tiredness that caused me to trip over the cord of the complimentary hairdryer in our room at Portage Resort. Our rest day was good with Kerry letting me off with a 5km walk, UP A HILL, around the bay during which we were entertained by a local dog dashing into the trees and bringing us a dead possum. We advised him that this could prove awkward for us at customs and, so, let him keep it. Sanity prevailed in our Aussie-Kiwi grudge match and the idea of volleyball was discarded in favour of the much gentler sport of petanque. (Although having stood close to Chris during this match I’m not so sure about “gentle” any more). Unfortunately we lost by one point. I tried to give them Julie’s hairdryer as a trophy but they pointed out that all New Zealanders use the free ones in the hotels and so they didn’t want it. Judy’s bag finally turned up - it had fallen of the trolley into shrubs at Punga - so now we could all walk closer to her.
Our final day was 20km to Anakiwa, our boat pick-up point. Chris was sporting injuries from a bicycle mishap prior to the walk and decided to give this section a miss. Personally I think she was miffed because we lost the petanque. I still don’t think it was a good idea for her to throw Kee instead of a ball, even though it was a good shot. And, guess what, this section started with ANOTHER BLOODY GREAT HILL, FOLLOWED, AT INTERVALS, BY TWO OR THREE MORE! Finally we reached the end of the track and collapsed in relief whilst eating ice-creams. Particular congratulations should go to Phil and Ian for finishing the walk whilst suffering various ailments. Back to Picton by boat and various goodbyes as we all had our separate ways to go. We were to continue, for another week, with Julie and Phil and Julie’s hairdryer and Julie’s two pair of designer jeans (just in case) IN A VERY SMALL CAR! But that’s another story.!
David Baggallay
Upcoming Events
Bike Ride to Cerebus - May 2nd
Ever wondered what actually goes on behind those walls of the HMAS Cerberus Naval base at Crib Point?
Fortunately, one of our members, Max Speedy, works at the base and is willing to give us a personally guided tour. Numbers limited, a few spots left, ring Kerry for details on 56647440
20th Birthday Celebration Weekend
There are only 4 places left in the lodge at the Prom now so if you want one of these spots you had better book soon.
Chris Chaim 56625226
Lilydale to Warburton overnight bike ride - May 22nd-23rd
This can be a pannier ride, carrying camping equipment or share an on-site van with hired bedding. Some people may only be able to come for one day in which case they could join us part way along the trail and return the same day. Lilydale police have advised that parking, with surveillance, is available adjacent to the Railway Station. The ride can be extended beyond Warburton for those who would like a longer ride.
Contact Kerry Baggallay 56647440
Precipitous Bluff
The Chisholms plan to climb Precipitous Bluff in Tasmania’s South West Wilderness area, leaving 27th Dec and returning 10th Jan 2011. The walk will be tough, and 14 days’ food needs to be carried, but the views and wilderness will be worth it. As it’s a very remote area, only 3 tent sites are available at each spot, so if you’re interested in coming along, let Paul know ASAP.
Mt Worth - May 30
Many years ago Steve and I had the privilege of working with Jack and Nancy Brooks, the founders of Mt.Worth SP, and the ‘Friends’ group on the formation of a track in the locality known as the Waterfall Bower. To the best of my knowledge, this track was never linked up with any other tracks and the beautiful Waterfall Bower remains unknown to the general public. To find this hidden treasure we will need to do a little off-track exploring and the going may be steep and muddy in places. Lyrebirds are courting at this time of year so, if we are very, very quiet, we may be lucky enough to spot a male dancing.
Paula 5674 2980
Guest Speaker - General Meeting June 24
Annie has invited Robyn Vella from the Loddon Shire to come and address our June meeting. Robyn will be talking to us about all the interesting things we can do in the Loddon area.
Great Book in the Library
They say ‘when the student is ready, the teacher will appear’. Well, I feel the same thing applies to books - the ones I love now would never have appealed to me in my twenties!
I’ve borrowed quite a few books from SGWAAC, but this one I really couldn’t put down from the minute I opened it.
It’s Aron Ralston’s book Between a Rock and a Hard Place. It’s his account of his horrific accident while canyoning in Utah. He was trapped by a falling boulder and his hand was well and truly stuck. He had a limited amount of water and an amazing understanding of search and rescue operations and how the body shuts down bit by bit after an accident.
His chapters alternate between telling us what led up to the accident and how the 6 days of his entrapment are going, and then taking us back in time to his amazing adventures cross country skiing, mountaineering, climbing Denali, canyoning etc etc.
His style is factual and his spirit is really inspirational. I love reading about humans reaching deeply inside and achieving the unachievable. So if you’re up for a good read, don’t miss this one!
Annie Chisholm
Walks Program
For the web version of Footprints, the walks program is located on a separate page and is kept up-to-date with changes as they come in.
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