U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No 369 Hike Report by Kim Radenic Date:    Leader: Gordon |  Whip: Mark Attendees: 17 hikers (including new member Michelle – welcome!) 🚗 Getting Started We met at Selkirk Stadium, loaded into our cars, and headed off to Jackass Road in Creswick. Gordon gave a quick briefing on what to expect, and then we set off along the Goldfields Track—a wide, well-used trail that clearly doubles as a mountain bike highway, judging by the abundance of tyre tracks. 🌿 Nature & Noteworthy Engineering The morning was cool and refreshing, with birds chirping, hikers chatting, and scenery that was, in a word,  fan-dam-tastic . At one bridge, Gordon explained why there’s only a handrail on one side: during heavy creek flow, debris can crash into the bridge, and the rail is designed to fold away thanks to cleverly engineered burst bolts. (Humans can be pretty smart!) 🌳 Track Closed? Not for Us Wallaby Track offered a gentle stroll until we reached a taped-off sec...

 U3A Hike No 368 Hike Report by Deb Karmouche The sun, scenery and picnic stop made this walk perfect for this weeks assembly of  9 hikers . When we gathered at the start and commenced the walk the track was icy and beanies and gloves were needed, but we finished the day in sunhats and shirts. The walk started and finished at the beautiful picnic area of Vaughan Springs with mineral water that only Colin was game enough to sample. We followed the river which we crossed before climbing up into more forested areas and very early on we were all shedding clothes and donning sunglasses and hats   Forest tracks led us past several very deep mine shafts and then to the morning tea stop at the top of the hill surrounded by remnants of the Cornish chimney associated with the Tubal Cain Mine. The walk then looped back through forest roads and along a section of the water race. Along the way we passed structures associated with an old shale mine and an old fruit orchard with ...