U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No 458 Hike Report By Terry Bowring On a cool morning 16 enthusiastic hikers commence the Frith Gully-Mt Misery Circuit hike, in Enfield State Park, from Incolls Road near the corner of Misery Creek Road. We walked along Misery Creek Road for a short distance before turning onto a bush walking track.  Now it was predominately walking in single file. This is where the real hike commenced along the narrow, dry, frequently rough and uneven, bush track through the gum forest. The track was along the side of the hills and gullies with some gullies being crossed. The track was rutted due to use by dirt bikes and several mine shafts were visible on both sides of the track. By morning tea, jackets and jumpers were off as the temperature rose and a beautiful day emerged. After morning tea, we arrived at Surface Point Picnic Area which contained a Chinese Pioneer Memorial. The memorial is in memory of the Chinese workers who worked and died in the area during the gold rush. In...

 U3A Hike No 457 Hike Report By Leona Ryan A large contingent of corellas squawked loudly as we set off from our Jubilee Lake meeting point on an overcast Autumn morn'. At least they weren't waking us up at 5am. We numbered 22 this week, and having taken the forecast of rain at least semi seriously we were sensibly equipped with rain jackets and backpack covers which did look a little crushed from lack of use. However raindrops were patterning the water's surface as we set off on a lap of the lake to warm up our walking muscles.  Shortly we crossed the old trestle bridge, formerly part of the Daylesford Creswick rail line, then  through an area of old manna gums, over a characterful old foot bridge and into a stand of elm trees. Next was a short stop at the Mineral Springs water tap. A large sign proclaiming Special Waters, "delightful to the palate" promised much but the water did not emerge despite energetic pumping of the handle....