U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No 406 Hike Report by Terry Bowring Nine  hikers met in the Bunnings Delacombe car park before travelling to the Linton Recreation Reserve to commence the hike. The first third of the hike was along the Ballarat-Skipton Rail trail in a southern, then eastern direction toward Ballarat. After passing the site of the original Linton Station, crossing the Janes Lane Rail Tressel Bridge (see group photo), Happy Valley Station and overhead Trestle Bridge the trail started to climb. Along the Rail Trail we passed the Linton Flora and Fauna Reserve and Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary before stopping for morning tea. A little further along, just over 5km from the start, we turned off the Rail Trail into the bush along a dirt track. The dirt vehicle track, and all other tracks were in good condition and made for easy walking and conversation due to the width of the track. As we ventured further into the bush, the steeper hills started, with a couple of long steep hills. The track c...

 U3A Hike No 405     TRAMWAY Hike Report by Don Moss On a beautiful Ballarat autumn day, 12 of us left Buninyong to drive via Lal Lal  to branch on to the Ironmine road. A wonderful circuit walk on old tracks and derelict tramway trails , through a reserved area known as the Lal Lal  Bungal State forest and Heritage Area.     The surroundings were classic Australian bush of Eucalypts, with relatively little undergrowth because the underlying soil was often rocky and full of minerals. We started on Chalkmine road, somewhat a n exaggeration , more like a rocky track.     Geology .    Chalk mine more accurately refers to Kaolin, a white rocky substance which is little known as an important component of porcelain and a valuable earth source in the Ballarat and Bendigo regions.    Later we turned on to Ironmine road, and bits of heavy iron rock were identified , so mining in this region was not primarily for go...