U3A Ballarat Hikers

Johanna Beach to Hiders Access Road 6.6km U3A Hike No 85 Hike Report by Fiona Deutscher Eighteen members of U3A Hiking Group commenced walking the second half of the Great Ocean Walk.  We drove separately from Ballarat through foggy conditions to Lavers Hill where we met up with all other members & enjoyed a coffee at The Shoppe. Then we drove to the commencement of our walk late morning at Johanna Beach. Conditions throughout the 6.6km walk were very pleasant with sun and a gentle sea breeze.  Initially the track hugged the coastline. We admired the the wonderful sweeping views along the beach & cliffs.  We stopped for lunch on a grassy hill & saw an eagle flying overhead (checking out our sandwiches?) & a mob of contented kangaroos lazing nearby. The track (part of the Old Coach Road) made its way uphill & inland through forest vegetation for several kilometres.  Our walk finished at Hiders Access Road where we collected our cars &a

U3A Hike No 84 Hike Report by Frances Watt Eureka Track Stage One - 21 October, 2019 There was an icy wind and light rain when 17 people began their descent from Mount Buninyong to Canadian Lakes along the Eureka Track.  This is the revised version of the Wallaby Track.  Ultimately the track will go through Woowookarung Regional Park, so our hike deviated from the current track to accommodate this change. The Great Divide Trail Association is the body which makes decisions about changes to trails and names.  Many of us have walked on trails which have altered over the years thanks to their work. Descending the Zigzag Track many people remarked on the large number of worms on it and wondered about the reason for their presence.  A short search on Google (choosing scientific sources) revealed a few suggestions – paraphrased and summed up here.  One suggestion is that worms breathe through their skin and after rain when burrows fill with water it is harder