U3A Ballarat Hikers

U3A Hike No 104 Hike Report by Tim Bosher 10 walkers plus our leader Gordon met at Kirks at 7:45 am for an individual convoy drive to the start on the Werribee River.    Two members, Chris and Marianne, used the day to familiarise themselves with the mysteries of the Garmin so we had a plethora of navigators working hard to keep us on the straight and narrow.    Those Garmins were really necessary as our fearless leader led us on a rambling cross- country route with probably less than 50% on marked tracks.    The walk was generally through very pleasant open bush on a cool almost windless day with only moderate climbs. The walking conditions were, in fact,   almost perfect with just a touch of cold in the air when we stopped for morning tea and lunch.   T he photographers were kept busy with the continued profusion of fungi in a rainbow of colours which have been prevalent on recent walks.   The 15.5km walk concluded with a very scenic ramble along the Werribee River and

U3A Hike No. 103   Andrew: Our thanks go to Gordon who conceived, researched and prepared this hike. Hike Reports by Chris, Marianne and Jan Chris: Three groups congregated in Smythesdale for the drive to the Jubilee Reserve, about 8km to the west. We all had our wet weather gear. Although there proved to be lots of surface water on the tracks, it turned out to be fine, if cool.  My group, led by Gordon had the advantage of including Ken who is descended from a line of local miners. He was sure this would enable him to readily identify any nuggets uncovered by the rains. Surface gold mining in the region in the 1850’s was followed by deep lead workings from later that decade. The Jubilee Quartz Mining Company, formed following the discovery of a “new” deep lead reef in 1887 was the biggest and most technologically advanced. There were dozens in the district. The area, now deserted, was then a thriving European community with up to 800 students at the school. There is

   U3A Hike No 102 Due to the restriction  of groups being limited to ten people for outdoor recreation we re-commenced hiking in three groups.   By Janet McKay, Dick Patterson and Geoff Howard   Janet:  With great excitement and anticipation with the easing of COVID19 restrictions,10 hikers, the first of three separated  groups, gathered  for our first post COVID19 lockdown hike on a beautiful frosty morning that soon turned into a perfect sunny autumn day.   Driving to the start of the hike we set off along undulating tracks through tall stringybark forest and large areas of grass trees with glorious displays of heath stretching in all  directions.  To the relief of some, we didn’t climb Champion Hill, but skirted around catching glimpses of open country to the east and a few  sightings  of grey kangaroos bounding away from us.   Dick:  We left the cars and headed south before taking a left turn and heading east.  The  State floral emblem, the Co