U3A Ballarat Hikers

U3A Hike No 112 Historical Notes, Map and gpx file download links after the photos. Hike Report by Chris Gordon led a group of 10 walkers from the Linton township, through the goldfields of Nuggety Gully, to the NW of town. We began along the Rail Trail but soon were among ridges and gullies. Many shafts, small mullock heaps, water races and an old mine adit remain as evidence of a busy mining era. We learned of the precarious existence of the miners. Mortal hazards included misdirected shovels and runaway winch buckets. We passed through an extensive area of forest now showing regrowth following recent controlled burning. At around the halfway mark Jane began to feel unwell, and it became clear that she would not be able to carry on. Fortunately, this happened not far from a road with houses, the first for many kilometres.  Andrew was able to call on the assistance of Sean and Kathy, some kind and helpful local homeowners who stepped in and took care of everything. Nex

U3A Hike No. 111 Links for historical newspaper reports and map can be found after the photos. Report by Dick Patterson for the Blue Group: The group of ten walkers met near the crater of Mt Buninyong at 7.50 am on a very foggy and cool morning. The fabled and much-loved views of the western plains were hidden and had to be imagined as we headed off briskly with Andrew in the lead and Ken acting as whip. The pace was fine on the gentle downhill sections but we quickly realised that for every metre of altitude we lost it had to be paid for later in the walk. To start high and walk down or to start low and walk up? That is the question! Our walk headed north from the car park and through the beautiful manna gums and towards Yankee Flat Road which took us past a couple of manicured gardens that thrive on the red volcanic soil. Occasionally these gardens are open to the public and are well worth visiting. From Yankee Flat Road we headed west along Wirreanda Drive and past

U3A Hike No. 110 Report by Andrew Another very cold morning for our gathering at St Georges Lake prior to our 13-car convoy a few kilometres up the road to start our hike at Humbug Road. We hiked in a group of ten plus three leaders/officials, but we had planned to split into two smaller groups before we had a late cancellation due to someone waking up not feeling well and opting for safety first. Which is a good example for us to remember in these difficult times. After about one and a half kilometres we came to Lincolns dam on Lincolns Creek and I shared with the group a newspaper report from 1923 where discussions were being held to replace an important bridge at some location across Lincolns Creek, probably Humbug Road. Offers of assistance read as follows: P.Pearce, all the big timber; D. McDonald, cart same; W. Aut, one week’s work with horse and dray; R. Stephens, ditto; H. Robinson. E-Robinson. G. Heskin. One week's work; A. Whiting, J. Bailey and others, some a