U3A Ballarat Hikers

U3A Ballarat Hike No 115 Hike Report by guest hiker Ebony Herperger (27) Start Location: Sailors Falls     Length: 16.2-17.6km (depending on the satellites and the opinion of your device)   Route type: Loop   Time: ~5 hours (feels like 3 with good company)   Elevation: Go and find out!       Thursday morning dawned, frosty and soggy. Low clouds loomed ominously but to our great surprise they stayed civil and we managed to roam the countryside without getting damp from the top down (however the frequent and expansive puddles tried to make us damp from our toes up).   From Kirks the first convoy of cars zoomed away, led by Gordon. The second group waited an appropriate amount of time to give them a head start, however Andrew led such a hasty pursuit that we arrived almost simultaneously. We convened at Sailors Falls Mineral Spring on Ballan-Daylesford Rd and struck out west through an overgrown discreet vehicle track. We panted up "the short steep bit" and found ourselves on th

 U3A Hike No 114 Photo - Blue Group. Attendance: Twenty-three hikers in three groups. Report by Nita for Blue Group The alarm went off VERY early and I was excited to ‘bounce’ out of bed ready to do our welcome-back group hike.   So with comparative freedom, our Blue Group led by Andrew met up in Creswick and with our MASKS being an extra accessory off we trekked.   Following the Goldfields track we meandered past Lake St.George, through the old School of Forestry and the University of Melbourne’s historic buildings and surrounds, the now extinct Koala Sanctuary and then the La Gersche Forest. The history of this area never ceases to inspire.   Of particular interest are the St Georges Reef and Eatons Reef gold mines and associated deep leads and tributaries.   The dancing Happy Wanderer and the occasional sighting of a Green Hooded Orchid along the tracks was also a highlight.    A climb up to Brackenbury Hill gave 360 degree views of the surrounds, a bit windy but was worth the eff