U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No. 158 Hike Report by Martin The leadership team: Gordon, Andrew and Ken as Whip.  Ten hikers and two instructors meant we could comply with Covid requirements and still hike in one group. The hike covered hilly terrain, along tracks that were rough, wet, stony and slippery.  Gaiters and poles recommended as usual, along with pith helmets and bananas in the event we descended into Jumanji territory.  The weather was promising, and as the day unfolded, lived up to our expectations. The parties met at the designated rendezvous point at the appointed times, and following a short briefing from the respective “leaders” proceeded to the jumping-off point – a picnic area tucked away in the Ross Creek State Park, along Victoria Road about 5kms east of Browns Road and very close to State Park Road (which runs north/south). The picnic area is well furnished with a number of picnic tables and a modern, albeit a single, dunny, or toilet or lavatory; or as they are more commonly re

U3A Hike No. 157 Hike Report by Dick The U3A Hiking Group met at Kirks Reservoir carpark at 7.45 am on a cool and foggy morning.  The seventeen walkers rearranged themselves into cars and headed up the Midland Highway towards Creswick. Shortly after Eganstown we turned left on to Basalt Road and headed north to park at the southern end of the small Basalt farming community approximately four kilometres north west of Hepburn Springs. After an introduction by Andrew, who had selected the interesting track, we headed south to Old Werona Road.  From there we entered a series of winding tracks that basically took us on an 13 kilometre circuit through a range of roads, tracks and off track walking. The foggy morning was cool but we were fortunate that the forecast rain was mainly absent and our rain coats were only required for warmth. The native vegetation was looking at its best being well wrapped in the fog. The track was wet but not very slippery given the large sections of underlyin