Haddon Common Circuit - 7.4 Kms

 U3A Hike No. 200!!





Hike Report by Chris

The Haddon Common circuit walk of June 16 marked the 200th hike of the U3A Hikers.  Two dozen of us convoyed to Nintingbool Winery for the event, taking in the Haddon Common Bushland Reserve.  Users of the reserve include Haddon Field and Game who manage the rifle range, clay target shooting and bow hunting events. This information kept us all alert, especially Ken, who came dressed as a clay target. Search and rescue dogs are also trained there.

The walk mostly took us along fire tracks not far from the perimeter of the reserve. Vegetation included stringybark eucalypts with bracken and cassinia undergrowth. Plenty of varieties of mushrooms have appeared following the recent rains. 

The "mizzle" cleared as we returned to the winery, where Peter Bothe showed us his two hectare Pinot vineyard and the equally stylish native tree and shrub plantings. Kunzeas, pincushion hakeas, ficafolias and correas took your correspondent’s eye.

Peter demonstrated his pruning techniques, watched by some attentive grey kangaroos. Janet also took special note.  We then were shown the wine making equipment including the crusher, presser, vats and fermentation tanks as well as his homemade pruning buggy and the netting apparatus. Terry approved of the French oak fermentation barrels.

Peter and Jill then served us coffee and wine in the comfortable bluestone walled tasting room.  An especially delicious lunch was followed by Peter’s presentation demonstrating the wine making process - vine cultivation, netting, harvesting crushing and fermentation.

A further highlight of the day was to come, with a singalong, led by several of the group’s accomplished Ukulele players. Willie Nelson, CCR, Herman’s Hermits and Elvis were among those reprised.

Geoff spoke for all of us when he thanked Jill and Peter Bothe for making the venue available, Andrew and Gordon for their hike organisation and, of course, The Band.

Photos by Mark B













NINTINGOOL WINERY TOUR AND LUNCH





















LINKS


Comments

  1. Janet18 June 2022 at 17:25

    It was such a lovely celebration, captured in the beautiful photos and hike report. A very big thank you to Andrew and to Gordon for all of the work they have put in to reach 200 hikes. A big thank you too, to Peter and Jill for making us so welcome.

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