U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No. 240 Hike Report by Mark H A hike with Mt Misery and Misery Creek in its centre! Not an encouraging introduction. Seven of us took up the challenge to meet at Surface Point Picnic Ground in Enfield State Park. We were not the only ones there – a man with a friendly wave and his dog (wisely tethered) with its loud unfriendly barking/ growling were camped in a tent there. Misery for him we reckoned because a large dump of rain had landed an hour or so before. Following Jan frowning at the Garmin we headed north along interconnecting paths which followed Frith Gully. What was that distant booming noise we heard occasionally? Illegal rubbish dumping? The ghosts of past mining ventures? Maybe an empty gravel truck hitting potholes. The dawning realisation however was a thunderstorm front was approaching. Morning tea was taken with black clouds and menacing rumbling looming closer from the SW. By now the path was heading east up and down hills and gullies across Misery Creek Rd

 U3A Hike No. 239 Hike Report by Dick A group of 18 walkers met at the Buninyong tennis courts on Thursday 16th of March at 7.40 and headed off to the iron mine walk near the Lal Lal Reservoir.  The temperature was a pleasant 13 degrees and rose to 22 by midday when we completed our walk and had lunch in the peaceful environment.  After an introduction by Andrew and reminders about how to drive in a convoy, which basically means that you must follow the car behind you, or not quite, but keep in contact with them and drive with your lights on. This is very wise advice which we followed as we headed into stringybark bush of the Lal Lal State Forest. The pulverized dust on the road, resembling talcum powder, meant that it was very difficult to lose the car in front of us because there was a white cloud of dust to follow and very difficult to see the car behind us because of a white cloud of dust that followed us that obscured all vision. Many thanks to the generous drivers and we hope tha

 U3A Hike No.  238 Hike Report by Lyn  With our start and finish point being Mugwamp camping ground, I thought I would use the letters of this interestingly named spot to base this short and sweet blog... M    is for the Merrymakers....12 in total  U     is for underfoot and undulations. The route used part of the Beeripmo Track and formed dirt roads. Official distance walked was 10.05 kms. The track went though mixed tall forests with a bracken understory. Some very tall snowgums with their beautiful trunks were noticed. Further on we passed some amazing tree ferns. Evidence of past logging sites was also encountered. G    is for granite. Our first stop found us perched on a granite outcrop looking south with extensive views towards the Challicum Hills Wind Farm. Further into the walk we came across two other granitic features, Big Rock and Dawson Rock. W    is for walkie talkie. Refer to A. No further details will be given because you just had to be there.                   is for w

 U3A Hike No. 237 Hike Report by Teena 17 people met at Andrew's house to commence the Woowookarung Circuit hike. A perfect day for hiking, cool to start with and gradually warming up as we neared the end. Our walk led us to an area in the forest where there once was a railway track which is now completely overgrown and difficult to tell where it used to lead to. Luckily with Andrew's knowledge, we were informed of the path it had taken. Walking on we came across a wire fence that had to be negotiated. With barbed wire running across the top it made it very interesting climbing over. Unfortunately, Gordon succumbed to the barbs and required first aid for his cut fingers. He was still able to continue as whip though, ensuring no one was left behind. We continued along to Recreation Road where we saw the work that had been started to build a new path next to where the old bridge once was. Hopefully if we revisit this area again, we will see further progress. Our walk took