U3A Ballarat Hikers

 U3A Hike No. 267 Hike Report by Moya It was a brisk but bright spring  Ballarat morning as we congregated at Kirk's Reserve - ready for our not so onerous and welcome six kilometre walk on the Werribee River in the Spargo Creek area of the Wombat State Forest.  Arriving at the picnic ground we headed up a gentle bank and walked the undulating and not too taxing path which afforded lovely views of the bubbling river. On our short but pleasant journey we sighted several indigo flowers known as indigofera - a soft pink colour - apparently for many years the leaves of some Indigo plants were used to dye fabrics a rich blue before synthetics replaced them. A short stop revealed a pool of wombat scat.  Seemingly  Wombat researchers at the university of Tasmania won an "Ig Nobel Prize" for discovering the reason the wombat poo is square shaped -  "The Cubist Movement (s)"  would have been a good title!! On to the much anticipated river crossing - most of us had brough

 U3A Hike No. 266 Hike Report by Lyn After a quick stop at Taradale and time to organize the car shuffle, our small group of 10 started the walk near the intersection of the main water channel and Tyquins Road. It was a beautiful spring day for a walk… not too hot and not too cold… my version of “goldilocks weather”.  Before we headed off Gordon warned us that it may not be a good idea to fall into the water especially if the water was surging in the channel. A slight uphill climb brought us to our first encounter with the open channel where the water was peaceful and non threatening. However we heeded Gordon’s advice and continued onwards dry and safe. As described the walk was easy with gentle grades and a good surface. The bushland in this area consisted of eucalypts, understorey plants with colour being provided by hardenbergias, tetrathecas, wattles and daisies. I must also add that after much searching two mauve waxlip orchids were also spotted to the delight of one or possibly t