U3A Hike No 304
Hike Report By Lyn Hooper
By the time we had all reached Kirks Reservoir the fog had lifted and the day promised to be an absolutely perfect day for a hike. Leaving the cars just west of the picturesque Cricket Willow café and ground we headed off on our walk. Following bush tracks we went up and we went down, some hills being steeper than others but we all seemed to cope with no murmurings of discontent. In all, the bush, the weather and company were just delightful.
We were fortunate to see a wallaby in the early stages of our walk and then the presence of previous mining activity became apparent.
After morning tea at a pub with no beer but gigantic aloe vera plants ( one with a huge flower spike ), Gordon explained how this environment would have been so different in the 1860s. We marveled at the sheer size and depth of nearby mine shafts and the mullock fingers which radiated out from us. The area is criss-crossed with gullies bearing interesting but eclectic names such as Tenpenny, New Zealand, Welcome, Stringers, Smith and of course Scorpion.
On this trip I believe no close encounters with this arachnid occurred. Gordon shared some Hasenpemmerl Schokoladeperlen otherwise known as rabbit scats which as you can imagine were yummy.
We continued on with more ups, more downs, tracks well formed to tracks that were hardly discernible, dams where the reflection was a mirror image of the vista above, passing a rammed earth construction situated in a park-like setting. We spotted the imposing Mt Franklin at a couple of spots before we returned to our cars for lunch.
Thanks to Gordon for stepping in at short notice and ably leading us safely back to our cars. Also thanks to Jan for being whip.
Photos By Marianne Kennedy
Photos by Gordon Talbett
THE SECOND HUNT
At Shepherd's Flat, down on Jim
Crow, We met another hunt to try.
The party had arranged it so—I'll
just tell you the reason why:—
We had been told by people, who live
down that way and grow some crop,
That they often saw some
Kangaroo—We just went down to see them hop.
Across the Jim Crow Creek we
went; The sky was clear and very blue;
The day was just the thing for
sent, But we didn't find the Kangaroo.
The hunters out just numbered
five, Of charming girls—a lively lot,
And for strict silence I did
strive, 'Twas hopeless—could not get a shot
They rode alone and talk they would ; Their hearts were light for
they were young;
To get big game it was no good, But who could stop a woman's
tongue?
We had a ride on Jim Crow hills, But
not a Kangaroo did wait.
One rider nearly had two spills; We
shot rabbits at any rate
A lonely place for man to stray-And
all day long from early morn,
From Scorpion Gully to Tenpenny, All
we saw was Jimmy Brawn.
At four o'clock the hunt
adjourned, All pleased as pleased could be,
And then the sports to town
returned for an important Kitchen Tea.
—BANDICOOT.
Daylesford Advocate, Yandoit,
Glenlyon and Eganstown Chronicle
Tuesday 15 August 1916, page 3
LINKS
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