421. Creswick Forest Loop 11km
U3A Hike No 421 Hike Report by Geoff Rain was predicted for the morning but when our 19 hikers set out from Sawpit Road, near the old Creswick nursery, it was fine but cloudy. Today’s hike led us first, along the La Ger che Track, where we soon came upon the timber sculpture of John La Gerche. There Gordon reminded us of the great work La Gerche did between 1882 and 1897 when he was the Crown Lands Bailiff and Forester. During that time he set about restoring remnant forest, after large tracts had been illegally logged. He also established significant plantations of many species of conifers and oaks which we were able to appreciate as we hiked on. We continued via the atmospheric Oak Gully, out of the valley, up Brackenbury Hill. Morning tea was enjoyed at the Brackenbury Lookout, where we looked over a somewhat misty Scottish landscape. Break completed, we then hiked down to the side of St George’s Lake. As we neared the lake, we came to a po...