Mother Brown's Bonnet via Woodvine Nature Reserve 2012

This was a good day with fine weather, in a new area. This was an old farm that was given to the Crown by Mr Herbert Ernest “Ernie” Shaw in 1998. Mr Shaw died in 2005. Woodvine was declared a reserve in 2001

The farm has 377 hectares or about 932 acres and protects native species of plants & animals that have been driven out of nearby cleared areas. Although left to Parks & Wildlife, it is looked after by the Friends of Woodvine Reserve who keep out invasive introduced plants, and maintain the buildings. The farm was original settled by Mr. Shaw's ancestors in 1861.

The walk leaves the farm and crosses the remains of a paddock to enter open forest. It then travels up across a clear space, before finally reaching Mother Brown's Bonnet. I have no idea where that name came from.

Coming back to the farm after lunch, we wandered around the farm buildings & house. The house is locked so you're limited to looking through the windows. There's another, similar, farm not too far away.

We had about 13 walkers and covered 8.33km in 3:50

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The Farm

From the paddock near the rear

Past what looks like and old seed drill

A little bit of moisture, but not bad

Track turns a little bit sandy

Entering forest

This maybe lunch or Morning Tea, I think both were at the same spot

Getting close to our destination

Clear zone near the top

Gordon contemplating the top

The view

Back at the farm

Outdoor oven, I wonder where the large sandstone blocks came from.

Flowers in old garden in front of house. Notice green occupant.

Neighbouring property. I don't know if the two are connected.

Risdon Brook Upper Tracks 2012

This was a good walk with good weather at Risdon Brook Dam. There are many tracks, mostly unmarked throughout the hills.

We had about 10 walkers and covered about 4km in 3:14 hours.

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This little fellow was just over the dam

Easy walking

All important Morning Tea

Very open bush

Droughty Point 2012

A rather cold day, as you can see from the snow on Mt. Wellington. Still, the sun was out and it was a good walk.

We had  10 walkers and covered 6.54km in 2:16 hours

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The start

A chilly sight, still we are on the Eastern Shore, no snow here!

Bit windy. All the trees went to make Whale Oil

Walking South

Heading down to Trywork Bay

Navy ship heading down the Derwent

Coming up off the beach

Looking back

Telephoto across to Kingston Beach & Alum Cliffs

Coming up the other side of the point, back to start

Red Paint Two 2012

This is the other Red Paint track that starts in the same place from the Organ Pipes Track.

As you can see, it was a foggy day, but no rain and not too cold. There is lots of boulder climbing, forget hopping. Some of these were really tough to get up and people had to give each other a hand.

As I said, it was foggy, but everything nearby was clear so no problem finding our way. Looking in the direction of Hobart was another matter as it was just a wall of white. The only time it broke was during morning tea when suddenly a hole appeared just like a small window and I could see some of Hobart quite clearly as if it was in a picture frame. Unfortunately, by the time I got my camera out, it filled in again.

The climb goes up through a space in the Organ Pipes and comes out just below the commercial T.V. tower. From there we walked down the road and picked up the track to the Luckmans Hut about 200 metres down where we had lunch.

After lunch we started down to pick up the Panorama Track which cuts off Big Bend and comes out on the road. We planned to walk back to the Chalet on the shoulder. I was last out as usual and suddenly I heard a CRACK! like a rifle shot.

One of the walkers had fallen and hit their head on a large rock. They didn't loose consciousness, but were dazed. We decided that I would continue on to pick up the walking track, make my way to the road and pickup my car to come back. In the meantime the others would take the patient back to Luckmans Hut. Which we did.

When I got back to the top with the car, Gordon was waiting for me to say they had called an ambulance as they were worried about a head injury. Meanwhile the fog was really getting thick.

When the ambos arrived, one was in short sleeves and the other had a sweater on, so Gordon had a spare coat he loaned the first one. We walked back to the Hut where they examined the patient and determined it was ok to walk back up to the road, while one of them supported their head & neck and others of us made sure no one fell, as it was walking over rocks and clumps of vegetation.

Reaching the top, it was nearly a white out while the ambulance drove very slowly down. I took everyone down to their cars and we called it a day.

The injured walker had sustained a crack in the back of their skull and was not walking for a number of weeks, but is now happily back with their own group nearer to home.

I think there were 6 of us and we walked 4.5km in 3:24 hours.

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Ready to start

This is the easy part

Addie still smiling, John being photographed while photographing. Peggy in the middle

Last we see of Hobart

Up and into the fog

Still smiling

Feral goat hung up on a bush. I guess it slipped and wonder how many live up there.

I think this was Morning tea

Reached the road, walking down to track to Luckmans Hut

Track to hut

Luckmans Hut

Picking up car to drive back up