Kaoota Tramway 2015

This was our first walk for 2015, everyone having had last Tuesday off. Just as well as it was wet.

The weather was warm, humid and overcast for most of the day. The sun came our for a very short time and we were all glad when the clouds came back over as it had become hot!

Today's walk was led by Tas.

We parked in Lawless Rd. in the parking area for the Nierinna Creek walk. This gives us a good walk uphill through the chook farm and adds to the distance. Also, the so-called parking area for the Tramway is a few inches of grass next to the road, where we did didn't block the traffic  (of which there is very little).

I'm not sure why the council did it this way as the road leads to an open area where the info signs for the walk are located. However, now it becomes a private road just past the farm. Several new homes are being or have been built up there since the last time we were here.

The walk follows the Kaoota Tramway, also known as the Sandfly Colliery Tramway. The tramway dates back to 1905/6 when it was built to serve the coal mine. After the mine went out of business, the train carried timber, vegetables, fruit and passengers. It couldn't last though and finally closed down. The tracks were removed and the way was left until it was turned into a walking/horse riding/bike track.

For a detailed history Click here.

It's a very pleasant walk as most of it is wide enough to walk side by side, although some of it is becoming over grown.

We had a good turnout today.

Looking south, you can see some of the hills are topped by mist.

Everyone else is absorbing knowledge, Addy is absorbing water.

Now, if Bob was leading, you know we'd be taking the left hand track that goes up hill!

The track has a fairly gentle up hill slope.

View to north

Very rocky area with many large ones next to the track.

First cutting

There are two of these small bridges over, what are now, dry creeks.

Pleasant flowering shrub next to bridge.

There are plenty of man ferns to be seen.

Shortly before Morning Tea, Tas was asking me about my camera, as he wants a small one to carry when birdwatching. I was telling him about mine, waterproof to 7 meters, 8x zoom, etc. What I was NOT doing was paying attention to the path, so it was a surprise when  a bunch of sticks got trapped between my ankles, threw me down, and sent the camera flying a couple of metres away. I couldn't have concocted a better way to demonstrate how tough the camera is. No marks or damage on it, and only superficial on me.

I think I'll write Panasonic and request a reward.

Thankfully, it was now time for Morning Tea.

This rock shelf seemed likely for tea, it had a sufficient supply of large ants.

Some sat high...

...some lower down.

Here's a rail they missed when they tore up the tracks.

This is the way the Northern Hemisphere thinks we walk down here.

Second bridge.

Large mushroom pointed out to me.

Carol had me kick it over to see if it had gills. It did.

I don't know what this meeting was about. It all went quiet when I arrived. Good thing I'm not paranoid.

We're getting close to the other end of the official walk, I see there has been some new seating and a picnic table installed just a short walk from the car park at this end.

View north from the seating.

Now I've got their attention.

Overflow at the picnic table.

Yours truly

Not sure what's going on here. I believe the lone dancer is performing a walkers version of the Scottish Sword Dance. In this version a water bottle and a walking stick are used.

The hills are clearing slightly.

While I was trying to photograph the scenery, Sue kept shouting at me about a Swamp Harrier.

I couldn't see it at first, and only managed to get these two photos by chance. It's on the left hand side. 

 I'll try to do better the next time.

A number of our walking wounded chose to sit here, while several of us continued on to Kaoota. If you walk out of the car park, there's a private road that leads up hill until you reach a level area and can see a grassy track leading off. That's the remains of the old track way and comes out at Kaoota. It appears to be private land, but the couple of gates across it were open, and no signs were posted to keep us out. We then returned back to our waiting crew.

Start of the grassy track.

There's a large house on the hill behind me. Not a bad view.

Gets a little overgrown as you get to the outer suburb of Kaoota.

Nice vegi garden and good red soil.

Walking back, Ron reaches a high point in the story he's telling Richard.

The story is now at a midpoint...

...and this is the low point.

We're all together again, just waiting for orders.

On the way back, a fungi was pointed out to me to photograph.

Then they all took off...

...leaving me to find these on my own!

Looking off track.

We had some exciting moments on the way back, but I won't go into that!

Peter and I were walking together when he stopped, reached down and picked up what I initially thought was a piece of wood. However, it was a real artifact, just lying on the surface. We left it for others to discover.

Photo by Bob with Ron in the background.

Water and farm buildings coming in sight, not far to go.

We had 14 walkers and covered 16.49km in 5hrs.

DON'T MISS THE EXCITING MESSAGE FOLLOWING THE MAPS!

Click here to download GPX file

Intentio

Plures nostri ingredior es interested in eruditio Latin , sic sis disco ut lego talis res ut Pompeiian graffiti , vos vires contactus Kingborough quod permissum lemma teneo vestri penitus.

Translation:

ATTENTION

Several of our walkers are interested in learning Latin, so if you want to learn to read such things as Pompeiian graffiti first hand, you might contact U3A Kingborough and let them know your interest.

Don't blame me if it's not a true translation, blame the internet.