Geeveston Forest (New) 2016

Today Bob is taking us on a new walk in the forest outside of Geeveston.

Before I go any further, I must admit to having left my GPS tracker sitting on top of the car at the setting off point. I didn't discover this until part way through, then I started tracking on my phone. The maps below show a bit of guess work, but I don't think it's too far off.

I had been keeping track of the distance and I think that was about right.

The tracker was still sitting on top of the car when we got back. I'll show you what it recorded while sitting still.

We found a convenient parking spot and set off back to the Arve Rd., turning left.

I have to say that while walking to the turnoff we wanted, we were passed by three log trucks and in each case the drivers slowed right down so we weren't showered with rocks and dust. Not the sort of behaviour you usually hear about and we waved our thanks.

Then we turned right and disappeared into the bush.

Off we go

Where the tourists are heading

Where we're heading

Into the bush

Now, as we all know, Bob doesn't use maps. It's all in his head and perhaps it's just as well we're not living in the Middle Ages as he might be accused of having a little supernatural help!

We follow a clear track for a short spell before finding signs of the party mentality of the local wildlife.

 Little do we know this is just a small example of the rubbish we'll find dumped in the bush.

On we go to another turnoff.

Onto an older track

This area has been logged for many years, and there are tracks and trails of varying sizes all through the bush. The majority of them are not mapped.

It's not the sort of place you want to wander off into

Bob had warned of the possibility of puddles

This is the only one we saw of any size and was easy to navigate.

Soon we come to another track and an area of regrowth.... and more signs of idiots.

Regrowth area on our left

Another sign of idiots....

Lets hope he's still in there

Shaking our heads at the stupidity of people, we continue on. We'll have little chance for big views on this walk, but we get some here.

Off onto a smaller track

Fairly young growth

Looking back at distant mountains

We walk on before coming to a place for Morning Tea.

This area must have been quite a sight

It would have been covered in large, mature trees. The stump above, if you can make it out, is several metres across. It's hard to imagine what the forest looked like then.

Off onto  another track

It's all been cut down in the past

We have tea, then move on.

Another warning Bob gave us was about fallen trees

Not quite fallen, just enough room to crawl under

Do not go off track!

We reach a spot which gives us more distant views

 Some discussion took place re the identification of these distant mountains. I'll just draw a veil over that as no agreement was reached.

Looks like bad weather, but we had no rain while we were walking

Large areas of this fungus

Nice size roo print

Only other water we saw

Is this a track?

Evidently

We continue on until we come to another wider track. I'm pretty sure we've been on another part of this on another walk.

Nice to see a bit of colour

Looking back

My attention was drawn to this unusual calligraphy in the rock

Anyone who can read it, contact me.

This track's too big, lets find a smaller one

Looking back. Where's the track

Some of the tracks Bob has led us on today look like they were made by a one-legged bandicoot about 60 years ago. Make that a one-legged half starved bandicoot who only passed this way once.

It does lead to a nice lunch spot

Lunch finished, we move on downhill.

Signs of 'civilization'

We emerge onto this gravel road and continue down

We pass some new and older growth mixed before we turn left onto another trail.

Large gum that divides into three near the top

Once more into the bush

We follow this, still heading down for a while.

Good sized trees

Not an overly used track...

...and it requires ducking and diving

I think this and the photo below are: Ramaria capitata var. ochraceosalmonicolor

Having typed all that, it better be!

Soon we come to a, unfortunately, fairly common sight in certain areas of the walk.

We continue on, pondering what pigs some people are.

We reach the gravel road again

 Now we know the name of the gravel road is Arve Spur 4 and this is where it joins the Arve Road. 

This was a good walk and I'll look forward to doing it again and getting a proper track.

We had 12 walkers and covered 11.2km. This should be very close as I was taking note of the distance until I discovered I left my tracker behind. Adding that to the track from the phone of 7.5km also agrees closely with my Fitbit.

Second half of the walk recorded on phone GPS

Rough guess added to above

This only covers the recorded section of track