Kingston-Christmas Lunch 2016

Today our walk is around Kingston and must be finished by 12 noon as it's also our end of year Christmas lunch at Peggy's.

We congregate outside, waiting to begin our walk led by Tas.

The crowd gathers waiting for the off

I'm not sure what secret sign Tas is making. Never mind, we are a large group as we set off with several faces we've not seen for a while.

You could almost believe you were in old Browns River

That was the original name for what now is known as 'Kingston'.

Kingston today...

...and yesterday

The church and pub are there, but very little else.

On we go, turning off behind the Kingston Hotel into the Kingston Stormwater Wetlands which is used to treat run off water before it enters Browns River.

Taking our lives in our hands, we make it across the Huon Highway and walk along the bottom of the old Kingston High school site.

One of several ponds used to treat storm water

Under the Southern Outlet

After coming back into the light, we follow the White Water Creek Track which runs beside.....White Water Creek oddly enough.

Houses on our left with a bit of bush and the small creek on our right, complete with native occupant.

Five minutes from the bustling centre of Kingston

We follow the track and the path of the "walking school bus" until we reach a junction where we bear right to Summerleas Road. We head up the hill to the new High School and cut the corner into Kingston View Drive.

Cutting the corner

We've gained enough height to get some views

We head along the Drive heading for the cemetery (that's depressing!) while Peggy and Lyn head back to prepare lunch for us.

Turning off just before the cemetery, we take an track past a large water tank, heading for Leslie Road. There's another underpass beneath the Huon Road and on the other side we have a choice of going right or left. Tas had obviously put much thought as to which way we should turn. Or so walkers at the back probably thought. Those of us at the front knew he stopped and flipped a coin!

We went left and followed a faint track running beside Leslie Road, under the Huon road again before stopping for Morning Tea at a pleasant spot we've used before.

Heading for the underpass under the Huon Road

Mt. Wellington. Better weather down here

Heading along Leslie Road

Morning Tea spot with comfortable bank

Break finished we continue on Leslie Road to Mount Pleasant Road which we turn down under the gaze of a couple of locals.

Interested locals

This loops around to take us back towards Kingston. At a point where the road stops we take a track leading back towards the large water tank passed before.

There was a gentleman cleaning out the ditches along side the dirt access, so we took to the grass.

Nearing the tank there was a difference of opinion as to which direction to take around the tank. Some of us took the obvious short direction, others thought a longer route was needed.

Short, obvious route around tank

Waiting, waiting

When the others finally arrived we continued back down the track from earlier, heading back to Kingston View Drive. Here, we crossed and headed overland towards the Twin Ovals. On our way, we could see a council crew working on a track, it appeared to be the same crew that stopped us last week at Trial Bay when the track was closed for maintenance.

I'm not sure if they saw us in the distance, but they look very happy about something. We, however, laugh at tracks and head cross country across rough and dangerous ground, giving them the slip.

Happy to see us?

We go bush and avoid them

As we reach the Twin Ovals, there's a cricket match under way. Turns out it was the Cricket Australia State Competitions - U18 National Championships - Female

The two teams were NSW Metro vs. Cricket Australia IX. Click Here if you want to see the results.

On we go, back to Summerleas Road, crossing the Channel High into Maranoa Road to a small track that leads to Denison St. and the car park we usually use. There are several tracks through the bushland behind the car park.

Earlier, Bob had promised Ron and myself that we would see some orchids and we had complained when none appeared before we reached Kingston. Tas, however immediately found some when we entered the bush off Denison St.

Tas pointing out orchids to Bob who could hardly contain his enthusiasm!

Around about here, Tas pointed out some "Flying Duck Orchids". Unfortunately, I wasn't able to control myself and made a comment that Tas ordered be reported in this blog. I'm afraid I said "I don't give a flying duck" in reference to viewing more orchids.

Chastened, I took the photo below for Bob. I had to hold the flower as the breeze was whipping it about.

For Bob

We made our way back to Peggy's via tracks and streets to get to the real business of the day.

Jenny, Gordon and Bob. Gordon joined us for lunch and it was good to see him

But wait, there's more

Peggy adding secret ingredients

Richard and Bob plotting. The plant is a thank you gift for Bob. He doesn't know it's a giant orchid!

It was a great lunch, not even spoiled by the short shower we had. Thanks to everyone who supplied the multitude of plates of food. It was suggested we do this every week, which means we'll have to walk several days a week to keep the weight off!

We had 18 walkers and covered 11.15km in 3:12hrs.


Click here to download GPX file