Kaoota Tramway Two 2017

We were going to walk from the Waterworks up and around Chimney Pot Hill. However, I decided to change it for two reasons. One, Bob was going to lead us and can't and Two, the weather forecast is for a hot day and strong winds with a chance of a thunderstorm later. By hot I mean around 32C or 89F in the old money.

So all things considered, I decide to move our outing to the Kaoota Tramway Track outside of Margate. It's not as steep and will be shaded for most of its length. I sensed some relief when I passed on the news to the group gathered in the Denison Street Car park.

I'm not going to make it too easy so we park at the end of the Nierinna Creek Track on Lawless Road. This gives us a nice little climb before we reach the start of the track.

The start

Looking south

The road climbs through a poultry farm that now looks as if it's closed. I suppose that means it will all be subdivided in the future.

As we walk we also pass the parking area beside the road for people doing the track. This is only for wimps.

Through the old poultry farm

We reach a level with several tracks leading off and a sign marking the beginning of the track.

We've done this track a couple of times before so I'm not going into a lot of detail re the track or the history of it. Suffice it to say that it used to be a railway track to a coal mine. If you want to know more:

CLICK HERE

It's a pleasant walk, overcast and not hot at all.

Easy walking

I spot a farm down in a valley as we walk and I remember seeing something about this property in the past, but the only thing I can remember is that it is an organic farm.

Organic farm down in the valley

Can't make out what they are harvesting

I hope they have good fences because we scare up a few wallaby as we walk. It's getting close to Morning Tea time and I'm keeping an eye out for a good place.

Found one!

Morning Tea

Interesting tree trunk

Break finished, we move on. You can sometimes find relics of the old railway if you look carefully. Old sleepers, sometimes a spike and there is even a piece of rail lying beside the track in one place.

The photo below shows where a trestle once crossed a gully.

The track used to run on top of the mound you can see on the left

Lots of man ferns

Looking off to the side reveals some interesting sights.

The area is usually fairly damp most of the year

Looking down

A good track for feet, bikes and hooves

Appropriately enough, there a number of Prostanthera lasianthos  - Christmas bush or mountain lilac along the way.

Christmas bush/Mountain lilac as identified by Alex

We're getting close to the end of the track where we'll have lunch.

Most likely introduced, but colourful

There are a couple of benches and a picnic table set up here for our enjoyment so we settle in for lunch. A very pleasant spot as at the moment there is no motor noise, the weather is pleasant and a couple of birds can be heard singing.

Lunch view

 There is some mist around in the distance, but we only get a couple of tiny drops.

Sleeping Beauty in the distance

This end of the track has a wallaby lawn as I've heard it called. You can go farther as we've done before. But it's road walking and you can't get into Kaoota as you're blocked by private property.

Lunch finished, we set off. It's actually a bit cooler now and at least one walker puts on a jacket.

There is a mix of old and new houses up here. But not many

We step out on the way back and set a record (for us) for the return

 As we get near the cars, I head off as I want to check out something I noticed this morning.

Nerinna Creek

 When we left the cars this morning, I noticed a small white triangle with the figure of a horse on it nailed to a tree.

Look carefully and you can see a marker on that tree

It looks like a horse trail continues along the creek. I can find no indication of it on any map, but the area it follows between the property creek and the other side of the creek is a public reserve, according to the map.

It appears to connect with Cuthberts Road which runs into Nierinna Road and down to Lawless Road. Looks like a little exploration is needed.

We had 9 walkers and covered 14.77km in 4:25hrs. A very enjoyable walk was had by all.

Some discussion was had about the speed of our return so I've provided a graph of what the GPS saw.

Click here to download GPX file

Margate Christmas Lunch 2017

Today we're meeting at Dru Point Margate for our Christmas get together. As this won't start until 1p.m., Bob is leading us on a walk first.

We gather at the large car park near the jetty before we set off south along the Esplanade which has been upgraded since we were last here.

The gathering

The weather is warm and sunny

Walking along the new footpath past the solar powered street lights, Peter points out what appears to be a viewing platform. There are steps down to the shore line which consists of seaweed, mud, rocks and disgruntled seagulls. Why anyone would want to go down here is beyond me.

What is even more surprising is that it also contains a ramp. What for? Wheeling your pram down to the not so pretty beach? Disabled access? Not shown in the photo is the fact that a large storm water pipe exits just under the ramp and steps. Very interesting in a rain storm I would think.

Mystery construction. The large rocks will stop anything that rolls down the ramp

Bemused, we continue on, heading around the foreshore to the Bundalla Track.

South on Bundalla Road to Gemalla Road and the start of the Dave Burrows Walk.

We pass what I've always considered to be an old stationary engine outside a business. On closer look at the photos below, I realize it's actually an old refrigeration compressor.

This explains why I couldn't find anything out about a Gordon engine. A Gordon compressor is a different story and it was made by Gordon Brothers in Melbourne. This company was started in 1917 and is still in business.

It was interesting to read that in WWII - to quote from their history -
  
During the Second World War the company's activities were diverted into production of equipment for the war effort. This included cordite mixers, bullet-testing ovens, blood bank equipment and portable ice-making machines.

A little bit of history.

On we go and it's a great day for the walk.

An attempt by a local landowner to foster Christmas spirit

We reach the Channel Highway and head south towards Electrona (it will always be Electrona to me, not Peggy's Beach!) where Bob had a new track for us to follow.

New pipes have been buried here recently. I suspect this will form part of the new track being developed from Snug to Margate

Soon we reach a point where we cross the road and head bush.

Apprehensively heading into the unknown

It's open bush and there are many tracks here.

There is always someone who is really happy when the track goes downhill!

On we go. I forgot to mention that Bob said he'd been along here recently and pulled out all the orchids!. Fortunately, Peter found one Bob missed. A bit blurry but I can't leave it out.

The lone orchid

After a little casting around we start up hill, one Bob had promised us. Soon we reach a spot for Morning Tea and it's one we've used before when we came from another direction.

Up hill

Morning Tea

I had a little look around for anything interesting and the butterfly below was about it.

Butterfly

We walk out to the Channel Highway, crossing over to head north to another track. Some who are going to set up our lunch will head back to Dru Point while the rest of us continue on.

Anyone who follows this blog should be able to identify Mt. Wellington by now

This group is going back to set up lunch

We turn onto a track that will lead us around the back of Margate.

It's a very pleasant walk

Along the way we walk past houses and one has the best looking chook house I've seen.

Flash chook house

This side opens onto their back lawn

Notice the solar powered lights beside the front door. The birds appeared happy and healthy. As they should.

We cross the Margate Cricket Ground and Van Morey Road, heading down Dayspring Drive to the start of the Margate Rivulet Track.

Dayspring Drive

A new track

An easy and attractive walk down to the rivulet.

rural view

We follow along the rivulet which is running.

Margate Rivulet Track

The rivulet

We make our way around to the northern side of Margate, crossing the highway and heading left at the roundabout towards lunch.

We're getting close, passing North West Bay as we walk the Dru Point Track.

North West Bay

We have the shelter booked for 1p.m. and wait a little for the previous group to clear.

The floor is pretty clean and the reason for that is the previous group was the Guide Dogs for the Blind and there were a number of young Labradors in training present.

Now, having had a Labrador in the distant past, I know that if they are around nothing dropped hits the floor. Food, books, small children, nothing gets past a lab. This explains the clean floor.

Soon Peggy and friends are stacking the table with food and Wayne is boiling water for hot drinks.

Peggy and Sue hard at work

I would like to thank Peggy again for arranging everything. We had about 20 people with us for the afternoon.

We had 15 active walkers for our morning walk and covered 12.63km in 3:36hrs. Thanks to Bob for leading us.

Click here to download GPX file