Meehan Hills Skyline Trail 2018

Today I'm taking the group to the Meehan Hills at the end of Belbins Road and a trip around some of the skyline trails.

It's Melbourne Cup Day today and for those who don't know what this is, keep reading. It's Australia's best known Thoroughbred horse race and is known as the "race that stops a nation". And it does.

Because of that, I've received various excuses for non-attendance today. Broken leg, family emergency, sick aunt etc. So numbers are down, but higher than I expected.

Weather is clear and no rain is supposed to occur until this afternoon, and that only a sprinkle.

We form up at the gate, and true to the importance of the day, "They're Off!"

The Lone Ranger shouting "Hi-yo, Silver, Away!" would have been choking on the cloud of dust from our group before Silver lifted a hoof.

Let me put it this way. According to my GPS track, that first section of track was done at 5.9 km/h, while the average for the rest of the walk was 3.0 km/h.

They're off!

The Stringy Bark Gully Track

It's not too long before we have to stop for a strip break, as we're well and truly warmed up by now.

Excess clothing gets the boot

Finally, we reach a place where a choice of tracks has to be made. Left is a very steep, partially blocked track and right is a bike track. We take the bike track as it will make the walk longer.

I take the lead as we start up the track.

Mountain bike track

The bush is pretty as we climb, and shortly I can begin to hear voices above us. I don't know at this time if they are bikers or walkers, so keep an eye out.

We reach a point where I can make out walkers above, as we move to the side to make room for them, It turns out to be a group of students from a local school. After they pass, I take the lead up the hill, and manage, I think, to get a bit of my own back for the racing start earlier.

I remember commenting how quiet it was behind me, a sure indication of a good climb.

The track

We stop for a breather, and the sound of puffing is all I can hear for a few minutes. I've promised Morning Tea at the top, so we set off and soon reach the spot.

Top of the track

Tea finished, we start up another nice little slope on the wider trail.

An easier track

Another hill

Harking back to Morning Tea, while we were sitting there we started to hear a series of loud bangs, after some discussion we decided it was gun shots. It appeared to be a semiautomatic as the shots got faster and overlapped. Not the most restful sound in the bush. This area, however, also has a large quarry not too far away and was the site of a bomb storage area in WW2. So, it's not surprising that a shooting range exists here.

We continue along the track which is pleasant walking, except for the noise.

More hills in the distance

That explains the shots

Judging from the high number and rapidity of the shooting, I wonder if someone is using up old ammo.

As we continue the sound begins to abate somewhat.

We continue on and I decide to keep to this track as we've not been up it before. Eventually it leads us to a junction of bike tracks, but from a different direction from last time we were here.

Interesting looking hills in the distance

New (to me) section of track

 I offered a choice of tracks down, but said I wanted to look at the dinosaur descent so, we took that track down.

DROPS, now that's something to look forward to

It does tend to be slippery

There is actually an old vehicle track that we use in places as we go down, while the bike track winds back and forth in the bush next to us.

Another sign appears, offering a difficult track in both directions. We head down.

Hobart and Wellington in the distance

Young bush around us

Heading down this old vehicle track

Mornington through the trees

We're heading for our lunch spot at the bike park, and as we get closer I take to the bush, continuing down.

We came out of the bush and crossed that bridge next to the container

And a rickety bridge it was, too. That is also where the old Bellerive to Sorell railway used to pass. The old stone bridge abutments are still there in the shadow.

There's an old foundation just up the hill which gives plenty of seating for lunch. Of course almost as soon as we sit down, it begins to sprinkle rain. Decisions about do you put on rain gear or don't you. Most, including myself, decide to. Naturally as soon as we do, the rain stops.

Lunch

The bike park behind

Lunch finished, we follow the old rail line heading back to the cars. The track doesn't stick to the line all the way, however, so a couple of hills are in order.

A nice little climb

The track

You used to have to walk to the beginning of Belbins Road, than walk back to the parking area. Now you can turn off the track and head over the hill and back to the cars.

We had 10 walkers and covered 10.61km in 3:25hrs. The rain held off (mostly) and I have seen some other tracks I would like to try in the future.


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