Wellington Walk 2019

Today we were supposed to walk on Tolmans Hill, above Hobart. The weather is forecast very hot plus I twisted my knee on last week's walk and won't be going today.

Ron very kindly emailed me re the walk the group did do and supplied a GPX track. So I've added map, google earth and report from that.

Below is a copy of Ron's report.

"We had a good walk today - Shoobridge Bend to Junction Cabin, then continued on to some small interesting caves, back to Junction Cabin and return along the bike track.  According to my new watch we covered 9.08kms in 3hrs 25min. 6 hardy walkers today.  Good location for today's walk as it was a few degrees less on the mountain than when we returned to Kingston."



Glad you all had a good time. - Jack


Click here to download GPX file

Pelverata Falls 2019

Today I was supposed to take the group on a walk from Tolmans Hill, overlooking Hobart, but the weather forecast prompted a change.

We were due for 29-30C (85-86F) temperatures and winds. Dry lightning had started about 80 bushfires around the state and smoke covered much of the island.

When everyone who was going to walk today had turned up, I suggested we find another walk. I suggested the Tramway Track at Margate as most of it is in shade. Bob came up with the Pelverata Falls walk which is also in shade and one we haven't done in a while which made it the better choice, so off to Pelverata we go.

Plenty of parking when we arrive. I didn't expect too many other people would choose today to go bush.

A cheery start to the track, complete with free legal advice

The beginning of the walk passes through private properties and we come upon this enticing offer on the way.

Unusual special. A three bedroom building site, and 85 old computers

I realize that probably only computer nerds will get the joke about 85 acers. Trust me when I say it's funny. (Acer is a computer manufacturer)

We move on, the track takes us through a variety of areas.

Fairly wet in the winter

This area has been logged in the past and as I was taking some photos, I found out we weren't the only people silly enough to walk today. A young couple came up behind us and swept past at a rate of knots with a friendly greeting.

I'm pretty sure they will be at the falls before us, but we will have talked more!

Soon, Bob finds a good spot for Morning Tea, so we stop for a break.

Morning Tea. There are more of us behind that tree

Break finished, on we go. The track has been a typical bush track up to now, but as we get closer to the falls, it becomes more and more rocky.

I mentioned before that it's been a while since we've been here, and we discover that much work has been done on the track since then.

The route has been changed to eliminate some of the more bracing sections and a couple of safety barriers have been erected.

Ron admiring one of the new safety barriers

There was a point on the old track where you had to walk around the bottom of a large rock with a steep drop at your back. Now the track misses that and heads uphill via a couple of scrambles before rejoining the original route farther on.

At one point you have to climb up a large rock and a "Senior's Rail", as I heard it called, has been installed as an aid. I didn't find it much of a help.

We pass the cairn marking the start of a track to the top of the falls and soon rejoin the old track leading to the lookout platform.

You can make out the handrail just right of centre of the photo

The new track

Looking up at Slippery Falls

The viewing platform

Looking down from the platform

The ridge line

There was some discussion about a feature near the falls that appeared, from a distance, to be a dumped vehicle. A long distance photo shows it to be just a fallen rock.

Looking up at the base of the falls disclosed our young friends from earlier. Not a good photo, unfortunately.

We did see them again when they passed us on the way back and they reported the falls dry.

Pelverata Falls

We start our way back and we'll have lunch on the way.

Looking down the valley

Nice little slope here offers a quick way to the bottom

Lunch

It's a nice walk back.

We had 7 walkers and covered 6.74km in 2:38hrs moving time. A good walk for the conditions, thanks to Bob for suggesting it.

Peter Murrell Reserve 2019

Today is the first walk of 2019. Still slightly affected by the Christmas spirit, I've chosen an easy walk at Peter Murrell Reserve.

Bob is going to take us around about and back and forth as walk leader today.

We park off Patriarch Drive at the start of the Coffee Creek Track. Weather is going to be dry and around 23C.

Start of 2019 walks

We follow the main track for a while before turning off onto a side track. We'll follow many of those today.

Up the first side track

You'd never know civilization, well Kingston, is within walking distance

We're slowly making our way to the top of the reserve. On the way we pass an area that in years past was home to many orchards. Today, however, none are showing themselves, but other plants are making up for it.

We continue on trails both large and small through a variety of areas.

Now we know where we are!

We're starting down the southern side of the reserve, towards
the Channel Highway.

The views start to open up here

A few properties lie along the fence line to our left, and some locals take interest in our passing.

A fine looking horse with North West Bay behind

We continue on, dodging here and there before finding a spot for Morning Tea.

Heading down a gully not far from our morning break. Bob has provided seating for all.

Break finished, we continued on, crossing dried creek beds and climbing narrow paths up hills until it's time for lunch.

Bottom of a gully over old creek bed

After a while we stop on a convenient bank for lunch.

Lunch

After lunch we continue following various tracks that lead us back towards our cars.

Both walkers and cyclists use many of the tracks here. At one point we're walking along when I hear someone, not one of the walkers, call out "Cyclist call!".

O.K., but if you'd just rung your bell as you approached instead of riding right up to us and shouting, we would have made way and you probably wouldn't have had to slow down.

What is it about cyclists and their bells? Just about everyone has one on their handle bars, but it seems to be unmanly to use them. I've watched two riders in the past follow a walking group for a distance without making the walkers aware of their presence, and only passed them when I called out that there were cyclists behind and the walkers moved over.

We're not going to walk along constantly turning our heads to look behind for you. so RING YOUR DAMNED BELL!!

We make one final diversion over another deeper dried creek bed before taking a main track back.

Peggy and Geoff showing how it's done

We had 11 walkers and covered 13.67km in 3:52hrs moving time.

A good first walk, particularly for those if us who haven't walked for two weeks. Thanks to Bob for getting us very confused as to which direction we were going!

Click here to download GPX file