Sports Centre – Sumerleas Road 2020

Today is a local walk, with Bob taking us around and about Picket Hill from the Sports Centre car park.

Leaving our cars, we set off on a beautiful day for a pleasant walk.

Setting off

We head south towards a right of way between the houses which will take us parallel to the Huon Highway.

As we near the highway, we pass what appears to be, a very valuable crop.

Well protected valuable seed crop

I say well protected as you can see one of several guard dogs and the fence which is also electrified with live wires attached on the inside.

A closer look reveals that this is a valuable thistle seed crop. It must be valuable as it runs the length of the block and is mown on each side.

On we go. As you can see from the width of the track, this is horse country.

Horse country

Mount Wellington

Not the only ones we saw

We pass under the Huon Highway, continuing to Roba Court and onto Leslie Road. There is some back road walking involved today, but it's not unpleasant.

We come to Summerleas Road, turning left. At the point where Summerleas Road divides, we take Old Summerleas Road around to Hackford Drive, heading up.

Wool for patterned jumpers?

Old Summerleas Road

We turn into Hackford Drive here

We follow Hackford to the start of the Picket Hill Track, turning into the bush.

Entering the Picket Hill Track

As we continue, it becomes clear that this is not the peaceful walk it appears to be as Peter comes upon a tragic scene.

Who knows what terrible things have occurred here?

Stepping quickly on, we begin to look for a spot for Morning Tea. It would take more than a body with its head ripped off to stop us from having our morning break!

After a false stop, we find a nice spot for tea.

Morning Tea

If you get in the right spot, you get a view

Tea finished we continue on, reaching Cades Drive, crossing over to pickup the track again.

There is a wrecked building surrounded with junked cars and rubbish extending up the hill on our left. Looking at Google Earth this goes to the top of the hill and the end of Uplands Drive. I can't find any history of the place.

We head along and down, passing more pleasant bush as we go. It does become steep and the loose gravel can be a danger if you're not careful.

Young gums on our left

Heading down

Our view just a few km out of Kingston

We've turned right off the main track...

...to come down onto this unnamed road

Heading along the road, we only go a short distance before turning left onto an old logging track.

Very pleasant bush with large stumps showing how large the gum trees before being cut down

We come to a creek and make a careful crossing. I usually have a good sense of direction, but I'm completely turned around here and really don't have my bearings. I don't believe I was the only one!

Good thing Bob knows where he is.

After crossing the creek, which I now know is the Fawcett Rivulet, we continue down a track leading to Cripps Road.

Crossing Fawcett Rivulet

Fawcett Rivulet runs into Browns River which runs into the Channel at Kingston Beach.

There was some discussion re the ownership of the land we were walking on. I've added a map below that should explain that.

Land Tenure Map

 The unfenced land we crossed appears to be private, but the blue is local government land and the gold is Public Reserve, so walking the length of the rivulet seems to be on public land.

Looking back from Cripps Road

Walking with the rivulet on our right

It's surprising how far below the road the rivulet is and it's right down to the bed rock in places.

We're coming to the junction of Cripps, Summerleas and Old Summerleas Roads. One goes up hill, guess where we go.

If you said uphill, you'd be correct

There's that mountain again

Now we begin to retrace our steps, heading back towards Kingston. Lunch still awaits, but our first choice near a large water tank that we usually use has been fenced in.

With a couple of tennis club members with us, we head for the courts to use their tables.

Heading towards lunch

Our usual lunch spot is fenced off, so we walk on with a view of Kingston

The courts are deserted which gives us free range with the tables.

Lunch for the masses

Ron and Peter at the Table of Power

After lunch we make the short walk back to the cars. This is a very pleasant walk and there are several variations that could be put together.

Thanks to Bob for taking us on this walk, it was perfect for the day. We had 12 walkers and covered just over 11km in 3:51 hrs.

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