Today Bob is leading us around various tracks in the hills behind Cascade Gardens.
We park in the car park just off McRobies Rd. near the Female Factory.
The day is overcast with cloud obscuring views of Mt. Wellington, however it's dry and cool which means a good day for walking.
Before we set off into the hills, Bob tells us to leave our packs in our cars as we're going to walk down the track beside the Hobart Rivulet first, then return to pick up our packs for the main walk.
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Setting off |
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| Looking back. Mt. Wellington is back there somewhere |
We walk down past the Cascades Female Factory, which was the home of female convicts transported from England from 1828 to 1877.
For an interesting history of the site and the Factory CLICK HERE - it's well worth a read.
The site has little of the main buildings remaining, but the photo shows the front.
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| Front of Cascades Female Factory off Degraves St. |
Ron and Wayne had been looking through the barrier at the interior of the factory. I suppose they were hoping that the Female Factory might have some new models on display, but they were out of luck.
On we go, walking through the linear park next to the Hobart Rivulet.
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| Hobart Rivulet |
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| I think the curved bits of plastic on the poles are art work representing birds |
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| There are the remains of old quarries along here |
The photo above is not my attempt at impressionism, but to show you the dangers I endure to bring you the photos in my blogs.
At this point in the walk we were walking past a wide area labelled a dog exercise area. Indeed, there was a young woman playing with her dog some distance away. I stopped to take a photo and just as I pressed the button, a dog bounced off my chest and ran away laughing. The young woman quickly apologized and sped off before I could arrange for police, ambulance and lawyers. Just as well I like dogs.
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| On we go |
Bob leads us up a side track, unexpectedly up hill, then back down heading back to the cars.
South Hobart is an older area with many attractive little cottages.
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| Attached to the Female Factory |
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| Now we're serious, we've got our packs on |
We make our way uphill before finding a place for Morning Tea with plenty of seating.
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| Morning Tea |
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| View across the valley |
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| On we go on a bike track |
We follow this track on a gentle climb before walking beside the Hobart Tip, hence the chain-link fence in a couple of photos.
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| Hobart Tip to our right |
Actually it's a pretty clean area. The closest to us is down to the right and has a number of working compost heaps producing much compost that is used by the city in its parks, I would guess.
We continue on before Bob veers off to the right down a smaller track.
This takes us down to a muddy clamber down to another track.
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| Veering off onto a smaller track |
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| Bit of a muddy hazard |
I think this is the McRobies Gully Track. After a while it begins to climb in a series of switchbacks.
As we climb, I look back and see a cyclist on their way up. They reach us and I shout a warning for the others to clear the way. I was a bit surprised at the ease she was pedaling up the hill, and she soon left us behind.
On we go, reaching the McRobies Gully Fire Trail, heading right and up.
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| We move along a couple of old tracks that run below the main fire trail |
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| Looking back |
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| We've turned off onto the Jurassic Shark Track, looking for a lunch spot |
We find one just between the turnoffs for the two tracks shown below.
Seems I was remiss and didn't take any actual lunch photos. I did have a wander around and found tree number '3' as shown below.
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| Tree Number 3 |
Ron had a look and thought there appeared to be a nail at the bottom of the 3, but it wasn't.
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| Not a nail |
So why was this tree numbered? I have a theory that, judging from what I nearly stepped in, it marks wombat toilet no. 3.
As everyone was finishing lunch and being astounded by a numbered tree nearby, I asked if anyone wanted to bet on which track Bob would take us on next. We were sitting between tracks for lunch, and the photo below shows three more choices. I thought the steep one on the right was a good bet, but couldn't rule out that Bob might ignore all of them and lead us into the bush.
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| Is Bob going to take us up one of these? |
No. my last guess was correct as he led us into the bush without a track in sight.
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| Into the unknown |
After scouting around we found what he was looking for. It appears to be an old logging track leading downhill. All this area has been logged in the past and there are some good sized old stumps back in the bush.
There was a logging operation started up here in 1825 and in 1832 the Cascade Brewery was started beside the Hobart Rivulet so this gave it not only water, but firewood for the boilers.
We weren't sure if this was public or private land, but judging from the sign we found at the top and bottom of the track, walkers are welcome.
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| Sign at the top of the old track |
A similar one was at the bottom. This was a very nice walk down through a beautiful area.
We've reached the bottom and turned right down toward the rivulet. There is a house a little way up the drive to our left.
We turnoff shortly onto a cycle track that has some serious obstacles for serious mountain bikers.
We follow it for a while before heading off onto a smaller track.
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| Interesting place to find a key. We can only assume someone found it and put it here in case the owner comes by. |
We follow various tracks, heading back towards our starting place.
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| Of onto a smaller track |
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| Mt. Wellington with a bit of snow |
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| We're getting close now |
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| An unimpressed local |
We reach the original track we came up in the morning and rejoined it just below where we had Morning Tea.
Walking down the track I was at the rear when suddenly there was a loud and prolonged cracking that appeared to be somewhere behind me. I looked to my right just in time to see a very large top portion of a tall gum tree dropping down and crashing only maybe 40 metres from me. Trust me, it was quite close enough!
The weather was clear, warmish and not a breath of air. This is not uncommon behavior for gums.
We had 14 walkers and covered 10.92km in 4 hrs.
This is a very pleasant walk, particularly the new section down the old logging track. Do not ride bikes down there!
Thanks to Bob for taking us.
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