Today's walk is a new one for the group and particularly for most of the walkers.
The Old Convict Road starts with a short section along the Prosser River to the site of an old Convict Probation Station.
The road was built by convicts in the 1820's to provide access overland to the East Coast settlements. It is believed that due to the settlers sarcastic comments regarding the condition of the early road that they named the gorge it passes through as "Paradise Gorge".
The parts of the road that can be glimpsed from the roadway in Paradise Gorge are from a later 1844 reconstructed of the original road and its the object of our walk today.
An excited group ready to start the walk.
Walking alongside the Prosser River prior to arriving at the Probation Station remains.
Australian Bluebell - (wahlenbergia sp.)
You can see alongside the left hand side that the Orford water supply pipe is located under the rock rubble.
The scar on the other side of the Prosser River is the earthworks recently carried to make the Gorge trip safer for motorists.
Crossing Station Creek which enters the Prosser River below the Probation Station.
Scaly Buttons - (leptorhynchos squamatus)
A panorama of the Convict Probation Station remains.
Some of the buildings appear to have been quite substantial.
This appear to be the remains of a cell.
After having morning tea at the Probation Station we commenced the climb up the ridge.
The weather forecast for today was a maximum of 27C.
It was not until we returned home after the walk that we found out it was actually 32C in Orford and we did this climb at the hottest time of the day.
And it was quite scrubby.
We did get a view of Maria Island in the distance.
Another of the reasons for the road construction was a Penal Colony on Maria Island and the road was used for transport convicts and supplies to the Island via Orford.
Pink Autumn Orchid.
The group has reached the top of the ridge and is now discussing which way to locate the Convict Road.
Still looking.
At last there it is although a little overgrown.
We had lunch in the shade of these small wattles.
In this photo you can clearly see the outside edge of stones forming the roadway.
Resting at Burnt Bridge Creek so called as the original convict bridge was burnt down.
Looking downstream towards Paradise Gorge and the Prosser River.
Upstream view of Burnt Bridge Creek.
Across the creek and up the next hill with views towards the Highway.
Some of the construction of retaining walls is quite significant in this area.
We are again searching for the track.
Back on the Convict Road approaching Brockley Road.
Upper reaches of the Prosser River.
A number of large mushrooms? accumulated under a dead eucalypt.
Traversing some open forest as we approach the finish of the walk.
A suspension bridge across the Prosser River.
This particular snake appeared by the side of the road while the majority of the group were waiting the arrival of the cars from the car shuffle.
We were extremely thankful it was the only snake we saw all day.
10 fairly tired but satisfied walkers completed the 11.2 kms in 6 hr 1 minute and 31 seconds and all were relieved and while it was an enjoyable walk they were glad it was over.
Because of the overgrown nature of the track and the number of fallen trees that had to be negotiated there was a fair bit of discussion about whether or not it was necessary to go to the gym for the next couple of weeks.
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