Trial Bay - Manuka Hills 23 August 2022

Due to todays forecast of inclement weather the scheduled walk was changed to one more suitable - a circuit of Kettering, Trial Bay and Manuka Hills. Eight intrepid walkers braved todays walk.

 

When we arrived in Kettering light rain was falling so it was time put on the wet weather gear.

 

All good leaders know how to inspire their troops - here we have today's walk leader Chris applying this strategy with an inspiring pre walk pep talk.

Setting off towards Trial Bay we get a glimpse of Manuka Hills across the bay - later today we will be on these hills.

 

 

At Trial Bay, Lyn one of today's walkers is rewarded for her sharp eyesight.

Trial Bay to Kettering, with a view across The Channel towards Bruny Island

We spot a ferry on route between Kettering and Bruny.  This isn't one of the regular boats as normally there are two Sea Link boats on the route.

 

Approaching Kettering we stop to enjoy the view from a lookout platform.  By now there is bright sunshine!!

 

These wheelbarrows look as if they have had a rough night and are sleeping it off!!

We passed this structure which looked to be a large hothouse - on closer inspection it turned out it was a shed for a shipbuilder who was building a catamaran.

The golden boot is still on the river bank.

Next stop is morning tea at the BBQ area beside the sports ground. Why is Chris sitting by himself?

Interesting monument.

We leave the coast and initially follow the road until we reach the Manuka Hills Track which climbs over Larges Hill which is the highest point on today's walk.

This statue of a young woman was on a property on top of the hill.

Moving on towards our lunch spot at Oyster Cove.

 

 

After lunch we take the coastal track around the point back towards Kettering.  Along the way we meet this friendly local who ran all the way across the paddock to great us.

Signs recent of coastal erosion

We then followed the D'Meure track back along the coast.  Even though it was high tide we took a risk and fortunately we reached the end of the track without getting our feet wet - only because some track improvements raised a short section above the waterline.  One of the following photos shows that where the track used to go is under water today (along the shore and under the pier).

It took just over 4 hours to walk 11.8 kms.

 

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Kaoota Tramway 16 Aug 2022

 Today's walk was meant to be Chancy Vale at Bagdad but due to the significant rainfall event that occurred over the last weekend we decided not to undertake that walk today because of the possibility that some of the creek crossings would have been difficult.

As a result we decided to walk the Kaoota Tramway which when I commenced this blog I noticed that the last time we did this walk was on the 17 Aug 2021 due to cancelling the Cathedral Rock Walk programmed for that day.  I wonder what the 15 Aug 2023 will bring us.

While waiting in the carpark Sally and Lorna were getting re-acquainted and protected from the rain under a colorful brolly.

 

We commenced the walk in sunshine with a light rainbow in the distance.

The wattles are starting to blossom.

Climbing up to the start of the tramway.

On the tramway.

Hidden from view in the low cloud is Mount Wellington.

The track is well constructed with a number of cuttings for the train to pass through.

Lower down the slopes from the tramway are a few isolated farming properties.

The large tree that the group are looking has a swing attached to the lower branch where Lorna and Lynn have shown the group their swinging prowess. However today's misty rain dampened their enthusiasm for swinging on a wet swing.

The old piece of railway line indicates where the tramway heads across a large gully which used to be spanned by a timber bridge.

More misty cloud appears through the trees.

As this photo demonstrated we may have not have to be crossing creeks but it was still a pretty muddy walk.

Chris was about to sit on this newly made seat when he noticed the pool of water on the seat.

Contemplating the work that has been undertaken to clear the track from the fallen tree and trying to determine if any large equipment was used but we could not find any evidence.

A small creek appearing from underneath some tree ferns.

An usual configuration of the roots from a Black Wattle.

Watching the rainy mist flowing across the hill tops.

While eating lunch at the end of the Tramway the weather appeared to clear.

A small track side waterfall.

We then located this larger waterfall some short distance uphill from the track which had quite a volume of water coming down it.

 And I was happy to get to the waterfall.

Another misty moment.

 

And the rainbow was still there when we arrived back at our cars.

It was a pleasant walk in the slighty damp conditions.

We had 11 walkers who cover 13.5 kms in 4.5 hours