Chimney Pot - 1 August 2023

 This photo was taken from my place this morning  - notice the snow on top of Mt Wellington and the Chimney Pot tower on the right which we will walk past on today's walk

 

Winter has returned!! The forecast is for gale force winds, showers decreasing and apparent temperatures of -2 for most of the morning (at Fern Tree).  Due to the biting wind, today was the first time since I started walking with the group (about 10 years ago) that everyone waited in cars at our assembly point in Redwood Road until it was time to depart.

Despite this 11 hardy souls turned up for the walk.

At the Waterworks getting ready with everyone putting on their wet weather gear

We set off around the dams on our way to Gentle Annie Falls

As today's walk is in the vicinity of the pipeline and water works for Hobart we will pass a number of interesting features

Along Sandy Bay Rivulet 

Strategically placed seats on the track up to Gentle Annie 

We reach Gentle Annie Falls where we have our morning tea. 

After morning tea we head off along the Pipeline Track towards it's intersection with Ridgeway Road

Then crossing Huon Road we proceed towards Bracken Lane using various mountain bike tracks

Although its not apparent in the photo the wind was making the anemometer spin like crazy - it must have been recording a fast wind speed

Continuing towards Fern Tree

Lunch in a cosy shelter which we have all to ourselves

Across the road is the Fern Tree Tavern - the car park is unusually empty which is probably a reflection on the cold weather

Our route now takes us along the Pipeline Track back towards the Ridgeway Road intersection. 

A stately column which once supported a water pipe across Dunns Creek

Two of the aqueducts along the track

Now its time to climb up to Chimney Pot tower

A glimpse of Mt Wellington

From the tower we descend to below the dam wall of the Ridgeway Resevoir passing through the hamlet of Ridgeway

Chris thinks they must bred square borers in this community !

We pass the Ridgeway Oval - the group had a spirited discussion regarding facilities - would a new grandstand do or does it need a whole stadium, would the annual Ridgeway v the Lea game generate enough revenue, etc??

 

Standing below the Ridgeway Dam wall was a new experience for some of our walkers

Then we climb back up

Not sure what everyone is looking at in this photo

Ingrid photographing some of the valves

View from above the dam wall

Interesting graffiti on the walls of this building located near the water tanks

Fortunately 90% of the route was sheltered therefore the wind had little impact, the showers didn't amount to much and there were enough climbs to ensure we kept warm.  We covered 13.6 kms in 4.75 hours.

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