Seven Mile Beach - Lauderdale 12 Jul 2022

 Today's walk is along the coast between Seven Mile Beach and Roche's Beach with a circuit of Lauderdale via the Tangara Trail.

We set off from Seven Mile with a little cloud cover and not much wind.

A number of happy faces looking forward to the walk.

There were a number of different types of seagulls floating on the water as we walked past.

Heading for the start of the track of the beach.

The rain clouds look like they have broken up.

Descending to the beach for morning tea.

There is always one who wants to get really comfortable and also comments about staying for the day and getting picked up by the rest of us on the way back.

Ascending away from the beach with possibly Mt McGregor in the background.

Looking towards Mays Beach and beyond.

The trackworkers have constructed some wonderful little rock bridges along the track.

It is unusual to see a couple of duck perched on the branch of a large gum tree above the cliff.

There are a number of extensive houses on the top side of the track and this particularly nice faux georgian number was built in recent years.

Starting the climb on the Tangara Trail with a view across Lauderdale.

This fellow was about 10 feet from the trail and very interested in us passing unlike the other 10 plus that took off as soon as they heard us.

A circular wood heap alongside other styles but this appeared to be the most decorative.

Epacris impressa - Native or common Heath - which is widely spread across South East Australia.

Good bushwalking practice to spread out to reduce the traffic damage but I think it was really because of the various discussion groups being able to hear one another.

Crossing an unnamed creek while searching for a lunch spot out of the increasing wind.

Lunch site found and agreed upon leaving everyone to gaze out on the water views.

We have Pied and Sooty Oystercatchers, Pied cormorants, Pacific Gulls, Silver Gulls. Quite a little community.

This WWII bunker was used for monitoring any shipping in Frederick Henry Bay.  I noted that a  photo of this bunker taken in 2021 it is completely graffitied. It looks like it has had a new paint job very recently.

The view across Frederick Henry Bay which was originally named "Bale Du Nord" by Bruni D'Entrecastreaux in 1792-93 and was later confused by a number of English explorers including Tobias Furneaux, James Cook and William Bligh. The original Frederick Henry Bay named by Abel Tasman in 1642 was actually where Blackman Bay and Marion's Bay is today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Henry_Bay

Back at Seven Mile Beach at last.

There were 13 walkers who covered 10.4 kms over 4 hours.

Mt Direction 5 Jul 2022

 The walk today is to climb Mt Direction on the Eastern Shore which we have previously climbed

 from different directions.

Today we will be starting at the car park at Risdon Brook Dam.

The weather is forecast to be a fine winters day so everyone is looking forward to the walk.

A sunny day greets us as we leave the cars.

But not until after the obligatory photo.

And we tried hard to maintain 1.5 metrs distance as per the sign.

Across the dam wall.

In the bush at last.

We will see  how we go against the track notes.

A sure sign of a relaxed walking group is the number of hands in pockets as we start the climb.

Mount Wellington with remainder of the last snow fall under the clouds.

The first of a number of stops to look back from where we have come and see the new developments on the hills behind.

I wonder whether this old dead tree was here before Hobart was settled in 1804 just 218 years ago.

Morning tea in the sunshine.

I

I missed the comments that Chris was making at this point but I realised quite soon that he was mentioning the word "steep".

This is where it started.

The Tasman Bridge.

Looking down on Risdon Brook Dam.

The peak in the distance is another of our regular walks to "Madman's Hill".

Still going up although now we are going cross country.

Until we find another track still climbing.

At last it seems to have levelled out somewhat.

Looking up the Derwent towards Granton and Bridgewater.

A panorama that includes Mt Faulkner on the western side of the Derwent and  Gunners Quoin on the eastern side.

At last we reached the cairn on the top of Mt Direction.

After lunch we take a minor deviation to climb to the lower knoll a short distance from the main peak.

This old tree marks the secondary knoll and has also been here a long time.

The group spreads out on the return journey to the track down to the carpark.

There were 12 walkers who covered 9.2 kms over 3 hours and 45 minutes  and climbed 428 meters in the process.

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