Clark Cliffs 17 Jan 2023

Today's walk is a circular walk that takes us through an area of old logging just outside Koonya on the Tasman Peninsular.

The weather for today is supposed to be fairly hot although we should be shaded by the forest for most of the day.

We parked on Fire Tower Road for the start of the walk.

Prostanthera Lasianthos Christmas Bush or Mountain Lilac. There were large displays of this on the way up to the Cliffs.

Mycenastrum Corium. A relatively large puffball found along roadsides and grasslands. This one was about the size of my phone.

Entering the forest.

The height of the first lookout and morning tea spot.

A cloudy view across Norfolk Bay.

And towards Hobart in the haze.

Nature imitating Lleyton Hewitt winning a point at Melbourne.

Nature's landscape gardener at work. There were a couple of comments about how good it would look in various gardens.

Another display of the fungi growing in this forest.

A trail of Stringy Bark sap imitating a person.

Chris likes big trees even if someone has cut the top off.

Another of Nature's landscaper at work.

It was about here when the comments started about bringing some equipment through next time to clear the fallen debris from the track.

Native Laurel new growth.

Some unusual growths emerging from a Myrtle tree trunk.

Janine passing a very large fallen tree.

Chris walked far enough along this fallen tree to reach the sign that said Turn Around You Have Gone Too Far.

The first of Clark Cliffs. I wonder what was interesting down that hole.

A very nice Celery Top Pine emerging from well below the cliff line.

Looking across towards Bruny Island in the distance.

Some hard water ferns clinging onto the sides of the cliff.

A couple of contented walkers enjoying the view over lunch.

New growth sprouting from a tree trunk.

Starting the way down.

Nature's warped and twisted forms.

We noted how dry the walk was this time and it was no more apparent that this creek which was hardly running at all.

There is nothing like a walk among the large treeferns.

Another different fungi.

 

 The weather was not at hot as predicted and our six walkers spent an enjoyable 4 hours  covering 9.25 kms including a climb and descent of 280 meters.

Randalls Bay 10 Jan 2023

 Today we are doing a wander about Randalls Bay and its environment which was a walk planned last year but deferred due to a bad weather forecast.

Today the forecast is for cloudy and somewhat cool day but that hasn't deterred the members of the group for the first walk of the 2023.

After parking the cars on Randalls Bay beach we head along to the Randalls Bay Conservation Area.

Obviously the forecast has kept the locals of the beach this morning.

After a short climb we were able to look back and take in the view of the whole beach.

Some of the more courageous of our walkers headed for the best views.

Looking towards our turnaround point in the walk.

A view down the Huon River towards Bruny Island and the Southern Ocean.

Mickey's Beach is a pleasant stop for morning tea.

We did move to the end of the beach so that the couple at the other end could enjoy their swim without our little crowd.

Another view of the Huon River entrance.

Obviously this particular tree objected to being cut down in the first place and re-sprouted from its old stump.

Short Purple Iris.

Looking back towards Randalls Bay.

Mickeys Beach from the clifftop.

Randalls Bay now in sunlight.

The sandstone cliffs at the western end of Randalls Bay.

Some of the walkers have left their packs in the cars for the stroll up "The Sugarloaf" now named Echo Sugarloaf State Reserve.

Strolling along Randalls Bay.

The start of the climb up The Sugarloaf.

Obviously one of the locals is expecting a special air delivery of mail.

This walk has been developed by FORB (Friends of Randalls Bay) a group of locals and shackowners who worked hard to put together the reserved spaces around Randalls Bay. Anyone looking for further information will find the group on Facebook.

The track work up and down Echo Sugarloaf makes for a pleasant round trip.

Including a quiet reflective dam space.

A lookout with a seat and explanatory board about the establishment of the Reserve.

Looking westward to Hartz Mountain and beyond.

A even higher view of Randalls Bay with the Hartz in the distance.

Descending the zigzag track to the beach.

A pleasant day walk with a contrast of weather enjoyed by the 17 walkers who covered just under 10kms over 3 hours with a 220 meter climb thrown in.