December short break
After working last weekend Frank and I had a whole week to ourselves so we decided to take off for a few days. First off we headed down to Nelson so we could have a look around the Lower Glenelg National Park. We hadn't booked anything as we thought Tuesday while school was still in would be fine - big mistake! Turns out it's always a good idea to book in Nelson. Anyway we got lucky and found Wrens on Glenelg. Really nice people, great spot and very comfortable modern unit with lots of attention to detail.
They have their own private jetty too so a great spot to sit and have a cold beer :-)
We picked up a great little walking maps book from the info centre (put together by Friends of the Great South-West Walk and Parks Victoria) and decided to do the Gorge walk the following morning before heading off towards Cape Bridgewater and Portland.
It was around 10km return and took in the scenery alongside the Glenelg River. Our hosts at Wrens had warned us that there were a lot of snakes around but we didn't see any. We did see a houseboat on the river though so obviously not everyone reads the signs at the riverside landings as they're not allowed!
We drove a little further through the Park checking out a couple of camping spots along the way (all camping is by permit only) and then we stopped at Sapling Creek (one of the picnic spots) for a late lunch.
Lunch done we headed off to Portland via Cape Bridgewater as neither of us could recall visiting either place before. There was a lot of property for sale in Cape Bridgewater and Frank and I were rather surprised at how expensive it was.
The lady at Wrens had recommended a place to stay in Portland but it was booked out (recurring theme here) so we settled for another spot we found in a local brochure. It was one of two apartments built on top of an existing house overlooking Portland Bay. It was a little on the small side with only a tiny kitchenette, which made cooking dinner a bit of a juggling act but it had great views. Interestingly the owner said she enjoyed going to the Grampians for the quiet - the wind was howling and you could see from the Sheoaks in the garden below that it was the rule rather than the exception.
The next morning we headed off to Mt Eccles National Park at Graham's recommendation- another first for me. After checking out the Park note we decided to do the Lava Canal walk, approx. 6.5km (2 - 3 hrs). We set off on a scoria footpath and saw a family heading in the other direction with a large torch, which had us a bit bemused until we found the large cave they must have just emerged from.
We climbed back out of the cave into the bright sunshine, checked out Lake Surprise (named by a local school child) and headed off down the track. Well what a disappointment. I have never been on such an overgrown and weed infested track in my life. Through the long grass and scotch thistles you could just make out the scoria rocks that once edged the track, someone must have put a lot of effort into that track at some time in the past. I can only assume that fundiing for weed control and track maintenance is pretty limited and so they have to focus on the shorter more popular tracks - what a shame!
They have had a koala contraceptive program at Mt Eccles for some time as the koalas were loving the Manna Gums to death and we spotted three koalas without even really trying. This one climbed part way up a rather small tree when it spotted Frank - check out the claws. There was a much smaller animal in the adjacent much larger gum.
We continued our walk with Frank occasionally disappearing below ground. First at this cave. I was amazed at the tree growing on the rock at the entrance and couldn't help but wonder how long it might be before the rock gave way - please come back Frank.
At this point the track headed off at an angle along a very straight line following what we assume was an old farm dry stone wall - where you could see a faint track through the thistles that is. It was on this stretch of the walk that I very nearly caused Frank to get bitten by a snake. I was watching the track as best I could for snakes but at one stage I detoured to avoid a larger than average patch of big thistles and set a scoria boulder rolling back towards Frank. I heard him swear and sensed him jumping out of the way. I looked back over my left shoulder thinking "That's not like Frank it wasn't that big a rock" when I saw an eastern brown exiting stage left towards the scoria wall. Frank had two little dots of what we assume was venom on his pants leg but no holes and he says he felt something brush against his leg. We can only assume the snake was in the longer grass to the right of the track and that the rock I had dislodged had headed straight for it, and it was obviously not very pleased. I felt really awful thinking I could have been the cause of Frank getting bitten!
Anyway, we continued on being even more vigilant for snakes lurking in the long grass than before. The next stop was at a feature called the Natural Bridge, apparently formed by waves of molten lava being forced up until they met in the middle above.
I don't mind admitting that it was a relief to get to the top of these overgrown steps onto a more well worn track where it was easier to see where you were putting your feet.
It's a shame really because it could be a very nice walk along the lava canal among the Manna gums but it's not one I'd currently recommend to friends.
We struck lucky in Warrnambool finding an apartment overlooking the river and the sea. We sat on the the balcony out front and had a beer and then after dinner watched the sunset.
I can't get over Frank's ability to sleep through almost anything. I woke around 12.30am thinking I could hear a car alarm, it took me a while to realise that it must have been a radio alarm clock going off in one of the bedrooms above, which were unfortunately locked as the owner said he'd had problems with people booking for a couple but using all the beds! I got up and closed our door and put the pillow over my head but it finally stopped just as I was contemplating calling the owner and asking him to come turn it off so I could get some sleep - Frank snored his way through the whole thing :-)
Next morning after bacon, eggs, mushrooms and tomato (thanks Frank) we went to the GwenKelly Cottage Nursery just outside Warrnambool next to the cemetery (we had driven past it twice). The lady there (Gwen?) was very helpful despite the rain and I came away with far too many Eremophilas - just got to find somewhere to put them all now and keep them alive :-)
We headed off to Forrest in the pouring rain and managed to have a look at a couple of trail heads and some of the mountain bike trails. The main trail head is very well set up and has current notices from the Forrest Mountain Bike and Cycling Club (which looks like they meet fortnightly) and a link to their website www.rideforrest.com.au
It's a great website and includes video footage of some of the trails, the most recent inclusion is a ten minute video of number 3 trail - The Red Carpet. It gives you a great insight into what the mountain bike riders really look for in their trails. It also has all the trail descriptions.
Below is the main trailhead on a wet day. Large car park, shelter and toilet facilities where a number of the easier trails start from. The paper map they produce is great and just the right size for the pocket of a bike shirt.
I don't have any really good photos of the trails as it was raining too hard. You'll have to check out the website for better photos.
The trails are all well signposted, with plenty of warning for riders when they are about to cross a road or a horse-riding trail etc.
We continued on in the rain and got to Melbourne in time to have dinner with Matt. Saturday we visited Dad in the morning, went for a climb in the gym with Matt and then headed back to Halls Gap.
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