Macedon Ranges Walking Trail
16 November 2008
With keen interest, eight people headed for Mount Macedon. Barry knew a short cut, one with very little traffic. Anyway, after having to follow several horse floats slowly down dusty tracks, which where occasionally divided in the middle by trees, and needing to pull over to let trucks and horse floats pass from the opposite direction, we arrived at our destination as quickly as the shortcut allowed.
Undeterred we started the walk, first up a 350m climb to the Mount Macedon Memorial, a good warm up as there was a chill in the air complemented by a nippy southerly. At the memorial we enjoyed the views and attempted to identify landmarks. Then Barry made mention of a coffee shop just down the track. It wasn’t a mutiny as such, just a stampede. The leader made a mental note after picking himself up that he should not stand between bushwalkers and a coffee shop.
So even though the walk had barely started, the group was sitting down to an arrangement of beverages and cakes. It was noted that this behaviour should be reserved for the end of the walk which was duly ignored between slurps and munches. However the mean leader had succeeded in making everyone sit in the cold out on the balcony, planning this would limit the lingering.
Fear of the walk ending prematurely in a coffee shop was dispelled as the group were on the move again to warm up and we were soon enjoying views from the western lookout. Fuelled by their caffeine fix, the pace was on, and the next level leg was a good paced stroll through the green bush and Blackwoods. A mini mutiny was attempted at McGregors picnic ground due to sunny patches and lush green grass, but the dilly dallying was short lived as there was the Camel Hump to climb and wombat holes to look down. Again good views, this time to the south, and all very green in this part of the world. The directional thingy-majiggy indicated landmark distances in miles, though this was not surprising as it has been there since 1911. Again grumblings in the ranks for it was thought lunch could be had on the sunny rocks, a mutiny the leader entertained but was out voted.
So it was off to Days picnic ground where there was a sunny patch, green grass and picnic table, all being protected from the southerly by a stand of redwoods. The leader was getting hungry by this time and the group was kind enough to allow him have his way for once and stop for lunch; although it is suspected their decision was made with self interest. Chris must get the award for being on most walks in the club this year, and she earned her place on this walk as she shared some excellent strawberries with everyone to finish lunch.
The mention that the lunch hour seemed rather short was ignored, as we made our way to Sanatorium Lake, which was suffering from the lack of rain. We continued through picnic ground onto the Zig Zag track to make our way up Mt Towrong. There were more zig zags than what was bargained for, as a black snake thought a fast approaching Barry and Chris was too much to contend with and went scurrying for cover. The poor misfortunate creature (and I don’t mean either Barry or Chris) was well spotted by Glen who was well back in the ranks.
High tea was had on Mt Towrong even though the summit did not have views. This was a perfect choice by the leader as five minutes further down the track the bush opened up with splendid views back to Mount Macedon. Any way the group made our way down, spotting orchids and giving the group photographers, Pam and Terry, final opportunities to take photos. Back in Mount Macedon, a mention of the words coffee shop was again met with enthusiasm, with the party enjoying their second beverages and cakes for the day. Hobbits would have enjoyed this walk.
Thanks to Barry, Terry, Glen, Jane, Pam, Anthony and Chris for making this such a pleasurable day. We bypassed Barry's shortcut on the way home.
Peter