Today we're walking around the Leslie Vale and Picket Hill area just off the Huon Highway, and Tas is our leader.
The weather was clear & sunny and the temperature was about 15C at the start. The start itself was just off the Huon Highway on Leslie Rd. The first circuit of the walk was heading south on a horse trail that ran parallel to the highway then turned away to the west.
Just to confirm we're were in horse country, we had to make way for a young woman on a beautiful horse. The walking is easy and pleasant. It loops around and comes out onto Leslie Rd. via Bullock Drive.
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| There is a small car park just around the corner of the dirt road leading to the Picket Hill Track |
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| Some of the party had parked on Leslie Rd. |
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| Richard suggested this might be an easier way to travel the tracks |
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| Over Leslie Rd. to the south and the track |
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| Huon Highway to our left |
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| Looking across some of the properties towards Mt. Wellington |
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| We also get a view of Cathedral Rock |
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| Now we're heading north towards Bullock Drive |
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| Some of the locals |
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| End of Bullock Drive and a discussion on where we go from here |
Walking back on Leslie Rd. towards the cars, we decide to walk on the wide grassy verge, going with the traffic. On the way we were able to direct a delivery driver to Bullock Drive. 'But', as someone said, 'what delivery truck doesn't have a GPS nowadays?'
As time was getting on, we had our Morning Tea at the Leslie Vale Oval. Not for the first time.
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| Looking back down Leslie Rd., and not a car or horse in sight |
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| Quite a group walking on the grass verge... |
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| ...and it takes a couple of photos to get them all |
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| There's always a couple who don't get with the program! |
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| Morning Tea is in sight |
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| Hence, the smiles |
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| Julie exercises her rights as President and takes over the swing. Richard stands ready for any instructions |
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| Morning Tea |
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| Tas as walk leader, sits in (nearly) solitary splendour |
Tea finished, we continue back to the cars and pick up the next phase of the Picket Hill Track, this time heading north.
We pass a couple of houses in the bush before coming out onto a wide green area. A short climb gives us some views looking east over Kingston towards South Arm.
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| The start of the second phase |
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| Bush views looking southeast |
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| Looking east over Kingston towards South Arm |
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| Now we're heading for a long walk downhill |
We're now heading for a long walk on a fairly steep descent, looking over the next valley towards a recently logged area. The last time we walked on that side, it was still bush.
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| Going down |
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| Another view over Kingston |
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| Industrial collection next to the track |
The first time I walked on this track, I thought there might have been a mill of some sort here. Now, I think someone keeps their collection of various kinds of tanks here. There are the remains of small buildings scattered about, plus large steel beams, old radio towers and much other junk. An industrial archaeologist will have a field day here in about 300 years.
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| The bottom. We'll see this spot again today |
Reaching the bottom, we walk out to a road, cross and then pick up the track again for a short while before going down a long stretch of paved road.
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| Pleasant walk through the bush |
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| Out of the bush and onto the blacktop |
Just when the murmurs are reaching a crescendo as people come to realize we're going to have to walk up again at some point, Tas stops and we do a U turn to pick up the track again.
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| Regrouping at the U turn |
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| Yes, it's that track again |
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| The murmurs have changed from being about going down to going up. But they do become quieter |
After climbing for a while, we find a spot for lunch. Tas claims to have prepared this the day before. Who are we to disbelieve?
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| Mountain Blue Berry (Billardiera longiflora) |
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| Lunch |
After lunch we continue up and back along some of the track we walked earlier.
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| Best I can do for wildlife |
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| They certainly have a great view |
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| I said we'd be back at the steep hill again. The murmurs reached a peak again, but soon stopped as breathing became more important then talking |
We walked back up and returned to the cars. It was a good walk with very good weather.
We had 19 walkers and covered 10.97km in 3.52hrs.
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