A summer in Tasmania

[drron]

Now I have never been good going uphill so my plan was to stop every 30 minutes and have a breather My first stop was at the junction of tracks.Right was the difficult track and left the easier track.Just before getting there I met the first fellow coming back.He was close to my age but obviously very fit with not an ounce of fat.He had started out just before 0500 but had gone up the difficult track and down the easier way.Also carrying a large camera and tripod.
Here is the map.
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You can see how little distance I had done in 30 minutes.I was now on the pink track.Came across this bird who didn't seem afraid of me and took a while to start moving.
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When he began moving it was walking up the track in front of me.After about 2 minutes a larger bird of the same species came out of the bush,sqawked and they both flew off.It was probably just an infant.
Not too much later came to the first of the little creeks you cross.
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Soon after was my second stop and I really needed it.The track had been reasonably steep.fortunately it then flattened out a bit.
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[drron]

Although I was finding it a bit hard going it was a pleasant walk with gradually increasing springflowers,different light and glimpses of the mountain.
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Now in the article I read you should get to the log bridge over O'neills Creek after an hour.
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It had taken me 2 hours.

 

[drron]

The article then said the track narrowed and became steeper.It sure did.
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Some areas were a little damp even though no rain for a few days.
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What they didn't say was how rocky it got.
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[drron]

The track goes up alongside O'Neills Creek and sometimes you get a glimpse of it.
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The track got rockier but to compensate a lot more flowers.
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But I got a lift when I lined up the next photo.No mountain behind it but blue sky.I was nearly at the plateau.
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[drron]

Then there was a boardwalk.
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And proper stairs to a platform.
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And the sign for the climb I had just done.
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I had taken 3 hours with an hour on the narrow track.Took a break every 15 minutes.It was now I realised I had been conned by the writer of the column I read.They were obviously very fit as it was said yoy should make this point after 1.5 hours and the whole return walk would take you 4 hours.The rangers didn't agree as the other sign gave the time from here to the summit.
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And the view downhill.
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[drron]

So now I was on the plateau which rises gently towards the summit.Pictures I have seen of this area had it basically grassland with wombatswalking around as this had been a summer grazing area for sheep and had been regularly burnt just as it had been before European occupation.But withe the grazing stopped some time ago it was now a shrubland.
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Now they have these track markers.They are close together and they are for the times people get caught here when the clouds come down.
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[drron]

Sometimes some good views.
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Then you cross the Minnow river.
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[drron]

After the river the bush got thicker.
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But soon after opened up.
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[drron]

A little past this spot you came to a lookout.
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Mole Creek.
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Looking East.You are meant to be able to see Ben Lomond.
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A family passed me here and a few were on there way back down.I continued on for about 15 minutes and another older walker was coming down.He obviously needed a rest so he stopped and talked to me saying it had been 50 minutes since he left the summit and it was a bit slippery.I asked if there were any more good views apart from the summit and he said not really so I decided it was time to turn around as I had decided before I left that I wasn't tackling the summit.

 

[drron]

So back along the plateau.
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[drron]

Now down the steep rocky part.My legs turned to jelly so it was a 45 minute descent.Passed by 3 teenagers.
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Was very glad to get back to the creek crossing.The wide path made it easy so only took an hour from there,As well on the way down saw some orchids.This one had a little flower spike.
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It was the same species that was in full flower 2 months ago in Launceston.

For the last half hour I was caught by the father of the teenagers and he slowed down so we had a good conversation on the way down.He obviously had no problems as he often climbs mountains when on vacation.mostly in Norway and Europe.Fortunately he was also impressed that a 75 year old had tackled Mt.Roland.
So I felt good .back at the car a bit before 4pm.

 

[drron]

Decided to drive straight home.but at Sheffield I did a detour via the village of Nook.This was to scout where to go next weekend.
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Up there is the Kimberley lookout.
A few pics of the countryside.
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Got back to the house and soaked in a hot bath for an hour.Took a couple of days for the legs to settle down.

 

[drron]

So on Tuesday back to the Orchid reserve..A sun orchid was the only flowering orchid.
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Not many other flowers now.
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[drron]

The native cherries had ripened so i had a few.
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Now the darker red ones are OK but when they get that deep burgundy colour are really sweet and delicious.So if you are down in Tassie in January give them a try.
These are what the trees look like.There are a few either side of the track into the orchid reserve on the Railton road.
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[drron]

Saturday 16/1 and another sleep in followed by bacon and miso fried eggs for breakfast.You just put some fresh miso into the pan and crack the egg over it so it is incorporated into the fried egg.delicious.
So just before 1000 headed off on the way to the Kimberley lookout.Went again through the village of Nook.The other day I didn't even realise I had gone through it so today concentrated and got a photo.
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A little further down the road another view of Mt.Roland.
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The reason for going through Nook though was because you park just off the Nook road.There were quite a few cars there already but most were for the Mountain Bike trails.Not that many on the walking tracks.
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A stream has caused a bit of damage in parts.
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Lots of frog noises from the little lagoon.

 

[drron]

The track narrows and becomes steeper but not as rough as the steep part of the Mt.Roland track.
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There is a track right along the ridge line.I turned right to the lookout.The track widened again and there were some level sections.
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The lookout is in sight.the views are worth it.
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[drron]

More of the view.
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Now there is another lookout another 50 metres on but it was down a pretty steep track.The wind had come up so I had a look at the BOM.A severe weather warning for Sheffield with destructive winds.Went and looked towards Sheffield and saw the dark clouds and rain so I decided not to risk it an return to the car.
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[drron]

So back I went and light rain began.Had a quick trip down.By the time I got to the steep bit the wind had dropped and bright sunshine.
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There was another track to yet another lookout which probably looks out on Sheffield.
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However when I got there the wind had returned and the first drops of rain.So I had my Adelaide lockdown moment - better to be safe than sorry.Driving back To Sheffield some more views of Mt.Roland.
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[drron]

Sheffield has some old buildings and is the town of murals.Fortunately it had stopped raining when I got there but it was certainly not warm.According to the BOM a real feel of 10C at 1300.
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[drron]

The murals.
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Whilst Mt.Roland towers over the town.
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The masonic lodge and it's roses.
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