Wednesday 20 June 2012

bushwalking

today my friend gabrielle and i did out first bush walk in a year..we walk every week together but these walks are only an hour long and they're not particularly rigorous..in the past we did bush walk regularly but over the last few years various health problems have curtailed the more strenuous stuff..fortunately we are both now feeling good at the same time so off we went today to the 'you yangs'..we decided not to take on anything too strenuous or two far away so as to ease ourselves back into the saddle..

for anyone who doesn't know the 'you yangs' they are a series of granite ridges on the flat plain between melbourne and geelong (a city 75 kms south west of melbourne) about 65 km south west of melbourne..the name is derived from aboriginal and means 'big hill on the plain'..apparently there's evidence in the you yangs of past aboriginal presence in the form of rock wells which were created in the granite to collect rain water..

we did two shortish walks today..the first walk of 2 hours was a circuit walk (our favourite type of walk) around flinders peak (named after the explorer matthew flinders who climbed the peak in 1802) which is the highest point in the area..the walk started out as an uphill climb with various boulder obstacles along the way that we had to negotiate and then it became more tame..the second walk was an energetic 1 hour walk up to flinders peak and back..

we felt so fired up after our walk today that we want to go bush walking again next week..but we're heading east next week..maybe to the dandenongs..   

gabrielle

me



as you can see from the trees it was very windy



scrambling down a rocky outcrop



i'm almost looking forward to the inevitable muscle soreness tomorrow..it will be a reminder of a wonderful day with a great friend..x


14 comments:

  1. Looks like a great day out in the fresh air with a good friend! Good for you! PS. We would be happy to fill your boot with firewood...if only you were a little closer Jane :)

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    1. it was a great day jane..it was so good to get back into some more serious exercise after so long..

      thanks for the wood offer..i've actually done the drive to bh and back in 2004 to visit my brother who used to work there as the regional health manager..one thing i loved was the way that once we left mildura heading to bh everyone we passed acknowledged us with a wave or a finger flick from the steering wheel..those friendly gestures warmed my heart in a way it rarely is in the city..x

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  2. Looks amazing! Would love to come next time!

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    1. it probably wasn't one of the prettiest walks i've done wildcraft diva but the views were amazing..we could even see melbourne from one side of the peak but i didn't think to take photos at that stage..

      i'd love you to come with us..there might be some foraging to be done..we'd need to get hold of some books on native food though..now that's given me an idea..:)

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    1. the views were wonderful anne.as i said to wildcraft diva at one point we could see the city in the far distance..x

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  4. Dear 'tea with hazel',
    I would like to pass on the Liebster award to your blog.
    http://kateiswriting.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/liebster-blog-award.html
    I love reading your blog, especially when you share what you have been baking. I always feel inspired to bake myself when you share!
    Kate

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    1. thankyou so much kate for the award and for your comments..i really appreciate it..i will pass the award on to someone else..

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  5. Gorgeous looking country Jane. There is always something quite appealing about walking amongst big rocks.

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    1. thanks brydie..the rocks felt quite magical as well as awesome..

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  6. What a beautiful place and views, Jane! Thanks for taking us with you!

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    1. thanks celia..i love bushwalking for the way it connects me to the spirit of our beautiful country..

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  7. Great photographs of a lovely day out.

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  8. thanks allotmentadventureswithjean..it was a great day for body, mind and spirit..

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