CP6-8: the end of the trail
After a sweltering week with high humidity we were lucky enough that the cool change came through on the Thursday, causing flash flooding a chaos around Melbourne's CBD (not helped by there being both an AC/DC and a Taylor Swift concert on in different central venues that night either). Saturday was cooler but still humid, when we set off from Woori Yallock Primary School at 7.45am Saturday morning. It was planned to be 7am, but a combination of a misunderstanding as to meeting point and the usual running late (7am is early!) meant that we didn't get off quite as quickly as hoped.
The Warburton Trail was still fairly busy, with cyclists and other walkers heading off. We watched a farmer herd cattle into one paddock - it immediately became apparent why one lone animal had been off by itself when the dominant bull immediately engaged it in a head butting contest. Obviously the lone animal was a younger bull who'd lost an earlier fight for dominance - it was losing again as we continued on, only now it couldn't get back to the other paddock!
The Warburton Trail was much the same as the previous fortnight - wide, no shade (fortunately it was overcast) and with farmland on each side. At Don Rd we turned off it, and started walking north. There were large posters stuck to trees warning Oxfam walkers about not walking in the middle of the road - Don Rd is a major route and an 80kph zone, despite being a two lane road. There had also been a warning e-mail during the week, and the point was hammered home by two semi-trailers turning onto the road ahead of us. We kept as much to the side of the road as possible, facing the oncoming traffic and (in my case at least) putting on sunglasses so any gravel flung up would at least hit something before potentially blinding me for life.
We left Don Rd briefly at Harberts Rd, which was a nice, 40kph local road running past the local primary school, before rejoining the main road again. This time there was apparently a side path we were supposed to use. We couldn't see it, mostly because Wednesday and Thursday's torrential rain had covered it with debris. Eventually we found it, but it was less a path and more a cattle track. It was also muddy, so eventually we gave up on it and returned to the side of the main road until we reached Ferngully Rd, which took us uphill to the O'Shannessy Aqueduct Trail. This is a walking/bike trail following a disused aqueduct and it's a lovely trail to walk on. Wide, smooth, shady, fern gullys and mountain ash groves - it's truly beautiful. I spent quite a bit of the time looking to see if I could spot lyrebirds (I saw a mound, but still no birds). Karena kept trying to see if any wombats had fallen in the disused aqueduct. Hm.
The main problem with this stretch of track was the complete lack of any toilet facilities. Even when we reached the rest stop (not a checkpoint) at Dee Rd, there were picnic tables, but no public toilets, which is a distinct drawback. The rest stop also had a huge number of bush flies, which descended on us immediately and refused to go away even after we'd sprayed Aerogard all over ourselves. Pity really, otherwise it was a very nice view across the hills and paddocks to the hamlet of Millgrove and the mountains beyond.
We continued on the trail, noting several more left/right errors in the written descriptions (when in doubt, always check with the map!) before exiting the trail again at Sussex St, and promptly following the instructions to turn right. Some way down Kent St I realised that they had, yet again, actually meant 'left' - I'm going to have to e-mail them corrections I think! Or at least note them in my map copy. Sussex St was a slowly descending street that stretched to infinity - at least that's what it felt like given all of us were tired, footsore and desperately in need of a loo. Finally we turned into Damman's Rd and found the Warburton Golf Club, aka checkpoint 7. Priscilla and I promptly headed for the loos while the other two collapsed at a convenient picnic table.
One thing that 6 weeks of training has given all of us is a new appreciation of the word 'footsore'. We're getting tired feet much more quickly, and of course blisters are beginning to be an issue. Still, given that I've always associated 'footsore' with Napoleon's army, at least we're not being attacked by Bedouin, or dropping dead in the snow. Well, not so far at least.
After eating some sandwiches and recovering for a bit it was time to attempt the final section of the trail. This section was only 7km long but was very hilly, and included at least one part labelled "steep descent". After the Melba Track we were a bit wary of anything mentioning steep descents anywhere.
The first section turned out to be easy - cross the Warburton Highway, following another team who were completing a 34km walk from before Woori Yallock to the end, cross under the Warburton Trail (if we'd stayed on it we'd have reached Wesburn about 3 hours earlier and via a far more direct route!) and then head towards the Dolly Grey Park. So far so good. We picked up the Backstairs Track at the end of the Dolly Grey Park, which turned out to be a dirt track leading straight up a hill. Again. On the positive side, this appears to be one dirt track that with good luck we should be walking in daylight. Touch wood. The track went up. And up. It was narrow and steep.
Midway along we paused for a drink, just in time to hear a 'crack' followed by a deep thud. Sure enough, it was a widowmaker. A gum tree downhill from us had shed a branch. You get about 3 seconds (depending on the height the branch was at) from the crack to it hitting you. We were all a bit more nervous after that.
We continued uphill, me dripping sweat like it was actually hot and annoying the bullants by dripping it on them. Apparently they don't like salt water. I kept falling further behind. I caught up to the others midway up the hill, only to discover that they were amusing themselves by really annoying the bullants by jumping on their nest. Hm.
"Hey, look at this!" Priscilla motioned me over. There were two bullants, both of which were enormous, engaged in a head-butting struggle for dominance. I hadn't realised that ants did that too.
Finally we made the summit and started walking around the hill. This part was on a fire trail, which is very popular with trail bike riders. Two came zooming around the corner, carefully passing us before heading off on another trail. The path began descending. And continued descending. And more descending. 1.5km of descending in fact. At least it wasn't a 'steep descent'. The same two trail bike riders passed us again.
At the bottom of the hill again we came to my least favourite written instruction to date:
Follow this path around to left then shortly after begin to climb 900m (gentle becoming challenging).
Oh good. I don't like their definition of 'challenging!' The track started off going uphill, and then suddenly decided that it should shoot off at a tight angle. It was less steep than Hackett's Rd, but still quite steep enough. I have the feeling I'll be crawling it on the actual day (presuming I get that far), which means I must remember to include gloves. It's also difficult to walk backwards because of the number of potholes.
Eventually we made it to the turnoff point (below the summit fortunately) and then began the final steep descent. Yes, it was a descent. Yes, it was steep. Midway down the trail bike riders came across us for the third time, this time coming towards us up the hill. I started giggling, they must have been surprised to keep coming across the same four women no matter which way they went. Down the hill, past fence one, in sight of our final destination, past fence two... and just before the steepest section of the trail which would be about 200m from the finish line we turned right and zig zagged off to make up the last bit of the 100km down some side trails. Where we promptly missed the turn off, but did find Wesburn primary school.
The reason we missed the turn off was because it was described as being "marked by treated pine step ups" - none of which were visible until after we'd found the right trail and turned on to it, *sigh*. At least this time the left/right instructions were correct! Finally we were at Wesburn Park and manuvering around the horse training paddocks, the cricket games and the thistles to the only BBQ area in the Warburton region not to have picnic tables. Seriously guys, what gives here?! We sat on treated pine logs (now we find them) waiting for Dean to find the right park and watching other teams decide to blithely ignore the final zigzag and instead head straight down the hill to the finish. Perhaps uncharitably we hoped they all get lost on the actual day and end up at Wesburn Primary School too. ;-)
So there you have it, we've now walked the entire trail (and some extra, unanticipated bits). Now we just need to build up to doing it all in one hit. Our next planned walk is a night walk, to get us used to using our headlamps and to walking at night in fern gullies.
This week has been a rest week, partly because half the team is busy and partly because we should really give our feet a week to recover!
The route walked is here.
The Warburton Trail was still fairly busy, with cyclists and other walkers heading off. We watched a farmer herd cattle into one paddock - it immediately became apparent why one lone animal had been off by itself when the dominant bull immediately engaged it in a head butting contest. Obviously the lone animal was a younger bull who'd lost an earlier fight for dominance - it was losing again as we continued on, only now it couldn't get back to the other paddock!
The Warburton Trail was much the same as the previous fortnight - wide, no shade (fortunately it was overcast) and with farmland on each side. At Don Rd we turned off it, and started walking north. There were large posters stuck to trees warning Oxfam walkers about not walking in the middle of the road - Don Rd is a major route and an 80kph zone, despite being a two lane road. There had also been a warning e-mail during the week, and the point was hammered home by two semi-trailers turning onto the road ahead of us. We kept as much to the side of the road as possible, facing the oncoming traffic and (in my case at least) putting on sunglasses so any gravel flung up would at least hit something before potentially blinding me for life.
We left Don Rd briefly at Harberts Rd, which was a nice, 40kph local road running past the local primary school, before rejoining the main road again. This time there was apparently a side path we were supposed to use. We couldn't see it, mostly because Wednesday and Thursday's torrential rain had covered it with debris. Eventually we found it, but it was less a path and more a cattle track. It was also muddy, so eventually we gave up on it and returned to the side of the main road until we reached Ferngully Rd, which took us uphill to the O'Shannessy Aqueduct Trail. This is a walking/bike trail following a disused aqueduct and it's a lovely trail to walk on. Wide, smooth, shady, fern gullys and mountain ash groves - it's truly beautiful. I spent quite a bit of the time looking to see if I could spot lyrebirds (I saw a mound, but still no birds). Karena kept trying to see if any wombats had fallen in the disused aqueduct. Hm.
The main problem with this stretch of track was the complete lack of any toilet facilities. Even when we reached the rest stop (not a checkpoint) at Dee Rd, there were picnic tables, but no public toilets, which is a distinct drawback. The rest stop also had a huge number of bush flies, which descended on us immediately and refused to go away even after we'd sprayed Aerogard all over ourselves. Pity really, otherwise it was a very nice view across the hills and paddocks to the hamlet of Millgrove and the mountains beyond.
We continued on the trail, noting several more left/right errors in the written descriptions (when in doubt, always check with the map!) before exiting the trail again at Sussex St, and promptly following the instructions to turn right. Some way down Kent St I realised that they had, yet again, actually meant 'left' - I'm going to have to e-mail them corrections I think! Or at least note them in my map copy. Sussex St was a slowly descending street that stretched to infinity - at least that's what it felt like given all of us were tired, footsore and desperately in need of a loo. Finally we turned into Damman's Rd and found the Warburton Golf Club, aka checkpoint 7. Priscilla and I promptly headed for the loos while the other two collapsed at a convenient picnic table.
One thing that 6 weeks of training has given all of us is a new appreciation of the word 'footsore'. We're getting tired feet much more quickly, and of course blisters are beginning to be an issue. Still, given that I've always associated 'footsore' with Napoleon's army, at least we're not being attacked by Bedouin, or dropping dead in the snow. Well, not so far at least.
After eating some sandwiches and recovering for a bit it was time to attempt the final section of the trail. This section was only 7km long but was very hilly, and included at least one part labelled "steep descent". After the Melba Track we were a bit wary of anything mentioning steep descents anywhere.
The first section turned out to be easy - cross the Warburton Highway, following another team who were completing a 34km walk from before Woori Yallock to the end, cross under the Warburton Trail (if we'd stayed on it we'd have reached Wesburn about 3 hours earlier and via a far more direct route!) and then head towards the Dolly Grey Park. So far so good. We picked up the Backstairs Track at the end of the Dolly Grey Park, which turned out to be a dirt track leading straight up a hill. Again. On the positive side, this appears to be one dirt track that with good luck we should be walking in daylight. Touch wood. The track went up. And up. It was narrow and steep.
Midway along we paused for a drink, just in time to hear a 'crack' followed by a deep thud. Sure enough, it was a widowmaker. A gum tree downhill from us had shed a branch. You get about 3 seconds (depending on the height the branch was at) from the crack to it hitting you. We were all a bit more nervous after that.
We continued uphill, me dripping sweat like it was actually hot and annoying the bullants by dripping it on them. Apparently they don't like salt water. I kept falling further behind. I caught up to the others midway up the hill, only to discover that they were amusing themselves by really annoying the bullants by jumping on their nest. Hm.
"Hey, look at this!" Priscilla motioned me over. There were two bullants, both of which were enormous, engaged in a head-butting struggle for dominance. I hadn't realised that ants did that too.
Finally we made the summit and started walking around the hill. This part was on a fire trail, which is very popular with trail bike riders. Two came zooming around the corner, carefully passing us before heading off on another trail. The path began descending. And continued descending. And more descending. 1.5km of descending in fact. At least it wasn't a 'steep descent'. The same two trail bike riders passed us again.
At the bottom of the hill again we came to my least favourite written instruction to date:
Follow this path around to left then shortly after begin to climb 900m (gentle becoming challenging).
Oh good. I don't like their definition of 'challenging!' The track started off going uphill, and then suddenly decided that it should shoot off at a tight angle. It was less steep than Hackett's Rd, but still quite steep enough. I have the feeling I'll be crawling it on the actual day (presuming I get that far), which means I must remember to include gloves. It's also difficult to walk backwards because of the number of potholes.
Eventually we made it to the turnoff point (below the summit fortunately) and then began the final steep descent. Yes, it was a descent. Yes, it was steep. Midway down the trail bike riders came across us for the third time, this time coming towards us up the hill. I started giggling, they must have been surprised to keep coming across the same four women no matter which way they went. Down the hill, past fence one, in sight of our final destination, past fence two... and just before the steepest section of the trail which would be about 200m from the finish line we turned right and zig zagged off to make up the last bit of the 100km down some side trails. Where we promptly missed the turn off, but did find Wesburn primary school.
The reason we missed the turn off was because it was described as being "marked by treated pine step ups" - none of which were visible until after we'd found the right trail and turned on to it, *sigh*. At least this time the left/right instructions were correct! Finally we were at Wesburn Park and manuvering around the horse training paddocks, the cricket games and the thistles to the only BBQ area in the Warburton region not to have picnic tables. Seriously guys, what gives here?! We sat on treated pine logs (now we find them) waiting for Dean to find the right park and watching other teams decide to blithely ignore the final zigzag and instead head straight down the hill to the finish. Perhaps uncharitably we hoped they all get lost on the actual day and end up at Wesburn Primary School too. ;-)
So there you have it, we've now walked the entire trail (and some extra, unanticipated bits). Now we just need to build up to doing it all in one hit. Our next planned walk is a night walk, to get us used to using our headlamps and to walking at night in fern gullies.
This week has been a rest week, partly because half the team is busy and partly because we should really give our feet a week to recover!
The route walked is here.
Labels: oxfam
posted by Alison at 1:49 AM
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