Health Walk - Tuesday 7th July 2015

Photos by Michael - Please click on photos to see a larger one - not very good today, the electronics were lazy and I ended up too close, sorry.

Would it rain?  Well it did several times but it didn't dampen our spirits! 

We had ten walkers - Barbara, Carmel, Elizabeth M, Frankie, Helen, Jacqueline, Linda P, Maureen, Michael and Sue.  Linda also brought Freddie, Alison's dog, who like me, seemed unable to pass up a toilet opportunity.

Michael took charge and set off back towards the Stone Bridge down Snake Hill.

Photo 1
Passing the new visitors centre it was good to see people working hard.

Photo 2   
Over the bridge.  As you can see by the time the shutter went off Linda had disappeared from view.

Sue wanted to do a short walk and Jacqueline didn't need persuading so they set off along the river - green route - while we headed for the Lake.

Photo 3                                                 Photo 4
You can just see Sue and Jacquie in the distance in Photo 3 - two little red dots.  We are walking along the bottom of the dam and then up the steps to the Lake.  Again you can see the shutter has gone of too slowly - it's probably me not planning ahead.

Photo 5                                                 Photo 6
Leaving the Lake we climbed up the steps to the field.  Here I persuaded Barbara that she'd be able to manage the remaining hills.  We walked along the edge of the field and at Hawks Clough climbed up to the Ponderosa.

As we reached the steps to descend into Green Wood Barbara explained that she would prefer to walk back the way we had come and wait for us when we rejoined the route at Hawks Clough.  Carmel said she would accompany her and decided they would walk on to the Lake and wait for us there - there were seats and fishermen to watch - blue route.

After negotiating all the steps, two lots down and one up, we reached Hawkes Clough and walked down to the entrance to Dog Kennel Wood where we met up with Barbara and Carmel.  After a short discussion we agreed to walk down to the Cycle Track, walk along the river, over the Wooden Bridge up into the Pinetum and back to the Bark.  As we entered the Pinetum we had our almost obligatory rest after climbing up Cardiac Hill.

Carole was there, she had come for a coffee with us, with Sue and Jacquie.  Again we were privileged to use the Class Room.  There was a school party around but they were in a marquee somewhere.

I was concerned that I may have discouraged Barbara but later she said "Despite it being hard work, I enjoyed today's walk and will see you again."  Great!

Michael Swarbrick