As you may realise not a great deal happened on our stint in October. It’s starting to resemble comfortable slippers, a few less surprises and a lot more comfort. I took some sky photos in Hart’s Range. This is a community on the Plenty Highway only about Three hundred and fifty kilometres from the Queensland border. Almost shopping distance! The accomodation for staff is a short distance from the community so it makes walks in the surrounding country easier and being outside at night is a bit safer too.

I was able to do some wilderness walks with friends while back in Launceston.

I joined a walk with the Ramblers club. It’s was a fine sunny day, a Sunday. We drove all the way to Lake Rowellan and along the Mersey forest road. This road allows access to the Walls walk, Lake Myrtle and of course Lake Louisa. Yep, we were going to walk to this highland lake. An ancient glacial lake which splashes its banks only 3 kilometres from Lake Rowellan but it’s a somewhat vertical route. The walk starts about 100 meters short of the Juno river road crossing. Pink tape is suspended from tree branches to mark the start and to indicate much of the route. The track is not well defined but if there is any doubt, just go up!

There were 16 walkers, Jock took up the tail end and Trevor lead the way. We were warned to keep the next walker in sight because of the scrub and narrow winding track. It’s a solid climb up, including a short scrambles over rocks and trees that have crashed on the path, then a refreshing meander through a glistening rainforest, all the branches, mosses and lichens dripping with moisture despite the sunshine. A slime mould which I kid you not, resembled snot smeared over a child’s cheeks, it was white and shiny and snotty on a log we all carefully stepped over. The end of the track is on a narrow lake bank. We stopped for lunch right here and munched sandwiches while enjoying the view both sublime and very peaceful.The water was so clean and clear, the ancient logs which had tumbled in over the years could be distinctly seen beneath the surface.

The weather was beautiful from start to finish. We headed down, and thankfully, it’s never as steep going back. Funny that. We surfaced from the forest above Juno creek taking some photos there before re entering the forest and then dropping down to the road.

On Monday I went walking with Gareth. We drove to the lower, downstream end of the Liffey falls walk. It was a very pleasant hike up always within cooeee of the rivers and creeks of this area. The track is vastly improved from a few years ago, it’s well benched and easy to follow. There are established ferns and trees providing shade and shelter. There are creek crossings on well built bridges. Not a challenging walk perhaps, but very refreshing and beautiful. The waterfalls did not disappoint. There are now several viewing platforms to enjoy the river and waterfalls.

We had lunch in the upper visitors area, sandwiches for me and some sort of sport food for Gareth, that read like rocket fuel, it’s ingredients were so alien to actual food. But after a mug of hot tea our spirits were amply restored and so sustained, we continued our walk, back downhill to the car, strolling along the river.