Going bush

  

On Wednesday day Billy & Lucy went off on school camp and I came home feeling a little flat. The dogs were jumping at the back door saying "take us for a walk!!" so I did just that. I took my camera along and decided to play  Vic's photo game at the same time. What an adventure we had.

This is where I started off. On a walking track that leads from the Twin Bridges to Lake Daylesford. It's a beautiful track, and very muddy after a big rain. The track leads you along one side of the creek and then back along the other side.

After walking a little ways it was time for a 180 turn and here I found a beautiful, green mossy patch, just like a fairy garden, with a mysterious tunnel or outlet. Perhaps that is where the fairies live.

I kept walking, all the while hearing bird song and smelling the freshness of the bush. Can you see the full creek flowing?

I passed this amazing stone wall. The Daylesford region has many such stone walls, someone told me recently that traditionally women constructed the walls, searching for the right stones in paddocks and by creeks.

Now for something blue. The sky was definitely grey, not a trace of blue. The gums were vaguely blue but not really. Hmmm....

Suddenly! Two patches of blue at once. This beautiful old rotunda, built around the 1930's when this little area was a hub of social activity. When Lake Daylesford was first built the Springs around it became a place of gathering, of community singing, swimming & socialising. Sadly now it is quite desolate, with just the hint, a whisper, of days gone by.

Max kindly checked out this pump, just to make sure it was actually blue. Thanks Max. (Never mind that dogs are colour blind..he is quite an exceptional boy)

Ok, left turn and 50 - 70 paces...

some amazing graffiti from 1940. Looks like a whole bunch of Arbuckle's

had some fun at the Springs. Wonder if it was Joy and her brothers?

Or maybe her sisters...her brothers may have been away at war. Isn't it amazing to see this writing, after so many years? I love the shape of the letters from that era.

Such a lot of history on this walk today.

Now I'm walking again and looking for a 7 or an 11. 

On a wall near one of the springs I find more graffiti,

and what looks like an 11, just above the middle heart.

Taking the first left I find another old building.

Time for a sit down while Daisy frolics through the green grass. I wonder what this little hut is/was for?

Choosing to walk straight ahead I can see it was once an engine room, a pump house of sorts.

And inside I find this guy, looking surprised to see me! 

It must get lonely sometimes, now that his working life is over. I hope as the sparrows

fly in and out, making their nests, that they bring him news of the world.

Now I'm looking for an archway, or something architecturally interesting...

and there it is! A lovely old stone bridge, made with crazy paving. Time to cross that bridge and head back along the creek.

After 20 minutes or so of walking along the twisting, turning track I suddenly see my car through the trees, on the other side of the creek. Can you see it too? I also realise that I have to cross this creek...and there is no bridge! Uh oh..there's no way around it but to walk across the knee deep icy cold water, in my boots and tights and trackies. Cold!!! Ahh!  The dogs hop in the back of the car & I squelch in and set off for home and a nice hot cup of tea. Phew, what an adventure. I felt like I had visited a fun park from the past, a pretty ghost town hidden in the bush. I loved walking through the tall gums, all alone except for the dogs and the birds, and the creatures that scurried & hid beneath the scrub.

Thanks Vic for inspiring me to go on this trek! It was a lot of fun. 

Oh and Daisy & Max say thanks too.