Scribe's Notes : Excess Baggage

This just makes you want to be really careful in selecting the bag you use, and the quality of the zipper/lock :)


Flight - Barcelona to Dublin (connecting flight to Boston for most of the passengers)


The pilot was 'apologetic for the delays' without saying the exact reason why, but because I was looking at this situation I knew what was going on! (and just like a true shutterbug, my backup digicam was in my pocket, for reasons such as these!)

the luggage just BURST OPEN and the man handling it was just simply surprised at what happened.

i think it was a faulty zipper.

the crew saw me watching and with his hands up in the air in exasperation, he knew he had no choice

but to put all the stuff back in! 

unfortunate. guess what the violet colored fabric was.

after asking someone to fetch the packaging tape, the luggage was taped all over.

just like massive bandage.

no the broken luggage wasn't mine - although upon arrival at Dublin i had some delays in getting my bag as it was mixed up with the other baggages going to Boston!

So that's what those massive cling wrap devices in the airport are for - to avoid things like these! :)

Scribe's Notes : Southern Circuit

Another long weekend gave four intrepid hikers an opportunity to wander around Wilson’s Promontory, Southern Circuit. The previous hike was a great summer experience, so with the changing season came a change of challenge, as well as deep interest in finding out what was on the southern side of this wonderful park.

The weather prediction indicated a wet climb:

Friday :Partly cloudy. Patchy morning fog. The chance of showers from the late morning until late afternoon. Light winds. Temperatures between 11 and 16 during the day.

Saturday : Cloud increasing. Patches of light morning frost. Patchy rain during the evening. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to around 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 11 and 16.

Sunday : Cloudy. The chance of thunderstorms until late afternoon. Isolated showers. Winds north to northwesterly averaging 10 to 20 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to around 8 with daytime temperatures reaching around 12.

Monday : Cloud increasing. Isolated showers. Winds west to northwesterly averaging 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to around 7 with daytime temperatures reaching around 13.

Perhaps it was one of the best ways to experience the Melbourne rain - out there with your bare essentials… well, for these crazy hikers at least!

The plans were put into place :

* The schedule plotted for a 3 day hike starting at Telegraph Saddle Carpark through to Halfway Hut, Roaring Meg, Little Waterloo Bay, Refuge Cove, Sealer’s Cove then back to the Carpark. It sounded easy until you compute for the distance which is at least 52km.
* Bookings were made to Wilson’s Prom for an arrival Friday evening to camp at Tidal River, and an early start on Saturday for a nice warm up hike just worth a couple of hours.
* Meal plans for lightweight, healthy but substantial food
* Gear : sufficient waterproofing (i.e. wrapping stuff in plastic bags or zip locks), thermals for the expected cold nights, raingear for the expected showers, gloves, beanies, the works
* Where to meet as there was no mobile phone coverage at Tidal River

And so, the scribe writes :

Friday night

So it is the long weekend, and avoiding holiday traffic was one of the main hurdles. Attempting to leave office early enough is a huge challenge in itself, so having been able to sneak out at 4pm was sheer luck. Unfortunately, traffic from Citylink up to Cranbourne was a gigantic mess and had taken up 2 hours of travel time. We arrived at Tidal River at around 8:30 pm.

The tent was pitched, and the car parked from a distance. The moon was out, the skies were clear, and wombats roam free while the birds glide shamelessly and perch on the car. A flask of brandy by the sea under the stars felt like a luxurious treat – its always great to be outdoors!

The other two trekkers arrived at around 10pm, having been caught in traffic as well. Tents were pitched side by side at the overnight hiker’s campsite. A bit more brandy for a quick night cap, and the lights were out by midnight.

Saturday
Tidal River - Telegraph Saddle Carpark – Halfway Hut – Roaring Meg

Summary :
0932 – 1115hrs Telegraph Saddle to Halfway Hut : 7.4km
1130 – 1315hrs Halfway Hut to Roaring Meg: 4.8km
Total : approx 12.2 km

the birds who stole some breakfast

While there was no extreme rush to hike as the day’s plan was around 4 hours of walking time, the early birds had a heavy breakfast of packed rice and adobo (a meat stew flavored with garlic, onions, soy sauce and vinegar). The plan was to arrive in time for lunch at Roaring Meg, which is also the campsite for the day. The rucksacks were packed, and the cars were driven out of Tidal River and parked at Telegraph Saddle Carpark, about 7 minutes drive away from the overnight hiker campsite. From here, the hike eases into a steady track, nice and easy.

quite a gloomy day

The Halfway Hut was an interesting icon in the trail, as it had survived most bushfires around the area (and there have been plenty). It had been there for a long time – having been made of stones it provided the strength to last a lifetime. There were two logs that served as comfy seats for a quick snack.

the halfway hut


looking back at the trail (view from halfway hut)


the view from a distance

The dark clouds were out and already hinted rain, but as the group reached Roaring Meg at there was only one tent being pitched there, a mother and son tandem who we first met at the Halfway Hut. The rain started late afternoon, and the rest of the hikers arrived soaking wet at camp, while the early birds were lucky enough to be dry inside the tent – well, some at least – as the tent had been a disappointment and failed to deliver a quality expected of its caliber. When the rain didn’t stop, patches of plastic had to be laid on top of the tent to stop water from dripping in. It appears that the waterproofing of the tent had gone bad despite the delicate care everytime it was used. It meant that instead of the rainwater gliding and sliding all the way to the ground, the tent absorbs some of it and then drips inside, completely defeating the purpose of a fly sheet. Good thing we had spare plastic bags – these were meant for waterproofing the gear, really – just wasn’t keen on waterproofing the tent itself.

Anyway. Another excuse to get a new one.

Dinner was Sinigang (a sour Filipino soup, great for a rainy day) and rice. The pork was pre-cooked (boiled with onions, tomatoes and salt), drained and zip-locked (as part of the meal planning prep work on Thursday night at home), so at camp, water was boiled, the pork dumped into the water and the dried tamarind powder mixed in, plus some veggies (brussel sprouts in this instance – not a typical sinigang veggie but it would do anyway). Quick dinner, perfect for ‘indoor cooking’ (it was raining, so no choice but to cook at the vestibule area of the tent). A couple more swigs of the brandy for post dinner drinks completed the menu. Sleep was difficult, paranoid about the flood that could accumulate inside the tent (no it didn't happen). The rain didn’t seem to stop. So far the plastic bags did their work quite well. The new Denali self inflating camping mattress was pretty good and had so far excelled in its maiden voyage. Lightweight too. It came with a stuff sack that had a reversible fleece lining that can double as a pillow. Life’s little luxuries outdoors!

Sunday
0745 – 0935hrs - Roaring Meg to Lighthouse : 7.2km
1000 – 1200hrs - Lighthouse to Little Waterloo Bay : 10.9 km
1300 – 1530hrs - Little Waterloo Bay to Refuge Cove : 7km
Total : approx 25.1km

The lighthouse from afar

Breakfast was oats with dried fruit, on an early day that started at 5:30am. This day was anticipated to be where bulk of the hard work was, considering the total length of the walk and the degree of difficulty in the terrain. Walking up the lighthouse via the walking track was not too bad, a good combination of uphill and downhill and great scenery, but the assault to the lighthouse was interesting, you can really see the steep grade from a distance.

this way up

up close and personal

this leads to a "viewing deck" below

this way to Little Waterloo Bay - walk the long stretch of white sand
LWB is that little curved area at the far end

the grains of sand, as big as rock salt


sea sights - this was not from one of us

The site was the day’s designated lunch area and had arrived on schedule. The kettle was put on, the smoked chicken sprinkled with chili flakes, soy sauce and cracked black pepper, with rice of course (cooked the night before and packed for convenience) - Basmati rice has a low GI for a steady burn so it was much appreciated during the rest of the hike.

creek water.
this was BEFORE the tea bag was put in :)

little waterloo bay

At Refuge Cove, the tents were pitched at an exotic location (“beachside villa” as we called it) as the group had arrived early. Despite the gray skies, it was not as cold as anticipated, and the group had a chance to have a proper ‘socials’ – cooking and eating together (‘dining out!’) and sharing bourbon and brandy under the full moon – what a sight. A game of Monopoly would have been in order if not for the long day that had transpired. It was early to bed. Unfortunately, the plastic bag band aids have dried and will not stick to a dry tent (so the quick-dry feature was still functional) – only when it rained by around 9pm were they taken out and plastered away. The rain did not stop until morning.

that was where we went

Monday
0820 – 1010hrs - Refuge Cove – Sealer’s Cove : 6.4km
1010 – 1315 hrs - Sealer’s Cove – Telegraph Saddle Carpark : 10.2 km
Total : approx 16.6 km

Refuge Cove

Morning was a bit of a slow start as it was still drizzling and made repacking quite a pain. However the motivation was just to complete the circuit and head home, back to dry land and clothes! And so the walk began. This trail was more familiar as it was also the last leg from the previous hike. It is expected to have some steep ascents but the rest would have been rolling terrain spanning quite a distance. The rain kept going and some parts of the trail had turned into mini waterfalls – it was quite nice to see that there was no water shortage at the Prom, at least. The Berghaus rainjacket was a great investment and had at least kept the upper body dry. I had no issues getting the trekking pants wet as waterproof pants tend to not give the legs room to breath.

Reaching Sealer’s Cove felt like a milestone and the group stopped for a quick water break. There was no other option but to seek shelter near the toilet area (preference was "stinky" over "wet"). At that point there was a girl with an umbrella and a (still) cheerful hello. (Lovely weather to walk around with an umbrella…ella…ella…eh…eh…eh…. )

And then there was the crossing that used to be easy last summer, just traipsing above the rocks and boulders - but the rain had increased the water so no other option but to wade across thigh-high waters. No point removing the shoes and socks at this point as it looks like the rain wasn’t going to stop anyway – so everyone pretty much just waded across. After that, everything else was easy to wade through (and because of the heavy rains, there were several water crossings).

The next target was Windy Saddle and from this point it was just around 45 minutes back to the carpark. It was a huge push, the rain still hasn’t stopped, and definitely made the hike more interesting. There were some fascinating flora rejuvenated by the rain, so the tree trunks that have been made black by the bush fires had some bright green shoots sprouting from different directions. It was beautiful in its own way. Some giant ferns splashed color against the black and brown backdrop of dried leaves and burnt branches.

where's the magic mushroom?

Reaching the finish line was just bliss – and it was interesting how to change into dry clothes with such stiff hands. Legs and shoulders were sore, but in the end, it was a successful hike, everyone survived and made stronger to do it again someday!

Things could have been worse (we could have been in office you know!) but who would not fall in love with this place where the trail is so different in each leg, it is never boring! In some tracks the leaves make the path soft as a carpet, some have marble pebbles, some have huge rock faces and some have sand that crunch under your shoes. The foliage keep changing, and this time around there was a generous sprinkling of mushrooms all over the place. At night when the gray skies get blown a bit away, the full moon stands out and keeps the campsite bright, there is no need for any other light.

In the silence of the forest where basic needs are compressed in a backpack, where the birds provide great company, the wind a refreshing treat, and the sea a reminder of a grand and great natural entity, life is simplified a hundred times over…sometimes I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Scribe's Notes : Olinda Creek Walking Track

The Olinda Creek Walking Track is one of the many walking trails in the Dandenong Ranges National Park. It starts at the overflow carpark across the Silvan Reservoir Carpark, where other tracks such as Greygum Walking Track (2.3 km) and Messmate Track (1.4km) also commence.

The first part of the trail was highly enjoyable, covered by trees, the path littered by thistles, some orchids, and ferns. A quick pace would eventually lead you to a number of wooden steps, so don't stop - keep the heart rate up! But almost immediately this foresty trail ends and leads to a big gravelly road where silver pipes protrude once in a while.

one of the violet colored orchids which name escapes me now

The silence is broken by the soles of trekking shoes hitting against the rockey pavement, while birds swoop down and try to catch you offguard. The trees on either side of the road reach for the sky, and the wind occassionally visits to keep it all cool. Having passed by some folks and meeting some on their way back, this track appears to be a popular destination for brisk walks. Armed with a hydration pack, it's a good way to go out for a walk. But if you're on a lookout for stunning, heart melting views, this is probably not for you.

seen along the trail : a symbol of nobility of character
Scotland's national flower, the thistle

Total walking time : 80 minutes (one way)

Other possible options : combine walking tracks or side trip to numerous picnic areas, lavender farms, tulip farms, or just drive along the long windy roads of Dandenong!

Scribe's Notes : Wilson's Promontory

Wilson's Promontory, nicknamed the "Prom", is the southernmost point of the Australian mainland. Take the car and drive 3 hours from Melbourne to the South Gippsland Highway, exiting at Fish Creek, and it will be one of the great things you'd never regret doing.


Taking advantage of the long weekend and the much awaited opportunity to do a proper hike, a quick call to 131963 and the bookings were easily done. This is a must for overnight hikes, especially to this route where camping is by permit only. At $14.20 per night (per tent), $28.40 was a very affordable price to pay. The camp sites have a compost toilet (properly enclosed comfort rooms with a toilet bowl dropping your excrement to an enclosure, no water, bring your own toilet paper - inhale before entering the room, do your gig, and remember to put the seat cover down!) and a water source.

Due to a huge number of people flocking to the prom, the original plan of doing Telegraph Saddle - Refuge Cove - Sealer's Cove had to be changed to Telegraph Saddle - Oberon Bay - Refuge Cove. Turned out to be an excellent way to ease in back into the hiking scene in terms of difficulty levels, hours of hiking per day and the awesome scenes that require a bit more time to take in, simply because it was insane not to do so. The hike is a counterclockwise take towards the eastern side of the prom.


Day 1 : Telegraph Saddle Carpark to Oberon Bay

Summary
12 noon : Depart from Telegraph Saddle Carpark (6.1 km)
1:49 pm : Arrive at Oberon Bay (3.4 km)
Total : 9.5km

By 8am the drive to the Prom had commenced. A portable breakfast of bananas sandwiched in homemade wholewheat pancakes with buttermilk and orange zest gave a good start for the day. By around 11am the booking reference number had been provided to the receptionist by the gate of the Prom and the intrepid trekkers were advised that the road up to the Telegraph Saddle Carpark was closed and a shuttle was provided. This is a normal undertaking during peak season.

Around 30km from the entrance is the Overnight Hikers Carpark where the car was parked (!!!) and the shuttles depart on designated times for the drive up to the Telegraph Saddle Carpark. A good number of hikers were geared up for the challenge, and with the weather forecasted to be hitting 33C, it would be a sweaty day. The hike commenced at 12 noon.

Fortunately, it was not as hot as anticipated, and the good cool breeze from the sea was invigorating. The trail to Oberon Bay was quite easy, made a bit more challenging from the Telegraph Junction because the rocky, pebbly pavement became fine sand. With a backpack to weigh you down further then the footprints in the sand go deeper.

along the way

Nice and early at the camp, a late (packed) lunch of adobo and rice (only because it was decided there would be no stopping along the trail!), an afternoon snooze, dinner of chili, lentils and couscous, and a nightcap of gin and tonic with a squeeze of lemon... No complaints there!

The campsite was quite limited and the water source was like a creek (if that was the proper term). Having known beforehand that water in the campsites require treatment, a pack of Aquatabs Water purification tablets was purchased from the local chemist and brought to the trip. One small tablet can purify 1 liter of water, but if gathered from a creek, a filter may also help remove unwanted grass and silt. In this case, a spare quick-dry t-shirt made of highly breathable material served the purpose!

Easing in for the long trek for the next day was made easy by the tune of the crashing waves. Life has become simpler once again.

cheers!
Featured Drink : GSM Blue
the nalgene flask cap has an included shot glass

Sunset at Oberon Bay

Day 2 : Oberon Bay - Little Waterloo Bay - Refuge Cove
Summary
8:45 Break camp and head to Little Waterloo Bay (8.2 km)
10 am Arrive at Little Waterloo Bay
11:15 Depart Little Waterloo Bay, head to Refuge Cove (7.1km)
1pm Arrive at Refuge Cove
Total : 15.3km

breakfast - omelet with chili and coriander, with wholewheat pita bread and coffee

Backtracking to the junction and then branching off to Little Waterloo Bay was not too hard either. Most part of the trail is still sandy and with an early start ahead of the rest of gang sleeping still in their tents, the trail is mostly quiet, only with the birds and rustling of the leaves (perhaps a shy wallaby).

sandy green, or greeny sand?

Boulders that look like a part of Easter Island stand mighty and proud atop a hill, while the trees burned to reduce fuel provide a slightly eerie foreground to the scene. Several steep areas make the heart skip a beat (or thump a little).. or perhaps that was because of a snake crossing the trail? The reptile did slither away quietly though... perhaps the human stink of sweat was a bit too overpowering for the amicable scaly fellow.

Is it Easter Island? And see the snake slither away?

And Little Waterloo Bay.... It was just simply a magical place. The sea was so blue (or turqoise, as they say) that you sometimes can't tell where the sea meets the sky.

beauty beyond words

the awesome white beach

The water was freezing cold but it would just be a shame not to indulge in this paradise!

After an hour in Little Waterloo Bay it was time to resume the walk towards Refuge Cove, the destination for the day.

Campsite is somewhere behind the trees by the shore (a bit to the left side)

The trail to Refuge Cove had a good mix of uphills and downhills, it was very much enjoyable. It was very sunny but most of the trail was covered and the cool breeze was still a constant companion. The campsite is bigger than Oberon Bay, and the water source was flowing water from a hose connected to the creek. The tablets did their magic for drinking purposes, while the rest was boiled away for the pasta dinner that evening.

3-minute rollini with sundried tomatoes, black olives, green peppercorns and mackerel,
finished with freshly grated parmesan cheese!
while the happy tent breathed again, out of the closet and into the wild

The drink of the evening was a flask of Jameson whiskey, unfortunately not enough to knock the living lights out of these trekkers. In the middle of the evening, the girls in the tent-next-door screamed "Help me, help me", while a possum attacked the food that they have left outside their tents. Next time, have more whiskey, and perhaps it is the key to sleep in peace.

Day 3 : Refuge Cove - Sealer's Cove - Telegraph Saddle Carpark
Summary
7:45am Depart Refuge Cove and head to Sealer's Cove
9:15am Arrive at Sealer's Cove (6.4km)
11am Arrive at Windy Saddle
11:30 Arrive at Telegraph Saddle Carpark, end of hike

the long stretch of beach at Sealer's Cove

The park notes described this leg as "A steady climb to Windy Saddle and then downhill through a beautiful ferny glade and forest to a boardwalk over Sealers Swamp"... but this is from Telegraph Saddle to Sealer's Cove. Hence, because the route was inverted, the trek was uphill after quite a while in the lovely boardwalk in the midst of the forest. But the ascent posed no threat to the "greyhounds" (a remark from an overtaken lady with a nice smile). A five minute break at the Windy Saddle was an attempt to finish off the homemade trailmix made from organic sultanas, raisins and pine nuts, before almost sprinting downhill to the Telegraph Saddle. At this point, the aches and muscle pains were beginning to be a bit more noticeable.

In the car park, some hikers have regrouped to compare notes and discuss separate itineraries. A quick stretch may take the niggles away temporarily, but the experience itself is unforgettable. A pat on the back for a job well done, having enjoyed the hike and achieving hiking times well below the published estimated average compeletion time....an awesome hike to one of the most beautiful places in Victoria, worth a return visit for the southern circuit!!!

The drive back to Melbourne was punctuated with lunch at the Fishy Pub in Fish Creek (a small town called the 'gateway to the Prom'), on the menu was an irresistible kangaroo steak and rabbit snag (it was supposed to be an Emu snag, which would have made it more exotic, but unfortunately it was not available during that day).

ending the hike with a bang-er

For a nice day hike there are options for short walks along the many beaches within the prom, just check out the website and take your pick on the very enticing list of things to do... especially now that the concept of going to "the Prom" requires no fancy dresses, high heels nor make-up!