Woodhill Diary

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Tuesday 26 June 2007

page 4

We move around to the left to the junction with the long loop track. With an effectyive extra 3 km added to the track, the Long Loop is something more of a challenge these days. I suspect the main users of the outer track are the quad bikers.

We follow round to the right, keeping to the left a few metres along as the track forks into three. then up the hill. Plenty of horses, but not many walkers' footprints.

To the left are the erect flower spikes that distinguish Pseudopanax species from Schefflera

As we continue upwards, the sand disappears and is replaced by a reddy brown clay. I wonder about the geological history of the area.

We reach what I always think of as Babe's Pool, just short of the lookout. Babe always seized the opportunity for a swim here. Alice is not quite so keen on getting thoroughly wet unless the shower hose has been turned to warm first.

Amazes me how standing water can persist when just about everything slopes downhill from here, and even the clay is of a sandy nature that looks as if it should be porous.

Someone has jammed the lookout sign under the wire of the fence. It rotted off years ago, presumably being mounted on an untreated post.

I clamber over the stile, walk the few metres to the seat provided and sling off my pack. Out come the coffee and the crackers and cheese, and I think there's a piece of chocolate from last time.

The coast, as they say, is (relatively) clear today.

I sit for a bit while Alice hangs around for a possible cracker, then we hitch up the pack and head by the shortest route back towards Selwyn Rd. I have a client arriving early afternoon. I pause briefly on the way down to catch this attractive fern.

Right along Selwyn, left at the puddle,

across to Walker Rd

and back down the hill, carefully through the rope course shortcut, watching for bikes, and back to the van.