Summer Fun and Games
Hi all
My comments in last weeks bulletin about getting wet while paddling turned out to be somewhat prophetic. We had a boat capsize on the river on Thursday evening but we were quickly able to recover and move on. It highlighted the importance of our water safety procedures and was a timely reminder of how easily it can happen. We had 18 people on the river and 3 new members of the club joined that night - members are encouraged to book in early to ensure a safe and enjoyable paddle. Late bookings make it much harder for Dave from Murray River Canoe Hire to make the necessary transport and canoe hire arrangements.
There will be no after work paddle this Thursday (Australia Day) - however a group will be paddling from the weir wall to Albury and then relocating to Corowa for 2 more days of paddling. This event is now fully booked.
The Wednesday evening walk on Jan 18th was a 4.5km x 2 hour loop on Federation Hill in south west Wodonga. Hans had positioned a geocache on the hill some time ago and it was fun finding it again and reading the entries in the note book.
A group of 5 formed under the tutelage of Neil Brown to abseil at the Albury Quarry on Sunday 22nd January. This was the first official club abseiling event and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thanks to Neil for the meticulous planning and execution of this new activity. We look forward to more beginner and intermediate abseiling events down the track. Neil will be overseas for 5 weeks shortly and abseiling will resume upon his return.
Fun Stuff To Do
The next evening walk will be on this Wednesday Jan 25th at Jindera Gap - we plan to walk to the Hamilton Trig point and return - click here for full details - the following week (Feb 1st) will be an evening walk/cycle followed by dinner at the Barnawartha hotel.
Hans is leading a Spring Saddle Track day walk this coming Sunday Jan 28th- click here for full details
After work evening paddles will resume on thursday Feb 2nd.
Note that there are events scheduled through February and March - you can view these by advancing the calendar on the home page by a month at a time or by choosing Future Events from the Program menu on the home page.
As always you can use the booking enquiry link on the right of event details pages or contact leaders by any of the ways listed in the event details if you wish to join an event.
Regards
Tony Marsh
Secretary Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc
Welcome to 2012 Murray Valley Bushwalkers
Lots of fun stuff has been happening over the xmas / new year period.
A small group of us on Dec 17 explored the new walking track being developed by Parklands Albury Wodonga up the Kiewa river south of the Murray Valley Highway at Killara. The chicane gate elegantly displayed by Neil below is an example of what will eventually become a continuous 15km walking track from Killara to Tangambalanga.
The final paddle for 2011 was held on the 18th December and was followed by a visit to the twighlight Farmers Market - here is our newest member Jill enjoying a safari down the river.
Four members completed the first extended canoe trip on the Murray from 12 mile down to Corowa between xmas and new year - a distance of more than 70km on the river.
Four members completed the first club's extended backpacking trip touring the Main Range in the Snowy Mountains - you can click the photo to read a report
Fun Stuff To Do
After work walking and canoeing will resume Jan 11 and 12
The first evening walk will be on Wednesday Jan 11th in the Hamilton Valley at Lavington - click here for full details
We will be paddling the Murray again (the 9th canoeing event) again this Thursday evening - Jan 12th- click here for full details - please make sure you let Tony know if you will be staying for the bbq.
Hans is leading a day walk to Eagle Point and Macs Point on Mt Buffalo this coming Saturday - click here for full details
As always you can use the booking enquiry link on the right of event details pages or contact leaders by any of the ways listed in the event details if you wish to join an event.
Abseiling
Last but not least you can fullfill that new years resolution to go where no other Murray Valley Bushwalker has gone before when Neil's abseiling activities resume on the weekend of Jan 21/22
regards
Tony
Summer in the Murray Valley
Hi all
At last getting wet while paddling on the Murray has a certain attraction. That definitely doesnt mean we are encouraging you to part company with your canoe en route. But no more goose bumps is a good prospect. Ten of us had a delightful paddle last thursday 12th Jan and a great bbq afterwards featuring bbq garlic and mushrooms - the vegos amongst us were grinning from ear to ear. Note - you can access more photos of each of the events by clicking on the photo below
Six members are planning a second extended canoe trip on the Murray from the Hume Weir starting on Australia Day -there is still room for more participants - check the full details here
The Wednesday evening walk on Jan 11th was a 9km x 3 hour exploration of the Hamilton Valley end of Nail Can Hill. This was thoroughly enjoyable despite the cold and windy (for January) conditions
You would reckon with all this attention to map reading we would have got a nice easy flattish walk! Such was not the case - but no one complained.
Hans took a group of 5 members up to his favorite summer walking venue Mt Buffalo last Saturday and led a 13km loop walk from the reservoir out to Eagle and Macs point. We were thrilled by the incredible wildflower displays and water features - you would be proud to have such a landscaped garden at home.
Fun Stuff To Do
The next evening walk will be on this Wednesday Jan 18th on Federation Hill Wodonga West - click here for full details
Join us for the 10th after work evening paddle this Thursday 19th Jan followed by the increasingly splendid bbq- same place and time as always - click here for full details.
Hans is leading another Mt Buffalo day walk (waltz?) along the Ballroom track this coming Saturday - click here for full details
Unfortunately due to administrative issues abseiling looks unlikely to proceed on the weekend of Jan 21/22 - but if you have registered an interest with Neil he will get in touch and you can be sure that this aspect of our program will eventually take place.
As always you can use the booking enquiry link on the right of event details pages or contact leaders by any of the ways listed in the event details if you wish to join an event.
Regards
Tony Marsh
Secretary Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc
More Summer Fun and Games
Hi all
Wednesday Feb 1st is a cycle / walk event in the Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park followed by dinner at the Barnawartha pub. This is a great opportunity to get some gentle exercise in the cool of the evening (expected maximum temp for the day is 27 degrees) and then blow away all those expended kilojoules with a pig out at the pub! Anyone who wants to join us just for the dinner is also very welcome.
Thursday evening after work paddling is on again Feb 2nd - Members are encouraged to book in early to ensure a safe and enjoyable paddle. Late bookings make it much harder for Dave from Murray River Canoe Hire to make the necessary transport and canoe hire arrangements. We would rather you book in and then cancel if you cant make it than book in late.
I will be away the following week's normal Wed evening walk and Thurs paddling after work events. If anyone would like to volunteer to lead a walk or a paddle next week please get in touch with me as soon as possible.
What Weve Been Up To
The Wednesday evening walk on Jan 25th was a 4km x 2 hour out and back walk from Jindera Gap to the Hamilton Trig. Once again we found a geocache nearby although Peter was very reluctant to put his hand in under a rock to retrieve it. Once bitten twice shy perhaps?
Errata: Last week I mentioned that Hans had positioned a geocache on Federation hill some time ago and that we found it again (implying that it was lost) - it actually wasnt one of Hans caches after all - and anyway he doesnt forget where he places his geocaches!
Three Day Paddle
A 3 day 2 nights canoeing trip on the Murray with a destination of “ Malabar”. Day 1 consisted of 8 participants paddling from the weir wall to Norieul Park a very pleasant way to spend Australia Day along with many 100’s of other revellers who floated along the river on and in a myriad of differing flotation devices, along the way we saw 2 platypus and bird life. At the end of day one 5 of the participants stayed overnight at Jan’s place.
Day 2 was another glorious day with 7 members beginning the paddle from the Old John Ford Bridge at Corowa, along the way there was plenty of stops for swimming, our overnight camp was at Snake Island on the NSW side of the Murray. Day 3 began a little cooler than the previous 2 days however the cool temperatures didn’t hang around for long and by mid morning it was time for another stop and well deserved swim and bite to eat. After leaving the main part of the river for the lagoon areas which were amazing with a feel of not being too touched by man.
Mid afternoon on day 3 saw us reach our destination of the property “Malabar” which is on the beginning of Lake Mulwala. A very happy group of paddlers covered 86 kilometres over the 3 days.
Ive had some top me up time in the mountains in the last week - 4 days wandering around the Mt Hotham / Bogong High Plains was just what the doctor ordered. There are a couple of new tracks on Mt Hotham that are first class additions to the alpine walking options. The Cobungra Ditch walk provides an extraordinary opportunity to engage with the gold mining history of the alps.
And its a highly accessible easy 12 km trail that is packed with great interpretaive information and bench seats to periodically rest the weary bones upon.
The other new track tours the huts of Mt Hotham - Spargo hut was a first time visit for me - the location is wonderful but its when you get inside it gets really interesting.
We would love to hear from someone who would like to lead one of these walks for MVB members to enjoy. Check out the details and a wonderful short movie of the ditch walk on the Mt Hotham website
Note that there are events scheduled through February and March - you can view these by advancing the calendar on the home page by a month at a time or by choosing Future Events from the Program menu on the home page.
As always you can use the booking enquiry link on the right of event details pages or contact leaders by any of the ways listed in the event details if you wish to join an event.
Regards
Tony Marsh
Secretary Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc
