On 11th April, nine bushwalkers crossed the swing bridge over the Happy Valley Creek at the Rotary Park, Myrtleford, to follow the Ovens River Trail.  The path was shady, the day warm and humid.  It passed through native bushland, following the Ovens River.  
 
The river was sometimes bubbly, rocky and narrow, and sometimes still, reflective and deep. There were picturesque views from the two bridges that crossed it.  A curly white goat joined us at Apex Park for morning tea.  The path continued past the old Big Tree, the Phoenix Tree and under trees beginning to show autumn colours.  We lunched at a park in central Myrtleford and then walked back to the cars and afternoon tea.

Helen Spinks
 
Coming Walk - 9th May – Beechworth Autumn Leaves – may include Ingram’s Rock Areas

I am hoping to park the cars at the Powder Magazine area and walk to One Tree Hill, Ingram’s Rock, Fiddies Quarry, the Precipice and up the Cascades to the cars.  Some climbing is required.  We will leave the Barkly Street Car Park at 9.00am.  Please ring 5762 1980.
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Vaughan Cowan

Twelve Mid-Week walkers set off on the long drive to Harrietville for the first excursion of the year on Wednesday March 14th.  It may be long, but the drive up the valley from Myrtleford is magnificent.  The first walk was from Pioneer Park, crossing the Ovens river for a short walk to and round the Tronoh Dredge Hole.  It is an attractive lake which must have been a hive of activity in the gold mining days.

We walked on to view the Ovens stream and a crossing which looked a bit “iffy” before retracing our steps for lunch beside the stream at the park.  After lunch we walked the levy bank track upstream to meet the Bon Accord track and reached the fore mentioned “crossing” from the other side.  There was some beautiful bush land along this stretch and it took some time to get the walkers to leave the water washed stones beside the stream.  We walked back to the cars and drove to the Recreation Reserve for a further walk beside the western Ovens stream that joins the eastern stream a bit north of the town.  I must mention the many well constructed and informative sign posts throughout the township.  Also welcome to Narelle Harvey.

​Vaughan Cowan and Susie Buykz

Upcoming Mid week Walk - Wednesday April 11 - Myrtleford-Ovens River Loop

This easy 6 km loop will start from Rotary Park.  It follows the Ovens River closely as it passes through native bushland and crosses the river twice before passing through central Myrtleford and then returning to Rotary Park via the Rail Trail.  If there is time we may walk up to Tower Hill.  We will leave Benalla from the tennis court car park  Barkly Street at 9.30am.  Ring the Leader Helen Spinks 5762 3223