By Vita Forest
- 20km drive to Hall from Fleur’s home.
- 5.4km walk to the lookout each way.
- Maximum of 9 degrees Celsius, but colder with the wind at the top.
- 2 walkers – Fleur and Vita.
- 2 mountain bikes working their way down the steep undulating section at the beginning of the track, making us stand to the side.
- 1 rusty-roofed shed seen from the track.
- 1 stile to climb over.
- 1 heavy gate to open and lock again so the cows wouldn’t get out.
- 15 large propellers on the windfarm on the horizon (past Lake George near Bugendore).
- 3 crimson rosellas swinging on a the lighter twigs of a gum tree.
- 2 young men walking to the soundtrack of the music blaring from their phone (they were very friendly though).
- 2 young women who assured us we were “nearly there”.
- 4 cattle grids to cross.
- 2 jumpers peeled off along the way (we got hot!)
- 20 kangaroos high on a hill, silently watching us and leaping away again when they saw they had been spotted.
- 3 cows on the hill.
- 1 stop at the bottom of the final climb where the following was observed:
- sheep
- cows
- kangaroos (the world was suddenly full of animals that we hadn’t noticed until we paused).
- 2 bananas consumed before the final climb, their skins folded up and carefully placed back inside the lunchbox.
- 1 boy who was being the cheer squad for his mother climbing up the steep steps to the top of the lookout “Come on! Two minutes to go! Nearly there!” (Personally, I would have told him to leave me alone…)
- 100 – the number underneath “Canberra” at the final lookout. Obviously built as part of Canberra’s centenary.
- 1 state and
- 1 territory seen from the lookout.
- More than 1 tree seen from One Tree Hill Lookout. Which was the one?
- Many flocks of fairy wrens scuttling in the undergrowth, alighting momentarily on logs and branches and balancing on the wire that stretched between fence posts marking the boundary between the track and “Private Property”.
- 1 lone kangaroo crashing through the trees and disappearing into the bush again.
- 1 instance of rain on the way back – made us walk a little faster.
- 3 hours return with a couple of stops for food and many for photo opportunities.
- 4 tired legs.
- 2 burgers inhaled after the walk at a very late lunch. Perhaps the best meal ever!