The section of the Great Southern Rail Trail between Fish Creek and Foster is by all accounts the most beautiful section. Yet I had never walked it, nor had we walked it recently as a club. Many of the riders in the club had ridden it but it always seemed to be too long for a Tuesday walk. However last Tuesday we finally did it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
After a little confusion organising a car shuffle from Dryings Rd to Fish Creek, 17 of us set off on a still Gippsland morning, under the gentle light of an overcast sky, We set a good pace and it wasn't long before we warmed up and met Julie where Lowry's Rd crosses the trail. The beauty of this section are the tall trees either side, with glimpses every now and then across rolling green farmland. Not to mention coming across an expansive lake, home to several species of water birds..
Morning tea was enjoyed at the look-out with views across to the Prom. From there we walked the last section of the trail through lush tree ferns and coral fern. It was in this section that Ellen took us briefly off track to view a very large culvert and the old Fish Creek- Foster Rd which is gradually being taken over by regrowth forest. We reached our destination 3 hours after setting off and, while most of us were looking forward to coffee and lunch in Foster, Slava decided he wanted a longer walk and so turned around and walked back to Fish Creek.
All up 16 of us walked 11kms while Slava walked 22!
A good time was had by all on a most scenic section of the rail trail that we are lucky enough to have in 'Our Backyard'.
Participants: Shane, Christine, Ellen, Gayle, Slava, Joy, Sandi, Julie, Graham C, Pilli, Sue F., Andrew, Katrina, Lyn, Ed, Wendy, Peta
Author: Gayle McHarg