Energetic Day

Today's adventure didn't involve bikes but instead walking up an extinct volcano. We descended on a cafe in Buninyong, a small town 14km south of Ballarat with fellow adventure seekers Shaun, Kim and Gary Carroll joining us. Once the coffee were finished, thanks to early start times, Andy and Eoin headed off to the Australian Sprint Champs.

Leaving town, we could see Mount Buninyong in the distance rising some 745m above sea level. Parking at Blackberry Lane Picnic area, we head out on the crater walk. A short time later the crater is visible off to our right as a large flatish area covered in ferns. We skirt around the edge before beginning the zig zag climb to the top. Retaining much of tis native vegetation cover, we are on the look out for koalas who love the mountains messmate and manna gum trees. The climb is short and steep making koala spotting challenging and before we know it we are at the top without spotting a single koala.

On the summit stands the 25m high Alexander Bell memorial tower. We climb that too enjoying the views of the surrounding farmland. The journey back down the tower and the hill is much faster and slightly more dangerous with Ella coming off second best to the gravel.

In need of lunch, we stop in Buninyong for a picnic under the shade of a lovely old tree. With the sprint champs imminent, it was important that we fill up the girls as much as possible to ensure they had enough energy. Post lunch it was time for a game of untangle the knot, until the grass got the better of Cath and then it was a quick exit.

Held at St Patricks College, the sun shone brightly for the Australian Orienteering Sprint Champs. Ella entered the M/WN with Andy once again shadowing. Katy also wanted to do her own course, so we did an enter on the day. Katy quickly grasped some of the basic concepts and was pretty happy with herself to complete her first course!