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| View from the Picnic Ground - The Thumbs |
I felt thrice blessed this weekend. For a start I got out
into the bush for the first time in ages and my walking buddy was able to come
with me (his idea actually). Wattle bloomed along the roadsides together with the occasional flowering plum or cherry in a front garden. It was also a perfectly sunny day – no wind, no
showers – I am sure there are children alive in Tasmania today, who have never
seen this phenomenon. Lastly, I saw not one, but three Wedge- Tailed Eagles,
riding the thermals above us. More about them shortly.
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| One of three Wedge Tailed Eagles |
The Thumbs are a group of three small peaks about 2 Km off
the Wiegelanta Road, just outside Orford, but the road to them is largely unsealed, so don’t
take your hire car there. There’s a small picnic area there – no water or toilets, and
a nice little walk which is supposed to take around two hours. It is mostly
known for its excellent views of Maria Island and the East Coast and as one wag
wrote, “It’s not often that the best views are to be had before you start your
walk.”
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| Almost at the top of the Second Thumb -what the track notes don't say is that there are very steep gullies between them |
Nevertheless, we set off
and conquered two of the hills before the last one stared us down. My friend had
to be back in town by four, so we reluctantly had to leave it at that for the day, but hating unfinished business of
this kind, I drove there again on Sunday and did all three.
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| The turquoise waters of Freycinet are visible from the second lookout |
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| Hakea lissosperma - Mountain Needlebush - almost in flower |
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| Cythodes Glauca - Purple Cheeseberry, an endemic. Had often seen the red , pink and white ones, which grow here too, but not these. Some were almost black. What a shame they aren't very edible! | | |
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| Standing on the Second Thumb, the first one obscures the waterviews |
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| Nice view of the surrounding mountains though |
The next day......
On the Sunday, despite the fairly promising weather forecast - only 2% chance of rain, the weather wasn't nearly as nice. A fierce wind blew most of the time, threatening to bring down dead branches or even trees. I'm sure the 360
⁰ views
from the top of the last thumb were pretty spectacular, but it started to drizzle and I didn't want to linger long. It also grew very dark and the rain began bucketing down just as I got back to the car. One sunny day does not a spring make, but I was
thrilled to have seen those eagles.
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| Looking across at the third Thumb from the top of the second. There's a steep drop in between |
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| The wind grows stronger and dark rainclouds smudge the sky as I near the top, weather forecast notwithstanding |
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| At the Third Lookout -Trig Point to prove I made it, but then it's Goodbye Thumbs, it's been nice knowing you! |
I suppose this lovely cartoon by Leunig via the Leunig Appreciation Society sums it up:
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