The Yarra River runs through the heart of Melbourne and out into Port Phillip. But first it has to travel some 240km from its source in the Yarra Ranges. The stretch through the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne sees it meander through parkland.
I pick it up on my walk through Yarra Flats Park, in the suburbs of Heidelberg, Eaglemont & Ivanhoe.
Continued…
© Gary Light
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There was one place on my walk back along the beach that I did get my feet wet, and that was negotiating the green carpet of seaweed that had withheld its secret squelch for the last few steps of my walk.
Continued…
© Gary Light
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The grasses, that reached my shoulder in places, displaying their golden brown, enclosed my path. With tiger stripes from the waning sun.
continued…
© Gary Light
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I approached Mount Napier with very little information and few previously seen images, so the morning hike up to the summit through the forest and the fascinating volcanic structure once there, were something of a pleasant surprise for me.
One final shot from the summit looking towards the north and the start of the Grampians.
end.
Mount Napier, Byaduk, Victoria Australia 440 Metres (1,440 Feet)
© Gary Light
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The climb up Mount William was strenuous as advertised at the carpark, but at least it was on firm ground. The road is blocked off for normal traffic and is now only for communications and fire access. The hairpin bends along the way afford wonderful views across the Grampians here in Victoria. They also give an opportunity to catch ones breath for the next stretch.
Continued…
Mount William, Grampians, Victoria Australia 1,167 Metres (3,829 Feet)
© Gary Light
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Was the up arrow an omen for the effort ahead? “I can do 1.8km no problem.” He says.
Mount William is the highest peak in the Grampians National Park.
1,167 Metres (3,829 Feet)
© Gary Light
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They have a distinctive smell and I certainly get it here as I descend down the track. I also notice many of them stripped bare by koala action, a constant struggle for them to find enough food.
This is the end of my current hike around the trails of the You Yangs, of course I will be back, I can see them from the back window of my house.
© Gary Light
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As you might have seen on previous posts about this and other places, I like to find out all I can about my destination. The You Yangs are no different; around every corner, along every track, is a new and exciting discovery. You may have been wondering where does the strange name come from; It is more than likely from the aboriginal words ‘Wurdi Young’ meaning ‘big mountain in the middle of a plain’, or ‘big hill’ or even possibly ‘bald’. The Woiwurrang word for granite is ‘you wong’ so that is also a possibility.
This is the penultimate image from this set.
© Gary Light
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There are views all around the lofty heights of the You Yangs, even ones through rocks that look like they have been hewn in half by a giant’s axe or a mighty lightning strike.
The predominant rock here is mostly granite which resists weathering well. The granite was formed from magma from a volcanic vent and contains crystallised minerals like hornblende and biotite (no I have never heard of them either, I looked them up).
© Gary Light
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One of the things I like about hiking the You Yangs’ many trails is that although you know they are managed tracks, they have not been made so clinical that it becomes boring. There are parts that are still rock scrambles, and areas I call ‘only fit for a goat’, makes it interesting.
Click the image for a larger view
© Gary Light
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Blue Luminance 