Weather forecasts notwithstanding, it was a cloudy day supplemented with the odd spot of drizzle as three carloads disgorged into the Flora car park. Aiming for a simple circuit of Loadstone, after the obligatory pep talk from the Obergruppenführer, we set off. We went the other way round. Rather than trudge back along the road from the Flora Hut at the end of the day, we got that bit over with first. It gave us the opportunity to chat, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones before heading steeply uphill on the Lodestone Track. The track climbs around 500m in less than a couple of kilometres through the foliage and fungi to a scrambly top where we came out into the weather. Spot on guidebook time. We sought shelter from the wind just over the summit and dropped down a little way to stop for a leisurely lunch. Occasionally the clouds cleared enough to give glimpses of the view as we discussed routes to the other hills appearing out of the mist.

We bid farewell to a family we’d picked up along the way, who’d shared the lunch spot and began the descent. We soon dropped down out of the wind and back amongst the fungi and foliage, with the occasional view emerging as we topped occasional outcrops. The weather brightened as we descended and the track broadened out into an easy-going stroll. Back at the car park one group member commented that going the other way round turned it into an entirely different walk. By this time it was a sunny Saturday afternoon, so the only thing to do was stop at the Moutere Inn on the way home for a swift refreshment. One carload peeled off as they were tired bunnies but the rest enjoyed the sunshine in the pub garden before heading for home.

One final thought: The road up to the car park has deteriorated quite a bit since the last time I went that way – a couple of large holes have appeared that caused Ben’s 2WD to ground. Thanks to Ben for taking his car. I really wouldn’t want to go up there in a 2WD if the weather was iffy.

Participants: Guy (Leader & scribe), Ben, Mary, Grant, Brian, Jace, Greg, Lorraine, Tania, Steve & Esther