Ashley Forest

06.04.2003

The starting point of our Sundays tramp to the Ashley Forest was Lake Janet. This tiny lake was named after Janet Beattie who with her husband Rober tvisited the lake often in the 1880s. It is a serene spot, with picnic tables, a cantilevered swimming ramp, native and english bush, and a good view over the plains (if there is clear weather, which it was not in our case). We trieded to start our walk from here via the forest lookout but as the trees have just recently been logged, we couldn't find the track anymore.	Thus we drove again for some kilometers to reach the Grey River Valley where the elegently graded Grey River Track begins. It is a long satisfying circuit up one spur of Mount Grey and down another if you connect it with the Red Beech Track. But we did it only forth and back the same way.	Nadine and her friend shortly before we arrived the side track to the Gorge Pools, which were not really impressive but are good for a swim anyway (we didn't feel like it, as there was enough water pouring down from the sky).	The track sidles in numerous zick-zacks trhough beech forest up the hill (which gets really steep in some parts, so don't miss the path). The lookout up the first summit normally gives a beautiful view over the surrounding valleys and hills. But as it was so foggy and raining we couldn't see anything. In the vicenity we halted and had our lunch in steady rain fall as you can see here.	The weather didn't become more promising than in the beginning. As we arrived the Bypass Track to track we wanted to take iniatially from Lake Janet, we decided to return. From this point you normally follow the track through open spur with exellent views (again: only in good weather). It winds its way up right to the trig and summit of Mt Grey. From there you (normally) have splendid views over the plains and into Waipara riven and gorge.
Here you see the reason why we hadn't walked from our primary start point: cut down trees which let a field of trashed logs behind. Fortunately beech forest is protected as of it's value (it needs several hundrets of years to grow) and our track mostly goes trough that type of vegetation.	Another view on Grey River, winding through the landscape at the bottom of the valley down to our feet.	The two girls in front of my walking through the lower parts of the hill's forest.	Nadine in a nice shot which was not supposed to be like that but it's well done and I like it very much. :)	Just to compare how boring the same scene cold look like. :)
This is actually on our way back from the Ashley Forest. The fog has lifted a little bit and we could get an impression of the surrounding hills ...	... and the whole valley which extents to the plains.

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