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AVA Chat Friday 8th April - Clagiraba Creek Trail

Showery weather was far from the minds of the 5 Red Rivers Club Members who attended this ride. All the wet weather in the preceding months made the possibility of showers insignificant – we were just keen to get in the saddle.

During the course of the morning we rode 13.4 klms, with lots of long winding climbs to a lookout of majestic mountains and in lower lands beside winding creeks that were home to several varieties of Palm trees, Elkhorns, Staghorns and Crows Nest Ferns along with Maiden Hair Fern. We also glimpsed the vastness of the Hinze Dam from a highpoint.

Charmane our ride leader spent her childhood at Upper Beechmont and had ridden all over this area and gave us interesting background information on the area we rode in. Many years ago she had seen tracks used by Wagons in the area but more than likely they were now overgrown or obliterated by time.

Dairying was common back in the day and before that the early settlers tried growing Cotton. We came on to a large flat with a sizeable dam and there is still a steel loading ramp to be seen. On a ledge beside this flat once there could be seen 2 or 3 concrete & stone markers with strange symbols & inscriptions. With all the rain over the past 2 summers it seems they have been swallowed up by the encroaching Lantana & other undergrowth as they were not to be seen by us on this occasion.

Despite the prolonged and above average rainfall during the last few months the tracks had held up well. Creeks were running but not fiercely and only between 15-20 cms. deep on the causeways.

The name Clagiraba is derived from the Indigenous name “Kalagareebah” (Ka-lag -a-ree-bah) meaning young or single men’s ground where initiation ceremonies were performed before marriage was permitted to take place.

Although there was some challenging country in the way of some long climbs it was voted a great outing – thank you Charmane. Interestingly enough 3 out of the 5 riders were 1944, 1946 and 1947 Models so it just goes to prove that age is no barrier to enjoying Trail Riding – so, Live Life Trail Riding as Athra promotes.

Gail Thomas

 

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