84 Nkthercote and Johnson, Trip to Talbof Peak, [vd'x'xxiii 



and is thus one of if not the highest sports grounds in 

 Australia. 



Next morning, at 5.30 a.m., with food, blankets, and camera 

 strapped on our backs, we started on our fifteen-mile walk, 

 the first three miles being along a well-made, splendidly graded 

 road. No ! it was not daylight, but the clear moonlight only 

 added enchantment to an already glorious walk. Words cannot 

 describe that walk — rocky cliffs on one side, while on the other, 

 a hundred feei below, Stringer's Creek glittered like new 

 sij\-er, margined \\'ith bush growth, broken here and there by 

 a ghostly poplar in pale-yellow autumn garb. Hills sur- 

 roimded us, and just as we reached the bridge over the 

 Thomson River daylight broke and lighted up a beautiful 

 reach of the stream. Here we had descended to 700 feet — 

 the lowest point on our journey. Turning sharjily to the right, 

 one finds oneself on a comparatively wide though rough track. 

 A huge Narrow-leaved Peppermint, Eucalyptus amygdalina, 

 had been blown down during the recent storm, and still remained 

 across the track. The vegetation was similar to that around 

 Gembrook, the Wire Scrub. Baitcra riibioides. Limp Starwort, 

 Stellaria flaccida. Prickly Coprosma, Coprosma Billardieri, 

 Heath, Epacris iniprcssa, and (iolden Goodia, Goodia lotifolia, 

 still being in flower in spite of the lateness of the season. Six 

 miles out, at Parker's Corner (i,0oo feet), we filled the billy 

 and had breakfast. Several Flame-breasted i^obins and 

 Striated Tits hopp^nl aliout near by, while a Kookaburra gave 

 \'ent to uncontrollable laughter at seeing two girls enjoying 

 a truly rural breakfast. The clouds which had hitherto 

 enveloped Erica rolled back, and thus, with a l^lue sky and 

 sunshine, we viewed Mount Erica for the first time. Bxit stay ! 

 near the top white, glistening patches could be seen. Yes, 

 and the air was decidedly sharp, ^^'ith a shiver we quickly 

 rolled up oiu" ])acks, and started at a brisk walk, for soon we 

 would be amongst the snow. The track dwindled out here, 

 and we wended our way over more or less ojien, undulating 

 country by the aid of blazed trees. A fair amount of time 

 was spent at the head of the eastern branch of the Tyers River 

 (1,460 feet). Here it was rather discoTU"aging to find we were 

 again lower than Parker's Corner, and that Erica still stood 

 tantalizingly l)ehind more foot-hills ; but eventually we 

 reached the foot, and Erica loomed above us. The " blazes " 

 had stopped, and a well-defined foot-track lay before us. The 

 undergrowth had become thick, very similar to that found 

 round Warburton. A few belated flowers of the Christmas 

 Bush, Prostanthera lasianthos. still lingered. Fine — very fine — 

 trees towered some two hundred feet or more above us. Two 

 Gang-Gang Cockatoos flew screeching across the track. The 



