Sunday Bus: Cowans and Spanish Onion Track - 12km and 12km - 19 Oct

WALK DESCRIPTION:
Our dropoff points are from O`Briens Road and we will travel to reach this road from the east via Gisborne rather than from the west via Bacchus Marsh because as turning the bus around if approaching from the west is difficult.
The longer walk will begin at the Lerderderg Track and proceed south until its intersection with the Spanish Onion Track which will be followed south east until it hits the East Walk. The shorter walk will begin at the northern end of Cowans Track and similarly to the longer walk runs south until it in turn meets the East Walk. Both walks will then run north along East Walk for about 7-8 kms to O`Briens Crossing.
Walking along the Lerderderg and Spanish Onion Tracks is mostly along a single file bush track and mostly pretty easy, although the track at times requires educated guesswork to find, whereas the Cowans Track is mostly along an old vehicular track and again provides easy walking.
The East Walk however is a different matter. It is a combination of easy walking along an old gold race and more difficult walking along a narrow and uneven path over rocks both smooth and sharp, and through long grasses. Also there is a particular spot half way along the track where it sidles along a rock face which descends directly to the water. If the water level is raised above a certain level, which it may be if there has been rain the previous few days, then passing this obstruction can be difficult as the track will be below water. I will inspect the river level gauge at O`Briens Crossing the day before, and because I know at what gauge level we will have problems getting past, I will decide if we have to reroute.
If we do have to reroute because of a raised river level both walks will do the same walk of Lerderderg, Spanish Onion and Cowans Tracks but in different directions. One starting at the north end of Lerderderg Track and the other at the northern end of Cowans Track. There would be an added rise of about 250m for both but the difficult East Walk would be avoided and the distance likewise would be reduced by several km. However a there and back extension south along East Walk, beyond its intersection with Spanish Onion Track, could be considered to lengthen a walk on the day if walkers wanted extra distance.
This is PRIME SNAKE COUNTRY - please wear either long pants or have gaiters.
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DISTANCE(S): 12km and 14km
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TOTAL ASCENT(S): 250m and 250m
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GRADINGS: Both walks are Easy/Medium

Easy/Medium (E/M): More consistent walking, mostly on tracks or in open country, but with some significant hills, probably some stretches of light scrub. Possibility of some rock hopping. Distances up to 19km but may be much shorter depending on the difficulty of the terrain. Reasonable lunch and rest stops.
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PLEASE NOTE: Your RSVP on MeetUp lets us know who may be interested but does not add you to the booking list. To register and pay for the walk you must visit our clubrooms (details below).
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HOW TO BOOK AND PAY:
(a) Visit the Melbourne Bushwalkers' clubrooms on either of the two Wednesday evenings before the walk, speak to the leader and, if it is agreed to walk, make a payment to secure your place on the bus.
(b) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking before 4pm on the Thursday before the walk, send a note to sunday@mbw.org.au. A credit will be issued for a future walk.
(c) To cancel a Sunday Walk booking after 4pm on the Thursday before the walk contact the walk leader direct. You should be given the walk leader contact details at the time of booking.
(d) The costs for the walk are $30 bus fare plus $10 visitor fee if you are not a paid-up Member of Melbourne Bushwalkers.
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OUR CLUBROOMS: Our clubrooms are located at The Mission to Seafarers Victoria, 717 Flinders Street, Docklands. We are open Wednesday nights 6:30pm - 8.00pm.
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CONTACT US: To contact us regarding this walk send an email to sunday@mbw.org.au. We do not regularly check the MeetUp site for messages and the above address will get a faster response.
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CAN I MEET AT THE START OF THE WALK? No! Since Sunday Bus walks are generally walks starting and finishing at two widely separated locations we do not accept walkers meeting at the start of the walk. There is no way for them to get back to their transport. We can arrange for a pick-up and drop-off at a designated location along the route closer to Melbourne, however, the full bus fee is still payable since a seat has to be kept free on the bus.
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IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Registration (membership) on Meetup is not the same as paid-up Membership of MBW. To become a paid-up Member with online booking and other benefits see: https://mbw.org.au/MBW_membership.php
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WHAT TO BRING:
A day pack containing:
* Lunch, a morning and afternoon snack.
* Full water bottle - we recommend 2 litres, more in warmer weather.
* An unlined waterproof jacket or cape, waterproof over-trousers (if your jacket is short).
* Whistle, pencil and paper.
* Personal and first aid items, including sun screen, lip screen, toilet paper, identification, Club green Health Card, some money etc. Note: The leader always carries a first aid kit.
* A change of footwear for the trip back.
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DO YOU HAVE COMPREHENSIVE AMBULANCE COVER? The Club strongly recommends that all participants have comprehensive personal ambulance cover.
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MORE DETAILS:
The visit to the clubrooms on a Wednesday before a walk is to cover three things:
(a) Provide background on the club and ensure all walkers are familiar with the safety and courtesy guidelines we adopt;
(b) Meet with the leader of the walk who will be in the clubrooms to discuss any special features of the walk and ensure that adequate gear and fitness requirements are met.
(c) Sign an Acknowledgement of Risk form and pay the visitor fee ($10) and bus fee ($30) to reserve a seat on the bus. No booking is accepted until the payment is received.
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DAY WALKS BY BUS with Melbourne Bushwalkers:
https://mbw.org.au/mbw_activities/walks/MBW_bus_walks.php