Next activity: Nunnock Swamp - May 4th - see program
6th April
The intriguing name of this walk attracted a curious band of walkers. Heading off into the forest the group were quickly introduced to early clues to help solve The Black Range Murder Mystery. Or were these 'clues' red herrings? Questions were raised. Why was there a water tank covered with netting? What was in there? An animal/animals feeding on 'carrion'? Yabbies? Piranhas? A crocodile? A white pointer? Why was there an abandoned van? Had it been used for a delivery or a getaway? Who could have been driving? Why was there abandoned drums and could they have been used to chemically dispose of unwanted 'evidence'? Could that old carpet have been used to wrap the body for discreet removal? Had a pipe-smoking super-slueth in a deer-stalker hat and caped coat been here first? Were those blood spatters throughout the forest? Did the skull remains of a large herbivore mean anything? The plot thickened. What was this highly suspicous spot? Was this the scene of the crime? Were those branches arranged in a cross by design or happenstance? Was that blood covering this cross and bed of leaves? Whose blood? Had there really been a murder? Conclusions were reached but what happens in the Black Ranges stays in the Black Ranges. Some things must remain a mystery.
Moving on there was a splendid walk to enjoy. This largely off-track walk took a deceptively circuitous route: up and down steep hills, along ridges and via a couple of creek crossings. Magnificent open forest of woollybutts, redgum, bloodwood, blueberry ash and stringybarks and impressive rainforested areas were negotiated. Within the damp rainforest domineering trees competed for attention with a fabulous array of fungi. Hidden among the leaf litter and rocks shaggy with moss and fern were the most eye-catching small bright red mushroom. Could these have been another clue?!
Thanks to the leaders of the day Jo and Tony.
