Plum Pudding Hill or bust

The strong southeaster that has been battering the Peninsula for a few days has subsided and so it was that today's walk from Rhodes Memorial to Plum Pudding Hill and then down to the blockhouse turned out to be much warmer than anticipated. Perspiration was profuse as we toiled ever upward before reaching the relatively friendly contours of the jeep track. However, loose rocks on the track spelled disaster for the unwary and a tumble or two were taken. Plasters were applied and gravel-stained pants dusted off, and we continued on towards the highest point of the walk, Plum Pudding Hill. There the southeaster was blowing a gale again and we didn't stay long to enjoy the view, rather preferring to head on down to the blockhouse for coffee and a snack!
There is very little flowering on the mountains at present and it was a good thing that there was nothing to distract my attention apart from a few mushrooms which begged a photograph, as the extremely steep track consisted of a surface entirely covered in loose gravel pebbles, rather like ball-bearings, and was extremely tricky to negotiate - I am prone to slipping easily and had two hiking poles which did help, along with taking sensible advice on how to walk down a slippery slope (put your feet down flat and take small steps). We were a very large group today and about 2/3 of them decided to stay in the shade of the huge gumtrees after the tricky descent, while a handful of us continued to the blockhouse.
The return route completed a circle and was slightly less arduous, but no cooler. However, as always, it was agreed that it was a most enjoyable and beneficial outing and that token whining was obligatory. We usually have pictures of the group in orderly lines, hiking the hills, or dotted like dassies on rocks eating a sandwich, but today's photos were somehow disorderly and a whole lot of fun!