St Patricks Head

St Patricks Head

 
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

“St. Patricks Head” – the sign out the corner of my eye set
my curiosity streak in motion.  Never
heard of it, only 2 kms in, might as well go and have a look.  I was near St. Marys, a town with a good pie
shop and not all that much else.

As I slowly travelled up the dirt road I was unsure of which
road to take at an intersection and naturally chose the wrong one but was soon
back and heading up the right road; this time to a dead end and small
turnaround that’s actually 4.17 kms in from the sign.

While driving up and down it was hard not to notice the
spectacular outcrop that was obviously the aforementioned head.  Now, I never met or have seen pictures of St.
Patrick, he having passed away just before I was born.....actually, hundreds of
years before; but if his head looked like that outcrop he must have been
ridiculed during his early years.

There was a sign there that said “St Patricks Head Track – 2
hours return”.  How could I refuse?  I saddled up and headed out, figuring two
things correctly before I left – it would be steep (very) and the views from the
top should be something to behold.

The first ten minutes were across open paddocks before
reaching lush ferns and underbrush that totally obscured the trail.  Only bits of pink plastic that someone had
tied indicated where to go.  Once through
that it was onto the rocky trail for at least another ten minutes and then it
really started to rise.  It was just a
few degrees short of climbing and the track was badly worn in some places and a
scree slope in others. 

I stopped several times until I saw the outcrop just ahead
and within five arduous minutes I had reached the base.  Clambering around, up and over I finally
reached the summit.

I’ve been to many summits in Australia, including
Kosciuszko, and I cannot recall seeing a more magnificent 360 degree panorama
than here.  The distant beaches looked stunning and the
inland was attractive as well.  When I
later checked on the internet, this is what someone had to say, “Few tourists
come this way, so add this one to your list if you’re an aficionado of the
obscure and want to get away from the increasing numbers of people travelling to
Tassie these days. Great coastal views from the summit and a vigorous short
climb combine to make St Patrick’s an undiscovered little gem”.  Amen to that.

I
scrambled back to motorhome and checked that it had taken me 1 hour 40 minutes
and two thirds of that almost was going up but wow, was it worth it!

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vancouver islander - Dec 4, 2015 10:42 pm - Hasn't voted

Nice

... To see someone else going this way. Did you see the bull?

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