5 Hills Run 19 January 2014

04 February 2014 / Norm and Roz Barker

The year started with this run around Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin going up and down five of the hills. The group gathered for the start at Blamey Square at Russell Offices with some heavy clouds in the distance. Sixteen cars and the club’s trailer made up the group and after a briefing and presentation of the member of the year trophy to Ken Keeling. Norm and Roz Barker led the group to the first hill Mt Pleasant (Hill 1) which is in the grounds of Duntroon/ADFA. There was a short stop to take in the view and a chat.

The convoy the proceeded to Mt Ainslie (Hill 2) a steep climb on a winding road. We drove around the top and down again. The route then took us past the Australian War Memorial and down Anzac Parade. At the bottom of Anzac Parade the group turn right and followed the lake along to Black Mountain (Hill 3). Another steep and winding road and no stopping but many admirers of the long line of MX5s. The Sunday afternoon at this time of the year is very quiet and the convoy was able to keep together which made a spectacular sight going around the lake.

At the bottom of Black Mountain we turned right and headed around the lake again to the National Arboretum and up to the top of Dairy Farmers Hill (Hill 4). Here we all parked and took in the view back across the lake to the city. After some further chatting and some photos we formed up and left for the last hill.

The route took us past the Canberra Zoo and across the top of Scrivener Dam (forms Lake Burley Griffin), though the suburb of Deakin and up Red Hill (Hill 5). On the way up Red Hill it started to rain so it was form up in the car park at the top and tops up. Some photos were taken and then down the hill to Melbourne Avenue to Parliament Housed, around State Circle and to Lennox Gardens for a BBQ/picnic. Luckily the rain wasn’t serious and stopped by the time we all arrived at the park. We all had a great drive and picnic although we missed the sunset due to the clouds. 

(Some more photos from Damon are on our Flickr page.)