Torrens Linear Park – Section 2

Only a serious walker would do the 30 kms of Linear Park in one go so I’m dividing it up, Section 1 was “The Breakout” and this next section starts where that finished.

Click on any image to see it full sized.

Maintenance work being carried out on the Henley Beach Rd bridge.

Looking upriver from the rock crossing

There are a variety of tracks along the northern side of the river.

Shared cycle/pedestrian bitumen track

Simple walking track

Kids’ alternative bike track

I grew up in this area but it looks very different since remediation work has been carried out.

As kids we used to swim in massive concrete pits here, now all covered over.

There were many irrigation pumps along the river, used to water the Market Gardens. The base of one, I think.

Observation platforms have been built.

There are plenty of places to simply stop and savour the environment.

Native trees have replaced the Willows which are invasive and their roots erode riverbanks.

Peaceful, soothing water – not to drink though.

Some Gum Trees are growing in more open areas.

Flowering Reeds

Bottlebrushes

Footbridge that led to our old street at Lockleys.

Pine Tree fruit

Grasses like Kikuyu are difficult to eradicate.

Foot bridge to Torrens Ave.

The bridge at Findon Rd was our turning point.

On the southern side of the river the path is closer to houses and it’s clear that there has been considerable redevelopment over the last 35 years.

Not one of the originals and not one of the newest.

Probably built in the 1950s, I love the grapevines, fruit trees and Wisteria.

Taking advantage of the river view

Ultra modern

The old Fulham Park Stud homestead, in the 1980s still had some horse yards beside it.

For more information on Fulham Park Stud check here.

Being a walk beside water there have to be birds.

Black Swan

Wood Duck

Mallards

Domestic duck

Magpie-lark

Noisy Miner

Little Pied Cormorant

Little Black Cormorants

We crossed the river using the big stones rather than trying to negotiate the trucks on the bridge then took the path with the mosaics back to the car.

People obviously feed the ducks at this spot.

Swan and cygnet mosaic

Victor Harbor area

It was such a lovely, sunny day we decided to head south to Victor Harbor, about an hour from home. Because of Covid19 restrictions the Whale Watch Centre wasn’t posting updates of sightings which was disappointing.

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Our first stop was at Horseshoe Bay.

Horseshoe Bay

Original Jetty

Renovated Jetty

Anchors retrieved from the bay

Remains of old structure built using local rocks

Seriously?

Next stop, Basham’s Beach

Basham’s is a popular surfing spot

No surfers would want to end up here

Limestone in the making?

Vegetation on the dunes is healthy

Native

Wattle

 

Victor Harbor for a lovely lunch at a pub. The Seagulls took any opportunity to grab a snack if plates were left unattended.

One of many opportunists

Simpson Newland

Nana’s uncle – my Great-grand Uncle 🙂

Southern Right Whales have made a come-back since Whaling days.

Pelican

No dogs allowed so no Granite Island for us.

The Bluff

The town of Victor Harbor

Wright Island in Encounter Bay

Looking south from the lower slopes of The Bluff

We’ll leave the climb to the top of The Bluff for another day.

 

Petrel Cove, I’ve never been here before and I loved it though I wouldn’t want to be here on a hot Summer’s day, the water would be too tempting and the rips are deadly!

On boulders were a couple of memorial plaques for drowning victims.

Sand being sucked out in the rip.

The Cove is only small.

West Island

Uni SA is conducting research on the island, it’s now a reserve.

The variety of rocks in one place fascinated me.

Stegosaurus?

Not a good place to land a boat.

It would be easy to spend a day walking around the various tracks at any one of these lovely places.

Shepherds Hill Recreation Park 2

Shepherds Hill Recreation Park covers 77 hectares or nearly 200 acres. William John Shepherd originally farmed the land from 1853 to 1864 and there are still some signs of early settlement. This is the entrance from Ellis Avenue but there is another entrance with a Carpark off Ayliffe’s Road.

As usual you can click on any image to see it full sized.

Remains of an Almond Orchard

Stone ruins

There are plenty of different tracks to choose from, some are designed for Mountain Bikers others are shared walking/riding tracks as well as larger Fire Tracks.

Tracks are clearly labeled

Heading to the Ridge Track which has the longest flat section.

Bike Track

Fire Track

Some tracks require momentum to get up!

Going down is fun

There seem to be more ups than downs!

Grey Box Trees are native to the area but there are a variety of trees and plants.

Dandelions

These are a favourite of the Wanderer Butterflies

Gum Trees

Low, shrubby Wattles

Feral Olive Trees

Creek – side flower

Patterson’s Curse or Salvation Jane

“Torso” by Nature

Apart from Mountain Bikers, bird watchers and walkers the park also provides a venue for the Pony Club and The Eden Field Archers.

Watch out for the Red Flag!

Targets amongst the trees

Pony Club area in the background

 

If you’re in an environment like this you can’t ignore the wildlife.

Currawong

Female Grass Parrot

Female Wren

Male Superb Fairy Wren

Galah

Australian Magpie

Rainbow Lorikeet

Brown Wanderer or Monarch Butterfly

Koala or two

 

When you’ve made your way to the top of the hill you get a 360 deg view.

View from Maggie’s seat, Adelaide CBD is in the background about 10 kms away

 

If you’re interested in seeing more of nature in SA you can find some on another blog here.