Loxton to Adelaide

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On our last night we had company, two caravans joined us at our river-side site, one had its AC going all night so it wasn’t as restful for me. In the morning the Pelican did a last sail past.

Tiger Moth on the camper canvas.

Final sail past

Resident Kookaburra came to say goodbye.

A sign so common now we don’t even notice it.

I think everyone is complying.

On the way home we stopped at Karoonda again, it’s the fourth time we’ve passed through and each time we see something different. I think it’s a lovely little town, the locals are friendly and it seems they like happy, little white dogs. The men were laying foundations for swings in the new Playground.

Maybe next time we travel this way we’ll stop overnight so we can see the image projected onto the silo, the images change regularly.

Karoonda seems a great place for mobility scooters.

The men have made progress on the Karoonda Playground.

Kids will have fun on this when the park opens.

It’s the 4th time we’ve come through Karoonda and the first time I’ve read this sign.

The silo painting has left space for images to be projected at night.

The Kelpie looks as puzzled as ever.

Loxton -Day 4

We decided to take a trip to Berri where I lived for three years, it’s developed so much over the last 50 years there was nothing I recognized. A bridge has replaced the ferry, the hotel has been modernised and houseboats can now be moored near the town, there’s even a shopping centre with Aldi!

More than a dozen houseboats were moored along the river bank.

Statue in the main street.

You can walk right around the tower.

View from the top of the water tower.

After exploring Berri we drove back towards Loxton stopping at Lock 4, Bookpurnong. You an find information on the reason for the locks, their construction etc here.

Lock 4 at Bookpurnong, about 10 kms out of Berri

The Lock makes river navigation easier.

Maintaining water levels benefits irrigators.

The Lock was a handy place for the Pelican to catch fish.

Back in Loxton we enjoyed a short walk from the wharf along the riverside. Nearby is the Pioneer Village but we didn’t go inside.

Loxton Riverfront Walk

Thatched shed

Blacksmith’s Shop

That walk was only a teaser so we headed towards the Caravan Park stopping at the Boat Ramp from where we walked along the Nature Trail and through the Arboretum before looping back to the car. Large diameter hoses lined most of the trails but they seemed to be no longer functional, maybe that’s why there was so little water in some parts.

No water in this section

Masked Lapwing and a Black-fronted Dotterel

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.

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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