Friday, 28 April 2017

A beach walk

On another lovely autumn day we drove to Parsons Beach, about 15 minutes from home.
Initially it didn't look very promising.
But we were there for a walk, not a swim, so I relaxed and surveyed the vast expanse of sand and water stretching for miles before us.
It was a steep walk down. I think Steve thought this next shot was an amusing photo.
Once down on the smooth, hard sand it was an enchanting vista - both ahead of us and behind.

There were not many people about save for a family and later, some backpackers walking the Heysen Trail, of which this beach forms part.


A lunchtime snack...
 ... some more sea-gazing...
 ...then the climb back to the car.

A peaceful autumn interlude.

Monday, 24 April 2017

An autumn walk

I love autumn with its subdued light, gentle warmth, a hint of a breeze, golden crunchy leaves underfoot.

A week ago we decided to have a picnic at a recently developed wetlands walk and sculpture park in Mount Compass, 20 minutes from home. The site sits incongruously behind the local IGA supermarket carpark.

On a small grassed area are two black granite sculptures by Hew Chee Fong, a Malaysian artist who has lived in Australia since 1980. An interpretive sign says he is attracted by the 'enduring nature and timelessness  represented by stone'. As usual Steve tries for an artistic shot.
This is one of them.
And here is one of mine from the second sculpture.
Nearby was a boardwalk that traverses a small section of swamp. Evidently the wetland used to stretch for many kilometres across this region. It is now recognised as a unique and endangered ecosystem and is protected by the government.



It was an easy stroll around the swamp with some lovely photo opportunities.

We then drove across the highway to another section of the swamp. The original ecosytem has been gradually denuded through land clearing so exists only in small pockets.
There were a lot of interesting plants that survive in the boggy conditions.





On the way home we called in at the husband-and-wife run Victor Harbor Winery.


A lovely autumn day out.