Two lovely walks

Walk 1: The Heritage Walk

It's been months since I've ventured along the Heritage Coastal Walk. It begins below the bulky form of the Bluff and meanders along the coast to Cape Jervis at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula, clinging to the rocky coastline and barely venturing inland. Of course, my walk only lasts just over an hour and I guess I walk for about 4 to 5 kms in all. The hardened path twists and turns up over small hillocks, plunges down to cross old water courses, and occasionally meets the water at a couple of rock-strewn beaches. And always, before me, there is the sweeping, glistening expanse of Encounter Bay, rocky cliffs, offshore islands, rock pools and sandy inlets. 

The other side of the path is bordered by fenced paddocks, providing a lush green swathe of grass in winter but golden acres dotted with sunny hay stooks in summer. Occasionally there are sheep. In the early stages of the walk there is only one house to be seen, sitting  atop a high hill.

As my favourite local walk, I've done it many times and even blogged about it, but yesterday we had the first perfect weather in many, many months and I couldn't resist getting out there again. Blue sky, the faintest wisp of a breeze, a warmish tinge from the sun. Off I set. No camera, just my phone.

Walk shows are popular on TV lately, and I've been watching one that follows the coastal trail from Cornwall to Devon. In some places it looks remarkably similar to my walk, although in England the walker is accompanied by torrential rains, blustery winds and pounding surf surging onto the rocks below. I'm afraid these rocks look pretty tame in comparison.

But it was the walker's sense of being alone in nature that reverberated with me. With no-one else in sight I really did feel that I was the only one soaking up this beautiful day. Here, the track winds down via wooden steps to this secluded beach. 

I ventured on until I came to the second beach - Kings Beach - then turned around and began the homeward journey.

Glancing down I spotted a walker and dog enjoying the day.

I haven't mentioned the fact that there are a number of interpretive signs interspersed along the track. One, opposite West Island, explains that it is now a bird sanctuary, while another describes the Aborigines and their way of life when they inhabited this region, while others discuss early settlers. Halfway along the walk there is a sign for a well. You can spot the round stone well nestled in the dunes if you look down onto the beach. The well has always fascinated me, bringing to mind the hardships these people encountered. 

The nearby sign explains...

All that remains of the pulley are these two weathered timber posts so a bit of imagination is required. 

I was nearly back to the carpark by now, and with the sun now warming my back, I was conscious of snakes waking up. Hmmm... I think these grasses need to be hacked back even if they do make the walk look pretty.

And now a question I hope someone can answer. These (whatever they are) covered acres to the horizon, as you can see. But I can't identify what crop they are. Any ideas?

Walk 2:  Along the Murray

With friend Helen accompanying me, I set off from the Goolwa wharf to walk about 5kms along the path that runs alongside the Murray River just before it makes it to the open sea. The first part of the walk is lined with small boatbuilding businesses, slip yards and other maritime enterprises, a nod to what the area was like a hundred and fifty years ago when shipbuilding was a major industry. In all, a sign told us, 58 paddle steamers and barges were built between 1853 and 1913. I loved these wide wooden gates in front of mooring facilities.

 

Isn't this an idyllic scene.

We spotted a few pelicans. It was all very peaceful.   

On the non-river side, houses lined the street. We loved looking at the gardens and offering our tasteful suggestions about the houses: 'I like that one.' 'Why on earth would someone build something that ugly'. 'That would look so much better if the garden was spruced up'. My friend Maggie will recognise fellow 'arbiters of taste' here. ... Some small old cottages, some new... This next photo is typical of the modern alongside the old. I love the palm tree telling us just how old this property is.

If you look closely at the following photo you'll see that what must surely have been the front door has been bricked up. Or was it the original design? I'll  try and find out.

A hidden gem

So... two lovely walks. Hoping to do more, though our finicky spring weather makes it difficult to plan.