On a beautifully clear, sunny and fairly mild morning, fourteen walkers assembled at Meadowbank Station for the 7.5km EZY Walk to Olympic Park Ferry Wharf. The group proceeded across the Parramatta River on the John Whitton Bridge, which is the original Concord Rail Bridge, decommissioned a while ago and then turned into an interesting walking and cycling river crossing.
2022 06 17 EZYWalk Lyndy MeadowbankStation 0955312022 06 17 EZYWalk Lyndy Bridge 100643      2022 06 17 EZYWalk Lyndy Sign 100614                                                         

Following a stroll along the Rhodes waterfront, morning tea was taken at the covered outdoor area on the Rhodes side of the Bennelong Bridge, which takes buses and walkers across Homebush Bay to Wentworth Point. After crossing that bridge and walking through Wentworth Point shopping area, the group entered the Newington Wetlands and took the Louise Sauvage Pathway up to where it reaches Holker Road Silverwater.  Turning right off the Pathway onto another sealed walkway and then right again, the group entered the southern part of the Armoury site and walked northwards to reach the Parramatta River again and the Armoury Wharf and Café, where lunch and coffee provided a welcome rest.
2022 06 17 EZYWalk Lyndy WalkersAtNewingtonArmory 114829                                                                                                                       Walkers at Newington Armory
2022 06 17 EZYWalk Bert Relicofbygonedaysforunloadingmunitions 120136     2022 06 17 EZYWalk Bert lunchattheArmory 122312 002                                                Relic of bygone days for unloading munitions                                                                            Lunch by the river at the Armory
After lunch, it was short walk eastwards along the River Walk to arrive at Olympic Park Ferry Wharf to catch a city-bound ferry. Ten of the group disembarked at Meadowbank Wharf and walked up to Meadowbank Station (where some had another coffee), while the others made their various ways home from the city.
The walk was a most enjoyable one, on level sealed pathways, with a plethora of varied and interesting features to observe along the way (especially the narrow gauge railway which used to service the many Armoury magazines), while the leisurely pace provided great opportunities for all to mix and chatter.

The walkers were: Michael and Sue (Leaders), Nick B (Tail-End Charlie), Annette Elp, Jane, Aileen, Cherry, Lyndy (First Aider), John M, Bert, Pat, David R, Dennis and second-time visitor Rosemary W.

Words by Michael

Photos:  Lyndy (1-4), Bert (5, 6)