24 February - All Together Walk: Two Valley Trail - Cooks River/Wolli Creek

HVB walk of Two Valley Trail on 240217

The Two Valley Trail is a good one for an ‘altogether walk’ as it is pleasant, fairly flat with some interesting features. Its main feature is the clash between urbanisation and conservation.

There has been a great attempt to preserve some bushland and also accommodate more people. The website writes about the preserved mangrove swamps and the level of birdlife which has been achieved. This is wonderful but, for example, there is a huge collection of plastic bottles and other debris caught up in the mangrove roots. We just thought that it looked very ugly but the recent “Four Corners” program (270217) highlighted the threat of plastic to the health of the planet.

The second half along Wolli Creek is a real success where a narrow strip of bushland has been preserved complete with bush tracks and a hangout for large numbers of bats. We were fortunate to see them so close. The track is like one in large areas of bush – rough, undulating, quiet with some lovely old trees and clearings – until a train flashes past 2-3 hundred metres away or you see the concrete towers of Wolli Creek with its cranes busy making it even bigger.

We were reminded of the large effort and amount of money that has gone into this trail by the three old cottages owned by ardent conservationists and the ‘stack’ of the M5 tunnel which protruded near our (otherwise) rural lunch spot.

My thanks to Vreni as co-leader. In particular, she gamely continued with the recce when the deluge hit us with lightning followed immediately by thunder. Cooks River turned into a raging torrent and parts of the track were flooded. Her major concern was leaving puddles of water in the coffee shop. My thanks also to Don who, once again acted as tail-end Charlie.

Leaders: Nick and Vreni. 

Words: Nick

Walkers: Margaret B, Don Wo, Wendy C, David C, Elaine E, Sue F, Michael, Anne G, Pragati, Mary, Aileen, Chris McA, Dawn, Marilyn, Margaret P, Wendy P, Barbara, Guenter, Kurt, Lyn, John D'C


2017 02 24 Barbara 1630673 Gathering at Campsie Station for the Two Valley Trail

                                                                    Gathering at Campsie Station for the Two Valley Trail

2017 02 24 Barbara 1630674 Morning tea beside the Cooks River at a Canterbury park      2017 02 24 all Christine 20170224 102554

          Morning tea beside the Cooks River at a Canterbury park                                                Beauties pose by the Cooks River          

2017 02 24 Barbara 1630675 A rest stop after an unexpected hill Wolli Creek Valley at Earlwood

 

     2017 02 24 all Christine 20170224 104306

 A rest stop after an unexpected hill, Wolli Creek Valley at Earlwood and rest stop at Steel Park, Marrickville


2017 02 24 all Christine 20170224 115602.Lunch under a shady tree

            .Lunch under a shady tree


2017 02 24 all Christine 20170224 122734

                                 Bats not at lunch

2017 02 24 Barbara 1630679 Little black cormorant with fish Wolli Creek                      2017 02 24 Barbara 1630681 Grey headed flying fox

             Little black cormorant with fish Wolli Creek                                                                                    Grey headed flying fox


2017 02 24 Barbara 1630682Margaret Elaine the track between Bardwell Park Bexley North
                                                                                    

 

 

 

         

 

 

    2017 02 24 Barbara 1630683 Lichen decorated rock beside the track at Bardwell Park   

 

           Angophora with beauties                                                                                                Lichen decorated rock beside the track at Bardwell Park

Photos Barbara 1, 2, 4, 8-11; Christine McA 3, 5, 6, 7