‘If you listened to the weather forecast, you’d never go anywhere.’ A truism from HVB’s legendary Jill.
The sixteen walkers who met at the Australian Botanic Gardens enjoyed a perfect walking day –
some high cloud and the occasional windy spell. No rain.
We followed two self-guided walks.
The ‘Central Valley Walk’ in the manicured gardens and undulating hills with views to the four compass points,
and then the ‘Woodland Walk’ through a remaiing pocket-size piece of the Cumberland Plain Woodland.
The Central Valley Walk
a
Paper Daisies, native flowers, trees and ferns in the 'Connections Gardens
Peter and Bella waving from 'The Wedding Knot' and the group pondering 'The Sundial'.
A return walk along the Ridge Track was HVB's extension of the Camden Valley Walk ......
Bunya Pines and different land formations on the Ridge Track
....the intention being to look at the distant Sydney skyline and enjoy morning tea
The recce day view of Sydney from the Botanical Garden's 'Ridge Track' Morning tea taken whilst looking at distant rain and mist
Nearing the end of the guided walk and approaching the lunch spot.
Lunch was a shared affair
The Woodland Walk
Ten walkers decided to tackle the 4km Woodland Walk.
Sad to report the Woodland is under threat and listed as a Critically Endangered Ecolological Community,
in many places badly affected by weeds, fertiliser run-off and rubbish.
At left: Eucalypts and above:
A section of the Upper Canal System,
a gravity-fed aquaduct
that connects the Upper Nepean Scheme
with the Prospect Reservoir.
Click here for the Wikipedia entry on the Upper Canal System
Back at the Visitor Centre, the walkers purchased coffee/icecream/other end-of-walk-treat and walked to the car-park as a rain shower passed overhead:
Walkers: Susan C, Elaine, Cherry, Bill M, Margaret P (1st Aid), Bella and Peter, John S, Jenny S, Lyn, Margaret W, Don Wo and 1st time visitor Eileen
Leaders: Annette Ell, Helen A and Tail-end Charlie Pauline.
Words: Helen A
Photos:Don Wo:1,5,10,16; Margaret P: 2,7; Pauline: 3,14; Peter R: 4,6,9,11; Bella 12;
Susan C: 13,15
At left: The Sundial was spot on (AEST).