Wednesday, 1 March 2023

A Forested Suburban Walk

Wednesday 22 February

As we travelled through a torrential downpour to our hike this week, we doubted we would be able to get out of the car. The Weather Gods were again on our side, and except for one light shower, we delighted in the sparkling green and freshness of the bush after rain. As you can see from the google image below we were in suburbia, but we felt we were miles away from it. A real treat!














Margot requires a hip replacement so isn't hiking with us but pops up at the end of walks to join us for the obligatory cake and cuppa.





An unusually beautifully designed toilet block, plus a free lending library.
Street libraries are now popping up everywhere but this one is quite exceptional.

We relaxed in the shade of a spreading fig tree, beside a lovely waterhole, chatting for a couple of hours.

And this week, we followed Kedron Brook.

The Mt Warren Gang [Laurel, Jayne and me] set off at 5.30 for the 6.30 am meetup with the Bris Gang [Joc, Jenny and Leanne], never imagining that the journey would be one long traffic jam at that hour!  We had to take the toll tunnel, under the Brisbane River, and we were still late. Our road systems are just not coping with the massive housing developments growing in every direction from the older suburbs. It makes travelling to many of our favourite hikes quite painful.

Once we were walking, the stress left us and 10 km later, we relaxed with Jenny's delicious blueberry custard cake. 

The Kedron Brook trail wasn't as 'natural' as last week's Hilliard Creek, but if it hadn't been as hot as it was, we could have continued on another 15 km. Ha, ha! Perhaps 10 years ago.

5am sunrise



Joc photo

Joc photo

A kind cyclist stopped and offered to take this one.




I would love to read your comment.

14 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this walk. The ducks at the beginning made me smile. The Pekin (White duck) looks calm and relaxed. The Runner (more upright and dark) looks nervous. Somehow they always look nervous. I love the trees and flowers.

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    1. We loved the ducks too, Bill. Hopefully, I will now remember the names of the ducks.

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  2. Great to have these oases of tranquility amongst all the hustle and bustle of urban life. Grand photos.

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    1. It most certainly is, John. Our city councils have done a great job creating these 'bushy' trails in suburbia.

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  3. It's amazing that it seems so secluded when it was so close to the action of the city! I loved the reflection photos, and your note about the lending library caught this reader's eye. The beautiful colors of the flowers had me dreaming of spring as our temperatures are set to plummet in Kansas today. Thanks, as always, for sharing.

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    1. I hope you haven't frozen, Kim. I'd love to send some of our heat, but I guess you wouldn't want the stifling humidity of this week. We are discovering more and more of these quaint lending libraries on our city walks.

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  4. So close but yet so far! For that first Wednesday walk it has the look and feel like you are no where near anything suburban like. Your second outing is so pretty and I can see how those views would cancel out any stress from the drive there.

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    1. The first walk was just wonderful in the rain freshened bush and cool air. We definitely didn't want to start any later for the second walk, as it was so hot and humid.

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  5. What a beautiful walk and nice to see your toilet block mural too. Rain we could do with some of that. After all my moaning about too much rain earlier in the year we are now in a dry patch with fires starting up caused by storms with lightening but no rain.

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    1. Yes, Joan, we too are looking for rain, but this time last year we were recovering from the major flooding of the east coast.

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  6. Such fun walks you make!
    The photos are fascinating and it's lovely to try to imagine the freshness of the air and the smells of the plants (and the soil) after some rain.
    Happy end-of-summer/autumn days!

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    1. There is always a very special 'rain' aroma when it rains for the first time in a long while.

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  7. Wonderful trip! I hope the stressful traffic jam was forgotten as soon as you started walking.

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  8. It most definitely was and a great walk chatting with friends was enjoyed.

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