Archive for the 'Hiking' Category

Walking the Riesling Trail, Clare

Along the Riesling Trail near Clare, South Australia

During the Easter long weekend earlier this year we went walking along various stages of the Riesling Trail in the Clare Valley in South Australia. This walking track used to be the old railway line through the wine growing district. On one of our walks I took many photos of the late afternoon sun on the adjacent farmland.

Walking the Riesling Trail, Clare

Along the Riesling Trail near Clare, South Australia

I’ve been a little tardy in getting up these photos from Easter earlier this year. Over the long weekend we stayed with our daughter who teaches in the local high school. During our stay we went for a daily walk along the Riesling Trail. This walking track used to be the old railway line. It now has a new life as a tourist attraction in its own right. People visiting the wine growing region can walk from Auburn to just north of Clare. Access to many of the region’s wineries is quite easy from the trail.

I’ll share more photos in coming days.

Some plants of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

A few days after Christmas we had a family picnic at Lane Cove National Park in Sydney. We were over there on holiday visiting our son and daughter in law.

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Before lunch four of us went on an hour and a half hike through the park. My son and I mainly went to photograph birds, but it was hot and humid and in the middle of the day so we didn’t see too many birds, nor did we get too many photos.

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

As we went along I took a few shots of the various plants and flowers I saw. My wife would have liked to have accompanied us on the walk, but couldn’t due to a hip problem at the time.

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Click on any photo to enlarge the image.

You can see more photos based in National Parks here.

You can access an extensive list of Plants of the Lane Cove National Park here. The links take you to more information and a photo of the plant.

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Plants and flowers of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Lizards of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

A few days after Christmas last year we had a family get together picnic while we were in Sydney. We all went to the Lane Cove National Park for lunch. While there we saw numerous Eastern Water Dragons moving around the picnic area. Some of them posed nicely for my camera. Two of them, one a baby, even came to visit my wife while she was sitting at a picnic table reading; they went between her feet.

Several of us went on a short hike through the park. We were lucky enough to see a large goanna crawling up a tree. It was hard to get a good photo as he kept much of the tree trunk between us and him. The photo below is the best I managed.

Goanna, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Goanna, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

A walk in Lane Cove National Park

Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Several days after Christmas the family had another reunion, this time in the Lane Cove National Park. This park is about a ten minute drive from my son’s home in Artarmon, Sydney. we knew it would probably be somewhat busy because of the Christmas holiday break, so we went early. Before having lunch four of us went for an hour and a half walk through the park.

Members of my family going on a walk through Lane Cove National Park

Members of my family going on a walk through Lane Cove National Park

It was quite hot and humid with no breeze, so in no time we were all soaked from the effort. My son and I had our cameras and we were on the lookout for interesting things to photograph, especially birds. I think I may have converted him to being a moderate birder after he was pleased to receive a bird field guide for Christmas. Perhaps “bird photographer” would be a better appellation.

Lane Cove National Park, Sydney

Lane Cove National Park, Sydney