The scheduled walk was washed out by the Catastrophic Flood event at the weekend so this was chosen as an alternative.
Setting off through the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Looking aristocratic
Heading across country (not lost!)
Onwards..
Glimpses of the River Derwent
Posing for a snap .....
...while we wait for
The group splits, one elite group taking the low road...
and other elite group setting off uphill on the mountain bike tracks
Some choose to cut corners..
As we reach our own summit we can view three summits across the river. From left to right Mount Direction, Gunners Quoin and Grass Tree Hill.
and Mount Wellington behind us
The descent
dry tea tree forest with one errant walker disappearing for an early lunch.
Onward through Grass Gully
Evidence of the water rushing through, but all calm again now.
a little ant nest, responding to the weather perhaps
Arboretum
The duck pond at the gardens
Pacific Black Duck with lovely shiny blue bill.
Another one dashing off for an early lunch
Some interesting pines, on the right is the Bunya Pine, the left hand one is developing cones I think.
Lunch!
After lunch some of us were distracted by the shop and the conservatory with unusual flowering plants.
Map
**********fin**********
