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Circuit distance : 8 kilometres This section of the Torrens Linear Park extends from Greenglade Drive down to the O.G. Road bridge. The map of this section is rather ungainly!
• 1 I start off at the Greenglade Drive footbridge, where I finished my previous walk (#4B), and set off merrily towards the city. Various people are out, including many people walking their dogs. I enjoy the little conversations along the way.
• 2 The walk is pretty, but I find little of special interest until I come to Lochiel Park. From the track I can see the back of historic Lochend House. The house dates back to ca 1842, and was built by Charles James Fox Campbell who was descended from the Campbells of Lochend in Scotland.
• 3 It is worth exploring Lochiel Park. Some little way behind Lochend House is the 'Tree of Life', a 300 year old river red gum which died in 1999, but which now provides a home for parrots, bees, possums and lizards.
• 4 Near Lochend House there is an interesting conservation area with pools for the birds ...
• 5 ... and various Aboriginal sculptures.
• 6 A large section of Lochiel Park is a residential development. It is all very environmentally green, but aesthetically ... ?
• 7 On the western side of the development there is another wetland area which could do with a little more 'wet'.
• 8 Below these wetlands a little footbridge crosses the Torrens: a good place for feeding the ducks!
• 9 I return to the main trail, and a little further on, it crosses the busway which has by now returned to the scene. It is worth commenting on the different paths here. On the Lochiel Park side of the overpass, the track to the left goes into the development. The track to the right follows the busway and crosses the river and the northern-side Linear Park trail. So we cross the busway here. On the far side, the trail to the left follows the busway towards the hills. We take the trail to the right which passes between a private golf course and the River Torrens.
• 10 Here I pass yet another form of Linear Park transport!
• 11 Third Creek comes out near the O.G. Road River Bridge. Here, as elsewhere, the water is processed before it enters the Torrens.
• 12 This old windmill is slowly turning nearby – presumably only a decorative feature these days.
• 13 I cross the O.G. Road Bridge. The name of the road traces back to South Australia's first Colonial Treasurer, the very colourful and rich Osmond Gilles.
• 14 Nearby is the Klemzig Bus Station, beyond which O.G. Road crosses another bridge. The buses leave the confines of their concrete guide rails at these stations, only to pick them up again on the other side.
• 15 Now here is a good idea: bicycle lockers. Cyclists can ride the Linear Park trail, leave there cycles here and take the bus into the city.
• 16 Not far upstream from the bus station is yet another footbridge.
• 17 As I walk the length of the Torrens I am constantly marvelling at the extent and beauty of this open space.
• 18 The track now crosses the busway again, this time passing underneath. As mentioned above, there is a walking track across this bridge.
• 19 We return to the Lochiel Park footbridge, seen here from a different angle.
• 20 The trail now passes alongside the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park. Our family is not into caravaning, but this would seem to be an ideal spot to spend a few nights.
• 21 A small and pretty rapid proves that the Torrens is actually flowing! So it should be in winter ... .
• 22 This bank at the end of Ann Street, south of the River, is showing some signs of stress.
It is now only a little distance back to our starting point, the Greenglade Drive footbridge. The walking along this stretch of the Torrens is all enjoyable, and there are some special points of interest. |
