Today will make a change from last week as it's a suburban walk on the eastern shore led by Carol.
Meeting up at our usual place in Kingston, the weather didn't look too flash with rain on the distant hills. However, trusting the eastern shore to have sunshine, we loaded up and headed over.
When we finally all arrived at the walk start, Carol had arranged sunshine and the day just got better and better.
I say finally because there was first a delay on the bridge due to a truck breakdown and another delay when 2 cars went to the wrong location, the reasons for which I shall draw a veil over.
We left from the beach end of Wentworth St. near Clarence High School, heading for the shoreline path.
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| Waiting for the rest of the group to gear up |
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| Looking at our destination way, way in the distance! |
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| Multifunction path. Bikes, people, prams, dogs etc. |
The views were magnificent and the water was a deep blue. Looking across at Hobart below Mt. Wellington was just a temptation to take hundreds of photos.
I tried to resist that, but there are a few. People who live along the eastern shore of the Derwent certainly have something to look at both day and night.
Before long, we come to Howrah Beach. As is typical of Tasmanian beaches, it's packed cheek by jowl with people. I could see at least two maybe three in the distance.
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| Overcrowded Howrah Beach |
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| We're heading for the last house on the right |
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| Mt. Wellington with Hobart downtown beginning to appear |
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| Told you it was hard not to take photos of Wellington |
After walking for a while along the beach we turned off, cut across a service station forecourt and headed along streets (and uphill) to another turnoff along a creek (of sorts). We're heading for Morning Tea which was at a playground. I didn't take any photos because I just missed getting one of Sally on a swing. She was just too fast for me.
Walking on past a couple of cheery sewage workers who told us to be careful of a spill, we headed back to the shoreline and along.
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| Our first hill |
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| Heading down a reserve and watching our step after warnings from a couple of workmen |
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| Long shot of Hobart wharves. The orange ship is one of the Antarctic research vessels |
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| Back on a gravel coastal path |
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| The houses here must be cheaper as they don't have a proper beach |
It's a pleasant flat walk and gives you plenty of time to look at views and have a sticky beak in people's homes and yards.
The Alum Cliffs at Kingston are beginning to be noticeable now.
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| Alum Cliffs at Kingston |
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| Battery Point and Sandy Bay |
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| Rocky shoreline |
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| Local bird life |
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| Looking up a side street towards new development |
All this land seems to have belonged to one farm in the distant past, and the original buildings happily still exist.
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| Original settlers cottage and outbuildings. Classic corrugated fence, but the car is not period. |
We're heading now for Morning Tea II, a very rare event (first I remember) and one I wasn't prepared for.
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| Rocky shore |
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| More houses being built and land still for sale. Droughty Hill in the background is only accessed by permission and the Aussie flag flies on top. |
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| Second Morning tea. Carol pointing the way and Bob looking intrepid. |
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| I wanted myself in front of the mountain. This is the second effort as the first made me look like the village idiot |
A few of the group opted to stay here while the rest went on to the end of the trail. We would then return for lunch as behind the vegetation is another playground with shelter and picnic table.
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| Heading to the end of the housing before we turn back |
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| Bulk carrier coming down from the Zinc Works |
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| Almost looks like a bush walk |
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| I wanted to catch the ship in front of the cliffs. You can see the Shot Tower just near the right of the photo |
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| Panorama |
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| As close as we can get to the cliffs at Kingston |
Reaching the end, we turn around and head back to the others for lunch.
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| Ron gives very explicit directions to John. The others seem amused, but I don't know why |
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| Heading back |
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| Lunch |
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| Some we left behind earlier. Energetic bunch |
Lunch finished, we make our way back to the start.
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| We're heading back |
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| Local wildlife |
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| Couldn't resist it |
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| We're coming into the end of Howrah Beach |
We continue along the beach and return to the cars.
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| The weather forecast said cloudy and 15C. In reality this was the cloud cover and it was 18C, but don't tell the mainlanders |
We had 15 walkers and covered 15km in 4hrs. An excellent, civilized walk, but I might just be scarred by last week!
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