Off the Beaten Track



Walking/Cycling Track

I have a good excuse for what happened today, at least it sounds good.  With less than seven weeks before my sisters and I go head off for the UK I thought it best to get a bit more training in while hubby was at his day centre.  My excuse being the news story on a local current affairs program stated too much Vitamin D causes your brain to be fuzzy.  I take Caltrate with Vitamin D added.  There is my answer!


I did my homework for the walking track I drove to today.  I found the starting point without wasting time. It happened to be at the car park in front of the Maylands golf course.  There was plenty of parking and with my back pack, water bladder and fruit to munch on I headed off on the walk/bike track.

Off I marched swinging my arms and enjoying the perfect weather.  Suddenly the track headed east but I wanted to head west.  I had a destination scribbled in my mind.  I detoured off the track, finding a meandering path through the park.  I soon found myself following an old bloke and his playful dog on the river verge.  The verge was covered with thick tough  green grass.  I stopped and chatted to him for just a minute.  He replied positively to my question whether  the path would take me all the way to my destination in East Perth.   I took off at speed, leaving him behind to wander slowly with his companion.

 

The grass soon thinned out leaving me battling through reeds and marshy slushy ground.  The sun was deliciously warm overhead and I suddenly found myself outside the boundary of the golf course.  The golfers ignored me. Hikers and golfers; there is no common ground!

The boundary all but disappeared leaving me in front of a waterway with rocks from my side to the other side.  I attempted to cross but gingerly returned as I slid precariously on the rocks.  Assessing the situation I spied a wall of limestone blocks crossing the waterway.  Like a tightrope walker I stealthily crossed it knowing this was no ordinary walking track!   Where should I be? I have no idea.   Except for turning back I had little choice but to duck between fence and river and continue traipsing through the overgrown river ferns and plants. 



View of Perth from East Perth

Finally I emerged in a park with another waterway.  I wasn't going to jump the six foot creek and sensibly walked around it.

I looked down to find my feet were standing on the very walk track I was trying to find.  Oh, I moaned and with arms once again swinging I walked along the not so interesting walking  track.  At least the river walk had been an adventure!  I finished my walk in East Perth and treated myself to lunch at the Kinky Lizard cafe before returning along the track.

  

As the clouds gathered above I walked past the place I had emerged from the river track to the park. I realised where I had gone wrong. Such a simple mistake which made my forty five minute walk into a ninety minute walk! 

What had I done? 

Native Shag drying her wings

I had simply walked along the track at the front of the golf course in the wrong direction! 

Next time I will take a guided walk!  Life is full of small distractions!