11/06/22 We Climbed The Hill

We walked the Black Hill Summit Track.  It seemed silly not to, given that the trail started at the end of our street and the cold  but rain-free day was perfect for hiking.

Let's go.

 

We were quickly surprised by the number of mad people who, for want of better things to do on a Saturday morning, were out risking ankle fractures by running up and down very steep hills on rough bush tracks.  This was very confronting for everyday (and slightly less fit) people like us who had to stand aside to allow the runners to pass as we huffed and puffed laboriously up the slope. "Thanks!" the runners chirped as they bounced from rock to rock, riding the power of gravity toward sea level while slurping on their water backpack thingies and making it all look disgustingly easy.

We followed steep little gullies up into the hills and it wasn't long before the ubiquitous South Australian rocks made their appearance.

 

Ooh this is nice.  No rocks.

I spoke too soon.

 Adelaide spread out below us with views to the north toward the sea,

 

and across the foothills of the ranges.

We met up with some of the trails which crisscross the Hills, linking all the points of interest and providing access for fire fighting.

 

Stobie poles are everywhere.

Three trails for the price of one.

Yes.  More rocks.

Fire trails doubling as walking trails.

 

This being winter, wildflowers were in short supply but still there if you looked hard enough.

 

 

The summit of Black Hill was quite an anticlimax, being a pile of rocks in the bush with no views to speak of.  We sat in the ineffectual sunshine and ate our oranges.

 

My, this was exciting.  And cold, even when sitting in the sun.

 

The views came later, as we meandered out along the ridge and then picked our way down the rocky spine with the city spread out below us and a fine view of planes as they came in to land.

 

Working our way down the ridge line.

 

Adelaide city in the distance,with the Gulf St Vincent behind it.

Some tiny birds came out to say hello on the home stretch back down our street. There are flocks of wrens and finches in the Black Hill Reserve, but these were the first ones that stood still long enough to be photographed.

I've got my eye on you.

Wearing courting colours.

There was no rest for the weary once we got home.  The cat's owners will come home in a day or two, so we had to start the usual tidying and chores that come with the end of a house sit.  We also had to continually open and shut the door for the cat, who couldn't possibly use his very own cat door and had no idea whether he wanted to be outside or inside, but was quite sure that where ever he was he wanted to be the opposite.  Thank goodness he was easily distracted with ribbons and pom poms, is all I have to say.