ABC Wednesdays - O for O-Bahn

The O-Bahn is a guided busway that services Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs. The busway extends 12 km from the outskirts of the City to Tea Tree Gully. The buses are fitted with guide wheels that run against the side of the track, but when off the busway the buses operate on city and suburban streets as would a standard bus.

The O-Bahn system was designed by Daimler-Benz for use in the city of Essen in Germany. The Adelaide O-Bahn busway, completed in 1989, was the first large scale adoption of the system in the world.

If you are interested in reading more about the O-Bahn Busway click here.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

Exploring the mine

In between showers some of our cycling group toured the town and the mine site; oh what fun getting along the muddy track into the open cut! We marvelled at the beauty of the rockwall; such rich and vibrant colours. We also thought about the men and boys who would have chipped away in this quarry over a hundred years ago to extract the copper.

Kapunda copper mining

Copper was discovered in Kapunda in 1942, and mining commenced two years later after analysis of the ore samples was done in England. Kapunda became the first copper mining town in Australia, and by 1851 there were 2000 people living there.

The photos shows the old open cut mine; much of the mining was also done underground. Mining and treatment of copper lasted here for about thirty years; the mine finally closed in 1878.

Old homestead

Abandoned homesteads, like this one out from Kapunda, are scattered throughout our rural areas; a reminder of the hard life our early settlers endured.

Cycling at Kapunda

This are some of the group of people we spent the weekend with at Kapunda, 80 km north of Adelaide. On Anzac Day we cycled to Greenock and back; about 35 kilometres - some of it on dirt roads such as this. On this day we were fortunate as it only rained slightly, while we were under shelter in the town having lunch.

On the Saturday things were rather different. After about an hour of riding we were caught in a downpour and found some shelter under trees. Towards the end of the ride we were less fortunate; the rain set in as we cycled home. As unpleasant as it was none of us really complained as this is what the country needs; lots of rain. Has the drought broken? We sure hope so!

Anzac Day Dawn Service

This is a view from my seat in the Henley and Grange Concert Band at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Henley Beach. It is a solemn and moving service, with many individuals and groups laying wreaths to commemorate the fallen service men and women who served their country. We play music throughout the service; for communal hymn singing and during the wreath laying.

Each year more and more people are attending this service and others like it throughout the country; a sign that we as Australians are increasingly thankful for the freedom and wonderful life we have here.

Henley Soldiers' Memorial

Tomorrow morning in front of this hall will be the setting for an Anzac Day dawn service. Each year on the 25th April, hundreds of people gather here to remember the men and women who served in our armed forces.

This date was chosen because it was on this day in 1914 that the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops landed at Gallipoli in Turkey. This was the first time that our nation had been involved in major military action.

I have been attending for 10 years, as the band I play in provides the music for the service.

ABC Wednesdays - N for Norfolk Island Pines

Meet "Paddy" and "Charlie". These two Norfolk Island Pines were planted in the 1850s by Sir George Kingston and his two sons. The trees were subsequently named after them.

Up the hill from the trees is Marino (Historic Kingston House), the 1840's occasional residence of Sir George Kingston who was South Australia's first deputy surveyor general, an architect and a member of the first parliament.

Paddy and Charlie are the entrance to the Kingston Park Caravan Park, a very popular holiday location; right on the beach and about 17 kilometres from the City centre.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

Enjoying the sunset

Each year the concert band I play in has a trip away to a country town. In 2005 we went to Barmera and stayed in a youth campsite out of town; so peaceful sitting around on the banks of Lake Bonney enjoying each other's company and the beautiful sunset.

Lake Bonney

The township of Barmera, about 200 km NE of Adelaide, is built on the shores of this lake. I took this photo one morning a couple of years ago from a youth campsite about 15 kms from the town.

Barmera depends on the lake for tourism, not just for the views, but also for the many opportunities it affords for water activities; canoeing, sailing and water skiing.

Sturt Creek Graffiti Art (2)

This is another new piece of graffiti art that caught my eye the other day. I do not know when the artists work on these and whether they are sanctioned; nonetheless it is certainly more attractive than tags that deface public places.

Sturt Creek Graffiti Art

I regularly ride along the bike path adjacent to Sturt Creek. There are two sections where there is a significant amount of graffiti art. Some of this has been there for quite a few years, but every so often a new one appears.

This one really caught my eye!

The Marion Vineyard

A vineyard in the suburbs! This vintage vineyard at Parkholme (about 10 Km from the City centre) was planted in 1905 by John Hamilton and is now owned by the Marion Council. The grapes are contracted to Patritti Wines, a family owned winery located in the nearby suburb of Dover Gardens.

This vineyard is 4 hectares, the only remaining part of an original 156 hectares growing in the district. The first vines in this area were planted by Henry Hamilton in 1838; only two years after Adelaide was established.

"Fiery" vapour trail

Late this afternoon nearing sunset, I spotted this glowing orange aircraft vapour trail; not the usual white against a blue sky.

ABC Wednesdays - M for Magpie

The Australian magpie is common throughout both urban and rural areas. I went for ride the other morning and found plenty of them feeding on the ground in local parks, making it relatively easy to photograph.

During their breeding season they are well known for swooping at passers by if they feel there is a threat to their young. It is quite disconcerting to be attacked when riding along on a bike, but at least on a bike your helmet offers some protection.

The magpie is the emblem for one of South Australia's local football teams; the Port Adelaide Magpies.The South Australian flag, coat of arms and badge features a piping shrike, which is a white backed magpie with arms outstretched.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

Deciduous street trees

In autumn these street trees make a pretty sight; but a pretty big mess.

Autumn leaves in Adelaide

If all our trees were native, then you would not see autumn leaves. Australia's native trees are evergreen; non-deciduous. If it were not for introduced species like this we might not even know that winter is on its way!

I did find out that we do indeed have one deciduous native tree; the fugus, a deciduous beech, found only in Tasmania.

Throughout Adelaide's suburbs you do see displays of "autumn colour" as we have many introduced species in private yards and along some streets.

A train comes to town

The 'State Of Steam' promotion was held in Rundle Mall this weekend. South Australia has several tourist steam trains and their operators had displays promoting them. Also on display, courtesy of the National Railway Museum, was Skipper.

This 2'0" gauge locomotive was built in South Australia by Perry Engineering in 1946 for the Millaquin Sugar Mill at Bundaburg (Queensland). It ceased operation in 1978; steam locomotives were replaced with diesel locomotives.

Model railway display

The Kangaroo and Cockatoo Railway layout was one of about ten on display at a local multi gauge model railway show this weekend. It is a G gauge layout, which has a 1:22.5 scale.

This particular layout featured lots of very detailed objects; birds, animals and people - very Australian and a credit to its creator; most objects were hand made. Here's a close up of two bush walkers soaking their tired feet in a pool.

We took our granddaughters along and they were enthralled by the whole event; but the Kangaroo and Cockatoo Railway kept them occupied for quite a while trying to find about 20 objects on a list that they were given. At one display they were able to control a train and at another, select which of about a dozen trains they wanted to see running.

Now I think the pressure might be on their father to resurrect his layout; in storage in my shed!

Light's Vision

This is the view of Adelaide from Montefiore Hill; not quite the view that Light had - many things have changed since his initial plan was drawn up!
The lighting towers you see in the foreground are located at Adelaide Oval. In 1997 retractable towers were built so as not to spoil the view. Unfortunately one of the towers collapsed, so in 2000 they were replaced with permanent towers.

Colonel William Light

This is a statue of Colonel William Light, the first surveyor general of South Australia who planned the city of Adelaide. His plan incorporated a city of wide streets, five squares and a belt of parklands encircling the city. Click here to see a map. The statue is located on Montefiore Hill which overlooks the city.

ABC Wednesdays - L for Lighthouse

This is the Port Adelaide lighthouse, now located near the dock as part of the South Australian Maritime Museum. The lighthouse began its life in 1869 at the entrance to the Port River. The structure had been prefabricated in England and shipped to Australia in pieces.
In 1901 a new lighthouse was built at Wonga Shoal, in the Gulf of St Vincent 13 km from Port Adelaide. The light was used in the new lighthouse, but the structure was transported and re-erected on South Neptune Island in the Spencer Gulf.
When the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1985, it was restored and rebuilt at its current site.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

A Motley Crew

Another day sailing off Glenelg. During the week I generally find retirees to crew for me; on the weekend - bikini babes? These fine "young" gentlemen are also members of a group that I cycle with. The chap on the right is in his eighties and still enjoying life to the full.

Torrens Weir

Click on the images to enlarge

The section of the River Torrens which I have featured in the past couple of posts is in fact a man made lake; the Torrens Lake. The concrete weir you see here was built in 1880-81 to hold back the water to create the lake.

This photo was taken during the summer and as you can see there is no flowing water; but after heavy rains it is a different scene. The sluice gates jammed in a flood in 1889. The weir was modified in 1928-29; now with sluice gates that can be fully opened to allow the river to flow unimpeded.

Popeye at Elder Park

This is Popeye's departure wharf at Elder Park. Upstream you can see the Adelaide Bridge; the main connector between the centre of the City and North Adelaide. The owners of Popeye also own a fleet of pedal boats, some of which you can see near the fountain.

A ride on Popeye or in the paddle boats; a must for tourists and residents alike!

Popeye on the Torrens

Whether you would like a sightseeing tour on the Torrens, or would like a ride the Adelaide Zoo, Popeye fits the bill. The Popeye fleet has been servicing Adelaide since 1935. The current three fibreglass boats were launched in 1982; replacements for the wooden boats that had served so well over the years.

This photo shows a Popeye cruising downstream from the Zoo back to its terminal at Elder Park.

It is about to pass under the University Footbridge. This bridge was built in 1937 to link the Adelaide University campus with its sportsfields and student accommodation across the river in North Adelaide.

The Whispering Wall

This dam wall has unique acoustical properties; you can stand and speak softly on one side of the 143 metre long wall and be clearly heard on the other side.

This is the Barossa Reservoir dam near the town of Williamstown, just north of Adelaide. Building started in 1899 and was completed in 1903. When it was built it was the largest dam in Australia and radical in its design.

Whispering Wall Mural

Click on the image to enlarge

In St Helen's Park on Prospect Road is the beautiful Whispering Wall mural created by Kaylie Weir. At a time when a lot of Adelaide's parks were parched and dry, this caught my eye; quite refreshing!

Kaylie was commissioned by the Prospect Council to paint a series of public murals in an effort to cut down graffiti tagging.

This public park has barbecue facilities, a drinking fountain, a rotunda, play equipment and seating areas.

ABC Wednesdays - K for kookaburra

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,Merry, merry king of the bush is he,Laugh, kookaburra, laugh, kookaburra,
Gay your life must be.

When I was teaching, this song which is a round, was a favourite with my young students.

The kookaburra photographed is however the only one I have ever seen in the wild. I took the photo in 2006 while on a cycling trip in the Grampians in Victoria.

Kookaburras belong to the kingfisher family and are native to Australia and New Guinea. They have a distinctive call; click here to hear it. (mp3 file - NSW Government site)

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see links to other participants' sites go to mrs nesbitts place

April Theme Day: Water

Adelaide's tap water is quite suitable for drinking, but because it is treated with chlorine for bacterial control, at times it has an odour. Many people have installed filters in their homes to remove unwanted sediments and chemicals; resulting in very nice tasting water. However, many others buy bottled spring water.

Here is an alternative; the 'Charity Water Fountain' courtesy of the West End Brewery, Adelaide Bank and Chubb. For $1 you can fill up a large container of quality water; the same water used to make beer (so it must be good!).

The brewery uses four wells that tap into water in the Willunga Aquifer 200 metres below the site. The water is always pure and of consistently high quality; a result of gradual filtration through limestone over thousands of years.

To date over $815,000 has been raised and passed on to numerous South Australian charities.





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