Adelaide Hills Weekend 2010

Report by Kevin Bycroft, Photography by Kevin Bycroft & Tina Phillips

May 1st - 2nd 2010 Weekend at Mylor - Only a small group attended this one, I'm told there's usually more regulars that attend these camps but other commitments kept them away. On this weekend the attendees were: myself, Jack & Helen, Tina, Jim McNamara, Craig and Diana. We all arrived Friday night and once unloaded we sat about talking and joking and generally having a good laugh until late.

Saturday, the general plan was to spend our time at the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. Jim went straight there while Craig and I stopped in Aldgate and wandered about photographing this and that before moving on to the botanical gardens. Jack, Helen, Tina & Diana went via the Bridgewater Mill, at least that's what we were led to believe. We were all eventually at the Botanical Gardens by 12:00 including Lisa who'd come up to get some shots. The two most notable locations where a good many photographs were taken was first a steel sculpture on the western edge of the lake that looks like two giant ribbons (which Helen just had to climb) and second was a smaller body of water at the southern end of the main lake covered with lilies and had gazebo close by which afforded us an opportunity to capture the gazebo plus its reflection.

      To see these and the rest of the images at full size click here........

After a spot of lunch Craig and I ventured higher into the hills not too many photograph opportunities presented except for a rather nice arch over the path created by two trees and a small dam giving some nice reflections of the gums surrounding it. As we got higher the trees closed in about us with nothing of interest to shoot, a bit like not seeing the wood for the trees. After much puffing and blowing and coming upon another path we chose to head back down, passing another dam with the water as still as glass, great reflections, red soil lined the edges with a small jetty from one side. After returning to the main lake and photographing some of the water fowl we headed back to the Hostel.

Early evening saw us head for Warrawong Sanctuary for a night tour. The guide we had was quite knowledgeable about the fauna in the park, we saw a Platypus, various water fowl, lots of Brush Tailed Possums (about every 10 feet!), a Koala (and on the ground no less), various Wallaby's, a Ring Tailed Possum and a variety of other little fury critters that I can't remember the names of. BBQ for dinner back at the Hostel and another late night of fun chatting about various subjects.

That about sums it up, after breakfast and cleaning up a few of us left before lunch. The facilities at the Hostel were very good and clean. I would have to say that we all enjoyed ourselves over the weekend. For myself, apart from some pesky mosquitoes and some barrel chested snoring I had a fantastic time, looking forward to the next weekend excursion. Thanks to all.