Beechgrove/Woodgrove Ravine - eastenders, part 2
Having at last completed my project of travelling every inch of the Highland, West Highland, Southwest Highland, and all other forms of Highland in this fair city, I find myself feeling strangely unfulfilled. Perhaps this last bit of the journey was all a bit too easy. After a few serious stretches of bushwhacking during my last two outings, perhaps this trip was somewhat lacking in challenge. Strolling well-worn paths the length of the way, it did take me only a few hours. Time enough then for another trek! So I head back north a few hundred meters, then head west through the sewage treatment grounds, down a very unworn water feature which my map alternately designates as both the Beechgrove and Woodgrove Ravine:
Not very far in I'm finding this detour quickly climbing in the rankings of my "pointless" expiditions. Not only is the route often virtually unnavigable, but, even more vexingly, I find myself chin-deep in the capitol of mosquito country. Millions of them, in my ears, in my nose, in my mouth! I make haste to higher ground once I reach Janellan Park, though I can't say it helped much:
Under Beechgrove Drive, where the stream begins to descend down an endless series of stepped cascades:
Through Bennett Road now, into Woodgrove Park, where swarms of aphids have joined the chase:
Some more hospitable wildlife here - spot the squirrel in his apartment tower:
At the back of a Woodgrove Drive residence my love of wilderness and street signs come together at last!:
Through the pylons into Westhill Watercourse Park, where the stream eventually retreats under Manse Road:
From here, the stream travels underground for a block or so, then ends up in Deekshill Park, where I fully intended to follow. However, right before taking that final picture above, something (a mosquito or aphid no doubt) flew right into my eye, causing me much irritation and forcing me to cut my journey short.
A little later, as I attempt to rinse out my eye in the bathroom of the Heron Park Community Centre just up the road, I reflect on some of the other misfortunes that have befallen me on these journeys - the faulty battery which cut short another trip last October, then the camera lost to a creek only weeks later. It then occurred to me, both these events took place on the Highland! And both these events left me with more of the Highland to do!
"Ahhh," I sighed out loud with more than a twinge of resignation.
"It never ends..."