They Paved Paradise

I'm certain that my opinion of what makes a good walking track differs from that of councils and weekly fitness-walkers. And that's absolutely fine. I can't remember exactly when they "upgraded" the walking track up to Mount Lofty from Waterfall Gully, but I tried it once and didn't like it. No big deal - I started walking the mostly lonely Pengana Track instead, happy days. More adventure. Less concrete.

I haven't walked or ridden up Chamber's Gully for a long time, but it was, without doubt something I would classify as a great trail for both walking and riding. So much so that I filmed the whole thing riding down from the top. It's not a video of me being fast or fancy - just a relaxing tootle down some beautiful bushland. You get a feel for what the trail is like a few minutes in.

I'd heard rumours that the trail had been "upgraded", so decided I needed to go and take a look. As I entered the trail from Waterfall Gully Road I didn't think it was too different. A few creek crossings were no more. But it was still gravel with occasional rocky sections. I kept riding along the trail, convincing myself that it wasn't that different. They'd just fixed some of the bits of the path - the nice single track sections were definitely just around the next corner. Or the next. Maybe the next one. Suuuurely soon. But the single track never came.

All of Chamber's Gully is now this. Reflectors. Hard surfaces. No rocks.

I've driven on roads in country South Australia that are significantly worse than this.

Was it nice to be out in nature on my bike? Sure - it was glorious. Have they paved paradise and put up a parking lot fire road? Definitely - and it's a real shame.

I'm sure there are very good reasons (like fire-safety). But it's still disappointing when the wild is tamed.