baakens river

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Looking down on Bridge Street in the Baakens Valley

A climb up the side of the Lower Baakens Valley to find a Geocache last week gave me a bird's eye view (or was it a Geocacher's eye view) of the Lower Baakens Valley below me.  The is the view looking west with the Bridge Street building (where Bridge Street Brewery and Boomtown is located) right in the middle of the picture.  Upper Valley Road toWalmer leads off to the left and the road up the hill in the middle…

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20/06/2016
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Early morning view down the lower Baakens Valley

Friday morning I made an early morning stop in the lower Baakens Valley before work to find a newly published Geocache.  Turned out the cache was high up the side of the valley which didn't just leave me out of breath when I got up there, but also with a great view down towards the harbour.

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18/06/2016
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Then and Now – Baakens River Bridge

We all know the Baakens River flows through Port Elizabeth and that most of the Baakens Valley is protected green open spaces all the way from Sunridge Park, past the 3rd Avenue Dip, through Walmer and Mill Park to Settlres Park.  It really is a pity that the municipality doesn't look after the well being of the river better and that the open spaces aren't utilised as much as the potential it has, but it's still a very special area.…

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14/06/2016
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Then and Now – Lower Baakens Valley

Way back in the early days when the first ships started coming past our coastline they used to sail into the bay to get fresh water in the lagoon near the mouth of the Baakens River.  The Baakens River got it's name from the Dutch East Indian Company beacon that was placed at the fountain below Fort Frederick from where sailors could collect fresh water from for the ships.  The fountain later supplied water to the early settlement that later…

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29/03/2016
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Baakens Valley – PE’s green lung

The Baakens Valley truly is Port Elizabeth's green lung stretching all the way from the west of the city through to the harbour.  The valley really has so much potential to be one of the city's playgrounds, but the stigma of crime is sticking to it like velcro.  Mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers use parts of the Baakens Valley on a regular basis but the valley has so much more to give.  I am a true believer in the…

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27/03/2016
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A Friendly Stranger and the Fig Tree

Down at the bottom of the Baakens Valley in front of the Bridge Street complex, stands a little historic building next to a Wild Fig tree.  I joined a couple of friends for coffee there the other day and was just reminded once again what a love little coffee shop this is.  But it's not just about coffees and cakes.  There menu has some truly delectable dishes on it so next time you're looking for a place to sit and…

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14/03/2016
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Settlers Park view east

In yesterday's post I showed you the view of Settlers Park looking west from the parking area off How Avenue.  Today's post is the view looking east from the same spot showing the little dam in the park.

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25/02/2016
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Settlers Park view west

I wonder how many people have asked me how to get to Settlers Park.  They know where the park is, but not how to get to it.  The best way is turn off Park Drive down How Avenue next to the St Georges Hospital.  The entrance to the main parking is just a short distance down the road.  This is the view from the parking area looking west.  Settlers Park Primary School (previously called Walmer Primary) is visible on the…

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24/02/2016