The Passionate Hiker: Sleepy Lagoon

Wed. 11 March: The Perth Sewage Lagoons

A stroll down to the lagoons

Let’s admit it. A trip to the local sewage ponds does not sound like a recipe for excitement. On the other hand, a journey to the Perth Lagoons sets an entirely different picture. The very word “lagoon” conjures up a romantic hideaway in some far-off paradise. To this author, the first thing that springs to mind is the dreamy music of Eric Coates’s “Sleepy Lagoon” (better known to Brits as the theme tune to “Desert Island Discs”). As you read this short piece, connect to this website – but make sure not to nod off!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNac1AXQFps

It was a pleasant change today to be able to set out on foot from Conlon Farm. With our snow shoes in hand, we strolled through the residential streets of our own town. It was a little tricky crossing the main road, which for a short while was a steady stream of traffic. Emerging onto South Street, we came to a gate leading to open fields. Here we stopped to put on our snow-shoes before heading out into the countryside.

Beneath our feet, thankfully hidden below the snow, ran the main sewer line out of town, marked by signs and by the occasional manhole cover in the snow. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant walk across the fields, with a warm sun overhead, and just a few non-threatening clouds.

Bypassing a gate, we entered the woods at the “Perth Lagoon” sign. In the open area to our right were dozens of herons nests in the high branches of the trees. What a sight this will be in a few weeks’ time as the birds return from their winter break. Beside the track, a tree had recently been shredded by a hungry porcupine, leaving a tasty meal on the ground for the deer which will likely follow.

Our eagerly awaited lagoons soon appeared ahead of us, a wide expanse of open snow-covered lake with an access road running across the middle. We had hoped to see the resident owl here, but although we saw crows, and snow buntings, and a cardinal in cheerful song, the owl was hiding somewhere – perhaps sent to sleep by dreamy lagoon music.

The lagoons were fringed with reeds, and there was a faint odor as one might have expected. Nevertheless, it was a quiet, winter scene, and a surprisingly large expanse of what, in a short while, will be open water, and a good venue for birders.

Returning the same way we had come, we finished off our short adventure with a visit to the local café, where the proprietor took care of nine unexpected – but not sleepy - visitors.

Note: single-click on the first picture above to scroll through the photos separately

Statistics:

Total Distance: 3.5 km (hike) + 3.8 km (‘shoe) = 7.3 km

Height Gain: None

Time on Trail: 2 hrs. 20 mins.

Conlon Farm: 9.34 am

South Street: 9.59 am

Lagoons: 10.50 am

South Street: 11.27 am

Ret. to cars: 11.54 am

Temp: Plus 3C rising to plus 6C

Weather: Sunny, a few clouds