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 fact that it is up to the general public to take back places like this and by going there in their numbers, the bad element (if there are still any around) will be finally pushed out. This picture of the Baakens Valley with Settlers Park was taken from the Walmer side close close to 2nd Avenue.

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.

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 other side of the valley and the Baakens River below. 

Looking down the Baakens Valley

The other afternoon I went for a stroll along the paths in Wellington Park.  Wellington Park is a section of Settlers Park up on the hill on the Walmer side.  Parking is just off 5th Avenue, Walmer from where a circular path takes you around through vegetation made up mostly of Fynbos species.  This section is safe with many Walmer residents taking later afternoon walks along the paths with loved ones or their dogs.  The paths give excellent views up and down the Baakens Valley with this one looking down the valley.  Settlers Park is in the middle, Walmer on the right and the apartments off Ring Road near St Georges on the left.  The Knysna apartment building in South End is visible at the bottom of the valley.

Boer War Trenches

I'm always amazed at how many people didn't know that Port Elizabeth had involvement in the Anglo Boer War even though the war didn't take place here.  Even less people know that there are old Boer War trenches above the Baakens Valley in Settlers Park where the town guard set up lookout spots on the approach to town.  They can be reached from the How Avenue parking area and via a short walk.

Settlers Park view

The view of Settlers Park with the Baakens River flowing through it from the How Avenue parking area of the park stays one of my favorite views in Port Elizabeth.

Geocaching in Port Elizabeth on Pasella

Over the last year I have become absolutely addicted to Geocaching.  Maybe that's an understatement.  I was addicted from day 1.  In December the crew from Pasella, an Afrikaans magazine program on SABC 2, was in town to shoot an insert about Geocaching in Port Elizabeth for the show.  Their "guide" during this adventure.... yours truly.  I even got the KidZ to briefly appear in the insert.  I did three caches around PE with them, at St Georges park, the East Cape Horse Care Unit and Wellington Park above Settlers Park in Walmer.  The insert presented by Paul Rothmann (on the right in the picture) also features Wicus and Ansie Benade of Team Wikkelgat.  If you are based in South Africa, don't miss the insert tonight 12 February 2014 on SABC 2 some time between 19:30 and 20:30.  Here I am with the crew in Wellington Park. 

The Baakens River in Settlers Park

As you may have noticed lately, I have developed a special fondness for the Baakens Valley.  I've always had a bit of a soft spot for it, but since taking up geocaching I've had to venture into it a couple of times to look for caches and have taken my camera with on every occasion.  The spot in the photo is in Settlers Park at one of the places where you cross the river hopping from stone to stone.  The river dams up a little bit behind a weir and forms this beautiful photo opportunity.

Wellington Park

One of the things I've discovered since I've taken up geocaching is that even though I thought I knew everything there is to see in and around Port Elizabeth, I haven't.  I've already been to at least three spots I've never visited before and I have another two new places lined up.  One of those I haven't seen before was a corner of Settlers Park called Wellington Park which is quite popular for a short walk with the residents living in the area.  Along the trail I found a little monument which was erected in the mid 1900's to remember the landing of Jan van Riebeeck in the Cape in 1652 and the British Settlers in Port Elizabeth in 1820.  If it wasn't for geocaching I would never have known that this is there.  

Crossing streams

I feel like I am having one of those days where I just want to get out and go for a walk somewhere relaxing. Somewhere in nature. Somewhere with a stream.  But alas I am stuck in the office.  I do have this picture of a couple of friends doing just that in Settlers Park.

Boer War trenches

Although Port Elizabeth was never part of the actual war during the Anglo Boer War, there are a lot of Boer War related things around the city.  This is where most of the British forces' horses and mules came through and both PE and Uitenhage had concentration camp sites.  At some stage during the war the British received word of a possible Boer invasion and started setting up town defences.  Part of these were a series of forts and trenches around the area.  Four of these trenches are still visible just off the How Avenue parking area of Settlers Park. 

Valley view

I had to pop down to Settlers Park for a quick visit the other day and just couldn't help to take a couple of moments to enjoy the view up the Baakens Valley.  The valley truly is Port Elizabeth's green lung.

Misty Baakens Valley

Riding to work the other morning the weather was a bit on the foggy side and this was the view of the Baakens Valley at Settlers Park when I passed there.

Field of lilies

The arum lilies are in full bloom, doesn't matter if you go to Schoenmakerskop, the Baakens Valley or Settlers Park.  I found these lilies just next to Settlers Park's How Avenue parking area.

Wooden walk

A couple of us from work were planning to do the lower Guinea Fowl Trail yesterday to gather information on it for our records.  We decided to invite the public along and to also make it a weekly event exploring all the trails around Port Elizabeth which will also mean that I will have lots of photos on these to share with you in future.  Unfortunately we rained out although we did head to the meeting place at the Settlers Park parking area off How Avenue in case somebody pitched up.  I decided to stretch my legs a bit and took a walk around the parking area, discovering this old wooden walkway close by. 

Carols in Settlers Park

On Saturday night the second annual Carols by Candlelight in Settlers Park took place.  The event was organised by the Wildlife and Environment Society of SA (WESSA) and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and forms part of the Baakens Valley Recovery Program.  Although the wind was blowing all day long, the spot where the carols took place was sheltered and you barely felt a breeze.  The program was lead by the Salvation Army Brass Band and the vocal talents of Niqui Cloete-Barrass and MC of the night, Anna Pouw of BayFM.  People came with blankets and camp chairs, picnic baskets and wine and kids ran wild. But not wild in a bad sense.  After dark everybody lit their candles, although they had to shelter the flames from the slight breeze  This is really an event that can grow to be one of the highlights on the city's event calender.

Baakens River

The Baakens River flowing through Settlers Park. The picture was taken from the park's How Avenue parking area. 

Baakens River

We have had some very welcome rain in and around the city recently, although lots are still needed in the catchment areas.  The Baakens River is a very short river, originating just to the west of Port Elizabeth.  It flows through a green belt that stretches the length of Port Elizabeth before spilling out into the Port Elizabeth Harbour.  The last stretch before getting to the harbour is through Settlers Park.  I popped down to the How Avenue parking area overlooking the park and snapped this pic of the Baakens River flowing over one of the walkways through the park.

Strolling in Settlers Park

Taking a stroll along one of the paths in Settlers Park. In many ways Baakens River Valley and Settlers Park is the green lung of Port Elizabeth and is just so underutilized by the inhabitants of the city. It is a great place to get near nature and just away from the city's hustle and bustle.

Boer War Trenches

Just above the Settlers Park main car park is a short trail that leads to the remains of a couple of trenches that date back to the Anglo Boer War. A couple of years back when the area was cleared the trenches were rediscovered and the trail was laid out. It was actually found that the trenches was marked on maps of the time. Although the Anglo Boer War (1899 - 1902) didn't take place in Port Elizabeth, the British was concerned that the Boer may decide to invade the city and decided to have trenches dug and fortifications built. Some of those fortifications can still be seen at Van Stadens.