Outing to Cherry Lake

Altona-Smelltona: that's what most people think of Altona; this is misleading, as the petro-chemical
plants are well away from populated areas. Also, what most people don't know is that the Altona area
offers several interesting walks: the Kororoit Creek estuary with its extensive saltmarsh, mangroves and tidal channels, the beach at Seaholme fringed with saltbush and Trugannina Swamp through which Laverton Creek meanders - all this open space within 30 minutes of the CBD!
Walking across the footy oval towards Altona's Cherry Lake I am greeted by a flock of garrulous
Galahs, a joyful sight in their pink and grey plumage. Further on there are some timid Crested
Pigeons. Cherry Lake is man-made but still a good place for a relaxing walk, particularly the conservation zone that fringes the lake on the south west side which has an abundance of native trees, shrubs, grasses and thick reed beds that rustle in the breeze and also a bird hide.
I always enjoy watching the Pelicans gliding in, with huge wings outstretched like seaplanes, putting their feet forward as they land on the water, skiing to a halt. A male Superb Fairy-wren,
a jewel-like blue and black, catches my eye, showing off among the bushes. In the distance a
freight train honks its horn, a rather forlorn sound; I think of it traversing the wilds in the depths of the night. Some merry chatter at the edge of the path - a group of Firetail Finches, their faces and tails brilliant red - the first time I have seen them here.
Two chic young women get on the Melbourne bound train at Footscray. They are talking about websites, one says that JB Hi-Fi's website is clunky and "SOo retarded."