It is a 2.5km walk from the Victoria Bridge in Penrith to the M4 bridge. It is cool, sunny and not too windy - just right for a brisk walk. We have two choices - either follow the walking track along the riverbank or the footpath along the road. We choose the riverbank and veer left, walking down a gentle incline towards the river. A boat heads past us but it is the only boat we see on the river. Usually there are rowers and kayakers from the nearby rowing club but not today. Quite a few people are walking their dogs and several joggers are keeping fit. There are some shady sections of the path but mostly we walk in sunshine. Occasionally a cloud passes across the sun and all of a sudden it is chilly. About halfway along is a golden wattle tree covered in flowers. It takes us 25 minutes to get to the M4 bridge. We turn to walk back again. The council are improving the footpath along the road at this end and we can see the workmen above us. We walk a few hundred metres back to a new set of stairs which we take up to the road. Here is the Penrith Regional Gallery and home of Cafe at Lewers, a very pleasant spot for breakfast or lunch, or morning or afternoon tea. As we walk in, we meet some friends who have just finished brunch. We chat about overseas holidays before they have to leave and we sit down for a coffee. Then it's time to cross the road again and complete our walk along the riverbank back to the Victoria Bridge. Cafe at Lewers www.penrithregionalgallery.org 02 4735 1870