That's a beautiful spot for a stroll. I remember taking a Gondola Ride along that very river, near the Adelaide Oval with my wife on our first wedding anniversary. I mainly remember the fact it was smack in the middle of a heatwave (it was something like the 5th consecutive day above 38 degrees) and too hot to really enjoy the experience.
Hope all goes well with Faith's operation and sorry to hear about your Dad and your pet.
RE: Live action: Early morning waiting