Friday 19 January 2018

Beating the Heat

The extreme heat of Christmas day abated, after a week of thunderstorms brought a total of 200mm or 8 inches of rain. However, since New Year's Day, the mercury has steadily climbed, along with intense humidity. These conditions climaxed at the weekend, with 2 unbearable days of 38C / 100F.
Sunday evening we were surprised and delighted with the arrival of a cool change, ushered in via gale force winds. Best of all, the humidity is now negligible.

Both The Hungry Hikers and the Gaiter Girls have tried to adapt to these hot, muggy conditions.

The Hungry Hikers have opted for late afternoon walks, starting about 5pm.

Week 1 - 10 km Wynnum foreshore and wetlands.



Flame tree

Supermoon rising.

Week 2 - 10km Brisbane River circuit and picnic tea at Wilson's Lookout.



Sunset over the city from the lookout.


Week 3 - Southport to Surfer's Paradise, returning on the new light rail tram.
The Broadwater at Southport.


The tranquillity of Main Beach.




After our first walk was cancelled because of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain, The Gaiter Girls decided on early starts, that saw us walking in the mountains by 7am.

Week 1 - coping with the rain.

Week 2 - Lower Ballanjui Falls and Bellbird Circuit, Binna Burra. [13km]












Week 3 - Return to the Coomera Circuit, Binna Burra, showcasing our magnificent rainforest to an English visitor. [20kms]
There was a wondrous abundance of waterfalls, creek crossings, sounds and smells of the bush. Mother Nature even produced a Gum-leaf Katyid, lizards, a few Pademelons and a black snake. 




Setting off at 7am.










More extreme heat has hit southern Australia, with Melbourne hitting 42C today. Hopefully this won't reach us.

I would love to read your comment.

18 comments:

  1. Wow--- I really enjoyed this outing! That leafy bug gets my vote for having the most invisible look. The Pelicans look very friendly. The video of the waterfall is lovely. Love it all...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most unusual to see 'the leafy bug' and given we were in a rainforest, very unusual to be greeted by her in the bathroom vacilities. The pelican shot was a surprise for me. I had zoomed in to see what was actually happening at the tidal edge. It wasn't until I got home that I realised I had a lovely image. The pelicans would have been waiting for the success of the fishermen.

      Delete
  2. Wow. What incredibly diverse scenery and wildlife. In that heat I think I would just wilt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a contrast to your wonderful posts. We too, wilt!

      Delete
  3. Glad you and your friends are still getting out despite the weather. Hoping things cool off a bit for you (I'd send our cool, rainy weather down there if I could)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can send the cool this way, but the rain needs to go to Kansas.
      Thankfully we are now enjoying pleasanter weather.

      http://kimscountyline.blogspot.com.au

      Delete
    2. Thanks for trying to send a little rain our way, Helen! I wish it worked that way. I loved your sunset photos and the beautiful nighttime skyline. I always like "coming along" on your walks, but I'm not sorry to have missed the heat and humidity.

      Delete
  4. A lovely variety of walks and scenery. I can handle the heat... just not the humidity. We have a very dry heat down here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand what you say. Several years ago, we were gardening for friends in WA, in 39C and it was not a problem.

      Delete
  5. There is no way I would be walking in Queensland humidity. Nice to go arm chair walking with you however.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Joan. Thankfully we don't have it for long periods, like in the north. Ugh! I suppose one adapts!

      Delete
  6. Extreme heat there, extremely cloudy here (with the bonus of mild winter temperatures)... :)
    Great photos, all of them. I would have liked to join the Hungry Hikers especially for the Week 3 walk! The beach looks so wonderful and I love the sculpture, even though in general I don't understand contemporary art at all.
    Thank you for your comment! I'm sure the fruit pie was delicious. Have you ever made food posts? It would be very interesting to read for example about some traditional dishes of your area.
    Have a great new week! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to hear your winter has had pleasant temperatures unlike a lot of Europe. Hopefully the clouds will lift soon.
      Walking along the beach late afternoon is a delight, especially if there is a golden sunset in the west. Not on this day, unfortunately.

      I haven't made food posts but I could easily do so with the amazing meals we hikers get to share. Meat pie and mushy peas was once the traditional fare of Aussies. Meat and 3 veg was what most households ate until the 80's. Gradually, since then, we have become a multiculural country and thankfully, our menus now reflect this.

      Delete
  7. 100 F! I definitely have hiked in that but not with that kind of humidity. It's funny, I've only seen that phrase cool change twice...in your blog and in that song...you know that it's tiiiiime for a coooool change. Haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We always seem to be looking for that 'cool change'!

      Delete
  8. Impressed you managed to head out for walks in conditions like that. I'd have been sat inside an a/c unit! :)
    Great photos as always, especially the waterfalls

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's good you and your friends are finding ways to make the best from what Mother Nature throws your way! I like the photos of the gentle waves at Main Beach.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fabulous and joyous pictures. Keep cool! It sounds terribly hot.

    ReplyDelete