The day after I wrote last week's post dawned wet. The previous week the Hungry Hikers had to cancel because of the torrential rain all day. We didn't want to miss another week, so took the chance and met at Wurga Nature Reserve at 7 am, after an hour's travel.
As we left it was raining. As we approached it was raining, and as we drove home it was raining. Thankfully, we managed 5 kilometres through the endangered Swamp Tea Tree reserve and kept dry.
It appeared to us that this area hadn't received the rainfall of further east. The trees were quite stark looking and I hadn't expected them to be as tall as they were. In fact, I had thought they were Swamp Paperbarks as in the Coombabah Wetlands. The above placard set me straight.
We believe this handsome horse had broken into the reserve from the neighbouring farm.
Time for morning tea and Margot's delicious macadamia pie.
Thursday saw another very wet start to the day. I had been asked to drive my cousin to Cabarita to visit her 91 year old friend.
A further half hour drive saw me enjoying a coffee at the Northern Rivers Regional Art Centre, enjoying the lush view across the Tweed River.
I then drove into Murwillumba to do some shopping. The shopping wasn't at all successful, but I did spot this amazing flowering tree in a local park. I had never seen one before. A Rose Apple, belonging to our native family of syzygiums or lilly pillies.
Returning to Cabarita, I spent a lovely hour watching the waves roll in at a local beach.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw nearly 4 inches fall. Monday dawned fine, but the humidity soared from all the moisture. This morning, Tuesday 3 December, The Gaiter Girls set off on a local walk at 6 am. Finishing at 7.30. We most certainly needed to take a refreshing dip in Rachel's pool.
Dawn
A very fast flowing and full Logan River.
Top R - a very unusually deeply coloured frangipani and another shrub that I didn't recognise. Pride of India, a member of the Lagerstromia family. The flower is very similar to that of the Crepe Myrtle which is very prevalent.
Three weeks to Christmas and even Santa has to do his washng.!
Towards the end of our walk we were delighted by these newly painted electrical poles.
Wet, hot and humid yes, but that is our summer and the week has been very much enjoyed.
I would love to read your comment.
I wish our electrical poles were as pretty as yours!
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely walk and post full of fascinating flora. Also, you seem to have very beautiful sunrises.
We had some snow this morning. Christmas is coming! Yippee!
Hello Sara. After gardening from 6 am to 10 am in excessive heat and humidity, your snow sounds very welcome. I've just heard from the family om PEI, that it is also snowing there.
DeleteMurals on walls, poles, silos and just about any type of public space has become very much the norm here in the past 10 years. We are always amazed at the artistic scale of the creations.
Glad to hear you are having rain, Helen, to help prevent fires. Such wonderful names…always. The Aussies don’t do names in a small way! I love the birds on the poles. So creative! Enjoy the rest of the week, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThe birds were so perfectly painted, Marie. So many very talented people out there. The Hungry Hikers are off to the city this afternoon, looking for tiny Christmas doors.
DeleteWow you have really been getting the rain! Sounds very lucky that your Gaiter girl hike was dry.
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky, Linda, but even if wet, we aren't cold!
DeleteA little bit of everything! As Marie says (above) the rain keeps things fire-resistant. My absolute favorite is the shot with the horse. It must have been delightful to find him there!
ReplyDeleteYes Bill, we all fell in love with this magnificent and proud horse. He didn't let us get any closer.
ReplyDelete