So glad I decided to visit the ponds!

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Life has been a little busy of late and I haven't walked around the golf ponds for a number of weeks.
Earlier in the day I had told myself that today was the day to get back to it.  I was startled when I looked at the clock and saw that the time was 10 to 5. Sunset time was 5.05, so  I quickly grabbed my shoes and, thankfully camera, and was away.

Our winter's day had reached 25C, with crisp, clear blue skies and the occasional fluffy cloud, dancing off to the horizon. At this hour there was still no need of a coat. It was a delight to be out in the fresh air. This feeling increased tenfold, when I spied the 30 odd pelicans lazily floating on the middle pond. Some were already settling on the small island for the night. The sunset colours then added to my joy.

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvellous."

                                                                               Aristotle

For brother Jim

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When my brother Jim, was living in Brisbane in 2012, he learnt about a trail from the Mt Gravatt Lookout to Toohey Forest. We walked some of the trails in Toohey Forest together, but to our regret, we had never found time to find the longer track and then he was transferred back to Townsville.

It has been on my bucket list since and finally on Wednesday June 4, the Down Under hikers managed not to get lost and found the starting point in a pleasant park, at the base of Mt Gravatt Reserve.
There is a bitumen road that winds its way to the outlook and Echidna Cafe, but we headed into the bush on the dusty trail that soon had our heart rate increasing, as it wound its way up to the views of Brisbane.
It was a hazy view on this occasion, but the decision was made that when showing visitors Brisbane, it would be far more convenient to bring them here, rather than to Mt Cootha.

From here we descended on a track on the southern side of the reserve to the Griffith, Mt Gravatt Campus, with a further descent taking us to a tunnel under the Pacific Motorway to the Toohey Forest
trails. All in all we hiked 16 kms in Brisbane City, in bush, on a very hot winter's day. Rarely did the sound of traffic, spoil our enjoyment of our surroundings.

On our return to the car and to our coffee reward, we agreed with Jenny, that the sensible thing to do would be to drive up to the  outlook and again enjoy the view as we relaxed. A fitting finale to another successful walk 'down under'.

How the day panned out:-

Ups and downs

Very little water
                                   Controlled burning

                                  Ruggedness

Hidden faces

                                      Balancing rocks

                                             Sheer strength

                                   Peaceful, well earned rests

                                             Lots of nonsense

                                  Hazy morning view

                                  Smokey afternoon views

                           Agreement that hiking 'down under' is not difficult to take each week!

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Sunshine Coast Walk - Day 3 and 4

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We didn't rush this morning, as we knew we had less than 20 km to complete on day 3, having broken the back of the distance over the previous 2 days. This was another negative of the route, as there were no walking distances signed. Our estimations were a tad out, but did fit in with available accommodation.
Again we were fortunate to have an exclusive breakfast view. Can't beat fresh air, blue skies and the background music of the ebb and flow of waves.

                      

Our distance was less, but the view still appeared just as far. Just as well we had created 2 mottos:-

     

'It is not the distance, it is the journey! '

 and 

It might be heavy but it isn't a load!

The heels were feeling a little tender on waking, so I had taken the precaution of covering them before putting on my shoes. After breakfast we set off quite positively, but just a few kms down the road I was adding blister pack covers to my heels, as the discomfort gradually increased. These early kms were beside the David Low H'way where it passed through bushland and as the traffic wasn't too busy, was not unpleasant. Eventually the path turned right towards the ocean. For a number of kms we walked local leafy streets and became experts at commending and condemning the various architectual  and landscaping styles. This took our mind off our feet until around midmorning, when we found a park in Marcoola, where we were able to put them up.

Our change of shoes and being back on designated Coastal Trail, made the remainder of the walk to Sunshine Beach more relaxed. 

 Scenic coastal trail.

 Numerous coastal views as we walked. Here we were able to see to as far back as Mooloolaba. [Definitely need to click on this one.]

 Closer lens view.

We were quite surprised when we arrived at Sunshine Beach, that the time was only just 1 o'clock. We had completed 16 kms. The small shopping precinct had a number of eateries to choose from and again we were not disappointed with our

choice.

It was just a short distance from here to the Backpackers we had booked into. Initially we were taken aback by the hot pink everywhere, but it was clean, comfortable and friendly.

Our plan was to keep our feet up for the rest of the day, but when we discovered there was a free shuttle bus into Noosa, we hastily gathered our things to relax on Noosa's sandy beach. What a great decision.

Day 4 and our final leg of only 14 kms. This time we walked into Noosa and enjoyed a lazy breakfast under the shady pandamus of the main beach. The view was to die for. [walk for!]

The magnificent morning accompanied us all the way to Tewantin, where we bought a pie to eat in a park overlooking the river. 

 Now which house is it? Just kidding!

 Celebration! 90 kms completed.

Margot's wonderful friend Faye not only gave us a bed for the night, but she had this foot spa ready on our arrival. Their amazing hospitality that evening was the icing on the cake of our fulfilling 4 day adventure.

Her husband was up at 6am to drive us to Cooroy to catch the 6.35 am train to Brisbane.

It had rained overnight, so trees were dripping and mists were swirling. The views from the train were just as superb as as on the previous days, thus extending our feelings of exuberance for what we had achieved.

9.30 saw us arrive at platform 1, Fortitude Valley. We alighted and caught separate trains to Fairfield and Beenleigh, with plans for a 5 day coastal walk in NSW, high on our list of things to do!

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