Soaring and Diving

 Sunday June 1st

After some damp cloudy days, yesterday dawned with crystal clear skies and a nip in the air. Mid morning, I drove to Mt Tamborine with 3 friends. After a delicious morning tea, I drove to the popular hang gliding jump off zone. It was incredibly busy with preparations for flights soon to be taken. Five were already soaring. Fortunately there was one space left for us to park in, to join the excited crowd watching these 'flimsy' looking gliders take off. 

The valley below, and distant ranges, were looking stunning. What a perfect day for hang gliding!

Death by Chocolate [name of cake] or death by flight! Thankfully, both absolutely amazing. [I ate the raspberry muffin. 😋]

SOARING

Setting up.

Waiting for the moment.

Up and away!

The young lass in the photo above was waiting for her first tandem flight. Family and friends were waiting and watching excitedly and nervously for her.

Getting strapped in, and finally they were away.

It was just thrilling to watch them. 12 in all, we thought.

We thought they were a little too close to the trees!

We watched for a good half hour, but were unable to stay until they re alighted on terra firma.

DIVING

The morning of my train trip to Townsville, F and I were sitting with a coffee and enjoying the view across the golf course. Suddenly, a black mass of birds flew overhead, and before I could open my camera, had landed on the pond closest to us. They immedialtely went into a feeding frenzy. I didn't have time to go closer, so rushed for my camera and its wonderful zoom. I believe that they are cormorants. The ponds must be healthy, as this is where the pelicans were feeding a couple of weeks ago.

Driving passed Windaroo Golf Club on our way to Mt Tamborine, I spotted, what I believe to be the same flock of Cormorants.

In Townsville, I just missed capturing the Osprey landing in this nest, near the station.

I've been scrolling through my photos quite often recently. This one brought back wonderful memories of hiking with Alexandra in Banff National Park on the 5th June 2016! [From - Still Making Waves on Top of the World]

HAPPINESS

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The May Full Moon

 It had been an incredibly busy week. On Thursday, I spread 20 bales of sugar cane mulch on a friend's garden. The temperature was perfect for this work. In the past, a task like this was no big deal, but yet again the body is telling me times are a changing. I struggled to finish and had to have a long soaking bath on arriving home. By the time the moon was due to rise, I wasn't sure I had the energy to walk outside to watch. So glad I did. It was the most beautiful, still and peaceful evening. Nature worked its magic on me.

With a wide horizon, one has to watch carefully to catch the moon's first appearance. I wasn't sure I had found it, when I took the first image.

On Monday, as I mentioned previously, I took my cousin to visit a friend at Cabarita. My time was spent sitting on the rocks watching the ebb and flow of the waves.

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These lads must have tough soles to their feet. They causally walked across the chiton encrusted rocks to jump into the surf. My heart didn't enjoy watching.

Tuesday was another busy day, but the Gaiter Girls accommodated me with an afternoon, local walk.

The Albert River.

Wednesday I had to take a quick trip to Kyogle. It takes 2 hours, but the rural vistas always thrill me and slow me down. Only one photo stop this time.

This morning I finally found time for my morning walk. This shrub mass below is called Snowflakes and it always puts on a wondrous show, at this time of year.

 I was going to photograph the moon, but the birdsong was so lovely this video resulted. Our natives are a mass of blossom for them to feed on.

This now finds me sitting with this view of Brisbane's main railway station. I am travelling overnight to Townsville to visit my brother and his family.

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