Sunny Days

 The week of 3rd June.

Our winter has arrived. Minimum temperatures this week have ranged from 6 C - 10 C and have been staying low until midday, reaching 20 to 22 mid afternoon.  However, a bonus of living in the tropics is  that our winter days are usually gloriously sunny. This week has been no exception. Energy levels have soared beneath stunning blue, crystal clear skies, that give an amazing clarity to every vista.  Playful, pure white, whispy clouds often had me spellbound.

The Hungry Hikers numbered only three this week. Our plan was to view all 24 pieces of street art and murals from the Brisbane Festival, 2024. Alas, although the event is highly publicised, the actual address of each piece still remains a mystery to us. It was a beautiful day to be walking in our wonderful city and 12 kilometres were covered.

Walking passed an art exhibition in an office tower, we were invited in to view. On an art level, this saved the day. 

My favourite pieces.

Felon's Brewery has had all its outside walls painted in murals over the past few years. This year the artists moved inside and painted the ends of the beer kegs. I assume more will be done next year.

We walked through the Botanical Gardens to reach Felons. Hibiscus, the size of plates, were looking spectacular.

Up at 6am one morning, this sunrise spectacle held me spellbound for half an hour.

Panoramas

And in the west!

Friday was F's birthday. We drove to the coast. While F spent time in an Apple store, I drove another 10 mins to relax at the beach. Whilst I had a few layers on, others were relishing the winter warmth.

I settled on the headland and watched the ebb and flow of the gentle waves.

At 1 pm we met F's sister at the Currumbin SLSC, where she had booked us a table with this wonderful view over the crystal clear, calm sea. Only minutes before our meal arrived, the table beside the window became vacant. We were able to move. Unusually, fish could be seen jumping regularly as we ate. 

This was the view on our walk back to the car. In the far distance is Point Danger.

A 20 minute drive saw us at Point Danger. We were to have coffee at the newly opened Black Dingo Cafe with it's 180 degree sea view. Alas it had closed at 3 pm. We arrived at 3.15 pm. Not to worry, I had packed a thermos, tea and coffee just in case. We sat here until the sun was setting, about 5 pm. Bliss!

It was time to head home, but google maps informed us that the 1 hour drive was going to take 2 hours because of severe traffic congestion. Mags was happy for us to visit her unit. Watching the twilght glow was a perfect way to end the day.

Yesterday, Brisbane hosted the 5 km 'Put Your Foot Down Walk' to raise funds for pancreatic cancer. Having lost my dear friend Leslie, to this frightful cancer last year, I walked in her memory. Having particpated in the March Charge cancer fundraiser in March, I was reluctant to ask for further support.  I am so very grateful for those who again supported me to a total of just over $400.

This perfect day to be alive, and amongst so many, also walking in memory of loved ones, had me feeling very emotional, as the walk got underway. Approimately 700 participants raised just over $80 000.

I watched a lovely young woman place these painted rocks on the ground, quite regularly as she walked.

Final 50 metres.

Job done!

A reflective coffee beside the river.

I had intended to take the Citycat ferry back to the railway station, but the river shoreline beckoned me to walk another 7 km.

Yesterday I was awake early and sat up in bed putting this post together. At 6 am, F informed me that the pelicans were back. With no golfers about, I quickly rugged up, grabbed my camera and enjoyed not only these beautiful birds, but also the soft morning glow.

Alas, this post keeps getting longer.  Today we were enjoying lunch with a friend, under our pergola. Suddenly I noticed that the pelicans had been joined by a flight of cormorants! I was not a good hostess, but didn't leave the pergola.

Recently, any time we have a meal here, it is interrupted by nosey butcher birds trying to join us! So far they haven't taken any food, but they land on the table and are very difficult to shoo away.

It has been a beautiful week!

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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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