The last day of August and in our calendar that means the last day of winter. I'm never really sure why they don't work on the equinox dates for seasons; it can't be so hard to know if it's winter or summer can it? August is going out as dry as it started...it hasn't rained here since mid July and the fine weather is expected to continue. It's also Friday again, so hope you all have a great weekend.
Even though Winter is in it's swan song, it hasn't slowed down the number of people suffering from the flu, or those experiencing winter colds and coughs. Help is at hand with the Day/Night pharmacy and the tender administrations of an apothecary! I think that this mural in George Street might help to make them feel slightly uplifted.
The weekend plans went slightly awry. Saturday was supposed to be a day trip to Sydney to visit an exhibition. Being on an early flight meant catching the sunrise at Brisbane Airport just before boarding. If I knew then that hours later we would still be sitting at the gate, eating breakfast on board without having moved an inch! Technical problems with the pilots' chair meant we had to wait until it was fixed...but the upside is that I did get to watch two full movies. We arrived too late into Sydney to make the exhibition. Oh well, it was very relaxing to say the least.
The Ekka always end with a fantastic firework display. The day I went was 'Peoples Day', which is always a public holiday here in Brisbane. Around 70,000 people packed into the arena to enjoy the night entertainment and the fireworks. It's all over and done with now for another year.
It's Friday...the weekend approaches, so have a good one, everyone!
I wasn't going for this effect....I just didn't have the correct settings on the camera for the motor cycle stunt show. However, I like the end result with the rider looking more like a phantom streaking across the night sky.
I noticed this guy trying in vain to sell his balloon creations, but there weren't any takers as far as I could see. Perhaps cats and dogs made out of balloons are too tame for the youngsters of today. No doubt they would want to know where the on/off button is and what type of batteries they take.
Along with the gaudy glitz and bright lights of sideshow alley, there lurks a seedier side of the Ekka show.....Bear Hanging!
Honestly, I really think that there is a much nicer way to display the prizes on offer. I wanted to win one just to save it from the gallows!
I have to admit that this next set of pictures were taken last week when the 'Ekka' was in town. The 'Ekka', true to the Australian way of shortening everything stands for the Exhibition, formerly known as the Royal Brisbane Show. For ten days the country comes to the city. Along with the agricultural part is Side Show Alley where you can be spun around, mixed and blended on any number of rides, and be enticed to part with your hard-earned dollar in the hope of winning an oversized stuffed toy. At $10 a ride I was happy to watch and take photos.
With a rich setting sun and blood-red sky, there is the promise of another great day ahead.
The last drops of overnight dew waiting to be dried off by the warm winter sun.
It's time to finish our short tour of Springbrook National Park, and as we head back into the new week I'll leave you with another one of the locals that can be seen all around the area. Despite having Polly Parrot as my title, this is a male Australian King Parrot, endemic to eastern Australia, so perhaps Percy Parrot is more apt! Have a great week.
Whatever the time of year, it seems that there is never a lack of waterfalls in Springbrook. This 'baby' was still enough to soak me to the skin as I walked behind it.
Walking through the National Park conjures up images of trolls and dragons, elves and hidden worlds controlled by magical creatures. It's fun to let your imagination take over sometimes.
This narrow track is nice and dry right now but after the rains it is like walking through a shower.
This is one of my favourite pictures of Purlingbrook falls as they crash onto the rocks below and flow into the pool. Being there at the right time of day meant that the sun caught the spray with a gorgeous rainbow. You might just be able to make out at the very top of the picture that there is a track that passes right behind the falls (closed on this visit). Happy Friday to everyone.
This whole area of the Springbrook plateau is a remnant of the northern side of a once huge shield volcano that dominated the region about 23 million years ago. The plateau is about 1000m above sea level and along with walking tracks and spectacular views there are some superb waterfalls. Being winter and somewhat drier, the falls aren't at their best, but I was impressed as Purlingbrook Falls dropped 100m over the side of the cliff. You will have to believe me that they thunder over here after a heavy downpour and are even more spectacular.
Yesterday I alluded to the bird-life that abounds in Springbrook. A common sight is the crimson rosella, a parrot native to eastern and south-eastern Australia. With that distinctive colouring they're not going to be hiding from prying eyes too well...but they are rather nosey, so perhaps they don't mind being photographed.
Every now and again, the path climbs high enough above the tree line to give such magnificent views over this sub-tropical rainforest. The air is clear and the solitude is perfect. Usually the only sounds are the amazing calls of the various birds and the rustle in the undergrowth as something takes refuge from my large walking boots!
Come along with me as we go for a walk in the hinterland of the Gold Coast. This is Springbrook National Park, a Gondwana Rainforest Heritage area. The national park sits about 100km south of Brisbane. Beautiful winter weather makes all of the tracks easy to walk, unlike after torrential rains when mud-paddling is more the order of the day.
