My Sydney. Still exploring the place after two decades here. Lots to see, lots to experience, lots to learn. And beyond Sydney, there's a whole world to explore too!
The last few nights have been wet and overcast here in Sydney, but the previous few dozen were totally clear-sky astro-friendly ones. Here's a shot I took of the Milky Way's inner suburbs, a couple of weeks ago.
I'm still in awe of the picture quality I get from my mobile phone.
He was either trying to build a nest mound in the middle of the road, or more likely, trying to move a whole lot of mulchy stuff from the bush on the right to someone's garden, on the left. He's nested there before, after all. And outstayed his welcome I think. The humans who also live there have been trying to chase him and his building materials back over the road.
I've posted previously on these maybe not-so-bright feathered friends. See here: Talking turkey
August is actually the best bushwalking month in the Sydney region. The weather is cool enough to be comfortable, and although it's still officially winter, the spring flowers are all out.
I walked the Tunnel Track fire trail to Rocky Ponds today, in the Brisbane Waters National Park. I wasn't disappointed.
This Scribbly Bark gum tree (Eucalyptus haemastoma) was about the scribbliest I've come across.
Rocky Ponds, my destination. Not a lot of water about at the moment.
On the way back I came across a scribbly rock! Never seen one quite like this before. Presumably not the same insect involved as the scribbly bark tree eating moth, but somebody doing something very similar, and making very similar patterns!
Newnes, in the Wolgan Valley to the west of the Blue Mountains, is a three hour drive away. But it's always well worth the trip, such as the magnificence of the bushwalking adventures on offer.
The Thursday bushwalking group I walk with treated itself to a particularly splendid day out the other day. Local legend Harold led us, and we were treated to fabulous scenery, tape-assisted climbs and descents, canyons, pagodas, and slots.
Alice Hill was one of my English great grandmothers. Growing up, there was a lot of mystery about my grandmother's origins. But other family members had in recent years tracked her origin down to the village of Skipsea, near the Yorkshire coast, and given me pointers to where to locate her gravestone. So I went there on my own fact-finding mission.
Initially I couldn't locate the cemetery, so where better to enquire than the local pub? This was a very good move, because not only were the regulars terrifically friendly and helpful, but they were able to show me some historical photographs of the very village square adjacent to which, I believe, great grandmother lived.
The photos were undated, but who knows, maybe my grandmother and/or great grandmother are actually in them.
Everyone knows that Newcastle (upon Tyne - the English one) has five bridges. Keith Emerson famously wrote a piece of music about that, after all.
In fact the five bridges thing was about all I did know about Newcastle upon Tyne. Except that it was supposed to be a nice place to visit. So I did.
I'm happy to report that it was indeed a nice little visit. It was a Sunday lunchtime, and there were lots of people out and about on the waterfront (Hadrian's Wall Path, it's called).
I can also report that there are now at least seven bridges across the Tyne, between Newcastle and Gateshead on the southern bank.
The original Tyne Bridge is the most iconic of course. It's often said to be the inspiration for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In fact they were built by the same contractor at roughly the same time. The Sydney bridge was started first, but took longer to build. Mind you it is three times as long, three times as wide, and more than twice as high. Here's a nice YouTube video comparison of the two.
Newcastle's newest bridge is the Gateshead Millenium Bridge, a rather stylish pedestrian bridge.
I was surprised to find a castle in Newcastle too. Shouldn't have been really, it's called Newcastle for a reason, I guess.
I've always been curious about The Wash, that distinctly shaped chunk out of England's East Coast backside. So on my way back from Yorkshire, I couldn't resist the temptation to go and take a look.
Well of course there isn't all that much to see. It's all incredibly flat, and a lot of it is marsh for a lot of the time anyway.
I did see the offshore wind farms though. They were quite interesting.
And at Gibraltar Point nature reserve, there were nature trails, and bird hides, where you could observe the water birds from up close. I had to settle for a couple of swans, which did seem more relaxed than usual. The visitor centre has a list of the day's sightings. The tally was 15 species.
Scarborough was the base for my Yorkshire sojourn. I liked the place a lot. It's bigger than I expected. Lots of touristy attractions, places to feed, house, and water you. There are are extensive parks and gardens, and there's even a castle on the hill.
Alice Hill was one of my English great grandmothers. Growing up, there was a lot of mystery about my grandmother's origins. But other family members had in recent years tracked her origin down to the village of Skipsea, near the Yorkshire coast, and given me pointers to where to locate her gravestone. So I went there on my own fact-finding mission.
Initially I couldn't locate the cemetery, so where better to enquire than the local pub? This was a very good move, because not only were the regulars terrifically friendly and helpful, but they were able to show me some historical photographs of the very village square adjacent to which, I believe, great grandmother lived.
I can also report that there are now at least seven bridges across the Tyne, between Newcastle and Gateshead on the southern bank.
