
Wordless Wednesday – 22 March

Marsha’s Wednesday Quotes #11: A Bridge/To Bridge
I have confined myself to some of the bridges close to my place, by close I mean withing twenty kilometres.
“The crackling sounds of an old and tired bridge can best be understood by an old and tired person! Those who have carried the burden of life for so long are the ones who understand each other best!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
The bridge over the Mann River at Cangi
“In the rainy season, sometimes to get to the first lesson we had to run really quick, because we had to cross the river to school and we’d have to go up and down the bank to find a place to cross because there is no bridge.”
― Haile Gebrselassie
The bridge across the Clarence River at Lilydale in flood ⬆️ in normal times ⬇️
“Theater is a space where you cross over from everyday life, because there are real people in that moment moving in front of you – you’re being invited to believe in a story and cross that bridge.”
― Cate Blanchett
The Mann River Bridge not far from my place ⬆️ and ⬇️
And one more for fun
“I was the kid who stared out the window. I fantasized myself on the deck of pirate ships – Cussler at the bridge.”
― Clive Cussler
A bit of a song from an Aussie group to finish
Becky’s #WalkingSquares
Today I went to have a look at the block of land my daughter bought downriver at Lawrence. It was lovely to spend some time. I didn’t think I would see any of the ski boats and skiers today. I saw a few boats as I drove along side of the Clarence River pelting along dragging their skiers. No photos today though.
On the way back I stopped at the spot where the Black Swans were last time I went to Lawrence. They were there so the walk was short but a walk never the less.
Lets get on the swan and go
A bit before where I could stop and get a few Black Swan photos is an old shed, possibly part of dairy bails as the lower river area was mainly dairying country. I had to walk back to get this photo
Oh no, you are not getting my photo. I’m heading over the other side of the river.
That’s OK, we don’t mind the occasional photo shoot
What are you doing there?
gmmmph urble smmmmrk bleeem glub glub
Oh sorry, I was just having a look to see if there were any snacks
If that Swan thinks there is food down there, I’d better have a look too
In the garden, just near where I parked, they had a lovely display of Bird of Paradise flowers
Yes I know this one isn’t square.
For those following along on the gate building project, these are a similar design to the ones I am making. Being on level ground and sturdy fencing either side, this gate is one big gate and able to open easily. I took the photo as I may have to redesign my gates as I originally only had one bracing board on one side. Luckily I have enough leftover timber to add another diagonal bracing board.
Cee’s FOTD
Saturday is a go to town day for me. I get a few groceries I need, plus have a browse, window shop and enjoy a coffee at the cafe in the art gallery. This weekend in Grafton is the Bridge to Bridge race. There are some rather large ski boats around the streets and a few in the water. I went to the river to see if any practice action was still happening. The actual race is tomorrow.
Come join me on the dock of the bay
While I was hanging waiting for some boats to appear, I noticed a rooster weather vane on a nearby house. I have been trying to find one around the Clarence Valley for quite a while. Quest achieved
As I parked the car, I could hear a couple of boats roar up the river. By the time I was there, some of those boats were just putting back to the boat ramp. This time Superman wasn’t so super.
And then there was a roar of an engine and from downstream a boat appeared travelling very fast. I should have changed my camera settings to get a better photo of the action.
On that line coming from the rear of the boat are two water skiers. The ski rope must be at least twenty metres long. I couldn’t get the skiers and the boat in the same shot.
I couldn’t resist playing with the photo of the skiers a little bit. The photo was rather crap but I think this edit makes it much better. The top of the photo is the reflection of vegetation on the water
Last month was the first post from Ju-Lyn at Touring My Backyard for The Changing Seasons. Ju-Lyn and I will be taking turns at hosting The Changing Seasons that Su from Zimmerbitch hosted with great results. We hope you will enjoy, as you have done in the past, and keep posting your Changing Seasons with us. Just add your link in the comments or pingback to this post for your Changing Seasons.
I have had an action packed July with my camera being able to get around the local area despite the Covid restrictions that the state of NSW is currently under. There has been a couple of “incidents” on the North Coast from people coming from Sydney Covid positive. A lot of businesses are starting to not allow customers from Sydney into their premises.
Enough of the doom and gloom, something I am not used to posting on my blog. Let’s start with an Aussie song you all should know to get you through the photos.
I thought we should start a bit bright and cheerful with some flowers.
My Bromiliads flowered with such unusual flowers
My besties Gymea Lily sent up a spear. It’s about three metres tall.
The flower is yet to open and as I haven’t been there for almost two weeks, I hope it waits until I can get there to show you the flower.
A while ago I was talking about my poor sad Peach Tree. It seems to enjoy July don’t you think?
The flowers have a lovely deep pink colour. I know a couple of people will love this colour.
The bees love the flowers too.
Just beside the Peach is a Nectarine Tree and the Stingless Native Bees are loving the blossoms of light pink petals with a rosy centre.
There has been a few Black Jezebel Butterflies in the garden too.
It’s not just the insects who love the flowers. The Brown Honeyeater enjoys snacking on Lions Tails flowers.
The Rainbow Lorikeets flock to the Honey Gem Grevillea in the morning.
Lewins Honeyeaters like to pick the centre from the Ornamental Ginger flowers
Can you count the number of King Parrots in the red Bottlebrush? I have lot of King Parrots in the garden.
This female King Parrot was watching me as I was walking in the garden.
There is always someone peeking through the window to see if I am home.
or peeking over the gutter
Or sitting in the tree where this Pied Currawong was outside of my office door.
One wonderful thing is that a Chatter (yes that’s the name for a group of Choughs) of White-winged Choughs have increased in number and often cackle away while picking their way through the garden.
Driving home a few days ago I heard the sounds of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying overhead. I saw them start to land so jumped out of the car camera in hand. Of course they decided to fly off to a distant tree. There were a lot of Cockatoos in the flock. This is just a few as others had landed in other trees further away.
Getting out to the beach was good way to spend the day even though it was very windy.
I think that there is a system of ownership of this rock. The Crested Terns were sitting there as I walked past.
On the way back, the Cormorant had taken over
Pied Oystercatchers were combing the beach for morsels in the sand.
The Sooty Oystercatcher decided the rocks was the best place to find a snack.
A Pelican was taking a stroll along the sand.
and another Pelican enjoyed a cruise on the Clarence River
Overhead it was rather busy. A Brahminy Kite scanned the beach intent on stealing whatever the Gulls had found.
A White-bellied Sea Eagle was hovering and circling in the wind right near us looking among the rock pools where the Sooty Oystercatcher was as well.
The brown on the outer side of it’s wings is lovely
At full stretch doing a turn in the wind ready to circle back and scan once more
We were also lucky enough to see the Humpback Whales on their northerly migration even though they were not very close to the shore.
It was an amazing sight to see hundreds of Ibis heading west to the wetlands where they will spend the rest of Winter and in Spring, raise their hatchlings.
One afternoon in the grey afternoon sky, a pair of Ibis were heading to roost.
Speaking of roosting. Down at the beach there is a colony of Red-Headed Flying Foxes who were squabbling over the best places and getting ready to fly off for their nightly foraging.
While in the trees, for Becky’s July Square Trees photo challenge, I posted the avenue of Fig Trees but from one end, I commented to Becky that I should have taken a photo in the middle. Yesterday in the late afternoon I did just that – and it’s even square.
Sitting in the garden the sun reflected off something that caught my eye. It was a rather ragged spiders web which had the most amazing colours.
Only a little bit of rain for July but thee is always the opportunity for a water drop photo.
One thing I like to photograph is rusty things. The steel and the rivets plus their shadow on the Grafton Bridge.
While looking on the other side, the setting looked rather idyllic
I love clouds and these in horizontal layers with varying colours one afternoon looked wonderful.
OK folks it time for sunset and to reach the end of my July and Changing Seasons.
I hope you enjoyed a scroll though my July and enjoyed the sunset as much as the cows do.
Did you have a favourite photo? See you next month for This is August 2021 and Ju-Lyn will be hosting The Changing Seasons
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